The ceremony the entire industry has no idea about has finally arrived! After months of logistical management tragedies and a few weirdo last minute twists, we are proud to present the 2012 FOWRIES.
Let’s quickly go over the changes that were made for this year. First, Best Debut Album is a category that doesn’t really make sense anymore, since it’s entirely possible for a band to have other records before their work that puts them on our radar, and is therefore difficult to find truly debuting acts. Instead we’ve replaced it with Breakthrough Album: the albums from unfamiliar artists that have grabbed us and made us pay attention to where they’re from and where they’re going.
Second, last year we added the Ineffable category out of a necessity to include non-traditional works like Colin Stetson and Jenny Hval, etc. This year, we have two similar categories, invented out of a necessity to talk and praise records that may not fit in to our pre-existing categories: Best Metal Album, and Best EP.
Last, we’ve changed how we run our best album category yet again. The first year, it was free association. The second year, it was common top 20 entries between Andrew’s and my RateYourMusic lists. Neither felt right. This year, we may finally have it. The contenders for best album are determined by the winners of each individual genre, along with one personal pick from each of our writers. The list of those personal picks will run prior to the Best Album Podcast.
The plan is to run something every weekday until February 6th. I think that’s when we’re out of things.
That’s all the preamble I can afford with how long it took to get all this going, so here are your award categories!
Best Songs of 2012:
Mixtape! Out after the albums podcast, since the last track is from whatever wins.
Best Album Of The Year 2012:
Podcast!
Best Rock Album
“Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!” by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
“Attack on Memory” by Cloud Nothings
“Clear Moon” & “Ocean Roar” by Mount Eerie
“Open Your Heart” by The Men
“The Idler Wheel…” by Fiona Apple
“The Seer” by Swans
Best Rap Album
“awE naturalE” by THEESatisfaction
“Duality” by Captain Murphy
“good kid, m.A.A.d city” by Kendrick Lamar
“1999” by Joey Badass
“R.A.P. Music” by Killer Mike
“The Money Store” by Death Grips
Best Pop Album
“All Hell” by Daughn Gibson
“Channel Orange” by Frank Ocean
”Shields” by Grizzly Bear
“Swing Lo Magellan” by Dirty Projectors
“The Coyote” by Mesita
“Tramp” by Sharon Van Etten
Best Electronic Album
“Quarter Turns Past A Living Line” by Raime
“kin” by iamamiwhoami
“Quarantine” by Laurel Halo
“Until The Quiet Comes” by Flying Lotus
“Visions” by Grimes
“WIXIW” by Liars
Best Metal Album
“Bless Them That Curse You” by Locrian & Mamiffer
“The Chills” by Horrendous
“All We Love We Leave Behind” by Converge
“Sorrow & Extinction” by Pallbearer
“With Hearts Towards None” by Mgla
“Sentenced To Life” by Black Breath
Best Ineffable Album
“Bish Bosch” by Scott Walker
“Gen” by B L A C K I E
“Modern Jester” by Aaron Dilloway
“Shader” by Sacred Tapestry
“The Chad Tape” by Chris Reimer
“Sinews” by White Suns
Best EP
“Kindred” by Burial
“Cerce” by Cerce
“Silent Hour / Golden Mile” by Daniel Rossen
“Untitled EP” by Hodgy Beats
“Walk On Heads” by Lower
“TNGHT” by TNGHT
Breakthrough Album
“Internal Logic” by Grass Widow
“Natural History” by Dope Body
“All Hell” by Daughn Gibson
“1999” by Joey Bada$$
“Visions” by Grimes
“Mista Thug Isolation” by Lil Ugly Mane
Not Best Album of 2012
“Confess” by Twin Shadow
“The Only Place” by Best Coast
“That’s Why God Made The Radio” by The Beach Boys
“Centipede Hz.” by Animal Collective
“Metz” by Metz
“Ekstasis” by Julia Holter
Fermata over Whole Rest 