My 5 Favorite Albums of 2012

First: I am making no claims that these albums are the best, by any artistic or technical standard. Or that my choices are in any way interesting or sophisticated. These are all mainstream pop, but they're the albums this year that I listened to over and over, that I kept coming back to, that got me through happiness and sadness and stress and lots of long car rides. I've included my favorite song from each so you can get a taste.

1. Red by Taylor Swift
I unapologetically love Taylor. Speak Now stayed in my car CD player for 99% of the time until Red came out. Her early songs played like perfect tiny young adult novels, and I'm delighted by the way she's moving into adult subject material.


2. Some Nights by fun.
This was hands down the best "listen to during those afternoon hours when I have to keep working and don't want to" album of the year.


3. Overexposed by Maroon 5
And this was the best dancey, energetic, "must clean the house and bake cookies even though it's midnight" option.


4. The Truth About Love by P!nk
This one doesn't feel very cohesive as an album, but it has a lot of songs I love on it, and it's great for singing along in the car.


5. Babel by Mumford & Sons
This sophomore offering didn't grab me in quite the same way Sigh No More did, but it's still extremely good.