the top 10 songs and albums of 2012

Quite a good year for music, all things considered. As usual with these countdowns, any act can only appear in either the albums or songs list, not both.

Top 10 Songs of 2012

1. Usher - Climax
2. Muse - Madness
3. M.I.A. - Bad Girls
4. Bloc Party - Kettling
5. High Contrast - The Road Goes On Forever (One Minute To Midnight Extended Mix)
6. Kindness - House
7. Odd Future - Forest Green
8. Plan B - ill Manors
9. Porter Robinson  - Language
10. Palma Violets - Best of Friends

Listen to the Top 10 Songs as a Spotify playlist. It's 30% unbearably sexy, 70% party anthems.


Top 10 Albums of 2012

1. Chromatics - Kill for Love
2. Richard Hawley - Standing On The Sky's Edge
3. Kendrick Lemar - Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
4. Alt-J - An Awesome Wave
5. John Talabot - fin
6. The Very Best - MTMTMK
7. Angel Haze - Reservations
8. The 2 Bears - Be Strong
9. Yppah - Eighty One
10. School of Seven Bells - Ghostory

Listen to the Top 10 Albums as a 10 track Spotify playlist. It's an equally sexy, but mostly more relaxed listen.

You may also look back over the album countdowns from 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007, and the single countdowns from 2011, 2010,2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006, if you're having a peerlessly sedate evening. x

a modern midnight conversation

We leave Shepherd's Bush Empire quite late on a weeknight. Simon suggests having a pint at the pub. I want to get home soon, so suggest we buy two bottles and drink on the tube. In the shop, Simon wants to buy lager. I want to buy Bulmers Raspberry and Lime flavour. It's new and looks interesting. I get my way.

On the platform in Shepherd's Bush station, we open our bottles. Five minutes later an announcement comes over the tannoy system.

"Passengers are advised that the consumption of alcohol is prohibited across the entire London Underground Network"

I look at Simon, laugh to myself, and rest my bottle in my bag.

"Passengers are advised that the consumption of alcohol, or carrying of an open container of alcohol, is prohibited across the entire London Underground Network"

I down what's left of my drink and put the bottle back in my bag. Simon hides behind the corner and attempts to neck half a bottle. At this point the help point next to us crackles into life.

"We can still see you."

"What on earth? Where? Oh. We're finishing them as fast as we can"

Simon panics. Tries to drink faster.

"What are you drinking anyway? Looks disgusting."

We hear several people in the control room laughing.

"It was Simon's choice, not mine."

"Well just remember, big brother is always watching."

We all laugh. Thanks TfL, love you.