Closing 2012's edition of our Best for Guests special is Mike 'Papa Slumber', the guy that for the past 20 years, runs - by himself - one of the most important labels for independent artists: Slumberland Records.
Since 1989, Slumberland released albums from Velocity Girl, Stereolab, Boyracer, Crystal Stilts, Black Tambourine, The Aislers Set and many, many others.
Today, 20 years later, the label - that in the past spent some time inactive - is more popular than ever. The label's "gems of 2012" include the album Europe, by Allo Darlin' and Echo Lake's Wild Peace.
MIKE SLUMBERLAND'S LUCKY SEVEN FAVE POP RECORDS OF 2012 THE GARLANDS LP LIGHTSHIPS Fear And Doubt EP LINDENBleached Highlights LP LITERATUREArab Spring LP SAINT ETIENNEWords And Music LP SEA PINKS Freak Waves LP SMALL REACTIONSNerve Pop 7"
Marc is the children's television producer behind The City And Horses, a band from Brooklyn that makes cute and witty songs with fun, endearing and nonchalant indie pop melodies.
The City and Horses 3rd album is set to be released in 2013.
I'm not really good at finding new music. At the risk of sounding gigantically pretentious, I've mostly been listening to old Noel Coward recordings and Orson Welles radio broadcasts this last year. However, a while back my band was featured in the Band of the Day app, which does exactly what the name says: introduces users to a new band every day. So one day the app featured Dominant Legs. The first song I listened to was Hoop of Love. And I didn't stop listening to it for at least three weeks. On repeat. For hours on end. It's an Orange Juice style hip shaker. The song's got more hooks than a tackle shop. The slapback vocal is barely decipherable but I sing along anyway. And there's a female counter vocal going on that softens things up nicely.
The video looks like a commercial for jeans or sunglasses or shirts but it made me fall further in love with the song. Hannah Hunt, the female counterpart, is beyond fetching. So fetching it hurts. From what I understand she's the girlfriend of the lead singer from Girls. Yeah, I have a shot.
This song is the single of the year. And it's also the song I've always wanted to write. The groove, the castoff coolness of the vocal delivery, the Orange Juice guitar. I wanted to do that! In fact, I've tried and failed. But at least I can stop trying now. Dominant Legs beat me to it. And probably did it much better.
Henric is a musician and multi instrumentalist from Sundsvall, Sweden. His part of indie pop darlings Heart-Sick Groans and the mind behind Ghost Lake.
At the moment Henric is at the studio with the band Harry Lynch, mixing songs with Henrik Sunbring (Agent Side Grinder, Marching Band). They'll be released in some time in 2013.
MY SON, MY SON, WHAT HAVE YE DONE
I didn't see this until this year, it's really from 2009, but I was so happily surprised. Mellow, eery and excellent! By Werner Herzog, with Chloë Sevigny and Star Trek Into Darkness bad guy Michael Shannon.
Also: LOOPER! Apart from Joseph Gordon-Levitt's annoying Bruce Willis forehead/nose, it was a sweet little action piece.
As with CHRONICLE, it also had some cool Akira things going on.
BEST MUSIC SIMIAN GHOST YOUTH
Someone reviewed this somewhere with "it sounds like glass" or something, makes sense. extremely nice production, sweet songs. ANGEL OLSEN HALF WAY HOME Here's an album to make a tidy little incision in your heart and then gently fill it with xenomorph blood. timeless classics! singer-songwriter angel olsen sounds sorta 60's but modernly fresh (the musical dream completed). her vocals are fitting to her christian name, loose, theremin-like and utterly beautiful. check it out, especially this undeniable hit - Angel Olsen – Free! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sekbCD_oFl0 VERONICA FALLSS/T
This album was gentle to me in the beginning of the year, reminded me of how effective simple songwriting can be, at its best! neat little stories in the lyrics too. guitar pop with generous reverb.
This year I've been making comics and writing books mostly! I'll release a single from my pop outfit Ghost Lake early 2013, with B-sides covered by Marcus Kimaro and Jerker Olov Hansson.
There's also a video for that single, with performances by the three great singer-songwriters John Hawks, Johan Brännström and Daniel Rodin, and the venomous dancer Petter Häggström. The vid pitch is David Lynch meets Fist of The North Star in Arkham Asylum dreamy darkness.
I did three music vids 2012 - one animated vid for pop phenomena Heart-Sick Groans, and I did one video for Ghost Lake, with choreographer Marie Herdensjö and photographer Patrik Forsberg...
