Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for the moment we've all been waiting for. Well... it's at least the moment I've been waiting for. You might not care. But then again, you're here, aren't you? Okay, I digress. Welcome to my Top 20 Albums of 2022 list! Here, I will rank my favorite albums of the year from #20 to #1. I easily listened to more music than any year previous. Hell, I listened to over 100 new albums between January and December. Yes, I am crazy!
Now, as with all my lists, keep in my mind that this is entirely my opinion, and my list is going to look a lot different than yours. Also, even though I've listened to more new music than ever, I still haven't listened to everything. I am only one man, after all. Besides, I got married and worked three different jobs in 2022. The fact that I was able to listen to as much music as I did is nothing short of a miracle. If you want to hear any of these albums, click on the album names. Doing so will take you to the Spotify links of each project where you can listen to them on your own time. Or, if you only want a small taste, you can click on each one of my "Best Songs." With each album, I listed my favorite song from their respective LP. So, by clicking on that song, you can determine if you like what you're hearing and if you want to hear more.
Before we officially begin, I'm going to list some honorable mentions. These projects basically act as #30-#21. You can also check out these albums by clicking on the titles or on the songs if you just want a sampling. Anyways, here they are!
Plains: I Walked With You A Ways
Release Date: October 14
Genre: Alt-Country / Americana
Best Song: "Hurricane"
Nilüfer Yanya: PAINLESS
Release Date: March 4
Genre: Indie Rock
Best Song: "stabilise"
Tim Bernardes: Mil Coisas Invisíveis
Release Date: June 14
Genre: Chamber Pop / Singer-Songwriter / Contemporary Folk
Best Song: "A Balada de Tim Bernardes"
Bartees Strange: Farm to Table
Release Date: June 17
Genre: Indie Rock / Singer-Songwriter / Indietronica
Best Song: "Heavy Heart"
Beach House: Once Twice Melody
Release Date: February 18
Genre: Dream Pop / Neo-Psychedelia / Ethereal Wave
Best Song: "Pink Funeral"
The Smile: A Light for Attracting Attention
Release Date: May 13
Genre: Art Rock
Best Song: "Free In the Knowledge"
Anaïs Mitchell: Anaïs Mitchell
Release Date: January 28
Genre: Singer-Songwriter / Chamber Folk
Best Song: "Now You Know"
Orville Peck: Bronco
Release Date: April 8
Genre: Singer-Songwriter / Country / Country Rock / Outlaw Country
Best Song: "Outta Time"
Christian Lee Hutson: Quitters
Release Date: April 1
Genre: Folk / Singer-Songwriter
Best Song: "Strawberry Lemonade"
Black Thought & Danger Mouse: Cheat Codes
Release Date: August 12
Genre: East Coast Hip Hop / Conscious Hip Hop
Best Song: "Belize (feat. MF DOOM)"
Wasn't that fun? I bet it was fun. Alright, enough dawdling! Here are my top 20 albums of 2022!
20. Viagra Boys: Cave World
Release Date: July 8
Genre: Dance Punk / Post Punk / Art Punk
Best Song: "Ain't No Thief"
I honestly didn't think that Cave World was going to be in my top 20. Sure, I did enjoy it on my initial listens, but I found some parts to be terribly obnoxious. However, after more listens, I've grown to appreciate this album a lot more. The performances are all punchy, the riffs are catchy and the production strikes a perfect balance between noisy and intoxicating. The often satirical lyrics poking fun at conspiracy theories, alt-right ideologies, internet trolls, macho man mentalities and more are biting and clever, and the vocals are so wild that I can't help but love them. Even the parts I found to be annoying have grown on me a fair amount to the point where I can't help but bob my head and even genuinely laugh at them. This is easily the funniest album I've heard all year, as well as one of the most fun. This certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it is certainly worth a shot. Some of the best rock songs of the year turn up on this project. It's a blast.
