Favorite Albums of 2022

Below are 50 of my favorite albums from this past year. This is the third year I’ve undertaken this curation of music - what started as a way to stay sane, happy, and interested during the beginning of the pandemic has turned into a labor of love. It's hard to be objective about something so subjective. Everyone has different tastes in music and that's okay - the following is what I liked and what I hope everyone else might like too!

If there is a throughline on the albums curated below it's that we’re finally starting to see the fruits of lockdown, seclusion, isolation, and socio-political change - fuels for creativity. Many of the albums push boundaries. Many of the albums are deeply personal and emotional. Many of the albums are experimental.

Thanks to everyone who looks at this webpage, listens to the playlist, listens to the other playlists. The albums are listed chronologically by their release date. Hopefully you can find new musicians, bands, or albums to add to your music library and your own playlists - after all the goal of Music Stream Dreams is for music discovery, rediscovery, and for further inquiry. Enjoy!

Rose Pink Cadillac

by DOPE LEMON

DOPE LEMON’s third album is finally the whole completed idea I have been waiting for. Much of this album cements itself in the laid back and high reverb style that Mac DeMarco brought to popularity, yet it doesn’t feel like a rip off of Salad Days. I really enjoyed the moments on this album that DOPE LEMON allows for guitar solos and sonic spatial exploration.

Standout Songs: Rose Pink Cadillac, Howl With Me, Stingray Pete, Sailor’s Delight, Lovesick Brain, God’s Machete, Shadows In The Moonlight

CAPRISONGS

by FKA twigs

Hey, I made you a mixtape is how this album starts and how it should be understood. This body of work from FKA twigs is like a bridge to a new dimension of music from her previous album MAGDALENE. Each song brings in different genres and styles of music, yet there is an undertone that connects each song to make this project feel whole. I’m excited to see where this mixtape takes twigs as it feels like a monumental jumping off point for so many large bodies of work to come.

Standout Songs: ride the dragon, honda, meta angel, tears in the club, oh my love, lightbeamers, which way, jealousy, careless, minds of men, darjeeling

The Overload

by Yard Act

If my favorite albums from last year, and this year, show any trend it's that I am obsessed with the current wave of post-punk bands - Yard Act is no exception. This album shines in the lyrics and the rhythmic layering. I also enjoy the minimal instrumentation of this band and the easy-driving nature they provide to support the vocals.

Standout Songs: The Overload, Dead Horse, Rich, The Incident, Tall Poppies, Pour Another, 100% Endurance

The 7th Hand

by Immanuel Wilkins

Two years after his debut album, Immanuel Wilkins sounds more well versed, more relaxed, and more than ready to masterfully wield his saxophone. Each song, fast and entangled or slow and sprawling, commands the space and heart of the listener. Anyone who enjoys jazz in any capacity can find joy in the midst of this album’s contemporary chaos. The album’s last track, Lift, is a 26-minute odyssey that cements the whole album as a true and encompassing spiritual journey. The 7th Hand dares to think big while never skipping a beat and paying close attention to every detail.

Standout Songs: Emanation, Don’t Break, Fugitive Ritual, Selah, Lighthouse, Lift

Piece of Me

by Lady Wray

Conjuring R&B and soul sounds older than time, Lady Wray puts all of herself on full display throughout this delightful album. Any fan of El Michels Affair ears should be tingling listening to the instrumentals of this album as Leon Michel’s was a co-producer on this album and skillfully left his mark while ensuring the spotlight was left on Lady Wray. The sound of a live band, which Wray specifically requested, adds such deep and warm undertones to support her singing. One of my favorite songs on this album, Melody, is an ode to Wray’s daughter whom the song is named after. This acoustic ballad shines one of the brightest and honest spotlights on Lady Wray’s musicianship and vocal talent.

Standout Songs: I Do, Through It All, Piece of Me, Where Were You, Games People Play, Melody, Joy & Pain

Ants From Up There

by Black Country, New Road

Words can’t begin to describe how highly I think of this album. This might be the closest thing I have heard to a perfect album that has been released in my lifetime. Between the wide ranging and orchestral instrumentals, the heart-wrenching vocals, and the even more piercing lyrics there is nothing else I heard released this year that comes together as cohesively and whole as this album. The departure of the primary lyricist and vocalist on this album, Isaac Wood, just days before the album’s release make this album even more special and some of the hardest hitting songs hit just a bit harder. I plead to anyone reading this, please please please listen to this album.

