as required. (best of 2012)

I don't know what to say, really. Just another life altering year. Became a father. Quit my job. Read many books and took many tests and wrote many papers. Said lots of quick prayers. Moved into a new apartment. Spent time with friends, old and new. Did not devote any time whatsoever to this here blog. But the year is coming to a close and now I am required to provide a list of what I consider to be the best 50 albums of 2012. This was a great year for rap music. I suggest to you that hip-hop is not yet dead. I said this last year, I wish that I had more time to write about each and every one of these 50, but I have diapers to change and bottles to prepare. Here is the run down, from the least favorite to the most adored. Enjoy.

50. Allah-Las - Allah-Las
49. Twin Shadow - Confess
48. JJ Doom - Key to the Cuffs
47. Bobby Womack - The Bravest Man in the Universe
46. Pond - Beard, Wives, Denim 

45. Exitmusic - Passage
44. Father John Misty - Fear Fun
43. Now, Now - Threads
42. Common - The Dreamer, The Believer
41. Nas - Life is Good

40. Alt-J - An Awesome Wave
39. Hospitality - Hospitality 
38. Mount Eerie - Ocean Roar
37. Menomena - Moms
36. Melody's Echo Chamber - Melody's Echo Chamber

35. The Mynabirds - Generals
34. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz 
33. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan
32. Joey Bada$$ - 1999
31. Cody ChesnuTT - Landing on a Hundred

30. Lilacs and Champagne - Lilacs and Champagne
29. Aesop Rock - Skelethon
28. M. Ward - Wasteland Companion
27. Bowerbirds - The Clearing
26. First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar

25. Chairlift - Something
24. Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action at a Distance
23. Oh No - Ohnomite
22. Action Bronson - Blue Chips
21. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

20. Flying Lotus - Until the Quiet Comes
19. Tennis - Young and Old
18. Lower Dens - Nootropics
17. Lambchop - Mr. M
16. Damien Jurado - Maraqopa

15. Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man
14. Grizzly Bear - Shields
13. El-P - Cancer 4 Cure
12. Purity Ring - Shrines
11. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!

10. Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory
 9. Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City
 8. Sharon Van Etten - Tramp
 7. DIIV - Oshin
 6. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

 5. Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse
 4. Andrew Bird - Break it Yourself
 3. Shearwater - Animal Joy
 2. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
 1. Beach House - Bloom