19. Pusha T: It's Almost Dry
Release Date: April 22
Genre: Hardcore Hip Hop / Gangsta Rap / Southern Hip Hop
Best Song: "Let The Smokers Shine The Coupes"
I hate to say it, but I never really payed too much attention to Pusha T before this album. It's not because he's a bad rapper or that his songs are trash, but more because I just didn't get around to listening to his work. However, with It's Almost Dry, that is certainly going to change. This is an excellently made hip hop album with great beats, smart wordplay and smooth as hell flows. Pusha has the perfect amount of swagger in his delivery, enhancing the braggadocio and the wit of his words with each verse. Plus, the production here is insane. The entire album switches between two key producers: Pharrell and [REDACTED]. These two switch off with each other flawlessly, each giving Pusha their own distinct styles and Pusha bodying each track. It's a finely crafted piece of hip hop that has understandably gone down as one of the year's best in the genre.
18. MUNA: MUNA
Release Date: June 24
Genre: Synthpop / Pop Rock / Indie Pop / Electropop
Best Song: "Loose Garment"
It's time for a little something for the lesbians. This self-titled MUNA album is one of the most delightful and uplifting pop albums of the year. Throughout the project, you get these charming lyrics about love, growth, freedom, moving on from a bad relationship and progression. I picture the band making the statement that they know who they are and they know where they've been, and wherever they go in the future, it will be okay. On top of that, the songs themselves are just so good. The production perfectly straddles the line between synthpop bops and indie rock jams. There's a lot of bounce to every single instrument, and it all comes together in such a bright and joyous package. Pop fans should not miss out on this.
17. Little Simz: NO THANK YOU
Release Date: December 12
Genre: Conscious Hip Hop / UK Hip Hop / Jazz Rap / Neo-Soul
Best Song: "Heart on Fire"
NO THANK YOU is what I like to call a list destroyer. It's one of those albums that gets released right at the end of the year when your year-end list is just about done, only for it to be so good, you have to rearrange everything. But hey, it's worth it, because I just had to include this project. While it is not as strong as her past couple of albums, NO THANK YOU is still an excellently crafted collection of hip hop tracks. The instrumentals manage to be both low-key and grand at the same time, as the production often strikes an excellent balance between moody, jazzy instrumentals and big, swelling orchestral hits. Simbi's rapping is still impeccable, as she grapples with the surge of fame and positivity she's received over the years, while also tackling mental illness in such a gripping way. Little Simz is still one of the best rappers in the game right now, and this project is yet another notch in that belt. Excellent work.
16. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava
Release Date: October 7
Genre: Jazz Rock / Psychedelic Rock / Jam Band
Best Song: "Iron Lung"
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard is insane. This is the second time they've released five albums in the same year. On top of that, three of them came out in the same month. Pure insanity. Anyways, out of all the projects they released in 2022, Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava is my favorite. This is the band at their jammiest. The instrumentals are winding, yet they all flow so smoothly. The guitars, drums, bass and vocals all come together to create an experience that makes the journey so gratifying as it goes along. Even though this project is over an hour with only seven tracks, it never gets boring or stale. While I still find myself questioning how the band manages to release this many albums in such a short time, I am in awe at not only their work ethic, but their ability to still make their music sound fresh and fun. This album is a blast, and I cannot wait to see what the band does next.
15. Nas: King's Disease III
Release Date: November 11
Genre: East Coast Hip Hop / Boom Bap / Conscious Hip Hop / Jazz Rap
Best Song: "Recession Proof"
Speaking of work ethic, this man is almost 50, yet he's still making killer music. The third entry of the King's Disease series is the best yet, and it is a perfect example of a late-career renaissance. Every single beat on here hits hard. Each one is produced flawlessly, and they perfectly mix his older style of jazz rap with modern production. It shows Nas embracing today while still honoring his past in the best way possible. On top of that, Nas is on point lyrically and flow-wise throughout the entire project. He shows us a wiser version of himself, and it makes for a great combination of bangers and meditative moments. Sure, this may not be on the same level as Illmatic, but it was never going to be. That album was an all time classic. With that said, it never needed to live up to that one. Instead, it is a great album showing us that Nas is more than just that project. I haven't listened to too much Nas, but I can tell that that was something he has been battling throughout his career. Here's what I will say about this album in relation to that: King's Disease III is a great album because it never hides in Illmatic's shadow. It is great because it is as well made, enjoyable and smart as it can possibly be.