Standout Songs: Intro, Chaos Space Marine, Concorde, Bread Song, Good Will Hunting, Haldern, Mark’s Theme, The Place Where He Inserted the Blade, Snow Globes, Basketball Shoes.

Earthling

by Eddie Vedder

Following up on his eclectic previous solo album, Ukulele Songs, this album is anything but. Rock anthems like Invincible and Long Way lead into mellower and more introspective songs like Brother the Cloud that hold their own. While this is far from a Pearl Jam album, it still stands on its own as a rock and roll album. More stripped-down songs on the album like The Haves and Mrs. Mills displays Vedder’s point of view on the world through his lyrics and vocal delivery. This album also brings together some of Vedder’s friends and rock heroes including Chad Smith, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Ringo Starr.

Standout Songs: Invincible, Long Way, Brother the Cloud, The Dark, The Haves, Try, Mrs. Mills

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You

by Big Thief

This 80-minute album leaves no seconds to spare. Each song brings different and engaging instrumentals layered with the Adrianne Lenker’s beautiful vocals and lyrics that paint such vast and vibrant stories. The warmth and comfort these songs exude allows for careless and soulful wandering, getting lost in a funny lyric or hypnotized by a rhythm. 20 songs might seem daunting but by the time the last song ends you’re left wanting more.

Standout Songs: Change, Time Escapes, Certainty, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You, Sparrow, Little Things, Blurred View, Red Moon, No Reason, Simulation Swarm, Blue Lightning

PAINLESS

by Nilüfer Yanya

This album showcases Nilüfer Yanya’s immaculate and personal songwriting. It’s moody and poetic but also driving and forward moving. Lines throughout the album linger and lead you entrenched in her emotion. The instrumentals masterfully score her lyrics without overpowering.

Standout Songs: the dealer, L/R, shameless, stabilise, midnight sun, try, anotherlife

Unlimited Love

by Red Hot Chili Peppers

If you’re a fan of any of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ songs and you haven’t listened to this album yet… what are you doing‽ This is one of their best new albums in a long time and it satisfies every craving even the slightest of fans might have. Fast songs, funky songs, slow songs, head banging songs - it's all right here. RHCP doesn’t skip a beat or rhythm on this album and neither should you.

Standout Songs: Black Summer, Here Ever After, Aquatic Mouth Dance, Not the One, Poster Child, It’s Only Natural, She’s a Lover, These Are the Ways, One Way Traffic, Let ‘Em Cry

The Parable Of The Poet

by Joel Ross

Joel Ross’ third album makes it hard to believe it’s an album centered around a jazz vibraphonist. Throughout most of the album Ross takes a back seat to the rest of the ensemble he gathered. Solos from each member ebb and flow in and out of the dynamic layers of instruments. This album is best understood as a suite like that of classical music, each part separate yet also dependent upon the others.

Standout Songs: PRAYER, CHOICES, WAIL, DOXOLOGY (Hope)

We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong (Deluxe Edition)

by Sharon Van Etten

Coming off the heels of her previous album, Remind Me Tomorrow, and the tenth anniversary of her breakout album Epic, Sharon Van Etten pulls together her iconic sound to the fight for climate activism. Her unique long tone whaling over building instrumentals gives meaning and life to one of the most pressing and depressing realities we face today. It grapples with emotions from the pandemic, climate change, severe weather patterns that threaten societies, and the yearning for change. The album ends with the haunting lyrics that resonate with much of emotions that millennials and gen z are surrounded by; Yeah, I wanna be much better, And I wanna do so much more.

Standout Songs: Darkness Fades, Anything, Headspace, Come Back, Far Away, Never Gonna Change, When I Die

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

by Kendrick Lamar

This is Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated return after his instant classic and Pulitzer Prize winning album DAMN. While this new album does not live up to its predecessor (but it never could) it tells stories of turmoil, growth, strife, acceptance, and perseverance. I think what is most pressing to understand about this album, and Kenrick Lamar at this moment, is that doing the work is hard, it takes time, it comes with a lot of ups and downs, and ultimately sometimes leads you to places you never expected or back to where you began – all of which are more than okay.

