I do have several requirements for any albums that will be entered into my list of personal favorites of 2012:
- No EPs. My list of favorite 2012 albums is just that: a list of full albums.
- No explicit albums. As much as I enjoy listening to a Kanye West song now and again, I'd rather not list albums with a bunch of profanity among my favorites for the year. If there are a couple curse words, though, I'll probably still be cool with it.
- Death metal and dance-pop aren't my cups of tea. I'm fine with some post-hardcore, lighter forms of metal, and some electronic music, but I'd rather not listen through albums of relentless screaming / growling or of club beats recounted ad nauseum.
- Instrumental albums are fine.
- No "various artists" albums. An album that's primarily a collaboration is fine; an album with a bunch of featured performers is fine; an album that has no main artist(s) is not. When I say "various artists album", I mean like a soundtrack that has multiple songs made by separate bands and artists.
- No greatest hits albums. Greatest hits albums aren't collections of new songs but of old ones, so I don't want to count them among my favorite new albums.
- The album must have been first officially released in 2012. This (sadly) precludes the inclusion of My Head Is an Animal by Of Monsters and Men.
My current list of must-listens before I compose my favorites list (with some recommendations added; crossed-out albums are those list items I've heard):
Vital by AnberlinKing Animal by SoundgardenNew Horizons by FlyleafAway from the World by Dave Matthews BandAlmería by LifehouseBattle Born by The KillersDead End Kings by Katatonia(III) by Crystal CastlesIII by Shiny Toy GunsKids in the Street by The All-American RejectsOceania by The Smashing PumpkinsGossamer by Passion PitSome Nights by fun.Babel by Mumford & SonsHide and Seek by The Birthday MassacreThe Afterman: Ascension by Coheed and CambriaCold Hard Want by House of HeroesThePianoGuys by ThePianoGuysStrangeland by KeaneThe Lumineers by The LumineersBlunderbuss by Jack WhiteThe Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw... by Fiona AppleWhat We Saw from the Cheap Seats by Regina SpektorWeather Systems by AnathemaThe Midsummer Station by Owl City
EDIT (12 / 28 / 12): I've listened to more than enough albums to make a favorites list. Thanks for your recommendations!




