'12's 10

[Alas, no new mixes for you just yet, fine folks.  But be ye not impatient: Mixes ye shall have, forthrightly.  But, first, if I may be permitted this most desultory of diversions....  In recent weeks, in sorting through and summing up and making sense of my various aural enjoyments of 2012, it occurred to me that it might not be altogether inappropriate to fashion a list of my favorite albums from this past year.  This would be that list -- vertically-arranged (for ease of scroll) and with cover art, flag-of-origin, and previously-unseen-on-Plague-of-Angels MP3 track accompanying.  If you should feel the desire -- if you can find the time -- you'd be doing yourself a service to research them further....]

1.

SWEET SWEET LIES
The Hare, the Hound & the Tortoise

[MP3] "Valentine"

2.

EUGENE McGUINNESS
The Invitation to the Voyage

[MP3] "Sugarplum"


3.

FIRST AID KIT
The Lion's Roar

[MP3] "The Lion's Roar"


4.

SEA WOLF
Old World Romance

[MP3] "Dear Fellow Traveller"


5.

ASAF AVIDAN
Different Pulses

[MP3] "A Choice & a Gun"


6.

TWO WOUNDED BIRDS
s/t

[MP3] "Night Patrol"


7.

SMILE SMILE

Marry a Stranger

[MP3] "Statue"


8.

IMPERIAL TEEN
Feel the Sound

[MP3] "No Matter What You Say"

9.

GOLDEN FABLE

Star Map

[MP3] "Reconsider King"

10.

REVOLVER

Let Go

[MP3] "Parallel Lives"