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Year in Review: Top 10 Albums of 2012

  • Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg: Already drawing comparisons to Bob Dylan and idols Donovan and Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, 18-year-old Jake Bugg shows great promise. The Nottingham troubadour's raw, rootsy eponymous debut is inventive and showcases his undoubted potential. Two Fingers has a Merseybeat sound, Country Song is short but most definitely sweet, while the emotional Broken is another highlight. Throw in critically acclaimed first single Lightning Bolt and this is one Bugg you won't mind picking up this winter (Rex Features)
    1/10

    Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg: Already drawing comparisons to Bob Dylan and idols Donovan and Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, 18-year-old Jake Bugg shows great promise. The Nottingham troubadour's raw, rootsy eponymous debut is inventive and showcases his undoubted potential. Two Fingers has a Merseybeat sound, Country Song is short but most definitely sweet, while the emotional Broken is another highlight. Throw in critically acclaimed first single Lightning Bolt and this is one Bugg you won't mind picking up this winter (Rex Features)

    Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg: Already drawing comparisons to Bob Dylan and idols Donovan and Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, 18-year-old Jake Bugg shows great promise. The Nottingham troubadour's raw, rootsy eponymous debut is inventive and showcases his undoubted potential. Two Fingers has a Merseybeat sound, Country Song is short but most definitely sweet, while the emotional Broken is another highlight. Throw in critically acclaimed first single Lightning Bolt and this is one Bugg you won't mind picking up this winter (Rex Features)
  • Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man: The third album from Natasha Khan - better known by her stage name Bat For Lashes - shines with infectious melodies, dramatic ballads, rich instrumentation and passionate, haunting vocals. Harp, piano, strings, horns and synth feature over alien, Bjork-like beats, while Khan enchants with vocals that nod to Kate Bush and PJ Harvey. The standout track is Laura - a sombre, tear-stained piano ballad with a wonderful refrain. With The Haunted Man, Khan may not be a huge superstar like Florence Welch, but her talent appears to be truly boundless (Rex Features)
    2/10

    Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man: The third album from Natasha Khan - better known by her stage name Bat For Lashes - shines with infectious melodies, dramatic ballads, rich instrumentation and passionate, haunting vocals. Harp, piano, strings, horns and synth feature over alien, Bjork-like beats, while Khan enchants with vocals that nod to Kate Bush and PJ Harvey. The standout track is Laura - a sombre, tear-stained piano ballad with a wonderful refrain. With The Haunted Man, Khan may not be a huge superstar like Florence Welch, but her talent appears to be truly boundless (Rex Features)

    Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man: The third album from Natasha Khan - better known by her stage name Bat For Lashes - shines with infectious melodies, dramatic ballads, rich instrumentation and passionate, haunting vocals. Harp, piano, strings, horns and synth feature over alien, Bjork-like beats, while Khan enchants with vocals that nod to Kate Bush and PJ Harvey. The standout track is Laura - a sombre, tear-stained piano ballad with a wonderful refrain. With The Haunted Man, Khan may not be a huge superstar like Florence Welch, but her talent appears to be truly boundless (Rex Features)
  • Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan: Experimental rockers Dirty Projectors return with another album full of handclaps (Just From Chevron, Dance For You) and off-kilter beats (See What She Seeing). Swing Lo Magellan is not quite as accessible as previous releases and David Longstreth's vocals seem more strained than ever in places, but it is not to the detriment of another strong album from the Brooklyn collective. Maybe That Was has a hint of The Beach Boys and Impregnable Question has a sound of the Beatles. Another huge success (Rex Features)
    3/10

    Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan: Experimental rockers Dirty Projectors return with another album full of handclaps (Just From Chevron, Dance For You) and off-kilter beats (See What She Seeing). Swing Lo Magellan is not quite as accessible as previous releases and David Longstreth's vocals seem more strained than ever in places, but it is not to the detriment of another strong album from the Brooklyn collective. Maybe That Was has a hint of The Beach Boys and Impregnable Question has a sound of the Beatles. Another huge success (Rex Features)

    Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan: Experimental rockers Dirty Projectors return with another album full of handclaps (Just From Chevron, Dance For You) and off-kilter beats (See What She Seeing). Swing Lo Magellan is not quite as accessible as previous releases and David Longstreth's vocals seem more strained than ever in places, but it is not to the detriment of another strong album from the Brooklyn collective. Maybe That Was has a hint of The Beach Boys and Impregnable Question has a sound of the Beatles. Another huge success (Rex Features)
  • Jessie Ware - Devotion: Having previously worked with SBTRKT and Jack Penate, English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware has embarked on a solo career producing a mix of electro pop, R&B and soul. Ware's gorgeous, warm vocals will seduce your ears, from the opening title track to the simple, stripped-back electro pop of 110% and Still Love Me. Wildest Moments, with hints of Alicia Keys and MIA, is a standout, while tracks Running and Sweet Talk are laid-back Eighties soul, justifying the comparisons of Ware to Sade. With bittersweet lyrics looking at different aspects of relationships, Devotion is a classy, mellow debut from Ware (Rex Features)
    4/10

