NOTABLE MENTIONS OF 2012

These are the albums that didnt quite make it to my top ten but could easily be on the list without hesitation. Please note, they are listed in no particular order.

Channel Orange : Frank Ocean

Did Frank Ocean's Channel Orange live up to the hype/expectations? the answer to that is undeniably YES. Favourite tracks: thinkin bout you, sierra leone, sweet life, crack rock, pink matter, forrest gump, super rich kids, lost, bad religion & pyramids.

@frank_ocean

Rapsody : The Idea Of Beautiful

Idea Of Beautiful is the debut album from Jamla Recording (9th Wonder) artist, Rapsody. She's releasesd a couple of solid mixtapes prior to the album & this record doesn't disappoint either. Lyrically as strong as some of the classic hip hop albums.

@rapsodymusic

Esperanza Spalding : Radio Music Society

Esperanza's 4th studio album was released earlier this year & is possibly her most successful album to date. Radio Music Society is my favourite Esperanza album & I would love to see her in concert real soon. 

@EspeSpalding

Delilah : From The Roots Up

Delilah caught my attention on the Chase & Status album, No More Idols & on her EP released last year. Was fortunate to see her perform when she supported Maverick Sabre last year. The singer/songwriter is mega talented & suggest you check her debut album.

@delilahmusic

SMOOVE - First Class

First Class is the collection of remixes from producer/dj Smoove (Smoove & Turrell) & it features an amazing collection of artists. First class is one of my favourite records this year- see what i had to say about the album here.

CHOKLATE - FLY EP 

The eagerly anticipated EP was released in October & features Musiq Soulchild & Phonte. I've been a fan of Choklate since her debut album & i'm looking forward to some more new music. 

@Choklate

Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, M.A.A.D City 

Kendrick Lamar's full length major label debut album released in October deserves all the recognition it's getting & it's already been certified Gold in the states. I've been a fan of Kendrick since his debut mixtape & i've copped all his independently released EP/albums. 

Freddie Joachim - Fiberglass Kisses

DJ/producer Freddie Joachim has put together an album that narrowly missed my top ten. Love the album & it's been on constant repeat since it's release at the end of October. 

Nas - Life Is Good

Life Is Good is Nasir's 11th studio album - it was released back in July to some very good reviews from the critics & fans alike. Life Is Good is his best album for a few years in my opinion. Production duties for the album include Swizz Beatz, Salaam Remi, No. I.D, J.U.S.T.I.C.E league & Buckwild. 

Seeing Nas on tour this year was probably one of my highlights of the year.

[re: jazz] - Kaleidoscope 

 New album from Jazz collective, re:jazz featuring the likes of N'Dea Davenport & new vocalist Mediha. Jazz heads will have a filled day with this album. The review of the album should be coming in a few weeks.

#1: DILOUYA - DILOUYA'S FAITHFUL CIRCUS [TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2012]

Dilouya's Faithful Circus from french producer/musician Dilouya has been my favourite album this year without a shadow of doubt. The best way to describe the album is that it's smply impeccable - I wrote a piece on the record back in June.

This brilliant piece of work will make it into most people's top albums in 2012- it goes without saying a noteworthy record.

@dilouya , Dilouya's Faithful Circus ( amazon, itunes ) 

#2: CODY CHESNUTT- LANDING ON A HUNDRED [TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2012]

Cody ChesnuTT's sophomore album, Landing On A Hundred was released in October to critical acclaim/positive reviews. The socially conscious lyrics on the album is reminiscent of the Soul Legends - this is a classic album & rightfully deserves all the recognition it's getting.




@codychesnuTT, Landing on a Hundred (itunes, amazon)

#3: SOULANDJAZZ.COM - THE HURST SELECTION VOL. 2 [ TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2012]

The music Connoisseur, Brian Hurst put together what is possibly the best collection of music this year with The Hurst Selection Vol. 2. Cuts on the album include tracks from Gregory Porter (exclusive remix of '1960 what?'), Maz, The Jazz Collective, Moonchild, Gabriele Poso, Temika Moore, The Jazz Collective & many more.

