So, the new year is upon us. Happy new year to you all! While Sampleface had only been up for the last few months of 2012, it’s still been great to see all the support we’ve gained since September and for that we thank you. The year has also given us some great music from a variety of genres, some debuts, some returns to form. But don’t think this is one of those Complex-esque “Top Albums Of The Year” lists. There’s no best/worst hierarchy here, just five (and for one list, four) favourites from the Sampleface team.
Luke
Flying Lotus – Until The Quiet Comes
Jessie Ware – Devotion
JJ DOOM – Key To The Kuffs
Oh No – Ohnomite
Gregory Porter – Be Good
Blaise
Melanin 9 – Magna Carta
Absoul – Control System
Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
Game – Jesus Piece
Childish Gambino – Royalty
Dan
El-P – Cancer 4 Cure
JJ DOOM – Key To The Kuffs
Hexes – Dirty Art Club
Suff Daddy – Suff Sells
Karriem Riggins – Alone Together
Tiece
Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream
Elle Varner – perfectly imperfect
Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, M.A.A.D city
Jessie Ware – Devotion
Joseph
Deftones – Koi No Yokan
Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d city
The Chevin’s Borderland
Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE
Languid x SoulStarr – Relaytionz
Elle
Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
Prince Paul and DJ P For Real – Negroes on Ice
Kendrick Lamarr – good kid, mA.A.d city
Jack White – Blunderbuss
Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
Bee
Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
Lone Ninja – Rogue Agent
Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society
Ellie Goulding – Halycon
LD
King I Divine & ScienZe – Divine Scienze
Roc Marciano – Reloaded
Robert Glasper – Black Radio
Starchild – Cold Turkey Leftovers
Reggie
Robert Glasper – Black Radio
Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society
Tall Black Guy – Presents Tempo Dreams Volume 1
Darryl Reeves – Mercury
Ahmed Sirour – The After 2AM Sessions LP
Overall favourites
Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
Jessie Ware – Devotion
JJ DOOM – Key To The Kuffs
Robert Glasper – Black Radio
Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society