Wrapping Up the Year in Music - Best Songs of 2012 via PopMatters

Let the end of year lists begin!  PopMatters posted "The 75 Best Songs of 2012" with staff picks ranging with the familiar (Goyte, Carly Rae Jepson and Taylor Swift) and the not so much. The nice thing about perusing the list is seeing those musicians you've never heard of, so take time to listen to anything that peaks your interest -- I promise it'll be well worth it!   Each writer was asked to submit their top five (ranked) songs a few weeks ago with my write up for a top pick, The Shins' "Simple Song," found at #44.  I'll list my other picks as submitted while I'm working on my own top 20 songs and will post top 10 releases of 2012 soon.

TOP 5 BEST SONGS OF 2012:

1. The Shins, "Simple Song"

2. Passion Pit, "Take a Walk"

3. The Walkmen, "Heaven"

4. The Dandy Warhols, "Sad Vacation"

5. Matt & Kim, "Let's Go"

TOP 5 ARTISTS OF 2012:

1. M83

2. Grizzly Bear

3. The Shins

4. Passion Pit

5. Andrew Bird

TOP 3 BEST NEW ARTISTS OF 2012:

1. Oberhofer

2. Divine Fits

3. Bear In Heaven

TOP 3 BEST MUSIC BOOKS & DVDs OF 2012:

1. LCD Soundsystem, "Shut Up & Play the Hits" DVD

2. David Byrne, How Music Works

3. "Color Me Obsessed: A Film About the Replacements"

TOP 3 HOPE TO MAKE IT BIG IN 2013:

1. Indians

2. Dan Croll

3. Django Django

TOP 5 Reissues of 2012:

1. Blur, Blur 21

2. Roxy Music, Roxy Music: The Complete Studio Recordings

3. Interpol, Turn On the Bright Lights

4. Bright Eyes, Fevers & Mirrors/There is No Beginning to the Story

5. R.E.M., Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage