Best Of 2012 - The Top Five

It's been a year of big releases and promising new bands in 2012, and here's my highlights of the last twelve months condensed into five albums;

5. MUSE - THE 2ND LAW
Muse continued their unstoppable charge to the heights of rock stardom with their sixth studio album, which was also one of their most varied efforts so far. Opening with the Bond-theme rock of 'Supremacy', flying straight into the Prince funk of 'Panic Station', to the outlandish Queen-esque Olympic theme 'Survival', The 2nd Law is the sound of a highly-talented musical trio testing the boundaries of their creativity. The highs may not be matched by the lows on a sometimes trying record, but it does see bassist Chris Wolstenholme take the lead role well in 'Save Me' and 'Liquid State'. The album is made by the stand-out moments; the anthemic 'Madness', the 90's rave in 'Follow Me' and the apocalypse dubstep of 'Unsustainable'.

4. HOWLER - AMERICA GIVE UP
One of the best new bands of the year, Howler's infectious punk gems recall The Ramones and The Strokes, but their own East Coast slant on the three-minute guitar-thrash template. The raucous 'Wailing (Making Out)', the undeniable 'This One's Different' and their anthemic calling-card 'I Told You Once' are just highlights on an immensely fun album. Already playing new songs live, this American band will be well worth watching in the very near future.

3. JAKE BUGG - JAKE BUGG
2012 has been a memorable year for this young man from Nottingham; touring the world with Noel Gallagher, taking on the the X-Factor (and winning) and scoring a Number One with your debut album - not bad ay? Drawing on the Bob Dylan/Neil Young one-man-and-his-guitar aesthetic, the first part of his eponymous record is packed with the hits - most notably the twanging opener 'Lightning Bolt', flag-waving single 'Two Fingers' and the vibrant 'Taste It'. The second half sees him master mature acoustic beyond his tender years; especially the tale-telling 'Seen It All', the uplifting 'Broken' and the sombre 'Someone Told Me'.

2. THE KILLERS - BATTLE BORN
Now officially one of the world's biggest bands, 'Battle Born' sees The Killers back bigger than ever with their brilliant 80's style Springsteen American anthems. From the bombastic 'Runaways' and rampant opener 'Flesh And Bone', to 'Mr. Brightside' Part Two in 'Miss Atomic Bomb'; from the pulsing 'The Rising Tide' to the touchingly tender 'Be Still' and sprawling ballad 'Here With Me', Flowers & Co. now boast one of the best set-lists around, set to grace a stadium near you soon.

1. LANA DEL REY - BORN TO DIE
Sticking tightly to the template of femme fatale singing of broken hearts and red dresses with classic instrumentals over lazy hip-hop beats, the year's best pop star presents an album overflowing with high-class pop gems. From the epic 'Born To Die' to the saltry 'Blue Jeans', the dreamy elation of 'Radio' to the serenely perfect 'Video Games', 'Born To Die' is wall-to-wall packed with undeniably catchy and wickedly beguiling tunes from an incredibly seductive star. Almost twelve months after release, still at the top of the playlist.



So, bad luck to Tribes, Green Day, Mumford and Sons, Plan B, Spector, Two Door Cinema Club, The Vaccines and The XX among others, and well done to Lana Del Rey - 'Born To Die' was easily the highlight of the year in music. And here's the title track, and here's to 2012. It's been a good one.

NWR