These days, it seems like everyone and their mother is posting year end lists.  Top Tens in every conceivable genre and subgenre abound, and suddenly everybody is a musical connoisseur (VICE Mag recently had a particularly biting and spot-on commentary on NPR’s uber-obscure picks for 2012).

I personally have been particularly hesitant to post such a listing.  I think picking a finite number of albums in a year rife with amazing musical releases can be limiting and derivative; two adjectives I would never want associated with our brand.

But at the same time, I realize the role of this website is to introduce readers and fans to a wealth of artists and songs they might not normally hear.  Which is why I’ve assembled the following list.  It’s not in any particular order, and not limited to a select few, but merely a sprinkling of what we consider to be the best music of the past twelve months; albums we hope you’ll consider if you haven’t listened to them already; artists we hope you’ll discover and follow in the future.

So without further ado…..

• Old Crow Medicine Show “Carry Me Back”

• Punch Brothers “Who’s Feeling Young Now”

• John Fullbright “From the Ground Up”

• Black Prairie “A Tear in the Eye is a Wound in the Heart”

• I Draw Slow “Redhills”

• Cahalen Morrison & Eli West “Our Lady of the Tall Trees”

• Spirit Family Reunion “No Separation”

• The Stray Birds “The Stray Birds”

• Sara Watkins “Sun Midnight Sun”

• Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers “They’re Playing My Song”

• Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale “Buddy & Jim”

• First Aid Kit “The Lions Roar”

• Shovels & Rope “O Be Joyful”

What do you think?  Did we miss any?  What were your favorite musical moments of 2012?

[Wishing you all the very best on this last day of the year.  Thanks for making our 2012 so spectacular.  No doubt 2013 is going to be even better...]