I honestly intended to start my annual music issues so the end would coincide with the actual end of the year. My choice now is to either double up, or to go to Orthodox Christmas. Right now I'm favoring the latter. Ground rules: What I am sharing are MY favorites from 2012. In order to make the list, it simply has to be an album that I got "stuck" on and listened to again and again...and if I left it for a bit, I would come back and realize it was as wonderful as I initially thought. And I'm giving them to you in alphabetical order so I don't have to decide which is my absolute favorite. First out of the blocks...the Alabama Shakes "Boys and Girls". A little bluesy, a little soul-filled, a lot of great music. Brittany Howard's voice is unique, and I love it!