14. The Beths: Expert In A Dying Field
Release Date: September 16
Genre: Indie Rock / Power Pop
Best Song: "Expert in a Dying Field"
In my opinion, this is easily the best indie rock album of the year. Without question. Expert In A Dying Field is the genre at its catchiest, punchiest and most fun. I love the instrumentals here. They are all simple in the best ways possible, as the riffs are well constructed and the performers all have excellent chemistry with each other. Lead singer Elizabeth Stokes has one of the most delightfully Australian voices you'll find, but it never sounds dry or droll like Courtney Barnett. No, she is a great singer, and she matches the energy of the instrumentation very well. There's also a great flow about this project, as the moods and tempos switch up enough so as to give each song their own identity without making the album experience feel choppy. Plus, this album is just a lot of fun. It'll make you want to dance, headbang, jump up and down, play air guitar and belt out at the top of your lungs. And honestly, isn't that all we want to feel from a rock record? Absolutely delightful from front to back.
13. ROSALÍA: MOTOMAMI
Release Date: March 18
Genre: Neoperreo / Art Pop / Reggaeton
Best Song: "COMO UN G"
This is coming from a guy who doesn't normally care for reggaeton: I LOVE MOTOMAMI. This is such a weird, fun, exciting, gorgeous, mind bending, whiplash-inducing stunner of an album. The bangers go hard and the ballads are some of the most gorgeous of the year. There is a strong sense of duality with the genre shifts that ROSALÍA embarks on, and it pays off in spades. At one point, you'll get a reggaeton rager with ROSALÍA rapping over it. Then, you'll get a piano ballad with ROSALÍA belting about how she wants to ride someone like a bike. On that note, I do know a strong piece of contention people have with this album is the lyrics and, as a person who can barely speak Spanish, I don't have a comment on that. All I will say is that ROSALÍA's vocals and performances are excellent. She has a stunning voice. It is dynamic, full of power and charisma, and simply lovely to hear throughout. As a whole, this is a very bold and impressive album, containing some of the wackiest and most intimate songs of the year. Check this one out if you haven't already, and if the language barrier is a problem for you, deal with it. Listen to it anyway. It's fantastic.
12. Quadeca: I Didn't Mean To Haunt You
Release Date: November 10
Genre: Folktronica / Art Pop / Experimental Hip Hop
Best Song: "house settling (feat. Danny Brown)"
I certainly was not expecting this album to make my top 20. Hell, I wasn't expecting this to be any good. I had listened to some of Quadeca's music in the past, and honestly, I wasn't a fan. It was too amateurish and whiny for my taste. However, the huge amount of positive reception peaked my interest. And yeah, this blew my expectations out of the water. This is easily one of the most original and creative albums I've heard in a while. The production is often overbearing, but it manages to be enchanting throughout. Quadeca's vocals are more confident than ever in both his singing and his rapping. But really, what completely sold me on this album was its concept. I mean, an album from the perspective of a ghost looking down on his life and his loved ones as they move on without him is such a tragic yet genius idea for a project, and it is executed wonderfully. I Didn't Mean To Haunt You really shows Quadeca coming into his own and growing into a full-fledged artist. It's brilliant and worth at least one listen, even if this style doesn't really appeal to you.
