I just listened to that Bad Brains album that was posted on mefi. Enjoyed it, but I'll have to listen a few more times.

The only other newly released album I bought in 2012 was Mumford and sons - Babel. Really like it.

With so much music available now, I rarely give anything more than a few listens. Dr. John's "Locked Down" had some decent grooves and a couple decent but short solos. Most everything new that I liked over the last year came from recommendations I read here on MeChat.

I'm totally listening to Desert Bus. That's it for me since last Friday and until this Friday, I believe.

Sufjan Steven's new Christmas anthology, Silver and Gold. It is beautiful and may have something to do with the fact that I am going to his "Sing Along Seasonal Affective Disorder Yuletide Disaster Pageant on Ice" on Sunday.

My most recent purchase (of something that was released this year) was DeVotchKa's Live with the Colorado Symphony, which I've enjoyed quite a bit so far. Definitely recommended if you like them. Probably won't convert you if they're not your cup of tea, though.

Swans, Dan Deacon, and Black Moth Super Rainbow are competing for my favorite album of the year, with Alabama Shakes and Cloud Nothings very close behind.

Right now? I'm digging deep.

Things not already on your top 50-ish list: I really like the Purity Ring record (highlight: "Fineshrine") and the new Chromatics one (highlight: "Kill for Love"). And as an album I don't think First Aid Kit would quite make my "best of 2012" list but "Emmylou" is so good they're worth at least an honorary mention. (Also, this thread is a good reminder to go check out those Swans and Saint Etienne records, both of which I somehow missed when they came out.)