Dirty Projectors: Swing Lo Magellan

Here's another tremendous 2012 album. This was sort of a stripped down record for this band, and the change up in style was brilliant.

Sharon Van Etten: Tramp

While I simply cannot come up with numbered "best of" lists, this album may very well be my favorite of 2012. Yep, that's the best I can do.

Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band: Ding Dong Merrily on High

Punch Brothers

Progressive bluegrass out of Brooklyn? Yes, indeed. Let me know what you think of this track off the 2012 album, Who's Feeling Young Now?

Rana Santacruz

From this artist's website, which you can find here: "As the ethnic make-up of America changes, so does its music. And with a passel of influences under his belt, Rana Santacruz makes music for that new America."

Astrid Hadad

Fun song and incredible video. This Mexican artist combines music and theater in a wonderful way.

Sea of Bees

Sea of Bees is Californian artist Jules Bee. Learn more about her here

Diane Cluck

Enjoy this live in the studio performance by this New York-based artist who describes her music as "intuitive folk." Her voice is captivating.

Ben Howard: Keep Your Head Up

I like the upbeat feel to this folksy-pop bit by this English artist. This is off his 2011 album Every Kingdom.

The Wooden Birds: Long Time to Lose It

Austin, Texas and Brooklyn, NY combine to make this band, who released their second album, Two Matchsticks, last year. Learn more about the band here.

Madi Diaz: Love You Now

This Nashville-based artist's 2012 release Plastic Moon is filled with catchy, well written, folksy pop. I'm usually wrong when predicting the popularity of artists, but I get the feeling that if she gets a few breaks, we could be hearing a lot of this album.

Blind Pilot: We Are the Tide

Here's the title track off of this Portland, Oregon-based band's 2011 album. It's a brilliantly feel-good tune.

O'Death: Bugs

Alt-country from Brooklyn. Off the 2011 album, Outside.

Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring for My Halo

Interesting album from this Philly-based singer/songwriter.

Lisa Hannigan: A Sail

The song below is off this Irish artist's recently released 2011 album, Passenger.

Amy Correia: Powder Blue Trans Am

Here's some gritty Americana for you. Learn more about Amy Correia here.

Evelyn Evelyn: Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn?

Here are a couple of versions of a song by this duo made up of one of the Dresden Dolls and the eccentric Jason Webley. The first video is really interesting and the live version is also worth watching.



It's got to be difficult to perform one handed:

Detektivbyran: Lyckans Undulat

This is a thrilling video which matches this quirky electro-folk piece very well. Sadly, this Swedish band broke up in 2010.

Meshell Ndegeocello: Dirty World

The bass line of this song is unrelenting, even if her voice sounds a bit flat at times. Ndegeocello has been all over the musical map over her long career, and it seems she is continuing to break new ground with her upcoming album, Weather, set to be released in November.

Fionn Regan Redux

Here's another Regan song, just in case some of you heard the other one and decided not to give him a chance. This is brilliant work: