Artist: Lost in the Trees
Album: A Church that Fits Our Needs
Year: 2012
Grade: B
In Brief: Due to the topic of suicide, this won’t be an easy listen for most folks, but it is ultimately a beautiful and touching meditation on a mother’s passing.
Artist: P.O.D.
Album: Murdered Love
Year: 2012
Grade: C-
In Brief: “I Am” might attract all the controversy with its “f-bombs”, but it’s far from the worst thing about an album that shows promise at first, then takes a nosedive.
Artist: Derek Webb
Album: Ctrl
Year: 2012
Grade: B-
In Brief: It takes some patience to get into its odd blend of sounds, but Ctrl is a unique and worthwhile entry in Webb’s prolific discography.
Artist: Of Monsters and Men
Album: My Head Is an Animal
Year: 2011 (re-released 2012)
Grade: A
In Brief: There’s nothing scary about this Icelandic band, but they do wield some monstrous hooks. I may have belatedly stumbled upon the best new band of 2012.
Artist: Owl City
Album: The Midsummer Station
Year: 2012
Grade: C-
In Brief: As dorky as Owl City’s past releases could sound, he was much more charming as a wallflower than he is here, desperately trying to fit into the mainstream.
Artist: The Lumineers
Album: The Lumineers
Year: 2012
Grade: C-
In Brief: The Lumineers are the current “it” band in the folk revival genre, but the songs that made them popular don’t really emphasize their few strengths.
Artist: Andrew Peterson
Album: Light for the Lost Boy
Year: 2012
Grade: B+
In Brief: I’m too partial to Peterson’s early efforts to call this his best, but this may be his most fully realized album. It’s a commendable artistic rebirth for a veteran songwriter.
