12 For '12: A Dozen Songs From This Year That You Should Hear Right Now

By Maura Johnston Wed., May 23 2012 at 10:00 AM

Evans The Death.

In this week's Voice I offered up a midseason report of sorts, listing 12 particularly outstanding tracks from this year. Here, for your listening pleasure, are the 12 songs in streamable form (via a combination of YouTube and Soundcloud so as to not lock anyone—or any songs—out). Happy listening, and if you'd like to share a 2012 song that's particularly tickled your ears, by all means do so in the comments.

The Flaming Lips feat. Ke$ha and Biz Markie, "2012 (You Must Be Upgraded)"

Evans The Death, "I'm So Unclean"

Kindness, "That's Alright"

(be sure to check out the Trouble Funk song it flips, too)

Adam Lambert feat. Sam Sparro and Nile Rodgers, "Shady"

Sylver Tongue, "Creatures"

Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves Of Destiny, "Sweet Tooth Bird"

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Macky Paige

Glad to see Rebecca Ferguson on the list! I love her live video for Glitter and Gold! com/watch/rebecca-ferguson/glitter-gold-live-from-echo-arena/GB1101200246?fb_action_ids=10150919718885772,437982316225516,437980309559050,437979972892417,437979582892456&fb_action_types=video.watches&f

burning_plastic

The Flaming Lips with Ke$ha song is worthy of being a song you should hear right now, definitely. Their song with Bon Iver is better in my opinion, but both should be heard. I really like that Evans The Death song. I remember seeing it on your Tumblr.

Paul

These songs all suck. Keep your lists to yourself.

satosp

Then don't read the list.

BCE

1 Like

Making sweeping generalizations like "These songs all suck" makes you look like an idiot. The story you responded to is NOT "These Songs Are All Awesome" - it's "A Dozen Songs From This Year You Should Hear Right Now." At least one of 'em ("Call Me Maybe") is already its own cottage industry.

James Temple

Adam Lambert? Ke$ha? God you have some awful taste in music!

satosp

Did you listen to them? I've never cared for Ke$ha but made it halfway through the song and confirmed I still don't like her. But that Adam Lambert song - that is legendary Nile Rodgers playing guitar on it. Surprisingly funky and danceable.

maura

1 Like

Did you even listen to the songs? I mean, it's fine, although it's funny that you picked out those two, since they ALSO feature artists who one would think would impress such arbiters of Good Taste as yourself.

BCE

I'm guessing some of the haters commenting on here have never ever even heard of Flaming Lips before your list. Or made an assumption that just because Adam Lambert was on "American Idol," he must suck. (It would have to be really astronomical odds for every artist to ever have been on "American Idol" to suck...I'm just sayin'...)

Jdjjd

Thanks for Arctic monkeys. So glad Harvilla was replaced with a professional mediocre alt rock listener. check out this my chemical romance Bridge......

maura

Oh Jdjjd, light of my life, fire of my loins, why must you hide your love for me in this way?