Best Albums of 2022

101. Coheed and Cambria- Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind

100. Maggie Rogers- Surrender

99. Murder By Death- Spell/Bound

98. Tove Lo- Dirt Femme

97. Turnover- Myself in the Way

96. Frankie Cosmos- Inner World Peace

95. First Aid Kit- Palomino

94. Plains- I Walked with You a Ways

93. Alison Sudol- Still Come the Night

92. Chloe Moriondo- Suckerpunch

91. Jack White- Fear of the Dawn/ Entering Heaven Alive

90. Cave In- Heavy Pendulum

89. Mitski- Laurel Hell

88. Maren Morris- Humble Quest

87. PUP- The Unraveling of PUPTHEBAND

86. Bonny Light Horseman- Rolling Golden Holy

85. Kelsea Ballerini- Subject to Change

84. Fletcher- Girl of My Dreams

83. Michaela Anne- Oh To be That Free

82. Sigrid- How to Let Go

81. Mandy Moore- In Real Life

80. Maddie and Tae- Through the Madness Vol. 1/ Vol. 2

79. Spoon- Lucifer on the Sofa

78. The Weather Station- How Is It that I Should Look at the Stars

77. Sasha Alex Sloan- I Blame the World

76. Porridge Radio- Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder to the Sky

75. BANKS- Serpentina

74. LEON- Circles

73. Danger Mouse/Black Thought- Cheat Codes

72. Tyler Childers- Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven

71. Madeline Edwards- Crashlanded

70. Dry Cleaning- Stumpwork

69. Alvvays- Blue Rev

68. Suki Waterhouse- I Can’t Let Go

67. Lizzy McAlpine- five seconds flat

66. Miranda Lambert- Palomino

65. Renforshort- dear amelia

64. Mxmtoon- rising

63. Vein.FM- This World is Going to Ruin You

62. Pinegrove- 11:11

61. Meshuggah- Immutable

60. Orville Peck- Bronco

59. Pet Fox- A Face in Your Life

58. Anthony Green- Boom. Done

57. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Cool it Down

56. The Wonder Years- The Hum Goes on Forever

55. The Afghan Whigs- How Do You Burn

54. Kurt Vile- watch my moves

53. Father John Misty- Chloe and the Next 20th Century

52. Dreamtigers- Ellapsis

51. Cate Le Bon- Pompeii

50. Lucius- Second Nature

49. Hailey Whitters- Raised

48. Spice- VIV

47. Norma Jean- Deathrattle Sing for Me

46. The 1975- Being Funny in a Foreign Language

45. Tomberlin- I don’t know who needs to hear this…

44. Sharon Van Etten- We’ve Been Going about This All Wrong

43. Ingrid Andress- Good Person

42. S.G. Goodman- Teeth Marks

41. The Beths- Expert in a Dying Field

40. Death Cab for Cutie- Asphalt Meadows

39. Madison Cunningham- Revealer

38. Julia Jacklin- Pre Pleasure

37. Mat Kerekes- Nova

36. Courtney Marie Andrews- Loose Future

35. Camp Cope- Running with the Hurricane

34. Charli XCX- Crash

33. Sabrina Carpenter- emails i can’t send

32. Harry Styles- Harry’s House

31. Stella Donnelly- Flood

30. Anxious- Little Green House

29. Drug Church- Hygiene

28. Holy Fawn- Dimensional Bleed

27. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross- Empire of Light sdtrck

26. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard- Made in Timeland/ Laminated Denim

25. Soccer Mommy- Sometimes, Forever

24. Beabadoobee- beatopia

23. Beach House- Once Twice Melody

22. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard- Changes

21. Big Thief- Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You

20. The Mars Volta- self In true Mars Volta fashion, they've come out from hiatus and their dormant state to release an album that is unlike the other Mras Volta albums of the past, which is the most Mars Volta thing they could do honestly. These tunes don't experiment over extended periods of time like so many of their previous tunes that could stretch psat the 10 or 14 mintue mark and bend genres within songs. This album allows you to digest the songs in one sitting and appreciate them. This reunion was much appreciated, perhaps a bit unlike the doomed reunion of At the Drive-In (whom I ended up seeing a few years ago and left mildly disappointed, since the band had aged unlike a fine wine and it just left me feeling uncomfortable that they'd reunited and seemed to be trying too hard to rekindle a post-harcore flame they'd ignited back in the early 2000s). The Mars Volta make you think and give your ears something to appreciate with each tune on this album.

19. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard- Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava These Aussie dudes might the the hardest working and most prolific band in the business these days. They have released 23 studio albums and this album was 1 of 3 albums they released in the month of October this year. The genre-bending band has perhaps one of the most prolific catalogues in the music industry. Each song was created from jamming amongst the band members who each contributed a different tempo, key signature, and song title and then the band worked it out live in the studio. All improvised. I will confess, this has quickly become one of my favorite bands, and as you can see I included all their 2022 albums on this list. The long jams are the tunes I absolutely love on this album. "Ice V" and "Hell's Itch."

18. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard- Omnium Gatherum This album came out post-COVID pandemic lockdowns, the first album of the year for these guys, which they were able to work on together in the studio. It begins with the 18 minute epic tune "The Dripping Tap" which they released as the pre-album release single to whet your appetite. This double album is a sonic shape-shifting adventure for the listener, going from genre to genre all within one album.

17. Russian Circles- Gnosis Russian Circles have always impressed me as a heavy metal instrumental band that fills the gaps left by ISIS and somewhere between a heavier version of Explosions in the Sky and Pelican, if they were to have an offspring. But, Russian Circles creates stories within their instrumental tunes that carries you along while you listen. Recorded by Converge's prolific guitarist/producer Kurt Ballou, you knew this would be a great album.

16. L.S. Dunes- Past Lives A post-hardcore/emo supergroup you'd never imagine we'd actually get, but thanks in large part to the pandemic, these guys were able to somehow come together and create one of hte best albums of the year. The band features Anthony Green (Circa Survive/Saosin) on vocals, screaming and singing his way thorugh songs about his struggles, as well as featuring members of My Chemical Romance, Coheed and Cambria, and Thursday. Imagine that as a full blown tour lineup, but put the pieces together in a studio and you now have L.S. Dunes. I have equal amounts of love for each of these bands individually, and Anthony Green's vocals have been my favorite to come out of the scene since I heard the first Circa Survive album.

15. Oso Oso- Sore Thumb I like to think of Oso Oso as the stoned out, mellow version of what Brand New would've could've sounded like if they'd continued on and progressed their sound into something like this. Instead, we have the actual band Oso Oso. This album was a random, suprise drop, and the songs play out like a musical adventure the likes of Herman Melville characters like Captain Ahab, except an emo version, searching for contentness and subtleness amongsst the waves and sand of the coast and beaches. It's soft and melodic, introspective and calm, which seems to have come out of the lockdowns during the pandemic.

14. Glacier Veins- Lunar Reflection This is the follow-up album to a nearly perfect debut album "The World You Want to See" from Glacier Veins, which follows perfectly in line with the sound that they developed and have refined here. It's dreamy punk with hints of shoegaze that's become quite popular these days. Another offering in the introspection and contemplative nature of singer/songwriter Malia Endres.

13. Tate McCrae- I used to think I could fly Widely known for her collaborations, Tate McCrae is certainly making a name for herself these past couple of years, with a debut album in 2020 and this sophomore album that blew me away upon first listen, so much so that I found myself coming back for it multiple times. The production on the album is top notch thanks to contribitions from the like of Finneas, Greg Kurstin, Alexander 23, etc. all well known for their work in the pop music industry. She could be riding the pop coattails of Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo's popularity, but Tate has a distinct sound all her known and reminds me of Jeremy Zucker, with the hushed almost ASMR sound to her voice. "She's All I Wanna Be" and "Chaotic" are almost perfect pop songs.

