Best Albums of mid-2012?

[Zeus 7997]

I can't believe that we're almost halfway through 2012! Usually I see a topic where people list their thoughts of the music of this year and their favorites pop up at around this time, so this time I'm starting it.

So thoughts on this year, favorite albums, etc. I'll be posting my list here.

[Jigsaw9 6783]

These are my favorite albums so far this year, in order:

Japanese music

1. ZIZ - GIFT

2. cali≠gari - 11

3. MEJIBRAY - Emotional【KARMA】

close but no cake: Alice Nine - "9", NEGA - VANITAS

Other international music

1. Die Antwoord - Ten$ion

2. Marilyn Manson - Born Villain

3. Cannibal Corpse - Torture

close but no cake: Meshuggah - Koloss, Marduk - Serpent Sermon

There are still a few albums I left off - they were good but I didn't really spin them that much (because I was busy with listening to these more xD). Overall lots of great stuff! This year has been pretty kickass so far in terms of music (and there's still some cool things to come).

[Pretsy 1343]

Japanese (not in order):

1) L'arc~en~ciel - Butterfly - favorite song

Surprisingly enough in the same level with other great Laruku albums - encompasses almost everything they've done, great!

2) Tokyo Jihen - Color Bars - favorite song

A mini-album with lots of visions from different composers - definitely gonna miss TJ...

3) Acid Black Cherry - 『2012』 -

I sort of liked singles but this blew me away - just as the album above, this album is made with a lot of visions

4) Alice Nine - "9" -

Not as good as Gemini but hey, it's still epic

5) A - Tales for the Abyss -

The best vk newcomer - no further comments needed.

6) Sadie - Red Line - favorite song (on tumblr this time)

A great follow-up for Cold Blood (yes,I liked that record alot)

7) Polysics - 15th P -favorite song

Even without Kayo, Polysics' still on fire.

8 ) Matenrou Opera - Justice - favorite song

I actually liked this (hey, I dig Stratovarius so I don't know what is "cheesy power metal")

Non-Japanese (expect a minimal list, not in order):

1) Julma-Henri & Syrjäytyneet - Radio Jihad

2) Sydän, Sydän - Kapseli

3) Stam1na - Nocebo

I guess that's all

Decent year for normal music, sort of crappy for vk.

: /

[fitear1590 2414]

Japanese:

ventla - BORN, BOOKMARK AND THEN DIE

ventla releases his albums for free and it is retro synth poppy perfection. Please listen.

己龍 (Kiryu) - 朱花艶閃

Without a doubt, my favorite album by them. One of the absolute best bands in VK right now.

女王蜂 (Ziyoou-vachi) - 蛇姫様

No surprise here, 女王蜂 delivers their signature psychedelic, noisy punk with Avu-chan's volatile vocals. Maybe their best release? In any case, another solid record.

DIMMDIVISION. - A Day In The PanoraMagic.

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This will definitely appear on my end-of-the-year list too, so get used to it. DIMMDIVISION. needs more love as they are an excellent underground band, creating some beautiful shoegaze-inspired music.

Non-Japanese:

Papa Topo - Rotación Y Traslación

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I've always had a thing for catchy spanish pop, and this Mallorcan band has taken their sound to the next level. For this mini-album, they experimented with a more mature, orchestral approach, and I dig it!

Belaire - Resonating Symphony

My favorite US band from my high school years finally released a second album after 5 years. This time, they went for a much dreamier bossa approach, which I am a huge fan of.

Kimbra - Vows (US Edition)

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Technically, Vows came out last year in New Zealand and was indeed a great album. However, almost a year went by before the US released her album (definitely riding the coattails of her cameo in Gotye's famous song). The album's tracklist was completely reworked getting 6 new songs and a live-take of an older song. In that sense, it's pretty much a new album. And it's awesome. If you like Janelle Monae's eclectic take on music, you should give Kimbra a try. Favorite new tracks are "Come Into My Head" and "Something in the Way You Are."

Looking forward to, for the rest of 2012:

テスラは泣かない - High noble march

Versailles new album

HaKU new album

caroline rocks new release (hopefully in 2012)

Hopefully 네미시스 (Nemesis), Rose Elinor Dougall, and Lamp will have new releases too

[Zeus 7997]

Oh man! I totally forgot about Ziyoouvachi's new album! That was great stuff.

[Heroin 53]

Japanese

1 Macabre- Dir en Grey

2 Love Letter- emmuree

3 Blue Blood- X Japan

4 Epsilon- Blood Stain Child

5 Goku- Girugamesh

I had to really think hard on which artist amused me the most. Was not that into Jrock this year.

Non Japanese

1 The Queen Is Dead- The Smiths

2 Boys Don't Cry- The Cure

3 Closer- Joy Divison

4 Juju- Siouxsie and the Banshees

5 Movement- New Order

6 Aunt Sally- Aunt Sally

7 The Noise Made by People- Broadcast

8 Public Radio- The Legends

9 Takasago Army- Chthonic

10 Medusa- Clan of Xymox

[Pretsy 1343]

Japanese

1 Macabre- Dir en Grey

2 Love Letter- emmuree

3 Blue Blood- X Japan

4 Epsilon- Blood Stain Child

5 Goku- Girugamesh

I had to really think hard on which artist amused me the most. Was not that into Jrock this year.

Non Japanese

1 The Queen Is Dead- The Smiths

2 Boys Don't Cry- The Cure

3 Closer- Joy Divison

4 Juju- Siouxsie and the Banshees

5 Movement- New Order

6 Aunt Sally- Aunt Sally

7 The Noise Made by People- Broadcast

8 Public Radio- The Legends

9 Takasago Army- Chthonic

10 Medusa- Clan of Xymox

Umm dude, this thread is about this year's releases, not about all-time releases x)

[Heroin 53]

Whoa! Your right haha oops

When I saw Cannibal Corpse on Jigsaw9's list I was thinking "hmm they made a new album?... naw". So that is what pretty much threw me off hah

Sadly I haven't been listening to new artists nor albums, so yeah... (deleting pointless list)

Edit: Noticed that I can't delete the post since there is no "x" to click on :/

[sugibo 403]

now i can finally name one:

TK from rin toshite shigure - flowering

[CAT5 9075]

^ yes, TK's solo album is pretty damn eargasmic. It might just make my list by the end of the year!

[Number Girl 48]

The only album I have to add is andymori's Hikari and Luna Sea's new single.

Sorry, I haven't been trying anything new except for artists I already like . . . lol

[whitegrey 115]

Ok, not a list or anything… but I really enjoy the new BUGY CRAXONE album… it's so… different… it's so… HAPPY !?! =)

(usually I don't like it when artists turn "happy" - e.g. with Olivia or Cocco and stuff [they were much better when they were angry and even psycho if you ask me]… but for Bugy somehow it feels right at the moment)