Recommended music: 'There Is Nothing More Frightening Than The Passing Of Time' by The Superman Revenge Squad Band

Sometimes you can tell that you're going to like a record just by reading the song titles. This album is a prime example of that - here's the tracklisting:

1. Lately I've Found Myself Regressing
2. Kendo Nagasaki
3. I'm Gonna Go To Bed and When I Wake Up I'm Gonna Be Someone Else
4. Flavor Flav
5. Paulie In Rocky Three
6. A Funny Thing You Said
7. We're Here For The Duration
8. The Angriest Dog In The World

Who could fail to like an album with titles like that? I'm pleased to say that the songs themselves more than live up to their billing.  The albums themes - growing old, being a failure, modern life is rubbish but then it probably always was - fit perfectly with Ben Parker's world-weary delivery and the understated musical accompaniment. The lyrics are packed full of wit and a whole range of cultural references, from music "And 'Persistence of Time' by Anthrax means more to me than something like 'Blood On The Tracks'", through film "the scene from Rocky 3 where Paulie smashes up the pinball machine", TV "I clearly remember...Saturday mornings with Jimmy Greaves", and radio "I'm probably never gonna be on Desert Island Discs, but that doesn't necessarily mean that all of this was a waste of time", to the internet "I had to Google myself just to prove that I exist" and pubs "Wetherspoons meals are cheaper when there's two".

Snatches of lyrics and vocals on here remind me of Art Brut, particularly parts of 'I'm Gonna Go To Bed...'. It's the kind of thing that you could imagine John Peel playing if he was still with us, and in fact BBC Radio 6 Music, John's spiritual home, have already played some tracks. It's hard to imagine there being anything that you could do to this record that would make it more perfect than it already is. Anyone who can equate a break-up with Public Enemy performing without Flavor Flav, or R.E.M being stuck with having to play 'Automatic For The People' for the rest of their career, as Parker does in the immaculate 2 minutes and 35 seconds of 'Flavor Flav', should probably be installed on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square and instantly declared a National Treasure. To paraphrase one of Parker's lyrics from that song, I don't think I'd want to fight the power without him by my side.

You can download a free track from the album below.

Albums of the Year 2012

As 2012 puts on its pipe and slippers and starts to relax in front of the fire, it's time to reminisce about the last 12 months. 2012 was pretty excellent all round (remember that little Olympic party that London threw in the summer?) - musically there were lots and lots of good albums, although I'm not sure there were that many truly great ones. Time will prove whether the albums below were real classics or just a flash in the pan, but for what it's worth here are my favourite records of the year.

1. alt-J - An Awesome Wave

An intriguing and beguiling album - great production (especially the percussive sounds), unusual melodies and arrangements, intelligent and dark lyrics all combine to make a fresh, undefinable sound and a band with a great future. Sometimes the Mercury Prize judges get it right!

2. Oddisee - People Hear What They See

Hands down the best hip hop album of 2012, on his debut album as a fully fledged rapper Amit 'Oddisee' Mohamed crafts an assured, intelligent and classy record. Whether he's examining his own life (on You Know Who You Are) or ripping into US capitalism (on American Greed) he never fails to entertain.

3. Pinkunoizu - Free Time!

A Danish band with a Japanese name, this is high concept lo-fi psychedelia that manages to sound like it's been made in the four corners of the globe and in the middle of outer space, all at the same time.

(click here for full review)

4. Perfume Genius - Put Your Back N 2 It

Although at times achingly fragile, there is a deep, underlying strength to this album. The gentle melodies and haunting arrangements hide the lyrics of someone who is prepared to fight for what they believe in and for who they love. As Mike Hadreas (aka Perfume Genius) said this year "If Rick in Pittsburgh or whatever isn't going to listen to my music because I'm gay, fuck it".

5. Tame Impala - Lonerism

A glorious blend of The Beatles, glam rock, The Flaming Lips, Electric Light Orchestra, Pink Floyd, Super Furry Animals and lost more. Best played incredibly loud and very often.

(click here for full review)

6. Benjamin Damage & Doc Daneeka - They!Live

Recorded in Berlin, but influenced equally by the UK and Detroit as Germany, this is a deep, warm dance record, full of light and shade, with guest vocals from Abigail Wyles on a number of tracks. Since I bought it back in January it's slowly but surely crept into my head and become a firm favourite.

7. Gang Colours - The Keychain Collection

Smouldering, moody, mostly calm but occasionally petulant, this is a simple, melodic and elegant album. Influences range from James Blake to Gold Panda with a fair bit of originality too. Like the shy boy at school, you should let this album ask you out on a date - it'll be worth it.

8. Ryan Davis - Particles Of Bliss

Melodic German tech-house, similar in feel to last year's Dominik Eulberg album. At times melancholic, bit always melodic, and a cut above most electronic dance music.

(click here for full review)

9. Chrome Canyon - Elemental Themes

Like the soundtrack to the best 80s film John Carpenter or Ridley Scott never made, this is a record that pays dividends if you listen to it all in one go and sink into the universe it creates.

(click here for full review)

10. The Gaslamp Killer - Breakthrough

Released on Brainfeeder earlier this year, this is an immense mix of music and styles. Unfairly criticised in some parts as being nothing more than a collection of sketches, while it occassionally misses the targer this is a record that's not afraid to aim high.