12. Pianos Become the Teeth- Drift This band has come from the post-hardcore, hardcore scene and turned into one of the best melodic, shoegaze bands I've heard in the past decade or so. Their last album "Wait for Love" was in my Top 5 a couple years ago, and this album builds from that transition and they are leaving behind their screaming vocals and hardcore for more melodic soft-core. This album reminds me of what Deafheaven accomplished with their album "Infinite Granite"

11. Carly Rae Jepsen- The Loneliest Time I've been convinced at Miss Jepsen cannot do any wrong ever since her incredible 80s vibes album "EMOTION" and on this one she continues the party that started with that album and "Dedicated" was nearly perfect. She returns with a sad titled record but another pop gem. To make my top 20 the album has to have no skippable tracks and Carly Rae Jepsen knocks it out of the park with this album, thanks in large part to her writing and production team. Rostam (from Vampire Weekend fame, but now a well known producer) has his mark all over this beautifully crafted synth-pop and bubblegum pop record that never does Carly any wrong.

10. Eddie Vedder- Earthling Eddie Vedder has put out 3 solo albums, the first one being solely comprised of Ukelele songs, the second one was a bit of Vedder and his thoughts/songs and then his reinterpretations of Pearl Jam songs. With this third solo record, though, he compiled a group of music friends to create almost a random supergroup of backing musicians the likes of Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer (from RHCP) and Andrew Watt with the touring band also including Glan Hasard. These tunes that Eddie has compiled from the pandemic lockdown almost play out like they could be B-sides from Pearl Jam's Gigaton album. Elton John even has a guest appearance towards the end of the record, but the songs that shine through are "The Haves" "Invincible" and "Long Way."

9. MUNA- SELF MUNA put out the best record of their career thanks to Phoebe Bridgers signing the band onto her label, Saddest Factory. Ironically, the album is straight up pop, as done by MUNA, though. This is a party record, complete with perfect sounding synths, boot-stomps, and hooks after hooks that keep you playing it on repeat. The songs would fit on a party playlist between Taylor Swift and Charli XCX. I love seeing a band like this succeed and make some of their best music after dropping off a major label, because they feel the weight lifted and they've gained their freedom back.

8. Alex G- God Save the Animals Alex G is a prolific musician and poet in almost the same sense that Bob Dylan was/is. He has come a long way from his days recording lo-fi albums on his own in his bedroom and touring within the hardcore music scene, opening for bands like Title Fight. He never seemed to fit into that scene but somehow he found a niche within that audience and they clung to him as if he was their own. He has emerged from the scene into somewhat of the mainstream or at least he's definitely become far more popular over the past few years, thanks in large part to developing his sound but remaining true to himself and his vision. His 2017 album "Rocket" was a standout and then he made 2019's incredible record "House of Sugar." His alt-folk sound shines all the way through another stellar record here as he continues to sing about animals and uses them as a metaphor for several things in life. And it all works, beautifully.

7. Angel Olsen- Big Time Another alt-country star that has emerged from the indie scene into far more of the mainstream, Angel Olsen is riding a wave of success from her previous albums "My Woman," that started her more expansive country/pop sound and carried over into "Phases" and "All Mirrors" but with this record Angel Olsen dives deeper into her country roots while continuing her philosophical and introspective journey as she wonders about life, love, and death, especially within the confines of this brutal world and what it's become over the past few years. She is unapologetic about her quest for love and the feelings she has to express, all making for a great record.

6. Arctic Monkeys- The Car The Arctic Monkeys were teasing new music all year, if you followed them and wondered what they were doing to follow-up the incredible album "Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino." That album was in my Top 5 when it came out, but also, want to talk about a band that transitioned their sound almost completely, there's no better case study then this British band, who started out as a wildly and widely popular alternative rock band with radio friendly hits one after another. Singer Alex Turner has decided to turn his band into a debonair lounge act, starting with "Tranquilty Base..." and continuing on with this album, "The Car," but also according to the guitarist, there's a natural evolution from the first record to these most recent ones, if you pay close enough attention, he claims you can almost see it coming. The orchestra featured on the album is almost a second part of the band, secondary players standing at the ready in the wings for the right time to appear throughout each song on the album, which is mostly Turner's reflections and thoughts on love, longing, and doubt. Another incredibly powerful, peaceful piece of art from alternative rock dropouts.

5. Wet Leg- self This album and this band came out of the blue with a massive hit song "Chaise Longue" months prior to the album even being released, almost like their record label wanted to strategic build the hype and see if it stuck against the wall. It did. And the success of the band so far and the stellar album that followed up the lead single is filled with ennui and innuendos that are reminiscent of Kurt Cobain's songwriting, like there's something there, deeper below the surface of the lyrics, or there isn't and that's the joke Wet Leg (and Cobain) play on us. A song is just a song. Take it at face value. There's just a certain degree of alt-rock/grunge-era ennui throughout the record that makes it all work and sound so good.

