![30. Tribes - Baby: Brit-pop is alive and well thanks to this offering from Tribes. A strong guitar record with some lovely pop melodies that really hit the spot. Everything that was good about 90's brit-pop is available from this album. One of the best indie records around in 2012 from the Camden-based collective. Standout track: 'Nightdriving']()
30. Tribes - Baby: Brit-pop is alive and well thanks to this offering from Tribes. A strong guitar record with some lovely pop melodies that really hit the spot. Everything that was good about 90's brit-pop is available from this album. One of the best indie records around in 2012 from the Camden-based collective. Standout track: 'Nightdriving'
![29. Cooly G - Playin' Me: South London's Cooly G did something really clever with house music ths year. She made it cool for people who hate house. An incredibly daring record with roots in Cooly G's garage background mixed with a dubby instinct for percussion to create a jazzy tale of lovers' ruin. Bizarrely she missed out on nominations for both the Mercury and (more inexplicably) the MOBOs. No one seems to have any explanation as to why. Standout track: 'Is It Gone']()
29. Cooly G - Playin' Me: South London's Cooly G did something really clever with house music ths year. She made it cool for people who hate house. An incredibly daring record with roots in Cooly G's garage background mixed with a dubby instinct for percussion to create a jazzy tale of lovers' ruin. Bizarrely she missed out on nominations for both the Mercury and (more inexplicably) the MOBOs. No one seems to have any explanation as to why. Standout track: 'Is It Gone'
![28. Death Grips - The Money Store: The major label debut that launched a thousand controversies, Death Grips have never been one to do things quietly. And good for them, because the outright anger and aggression in this record is the thing that propels it from average to great. PR stunts and non-conformity aside, The Money Store is an assault on the ears that still manages to stand on its own - and punch you in the face while it does so. There's something about Death Grips that, well, grips you. And they won't let go without a fight. Standout track: 'Hacker']()
28. Death Grips - The Money Store: The major label debut that launched a thousand controversies, Death Grips have never been one to do things quietly. And good for them, because the outright anger and aggression in this record is the thing that propels it from average to great. PR stunts and non-conformity aside, The Money Store is an assault on the ears that still manages to stand on its own - and punch you in the face while it does so. There's something about Death Grips that, well, grips you. And they won't let go without a fight. Standout track: 'Hacker'
![27. Oberhofer - Time Capsules II: The eponymous project of Brad Oberhofer and crew, this debut traces everything from the literal journey of 'Cruisin' FDR' to the journey of misfortune in love. Spiralling orchestrals, glockenspiels, falsetto choruses and lilting guitars all feature on the album. But what stands out is the simplistic lyrics, eccentrically embellished with a consort of instruments and emphasism. Stand Out Track: 'oOoO']()
27. Oberhofer - Time Capsules II: The eponymous project of Brad Oberhofer and crew, this debut traces everything from the literal journey of 'Cruisin' FDR' to the journey of misfortune in love. Spiralling orchestrals, glockenspiels, falsetto choruses and lilting guitars all feature on the album. But what stands out is the simplistic lyrics, eccentrically embellished with a consort of instruments and emphasism. Stand Out Track: 'oOoO'
![26. Submotion Orchestra - Fragments: When Submotion released their debut, Finest Hour, they did a lot. They proved what could be done with dubstep in the hands of immensely talented musicians with sharp, creative minds. Many thought that might be the last we saw of Submotion. They'd done a job and several members had other projects on the go. But their second album Fragments reaches to still loftier peaks - warmer, livelier and more dance-centric than their debut, this is a masterpiece of an album. Standout track: 'Blindspot']()
26. Submotion Orchestra - Fragments: When Submotion released their debut, Finest Hour, they did a lot. They proved what could be done with dubstep in the hands of immensely talented musicians with sharp, creative minds. Many thought that might be the last we saw of Submotion. They'd done a job and several members had other projects on the go. But their second album Fragments reaches to still loftier peaks - warmer, livelier and more dance-centric than their debut, this is a masterpiece of an album. Standout track: 'Blindspot'
