Best Albums of 2012

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Listed below are the best albums of 2012 as calculated from their overall rankings in over 45,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade

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2012 year summaryThe best artists of 2012 were Kendrick Lamar, Tame Impala, Frank Ocean, Death Grips, Beach House, alt-J, Fiona Apple, Lana Del Rey, Swans and Grimes.

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Good Kid, M.A.A.D City

Kendrick Lamar

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

1,308 charts

Rank Score:

30,622

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

88 (1,744 votes)

Comments:

187

Lonerism

Tame Impala

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

1,238 charts

Rank Score:

22,526

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

760 charts

Rank Score:

11,707

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

Bloom

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

671 charts

Rank Score:

9,172

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

557 charts

Rank Score:

9,087

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

214

Average Rating:

82 (842 votes)

Comments:

An Awesome Wave

alt-J

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

582 charts

Rank Score:

8,943

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

219

Average Rating:

78 (918 votes)

Comments:

The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

Fiona Apple

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

489 charts

Rank Score:

6,118

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

322

Average Rating:

81 (666 votes)

Comments:

The Seer

Swans

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

403 charts

Rank Score:

4,877

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

385 charts

Rank Score:

4,564

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

432

Average Rating:

71 (739 votes)

Comments:

10.

Visions

Grimes

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

425 charts

Rank Score:

3,567

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

539

Average Rating:

77 (653 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 1 of 100

Best Albums of 2012 composition

Artist	Albums	%

Various Artists	7	1%
Neil Young & Crazy Horse	3	0%
Green Day	3	0%
Burial	3	0%
Andrew Bird	2	0%
The Flaming Lips	2	0%
Mouse On Mars	2	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	465	46%
	188	19%
	64	6%
	33	3%
	32	3%
	32	3%
	29	3%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	971	97%
Yes	30	3%

Live?	Albums	%
No	991	99%
Yes	10	1%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	999	100%
Yes	2	0%

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Recognised Decade Charts (2010s)
1. 100 Best Albums of the 2010s by Rolling Stone (2019)
2. 100 Best Albums of the 2010s: Staff Picks by Billboard (2019)
3. Tiny Mix Tapes 2010s: Favorite 100 Music Releases of the Decade by Tiny Mix Tapes (2019)
4. The A.V. Club's 50 best albums of the 2010s by The A.V. Club (2019)
5. Top 50 Albums of the 2010s by The Wild Honey Pie (2019)
6. NME's Greatest Albums of The Decade: The 2010s by New Music Express (2019)
7. Gorilla vs. Bear’s Albums of the Decade \| 2010-2019 by Gorilla vs. Bear (2019)
8. The 50 best albums of the decade – 2010 to 2019 by Independent (2019)
9. All The Best Albums Of The 2010s, Ranked by Uproxx (2019)
10. Top 100 Albums of the Decade by Crack Magazine (2019)
11. The Needle Drop's Top Albums Of The 2010s by The Needle Drop (2019)
12. The 50 Best Albums of the Decade by Deep Cuts (2019)
13. The 100 Best Albums Of The 2010s by Stereogum (2019)
14. Top 100 Albums of the 2010s by Consequence of Sound (2019)
15. The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s by Paste (2019)
16. StuBru albums of 2010s by StuBru (2017)
17. The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s by Pitchfork (2019)
18. 100 greatest albums of the 2010s by cleveland.com (2019)
19. Top 108 Best Albums Of The 2010s by 108 Mics (2020)