FAVORITE LPs of 2012

Here are my 30 favorite LPs from 2012...the ones that pretty much soundtracked my year...the ones that I'd recommend...the ones that I had a chance to listen to. They are in a general order of higher preference the lower you go down the list. I'll see you in 2013. Have a safe holiday celebration wherever you are. 

Remember, you can continue enjoying the radio stream straight from this webpage, via iTunes Radio, Shoutcast, TuneIn Radio, or the new CHROMEWAVES RADIO app for your iPhone.

Check out the list after the jump!

Favorite Songs of 2012

Here's another year-end list for you to endure.  This past year has been yet another great one for music seeing plenty of new artists surfacing to greater recognition, and some of the more established artists held strong in maintaining their quality, creative output.  Here are 30 of my favorite songs of 2012 in a general order of higher preference the lower you go down the list. The whole playlist can be streamed (and downloaded) at my Official.fm page, 8tracks, or the always reliable Spotify. 

Picks after the jump.

FALL 2012 MIX

A playlist of highlights featured over the past three months on CHROMEWAVESRADIO.com.  Stream and download the playlist from the media player above, and it's also available over at the CHROMEWAVES RADIO 8tracks and Spotify profile (that's if Spotify will even work because it's quite literally a piece of crap application).  

Playlist after the jump.

ALONE by The Stevens

The Stevens are yet another fine band to come out of Melbourne, Australia. From what I can tell their jangly, rickety melodies haven't quite reached out beyond their continent much yet, but their instant appeal leads me to believe that their strumming pop tunes deserve to be heard everywhere. The four-piece have a six-track EP to their credit that they're

GENERATOR by Gap Dream

Gap Dream's self-titled debut album was released earlier this year from Burger Records (buy) and definitely deserved a post on CWR, but hey you can't always get to everything that you want to, right? Besides, there's this follow-up 7" that is equally as enticing as the one man band's full-length...but seriously if you haven't heard it yet get over to Bandcamp right now. The man responsible is Gabriel Fulvimar out of Cleveland, but as

PONYTAIL by Chastity Belt

Chastity Belt are four seemingly rad chicks that come out of Walla Walla, Washington and now find themselves in Seattle. Fortunately, I was hit with their music over at the fine Seattle-based music blog The Finest Kiss. These girls know how to do things simply, effectively, and they definitely know how to not take their shit too seriously. Chastity Belt's first release, Fuck Chastity Belt, was released in May of this year and

SECONDS AWAY by Las Robertas

Costa Rican trio Las Robertas have been fairly quiet since releasing their debut LP, Cry Out Loud, two years ago.  The band has switched its drummer and are adding some punch to their sound and production with the release of their new Dissected Affair 7" from Art Fag Recordings. While some may have dismissed their original output as being formulaic or just

[on repeat] UNKNOWN PLEASURES by The UV Race

The UV Race is a proto/garage punk band from Melbourne, Australia that includes members of Dick Diver, Straight Jacket Nation, and School of Radiant Living. They've  always been an industrious bunch pushing the limits of what you'd typically expect to come out of a band in the post-punk/garage genre. The band is releasing its third LP,

ALL GONE by Pop Singles

Melbourne, Australia's Pop Singles' music harks back to the jangly melancholic post punk period of the early 80's and bands like The Smiths and Go-Betweens when it seemed wonderfully miserable to be a teenager. The trio utilize a familiar dark, yet buoyant quality to their pure guitar pop with lyrics of hopelessness, loss, and not knowing what to

FUZZ by Mil Mascaras

HoZac Records has a new batch of releases that is expected to be shipping soon (very soon), and it includes this scuzzy gem of a 7" debut EP from Mil Mascaras out of Strasbourg, France. The band is no longer together and their output until now has been limited to a split 7" with other French band The Normals in the mid 2000s, but HoZac has craftily put together

HYPNOTIC REGRESSION by Girls Names

(previously on CWR)

