Well, it’s the final day of 2012, so time has run out for us to unveil the results of the Slicing Up Eyeballs Readers Poll 2012. We’ve tallied up your votes, weeded out the ineligible stuff (like Grizzly Bear and Iron Maiden) and are ready to look back at the year that was for our beloved ’80s college-rock artists. Here we go.
Best albums | Best songs | Best reissues | Best comps/live/box sets | Best live acts
BEST ALBUMS OF 2012:
10. VCMG, Ssss
BACKSTORY: Former Depeche Mode bandmates Vince Clarke and Martin L. Gore reunited for the first time since Speak & Spell to write and record an instrumental techno album.
BUY IT : Amazon.com (CD, digital, vinyl)
9. Public Image Ltd., This is PiL
BACKSTORY: John Lydon returned this year with his first new Public Image Ltd. album in 20 years, a self-released record featuring players from PiL’s mid- to late-’80s lineups.
BUY IT : Amazon.com (CD, digital, vinyl)
8. Killing Joke, MMXII
BACKSTORY: The classic post-punk act this year released its 15th studio album — and the band’s second new record since the original lineup reunited a few years back.
BUY IT : Amazon.com (CD, digital, vinyl)
7. Dinosaur Jr, I Bet On Sky
BACKSTORY: The original lineup of the beloved indie-rock trio (J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph) this year put out its third post-reunion album and 10th record overall.
BUY IT : Amazon.com (CD, digital, vinyl)
6. Ultravox, Brilliant
BACKSTORY: The band’s most commercially successful, Midge Ure-fronted ’80s lineup reunited and this year released its first album in 28 years.
BUY IT : Amazon.com (CD, digital, vinyl)
5. The Fixx, Beautiful Friction
BACKSTORY: This British New Wave band this year returned with its classic ’80s lineup to release its 10th studio album, and first effort in nearly a decade.
BUY IT : Amazon.com (CD, digital, vinyl)
4. Pet Shop Boys, Elysium
BACKSTORY: Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe this year issued their 11th studio album, a somewhat downbeat effort helmed by Kanye West producer Andrew Dawson.
BUY IT : Amazon.com (CD, digital, vinyl)
3. Swans, The Seer
BACKSTORY: Michael Gira this year released his second album, a sprawling double record, since reviving the long-dormant Swans name a few years ago.
BUY IT : Amazon.com (CD, digital, vinyl)
2. Dead Can Dance, Anastasis
BACKSTORY: Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard delighted fans by reuniting this year, not just for a tour, but to deliver their eighth album together and first since breaking up in 1998.
BUY IT : Amazon.com (CD, digital, vinyl)
1. Bob Mould, Silver Age
BACKSTORY: The former Hüsker Dü frontman this year released his 10th solo album since the breakup of that band, a record he likened to Sugar’s classic 1992 debut Copper Blue.
BUY IT : Amazon.com (CD, digital, vinyl)
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Readers Poll 2011: Best albums of the year
- Readers Poll 2011: Best singles of the year
- Readers Poll 2011: Best reissues of the year
- Readers Poll 2011: Best compilations, box sets and live albums of the year
- Readers Poll 2010: Best new albums of the year
- Readers Poll 2010: Best reissues of the year
Can you put the embeds on something that doesn’t suck and doesn’t make me register?
spotified — http://open.spotify.com/user/specksyndr/playlist/35lG71Pah3FlFiCb6XyjNi
It was a slow year.
My favorite for the year is from 90’s synthpop band And One: STOP. http://www.amazon.com/STOP-And-One/dp/B006O9MG80/
I’m also a huge PSB fan (greatest band ever), but sorry, I cannot give Elysium a “top ten”. Their previous album, 2009’s Yes, was great, and vastly superior (- ha, even Amazon reviewers strongly agree).