{"id":47675,"date":"2012-12-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-12-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/features\/2012-top-10\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T11:47:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T11:47:45","slug":"2012-top-10","status":"publish","type":"feature","link":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/features\/2012-top-10\/","title":{"rendered":"2012: Top 10"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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10. Europe \u2013 Bag Of Bones<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Swedish rock stalwarts Europe released their ninth studio album this year, and for fans of the band (myself included), it couldn\u2019t have been better.\u00a0 Their previous set Last Look At Eden <\/i>was a very solid record that found the band sounding as good as they ever had.\u00a0 With Bag Of Bones<\/i>, however, they have stepped it up a notch and managed to produce what is possibly their best ever album.\u00a0 Front man Joey Tempest still has the power in his pipes to handle every high note required here with ease, and there are plenty of them.\u00a0 The band sounds as focused and vital as they did in their heyday, and producer Kevin Shirley did a splendid job in helping to create a very \u201clive\u201d sounding album.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Highlights: \u201cNot Supposed To Sing The Blues,\u201d \u201cFirebox,\u201d \u201cMy Woman, My Friend,\u201d \u201cMercy Me, Mercy You.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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9. Sinead O\u2019Connor – How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

This release, O\u2019Connor\u2019s ninth studio album, really is one of her very best.\u00a0 It\u2019s full of beautiful melodies and hopeful lyrics, which she could frankly use more of at times.\u00a0 There are still the moments when O\u2019Connor digs into her confusion and anger with her religion, and although she has covered this territory numerous times before, it is not without merit and she handles it here very well indeed.\u00a0 Her layered vocals and subdued but angry guitar licks back her message superbly.\u00a0 The album is one of most accomplished and driven but also very accessible for the casual admirer, too. Sonically it has no weaknesses at all.\u00a0 Simply wonderful.<\/p>\n

Highlights: \u201c4th<\/sup> & Vine,\u201d \u201cTake Off Your Shoes,\u201d \u201cThe Wolf Is Getting Married,\u201d \u201cVery Far From Home.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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8. Rickie Lee Jones \u2013 The Devil You Know <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Ben Harper produced this, Jones\u2019 twelfth album of covers, and I\u2019m not sure if he knew what he was in for when he took the job on. But The Devil You Know <\/i>is most unlike anything Jones or Harper have ever really produced before.\u00a0 All of the elements that make these classic songs instantly recognizable have been removed completely to render them the exact opposite.\u00a0 The spare and stark production gives Jones (a natural jazz singer) all the room in the world to move in as she gets deep into every one of these ten songs and slowly brings them to life.\u00a0 Her voice is so full of character and nuance that at times it seems as if she herself is unsure with what to do with it.\u00a0 This is an intriguing and engaging record that is not easy to listen to, but you will reap rewards from repeated plays.<\/p>\n

Highlights: \u201cSympathy For The Devil,\u201d \u201cThe Weight,\u201d \u201cComfort You,\u201d \u201cSeems Like A Long Time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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7. Michael Kiwanuka \u2013 Home Again<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

In the tradition of Bill Withers (the soulful folk singer) comes this 24 year old Londoner who delivered his brilliant debut alum, Home Again<\/i>, <\/i>this year to global acclaim.\u00a0 Musically, it is a wonderful affair full of lush arrangements that complement Kiwanuka\u2019s rich soul tones perfectly. He is one of those guys that sound so much older\/worldlier than he really is.\u00a0 There are a lot of folk influences throughout the set and some glorious harmonies that recall some of classic soul\u2019s finest hours.\u00a0 This album is an absolute joy to listen to and I can\u2019t see myself tiring of it anytime soon.<\/p>\n

Highlights:\u00a0 \u201cTell Me A Tale,\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll Get Along,\u201d \u201cBones,\u201d \u201cAny Way Will Do Fine.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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6. Bonnie Raitt \u2013 Slipstream<\/i> <\/b> <\/p>\n

2012 saw the return of one of music\u2019s true survivors, Bonnie Raitt.\u00a0 Slipstream<\/i> is her first album in seven years and it is easily one of her very best ever.\u00a0 Album number sixteen for Raitt is an all covers disc, but she has written a new song to throw into the mix and it fits right in without a hitch.\u00a0 The album has not one weak cut, and both her distinctive voice and signature slide licks have rarely sounded better than they do here.\u00a0 Raitt tackles two Dylan gems from his latter years that she handles very well, and she has chosen the rest of the material to fit around the mood and vibe she has created for those tracks.\u00a0 All of it works so well and sounds as fresh and punchy as any of her previous efforts to date.\u00a0 I\u2019m so glad to have her back, she\u2019s so cool.<\/p>\n