11. Kendrick Lamar: Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Release Date: May 13
Genre: Conscious Hip Hop / West Coast Hip Hop
Man... it hurts not having this in my top ten. This is easily one of the most bold, risky and challenging albums of the year. On Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, he tackles so many difficult topics including grief, generational trauma, abusive relationships, grief, savior complexes, infidelity, molestation and so much more. It's certainly not an easy listen, and at some points, it can get pretty uncomfortable. However, I applaud Kendrick for touching on these topics, and he handles them with plenty of grace, maturity and wisdom. On top of that, this album sounds SO GOOD! The production, the mix of genres, Kendrick's rapping... it is all top notch. There are plenty of excellent bangers and heartbreaking ballads that I can't help but love. Kendrick Lamar once again proves that he is at the top of his field, and while Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers is certainly not his most accessible, it is one of his most rewarding.
10. Jockstrap: I Love You Jennifer B
Release Date: September 9
Genre: Art Pop / Glitch Pop
Best Song: "Debra"
I Love You Jennifer B is my pick for debut album of the year. Experimental pop duo Jockstrap have really come through with some of the most creative, eccentric and gorgeous pop tunes of 2022. The production manages to be nonstop unique, offering many instances of glitchy oddity and digital/acoustic beauty. The whiplash between bouncy weirdo bops and elegant balladry is immense, but each side is played splendidly. Combine that with some soothing, angelic vocals, and you have one of the freshest and most forward thinking pop groups this decade. It is a service to yourself to listen to this if want to dance, cry and marvel at all of the weirdness, because this thing gets weird. And I love it.
9. Lizzy McAlpine: five seconds flat
Release Date: April 8
Genre: Singer-Songwriter / Indie Pop / Indie Folk
Best Song: "erase me (feat. Jacob Collier)"
There's something special about a breakup album. If done right, you get something honest, endearing, heartbreaking or even angry. Lizzy McAlpine's five seconds flat contains all of these elements, combined to give us some of the catchiest indie pop tunes of the year. Lizzy has such a commanding way of describing breakups, whether it be likening relationships to the end of the world, a car crash or even a gun. Her songwriting is incredibly sharp and clever throughout, and she executes such ideas with a lot of drama and emotion. Sure, it can come off a little musical theatre-esque, but as a theatre kid myself, I love it. On top of that, there is some great production, and Lizzy's singing has a lot of beauty and range to it. I hope that Lizzy gets big, because she certainly deserves it, as this is a phenomenal indie pop album.
8. Black Midi: Hellfire
Release Date: July 15
Genre: Avant-Prog / Experimental Rock / Jazz Rock
Best Song: "Welcome To Hell"
On Hellfire, Black Midi take the aggressive weirdness they were injecting into the prog and jazz rock sounds of Cavalcade and hones them in a bit. The tracks are more direct, but they still have the band's energy, chemistry and technical proficiency. Once again, Black Midi offers some of the wildest music of the year. The combination of twisted riffs, chaotic drums and oddball vocals make for some disorienting yet highly addictive music. On top of that, their storytelling is phenomenal. Each story told on here focuses on deplorable people, hence the album title, and they are all compelling and dark in the best way possible. Whether it be a story about a soldier being forced into debauchery by an evil drill sergeant, a gay couple getting trapped in a mining facility where the captain force feeds his workers poison to produce red wine, the same soldier from before getting addicted to horse racing... all of these stories are vivid and rife with detail and, combined with the nature of the music, get quite disturbing. This is an excellent album, once again showing us why Black Midi are one of the most creative and forward thinking bands working today.
7. Weyes Blood: And In the Darkness, Hearts Aglow
Release Date: November 18
Genre: Baroque Pop / Singer-Songwriter
Best Song: "God Turn Me Into a Flower"
And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow is one of those albums that puts you in a trance when you listen to it. It's so beautiful and luscious that when you listen to any given song, you're transported to another world. Okay, that may not apply to everybody, but it does to me. Weyes Blood is so good at writing spacious ballads. The reverb-soaked instrumentation, combined with her vocals, give her songs an otherworldly vibe. She did this as well with her last album, Titanic Rising, but while that project is the musical equivalent of being submerged underwater, this one is the musical equivalent of standing barefoot in a garden on a lovely spring day. The birds are chirping, the wind is cool but not too breezy, the pond is quiet, the sun is beaming down on you... sonically, this is the kind of music to connect yourself with nature. And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow is, no pun intended, heartwarming. It's bright, it's sweet and it is gorgeous to listen to from front to back.
