Year in Review: CDs purchased in 2012

As 2012 comes to a close, I plan on reflecting on what new things

I chose to look at albums I purchased in 2012 rather than all songs added during the year or only the albums released in 2012. This narrowed it down to 11 albums. To simplify it, I excluded Vitamin String Quartet Pefroms Adele and Big Christmas Box due to the length of each album.

1. Sigh No More by Mumford & Sons

2.The Best of Mandy Moore by Mandy Moore

3.My Head is an Animal by Of Monsters and Men

4.Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon

5.Channel ORANGE by Frank Ocean

6.Veronica Mars Soundtrack by Various Artists

7.Pitch Perfect Soundtrack by Various Artists

8.Babel by Mumford & Sons

9.Halcyon by Ellie Goulding

I wanted to look at how often I would play one of these songs from the album, so I averaged all plays over number of songs. It's not completely accurate because iTunes obviously can't keep track of my listens on AmazonMP3player. But it gives an idea of how much I have enjoyed this new music.

Album: Sigh No More

Artist: Mumford & Sons

Year: 2010 (US)
Favorite Songs: "Little Lion Man", "I Gave You All", "White Blank Page"
Average Play per song:

I can't even remember what the tipping point was when I bought this. I'm sure I kept hearing about it from friends and finally decided to stop being stubborn and listen to a few songs. Well, the banjo hooked me (as I'm sure it did everyone else). I like the songs that build to the point where you feel like you just yelled yourself raw. Hence, my favorite songs are "Little Lion Man", "I Gave You All", and "White Blank Page". After listening to these songs, there is just this cathartic feeling left over. The other songs on the album are equally catchy, but don't produce the same feeling so I don't look at the the same way. Still didn't stop me from listening to this album on repeat for weeks.

Album: The Best of Mandy Moore 

Artist: Mandy Moore
Year: 2004
Favorite Songs: "Candy", "So Real"
Average Plays per song:

Let's be honest: everyone has guilty pleasure music. Mine just happens to be the music I listened to as a 12-year-old. Sugary sweet pop music was my jam back in the day (and still very much so nowadays). I bought this because it was cheap on Amazon and I just had to have "Candy" on my iPod. I only listen to her early material because it's classic 1999.


Album: My Head is an Animal
Artist: Of Monsters and Men
Year: 2012 (US)
Favorite Songs: "Little Talks", "Six Weeks"
Average Plays per song:

I had first heard "Little Talks" as part of a SXSW sampler and I was hooked. So I took a dive and bought the whole album. And I was satisfied. Off the top of my head, I can't remember what the songs sound like. But they are enjoyable in a folksy way. Consider it a filler between Mumford and Sons albums.

Album: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Artist: Spoon
Year: 2007
Favorite Songs: "The Underdog", "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb"
Average Plays per song:

I had heard of "The Underdog" and "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb" from other movies or playlists people had made. And I really enjoyed them. So after about 2 years of waiting to take the plunge, I finally bought the album. Those two songs still remain standouts from the track listing. Nothing too impressive, but I found "My Little Japanese Cigarette Case" and "The Ghost of You Lingers" catchy. Just not favorite, play on loop catchy.

Album: Channel ORANGE
Artist: Frank Ocean
Year: 2012
Favorite Songs: "Pyramids", "Bad Religion", "Sweet Life"
Average Plays per song:

There was a lot of hype around Frank Ocean prior to the release of Channel ORANGE. And honestly, it lived up to it. Favorite song hands down is the 10-minute long "Pyramids" that just pulls you in. Close seconds are the painfully honest "Bad Religion" and smooth "Sweet Life". There's a reason why this album is on all the best of 2012 lists. Calling it now, Best New Artist and Album of the Year at the 2013 Grammys (though Babel could be competition).

Album: Veronica Mars Soundtrack
Artist: Various Artists
Year: 2005
Favorite Songs: "On Your Porch", "I Hear the Bells", "We Used to Be Friends"
Average Plays per song:

Back in my freshman year of college, we had a free streaming service and I took advantage of that by listening to this album whenever I could. I didn't see the need to purchase it because I could listen to it on my computer when I wanted. Well, after I left college, there was a void in my life. A void, which I filled when I finally bought the album. Honestly, I love almost all of the songs on here. There is a distinct memory of the song and each scene it is from.

Album: Pitch Perfect Soundtrack
Artist: Various Artists
Year: 2012
Favorite Songs: "Just the Way You Are/Just a Dream", "Riff-Off"
Average Plays per song:

I first watched the trailer for Pitch Perfect and instantly knew I would love the movie, thanks in part to its music. It seems as though it was designed for me. Just what I needed after getting burned too many times by Glee. A capella + mash-ups + current tunes + a dash of 80's + a cast I absolute adore = pitch perfect (for me). Listening to the soundtrack is just reliving the movie experience and I love it.

Album: Babel
Artist: Mumford & Sons
Year: 2012
Favorite Songs: "I Will Wait", "Lover of the Light"
Average Plays per song:

I had listened to "Sigh No More" on repeat for so long I knew I needed more Mumford and Sons. So thankfully they released a new album to accommodate me, obviously. It's taken me a little longer to appreciate all the songs here. "I Will Wait" is the current go-to song if I need something folksy and upbeat. Appreciating "Lover of the Light" a bit more after the music video starring Idris Elba (who also directed it).

Album: Halcyon
Artist: Ellie Goulding
Year: 2012
Favorite Songs: "Anything Can Happen", "I Need Your Love", "Only You", "My Blood"
Average Plays per song:

Love love love Ellie Goulding. I'm also loving that America has finally caught on and plays her music. Yes, it has a slightly different song than "Lights", but it's still amazing. First single is "Anything Can Happen" and it is popping up all over the place. I heard it on the supermarket radio in Switzerland. And then it was covered in the X Factor recently. "I Need Your Love" is a Calvin Harris tune that features Ellie and it has made me realize that I already liked a lot of his work without knowing it.