2012: The first three months

By @andrewcareaga

That quintessential tastemaker @ronbronson beat my to the punch, posting his five favorites from early 2012 before the first quarter was even over. So of course, once again I am Following Ron's lead. Here are my favorite five albums from the first three months of 2012:

Sinead O'Connor - How About I Be Me (And You Be You)

As controversial and interesting as ever, Sinead O'Connor, on her first album since 2007's Theology, continues to address spiritual themes. Much of the original material on this album beams with optimism and a hopeful tone, which is a change of pace for O'Connor.



Ben Kweller - Go Fly A Kite

This is the finest effort to date for singer-songwriter Kweller, who hasn't seen much commercial success. Full of catchy guitar hooks and a rockabilly/country vibe, Go Fly A Kite is a fun album to listen to.



Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball

Say what you want about The Boss, he still continues to produce music that matters. Nearly 40 years since Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., Springsteen continues to examine the gap between American reality and the American dream. With Wrecking Ball, Springsteen has released his biggest, most relevant album since The Rising.



The Shins - Port of Morrow

Following Shins front man James Mercer's solo experiment with Broken Bells, I was afraid we might have seen the last of this band. Glad to see they're back. This isn't necessarily a great album, but it is pure Shins. Nothing unexpected, just a well-produced album. Which is just fine by me.



Carolina Chocolate Drops - Leaving Eden

The Drops had a hard act to follow after Grammy-winning Genuine Negro Jig, but this band's traditional string music style continues to win people over. Rhiannon Giddens is one of the best singers around today.