If you haven't heard about Girls Names, there's a good chance that will be changing.  The band recently added a 4th member and are out of Belfast, Ireland. A couple of promising, darkly veiled, and jangly EPs were released in 2010 that caught the attention of a few.  The band's debut LP, Dead To Me (buy),

THIS TOWN by Bloods

(previously on CWR)

The majority of my posts lately aren't intentionally focusing on Australia, but that just seem to be the way things are lining up.  This Sydney trio, Bloods, was featured on CWR just a couple of months ago. The band has just shared their new track, 'This Town,' which is 'an ode to sleep, being left alone, and general

DREAMPHONE by Peach Kelli Pop

Peach Kelli Pop is the solo project of Allie (the drummer) from White Wires. She escapes from the power pop energy of White Wires into the dreamy, beach pop bliss as Peach Kelli Pop and she's releasing her second LP under that moniker this December from Burger Records. Allie manages to make some of the most adorable, catchy, fun, and sweet pop tunes you'll ever hear.  'Dreamphone' is a teaser from the upcoming record and continues from right where she left off on her debut

[on repeat ] BACK TO YOU by Woollen Kits

Woollen Kits are another jangly masterpiece out of Melbourne, Australia that popped up into my world  at the start of 2012 with their comforting and harmonious blend of lo-fi rock on their self-titled debut released on  RIP Society Records.  In some rather unexpected news, the trio are releasing their second full-length this year and it's more of the sensational

MEDICINE by Chook Race

There's another jangly garage treasure coming out of Australia...Melbourne specifically.  The Aussie trio known as Chook Race incorporate a whole lackadaisical, blissful and scrappy quality to their songs' energy that is common place with many of the artists coming out of Australia at the moment and their output is no less captivating. Their most

[on repeat] SPACEHEAD by Legendary Wings

It's a pretty impressive feat to put out a debut full-length release that is stacked from beginning to end with a seemingly effortless solid and consistent set of tunes.  It gets even more impressive when you realize the release has 16 tracks on it! Legendary Wings have done just that in their debut LP, Making Paper Roses, out on Dirtnap Records. They

[on repeat] RIGHT FROM WRONG by Peoples Temple

(previously on CWR)

The Michigan psychedelic outfit People's Temple introduced their classic blend of hazy psych rock to us through their debut LP release, Sons of Stone, via HoZac Records in 2011 (buy), which quickly became one of my favorites of the year. I consider it a fortunate thing that we're blessed with a follow-up LP, More For The Masses in 2012. Sons of Stone embedded People's Temple into the psychedelic, garage genre upon its

ALICE by Dick Diver

It's no surprise how much I've enjoyed Dick Diver's debut LP release, New Start Again, from 2011, and some wonderful news has arrived of a follow-up.  The Melbourne 4-piece is releasing a new 5-song digital only EP on November 16 that features new track, 'Alice,' which is to be included on their next full length, which will probably be called Calendar

I WANNA GO OUT by Teen Mom

The fine music blog Everybody Taste has been sharing tunes with the world via the internet since 2009, and as of 2011 it's been serving up releases via the associated record label Analog Edition Records. The label is presenting its fifth release in the form of Washington D.C. band Teen Mom and their debut EP, Mean Tom. The lead single, 'I Wanna Go Out,' is a tightly wrapped and infectiously upbeat tune that features dreamy, echoed vocals in front of some finely crafted musicianship reminiscent of The Police...and then the song

STUCK ON AN ISLAND by Cold Warps

Cold Warps are out of Halifax/Ontario and they record AM style power pop loaded with fuzz and plenty of head-bopping qualities.  That description probably sounds too 'nice' so just listen to the two tunes above...they're good!  The band has a couple previous cassette EP releases and a vinyl release for Slimer 7" (buy).  A few weeks ago they released a new 7",