...and this pizza fest that i did with Jerker Häggström & Johanna Näsholm
Orca Team is a band from Portland, Oregon now based in Seattle. Their aesthetic is clean, simple and straightforward: black clothes, short songs drenched into 60s surf pop and stripped down to guitar, drums and bass. The strong bass lines could make everything too post punk-ish and sad, but crystal guitars make their music sound light and unaffected. It's like a prom in the 60s (with mirrorballs and stuff) taking place on a beach.
FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2012 THE MIAMI DOLPHINSCapri SunSelf Released THE INTELLIGENCEEverybody's Got It Easy But MeIn The Red DEEP TIMES/THardly Art HOLLOW BOYSWhen You Think Of Us, Pray For UsSelf Released THE SHIVASWhite OutBurger Records/K Records TRIGGER EFFECTEscape From Planet Scorpion Indica Records CATE LE BON CyrkThe Control Group CRIMESGood HopeSelf Released
I thought 2012 was an alright year for music but for the most part, everything tended to sound the same. Melodies and guitar hooks. Distortion and back up vocals. Everything is lush and slick. It's rare that I can find something I enjoy listening too in this modern age. With no arrogance attached to this statement, sometimes the reason why I write music is because there are tones and melodies that I have always wanted to hear but have never found them before. I would be relieved if in the near future I found out I was directly ripping off someone else the entire time. At least that would save me the explanation of how I write. I could just say I plagiarize everything.
While I would never say that I play abrasive or "hard-to-get-into" music, usually I am drawn more towards the uncertain aesthetic of a band. I'm old enough to say that I prefer a presentation of music as opposed to a band playing a show. I'm not excited about your unshaven guitar player wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Is it your day off from work? Why the fuck am I watching you preform? Better yet, why did I pay to see you? Bring me something to see that I don't see everyday on the street. If you are so goddam creative, why did you assume that your music speaks for itself? It could for most everyone else. Not me. I suppose I'm the asshole there.
I'm not sure why but I am always intrigued how bands that put thought and fresh ideas into music are usually over looked by the popular masses. This is an old tale and to be fair, if there was a sudden change and everything that was subversive became popular on a mainstream level, I'm sure many of us would eventually go to underground shows to watch boy bands and Top 40 sound alikes and say things like, "Well, at least they can play well and sing in key unlike that shit I hear on the radio." Who knows, I think for the most part recorded music is boring and a waste of time. I'm much more of a person who likes to judge people upon a live setting. It's where the action is.
Civil Love is a band from Peckham, South London. Their sound is light-hearted, 60s influenced summer tunes with a feet in psychedelia and Pavement chiming guitars.
Their first EP - Civil Love - was released last April and you can get it on bandcamp. A new EP is being made...
Here's Urko (vocals, melodica, bass, percussion and a bunch of other instruments).
"Our 2012 single ''Under The Sun'' is on Spotify too but it would've been a bit too arrogant to include it on the list haha so there you go CIVIL LOVEUnder The Sun
FAVORITE TRACKS OF 2012 KING TUFFAlone & Stoned
These guys have a really fun garage pop thing going on, very catchy phrases and wacky guitars.
JOHN TALABOTDestiny feat. Pional
Spanish electro fellow. Very originally crafted and impressively danceable tunes combining tropical(ish) and darker sounds.
TAME IMPALA Endors Toi
I was sooo skeptical about these guys in the beginning as everyone was kind of ranting about them (I still don't really get their super critically acclaimed first album) Fucking good psychedelic pop, lot's of 70s prog sounds that most bands wish they knew how to capture.
OPOSSOMBlue Meanies
Ex-Mint Chicks Kiwi guy. I find this stuff better than his old band actually, as I also find Unknown Mortal Orchestra which is the other guy from Mint Chicks. Not a big fan of Mint Chicks as you can see.
THE ELWINSCome On Out
Canadian small town indie pop gem. They should be as big as The Shins maybe. Unfortunately Lana Del Rey exists today.
MICHAEL KIWANUKAI'll Get Along
Panty wetter guilty pleasure. He's really good, dammit. Reminds me of Fleet Foxes and good Soul like Otis and Curtis Mayfield.
M. WARDClean Slate
A more than decent remain of those alt-folky days back at the end of the last decade. Silky vocals.
