Ever since its birth, Lower Frequencies has kept to a pretty strict formula. We post one track a day that we enjoy, and that hopefully you enjoy too. But with close to 230 tracks posted just this year, we can understand if it is hard to take it all in. For this reason, we have decided to stray away from our formula just this once, and show you our top 25 tracks of 2012. Let’s welcome 2013 by reflecting on what a great year for music 2012 was.

25. HAIM – Go Slow

24. Joey Bada$$ – Survival Tactics

23. Sharon Van Etten – Give Out

22. Grizzly Bear – A Simple Answer

21. S O H N – The Wheel

20. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Baby

19. The Tallest Man On Earth – There’s No Leaving Now

18. Dirty Projectors – About To Die

17. Grimes – Genesis

16. Alabama Shakes – Hold On

15. Angel Olsen – Acrobat

14. Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

13. Chairlift – I Belong In Your Arms

12. Santigold – Disparate Youth

11. Rhye – Open

10. Fiona Apple – Daredevil

9. Frank Ocean – Pink Matter (ft. André 3000)

8. Beach House – Wild

7. Dum Dum Girls – Lord Knows

6. Alt-J – Tessellate

5. Poliça – Lay Your Cards Out

When the beat finally drops in “Lay Your Cards Out,” you know you are in for a treat. Its hard-hitting, R&B influence is incredibly refreshing. The star of the song is Channy Leaneagh, or more specifically, her vocals. They are so effected, so toyed with, that they begin to feel synthetic. Somehow though, they maintain a sense of accessibility and warmth. But really, it’s the power and the energy released after the final buildup that make this one an absolute winner.

4. Chromatics – Kill For Love

With “Kill For Love,” Chromatics found a sound that is so full of nostalgia, so dreamy, that it is hard not to he lost within it. The simple 4/4 beat with sparkling synths gives singer Ruth Radelet a wide open canvas to create the perfect pop song that “Kill For Love” is. Welcome back Chromatics.

3. Jai Paul – Jasmine

It is hard to name another artist who has become so popular with so little material released. Jai Paul has only released two tracks in his career, yet he is a house hold name in the indie music scene. This shows just how influential these tracks have been. “Jasmine” is seductive, dub-influenced and incredibly soulful. I think I can safely say we are all willing to wait another two years if it means hearing another track of this quality from Jai Paul.

2. Fiona Apple – Every Single Night

Fiona Apple’s artistry was taken to new heights with “Every Single Night.” Her fragility‚ her quiet darkness has never been so apparent and so strangely endearing. Her lyrics too seem to strike an chord with this generation. “I just want to feel everything” she states over and over again. Fiona is talking about apathy — the internal struggle that she is caught in. It is this subject in combination with her soft, vulnerable voice that makes “Every Single Night” one of the most important tracks of 2012.

1. Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built

Japandroids’ “The House That Heaven Built” is the “Wake Up” of 2012. This kind of music — the best kind of music — fills us up with an immense amount of emotion and energy when we listen to it. “The House That Heaven Built” makes you want to jump up and down uncontrollably. It makes you want to go out running for the first time since you were in shape. It make you want to stand up on your chair and scream “Tell em alllllll to go to hell!” Without a doubt, this is the best song of 2012.

 

This is our list, but what is yours? We would love to hear what your personal favorites were this year especially if they were different from ours. Comment below with your top 25, or 10… or 5.

 

Honorable mentions include American Royalty, MS MR, HAERTS, Death Grips and Icona Pop.