SHADE OF RED by Ex-Cult

The Ex-Cult's self-titled debut is a thrashy guitar frenzy with some head cramming energy that is bound to do some damage to all that will listen.  The record comes out from Goner Records on November 13 and is produced by the one-and-only Ty Segall. Two of the head bangers from the album can be streamed above and you can stream the album in its

FFI by Unwed Teenage Mothers

This kickass 4-piece power pop band out of Oxford, Mississippi was put together, and is fronted by, Colin Sneed who is the drummer for Bass Drum of Death.  They go by the name of The Unwed Teenage Mothers and their recent 4-song EP

MERRY GO ROUND by The Coathangers

Atlanta four-piece have pretty consistently put out some of the most lightheartedly menacing blend of post-punk in their six years together, which was fully realized in last year's LP Larceny and Old Lace from Suicide Squeeze Records. The LP has been repressed on clear vinyl (buy) and the girls have given us a new release this year in the form of a split 7" with

ANOTHER GIRL by Missing Monuments

Any of you familiar with Exploding Hearts are aware of King Louie's exceptional songwriting abilities.  Missing Monuments is his current outlet for unleashing his blend of catchy, sharp, guitar driven power pop.  Missing Monuments has recently released the (I'm Gonna) Love You Back To Life 7" EP.  It's the band's second 7" release to follow up 2011's Douchemaster

MOODY MICHELLE by Lenz

from Under Neon (buy)

Andy Jordan has been roaming around the Bay Area music scene for over a decade and in that time he's been making his mark in perfecting a glamfully punk sound in projects such as The Cuts and The Time Flys. His initial venture into a solo

[on repeat] DEVOUR THE JUNGLE DEER by The Barbaras

The Barbaras are a band out of Memphis that began to stir up quite the scene in the late 2000s.  Their live shows were unforgettable and they released the 'Summertime Blues' 7" in 2008 on Goner Records.  Anticipation for a full-length ensued and never happened, but it wasn't for any failing to attempt.  Jay Reatard recorded them as best he could between his

NO by The Bidons

The Bidons are a 5-piece rock band out of Salerno, Italy that are another part of the crop of current great bands channeling the energy and excitement of 60's garage rock.  Their debut release, Granma Killer, was released in April 2012, from the Italian label Area Pirata.  The release is available to stream and purchase digitally at their Bandcamp.  If you like the feel

GOTITAS by Ave Negra

One of the great things about music is its ability to cross over any and all language, ethnic, and bullshit barriers.  There was an extremely fine example of this last week in Crooked Bangs, the Austin, TX trio that bounces their lyrics around from french to english without batting an eye or skipping a beat. Ave Negra aren't introducing a language foreign to their

EVERYDAY by Thee Vicars

Today we're treated to some classic 60's garage rock courtesy of Thee Vicars out of England.  The three piece inject an energetic blend of R 'n B into their vintage sound and have a handful of singles and four LPs between a variety of different band members since 2007.  Their latest full-length,  I Wanna Be Your Vicar, was released earlier this year from Dirty Water

SHAKE YOUR BRAIN by Nones

The latest batch of HoZac Records' Hookup Klub Round 3 was sent out a few weeks ago and it included the local Chicago noise punk band Nones.  This four piece rings true to HoZac's legacy of introducing us to  the best of the loud, scuzzy, destructive side of new music.  All three tracks are an assault on the auditory senses in the most provoking way.  The A-side, 'Shake Your Brains,' is the most accessible of

[on repeat] WASTED DAY by Plateaus

(previously on CWR)

We've been treated to three of the funnest garage rock singles since 2011 from San Diego's Plateaus and now have more new tunes in the form of their debut self-titled LP that comes out October 30 from Art Fag Records.  You may recall the pop-punk, joyous 7" nuggets of 'Beach Coma,' 'Do It For You,' and 'Open Skies' released from Art Fag and Hozac record

