The Ten Best L.A. Albums of 2012
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4. Ancestors
In Dreams and Time
The sophomore album from Ancestors is a 66-minute journey, one where heavy doom metal eventually infiltrates a Pink Floyd record. Songs that might otherwise come off as tepid prog-rock are given extra weight by vocalist-guitarist Justin Maranga's hearty bellows and sludgy riffs, which mix quite well with excellent Moog work by Matt Barks. The combination of these elements provides a seriously compelling listen. -Jason Roche
3. Schoolboy Q
Habits & Contradictions
If Schoolboy Q's 2011 debut, Setbacks, was about overcoming the trappings of a tough life, his sophomore effort, Habits & Contradictions, shows the rapper reveling in it. The album also provides a snapshot of the rougher sides of L.A. street life: drug-dealing, gang-banging, sex, betrayal, and nights spent high and drunk. But at the end is some remorse and the hope for a better future. Q's versatility is unparalleled, and though he may have been overshadowed this year by his crewmate Kendrick Lamar, there's no question that he is helping redefine the sound of L.A. hip-hop. -Quibian Salazar-Moreno
2. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
Mature Themes
It's pointless trying to figure out if Ariel Pink is being sincere or not, because he is and isn't simultaneously. Equally the lady of his dreams and the shemale hopped up on meth are part of his musical consciousness; his love for each character alike is as boundless as it is provisional. Mature Themes is more accessible than his previous works, but only to the extent that the listener is willing to put aside both irony and earnestness. -Ben Westhoff
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