It was spectacular! If you enjoy Reggae music of the modern era, you really had very little, if anything at all, to complain about in 2012. In every aspect of the music, as a fan, it was an impressive calendar year and, perhaps, the most so in recent times. This was particularly accurate when it came to albums as several long rumoured projects finally came to be and we saw excellence from long great elders, superstars in their respective primes as well as up and comers seemingly destined to enter both former categories at some point in their careers. We also saw a mighty impact from the not so typical sources, as many well talented un[der]knowns made fans aware of exactly what they were capable of and in the processes, likely secured many of them for the future. So, today we do the ridiculous and attempt to cover the best of the best. The 25 Best Reggae Albums of 2012.

Supply & demand. Following what would prove to be an excellent year 2011 for Midnite, things didn't at all slow down in terms of quality in 2012 as Vaughn Benjamin and company continued their prolific ways with yet another pair of albums.

Jun 25, 2012 Artist, Producer & Songwriter Delly Ranx NEW album 'The Next Chapter' in stores July 10, 2012. Featuring artist such as Buju Banton & Bunny Rugs of Third. Fi Di Dancehall (2011), Skinny Bwoy - Delly Ranx and Sadiki; The Next Chapter (2012), Pure Music Productions; Sweet Reggae (2014) EPs. Chapter 3 Epic Dancehall (2014).

Macklemore Thrift Shop on this page. In terms of publicity, and in the minds of most fans I believe, their most noteworthy set of the year was definitely 'Children Of Jah' which once again the saw the genius of Benjamin on full display via his most consistent stop in recent years, Rastar Records. The results, as is almost always the case, was an unquestionable lyrical genius and while it didn’t seem to be the most musically accessible in my opinion, the album would go on to find an audience in both new and old fans alike, as well as everyone in between also - it was a very popular album. Starring were tunes like 'I Must Say', the title track, the very well regarded 'Carboniferous Land' and my personal favourite, 'Supply and Demand'. Just can't deny. The legendary voice of Bunny Rugs well provided 2012 with one of its truly most memorable moments in the form of his wonderful first solo project in several millennia, 'TIME'. The long rumoured and even longer anticipated set more than lived up to what were ample anticipations and, now looking back, in terms of pure SOUND, the frontman of Third World would produce an absolute masterpiece of an album and maybe the single most sonically pleasing piece of the year. It was also not without actual substance which flowed liberally throughout tunes such as 'Kurfew', 'It's Time', 'Land We Love' and almost every song on the album (many of which were co-written by Richard 'Bello' Bell).

Somethings never change. Delightful UK veteran of veterans, Macka B, returned to the masses in 2012 with yet another mighty addition to his catalog, the seriously impressive 'Change The World' album. A signature of Macka's music has always been his lyrics which come in through this crawlingly straight-forward delivery, but are almost always full-on brilliant.

This album featured the artist near his imaginative best with songs like 'Never Played A 45', 'Still A Seh Rasta', 'Medical Marijuana', 'I Return', 'Reggae Daddy' and definitely 'Make A Claim'. Taking a look back now, it was also one of Macka B's more sonically pleasing sets and that surely added a bit to an album which didn't need much help. Further hands came from the royal lineup of guests who featured on “Change The World” as well in David Hinds, Luciano, Lloyd Brown and Earl 16. Released wayyyyyyy back in just the second week of the year, the Don Corleon helmed 'The Laboratory' by the latest find of the super producer, Da Professor, is probably likely to miss out on a great deal of lists like this and while it definitely had a run of finding its way off of my players, anytime I come back to it, it once again becomes a favourite of mine, like hearing it for the very first time. Why exactly?! Soca not including (like the not says), I cannot confidently say that I heard a more EXCITING album and colourful album than 'The Laboratory' this year. It was just a great time to listen to and that isn't to say that it was just a fire show, it was not at all devoid of actual quality and material, but in tunes such as 'Peace & Unity', 'Fi Her Type', 'Touch You' and a whole heap of others, Da Professor would make an album the promised excitement and delivered far more than enough to qualify for a list like this coming from us.