I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season! Mine has been pretty cool. I spent time with love ones and did some GOOD eating. This time off work has been just what the doctor ordered. Praise HIM!

Life has come at me fast over the past couple of weeks, just when I was getting my groove back. I haven’t been able to bring you many of the holiday posts that I intended to. However, since I have been documenting my favorite songs of 2012 throughout the year, I just had to share them with you before the clock strikes midnight on January 1.

Last time I did this, in 2009, I brought you several different year-end listicles. This year I’m keeping it simple by sharing the songs that had me pressing rewind. Most of them were supposed to be on that ill-fated mix I was going to relaunch the site with.

Moving on.

There won’t be any explanation on why I like each tune because with listicles ya’ll know you don’t read it anyway! As a good friend told me, “Just give me the link!” Just know that if it’s there, I think it’s worth a listen. You’ll find a little jazz, a bit of hip hop, some electrosoul and a LOT of plain ole great music.

As you can see, I have found 2012 to be a stellar year musically. Most of these songs many of you won’t have heard before. When I peruse these listicles, that’s always my end goal. I want to see what music I should have had on repeat.

Without further ado, here are my favorite tunes from 2012. Note: Be sure to scroll down the player. Lots of music there I don’t want you to miss.

Here are some loose joints that Spotify isn’t up on yet for whatever reason. Click the link to listen to each track:

Aaradhna– My Boo (Remake) Yes, that “My Boo”
Allen Stone– Six Years
Austin Brown – Groove 92 ( Definitely checking for MJ’s nephew with this joint here)
The Botaniks + Bernhoft: Fond of Jane
Deborah Bond – Say It (Nicolay Remix)
Deborah Bond – Nothing Matters (Soulpersona Raregroove Remix)
DJ Spinna featuring Eric Roberson – Butterfly Girl (Casamena Remix)
Gwen Bunn– Death of Me
Jamie Lidell – What A Shame
Jesse Boykins III – Limit To Your Love (Feist/James Blake Cover)
Jessie Ware – Running
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band – In The Thick of It
Little Dragon – Sunshine
Luke James – Heartbeat
Martin Luther McCoy – Sara Smile (DAMN good cover of one of my all time favorite songs)
Meshell Ndegeocello – Petite Mort (Miguel Migs Moody Downtown Remix)
Moses Sumney– Lost & Found (Acoustic Cover of the Lianne La Havas song included above. He does this justice)
Staycen x Koen – Never Too Late
tUnE-yArDs + Angelique Kidjo + Ahmir ‘?uestlove’ Thompson + Akua Naru– Lady
Tweet – Proceed

I also invite you to check out picks from some of my most respected music blogs and bloggers:

Chasing Soul
Soul Afrodisiac
L Michael Gibson
SoulBounce and here
Soul Tracks

Are any of your favorites on this lists? Any new favorites on this list? Be sure to support the artists you have enjoyed when they drop new music or visit your city on tour.

Have a safe and wonderful new year, real music lovers! Let’s get ready to set it off to the left and the right in 2013!