Standout Songs: N95, Worldwide Steppers, Die Hard, Father Time, Rich Spirit, We Cry Together, Count Me Out, Silent Hill, Auntie Diaries, Mr. Morale, Mother I Sober, Mirror, The Heart Part 5

Dance Fever

Florence + The Machine

The majestic nature of Florence + The Machine takes on a much more personal and introspective nature than before. The exploration of the ideas of intimacy and magic are skillfully painted in the details of every song on this album. Songs like King and Girls Against God reach inwards in order to view the outside world. Florence Welch finds herself exposing personal details of her life in the poetic lyrics of this album.

Standout Songs: King, Free, Back In Town, Girls Against God, Dream Girl Evil, Heaven Is Here, Daffodil, My Love, Morning Elvis

A Light for Attracting Attention

by The Smile

Thom Yorke brings all his best to this group and album. Joined by Johnny Greenwood, also from Radiohead, and Tom Skinner of Sons of Kemet; the three embark on a hypnotic and at times abrasive project. For me I find all that I love in Radiohead’s discography is carefully mixed into the songs on this album. High energy, driving, and loud vocals can be followed by jazz-like drumming and piano with soft mysterious lyrics. Highly recommend for anyone who has enjoyed any of Radiohead’s albums.

Standout Songs: The Same, The Opposite, You Will Never Work In Television Again, The Smoke, Thin Thing, Free In the Knowledge, We Don’t Know What Tomorrow Brings

Harry’s House

by Harry Styles

One thing Harry Styles is good at is delivering a consistently good quality pop album that brings in a variety of precedents from rock and pop history. This album’s back half features stripped down and down tempo songs that at times were missing from Styles’ previous album. Like all of his albums the songs on Harry’s House deal with relationships with those in his life, usually romantic and sometimes plutonic. The sounds on this album are fun, fresh, and easy to listen to as what has come to be expected of Harry Styles.

Standout Songs: Late Night Talking, Grapejuice, As It Was, Matilda, Keep Driving, Satellite

Cruel Country

by Wilco

A departure from their usual sound, Wilco embraces country, americana, and folk influences as a medium for them to express their views on the current state of America. The easy-going and acoustic nature of the instrumentations provide a subdued tone to the album that doesn’t match the much more pointed observations and ideas that lyrics provide. There is a back and forth, trying to make sense of the place and thoughts the band has for the country which can be seen most clearly in lyrics off of the title track, I love my country like a little boy, red, white and blue, I love my country stupid and cruel.

Standout Songs: I Am My Mother, Cruel Country, All Across the World, Bird Without a Tail / Base of My Skull, Tired of Taking It Out On You, Many Worlds, Falling Apart (Right Now), A Lifetime to Find, Sad Kind of Way

In the Spirit of Ntu

by Nduduzo Makhathini

In the Spirit of Ntu is the first album released under the new label Blue Note Africa, a partnership between Blue Note and UMG Africa. Jazz pianist Makhathini brings with him an ensemble of Africa’s best jazz musicians to create a diverse and rhythmically spiritual album. Like Joel Ross’ album from this year, the talented ensemble blends in and out to the point where you almost forget at time that Makhathini is the nucleus for this album. This is an amazing jazz record to get lost in on a quiet day.

Standout Songs: Unonkanyamba, Mama, Emlilweni, Omnyama, Senze’ Nina

A Legacy of Rentals

by Craig Finn

The incredible storytelling throughout this album paints an immensely detailed saga of remembering, longing, and melancholy. Through these stories of real lives for fictional people, Finn finds the memories that others might try to forget. Behind these lyrics are instrumentations ranging from acoustic guitar to an orchestra to a soft rock band which follow the emotional roadmap laid out by Finn in the lyrics. Also, a very special shoutout from Finn in the song Jessamine to the Lower Trenton Bridge in New Jersey.

Standout Songs: Messing with the Settings, Birthdays, The Year We Fell Behind, Never Any Horses, Jessamine, This is What It Looks Like

Inside Problems

by Andrew Bird

The 11 songs on this record provide an easy listening experience with Andrew Bird’s usual poetic lyrics. At times this album feels like an album Father John Misty wishes he made. An eclectic cast of instruments accompany Bird’s singing. The songs take on many different tones with interwoven strands of jazz, soft rock, acoustic rock, and early morning festival rock.