    Jessie Ware - Devotion: Having previously worked with SBTRKT and Jack Penate, English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware has embarked on a solo career producing a mix of electro pop, R&B and soul. Ware's gorgeous, warm vocals will seduce your ears, from the opening title track to the simple, stripped-back electro pop of 110% and Still Love Me. Wildest Moments, with hints of Alicia Keys and MIA, is a standout, while tracks Running and Sweet Talk are laid-back Eighties soul, justifying the comparisons of Ware to Sade. With bittersweet lyrics looking at different aspects of relationships, Devotion is a classy, mellow debut from Ware (Rex Features)

    Jessie Ware - Devotion: Having previously worked with SBTRKT and Jack Penate, English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware has embarked on a solo career producing a mix of electro pop, R&B and soul. Ware's gorgeous, warm vocals will seduce your ears, from the opening title track to the simple, stripped-back electro pop of 110% and Still Love Me. Wildest Moments, with hints of Alicia Keys and MIA, is a standout, while tracks Running and Sweet Talk are laid-back Eighties soul, justifying the comparisons of Ware to Sade. With bittersweet lyrics looking at different aspects of relationships, Devotion is a classy, mellow debut from Ware (Rex Features)
  • The xx - Coexist: The xx became an unexpected success story when they released their self-titled debut album to widespread critical acclaim, given the relatively simple, minimalist nature of the London trio's music. This is even more apparent on Coexist as at times the haunting vocals of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim are a cappella, such is the sparsity of the synth loops, recurring guitar plucks and underlying bass. Tracks such as Swept Away and Sunset, backed by classic club beats, are highlights, and Coexist is, without a doubt, an album that grows with repeated listens (Rex Features)
    5/10

    The xx - Coexist: The xx became an unexpected success story when they released their self-titled debut album to widespread critical acclaim, given the relatively simple, minimalist nature of the London trio's music. This is even more apparent on Coexist as at times the haunting vocals of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim are a cappella, such is the sparsity of the synth loops, recurring guitar plucks and underlying bass. Tracks such as Swept Away and Sunset, backed by classic club beats, are highlights, and Coexist is, without a doubt, an album that grows with repeated listens (Rex Features)

    The xx - Coexist: The xx became an unexpected success story when they released their self-titled debut album to widespread critical acclaim, given the relatively simple, minimalist nature of the London trio's music. This is even more apparent on Coexist as at times the haunting vocals of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim are a cappella, such is the sparsity of the synth loops, recurring guitar plucks and underlying bass. Tracks such as Swept Away and Sunset, backed by classic club beats, are highlights, and Coexist is, without a doubt, an album that grows with repeated listens (Rex Features)
  • Emeli Sande - Our Version Of Events: 2012 was definitely Emeli Sande's year. The Scottish songstress, who featured in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics, released her debut, which is the biggest selling album of the year and is set to top the albums charts again. Sande's soulful voice soars beautifully in Clown with its piano accompaniment, in the stripped-down Breaking The Law, the acoustic Read All About It (Part III) and the duet with Alicia Keys, Hope. It may have taken almost two years for Sande to get her album out, but Our Version Of Events, mostly written by her, proves that it was worth the wait (Rex Features)
    6/10

    Emeli Sande - Our Version Of Events: 2012 was definitely Emeli Sande's year. The Scottish songstress, who featured in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics, released her debut, which is the biggest selling album of the year and is set to top the albums charts again. Sande's soulful voice soars beautifully in Clown with its piano accompaniment, in the stripped-down Breaking The Law, the acoustic Read All About It (Part III) and the duet with Alicia Keys, Hope. It may have taken almost two years for Sande to get her album out, but Our Version Of Events, mostly written by her, proves that it was worth the wait (Rex Features)

