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23. Anathema – Weather Systems

Anathema’s late-career turn from a drone/doom type band to an atmospheric rock band has been pretty fascinating. Mostly because it seems their primary aesthetic these days seems to be happiness. This album, Weather Systems, is drenched in luscious, happy arrangements. It’s an emotional ringer – lots of love, loss, and contemplation of those terms – but ultimately it tries to sound as joyous as possible. The joy and beauty of being alive. Make no mistake: this is one of the most emotionally uplifting albums of 2012. It’s so emotional that it can border on too much, on being overdone. But there’s a time and a place for deep, cathartic music like this. Weather Systems sounds like you’re being hugged by an angel.