6. Beyoncé: RENAISSANCE
Release Date: July 29
Genre: Dance Pop / House / Contemporary R&B
Best Song: "VIRGO'S GROOVE"
There was a time in my life when I hated pop music. Growing up, I had a music elitist phase. During that phase, I would listen almost exclusively to progressive metal, primarily Dream Theater. I completely wrote off pop music during that time, and I judged anybody that did. I say this because I have grown a lot since then. I mean, the variety on this list alone should tell you otherwise. But really, I mainly say it because if this album had come out when I were in middle school, I would have likely despised it. Now, as a 24 year old man that has fallen in love with a much wider variety of songs, albums, genres and artists, I have this to say: Beyoncé's RENNAISANCE is incredible. It is one of the best pop albums I have ever heard, as well as one of my favorites from a massive modern mainstream artist. RENNAISANCE is a love letter to dance as it toes the line between dancehall, synthpop, R&B, club music and so much more. The production is fantastic throughout, as there are bops for days on here. Beyoncé's voice is incredible, and the lyrics on sex, love and power remain endearing throughout. It's an album telling you to let loose and have fun, and if I were younger, I wouldn't have been able to see that or do that. Nowadays, I get it. Thank you, Beyoncé.
5. JID: The Forever Story
Release Date: August 26
Genre: Southern Hip Hop / Conscious Hip Hop / Jazz Rap
Best Song: "Kody Blu 31"
I also used to not be a fan of hip hop. Of course, that changed a lot as well, mainly thanks to my brother who introduced me to artists like Kendrick Lamar. And honestly, there is still plenty of rap that I do not like. However, when it's good, it's REALLY damn good. JID's The Forever Story is one of those examples. For almost an hour, JID gives us nonstop bars. His flows are electric and his wordplay is always clever. The stories and the messages that he puts into these tracks are well thought out, giving each track meaning. Plus, the beats go hard. This project has some insane samples and production, making each song instantaneously catchy and attention-grabbing. Also, every feature is fantastic. 21 Savage, EARTHGANG, Ari Lennox, Lil Wayne... everyone is on their A-Game. I don't really have that much more to say. This is an excellently crafted rap album through and through, full of amazing performances, beats and songwriting. What more could you ask for?
4. Black Country, New Road: Ants From Up There
Release Date: February 4
Genre: Art Rock / Post-Rock / Chamber Pop
Best Song: "The Place Where He Inserted the Blade"
Every once in a while, you'll get an album that's what I like to call a landmark album. By that, I mean every year for the past few years, there has been one project that is absolutely adored by both critics and by the general public. Sure, there are many albums that are loved by both, but there is that one that is so positively received, it could easily stand as the all-around best album of the year. In 2015, it was Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly. In 2020, it was Fiona Apple's Fetch the Bolt Cutters. In 2021, it was Little Simz's Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, and in 2022, it was this album. Ants From Up There sees the band taking their post-punk stylings of For The First Time and loosening them up. The riffs are less rigid and anxious. Instead, the music is a lot more melodic and melancholic, allowing for a greater sense of gradual, building tension. The performances do a great job at making the music emotionally compelling throughout, as they mix guitars and trumpets to create such a dour mood. Singer Isaac Wood sounds like he is on the verge of tears with every note, and hearing the amount of passion put into his singing and his lyrics is genuinely powerful. This is easily one of the saddest listens of the year, but it is one of the most gratifying, and while it is a shame that Isaac Wood has left the group, I know that this band will continue to make fantastic, beautiful and emotionally resonating music in the years to come.