If you love Good music, make sure you cop The Hurst Selection Vol. 2 & subscribe to the soulandjazz.com podcasts- you won't be disappointed. 

The Hurst Selection Vol. 2 ( amazon, hmv , bandcamp) 

#4: DJ KEMIT - EVERLASTING [ALBUMS OF 2012]

I remember hearing a few tracks off Everlasting a couple of months ago when listening to the soulandjazz.com podcasts - decided there & then i needed the album in my life. It features some amazing artists like Eric Roberson, Choklate, Frank McComb, Jean Baylor, Carl McIntosh, N'Dambi etc.

Everlasting has been my weekend soundtrack of 2012 & is definitely worth checking out.

@djkemit, Everlasting ( amazon)

#5: GABRIELE POSO - Roots Of Soul [ALBUMS OF 2012]

Roots Of Soul is the brilliant album from the multi-instrumentalist Gabriele Poso. I reviewed the album a couple of months ago & it still gets a lot of love on my playlist. See what I had to say about the album  here.


Roots of Soul is a record everybody needs in their collection - comes highly recommended. Gabriele also released the Roots Of Soul Remix EP earlier this month.

Roots Of Soul (itunes, amazon)

#6: ANGIE STONE - Rich Girl [ALBUMS OF 2012]

Rich Girl is possibly my favourite Angie album next to Mahogany Soul. She goes back to the basics with this record & it is possibly one of my favourite soul albums of 2012. Favourite tracks on the album include Rich Girl, alright, do what u gotta do, backup plan, proud of me, livin' it up, u lit my fire & right in front of me.




If you're looking for a decent soul album, I recommend you add this album to your collection.
@realangiestone, Rich Girl (amazon)

#7: BLACK RADIO - Robert Glasper [ALBUMS OF 2012]

Robert Glasper is a name i wasn't familiar with until about a year ago. My introduction to Robert was the single Ah Yea (ft Musiq Soulchild & Chrisette Michelle). At the time, the artists rumoured to feature on Black Radio made it one of the anticipated albums of 2012.

The album definitely lives up to the hype and is clearly one of the Jazz albums of the year without a doubt. Features on the record include Musiq, Chrisette Michelle, Stokley(mint condition), Lupe Fiasco, Bilal, Lalah Hathaway, Erykah Badu, KING, Yaasin Bey (Mos Def), Ledisi & Meshell Ndegeocello.


In October, he released the Black Radio Recovered: The Remix EP featuring remixes and some new features. 
For Jazz purists or skeptics alike - this needs to be in everyone's ipod/music collection. Check out his earlier album, Double Booked while you're at it- comes recommended.

@robertglasper , Black Radio (itunes, amazon)

#8: MIGUEL - Kaleidoscope Dream [ALBUMS OF 2012]

I'll probably be the first to admit I slept on Miguel's debut album, All I Want Is You except the singles (quickie, sure thing & all i want is you)**hides head in shame** The ART DEALER CHIC EP'S released earlier this year changed my views on Miguel & I was eagerly awaiting the release of his sophomore album, Kaleidoscope Dream.

Probably one of the strongest singles this year, Adorn was on the Art Dealer Chic series & you can find the extended version on the new album. Favourite tracks on the LP include How many drinks?, Do You,  p**** is mine, use me, the thrill, where's the fun in forever & Arch and point. Miguel is uber talented & he deserves all the recognition he is getting. I will definitely be re-visiting the first record for sure.



@miguelunlimited , Kaleidoscope Dream (itunes, amazon)

#9:LIANNE LE HAVAS - Is Your Love Big Enough? [ALBUMS OF 2012]

Another 2012 mercury nominated album, Is Your Love Big Enough? was released  in July and has spawned some amazing singles since it's release. I've been a fan of Lianne since i seen her performance on Jools Holland last year with the singles age & no room for doubt.