Standout Songs: Underlands, Fixed Positions, Inside Problems, Make a Picture, Faithless Ghost, Eight

Big Time

by Angel Olsen

For all of her previous albums and the boundaries they pushed, Angel Olsen moves time and space in her 2022 album Big Time. Influences of country and folk blend together in high amounts of reverb and openness. Her vulnerable lyrics and delicate vocals are laid down upon wispy clouds of sweeping instrumentals that build to dramatic climaxes. This album sounds like the sensation of watching the sun set on a light blue sky streaked with clouds each receiving its own unique color.

Standout Songs: All The Good Times, Big Time, Ghost On, All The Flowers, This Is How It Works, Through The Fires

Apt. 505

by Coast Contra

Coast Contra’s future is looking vast and bright. The new Philadelphia-based rap group put the hours and years into honing their craft before delivering this energy-packed album. Each member is extremely talented in their own way, yet throughout the album they’re balanced and never outshining one another. All the energy you hear on the album is only a fraction of what they bring to their live performance (see their late night debut on The Tonight Show).

Standout Songs: Get the Worm, 2 Phone Jack, AF1, Pimpin’ Benjamin, 505, Queen & Slim, Coupe Dreams, Pangea

Dripfield

by Goose

Goose, a jam band from Connecticut, proves that they can be an exhilarating jam band and make interesting albums on their newest album, something that a lot of jam bands struggle with. What the album does so well is showcase the building of layers and the soloing, that is the main attraction of jam bands, without the songs becoming too draining and running on for too long or making the song too short and losing some of that magic from the building of layers.

Standout Songs: Borne, Dripfield, Slow Ready, Hot Tea, 726

This Is a Photograph

by Kevin Morby

This is a deeply personal album set in the emotions of fatherhood, family, memory, and longing. The sound Kevin Morby puts forth is vast like that of the memories a photo album spanning a lifetime might conjure. Where upon first listen the album might seem sad and longing, further listening opens the listener up to the desire to live in the moment, cherish each second, and love all those in your life.

Standout Songs: This Is a Photograph, A Random Act of Kindness, Bittersweet, TN, A Coat of Butterflies, Rock Bottom, Stop Before I Cry, Goodbye To Good Times

Hellfire

by black midi

Building on their previous albums, black midi brings precisions to their chaotic and distinct sound. The genres punk and prog rock barely begin to define the immense universe of sound created in Hellfire. The back half of the album finds moments of subduedness that offer glimpses into the layered and detailed instrumentals in the first half. With each listen there are more and more treats to be found. Whether in cheeky lyrics or almost impossible to play instrumental licks, this album brings so much to the table that you’ll be left full after each listen.

Standout Songs: Sugar/Tzu, Eat Men Eat, Welcome To Hell, Still, The Defence, 27 Questions

RENAISSANCE

by Beyoncé

With what will almost be the universal best album of the year, Beyoncé once again doesn’t only control her narrative but also her destiny. Her venture into the dance genre brings with it some of the best and varied style and backgrounds producers and DJ’s. This allowed the album to be highly palatable, more than her music already is, all around the world. The success of RENAISSANCE is undeniable, rightfully so.

Standout Songs: I’M THAT GIRL, ALIEN SUPERSTAR, CUFF IT, BREAK MY SOUL, CHURCH GIRL, PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA, THIQUE, AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM, SUMMER RENAISSANCE

Surrender

by Maggie Rogers

The growth and maturity Maggie Rogers has undergone since her debut album is immense and fairly unmatched from most other new artists in her situation. A lot of this maturity feels to come from her recent education at Harvard’s Divinity School as well as all the knowledge life brings with time. This album’s composed of many songs that address changes, hope, and life’s moments. With each listen this album is able to pluck at more and more personal strings and memories in each listener.

Standout Songs: That’s Where I Am, Want Want, Horses, Begging For Rain, I’ve Got A Friend, Different Kind Of World

Cheat Codes

by Danger Mouse & Black Thought

This might be my favorite collaboration albums of year. Black Thought, of The Roots, brings with him his undeniably outstanding flows, rhyme schemes, and quick-witted references. Danger Mouse provides his incredible instrumentals and sampling to perfectly score the fast-paced rapping that is carefully layered on top. And if there is anything else you need to persuade you to listen to this, the features on some of these tracks go so hard, including a posthumous feature from MF DOOM.