3. Björk: Fossora
Release Date: September 30
Genre: Art Pop / Post-Industrial / Electronic
Best Song: "Ancestress (feat. Sindri Eldon)"
This new Björk is weird. I mean, of course it is. It's Björk. Her music is weird. What makes this album weird, though, is how the instruments often juxtapose each other. Fossora has these light, pretty and heavily orchestrated melodic passages only to be murdered by pounding, hyper aggressive percussion. It's such a strange choice, and it often leads these songs feeling disorienting. But here's the thing: it all sounds so good! The strings, the pianos, the blaring horns, the vocal layering, the booming bass drums, the skittering snares... it all comes together to create one of the most unique, enchanting and exciting listening experiences of the year. I love how loose the song structures are as well. The nonlinear songwriting allows the instrumentation to take center stage, making each song feel like a journey. And let's not forget Björk herself. This woman is in her late 50s, and her singing is still incredible. Fossora shows us that even though she is almost 60 and she hadn't released a new album since 2017, she has not lost her creative edge. She is one of the most captivating artists in pop for a reason, and I am so glad music like this is still being made. Björk is a legend. Enough said.
2. Denzel Curry: Melt My Eyez, See Your Future
Release Date: March 25
Genre: Conscious Hip Hop / Southern Hip Hop / Boom Bap / Jazz Rap
Best Song: "Angelz (feat. Karriem Riggins)"
Y'all, I still don't get how Denzel Curry is so underrated. In my eyes (no pun intended), he released the best rap album of the year by a mile. I love the instrumentals and how jazzy they are. So many of them use natural instrumentation, allowing each track to feel so lively and in-the-moment. I love the production. Every song is mixed perfectly, with every note being made crystal clear. Denzel's flows are more subdued this time around, but they match the energy of the music very well. Even still, his flows are incredible, and his lyricism manages to be both clever and insightful throughout. Whether he's talking about racism, police brutality, corrupt politicians, mental illness, therapy, the downfall of society or the other myriad of topics he tackles, he always does it in such a gripping way. Melt My Eyez, See Your Future is a magnificent album from front to back, and it deserves to be up there with the year's best. Love this one. Also, I have to shoutout the deluxe edition of this album. It contains a few new songs, but most of the bonus tracks are live renditions of some key tracks with a full jazz ensemble. It allows you to listen to some of these tracks in a new light, and it is great stuff.
1. Big Thief: Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
Release Date: February 11
Genre: Indie Folk / Folk Rock / Alt-Country
Best Song: "No Reason"
Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You is my favorite album of 2022 for two big reasons. One is that, obviously, the music is good. Big Thief combines the stylings of folk, rock, country, bluegrass and more to give us twenty songs of indie folk goodness. The production is great, the instrumentation is simple yet always well executed and the songwriting is lovely throughout. I also love the way that the band experiments. You get some uses odd synths and drum machines to give certain songs a somewhat mystical feel. And then, of course, you get some strong acoustic and electric guitar lead jams that you can't help but bob your head to. And what's amazing is that even though this thing is 20 songs, clocking in at 80 minutes, it never gets boring. Not a single moment drags. The project doesn't even come across as bloated. This is a very consistent mammoth of an album that always sounds wonderful. But really, what makes this album my favorite of the year is that, more so than anything else I listened to this year, it makes me happy. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You is my comfort album of 2022. It fills me up with joy and warmth. It gives me such a sweet feeling that not a single other album in 2022 gave me. In all honestly, while listening to this project, it's like Big Thief performed these songs just for me, and that is something special. This album is cozy, comforting, inviting and everything I was looking for during the year. Every single album on this list made me feel a certain emotion, whether it be sad, excited, tranquil, powerful, etc. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You is the only album on this list to make me truly feel at home, and that is why it is my favorite album of 2022.
That's my list! Thank you so much for reading. Doing this series has been a lot of fun. I'm not sure how in-depth my listening journey will be in 2023, nor do I know what exactly I'm going to do with it, but whatever the case, I am looking forward to all the new music the new year has to offer. Here's to a happy, healthy and musical 2023!
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