Waka Flocka Flame - Triple F Life: Waka is on the warpath and annihilating crabs. Admittedly the varied production roster detracts in places, but Flocka's energy amply suffices. "Let Dem Guns Blam" with Meek Mill is getting daily whirls in my world. This isn't some tritely defined "Trap"; it's "Caught in a Bear Trap chewing your own foot off"! 108/105 MICS.

Matt Gamin - SHNAR: This dude's whole approach is tight.  Matt Gamin's gift is in his word assemblage: thick Non sequiturs powered by a weed-saturated cadence. And the barons of beatage at work here are some hitters: D-Styles, Tenshun, and Leon Freeze to name a few. "MNSTR" is the high point for me. He's only asking $3 ten titans of tracks. 107/105 MICS

Dave Dub - The Treatment: An astonishing masterwork from San Jose's human embodiment: Dave Dub. Accompanied by his longtime collaborator, Tape Mastah Steph and his trusty EPS, Dave runs roughshod over vile industry whores and the sanctimonious hangers-on who tell everyone they're his "friend." If you are an enthusiast of notable quotables: this is the album for you. 108/105 MICS

Ambinate - Horizon EP: For some reason I've listened to this more while trying to get motivated than as a decompression tool, and I think that stems from the fact that imagining myself pulling three footers gets me excited now that I'm pot-free. If you've ever needed a reason to sit and do nothing, Ambinate is the perfect fucking soundtrack. Plus I hear he's Armenian.

A Silent Film - Sand & Snow: This band is fucking awesome. Also, this is the one album my wife has joined me in adoring the piss out of. It sounds super-produced and I think it was a purposeful intention, because it sounds monstrously fucking gorgeous. Del LeFevre is a piece of shit.

Scoundrels - Sexy Weekend EP: The voice on this dude is one of my favorite voices in rock today, it's both labored and effortless, and if their laundry bill have anything to say about them, these muthafuckers stink. I like my rock singers like I like my prison wardens: contrarian, shingle-hoofed, and named Shamus. I LOVE THIS BAND.

Father John Misty - Fear Fun: I don't know if Fear Fun will be topped for my best album of 2012. I listen to this at least once a day. Josh Tillman has invaded my brain; I see his face on my burnt toast and the shape of his cock in the clouds.

Kishi Bashi - 151a: Kishi Bashi (K Ishibashi) has put together a stellar album. The strings on the 151a are magnificent. On the track, Bright Whites K smashed together influences from the two big Paul's: McCartney and Simon. It is nearly perfect.

Bahamas - Bar Chords: Bahamas in the moniker of singer/songwriter Afie Jurvanen and this album is as smooth as Joel's freshly shaven head. The harmonies all over this album are subtle and warm. Listen to the sustain on the guitar on Lost In The Light and you'll be a changed (wo)man.

El-P – Cancer 4 Cure: This mother fucker El-P. He’s still got me deciphering lines from Fantastic Damage. Delivered in the coded language of the gods, with just the right amount of smack you up side the head dummy, over blistering, beautifully-layered, complex yet hard-hitting beats this side of pole in your hole.  

Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music: This would be my ex-gangster roommates first choice. He’s taken to defiantly yelling Killer Mike over my more Del-friendly song choices. This is amplified when whiskey is involved. Then again when whiskey is involved I’m less likely to make Del-friendly song choices.

Open Mike Eagle – 4NML HSPTL: This album further solidifies Open Mike as an originator and lover of hummus. Who want this hummus? A continuation of his take on glitch hop, only more confident, more self-assured, with some of the best smart rap hooks in the bidness. This guy gets called smart so much it’s stupid. But I’m sure that’s better than the other way around.

Stepdad - Willife Pop: These fearless freaks of pop went out and crafted THE album of the summer. That Call Me Maybe girl can suck on My Leather, My Nails!

Chromatics - Kill for Love: Chromatics' Johnny Jewel's mind was still in Drive-land during the making of this album. He took his rejected Symmetry soundtrack, harnessed the conceptual nuts and bolts of it, and created a stellar grower of an album. Each listen is better than the last.

TV Girl - The Wild, The Innocent, The TV Shuffle: A melting pot of samples, big drum beats, and new popped out vocals blended so expertly that you question if TV Girl isn't in reality some machine sent from the future to destroy all other music for us. Shuffled up, TV Girl are wild, innocent and hypnotically catchy.

Sigur Ros - Valtari: I waited all day to hear this album stream live and every minute I endured waiting for it was worth it. I cried, I smiled, I drowned during my first listen to this amazing album and I still find myself gasping for air each time I listen to it now. Absolute, pure perfection.

Jack White - Blunderbuss: is such a mind Fuck. Really, it is. Jack White does not disappoint with his new album (not that I thought he would, that man is perfect). This album is just so angry ... and I like it. An album with amazing in-your-face tracks that make me just want to rob a liquor store and drive through the desert drinking myself dead. It's just .... good."

Metric - Synthetica: is the anthem for my hidden, dark alter ego. From the first line of Artificial Nocturne, this album called to me and I absolutely love it from beginning to end. So sexy and so dark, her voice is like butter that I want to spread all over my body, mind and soul. God, this album makes me feel good ... in all of the right ways."

Father John Misty - Fear Fun: fucking Tom. He was pitching this shit to me for weeks before I finally relented and threw this cock sucker into the ipod. Since then a day hasn't gone by that I didn't listen to this. It is the leader in the clubhouse for both album of the year and artist I most want to hunt humans with.

Higgins - Straight A's: I love these adorable pricks. They make me so happy, everytime I listen to Straight A's I feel as though I ate a hefty bag full of mushrooms and I am being tickled by babies dressed like Easy Peaceful Feeling era The Eagles.

Cold Specks - I Predict A Graceful Expulsion: When the world feels like it is going to shit, or any time I have to edit a column by Del or Seannie Cameras I throw this fucker on and it brings me back to a place of calm and ease. It is a heavy fucking album but it is that beautiful formative kind of heavy that always gets my moist.