The album in Japan had an interesting 2012 – music sales continued to fall, while sites like SoundCloud and Bandcamp made it easier than ever for artists working on a micro level to get their music out to the people. For me personally, the past 12 months was more defined by individual songs rather than albums, which is why we will be publishing a far more detailed songs list later this week. Yet there were plenty of great albums too…although not enough (that we heard, of course) to do a top-30 list, as we’ve done before, unless we just posted everything Day Tripper released…and here are our 15 favorites from the past year. This alphabetized list features more than traditional albums as while – there is a mixtape, a compilation and series of EPs here. Check the info below the album art to see how you can buy/download these works.
And Vice Versa E. Tender
Bobcat (Cloudy Busey) Only Devotion Mixtape
CRZKNY Struggle Without End EP/ABC (Atomic Bomb Code) EP
Listen and download both here.
Goth-Trad New Epoch
Buy it here. Or on iTunes.
Her Ghost Friend Looking For Wonder
Order it here. Or buy on iTunes.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Pamyu Pamyu Revolution
Get it on iTunes.
LLLL Mirror
MiChi Therapy
Picnic Women I Want R.O.G.E.R. EP/Boooogieeee EP/Super Freak EP
Rayons After The Noise Is Gone
Get it here. Or on iTunes.
Seiho Mercury
Shugo Tokumaru In Focus?
Taquwami Blurrywonder
Turntable Films Yellow Yesterday
Various Artists Compiled By Ano(t)raks Soon
HONORABLE MENTIONS: 2NE1’s Collection (a murder’s row of singles, but have all been floating around for the past two years in Korean) and Jesse Ruins’ Dream Analysis (ditto, except pretty much all 2011 and tied to that year for me).