Free mixtape - 12 x 12 #6 - the cover versions

The week of mixtape giveaways comes to an end with this - my selection of the best cover versions to have come out this year. While some of these might not be surprising - Patti Smith covering Neil Young say, or Lana Del Rey doing Blue Velvet - there are some really unusual covers here. Who'd have thought that 2012 would see The Afghan Whigs covering Frank Ocean, or Oberhofer channelling Kanye West? The mix ends with a frankly astonishing version of The Low Anthem's Charlie Darwin by Tom Jones which proves that there's still life in the old dog yet. Just click on the mixtape above to listen to it, or right click to download it. Here's the tracklisting:

1. Chromatics - Into The Black (Neil Young cover)
2. Oberhofer - Runaway (Kanye West cover)
3. The Afghan Whigs - Lovecrimes (Frank Ocean cover)
4. The Rosebuds - No Ordinary Love (Sade cover)
5. Chet Faker - No Diggity (Blackstreet cover)
6. Gang Colours - Fill Me In (Craig David cover)
7. Sufjan Stevens - Alphabet Street (Prince cover)
8. Prince Fatty - Got Your Money (Ol' Dirty Bastard cover)
9. Hackney Colliery Band - Jericho / Out Of Space / No Good (Prodigy covers)
10. Lana Del Rey - Blue Velvet (Bobby Vinton cover)
11. Patti Smith - After The Goldrush (Neil Young cover)
12. Tom Jones - Charlie Darwin (The Low Anthem cover)

Free mixtape - 12 x 12 #5

The finishing line is in sight as we reach the fifth of my free mixtapes this week, with more of my favourite tracks from 2012. Just click on the cassettes above to listen, or right click to download it. Here's the tracklisting:

1. Quakers - Fitta Happier (feat. Guilty Simpson & MED)
2. Ryan Davis - Beluga
3. Richard Hawley & the Death Ramps - You And I
4. Mystery Jets - Greatest Hits
5. Egyptian Hip Hop - One Eyed King
6. alt-J - Breezeblocks
7. Hodgy Beats - Bullshittin'
8. Gonjasufi - Nickels and Dimes
9. John Talabot - Destiny (feat. Pional)
10. The Bomber Jackets - Larching
11. John Wesley Coleman III - Trans Am Summer Blues
12. Blur - Under The Westway

Make sure you come back tomorrow for a very special set of cover versions...

Free mixtape - 12 x 12 #3

Here's the third of this week's mixtapes, again featuring some of my favourite tracks of the year. Just click on the tape above to listen, or right-click to download. Here's the tracklisting:

1. Jack White - Sixteen Saltines
2. First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar
3. Oddisee - Paralyzed
4. alt-J - Bloodflood
5. Burial - Kindred
6. Thee Satisfaction - Deeper
7. Gravenhurst - Fitzrovia
8. Perfume Genius - Hood
9. DIIV - Doused
10. Pinkunoizu - The Abyss
11. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Swim and Sleep (Like A Shark)
12. Seams - Hung Markets

The first and second mixtapes are still available to download as well, so go grab them from elsewhere  on my blog if you haven't got them already.

Free mixtape - 12 x 12 #2

Here's the second of this weeks mixtapes, showcasing some of the best music from 2012. Click on the mixtape above to listen, or right-click to download it. This is the tracklisting:

1. Flying Lotus - Between Friends (feat. Earl Sweatshirt & Captain Murphy)
2. Dam Mantle - Brothers Fowl
3. Halls - White Chalk
4. Telefonica Tel Aviv - The Birds
5. Thee Satisfaction - God
6. Night Works - I Tried So Hard (Extended Mix)
7. Eaux - No More Power
8. Tame Impala - Elephant
9. Laetitia Sadier - Auscultation To The Nation
10. Fidlar - No Waves
11. Crybaby - A Misery Of Love
12. Kendrick Lamar - Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst

PS if you missed yesterday's mixtape just click here to find it.

Free mixtape - 12 x 12 #1

Today marks the start of a week of giveaways on my blog. These mixtapes are designed to showcase some of the best music from 2012, whether that's stand alone single releases or tracks from some of my favourite albums of the year. There'll also be a few nods in the direction of artists who I think will go on to bigger and better things in 2013. Each one will be 12 tracks long and span many musical genres, so there should be something for everyone.

To listen to today's mixtape just click on the mixtape above, or right-click to download. Share it with your friends, and don't forget to come back for another one tomorrow! Here's the tracklisting:

1. The Gaslamp Killer - Nissim
2. Joey Bada$$ - Hardknock (feat. CJ Fly)
3. Bobby Womack - Dayglo Refelection (feat. Lana Del Rey)
4. Frank Ocean - Pyramids
5. Holy Strays - Christabell (B)
6. Lower Dens - Brains
7. Rudimentary - Feel The Love
8. Slugabed - Mountains Come Out Of The Sky
9. Bitches - Kill Birds, Eat Shit
10. Benjamin Damage & Doc Daneeka - Battleships (feat. Abigail Wyles)
11. Ty Segall - Handglams
12. Quakers - Earth Quaking (feat. Akil)