[on repeat] BLOOD CASTLE by Crooked Bangs

(buy)

The 'holy shit' reaction I get when listening to new music is very few and far between these days given the incredible access to a vast number of bands via the internet (that's not a complaint).  Well, it happened to me a couple weeks ago... the new self-titled Crooked Bangs LP is a mind blowing

FEED THE HUNGRY CHILDREN by Slow Walker

Slow Walker are a rocking 3-piece out of Milwaukee that released their debut album on cassette last year titled Good For Business.  In February of this year they visited Milwaukee's freeform radio station WMSE 91.7, which is licensed to the Milwaukee School of Engineering, to record a live session that was released as a collection of 7 songs

HE'S IN STOCK by Twerps

buy

Melbourne, Australia's Twerps have treated us to a new 7" to follow up their fantastic debut self-titled LP from last year.  The 7" is billed as a triple A-side and was released digitally on September 18 from Underwater Peoples and Chapter Music and will see a vinyl release on October 23 (buy).  The 7" features three tracks including the driving B-side 'He's In

SCENE FROM A MARRIAGE by Total Control

(buy)

Total Control's 2011 LP Henge Beat was not only one of the best albums to come out that year, but also one of the most impressionable albums to come out in quite some time.  The band continues the practice of Aussie band members dabbling in multiple bands and is led by Daniel Stewart (Straightjacket

UNDER THE STAIRS by Magic Shadows

(buy)

Magic Shadows are a grainy, saw-buzzing garage punk band out of Hamilton, Canada (that's Ontario).  The guitars come in full force for their debut 7" for 'Sunburned Mind' released in June.  After a few cassette releases since 2010, their dark and dirty blend of hazy garage punk cuts through you leaving

PSYCHEDELIC DAYS by Snow Wite

Snow Wite are out of L.A. and are a glitzy, glam affair that are sure to interest the ears of any fan of Ariel Pink.  It's a groovy, spacey set of tunes that will overload you and pull you in like a child with some sweet, sugary electronics and ample guitar hooks sprinkled throughout to really make sure you don't go anywhere.  A few singles were released on

WOULD YOU BE MY LOVE by Ty Segall

from Twins (buy)

from I Hate The Kids 7"

There isn't much else to say about Ty Segall these days.  He's venturing into his umpteenth release in a short four years as a solo artist, collaborative effort, and split releases with too many artists and too many labels to mention (again).

[split] WAIT LETS GO by Thee Oh Sees/OVER AND UNDER by The Mallard

(buy)

It's no secret the Bay Area is burgeoning with music talent these days and not only two of the best, but two of the most disparate in terms of seniority are together as part of the most recent release from Famous Class Records' 7" split-single series called Less Artists More Condos (LAMC).  The series

[interview/guest mix] Wax Idols

Photo: Hayden Shiebler

from Schadenfreude 7" (buy)

from NO FUTURE (buy)

Hether Fortune is the person who runs the show we fondly know as Wax Idols.  Her and her band have just finished recording Wax Idols' second, as yet untitled to the general public, LP.  It seemed a fitting time to try to catch up with her about what we can expect from the follow up to the much loved NO FUTURE, and hear about what types of shit she loved in the past, what types of shit she loves at the moment, but not necessarily anything about love in general.  And, she was gracious enough to take part and enlighten us a bit more about the person you probably think you already know, but really don't.   

Hether also curated a captivating YouTube playlist that she's called RIGOR & RELEVANCE and it's sprinkled through the interview below.  You can get yourself an audio copy of the playlist right here.

Interview and videos after the jump.

