Two weeks ago, we crowned Fiona Apple with the honor of Stereogum's Top Album Of 2012. Today, you guys gave your award, the vaunted Best Album Gummy, to another. We could have seen it coming, given this week's Mr. Indie Rock reveal.We also could have seen it coming since it's been his year all along. He's built a demographic coalition and transcended "genre" restrictions on the back of stirring live performances, tremendous talent, and a very brave Tumblr post. (Also: that face.) His is a contemporary epic mining a very modern sort of intimacy. Hails to Frank Ocean, and his Channel Orange, winner of your 2012 Gummy for Best Album.
And with the other 19 slots on this list, you guys offered a referendum on a few records we left off ours: Father John Misty, Death Grips, Jack White, Alt-J, and Animal Collective. The rest of our lists essentially line up: Fiona and Kendrick and Dirty Projectors' lyrical headspins are Top 10 material. You gave it up to Tame Impala, and Grizzly Bear, and Beach House. The Walkmen and Chromatics made it. You have good taste. Scan the entire list here:
20 Jack White - Blunderbuss (Third Man/Columbia)
19 Alt-J - An Awesome Wave (Infectious Music)
18 Purity Ring - Shrines (4AD/Last Gang)
17 Animal Collective - Centipede Hz (Domino)
16 Death Grips - The Money Store (Epic)
15 The Walkmen - Heaven (Fat Possum)
14 Grimes - Visions (4AD/Arbutus)
13 Chromatics - Kill For Love (Italians Do It Better)
12 Father John Misty - Fear Fun (Sub Pop)
11 Sharon Van Etten - Tramp (Jagjaguwar)
10 Swans - The Seer (Young God)
09 Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory (Carpark)
08 Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan (Domino)
07 Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d. City (TDE/Interscope)
06 Japandroids - Celebration Rock (Polyvinyl)
05 Beach House - Bloom (Sub Pop)
04 Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel… (Epic)
03 Tame Impala - Lonerism (Modular)
02 Grizzly Bear - Shields (Warp)
01 Frank Ocean - Channel Orange (Def Jam)
Here's the list in simpler form:
20. Jack White - Blunderbuss
19. Alt-J - An Awesome Wave
18. Purity Ring - Shrines
17. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
16. Death Grips - The Money Store
15. The Walkmen - Heaven
14. Grimes - Visions
13. Chromatics - Kill For Love
12. Father John Misty - Fear Fun
11. Sharon Van Etten - Tramp
10. Swans - The Seer
09. Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory
08. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan
07. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city
06. Japandroids - Celebration Rock
05. Beach House - Bloom
04. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel
03. Tame Impala - Lonerism
02. Grizzly Bear - Shields
01. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
And, in case you missed a category these past few days, or in case you just want to relive the magic all over again, here are the results of all our Gummys categories this year:
In summary: GOOD JOB, EVERYBODY. These were very good results! We had a good voter turnout this year, and your selections confirmed and confronted ours in perfect measure. It always feels good for us to know we are writing for, and participating in, a passionate community. But Gummys time is when we get confirmation that our community is not just passionate, but tasteful and informed at that. You were good in '12. Looking forward to more xo.
