Top 10 Albums of 2012

It’s that time again, where I rank my favorite albums of 2012. This completely opinion, so let me know what ranks in your Top 10 and if you agree with any of mine.

10. Motion City Soundtrack – “Go”
9. Lit – “The View From The Bottom”
8. Say Anything – “Anarchy, My Dear”
7. Yellowcard – “Southern Air”
6. The Gaslight Anthem – “Handwritten”
5. Further Seems Forever – “Penny Black”
4. Thousand Foot Krutch – “The End Is Where We Begin”
3. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – “The Heist”
2. Linkin Park – “Living Things”
1. Imagine Dragons – “Night Visions”

Imagine Dragons, the newest band on this list, takes the cake with their debut full length, “Night Visions”. It was a beautifully crafted album with such great detail put into every song. Guitars, bass and drums are merely the core of each song, but mandolin, viola, synth and atmospheric elements make their way onto the album, making Imagine Dragons sound larger than life. Much like The Killers, who are also from Las Vegas, Imagine Dragons are destined for arena rock from the get go.

Honorable mention goes to the following:

Three Days Grace – “Transit of Venus”
The Used – “Vulnerable”
Redlight King – “Something For The Pain”
Papa Roach – “The Connection”

My favorite EP’s this year were courtesy of Punchline (“So Nice To Meet You”) and Blink-182 (“Dogs Eating Dogs”). The most disappointing album of the year goes to John Mayer’s “Born and Raised”. While it had a few songs that were worthy of repeating, most of it seemed monotonous and boring.

Lit “The View From The Bottom” Review

Opening like an 80’s arena rock anthem with “C’mon”, Lit’s fifth studio album, and first in 8 years, declares itself as a pure rock album. And it sticks true to it’s declaration on The View From The Bottom.

Even though Lit hasn’t released an album since 2004’s self titled, the Popoff’s and company haven’t forgotten how to rock. With track’s like “C’mon”, “Same Shit, Different Drink” and “The Broken”, Lit has re-established themselves as a true rock band. At the same time, “You Tonight” and “She Don’t Know” display the strongest hooks of the album, reminding people that they’ve never been short a catchy chorus since 1997’s Tripping The Light Fantastic.

Best known for their hits “My Own Worst Enemy” and “Miserable”, Lit was steadily putting out catchy rock songs every two years until drummer Allen Shellenberger was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2008. The band had taken a break from recording, but with Shellenberger’s illness, decided to take a lot more time off. Following his death in 2009, Lit began working on The View From The Bottom in 2010. Finally released in 2012, the result was well worth the wait.

This is as strong as Lit, Atomic and A Place In The Sun, and as catchy as those albums as well. AJ Popoff has not lost an ounce of his voice, and working with Butch Walker does not hurt the song quality one bit.

Overall: 4.5/5 Well worth the wait. Every song could be a hit. Song topics range from girls (“You Tonight”), drinks (Same Shit, Different Drink), friends (“The Wall”) and of course, mourning/celebrating Allen Shellenberger (“Here’s To Us”). Despite touring with 90’s has-beens like Marcy Playground and Sugar Ray, Lit has a lot more to offer than A Place In The Sun. If you liked that album or even the two or three songs you’ve heard by Lit, pick this album up. Totally worth it.