Highlights: \u201cUsed To Rule The World,\u201d \u201cDown To You,\u201d \u201cAin\u2019t Gonna Let You Go,\u201d \u201cMarriage Made In Hollywood.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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5. Dr. John <\/b>\u2013 Locked Down <\/i> <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, from down South comes this raw, deep-fried logjam of swampy blues and funky soul that all comes together so well it delivers Dr. John one of his greatest albums ever. It\u2019s possibly his best since the holy grail of all that\u2019s left of center, 1968\u2019s Gris-Gris<\/i>.\u00a0 Recorded in Nashville, TN and produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, this record sounds as if it was actually created in the distant dark \u201870s and was just unearthed and dusted off yesterday.\u00a0 It\u2019s very experimental, never boring, and always funky, which is all you could want from the good Doctor.\u00a0 The mood is lighter than his previous outings, which addressed Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, but he still takes time to point the finger where it needs pointing and he does it better than most.<\/p>\n

Highlights: \u201cLocked Down,\u201d \u201cRevolution,\u201d \u201cKingdom Of Izzness,\u201d \u201cYou Lie.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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4. Tom Jones \u2013 Spirit In The Room<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Old TJ is really on a good thing now; there\u2019s simply no stopping him, and I couldn\u2019t be happier about it.\u00a0 Since the wonderfully deserved success of his previous release (2010\u2019s Praise & Blame<\/i>), TJ has again hooked up with that album\u2019s producer Ethan Jones (no relation) and attempted to recreate the magic.\u00a0 Most folks will tell us that this is an impossible task and to not even bother trying to do it, but they of course forgot to tell these two that.\u00a0 This album is every bit as soulful, spiritual, and raw as its big brother, and although the mood is a little lighter here, TJ still touches on themes of mortality and lost love while still looking back on a life well lived.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Highlights: \u201c(I Want To) Come Home,\u201d \u201cLove And Blessings,\u201d \u201cTravelling Shoes,\u201d \u201cAll Blues Hail Mary.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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3. Bobby Womack \u2013 The Bravest Man In The Universe <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Soul veteran Bobby Womack hooked up with Damon Albarn in the hope of producing a modern soul\/R&B album that Womack could use to show he still has what it takes in the current climate of an ever changing industry.\u00a0 I\u2019d suggest that the pair knew they were onto something special pretty early on in the proceedings because every track here is so damn good that when the album finishes, it leaves you wanting more.\u00a0 The production is right here in the now but just funked up enough to make Womack feel at ease with this collection of co-writes that the two came up with.\u00a0 The magnificent title track is worth the album\u2019s cost alone, and there is plenty more where that came from.\u00a0 What a singer this guy is. He\u2019s too often overlooked, but hopefully this album will have something to do about that.<\/p>\n

Highlights: \u201cThe Bravest Man In The Universe,\u201d \u201cPlease Forgive My Heart,\u201d \u201cStupid,\u201d \u201cIf There Wasn\u2019t Something There.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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2. Bob Dylan \u2013 <\/b>Tempest <\/i><\/p>\n

Album number\u2026.who\u2019s still counting?\u00a0 Dylan just keeps on keeping on and every now and then drops a stone-cold classic as he did this year with Tempest<\/i>.\u00a0 His voice now sounds like some old character of film haunting your room as he delivers these tales with a restrained vitality that only he could manage.\u00a0 Produced under his alias Jack Frost, Dylan guides his road band through the murky waters of these tracks that sees him take aim at just about everyone who ever took a wrong turn in life.\u00a0 These are some of his most dark and violent tales ever although there are some lighter moments and the long, long title track that tells the story of the ill-fated Titanic, as rewritten by Dylan of course.\u00a0 One of his best?\u00a0 No doubt about it.<\/p>\n

Highlights: \u201cNarrow Way,\u201d \u201cPay In Blood,\u201d \u201cScarlet Town,\u201d \u201cTin Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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1. \u00a0Frank Ocean – Channel Orange<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Putting aside the fact that Ocean is apparently the first black male R&B artist to confess to falling in love with a member of the same sex (as noted in his long liner notes of this album, which he tweeted upon its release), the fact remains that the most intriguing thing about this album and its creator is the music itself.\u00a0 This is just one of those all too rare releases that just appear and after working their magic on you, stay with you forever.\u00a0 Ocean himself is the whole package, too; he is ridiculously handsome, busts a move better than most, and what a voice he has \u2013 a range most guys would kill for.\u00a0 The minimalist approach with the production here allowed for Ocean to use that voice to astonishing effect and keep the focus on his life\u2019s journey, which unravels beautifully as each song blends seamlessly into the next.\u00a0 This album is heartfelt, sexy, funny, and funky, and it\u2019s easily the best thing I have heard all year. I still can\u2019t get enough of Mr. Ocean.<\/p>\n

Highlights: \u201cThinkin\u2019 \u2019Bout You,\u201d \u201cSierra Leone,\u201d \u201cPyramids,\u201d \u201cMonks.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u00a0 10. Europe \u2013 Bag Of Bones Swedish rock stalwarts Europe released their ninth studio album this year, and for fans of the band (myself included), it couldn\u2019t have been better.\u00a0 Their previous set Last Look At Eden was a very solid record that found the band sounding as good as they ever had.\u00a0 With […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":50224,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"feature_type":[5609],"class_list":["post-47675","feature","type-feature","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","feature_type-best-of"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/feature\/47675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/feature"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/feature"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"feature_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/feature_type?post=47675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}