IMPOSSIBLE THINGS by Bare Wires

Last year's SXSW festival resulted in one casualty that was the demise of San Francisco's 70's rockers Bare Wires.  After one of their shows, the band's front man Matthew Melton stormed out of the venue and declared the Bare Wires era as officially being over.  Luckily for fans of the band, there's one final LP, Idle Dreams (pre-order), that was recorded by Bare

[on repeat] THROUGH THE D by Dick Diver

What's happening right now in Australia is so exciting.  There is so much great music coming out of there at the moment that it's a task keeping up with it all.  All the collaborations between bands and their members further muddy the waters.  Case in point, Dick Diver, a band that I was fortunate to come across while first hearing of Boomgates and their

[rough mix] SIRENS by Weekend

(previously on CWR)

Oakland's Weekend has relocated to Brooklyn and from the first sounds emerging from their sophomore LP release it looks like they've further crafted their wall of guitars sound into ominous and grittier territories than what was seen on their 2010 debut LP, Sports, and 2011 EP, Red.  Check out a rough mix of the new track 'Sirens,' which should appear on the band's next LP expected sometime in 2013.

TURN BLUE by Bloods

A band name like 'Bloods' might conjure up some thrashy or gang-related imagery, but this trio out of Sydney, Australia manage to put together some angsty, lo-fi garage rock that fills you with the urge to bounce around joyously.  'Turn Blue' was released digitally on September 5 and is 'the 1.01 minute garage-punk-punch-in-the-face that opens their set.'  The

SUMMER 2012 MIX

A playlist of highlights featured over the past three months on CHROMEWAVESRADIO.com.  Stream and download the playlist from the media player above, and it's also available over at the CHROMEWAVES RADIO 8tracks, Soundcloud, and Spotify profiles.  

Playlist after the jump.

[on repeat] STOOD A CHANCE by Glow Kit

Denmark's Glow Kit have followed up some exciting singles and an EP with their debut self-titled LP that was released from the soon to be defunct FDH Records earlier this year.  They put out some straightforward, mind-penetrating, garage rock. Call it what you will...garage pop, punk pop, power pop...it's dirty, it's catchy, and it's filled with some fun,

[on repeat] FLOUR by Digital Leather

Digital Leather is the project of multi-instrumentalist Shawn Foree from Omaha (that'd be Nebraska) whose creative genius takes his generally punk flavored releases into an array of other genres.  His most recent release, Yes Please, Thank You, is a cassette EP that was released earlier this year on Southpaw Records (buy).  For this release Shawn

LAKE SUPERIOR by Sea Pinks

(previously on CWR)

You may know Sea Pinks as the other project for Girls Names drummer Neil Brogan, you may just know them as the breezy jangly pop trio out of Belfast, Ireland, you may have stumbled across them as part of a previous post, or maybe you haven't been fortunate enough yet to come across their dreamy blend

WANIWANIPANIC by The Vanities

Fans of sweet, saccharine-laced indie sounds must give the newly released compilation, Soon V.A., a listen.  It comes to us from Japanese online indie label ano(t)raks.  The comp was released on September 14 and appears to only be available digitally at the label's Bandcamp.  The Vanities are a duo out of Japan and their tune, 'Waniwanipanic,' is a definite

ALL I WANNA DO by Splashh

Splassh are a four-piece out of London that definitely sound British.  Their swirly and bombastic take on pop will conjure up memories of some fun 90's acts like Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Adorable, or early Blur.  They seem to be garnering quite the press for their couple of singles released earlier this year as they make their way along the European festival scene.  Two

DUMB FUN by The Keepsies

The Keepsies are a new band that are tightly entwined with a couple other bands recently featured on the blog.  The Keepsies are a trio that feature Jason Kelly who is one half of Fergus & Geronimo, and as you may recall just recently released their stellar LP from Hardly Art Records.  Another member of The Keepsies  Austin Brown, records and tours

[on repeat] STONED AND STARVING by Parquet Courts

Following up yesterday's post, here's yet another up and coming New York band with an LP of songs that rip right through you. Parquet Courts are transplants from Texas and you can hear their home roots in their take on some good ramshackle, proto-punk rock.  Their debut release, American Specialties, was only available on cassette and didn't stir up