Favorite Albums of 2012 - TOP 20-16

On a lighter note, I now give you my top 20 albums of the year. These ARE, to my best estimation in order of preference.

20. Rick Springfield - Song For The End of the World - Shut up! Yeah, Rick Springfield has a reputation for being cheesy bubble gum pop crap from the 80s. Those of us who are REAL fans, and have heard his later albums know he has some rock and roll and songwiritng chops to be reckoned with. Rick has a real dark side. I mean, REALLY think about the implications of "Jessie's Girl." This dark side shows a bit on "Songs For The End of the World," which delves into the subjects of self-loathing and redemption. The albums he did in the 80s sound like they're from the 80s, but the songs on this album can compete with some of the rock bands that are still around, and would win because of the songwriting alone. Give it a shot, and I dare you not to like it.

19. Missy Higgins - The Ol' Razzle Dazzle - This Australian singer had apparently had a long career, then quit for a few years, and now is back. And, she's great. Kind of a brit-pop kind of arrangement which focuses on backing vocals, and just enough reverb to make it sound retro. She toggles the line between Sara Bareilles-style singer/songwriting and Kylie Minogue-style dance pop. Check her out.

18. Alanis Morissette - Havoc and Bright Lights - The only pet peeve I have about Alanis Morissette, is  her insistence on emPHAsizing the offBEAT syLLAble. But, other than that, she writes a great song. I don't know why I haven't been listening to her more, after all, she's responsible for one of my favorite songs. ("Still" from the Dogma Soundtrack) This album really reacquainted me with her music.

17. Amy Ray - Lung of Love - In the Lennon/McCartney type partnership that is the Indigo Girls, Emily Saliers is the more lovely and melodic Paul McCartney, and Amy Ray is the rougher, more rocking John Lennon. This is the first solo album that I've heard of from her, (it's actually her 4th) and it's interesting to see what Ray can do on her own. It's like hearing the first Wings album, or more like the first Plastic Ono Band. If you're a fan, you WON'T be disappointed.