2012 was a pretty interesting year for politics, art, culture, you name it. However, there were some pretty revolutionary occurrences that are specifically noteworthy. Here are the musical bests of 2012.Best album: Babel-Mumford and Sons
The best album in a very long time, period. M & S bested Sigh No More and took it up a notch and absolutely won me over the second I heard the opening tune. It’s so expansive and has such a classic feel. It is truly haunting and leaves you awe-struck. I will be listening to it for years to come.
Best film: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Okay, yeah yeah, it was a big fat sobfest. Regardless, I adored every second of this masterpiece. It is a legitimate work of art. Its’ translation from book to film was so good it makes me giddy just thinking about it. The perfect casting and beautiful cinematography puts it at the top of the batch.
Best new artist: One Direction
Regardless of your opinion on them, you have to admit that they have completely dominated the music scene. Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, you’ve said their name at least once. Constantly coming up in conversation, and on the radio, the guys of 1D have totally made an impact around the world.
Best concert: Conor Oberst at the Orpheum
Big surprise. This man is my idol and his music means the world to me, and seeing him in person was the icing on the cake. It was the best concert I’ve been to in my life, and that won’t be changing. I still get chills thinking about it. He is such a talented soul, and the show only confirmed and outdid my expectations.
Best website: Twitter
It’s quick, easy, and efficient. You can follow your fav musicians and see what they’re up to, and interact with them if you’re lucky. It’s cool to use for Warped Tour opportunities and to learn quirky details of your favourite band’s lives.
Best single on the radio: “Too Close” by Alex Clare
This tune absolutely exploded in the media. Unlike pretty much everything else, it gets stuck in your head and doesn’t annoy you a week later. His voice is beautiful and refreshing, and the techno drop in the chorus makes it memorable.
Best music site: Rock NYC
It’s been a great year for us here, and if you ask me, we’ve only gotten cooler. Each of us has grown individually, and as parts of a whole, we’ve improved music journalism. Here’s to many more years of being the coolest on the web.