LIGHTSHIPSSweetness In Her Spark
I hate when the first thing they mention is he being the bass player from Teenage Fanclub. Gerard Love is one of the most brilliant artists on the face of the planet and whoever disagrees will be attacked by a giant squid someday.
BEACH HOUSEOther People
Surprisingly non-ephemeral indie windie pleasure. All their songs sound the same therefore all their songs are awesome songs. Those muffy synths and rebervy vocals keep giving me the same chills as a couple years ago with their amazing ''Teen Dream''
MAC DEMARCOFreaking Out the Neighborhood
Lo fi jangly young Canadian dude. Chorus pedals, funky and dry drum beats, zero cliches despite this shitty description.
TWIN SHADOWThe One
80's leather jacket mix raced fashionable guy from the States. Perfect for non-integral fans of Bruce Springsteen like me. Probably you'll like him if you feel the same way about Morrissey which I don't.
BREAKBOTBaby I'm Yoursfeat. Irfrane
French DJ or electro something, I don't know, a friend recommended it to me because he knows I love Michael Jackson and indeed I liked the guy and yes he sounds a bit like MJ. Nothing wrong about it. Extremely catchy, makes you want to take off your shirt and jump into a fountain or similar behaviors.
FRANK OCEANThinkin Bout You
This is my most embarrassing entry on the list but I don't care because this guy is infinitely talented and his whole album is a piece of diamond. I barely listen to cheesy chart oriented RNB or Hip Hop but this guy's gotten me addicted for quite a while already. Credible and unpretentious lyrics for a genre of frequent verbal saturation.
JAPANDROIDS Fire's Highway
WOOOOOOO ANTHEMS WAAAAA so melodic and powerful and kind of nostalgic, like I wish I was 17 again and jumped off the pier naked after 20 shots of tequila.
NOW, NOWLucie, Too
Melancholic (emoish?) guitar band from Minnesota I think. I hear some Pedro The Lion maybe but I'm not sure wether they ever heard about that guy.
FANZINEL.A.
My favorite band in London. They have everything I die for. Amazing harmonies, unordinary chord progressions within the pop structure, catchy vocal and instrumental melodies etc. Way beyond the 90's gimmick.
WEIRD DREAMSHurt So Bad
This guy likes Brian Wilson. No doubt about that. And he's from London too. Not many Londoners do this kind of stuff so I thought I'd mention him.
BEING THERE17
Sweet band from London too (kinda paying homage to my surroundings). They sound a bit like those British bands from the laste 80's and early 90's like Ride, Another Sunny Day, Stone Roses etc. A bit like ''The Pains Of Being Pure at Heart'' too, let's be honest. Really enjoyable stuff though!
THEE BRANDY HIPS Cynicism
These guys are from my lovely hometown in Spain and I'm highly honored to be friends with them. We've been struggling together across the sinuous circuits of musical activity for many years and they put out a really good album this year. Anyone into Deerhunter, Neutral Milk Hotel, 60s garage and 70's powerpop should be fond of these fellows.
EL MATO A UN POLICIA MOTORIZADODos Galaxias
I don't listen to much current stuff sung in my mother tongue but hey, here's some hell of an Argentinian ''Guided By Voices'' nobody should ignore. Also, their lyrics are often about the things I love most in life, like Love itself, Outer Space, being in your room, a movie, crushes on girls etc.
Our next guest is an illustrator from Tokyo, Japan. Ray Kimura's work may be very familiar for indie pop kids around the world, thanks to her very personal, colorful and delicate aesthetic (and awesome taste in music). Ray's work combines her passion for indiepop bands and illustrations.
In 2012 - apart from her famous band illustrations/portrayals - she did the Japan tour poster for The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and all the artworks for Alpaca Sports releases (her aesthetic is already part of the band's imagery).
BEST ALBUMS 2012 TOP 10
01 TOYToy
02 THE ICE CHOIRAfar
03 THE BILINDA BUTCHERSRegret, Love, Guilt, Dreams (Mini Album Japan special edition)
04 MY BLOODY VALENTINEEp's 1988-1991
05 RIDE Going Blank Again: 20th Anniversary Edition
06 WILD NOTHINGNocturne
07 DIIVOshin
08 RINGO DEATHSTARRMauve
09 LETTING UP DESPITE GREAT FAULTSUntogether
10 VIOLENSTrue
BEST ARTISTS 2012 TOP 10
*Except The Pains, most of following bands are new comers!