Standout Songs: Sometimes, Cheat Codes, No Gold Teeth, Because, Belize, Identical Deaths, Strangers, Violas and Lupitas

No Rules Sandy

by Sylvan Esso

The band Sylvan Esso has cultivated such a beautiful and refined electronic sound that became sought out and expected of them. For any band to break away from what fans expect of them is never easy, but the free-flowing nature and experimentation on this album does not lose the refined quality that they’re known for. At times some of the short demo-esq excerpts feel unnecessary or like they could be part of a bigger song. At the end of the day though, this album is fun, plain and simple.

Standout Songs: Look At Me, Echo Party, How Did You Know, Didn’t Care, Alarm, Coming Back To You

I Am The Moon

by Tedeschi Trucks Band

Originally released in four parts, this album demands your attention for each 131 minutes. It brings rock, soul, americana, folk, roots, blues, and a bit of funk together to create one of the most varied and in-depth albums this year. This album really has a bit of everything for everyone from genre influence, to type of song, to rhythmic beats and tempos. This album is worth a listen from anyone.

Standout Songs: Hear My Dear, I Am The Moon, Circles ‘Round The Sun, Pasaquan, Ain’t That Something, So Long Savoir, Hold That Line, Somehow, Yes We Will, Gravity, Last Night In The Rain, Soul Sweet Song, Where Are My Friends ?, Another Day

The Forever Story

by JID

Straight out of Dreamville, JID brings his best ever on each track. The Forever Story is just that, a story about the forever growing and changing relationship he has with his past and present. With each album, JID hones his craft and sharpens his unique flow and bars. JID takes the time he needs between each album, but he never wastes a second of that to put in the work and continuously evolve to new levels.

Standout Songs: Raydar, Dance Now, Can’t Punk Me, Bruddanem, Can’t Make U Change, Money, Better Days

Natural Brown Prom Queen

by Sudan Archives

How do you follow up an album like Athena? Sudan Archives’ answers to explore everything but. At first this album feels disjointed and unfocused, but in reality the focus is sharp as ever. Across each song Sudan Archives finds new uncharted space. This album is a stepping stone, but it is also such an incredible jumping off point for future music exploration.

Standout Songs: Home Maker, Ciara, Selfish Soul, OMG Britt, ChevyS10, Homesick, #513

Some of Us Are Brave

by Danielle Ponder

Starting her professional life as a public defender, Danielle Ponder has recently pivoted to becoming a musician. Bringing with her her passion for justice and equality, the songs off this debut album read like a will and testament to striving for a better future. This is also one of the truest soul and blues albums of the year, just enough grit and not too many frills and fanfare.

Standout Songs: Some Of Us Are Brave, So Long, Someone Like You, The Only Way Out, Thoughts, Darker Than Blue

Cave World

by Viagra Boys

This album might be one of the best at storytelling this year, the story of “the de-evolution of man” as described by the band. Set to some amazing punk and grunge rock, the story is of how a man falls down the far-right conspiracy theory rabbit hole, something that I think many people know of at least someone who has gone down into similar rabbit holes. This album does a great job at showing the outlandishness of these people’s beliefs and the just out-right stupid theories. My only criticism, which isn’t even a criticism but more of a compliment, is that some of these songs are too catchy and become too easy to repeat some truly stupid and outrageous lyrics.

Standout Songs: Baby Criminal, Troglodyte, Punk Rock Loser, Ain’t No Thief, Big Boy, ADD, Return to Monke

Ali

by Vieux Farka Touré and Khruangbin

A collaboration album between African guitarist and singer Vieux Farka Touré and Texas funk group Khraungbin is the basis for a beautiful tribute album to Ali Farka Touré, father of Vieux. Khruangbin acts as the support needed to undertake a respectful tribute but also a body of music that can stand on its own. Vieux brings rich and wonderful melodies and rhythms stemming from his father and expanding into his and our present world.

Standout Songs: Savanne, Lobbo, Tongo Barra, Ali Hala Abada, Alakarra

Cool It Down

by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

After her transformative album in 2020 with Danger Mouse, Karen O reunites her iconic 2000’s band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with new directions and influences. Heavier synths, longer wailing vocals, and sounds of yearning for the past and the future are present throughout the album’s too quick 32 minutes. I’m left wanting more with a bit of a gasping feeling, forgetting to come up for air the whole time.

