Best Twin Cities albums 2012: Staff lists

Photo by Shervin Lainez

The waterfall of opinion flows s'more today with a collection of the best albums released locally in the Twin Cities in 2012. As opposed to the list that appeared in this week's issue, these are 14 15 distinct opinions on what was impressive in the past year, and a bunch of links to the related stories found in City Pages.

See Also:
Best Minnesota albums of 2012: From Big Cats to Chastity Brown, local gems showcased their talents
Cover Story: Twin Cities Year in Music 2012
Local critics, Gimme Noise included, on the Local Show

Cyn Collins:

Bloodnstuff - Bloodnstuff
Twin Cities Funk and Soul (Secret Stash)
Magic Castles - Magic Castles
Flavor Crystals - III
Dark Dark Dark - Who Needs Who
Demographics - If Ever
The Magnolias - Pop the Lock
Gay Witch Abortion - Opporntunistic Smokescreen Behavior
P.O.S. - We Don't Even Live Here
Sean Anonymous - Anonymo

See Also:

Bloodnstuff release new album: Band's overstuffed sound comes from just two people
Secret Stash releases new R&B compilation: Local archival label revives retro funk and soul of the Twin Cities
Magic Castles unveil a self-titled batch of mystical tunes at Kitty Cat Klub

Reed Fischer:

1. Now, Now - Threads
2. Big Cats - For My Mother
3. P.O.S. - We Don't Even Live Here
4. Marijuana Deathsquads - Tamper, Disable, Destroy
5. Brother Ali - Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color
6. MaLLy & the Sundance Kid - The Last Great...
7. BNLX
8. Greg Grease - Cornbread, Pearl, and G
9. Prissy Clerks - Bruise or Be Bruised
10. Gay Witch Abortion - Opporntunistic Smokescreen Behavior

See Also:
Now, Now band leave Minneapolis to record: Trio comes home with Threads
Big Cats! creates for a cause: Spencer Wirth-Davis dedicates new release to his mother
Brother Ali in His Own Words: Opening up about everything from new album Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color to politics and religion

Jeff Gage:

Prissy Clerks - Bruise or Be Bruised
Night Moves - Colored Emotions
Greg Grease - Cornbread, Pearl, and G
Zoo Animal - Departure
Big Cats - For My Mother
Polica - Give You the Ghost
Carnage - Respect the Name
MaLLy - The Last Great...
Now, Now - Threads
P.O.S. - We Don't Even Live Here

See Also:
Prissy Clerks debut Bruise or Be Bruised: Clara Salyer's newest band revels in youthful abandon and high volume
Polica: Wandering star Channy Leaneagh finds her path: Singer okay with vulnerability on Give You the Ghost
Carnage the Executioner comes into his own: The best rapper from Minnesota you've never heard

Natalie Gallagher:

Chastity Brown - Back-Road Highways
Polica - Give You the Ghost
Bomba de Luz - What a Heavy Weight
Field Report - Self-titled
A. Wolf and Her Claws - Self-titled
P.O.S. - We Don't Even Live Here
Actual Wolf - Lightning and the Wolf EP

See Also:
Chastity Brown releases Back-Road Highways: New album documents her complex musical journey
Bomba de Luz's Lydia Hoglund on new album and Rhymesayers
Field Report on Justin Vernon, Fergus Falls, and folk music