*Wallflower is from Japan, which is gonna be 'Japanese pains'
01 TOYfacebook
02 SULKfacebook
03 HONEYSLIDEfacebook
04 THE BILINDA BUTCHERSfacebook
05 ALPACA SPORTSfacebook
06 THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEARTfacebook
07 ICE CHOIRfacebook
08 THE HISTORY OF APPLE PIEfacebook
09 ERIKA SPRINGfacebook
10 WALLFLOWERfacebook
BEST TRACKS 2012 TOP 5
01 TOYMotoring 02 THE BILINDA BUTCHERSHai bby (ft. Tiny Microphone)
03 ALPACA SPORTSJust for fun 04 ICE CHOIRA Vision of Hell, 1996 05 WILD NOTHINGShadow
BEST GIGS 2012 TOP 5
*Instead of 'labels', I chose my personal 'BEST GIGS' in 2012 'Cause during this year, I went to 5 music festivals and 15 headlining shows. In total, saw the gigs of 37 bands!! (haha, I'm a gig-junkie!)
1 THE STONE ROSES@Fuji Rock Festival 12 (Jul 27)
2 THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART @Shibuya Quattro (Feb 17)
3 PRIMAL SCREAM @Rocks Tokyo (May 27)
4 PAUL WELLER @Zepp Diver City (Oct 27)
5 THURSTON MOORE (with CHELSEA LIGHT MOVING) @Hostess Club Weekender (Nov 4)
Echo Lake is a band from London that creates atmospheric, dreamy and lush landscapes of distorted indiepop.
Following the praise received for an EP and a single in 2011, this year they released their debut album Wild Peace via Slumberland and Pain In Pop.
Below, Thom (guitars) and Linda (vocal) share their best albums, gigs and artists of 2012.
TOP 5 ALBUMS 1 GRIZZLY BEARShields
2 CHROMATICSKill For Love
3 LOTUS PLAZASpooky Action At a Distance
4 SPIRITUALIZEDSweet Heart Sweet Light
5 TY SEGALL AND WHITE FENCEHair
BEST NEW BAND FOR 2013 VISION FORTUNE
One of the best London bands I've seen this year. A few years ago I used to be in a very short lived band with the Singer, Austin. It's great to see him making music again but also such incredible stuff.
It's like super heavy, Pysch, Kraut, and played live it's visually really insane with clever use of strobe lights. I reckon they will have a really big 2013.
TOP 5 ALBUMS WOODSBend Beyond BEACH HOUSEBloom TAME IMPALALonerism SHARON VAN ETTENTramp GRIZZLY BEARShields
TOP 5 GIGS BEACH HOUSE Primavera Sound ST VINCENT Mexfest, Porto SPECTRUM Shacklewell Arms SPIRITUALIZED Hackney Empire WILD FLAG the Lexington
FAVOURITE ARTIST FOR 2013 A GRAVE WITH NO NAME
I know that A Grave With No Name has spent this year getting his next album together. I sang some guest vocals on it earlier this year so I've had the chance to hear his new material and it is sounding incredibly beautiful. I can't wait to hear the finished album next year! facebooksoundcloud
Lisle Mitnik is a multi instrumentalist and founder of various indie pop projects (Fireflies, Very Truly Yours and Tiny Fireflies). He creates lo fi recordings of songs inspired by 80s and 90s indiepop, going from profoundly melancholic melodies evoking Sarah Records to bright, delicate summery pop.
His latest work is a collaboration with Edine, from The Marshmallow Kisses, called Edine Avec Lisle Mitnik Et Son Orchestre; a project that started as an online friendship in 2005 and came alive when they met in London in 2011. A 7'' with 4 tracks was released a few weeks ago via Elefant.
FIVE SONGS I LOVED IN 2012
I hesitate to use the word "best" or "favourite" because I'm sure I only heard a fraction of all the great songs that were released in 2012. I'm usually quite slow to pick up new music, so I'm sure in 2013, I'll be saying, "man this song is great' about something that was released this year. My year end lists are eternally flawed in this way. Still, that being said, the following is a list of five songs that really got a hold of me this year.
5. KENSEI OGATAOn the Beach
This fall I discovered Kensei Ogata's music through my friend Yugo of Happy Prince records. His soundcloud page is full of delights ranging from more electro tracks (like this) to shoegazy stuff...but the thing tying them all together is an excellent sense of melody and production. Definitely check out his album, "Her Paperback," if you like this one the whole album is great.