Standout Songs: Spitting Off the Edge of the World, Fleez, Burning, Blacktop, Different Today

Angels & Queens - Part 1

by Gabriels

Maybe one of the best albums I stumbled upon this year. Gabriels is a three-piece neo-gospel band from Los Angeles bringing the energy that so many of us fell in love with in bands like Alabama Shakes. Everything about this album screams soul, grit, and dark warmth. The many years of honing their craft as a group culminates in a rich album that leaves listeners begging for part 2 to come out as soon as possible.

Standout Songs: Angels & Queens, Taboo, Remember Me, If You Only Knew, The Blind, Mama

Rolling Golden Holy

by Bonny Light Horseman

Bonny Light Horseman put forth a folk and americana infused album that is beautiful in a similar sense to sitting under a tree looking out at a field of grain on a warm autumn day. There is something about the harmonies and instrumentation that just brings that purely calm warmth that is hard to come by. Composed of three musicians from careers and bands that hold their own, the pieces of this puzzle come together seamlessly.

Standout Songs: Exile, Comrade Sweetheart, California, Summer Dream, Gone by Fall, Sweetbread, Cold Rain and Snow

Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms And Lava

by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms And Lava is full of some of the jammiest jams this eccentric band has put out on an album yet. Of the handful of albums King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard has released this year this one feels the most put together and cohesive all around. It’s not a diss to any of the other albums that are of great quality too, just that this feels the most whole as an album. This album’s themes and exploration also take on a groovy, head shaking, and toe tapping quality that I was drawn to time and time again.

Standout Songs: Mycelium, Ice V, Lava, Iron Lung

CHAOS NOW *

by Jean Dawson

Jean Dawson brings so much range to this album that puts most of the other grunge and pop-punk albums from this year to shame. There’s pop, rap, rock, soul, grunge and so much more expertly mixed together. The album moves forward, ceaselessly only to find itself at one of its loudest songs, PIRATE RADIO *, not in volume but emotion and instrumentation.

Standout Songs: THREE HEADS *, GLORY *, KIDS EAT PILLS *, Bad Fruit *, 0-HEROES *, PORN ACTING *, PIRATE RADIO *

Component System with the Auto Reverse

by Open Mike Eagle

One of my favorite rappers, Open Mike Eagle, returns with more of his usual and the added benefit of time. His bars and flows on this new album live up to his previous albums. The beats he’s overtop of flow and match the mood on each song so well. Most importantly about this album is his deep and personal tribute to the late rapper MF DOOM. Open Mike Eagle has cited multiple times that DOOM is one of his greatest influences, not only does it show in this album but also in the story he tells on the song For DOOM.

Standout Songs: The Song with the Secret Name, 79th and Stony Island, I’ll Fight You, I Retired Then I Changed My Mind, For DOOM, Peak Lockdown Raps

Being Funny In a Foreign Language

by The 1975

The pretty vintage sounding pop band The 1975 returned with one of their best albums yet. If your ears perk up while listening to this album its probably because Jack Antonoff helped produce it and his influence can be heard on each song. This album returns to many of the melodic sparkles that made their debut album so popular. For anyone who has dabbled in The 1975 before or have never yet listened, this album is truly one of their finest and great to get into the band.

Standout Songs: The 1975, Happiness, Looking For Somebody (To Love ), Part of the Band, I’m In Love With You, All I Need To Hear, Human Too, About You

The Car

by Arctic Monkeys

Building upon the symphonic foundation from their previous album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, Arctic Monkeys returned with a whole new style of rock that is orchestral, poetic, and at times mysterious. This album at times feels more cinematic than it might need to be, but it helps play into the intricate and descript story telling of the lyrics. Most of this album makes me want to be in a dimly lit basement dive bar with a small stage in the corner where Arctic Monkeys are professing these songs about longing and doubt.

Standout Songs: There’d Better Be A Mirrorball, I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am, Jet Skis On The Moat, Body Paint, Hello You, Perfect Sense

Stumpwork

by Dry Cleaning

It's hard to describe Dry Cleaning to people without playing a song. Any song off of their newest album, Stumpwork, brilliantly showcases this band’s sound and skill. Mesmerizing instrumentals set the stage for some of the best lyric writing and delivery of the year. I highly recommend everyone listen to this album once but don’t be turned off by the spoken word nature of the vocals.

