ALARM's 50 Favorite Albums of 2012

ALARM’s 50 Favorite Albums of 2012

Another year, another torrential downpour of albums across our desks. As always, we encountered way too much amazing music, from Meshuggah to The Mars Volta, Converge, Killer Mike, P.O.S, and many more.

Cock and Swan

Review: Cock and Swan’s Stash

Cock and Swan: StashCock and Swan: Stash (Lost Tribe Sound)

“Sneak Close”

[audio:http://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Cock_and_Swan_Sneak_Close.mp3|titles=Cock and Swan: “Sneak Close”]

With its fourth album, Stash, Washington duo Cock and Swan makes a sharp departure from the sound of its previous records. Whereas the band was once rooted in haunting, trip-hop-ish electronic music, Stash sees it in a new direction towards a more stripped-down, acoustic aesthetic.

Vieo Abiungo

Review: Vieo Abiungo’s Thunder May Have Ruined the Moment

Vieo Abiungo: Thunder May Have Ruined the MomentVieo Abiungo: Thunder May Have Ruined the Moment (Lost Tribe Sound, 4/17/12)

“With Its Slow Decay”

[audio:http://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Vieo_Abiungo_Pete_Monro_with_its_slow_decay.mp3|titles=Vieo Abiungo: “With Its Slow Decay”]

Multi-multi-multi-instrumentalist, composer, and all-around whiz kid William Ryan Fritch has lent his musical dexterity to a number of film scores, as well as underground rapper Sole and his Skyrider Band. He also has recently begun making a name for himself under the pseudonym Vieo Abiungo, having released two albums in addition to his latest, Thunder May Have Ruined the Moment.

Cock and Swan

Video Premiere: Cock and Swan’s “Tectonic Plates”

Lost Tribe Sound’s Cock and Swan is set to release its fourth studio effort, Stash, later this month. The album marks a departure from the band’s haunting use of electronics in favor of a more stripped-down acoustic aesthetic, which can be heard in the band’s new video for “Tectonic Plates.”