Albums From the First Half of 2012 That Are Good

The Beach Boys - That's Why God Made the RadioAs I’ve mentioned previously in this here blog space, I’ve largely gotten out of the album review game. Unless a record really moves or I have something I really need to say, I’m gonna just wait to the customary year-end period to share my thoughts. But if you’re impatient, you can always subscribe to my in-progress Spotify playlist.

That said, here’s a rundown of some records released in 2012 that I’ve been digging on, either a little or a lot (along with song clips where appropriate).

The Beach Boys, That’s Why God Made the Radio

Django Django, Django Django

Air, Le voyage dans la lune

Ryan Shaw, Real Love

Prong, Carved Into Stone

Rush, Clockwork Angels

Storm Corrosion, Storm Corrosion

Jack White, Blunderbuss

Imperial State Electric, Pop War

Lambchop, Mr. M

The Explorers Club, Grand Hotel

Robert Glasper, Black Radio

Alabama Shakes, Boys & Girls

Van Halen, A Different Kind of Truth

Black Mountain, Year Zero: The Original Soundtrack

Brendan Benson, What Kind of World

The Shins, Port of Morrow

Overkill, The Electric Age