Standout Songs: Anna Calls From the Arctic, Kwenchy Kups, Gary Ashby, Hot Penny Day, Stumpwork, No Decent Shows For Rain, Conservative Hell, Liberty Log, Icebergs

Where I’m Meant To Be

by Ezra Collective

The beginning of No Confusion starts with This time around, I just really want to go Jazz…Everybody will think that I’m gonna be playing jazz like the Americans, No ermm, I’m playing Jazz my way which is precisely what this album does. Jazz, funk, hip-hop, rap, reggaeton barely begin to describe the ingredients mixed together to make this cake of an album. This album moves and grooves making you want to get up and dance, an all-around banger of an album.

Standout Songs: Victory Dance, No Confusion, Welcome To My World, Togetherness, Ego Killah, Belonging, Love In Outer Space

Multiple Albums

by SAULT

The illusive and ever-expanding group known as SAULT released a total of five albums and two EPs this year. A breadth of work like this that spans genres and styles is hard to comprehend and pull together as a end of year wrap up, so the following is the best I can do. To preface, all of this music is of a high standard and caliber that has become the norm for this group. Air is a great orchestral and vocal choir album. X is an incredible ten-minute song, split into three stylistic parts, that all feature Chronixx and his reggae influence. 11 expands upon their throughline of albums all titled as the odd number that follows the previous one. This album brings a lot of 70’s funk and African rock heard in bands like WITCH. AIIR expands upon Air with more orchestral and choir pieces. Earth brings together soul music and African drumbeats to create a truly unique sounding album. Today & Tomorrow is the all the rock of 11 but on steroids with heavier drums and louder guitars and an added layer of a basement punk show. Untitled (God( is a follow up to SAULT’s two amazing albums from 2020. While I feel this one is at times a bit too preachy the music is amazing and transcends the mainstream ideas of what gospel and religious music is.

Standout Songs: (Air); Reality, Air, Solar, Time Is Precious; (X) Angel, (11); Glory, Morning Sun, Together, Fight for Love, River; (AIIR); 4Am, Hiding Moon, 5Am; (Earth) Spirit Call, The Lords With Me, Valley of the Ocean, God Is in Control, Stronger, Soul Inside My beautiful Imagination; (Today & Tomorrow); In the Beginning, Heal the World, The Jungle, Money; (Untitled (God)) I Am Free, God Is Love, Love Will Free Your Mind, I Surrender, Champions, Love Is All I Know, Safe Within Your Hands, Faith, Colour Blind, God In Disguise

Only the Strong Survive

by Bruce Springsteen

An album of classic soul, R&B, and rock standards is the latest release from the one and only The Boss. Bruce Springsteen assembled an authentic-to-the-original-recordings studio band to record these songs live as faithfully as he could. His covers bring these songs and their original writers and performers a new and captive audience. This album is also one of the greatest showcases of Springsteen’s vocal talent, even after almost 60 years as an active performer.

Standout Songs: Only the Strong Survive, Soul Days, Nightshift, Do I Love You ( Indeed I Do), Turn Back the Hands of Time, Hey, Western Union Man, Don’t Play That Song, I Forgot To Be Your Lover

And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow

by Weyes Blood

Sweeping orchestral compositions acts as a foundation for a purely beautiful cinematic album from Weyes Blood. The album starts confined like in the corner of a dark room or at the very beginning of a long dark hallway. With each song the album progresses until a celebratory yet cautious almost ending in the song The Worst Is Done. While her previous album, Titanic Rising, might still be her best, this album gives it a run for its money with its much larger and grandiose sonic spaces.

Standout Songs: It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody, Grapevine, God Turn Me Into a Flower, Twin Flame, The Worst Is Done

SOS

by SZA

One of the biggest and most surprising albums of 2022 came just in the nick of time! SZA returns with her sophomore album after an agonizing five years since her debut. Each second of the 68-minute album lives up to the expectation and makes the wait well worth it. There’s hip-hop, R&B, and some well welcomed rock and punk influences mixed throughout to make just an incredible all around album.

Standout Songs: Kill Bill, Seek & Destroy, Love Language, Used, Notice Me, Gone Girl, Ghost in the Machine, F2F, Conceited, Too Late, Open Arms, Good Days, Forgiveness

No Thank You

by Little Simz

Ending my list with two surprise albums that came out right at the cutoff is pretty risky, but there is never any risk when Little Simz is one of the musicians surprising us. This album goes hard, putting her rapping, bars, and storytelling front and center. All over this album Little Simz picks fights with the music industry, clout chasers, and music profiteers who make money off of her and her art. She doesn’t hold back, and neither should you hold yourself back from listening.