From the “Better Late Than Never” file comes my annual best of the year mixtape. I made a conscious effort in 2012 to only buy music that came out that year, so I had a bit of an embarrassment of riches to choose from; as a result, I didn’t include tunes from several just-ok albums here. Did I leave of your favorite song of the year? Probably. Let me know what I missed in the comments.
- Jack White, “I’m Shakin'” from Blunderbuss
- The Coup, “My Murder, My Love” from Sorry to Bother You
- The Avett Brothers, “I Never Knew You” from The Carpenter
- David Wax Museum, “Harder Before It Gets Easier” from Knock Knock Get Up
- Best Coast, “Why I Cry” from The Only Place
- Amadou & Mariam, “Wily Kataso” (feat. Tunde & Kyp of TV on the Radio) from Folila
- Justin Townes Earle, “Movin’ On” from Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now
- Japandroids, “Fire’s Highway” from Celebration Rock
- Kelly Hogan, “We Can’t Have Nice Things” from I Like to Keep Myself in Pain
- Alabama Shakes, “Hold On” from Boys & Girls
- Rhett Miller, “Marina” from The Dreamer
- Norah Jones, “Say Goodbye” from Little Broken Hearts
- Dr. John, “Big Shot” from Locked Down
- Heartless Bastards, “Parted Ways” from Arrow
- Cowboy Junkies, “Unanswered Letter” from The Wilderness