The dumb part of this hobby is that I moved into crate digging and thirft store purchases this year so the "new buys" and time to spin and get into them went down a ton. I'm just gonna do 10/10 of 10 of my 2022 favorites and apologize to all the great albums I missed.
All ten points
Black Country, New Road - Ants from Up There - I didn't really get the BCNR hype when they first came out, but this one hit my like a ton of bricks - reminded me a lot of prime Arcade Fire but with their own stylistic and viewpoint twists.
Francisca Valenzuela - Vida Tan Bonita - I don't understand many of any words on this album but I think I saw this album on a Time mid-year best of list (or another main publication) and gave it a run, it's exceptionally produced and sounding pop.
Angel Olsen - Big TIme - Similar to BCNR, I never really get into Angel Olsen releases but this country-tinged turn is a real treat with a ton of consistency and some truly great songs to kick off the album
Carly Rae Jepsen - The Loneliest Time - I'm a tiny bit surprised this hasn't gotten more love in the larger critical sphere. As an Emotion stan and someone who liked but didn't love Dedicated, this felt like a real bounceback to me with some adventurousness in scattered tracks and her rock solid pop sensibilities in the rest.
Molly Tuttle - Crooked Tree - This one was a recommendation of folks here and I became increasingly obsessed. I think the only year end list I saw this one hit was Grady Smith's honorable mentions on his country albums and, I dunno, it's a slew of talented folks doing very high end bluegrass in a modern sensibility. I think people will look back on this one fondly.
Harry Styles - Harry's House - The pop landscape in 2022 is interesting because there is, truly, so much that is just mindless and wasteful. Harry Styles could make a ton of cash just doing that. I am not sure if this was as strong as Fine Line was but there's a very brave sensitivity and openness in this album that really rewards additional listens and diving into it. I wish my "band stars gone solo" as a teen were as good as Harry is.
Ali McGuirk - Til It's Gone - I've put her name out there a few times and I'll continue to be a pain in the ass on her. This was her new album and has my favorite opening ten seconds of the year on X Boyfriends - just a bombastic introduction with a wailing note as she settles into that blues and soul inspired vocal she has made a name for in New England for years. She brought in some great session musicians for this one and it shows.
Florence and the Machine - Dance Fever - It's FatM but I think it's her best in a long time. She pulled out of what was a bit too much of an introspective downer vibe that served her so well and sold us some of those refined, somewhat upbeat but still grounded monster songs she does best.
Regina Spektor - Home, before and after - Welcome back Regina, I missed ya, and this is a rock solid album through and through. I wish it got some more love through the year.
First Aid Kit - Palomino - It's a bit of a theme with some others, but I thought FAK might have lost some of that magic that made me love them, but this is a return to my preferred form and just a sonic treat of harmonies and well constructed music.
An honest list would probably be like 30-40 deep but 10x10 is what I have attention for today.
All ten points
Black Country, New Road - Ants from Up There - I didn't really get the BCNR hype when they first came out, but this one hit my like a ton of bricks - reminded me a lot of prime Arcade Fire but with their own stylistic and viewpoint twists.
Francisca Valenzuela - Vida Tan Bonita - I don't understand many of any words on this album but I think I saw this album on a Time mid-year best of list (or another main publication) and gave it a run, it's exceptionally produced and sounding pop.
Angel Olsen - Big TIme - Similar to BCNR, I never really get into Angel Olsen releases but this country-tinged turn is a real treat with a ton of consistency and some truly great songs to kick off the album
Carly Rae Jepsen - The Loneliest Time - I'm a tiny bit surprised this hasn't gotten more love in the larger critical sphere. As an Emotion stan and someone who liked but didn't love Dedicated, this felt like a real bounceback to me with some adventurousness in scattered tracks and her rock solid pop sensibilities in the rest.
Molly Tuttle - Crooked Tree - This one was a recommendation of folks here and I became increasingly obsessed. I think the only year end list I saw this one hit was Grady Smith's honorable mentions on his country albums and, I dunno, it's a slew of talented folks doing very high end bluegrass in a modern sensibility. I think people will look back on this one fondly.
Harry Styles - Harry's House - The pop landscape in 2022 is interesting because there is, truly, so much that is just mindless and wasteful. Harry Styles could make a ton of cash just doing that. I am not sure if this was as strong as Fine Line was but there's a very brave sensitivity and openness in this album that really rewards additional listens and diving into it. I wish my "band stars gone solo" as a teen were as good as Harry is.
Ali McGuirk - Til It's Gone - I've put her name out there a few times and I'll continue to be a pain in the ass on her. This was her new album and has my favorite opening ten seconds of the year on X Boyfriends - just a bombastic introduction with a wailing note as she settles into that blues and soul inspired vocal she has made a name for in New England for years. She brought in some great session musicians for this one and it shows.
Florence and the Machine - Dance Fever - It's FatM but I think it's her best in a long time. She pulled out of what was a bit too much of an introspective downer vibe that served her so well and sold us some of those refined, somewhat upbeat but still grounded monster songs she does best.
Regina Spektor - Home, before and after - Welcome back Regina, I missed ya, and this is a rock solid album through and through. I wish it got some more love through the year.
First Aid Kit - Palomino - It's a bit of a theme with some others, but I thought FAK might have lost some of that magic that made me love them, but this is a return to my preferred form and just a sonic treat of harmonies and well constructed music.
An honest list would probably be like 30-40 deep but 10x10 is what I have attention for today.
of 2022!