4. Weyes Blood- And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow This is just another beautiful album by Weyes Blood. This record is allegedly part two of a trilogy that began with the amazing Titanic Rising. This one brings us a collection of secular hymns borne from the ashes of the the catastrophe that was foretold in Titanic Rising. The album is a beautiful orchestral collection as she addresses humanity in a personal and poised yet precise way that speaks through her gorgeous, alomst operatic voice. This album makes you crave for part three of the trilogy and leaves you wondering what else she could possibly accomplish, having done so much already with these two albums.

3. The Smile- A Light for Attracting Attention Radiohead are on a seemingly indefinite hiatus, and we all might have to come to terms with the band being done as a whole, so in the potential ashes of one of the most important bands in rock music history, we have Thom Yorke (the most uncannily accurate doomsayer in recent memory) and Jonny Greenwood plus Nigel Godrich (oftentimes contributor and collaborating partner of aforementioned band, an unspoken member) and drummer of Sons of Kemet, Tom Skinner. The Smile are delivering non-Radiohead music and loving it. This might be an album that Thom and Jonny needed to make away from Radiohead in order to get their love for music back, as oftentimes each Radiohead album has almost brought the demise of the band along with its completion just because each member puts everything of themselvs into the pieces of the puzzle and it in effect drains them all, as individuals and thus as a band. The Smile are creating non-Radiohead tunes in the best way possible. Greenwood's guitar work is unparalleled on this record, yet again, he reminds everyone what an incredible musician and genius he is. There's a dicotomy within the album as it alternates between the horrors of modern life as we now know it along with the anger and Zen-like serenity that one almost needs to possess in order to survive these days.

2. Kendrick Lamar- Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers Kendrick has cemented himself as one of the best rappers and storytellers of all time long before he put out this incredibly epic opus of an album. It's a double album. It's a story. It's filled with himself as the main character, telling his own stories of insecurities and beliefs as he forced himself to retreat from the spotlight and limelight of fame. It's almost hard to believe its only his 5th album, too, because you want to believe that no one could be this talented only 5 albums into their career (which started when he was a mere teenager on the streets of Compton, having been taken under the wing and tutelage of Dr. Dre). Now, there's a reason why Lamar won the highly coveted Pubilitizer Prize a few years ago, because he is an incredible storyteller and narrator, to life and life's lessons. It's an instant classic, finely tuned and yet chaotic at times, messy and tightly wound together weaving stories together. Portishead's Beth Gibbon's guest vocals on "Mother I Sober" are a highlight, along with "N95" "The Heart part 5" (which was released prior to the album, but included upon the release), and "Auntie Diaries" and "We Cry Together" is a standout as well.

1. Taylor Swift- Midnights This is the album I wanted and expected from Taylor Swift after her pandemic/lockdown driven/inspired "folklore" and "evermore" records. Those were her first venture into storytelling with characters other than herself. They were showcasing her abilities and talents as a songwriter, perhaps one of the best songwriters of this generation, in fact. They were all about the timing as well. Having made a harsher-sounding pop record with "Reputation" and then the softer-sounding, gentle-kissed pop of "Lover," the pandemic hit and we got a couple of re-recorded "Taylor's Version" albums and the aforementioned albums. With the soundscapes of "folklore" and "evermore," one could imagine where Taylor Swift would find herself after the re-recording sessions. With "Midnights" Taylor Swift sets a tone and an atmosphere. The entire album is a VIBE. It's a late night record, one you'd listen to late at night, with the lights low or candles lit and just vibe to. It's an "adult" record. It is moving Taylor further and further into the world as a strong, serious songwriter, if you weren't taking her seriously before. With Jack Antonoff at the producer helm for the entirity of the album, together these two set a moodier tone and really allow Swift to tell her stories and accentuate her punchlines and jabs. And this album is full of them. The album is also full of call-backs and references to older tunes and drops Easter eggs that only true Swift's would discover upon listening to the album over and over and over, which of course I have done since its release.