    Emeli Sande - Our Version Of Events: 2012 was definitely Emeli Sande's year. The Scottish songstress, who featured in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics, released her debut, which is the biggest selling album of the year and is set to top the albums charts again. Sande's soulful voice soars beautifully in Clown with its piano accompaniment, in the stripped-down Breaking The Law, the acoustic Read All About It (Part III) and the duet with Alicia Keys, Hope. It may have taken almost two years for Sande to get her album out, but Our Version Of Events, mostly written by her, proves that it was worth the wait (Rex Features)
  • Tame Impala - Lonerism: Australian psychedelic rockers Tame Impala have scaled new heights with Lonerism, their follow-up to 2010's critically acclaimed debut Innerspeaker. Lead vocalist, songwriter and guitarist Kevin Parker, along with Dominic Simper, Nick Allbrook, Jay Watson and Julien Barbagallo have impressed with the scale of the album's vision and its breathtaking soundscapes. Opener Be Above It draws the listener in with its psychedelic vibe and Parker's dreamy vocals, and it gets better and better. With immaculate musicianship, the songs demand total attention, most notably on the brilliant Endors Toi, Apocalypse Dreams and Elephant. An absolute triumph from start to finish (Rex Features)
    7/10

    Tame Impala - Lonerism: Australian psychedelic rockers Tame Impala have scaled new heights with Lonerism, their follow-up to 2010's critically acclaimed debut Innerspeaker. Lead vocalist, songwriter and guitarist Kevin Parker, along with Dominic Simper, Nick Allbrook, Jay Watson and Julien Barbagallo have impressed with the scale of the album's vision and its breathtaking soundscapes. Opener Be Above It draws the listener in with its psychedelic vibe and Parker's dreamy vocals, and it gets better and better. With immaculate musicianship, the songs demand total attention, most notably on the brilliant Endors Toi, Apocalypse Dreams and Elephant. An absolute triumph from start to finish (Rex Features)

    Tame Impala - Lonerism: Australian psychedelic rockers Tame Impala have scaled new heights with Lonerism, their follow-up to 2010's critically acclaimed debut Innerspeaker. Lead vocalist, songwriter and guitarist Kevin Parker, along with Dominic Simper, Nick Allbrook, Jay Watson and Julien Barbagallo have impressed with the scale of the album's vision and its breathtaking soundscapes. Opener Be Above It draws the listener in with its psychedelic vibe and Parker's dreamy vocals, and it gets better and better. With immaculate musicianship, the songs demand total attention, most notably on the brilliant Endors Toi, Apocalypse Dreams and Elephant. An absolute triumph from start to finish (Rex Features)
  • Lianne La Havas - Is Your Love Big Enough?: Championed by Jools Holland, Bon Iver, Stevie Wonder and Prince, south Londoner Lianne La Havas's debut album was nominated for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize. The 22-year-old's ethereal vocals, much like Corinne Bailey Rae's, can be heard throughout the 12 tracks, from soulful opener Don't Wake Me Up, the heartrending Lost & Found, the toe-tapping Au Cinema and No Room For Doubt, featuring Willy Mason. There's nothing to find fault with here: Age is a slice of sunny soul you'll want to sing along to, while she shows her angry side in Gone. An impressive debut from an up-and-coming starlet, who is definitely one to watch (Rex Features)
    8/10

    Lianne La Havas - Is Your Love Big Enough?: Championed by Jools Holland, Bon Iver, Stevie Wonder and Prince, south Londoner Lianne La Havas's debut album was nominated for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize. The 22-year-old's ethereal vocals, much like Corinne Bailey Rae's, can be heard throughout the 12 tracks, from soulful opener Don't Wake Me Up, the heartrending Lost & Found, the toe-tapping Au Cinema and No Room For Doubt, featuring Willy Mason. There's nothing to find fault with here: Age is a slice of sunny soul you'll want to sing along to, while she shows her angry side in Gone. An impressive debut from an up-and-coming starlet, who is definitely one to watch (Rex Features)

    Lianne La Havas - Is Your Love Big Enough?: Championed by Jools Holland, Bon Iver, Stevie Wonder and Prince, south Londoner Lianne La Havas's debut album was nominated for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize. The 22-year-old's ethereal vocals, much like Corinne Bailey Rae's, can be heard throughout the 12 tracks, from soulful opener Don't Wake Me Up, the heartrending Lost & Found, the toe-tapping Au Cinema and No Room For Doubt, featuring Willy Mason. There's nothing to find fault with here: Age is a slice of sunny soul you'll want to sing along to, while she shows her angry side in Gone. An impressive debut from an up-and-coming starlet, who is definitely one to watch (Rex Features)
  • Plan B - iLL Manors: Planned to tie in with his directorial debut of the same name starring Riz Ahmed, the London rapper - whose real name is Ben Drew - takes listeners through an aural journey in his third album, with the intertwining stories and characters featured in the movie. Drew unleashes his anger at the Government in the provocative title track, followed by Drug Dealer and Playing With Fire - where he takes a pop at David Cameron - featuring fellow Londoner Labrinth. Fans of The Defamation Of Strickland Banks may be taken aback by the hard-hitting hip-hop here, but iLL Manors is a thought-provoking record that deserves a listen (Rex Features)
    9/10