4. THE SCHOOLWhere Does Your Heart Belong?
I feel like I missed any hype leading up to The School's album. It was like, suddenly there it was! Anyway, though the whole album is solid, this track was my favourite. I love the Margo Guryan type feel of the piano part, and the little flute bits are a nice touch. Perhaps its that kind of exquisite attention to detail that helps The School nail the girl group sound so well.
3. WILD NOTHINGShadow I saw DIIV come up on a lot of year-end lists...and I enjoyed their album...but when I heard Nocturne, I realized there's really no substitute for the real thing. Captured Tracks has a very distinct vision of its sound as a label, and to me, Wild Nothing are the masters of that. This song in particular is just a perfect combination of sound. The guitar hook is just icing on the cake for the other lovely parts...the winding bassline, and the dramatic strings that slowly move their way up the scale, and the great lyrics, "I tried to feel something for you but that's all I can do, give my shadow to you."
2. MEMORYHOUSEHeirloom
Tiny Fireflies had the opportunity to tour with Memoryhouse in March and so we were privileged to hear this (and other) songs live every night for almost a week. It was a real treat to hear such pretty songs over and over. The album had only just come out at the time, so I was surprised that their live arrangements were actually quite different than the album. Anyway, The Slideshow Effect is a great keepsake that reminds me of that fun time. When we got back, I listened to the album waiting to hear Heirloom since I loved that so much during their live sets.
1. KYARY PAMYU PAMYUCandy Candy
Based on total number of plays, CANDY CANDY is my #1 favourite song of 2012. Though I guess she's most famous for last year's bizarre PON PON PON video that went viral, I think this is her best song. I love the retro-electro style of the music.. and her cute voice is much more appealing to me than the vocoder style of Perfume (though they're great as well). To me, it's just very refreshing to hear pop music that is unabashedly fun and not trying to be all cool and provocative... and I guess Kyary's overall style, both herself and the music, just really appeal to me. CANDY CANDY is pure bubblegum, and I can't help but smile every time I hear it.
Alpaca Sports is an indiepop project created by Swedish musician Andreas Jonsson. Joined by many friends, he creates fun, pure and naive tunes.
With sold out singles and 7'' released via Dufflecoat Records, Luxxury Records, Susy Records and a new one about to be released via Cloudberry, Alpaca Sports definitely is a revelation of 2012.
I'm not good at ranking songs and I don't listen to a lot of new music, but here are three of my favourite 7"-singles released in 2012, that I've listened to a lot and that have meant a great deal for me this year:
LIGHTSHIPSSweetness In Her Spark Gerard Love's amazing solo project Lightships has been walking side by side with me ever since the release date. Love this single and I especially love listening to the album 'Electric Cables' when I'm out running in the forest. Very dreamy and beautiful.
EDINEThe West Coast
This single made me cry the first time I heard it and that's a good sign! So pure, innocent and cute and Edine's lovely voice suits Lisle Mitnik's songs perfectly.
THE SUNBATHERSNorthfield Lane
I was very happy to see Sunbathers play live when we shared stage with them in London this autumn. This EP was released earlier this year by Dufflecoat Records and I always keep coming back to it. Beautifully arranged songs that grows on you and makes your mind wander.
Myrtle Beach (US) is the home of The Arctic Flow, a one man project that creates an ethereal, delicate and dreamy combination of jangly indiepop melancholy with shoegaze fuzziness.
Brian's several singles and EPs (and an album) are available at his bandcamp. His latest work is Dream You'll Never Find, a 4 track EP released via Dufflecoat Records.
"I've never been one to compile a "best of" list for the sake of having a "best of" list. I do, however, want to recognize the following EPs and singles who I feel have had a massive impact not only on my meager quest for pop perfection, but on the small, but wonderful world of indiepop in general. Please note this list is in no order of importance. I'm just typing them as they come to me:
1. THE BILINDA BUTCHERSGoodbyes EP
I've known these guys from back when Myspace was still a viable medium for musicians. I was taken with their music and soon struck up a friendship with Michael. Their 2012 EP, Goodbyes, is beyond words, especially the tracks, "Hai Bby" and "Half Open". This is the sound I dream of. They have started where The Radio Dept. stopped.
2. ARCHASTERWould You Like Some Tea? EP
Being on Little Treasure led me to reach out to Francis, the man behind Archaster and introduce myself. Upon listening to the EP I was amazed at how I couldn't get his songs out of my head. Archaster makes music that is so simplistic in nature yet begs to be listened to. Francis' vocals are soft and dreamy. This whole EP is one I can listen to over and over and over.