![25. Purity Ring - Shrines: Finally, an album that could lead to witch-house being taken seriously as a genre! With Shrines, Purity Ring combine the afore-mentioned vibe with a chillwave twist, and so they've managed to release one of the most exciting debut albums from a band this year. Avoiding the predictable and the mundane, Shrines sees Purity Ring go all out - with nods to everyone from Bjork to Burial. Listen, and be impressed. Standout track: 'Obedear']()
25. Purity Ring - Shrines: Finally, an album that could lead to witch-house being taken seriously as a genre! With Shrines, Purity Ring combine the afore-mentioned vibe with a chillwave twist, and so they've managed to release one of the most exciting debut albums from a band this year. Avoiding the predictable and the mundane, Shrines sees Purity Ring go all out - with nods to everyone from Bjork to Burial. Listen, and be impressed. Standout track: 'Obedear'
![24. Bright Light Bright Light - Make Me Believe In Hope: The year's definitive British pop album, Bright Light Bright Light's debut release is a flawless collection of electronic tracks, far removed from the chart bothering likes of The Wanted, One Direction or any other artists leading the current pop scene. Like all the best pop music, the album was tinged with sadness, the nineties club beats of 'Feel It' and 'Love Part II' hiding tales of heartbreak and failed relationships. We didn't know whether to dance or cry. Standout track: 'Disco Moment']()
24. Bright Light Bright Light - Make Me Believe In Hope: The year's definitive British pop album, Bright Light Bright Light's debut release is a flawless collection of electronic tracks, far removed from the chart bothering likes of The Wanted, One Direction or any other artists leading the current pop scene. Like all the best pop music, the album was tinged with sadness, the nineties club beats of 'Feel It' and 'Love Part II' hiding tales of heartbreak and failed relationships. We didn't know whether to dance or cry. Standout track: 'Disco Moment'
![23. The Maccabees - Given to the Wild: The dulcet tones of Orlando Weeks fluctuate between more introspective tracks like 'Child' to the quicker paced 'Colour It In' throwbacks such as 'Pelican'. Mercury Prize nominated and with good reason, 'Given to the Wild' oozes with nostalgia and ambience. The Maccabees' latest album is nuanced and subtle, never giving too much away in any single track. Stand out track: 'We Grew Up at Midnight']()
23. The Maccabees - Given to the Wild: The dulcet tones of Orlando Weeks fluctuate between more introspective tracks like 'Child' to the quicker paced 'Colour It In' throwbacks such as 'Pelican'. Mercury Prize nominated and with good reason, 'Given to the Wild' oozes with nostalgia and ambience. The Maccabees' latest album is nuanced and subtle, never giving too much away in any single track. Stand out track: 'We Grew Up at Midnight'
![22. Muse - The 2nd Law: There were some worries when Muse revealed that their 2012 album release would be a dubstep influenced record but, after hearing The 2nd Law, we wondered why we were ever concerned. If anyone could handle such a radical change in sound, it was these Westcountry superstars. The 2nd Law sounds like classic Muse - but brought right up to date, mixing in just enough dubstep influences into tracks such as 'Follow Me' all the while retaining their classic stadium sound. The 2nd Law is not the sound of a band jumping on a band wagon - simply moving with the times. Standout track: 'Madness']()
22. Muse - The 2nd Law: There were some worries when Muse revealed that their 2012 album release would be a dubstep influenced record but, after hearing The 2nd Law, we wondered why we were ever concerned. If anyone could handle such a radical change in sound, it was these Westcountry superstars. The 2nd Law sounds like classic Muse - but brought right up to date, mixing in just enough dubstep influences into tracks such as 'Follow Me' all the while retaining their classic stadium sound. The 2nd Law is not the sound of a band jumping on a band wagon - simply moving with the times. Standout track: 'Madness'
![21. Tame Impala - Lonerism: Lead singer, Kevin Parker brings us some of the most soul-searching lyrics of the year whilst his band manage to bring us back to the psychedelic 60's. The meaningful melancholy that comes with tracks like 'Why Won't You Talk To Me?' and 'She Just Won't Believe Me' are testament to the band's comparisons to The Beatles. For maximum enjoyment, tie-dye your t-shirt and lay in a bed of flowers whilst listening to these psychedelic grooves. Standout track: 'Why Won't They Talk To Me']()
21. Tame Impala - Lonerism: Lead singer, Kevin Parker brings us some of the most soul-searching lyrics of the year whilst his band manage to bring us back to the psychedelic 60's. The meaningful melancholy that comes with tracks like 'Why Won't You Talk To Me?' and 'She Just Won't Believe Me' are testament to the band's comparisons to The Beatles. For maximum enjoyment, tie-dye your t-shirt and lay in a bed of flowers whilst listening to these psychedelic grooves. Standout track: 'Why Won't They Talk To Me'