    Plan B - iLL Manors: Planned to tie in with his directorial debut of the same name starring Riz Ahmed, the London rapper - whose real name is Ben Drew - takes listeners through an aural journey in his third album, with the intertwining stories and characters featured in the movie. Drew unleashes his anger at the Government in the provocative title track, followed by Drug Dealer and Playing With Fire - where he takes a pop at David Cameron - featuring fellow Londoner Labrinth. Fans of The Defamation Of Strickland Banks may be taken aback by the hard-hitting hip-hop here, but iLL Manors is a thought-provoking record that deserves a listen (Rex Features)

    Plan B - iLL Manors: Planned to tie in with his directorial debut of the same name starring Riz Ahmed, the London rapper - whose real name is Ben Drew - takes listeners through an aural journey in his third album, with the intertwining stories and characters featured in the movie. Drew unleashes his anger at the Government in the provocative title track, followed by Drug Dealer and Playing With Fire - where he takes a pop at David Cameron - featuring fellow Londoner Labrinth. Fans of The Defamation Of Strickland Banks may be taken aback by the hard-hitting hip-hop here, but iLL Manors is a thought-provoking record that deserves a listen (Rex Features)
  • Django Django - Django Django: London-based quartet Django Django released what was arguably considered one of the best records of 2012 in January and has been critically acclaimed, although it failed to ignite the charts. The band - comprising drummer and frontman David Maclean, singer and guitarist Vincent Neff (pictured), bassist Jimmy Dixon and synth player Tommy Grace (pictured) - produced a self-titled album of stunning diversity, incorporating everything from Beach Boys-esque harmonies to African soundscapes and tribal drums. It isn't easy picking out highlights from thirteen tracks of such uniform quality but the aptly named Introduction and Love's Dart are stunning for starters (Rex Features)
    10/10

    Django Django - Django Django: London-based quartet Django Django released what was arguably considered one of the best records of 2012 in January and has been critically acclaimed, although it failed to ignite the charts. The band - comprising drummer and frontman David Maclean, singer and guitarist Vincent Neff (pictured), bassist Jimmy Dixon and synth player Tommy Grace (pictured) - produced a self-titled album of stunning diversity, incorporating everything from Beach Boys-esque harmonies to African soundscapes and tribal drums. It isn't easy picking out highlights from thirteen tracks of such uniform quality but the aptly named Introduction and Love's Dart are stunning for starters (Jonathan Chater/Rex Features)

