Best Rock Albums of 2012

Slaw-
I gotta check out Calexico. Ive been hearing alot about them lately, and saw them on...Jimmy Falon, I think...sounded great. Any suggestions what lp to start with?

I have Calexico,Carried to Dust, on CD,So Im not able to comment on the LP,But it sounds pretty good.

Tbromgard,

If you are interested in Calexico, I'd start with "Algiers" ...definitely one of the best records of 2012. As Ray noted "Carried To Dust" is also a great LP and is well recorded. The band recently released all of their live albums from their sold out "Road Atlas" box set as individual LPs. You might like the instrumental "Toolbox" LP.

I heard Alabama Shakes on World Cafe today while I was driving home from work. I almost had to pull my car over I was so overwhelmed by the lead singers voice. Not only that but the whole band is fantastic. When I came home I played it for my wife who gave me the thumbs up to proceed with pursuing this band.

It's funny how taste in music genre differs. The op enjoys Mumford & Sons and I do not. We can both agree that Alabama Shakes is a great band.

My last tag for 2012 is Yep Rock's vinyl release of John Wesley Harding's New Deal(1996). This advances the argument for re-release on vinyl of great titles from the past few decades that were initially limited to CD.