The best albums of 2012

Ranked by every score on sleeves, critics' and listeners'. An album with few scores is pulled toward the average until more come in, so one perfect score cannot top the list.

  1. 1channel ORANGEFrank Ocean · 4.8 from 3 scores
  2. 2LonerismTame Impala · 4.7 from 3 scores
  3. 3good kid, m.A.A.d cityKendrick Lamar · 4.5 from 3 scores
  1. 4VisionsGrimes4.1 from 4 scores
  2. 5CoexistThe xx4 from 4 scores
  3. 6(III)Crystal Castles4 from 3 scores
  4. 7Some NightsFun4 from 2 scores
  5. 8RedTaylor Swift4 from 2 scores
  6. 9BloomBeach House3.8 from 3 scores
  7. 10Koi no YokanDeftones4 from 1 score
  8. 11BelieveJustin Bieber4 from 1 score
  9. 12ShrinesPurity Ring3.8 from 4 scores
  10. 13FlumeFlume3.5 from 2 scores
  11. 142Mac DeMarco3.5 from 3 scores
  12. 15Pink Friday: Roman ReloadedNicki Minaj3.5 from 3 scores
  13. 16The Money StoreDeath Grips3.5 from 3 scores
  14. 17Living ThingsLinkin Park3.3 from 2 scores
  15. 18HalcyonEllie Goulding3.3 from 3 scores
  16. 19The 2nd LawMuse3.3 from 3 scores
  17. 20Born to DieLana Del Rey3.2 from 3 scores
  18. 21OverexposedMaroon 53 from 2 scores
  19. 22KissCarly Rae Jepsen3 from 2 scores
  20. 23BabelMumford & Sons3 from 2 scores
  21. 24BeaconTwo Door Cinema Club3 from 2 scores
  22. 25An Awesome Wavealt‐J3 from 2 scores
  23. 26Unorthodox JukeboxBruno Mars2.8 from 2 scores
  24. 27The LumineersThe Lumineers2.8 from 2 scores
  25. 28Bad BloodBastille2 from 1 score