    Django Django - Django Django: London-based quartet Django Django released what was arguably considered one of the best records of 2012 in January and has been critically acclaimed, although it failed to ignite the charts. The band - comprising drummer and frontman David Maclean, singer and guitarist Vincent Neff (pictured), bassist Jimmy Dixon and synth player Tommy Grace (pictured) - produced a self-titled album of stunning diversity, incorporating everything from Beach Boys-esque harmonies to African soundscapes and tribal drums. It isn't easy picking out highlights from thirteen tracks of such uniform quality but the aptly named Introduction and Love's Dart are stunning for starters (Rex Features)
Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg: Already drawing comparisons to Bob Dylan and idols Donovan and Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, 18-year-old Jake Bugg shows great promise. The Nottingham troubadour's raw, rootsy eponymous debut is inventive and showcases his undoubted potential. Two Fingers has a Merseybeat sound, Country Song is short but most definitely sweet, while the emotional Broken is another highlight. Throw in critically acclaimed first single Lightning Bolt and this is one Bugg you won't mind picking up this winter (Rex Features)
Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man: The third album from Natasha Khan - better known by her stage name Bat For Lashes - shines with infectious melodies, dramatic ballads, rich instrumentation and passionate, haunting vocals. Harp, piano, strings, horns and synth feature over alien, Bjork-like beats, while Khan enchants with vocals that nod to Kate Bush and PJ Harvey. The standout track is Laura - a sombre, tear-stained piano ballad with a wonderful refrain. With The Haunted Man, Khan may not be a huge superstar like Florence Welch, but her talent appears to be truly boundless (Rex Features)
Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan: Experimental rockers Dirty Projectors return with another album full of handclaps (Just From Chevron, Dance For You) and off-kilter beats (See What She Seeing). Swing Lo Magellan is not quite as accessible as previous releases and David Longstreth's vocals seem more strained than ever in places, but it is not to the detriment of another strong album from the Brooklyn collective. Maybe That Was has a hint of The Beach Boys and Impregnable Question has a sound of the Beatles. Another huge success (Rex Features)
Jessie Ware - Devotion: Having previously worked with SBTRKT and Jack Penate, English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware has embarked on a solo career producing a mix of electro pop, R&B and soul. Ware's gorgeous, warm vocals will seduce your ears, from the opening title track to the simple, stripped-back electro pop of 110% and Still Love Me. Wildest Moments, with hints of Alicia Keys and MIA, is a standout, while tracks Running and Sweet Talk are laid-back Eighties soul, justifying the comparisons of Ware to Sade. With bittersweet lyrics looking at different aspects of relationships, Devotion is a classy, mellow debut from Ware (Rex Features)
The xx - Coexist: The xx became an unexpected success story when they released their self-titled debut album to widespread critical acclaim, given the relatively simple, minimalist nature of the London trio's music. This is even more apparent on Coexist as at times the haunting vocals of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim are a cappella, such is the sparsity of the synth loops, recurring guitar plucks and underlying bass. Tracks such as Swept Away and Sunset, backed by classic club beats, are highlights, and Coexist is, without a doubt, an album that grows with repeated listens (Rex Features)
Emeli Sande - Our Version Of Events: 2012 was definitely Emeli Sande's year. The Scottish songstress, who featured in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics, released her debut, which is the biggest selling album of the year and is set to top the albums charts again. Sande's soulful voice soars beautifully in Clown with its piano accompaniment, in the stripped-down Breaking The Law, the acoustic Read All About It (Part III) and the duet with Alicia Keys, Hope. It may have taken almost two years for Sande to get her album out, but Our Version Of Events, mostly written by her, proves that it was worth the wait (Rex Features)
Tame Impala - Lonerism: Australian psychedelic rockers Tame Impala have scaled new heights with Lonerism, their follow-up to 2010's critically acclaimed debut Innerspeaker. Lead vocalist, songwriter and guitarist Kevin Parker, along with Dominic Simper, Nick Allbrook, Jay Watson and Julien Barbagallo have impressed with the scale of the album's vision and its breathtaking soundscapes. Opener Be Above It draws the listener in with its psychedelic vibe and Parker's dreamy vocals, and it gets better and better. With immaculate musicianship, the songs demand total attention, most notably on the brilliant Endors Toi, Apocalypse Dreams and Elephant. An absolute triumph from start to finish (Rex Features)
Lianne La Havas - Is Your Love Big Enough?: Championed by Jools Holland, Bon Iver, Stevie Wonder and Prince, south Londoner Lianne La Havas's debut album was nominated for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize. The 22-year-old's ethereal vocals, much like Corinne Bailey Rae's, can be heard throughout the 12 tracks, from soulful opener Don't Wake Me Up, the heartrending Lost & Found, the toe-tapping Au Cinema and No Room For Doubt, featuring Willy Mason. There's nothing to find fault with here: Age is a slice of sunny soul you'll want to sing along to, while she shows her angry side in Gone. An impressive debut from an up-and-coming starlet, who is definitely one to watch (Rex Features)
Plan B - iLL Manors: Planned to tie in with his directorial debut of the same name starring Riz Ahmed, the London rapper - whose real name is Ben Drew - takes listeners through an aural journey in his third album, with the intertwining stories and characters featured in the movie. Drew unleashes his anger at the Government in the provocative title track, followed by Drug Dealer and Playing With Fire - where he takes a pop at David Cameron - featuring fellow Londoner Labrinth. Fans of The Defamation Of Strickland Banks may be taken aback by the hard-hitting hip-hop here, but iLL Manors is a thought-provoking record that deserves a listen (Rex Features)
Django Django - Django Django: London-based quartet Django Django released what was arguably considered one of the best records of 2012 in January and has been critically acclaimed, although it failed to ignite the charts. The band - comprising drummer and frontman David Maclean, singer and guitarist Vincent Neff (pictured), bassist Jimmy Dixon and synth player Tommy Grace (pictured) - produced a self-titled album of stunning diversity, incorporating everything from Beach Boys-esque harmonies to African soundscapes and tribal drums. It isn't easy picking out highlights from thirteen tracks of such uniform quality but the aptly named Introduction and Love's Dart are stunning for starters (Rex Features)

This year newcomers Jessie Ware and Emeli Sande shot to fame while more seasoned acts returned with triumphant efforts. Take a look at our best albums of 2012.