It's here— the top 200 albums of 2012 (as I saw it).
The top ten made it into an online story and you can read about them here. Albums 11-200 were only featured as a countdown ticker in the paper (on newsstands now).
However— for those of you out of the area or those just dying to get a look at the list, it's posted below. There's also a ginormous Spotify playlist featuring songs from all but four of the albums on the list (not all bands are on Spotify).
So dig in. With any luck you'll make it through the playlist before 2013 arrives.
1. The Way We Move- Langhorne Slim & The Law
Ramseur Records, Released: June 5, 2012
2. The Clearing- Bowerbirds
Dead Oceans, Released: March 6, 2012
3. 151a- Kishi Bashi
Joyful Noise Recordings, Released: April 10, 2012
4. KinKonK- MOsley WOtta
Independent, Released September: 14, 2012
5. Break It Yourself- Andrew Bird
Mom + Pop Music, Released: March 6, 2012
6. Django Django- Django Django
Ribbon Music, Released: August 30, 2012
7. The Lumineers- The Lumineers
Dualtone Music, Released: April 3, 2012
8. Blunderbuss- Jack White
Third Man/Columbia, Released: April 20, 2012
9. Bear Creek- Brandi Carlile
Columbia, Released June 1, 2012
10. O’ Be Joyful- Shovels & Rope
Dualtone Music, Released: July 31, 2012
11. Strange Land- Yellow Ostrich
Barsuk Records, Released: March 6, 2012
12. An Awesome Wave- alt-J
Canvasback/ATL, Released: September 18, 2012
13. Fear Fun- Father John Misty
Sub Pop Records, Released: May 1, 2012
14. Who Needs Who- Dark Dark Dark
Supply and Demand Music, Released: October 2, 2012
15. Boys & Girls- Alabama Shakes
ATO Records, Released: April 10, 2012
16. Celebration Rock- Japandroids
Polyvinyl Records, Released: May 29, 2012
17. My Head Is An Animal- Of Monsters And Men
Republic Records, Released: April 3, 2012
18. So Long- Tumbleweed Wanderers
Independent, Released: July 27, 2012
19. Eraas- ERAAS
felte, Released: October 2, 2012
20. Bloom- Beach House
Sub Pop Records, Released: May 15, 2012
21. Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!- Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Constellation, Released: October 16, 2012
22. Bones- Fenster
Morr Music, Released: March 2, 2012
23. Lonerism- Tame Impala
Modular Fontana, Released: October 9, 2012
24. Denver- Denver
Mama Bird Recording Co., Released: August 14, 2012
25. Tramp- Sharon Van Etten
Jagjaguwar, Released: February 6, 2012
26. The Sound Of Low Class Amerika- I Self Devine
Rhymesayers, Released: May 8, 2012
27. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Anger- River City Extension
XOXO Records, Released: June 5, 2012
28. Solo Piano II- Chilly Gonzales
Arts&Crafts, Released: August 28, 2012
29. Who’s Feeling Young Now?- Punch Brothers
Nonesuch, Released: February 10, 2012
30. The Shovel vs. The Howling Bones- Lincoln Durham
Rayburn Publishing, Released: January 31, 2012
31. The North- Stars
ATO Records, Released: September 4, 2012
32. History Speaks- Deep Sea Diver
Independent, Released: May 21, 2012
33. Los Processaur- Weinland
Jealous Butcher Records, Released: November 6, 2012
34. good kid, m.A.A.d. city- Kendrick Lamar
Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope, Released: October 22, 2012