3. THE HOLIDAY CROWDOver The Bluffs EP
A nice indie pop band from Toronto. They remind me so much of my beloved Smiths. "While She Waits" is a classic pop song full of longing and I never, ever tire of it.
4. ARIELKid Games EP
I first heard this EP at work through Soundcloud. I had a nice set of headphones on and that first track, "Funerals" came on and I was frozen to my seat for the next 5 minutes. It was like hearing Slowdive again for the first time.
5. BY THE SEADream Waters
Initially I was drawn to this band based on the artwork. What I heard was pure bliss. I don't think anyone has produced a dreamier single in all of 2012. I did find their full length a bit of a drag because it was like the same song over and over. But in small doses like this, it's heaven!!
6. ALPACA SPORTSJust For Fun
The next big thing. I wish I did things as effortlessly as Andreas does. What a classic pop song. But that b-side gets me every time. It's like a long, lost Smiths' song.
7. ALPACA SPORTS I Was Running
I prefer "I Was Running" to "Just For Fun" but who can deny that Alpaca Sports is THE story of 2012?
8. CHARLIE BIG TIMEDishevelled Revelers EP
4 songs that are pure pop bliss. I can't believe how much they sound like All The Way Until December era The Arctic Flow.
9. MARTIN ROSSITERDrop Anchor
A song from his long awaited solo album. One of the best songs I have ever heard ever. I don't have human words to describe its beauty and the effect the lyrics, melody and vocals have on me. Perfection.
10. SOME GORGEOUS ACCIDENTSleep In Symmetry EP
What a wonderful collection of dreamy, shoegazy pop songs.
11. DYLAN MONDEGREENS/T
To say this album is perfection is a vast understatement. It is quite possibly the most perfect sounding and flawlessly executed collection of songs by anyone this year. The production from Ian Catt is superb. This album gently whisks by and then suddenly it's over.
Long Walks On The Beach is the solo project of a Washington DC resident and TV news producer called Fritz. His music started to spread across the web a couple of years ago and gained serious attention from a lot of music related sites and blogs.
He started to make music as LWOTB as a way to escape from nights of work... a way to focus on something good and positive.
His music is pure, energetic indiepop. The kind with summery warm breeze.
Friday Bridge is Niklas and Ylva, a couple from Sweden creating electropop with references from the 80s, italo disco, kraut and beautiful melodies resembling classical music.
The project started in 2004 with the release of the beautiful and lo-fi ep The Lady Julie. Since then, they released another EP and 2 album, with their sound developing into something bigger, lusher and with a 18th century, royal-esque quality to it.
Their latest release is a single called Dark Heart, in collaboration with Nicolas Makelberge.
Few things are as satisfying as wonderful artwork combined with great music. Which is why we're happy that the 12 inch, a format which gives the artwork proper room to breathe, is on a strong comeback. But we're also glad to see artists and labels which continue to take the artwork seriously even though its lebensraum is most often reduced to 300x300px. (It's NOT an excuse to stop spending more than a quarter of an hour on its completion.)
Here are some 2012 examples:
BAT FOR LASHESThe Haunted Man
Nudity in an album artwork – so hard to get right, so hard to vary. Hats off then to Natasha Khan, who strips with style and originality for The Haunted Man.
SACRED BONES RECORDSVarious Releases
Making the artwork for your releases fit into a general master design is ingenious in two ways: it makes it possible to finish it within that quarter of an hour timeframe and still make it look nice. And it makes the piece look tempting to a generation so obsessed with collecting and order that they spend their time circulating colour coordinated book shelves on Pinterest. Not mad about the actual design, which is a bit mid-2000's, but a nice initiative from Sacred Bones (not a 2012 one, in actual fact, but one which is still going strong in 2012).
JOHN MAUSA Collection of Rarities and Previously Unreleased Material
In this exercise in minimalism, it's the dot that does it.
GRIMESVisions
Never been keen on this kind of illustration, really, but this self-designed artwork has a lot going for it: a clever play with the unescapable boundaries of the online artwork square, idiosyncratic references, ugliness and beauty.
GIRLS ALOUDTen
Not revolutionary in any way, but a study in high quality pop visuals. Glossy perfection that oozes so much self confidence, that it makes that neon light highlighting the Girls' genital areas seem completely natural. Crème de la crème.
