This weeks mix is actually a best of compilation from one of our favorite music tumblogs. We would make a few changes but overall it’s a solid list and a great mix.

perfectmidnightworld:

PMW’s FAVORITE SONGS OF 2012 (pt. 2 // #1-20)

And so, here it is - my last year-end-list and the conclusion of my Favorite Songs of 2012 (#21-50 Here). As I stated before, it’s difficult to break down a solid reasoning by any number placement, so my back thirty were posted alphabetically - here, I’m trying to stick to more of a numerical order based on plays, release, and general impact. It’s the best way that I could compile a list of songs loaded with such incredible beauty, energy, and talent. So, this is my favorite twenty songs of 2012, in order of preference on this day (12.10.12), with full understanding that the order could very well shift by the time you read this - but with hope that you’ll find something that excites or inspires along the way. 

As before, a click of the track title will send you to the original posting with my original thoughts and streaming audio. Additional thoughts will be written where needed. The original podcast intended for this release will be going up later on in the month, as I’m presently having mic issues which are causing a problematic product. In the end, you can listen to each track through the links contained. Thank you for your support through another year of stellar music. You guys make the process of music discovery even more fun and exciting. Please share, reblog, and post your own lists - I love reading and comparing favorites. 

PLAYLIST: (Click for streaming link // Full Spotify playlist link at bottom)

• 20.) “Take Me to the Sun” by Jessica Bailiff
• 19.) “The Fall” by Rhye
• 18.) “Proceed to Memory” by Pinback
• 17.) “Sleeping With the Past” by Daniel Land and the Modern Painters
• 16.) “Laketop Swimmers” by Sun Airway
• 15.) “How it Went Down” by Dark Dark Dark
• 14.) “Marilyn” by Bat for Lashes
• 13.) “I Belong in Your Arms” by Chairlift - The best pure pop jam of the year, should have been a mega-hit.
• 12.) “Bodies” by Pale Seas
• 11.) “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” by Father John Misty
• 10.) “Kill for Love” by Chromatics - Both versions are stunning, but i tend to lean toward the shimmering, Running From the Sun version.
• 9.) “Young Blood” by Cemeteries - Gorgeous, textured, stunningly great melancholic dream pop. One of my favorite new artists.
• 8.) “Heaven” by The Walkmen - They’re somehow getting better this late in their career. One of my favorite sing-a-long choruses of the year
• 7.) “The House that Heaven Built” by Japandroids - Pure and exhilerating. The other best chorus of the year. Just screaming it out from a raw place. Perfect rock music.
• 6.) “Wait” by DIIV - Just one of a half dozen track from “Oshin” that I could have chosen. Dark, shadowy dream pop at it’s best. Completely infectious and gorgeous.
• 5.) “Say My Name, or Say Whatever” by How to Dress Well - I never did a proper write-up for this song because I was always at a loss for words. Tom Krell manages to strike to the heart of me with damn near every song. It’s gorgeous, powerful, moving music, but also so well written that you can find yourself moving to it - even if just back and forth. Extraordinary. 
• 4.) “White Foxes” by Susanne Sundfør - Sounding like it was created in some mythical fairy tale world, this dark, icy beauty stops me dead in my tracks everytime I hear it. Just try not to get chills in that opening chorus. 
• 3.) “So Smart” by Indoor Voices - Could just as easily be my number one. Pure, blissful dream pop. The kind of infectious beauty that rarely comes along. A perfect song from a stunning EP. I’ve been saying it for months - buy this EP!
• 2.) “No. 1 Against the Rush” by Liars - Again, this track could easily swap out any place in the top 5. An absolutely dark-as-night electro hum that permeates every note and nails home that Liars need not settle for a Radiohead comparison, they are their own beast - even if this is the best Radiohead song of 2012 (not written or performed by Radiohead).
• 1.) “Pyramids” by Frank Ocean - Again, could be anywhere, but also comfortable in my top spot of 2012. I never properly wrote this one up either, and that was mostly due to not being able to wrap my head around it at first. Was I caught up in the hype? Was a ten minute song about the rise and fall of woman-as-queen really this good? Was it even about that? After a few months, I came back to this track and it just clicked - it was the real deal, and it was something brave and magical and exciting. It tells a story - a strong and potent one - but also carries some of the best production of the year. The instrumental alone is incredible, but Ocean’s smooth, airy vocals take it to another level. It’s not your average hip-hop. It’s pushing boundaries and aiming higher and transcending the genre. It’s a dynamic and challenging song (thematically), but it’s as infectious and charged to make you move as any song released this year. A perfect pop experiment. 

(stream) PMW’s Favorite 20 Songs of 2012 (#20 - 1) via Spotify (Full List)

Thank you very much for listening, stay tuned in the next coupe of days for the big closeout - The Top 20 Favorite Songs of 2012, complete with podcast commentary and write up. Enjoy!

(previous Fave 2012 lists) MUSIC VIDEOS // EPs // ALBUMS // SONGS (#50 - 21)