35. Lonesome Dreams- Lord Huron
IAmSound, Released: October 9, 2012
36. On and On- Syd Arthur
Dawn Chorus Recording Company, Released: July 3, 2012
37. Shrines- Purity Ring
4AD, Released: July 23, 2012
38. Positive Force- Delicate Steve
Luaka Bop, Released: July 10, 2012
39. Put Your Back N 2 It- Perfume Genius
Matador, Released: February 20, 2012
40. Port of Morrow- The Shins
Columbia, Released: March 16, 2012
41. Bend Beyond- Woods
Woodsist, Released: September 18, 2012
42. There’s No Leaving Now- The Tallest Man On Earth
Dead Oceans, Released: June 12, 2012
43. The Lion’s Roar- First Aid Kit
Wichita Recordings, Released: January 24, 2012
44. Channel ORANGE- Frank Ocean
Def Jam Records, Released: July 17, 2012
45. Love This Giant- David Byrne & St. Vincent
4AD, Released: September 10, 2012
46. The Church of the Good Thief- Right Away, Great Captain!
Favorite Gentlemen, Released: June 12, 2012
47. Voyageur- Kathleen Edwards
New Rounder, Released: January 17, 2012
48. Endless Flowers- Crocodiles
Frenchkiss Records, Released: June 5, 2012
49. Time Capsules II- Oberhofer
Glassnote, Released: March 26, 2012
50. Fort Atlantic- Fort Atlantic
Dualtone Music, Released: May 28, 2012
51. Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now- Justin Townes Earle
Bloodshot Records, Released:
52. Here- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Community Music/Vagrant Records, Released: May 29, 2012
53. Heaven- The Walkmen
Fat Possum, Released: May 29, 2012
54. Allen Stone- Allen Stone
ATO Records, Released: June 26, 2012
55. Beams- Matthew Dear
Ghostly International, Released: August 28, 2012
56. Moms- Menomena
Barsuk Records, Released: September 18, 2012
57. Total Loss- How To Dress Well
AcEphale, Released: September 18, 2012
58. Trilogy- The Weeknd
Republic Records, Released: November 13, 2012
59. A Church That Fits Our Needs- Lost In The Trees
Anti/Epitaph, Released: March 16, 2012
60. Sing Sing- Shivering Timbers
Independent, Released: August 14, 2012
61. Coexist- The XX
Young Turks, Released: September 10, 2012
62. Fin- John Talabot
Permanent Vacation, Released: January 27, 2012
63. Shields- Grizzly Bear
Warp Records, Released: September 17, 2012
64. Young Wonder- Young Wonder
Feel Good Lost, Released: April 14, 2012
65. Celeste- My Tiger My Timing
Independent, Released: July 2, 2012
66. Hiding With the Wolves- Heidi Happy
Tonequake Records, Released: June 5, 2012
67. Inner Classics- Snowblink
Arts&Crafts, Released: September 11, 2012
68. The End- The Ghosts
Pocket Records, Released: April 15, 2012
69. Where the Knives Meet Between the Rows- Leigh Marble
Laughing Stock Records, Released: April 24, 2012
70. Silver Sky- The Infamous Stringdusters
High Country Recordings, Released: March 13, 2012
71. Seven Steps- Brooklyn Rider
In A Circle Records, Released: April 10, 2012
72. Faithful Man- Lee Fields & The Expressions
Truth & Soul Records, Released: March 13, 2012
73. Awe Naturale- THEEsatisfaction
Sub Pop Records, Released: March 26, 2012
74. Gossamer- Passion Pit
Columbia, Released: July 20, 2012
75. Kill For Love- Chromatics
Italians Do It Better, Released: March 26, 2012
76. People Hear What They See- Oddisee
Mello Music Group, Released: June 12, 2012
77. America- Dan Deacon
Domino Recording Company, Released: August 28, 2012
78. Poor Moon- Poor Moon
Sub Pop Records, Released: August 28, 2012
79. Fragrant World- Yeasayer
Secretly Canadian, Released August 21, 2012
80. Master of My Make-Believe- Santigold
Atlantic Records, Released April 21, 2012
81. The Sheepdogs- The Sheepdogs
Atlantic Records, Released: September 4, 2012
82. Be The Void- Dr. Dog
Anti/Epitaph, Released: February 3, 2012
83. Body Faucet- Reptar
Vagrant Records, Released: May 1, 2012
84. Home Again- Michael Kiwanuka
Interscope, Released: May 8, 2012
85. Visions- Grimes
4AD, Released: February 21, 2012
86. The Carpenter- The Avett Brothers
Universal Republic Records, Released: September 11, 2012
87. The Heist- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Independent, Released: October 9, 2012
88. Nocturne- Wild Nothing
Captured Tracks, Released: August 28, 2012
89. Bermuda Triangle- Deep Time
Hardly Art, Released: July 10, 2012
90. Blak and Blu- Gary Clark Jr.
Warner Bros., Released: October 16, 2012
91. Shallow Bed- Dry The River
RCA Records, Released: March 2, 2012
92. Major- Fang Island
Sargent House, July 24, 2012
93. Free Reign- Clinic
Domino Recording Co., Released: November 13, 2012
94. Lightning- Matt & Kim
FADER Label, Released: October 2, 2012
95. Tomorrowland- Ryan Bingham
Axster Bingham Records, Released: September 18, 2012
96. Unearth- Grasscut
Ninja Tune, Released: July 24, 2012
97. Centipede Hz- Animal Collective
Domino Recording Co., Released: September 4, 2012
98. Dark Shores- Strand of Oaks
Independent, Released: July 24, 2012
99. Wilderness- The Features
BMG, Released: June 5, 2012
100. Stranger- Balmorhea
Western Vinyl, Released: October 2, 2012
101. Danger of Love- Beland
102. Manifest!- Friends
103. Rooms Filled With Light- Fanfarlo
104. Melt- Young Magic
105. Worship- A Place to Bury Strangers
106. Animal Joy- Shearwater
107. Jimmy’s Show- Jim Noir
108. We Are All Fire- Cars & Trains
109. Ask Me This- Alcoholic Faith Mission
110. Adventures In Your Own Backyard- Patrick Watson
111. The Tel Aviv Sessions- The Toure-Raichel Collective
112. Valtari- Sigur Ros
113. Some Nights- Fun.
114. Falling- Seapony
115. Yellow & Green- Baroness
116. Strange Weekend- Porcelain Raft
117. A Sleep & A Forgetting- Islands
118. Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables- Todd Snider
119. Interstellar- Frankie Rose
120. Mondo- Electric Guest
121. Parallel- Whispertown
122. SSSS- Vcmg
123. Oshin- DIIV
124. Light Up Gold- Parquet Courts
125. Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons- Max Richter
126. (III)- Crystal Castles
127. Arrow- Heartless Bastards
128. Stars & Satellites- Trampled By Turtles
129. Broken Brights- Angus Stone
130. Eight and a Half- Eight and a Half
131. Hello Land!- Guillemots
132. True- Violens
133. I Predict A Graceful Expulsion- Cold Specks
134. A Wasteland Companion- M. Ward
135. Creature Creature- Aaron & The Sea
136. Synthetica- Metric
137. Still Life- Kylie Auldist
138. The Fate of the World Depends on This Kiss- Whitehorse
139. Incorruptible Heart- Lavender Diamond
140. Newman’s Own Choir- Catch Bees
141. Algiers- Calexico
142. King Tuff- King Tuff
143. IZOL- International Zombies of Love
144. TRST- Trust
145. Swing Lo Magellan- Dirty Projectors
146. Yay- Crystal Shipsss
147. Diluvia- Freelance Whales
148. Former Lives- Benjamin Gibbard
149. Young Man In America- Anais Mitchell
150. Soft Fall- Sun Airway
151. Maraqopa- Damien Jurado
152. The Wilderness- Cemeteries
153. Life Traffic Jam- Manceau
154. ((O))- Hey Sholay
155. Midlife Poncho- Herzfeld Orchestra
156. WIXIW- Liars
157. Something- Chairlift
158. Pale Fire- El Perro Del Mar
159. Highwire Poetry- Karin Park
160. Contextual Doom- Capgun Coup
161. Hospitality- Hospitality
162. Nootropics- Lower Dens
163. Observator- The Ravonettes
164. Correct Behavior- Eternal Summers
165. Come Back As Rain- Good Old War
166. This Is An Adventure- The Lighthouse and The Whaler
167. Skyline- Yann Tiersen
168. Dark Matters- Expensive Looks
169. Hope In Dirt City- Cadence Weapon
170. Until The Quiet Comes- Flying Lotus
171. House On the Hill- J. Tex & The Volunteers
172. Breakup Song- Deerhoof
173. Bleed Bleed Bleed- Thieves Like Us
174. Untogether- Letting Up Despite Great Faults
175. Middle America- Netherfriends
176. Cynic’s New Year- Horse Feathers
177. Exotic Cakes- Minden
178. In Limbo- Teen
179. A Different Ship- Here We Go Magic
180. Life Is Elsewhere- Little Comets
181. Remember Harder- MagicHour
182. Mixed Emotions- Tanlines
183. Carry Me Back- Old Crow Medicine Show
184. Sweet Heart Sweet Light- Spiritualized
185. Bring Your Desires Here- Crimson Mourn
186. I Know What Love Isn’t- Jens Lekman
187. Electric Hawaii- Opossom
188. Nostalgia the Country- Photographers
189. Silver Silver- Simone White
190. Jes- Fast Planet
191. Nature Experiments- The Big Sleep
192. All the Little Lights- Passenger
193. Have Some Faith in Magic- Errors
194. Daughter of Cloud- Of Montreal
195. The Sound of the Life of the Mind- Ben Folds Five
196. The Dreamer- Rhett Miller
197. Zammuto- Zammuto
198. And I Thank You- The Elwins
199. Eighty One- Yppah
200. The Only Place- Best Coast
