Best Of The Year 2012: Third Quarter Update

Welcome to MuzikDizcovery's third edition of quarterly updates in 2012. Every staff member will put out a top five list, allowing them to showcase their absolute favorite records of 2012 to date. Additionally, it will be able to alert you of albums that you may not have heard of otherwise. This list does not only include albums that have been released as of September 30, as any album that we have heard so far this year is free to be included. fun., Take One Car, Athletics, Now, Now, Frank Ocean, Passion Pit, Suis La Lune and First Aid Kit are amongst the names that feature prominently in our lists. If you click on the album name, you will be led to our review for the album (if we have written one). All the lists can be seen below the jump.

Best Of The Year 2012: First Half Update

Welcome to MuzikDizcovery's second edition of quarterly updates in 2012. Every staff member will put out a top five list, allowing them to showcase their absolute favorite records of 2012 to date. Additionally, it will be able to alert you of albums that you may not have heard of otherwise. This list does not only include albums that have been released as of June 30, as any album that we have heard so far this year is free to be included. Beach House, The Tallest Man On Earth, The Menzingers, fun., mewithoutYou, John Talabot, Athletics and Take One Car all feature prominently in our lists. If you click on the album name, you will be led to our review for the album (if we have done one). All the lists can be seen below the jump.

Best Of The Year 2012: First Quarter Update

As we did last year, we're going to be doing quarterly updates. Every staff member will put out a top five list, allowing them to indicate their absolute favorite records of 2012. Additionally, it will be able to alert you of albums that you may not have heard of otherwise. This list does not only include albums that have been released as of March 31, as any album that we have heard so far this year is free to be included.  All the lists can be seen below the jump.

The Daily Blair: New Muzik Monday!

Today I will recommend you some music that you might not have heard before. We will call it New Muzik Monday! Enjoy!

1. Diagrams - Black Light

Early Rating: B
Check It Out

Black Light is the most fascinating album I have listened to this year. The album is fascinating because it tries to do just about everything: it tries to be an album you can dance to and an album you can cry to, it tries to be an album that is mainstream while be an album that is groundbreaking, it tries to be MGMT while still being U2, it tries to be aggressive while still being graceful, and it tries to be everything without really ever tying itself down to one particular idea, structure, or genre. Black Light essentially tries to be everything while being nothing at the same time. Even though this idea may sound impossible and illogical, Diagrams are able to pull off on songs like "Black Light," "Peninsula," and "Night All Night." On these songs the band is able to combine many influences (they are able to combine the aggressiveness of MGMT with the awareness of U2,) they are able to have a mainstream sound that could still pass as indie (think Foster The People,) the songs are free (do not really have a particular structure, do not stick to one idea, and could not be classified under one genre,) and the songs are really catchy and have great instrumentation. On other tracks though the Diagrams music sounds like a total mess and it sounds like the band is trying to accomplish a little too much. Still something you should definitely check out.

Album Review: First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar

Album Rating: A

When First Aid Kit emerged from the shadows with their Drunken Trees EP almost four years ago, you always got the impression that their name was set to stick around for the considerable future. Ok, that debut release and subsequent album The Big Black And The Blue did pass by largely without fuss, but such was the obvious talent at work it didn't take much working out that Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg were destined for bigger things. As such, it comes as little surprise that they've pulled the stops with this sophomore effort, building expertly upon their strengths all while snuffing out what few weaknesses they had, with the end product being something of a modern folk classic.