After her performance on Jools, she released her debut EP, Lost And Found  as well as the Live in LA EP which was available as a free download at the time. One of the released singles, Forget is one of my favourite cuts off the album. I'll keep it simple and say I love the album- it's a consistent cohesive piece of work.

There are just too many favourite tracks on the album to list them all to be honest- the album is definitely worth checking out. If you haven't got the album yet, please check the concert below for 6music's 10th year anniversary.

@liannelahavas, Is Your Love Big Enough ? (itunes)

MY TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR [ #10 : DEVOTION - JESSIE WARE ]

As we count the days to the new year, it's fair to say there's been some good releases in the last 12 months. What makes a good album? In my opinion, an album you listen to in it's entirety without skipping a track. It was a difficult task trying to compile a list of my favourite albums of the year. After some deliberation, the albums that make it to my top ten are as follows:

#10: Devotion - Jessie Ware
I first heard of Jessie on the SBTRKT album released last year & kept my eyes open for any releases from the singer/songwriter.


After a couple of single releases, her eagerly debut album was released in August to critical acclaim & it  was nominated for the Mercury prize a month after.


No to love, taking in water, what you won't do for love*, Night light & sweet talk are probably my favourite cuts on the LP- The album comes highly recommended.
@jessie_ware , Devotion ( itunes , amazon), *deluxe album

Kaleem Taylor - Gave You Everything (official video)

Talented singer/songwriter, Kaleem Taylor has just released visuals to the opening track from his brilliant Alone EP. The EP has had a decent share of playbacks since it's release & it comes highly recommended. I've said it before & i'll say it again - Kaleem is very talented. Check out his previous releases & make sure you cop the Alone  EP.

@kaleem_taylor
Alone EP (itunes, amazon)

The Olympic Cyclone Band bring the Groove to Christmas with 'Season's Greetings'

This time of year, I don't think anyone needs a reminder to know its exactly 11days to christmas :). We do have our favourite christmas songs that we love but The Olympic Cyclone Band have actually given life & groove to some of our favourite songs. You can actually listen to the whole album in the festive spirit and have a little boogie at the same time. It's actually impossible to pick a favourite track on the album as its a record you just listen to without skipping any tracks.

Now the bad news is that you may never listen to your old christmas cds again & the good news is Season's Greetings by Olympic Cyclone Band is probably the best christmas record i've heard for a while. I dare you to press play below- you will thank me later :).


If you like what you've heard, make sure you head over to your favourite digital outlets and you can also buy the CD at the Jalapeno shop (www.jalapenorecords.com)
Season's Greetings on itunes, amazon, play, hmv

Bluey Robinson- Good Times ft Bento ( Live Music Video)

Bluey's mixtape has been out for a few months but only just listened to it over a week ago. I have to say , it was actually better than I expected & Good Times was one of my favourite cuts off the mixtape. I'm a BIG FAN of the talented singer/songwriter and honestly can't wait for a full length album to drop.

Please head over to his website & get the mixtape if you haven't already.
@blueyrobinson @BentoBDA

Nadine Charles - Thank You (New video/single)

The talented singer/songwriter has just unveiled visuals to her new single, Thank You. Loving the single & hoping to hear some more new material in 2013.

The single is available to stream/purchase on her bandcamp page.

@nadiva99

Choklate ft Phonte - Win ( Official Video)

October 16, 2012 saw the release of Fly the new EP from the very talented singer/songwriter  - this was one of the most anticipated releases for a minute as it had been a few years we last heard from Choklate. Hopefully we wont wait that long for another new EP/album as Fly has been on constant rotation on the ipod.

Loving the video to the new single WIN with a few bars from Foreign Exchange's Phonte via skype. This EP comes highly recommended.

P.s: only just realised I slept on the first video from the EP, wide open.

@choklate @phontigallo
Choklate ' Fly' on amazon , itunes