#XPN5050: 2012

For fifty weeks this year, we’re celebrating the music of a specific year every Saturday on WXPN. We’ll be choosing the years randomly; for this week’s #XPN5050, Mike Vasilikos is putting the musical spotlight on the year 2012.

Let’s think about the artists who we met for the first time in 2012: Alabama Shakes. Frank Ocean. Gary Clark Jr. The Lumineers. alt-J. The year was a crystal ball of music that would be in our heavy rotation playlist for the next three-quarters of a decade.

2012 also saw solid sophomore releases from Mumford and Sons, Tame Impala, and Sharon Van Etten, as well as excellent efforts by The Walkmen, Fiona Apple, Dr. Dog, Kathleen Edwards, Regina Spektor, and many more.

Beyond Lena Dunham’s Girls, 2012 wasn’t a huge year for television debuts; that said, Bob’s Burgers and Game of Thrones were warming up, while Mad Men, 30 Rock and Parks and Rec were in their stride.

The big screen was full of action — the cerebral Batman installment The Dark Knight Rises, a dazzling take on The Avengers, the frenetic James Bond flick Skyfall — though Silver Linings Playbook won hearts at the Llanerch Diner, in Delco, in the Philly region, and worldwide.

Listen to a playlist of music from 2012 below.