Just short and sweet, I find it a fine line between artistic integrity, videos that were on repeat at friends’ (Donovan‘s) house, and things that just made me happy despite popular concensus when considering what makes my list. But covering and considering all those bases, here we go. Agree or disagree, here were some great visuals to great songs this year that made it 2012 for me, and maybe you, but mostly me.

10. Psy – ‘Gangnam Style’

Love it or hate it, over a billion hits on YouTube can’t be wrong. We may never want to hear it again, but it will definitely, always remind me of 2012. Two words: Invisible. Horse.

Check out the rest of the list after the jump…

Today, I’m here to focus on a lesser-known band (at least as far as my friends’ iTunes are considered) that is filling up my “favourites” playlist hard these days as folk music (adult contemp, acoustic, alternative… whatever variation there of) seems to have taken over my heart as emo becomes officially a thing of the past and as rock just doesn’t do it anymore. I’m sure I’m not alone in realizing that folk offers a truer sounding voice than any auto-tuned pop star out there and an emotional twist to lyrics that comes across as endearing and honest where too-often in music things seem twisted for show. On top of that, it seems to be an international style that crosses all borders and I do loves me some accents! My newest find has been around for a couple years but thankfully has quite made it fully mainstream so I revel in their slightly contained fave as I present to you: Of Monsters and Men.

Recently, Donovan wrote about a famed Icelandic band- Sigur Ros- as they brought in Shia LaBoeuf and his furry little member for their big music video, so I thought I’d show a slightly less porno side of Iceland with Of Monsters and Men. Though they’re arguably equally artsy in a tripping balls kind of way (see the video below), they strike a chord with me with their soft tone, big band musicality and sweet/macabre mixed sound. Their American release: “My Head Is An Animal” only came out a couple months ago as they take off back home after winning a national Battle of the Band competition and I hope their continue their rise here in the New World.

Click through to see some killer videos and hear some even better music