Out of the Game… A winner nevertheless

2012 Top 100 LPs #20-17: Rufus Wainwright, The Sea and Cake, Ken Stringfellow, Pugwash

Published on December 21st, 2012 | Jonny Abrams

Yes, it’s…Rocksucker’s Top 100 Albums of 2012!

Rocksucker listened to a lot of albums this year and conferred varying degrees of merit (in quail form) upon them based on our own spurious criteria…

…and now we bring you our favourite hundred of them, counted down in order arbitrarily/for fun. By dint of mathematics (specifically 4 x 25), top spot shall be revealed on Christmas day. Now, let’s get crackling, and then cracking…

20. The Sea and Cake – Runner

Still as dreamy and glowing as ever, the Chicago four-piece rein in their more experimental tendencies this time around but beguile nevertheless. Like Stereolab’s less eccentric cousins, The Sea and Cake’s majesty isn’t always immediately evident, but give them due care and attention and you’ll realise that these guys are racking up one heck of a back catalogue.

Click here to read Rocksucker’s review of Runner in full

19. Rufus Wainwright – Out of the Game

Rocksucker hadn’t delved into Wainwright’s work prior to hearing the single and title/opening track of this outstanding LP, but now we’re resoundingly sold. The man’s a genius, and though this is his seventh studio album we can assure you that it’s a tremendous place to start for the uninitiated. Sophisticated, theatrical, yet brimming with character and pure pop instinct; the man’s a genius, while “Rashida” is a strong contender for song of the year.

Click here to read Rocksucker’s review of Out of the Game in full

18. Pugwash – The Olympus Sound

Many bands sound in thrall to the greats of ’60s and ’70s harmony-pop to the extent that they render themselves unnecessary; rarer are those who wear their impeccable influences on their sleeves yet distil it into a timeless kind of magic all of their own. This Dublin four-piece are very much in the latter category, and this – their fifth album – is a resounding victory for substance over style. They just get better and better.

Click here to read Rocksucker’s review of The Olympus Sound in full

17. Ken Stringfellow – Danzig in the Moonlight

That daft pun of a title (welcome in Rocksucker’s book, at least) gives no indication of just how rousing, diverse and downright epic this latest set is from the former Posies man. This is pop music with heart, soul, warmth, originality and more killer hooks than you could shake a whacking great killer hook at. Yessiree, Stringfellow’s made his masterpiece.

Click here to read Rocksucker’s review of Danzig in the Moonlight in full

Watch this space for a continuation of the countdown of Rocksucker’s Top 100 Albums of 2012! Bloody do it!

Artists: ken stringfellow, pugwash, rufus wainwright, the sea and cake

About the Author

Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.