2012 in Review: Music

I haven't done a year in music wrap up on the blog before, but I bought 180 new songs in 2012 and find myself really getting back into discovering new music in a way I haven't since I was in my early 20s.

Many times this year I'd come across a single I just loved to pieces, but the rest of the band's songs didn't immediately speak to me.  Sometimes I come back to them, give them more chances.  For example, I'm slowly learning to love all the tracks on The National's High Violet, on Mumford & Suns Sigh No More and on Arcade Fire's The Suburbs.

But those are all older, so let's talk about stuff released in 2012.  Here are some of the new songs that were on heavy rotation this year (in no particular order):

Anna Sun - Walk the Moon This is so infectious - always puts me in a good mood.
Dear Fellow Traveler - Sea Wolf I'm a big Sea Wolf fan, and this was my fast favorite from his new album
All the Rowboats - Regina Spektor I'm in awe of Regina's lyrics. Saying art is imprisoned is an interesting thought.
Stubborn Love - The Lumineers So much emotion
Madness - Muse I heard this on the radio in LA without knowing who it was and loved it.
Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It - Stars Perfect feel good anthem.
Abraham's Daughter - Arcade Fire (from The Hunger Games Soundtrack) OMG, I got chills when this started the credits. Perfect fit to the movie.
She Owns the Streets - The Raveonettes I got into the Raveonettes in a big way this year, and this is my favorite from the latest album.
Love Love Love - Of Monsters and Men  This is one of the saddest love songs ever.
Born to Die - Lana Del Rey Kind of a guilty pleasure, but Lana's songs are super addictive.
We Are Young - Fun. I know this was a big radio hit - and I never got tired of it!
History's Door - Husky Has kind of a Fleet Foxes vibe which is good for chillin'
Closer - Tegan and Sara  Much more commercial than most of their stuff, but very upbeat and fun.
Cutty Love - Milo Greene Love the atmosphere of this one.

And then there are some older songs that I just found this year:

Here in Me - Saint Saviour (2011) My current obsession.
Tamer Animals - Other Lives (2011) This entire album is amazing.
Starlight - Rachael Yamagata (2011) Love the groove.
Shake Me Down - Cage the Elephant (2011) I could see this being the theme song to a apocalyptic zombie movie.
Lights - Ellie Goulding (2011) Sunlight and sprinkles captured in song form.
Timshel - Mumford & Sons (2010)  Now vying for my top M&S song spot.
I Say Fever - Ramona Falls (2009) I listened to this on repeat all summer long. Gothic and dramatic.
Hannah - The Freelance Whales (2009) Quirky
Lazy Eye - The Silversun Pickups (2006) The beginning is soooo good.
What Else is There? - Royksopp (2005) Also a current obsession.

I also made it my mission to seek out more live music this year. Here's what I experienced:

Florence and the Machine - Houston, TX - April (Highlight: Shake it Out)
Tom Petty with Regina Spektor - Wichita, KS - April (Highlight: Free Fallin and The Party)
Scala and Kolacny Brothers - Frankfurt, Germany - May (Highlight: Creep)
Book of Mormon on Broadway - NYC, NY - August (Highlight: Baptize Me)
Tori Amos - Berlin, Germany - October (Highlight: Gold Dust)
Owl City - Frankfurt, Germany - October (Highlight: Fireflies)
Florence and the Machine - Frankfurt, Germany - December (Highlight: Drumming Song)
Stars - Frankfurt, Germany - December (Highlight: Take Me to the Riot)
The Raveonettes - Frankfurt, Germany - December (Highlight: Gone Forever & The Christmas Song)


Special shout-outs to my top music recommendation sources:

Twitterati such as @jpchanda (#songonsunday), @brokeandbookish @mstiefvater and @catagator
The Glitter Pox
Free Single of the Week on iTunes
NoiseTrade
My brother Nick

Now that you know my tastes, do you have any recommendations for me? I will love you forever!!