Starting with a clean Ubuntu Server 12.04...

MATE (from http://www.noob2geek.com/linux/how-to-install-mate-desktop-environment-in-ubuntu-12-04/)

Install add-apt-repository

• sudo apt-get install python-software-properties

Add the repository to the source list:

• sudo add-apt-repository “deb http://repo.mate-desktop.org/ubuntu precise main”