Form & Control – The Phenomenal Handclap Band – Lead off song "Following" just made my best of 2012 list and while the rest of this 80s style disco album by a coupla DJs isn't as good, it is plenty good enough. The second song, "The Right One" takes off from that perfect pre-teen Vampire movie "Let The Right One In" and, amazingly, does it justice. The album sags a little after, but never too far. Grade: B+
Live At Hampton Court Palce 2011 – Simple Minds – You can hear why Jim Kerr chose this concert to release. The band sounds old but powerful, they are all sinew, muscle, and authority. The songs mostly suck. Grade: B
Paralytic Stalks – Of Montreal – Play the album name and ignore the album? I should like this band more than I do,. The problem is I got in late and Kevin Barnes is so prolific it is hard to kep up. Add to this grade as you chose because except for the daytrotter session, I've never quite gotten em. Grade: B
How About I Be Me (And You Be You) – Sinead O'Connor – This is no better than any other Sinead album, so that means it is first rate. the equal of Theology or Faith And Courage. "VIP" is a very important statement and everything else is just about perfect. Grade: A
Stars And Topsoil a Collection 1982 – 1990 – The Cocteau Twins – The reason why these guys are not replicated is because we have too much technology to make something so etheral nowadays. Grade: A
Careless World: Rise Of The Last King – Tyga – I dismissed this as too obvious earlier this year. But I've found myself returning to the Big Sean wanna be (and with "Rack City" maybe gonna be). I wasn't keen on the Minaj joint and ot put me back. But the Marsha Ambrosius song is ace, so is the T-Pain. Plus, two songs with Weezy, and tracks with Nas, Pharrel, Chris Brown… And Tyga doesn't get lost on his own albumGrade: B+