Top 50 Songs Of 2022

In what could be construed as a relatively quiet year for singles and songs released by major mainstream artists, there were many independent and underground talents able to benefit and steal the show in their stead. As a result, this has probably been my favourite year for new tracks in a long time. So, let’s talk about them. 

These are my top 50 songs of 2022. 

50. 

Spoon 

My Babe 

Matador | Indie Rock 

This deep cut features on Spoon’s latest record. The lead guitar work is a particular highlight as it struts with pure machismo, irreverent to the track’s lyrical premise and main concept, which is, in essence, a simple love song. 

49. 

Black Country, New Road 

Basketball Shoes 

Ninja Tune | Indie Rock 

Talk about bowing out in style: the Black Country, New Road frontman Isaac Wood left the band shortly before their newest album was released. It helps to makes this, the album’s closing statement, an even finer, heightened conclusion. 

48. 

Big Joanie 

In My Arms 

Daydream Library | Indie Rock 

The London based trio showcase a more sensitive side on this single from their sophomore album, Back Home. With a bustling energy the punk rockers pine for the cherished comfort of a loved one in their arms. 

47. 

Wet Leg 

Angelica  

Domino | Indie Rock 

Wet Leg continued to capitalise on their momentum and the anticipation of their debut album with the release of this single about a party that has long lost its lustre. “I look at my feet then I look for the door”. Been there. 

46. 

Syd 

Fast Car 

Columbia | R&B 

A song of such romantic longing it’s enough to make the listener blush. Featured on the L.A. based artist’s brilliant new studio album, Broken Hearts Club, this served as its second single. 

45. 

Mal Blum 

Candy Bars & Men 

Self Released | Indie Rock 

Taken from the singer-songwriter’s superb new EP, Ain’t It Nice, Mal Blum exhibits a further maturation and honing of their craft on what is one of their finest written and arranged songs to date. 

44. 

Special Interest 

Midnight Legend 

Rough Trade | Alternative 

The New Orleans based group of industrial rockers go punk disco(?) with this accessible single - which features vocals from Mykki Blanco - taken from their new album, Endure. 

43. 

Paolo Nutini 

Shine A Light 

Atlantic | Pop/Rock 

Paolo Nutini channels The Boss on this anthemic track, though his distinct vocals still take centre stage despite being surrounded by the added presence and amplification of the music and production. 

42. 

Denzel Curry 

Walkin 

Loma Vista | Hip Hop 

Featuring atmospheric production from Kal Banx, this served as the lead single to Denzel Curry’s latest studio album. The Florida rapper is at his cathartic best as he and the beat move from a walk to a march in perfect tandem. 

41. 

Mitski 

Heat Lightning 

Dead Oceans | Indie Rock 

The Japanese-American artist Mitski eases herself into the astonishingly pretty production and fluttering instrumentation of this single taken from her sixth studio album, Laurel Hell. 

40. 

Bob Vylan 

He Sold Guns 

Ghost Theatre | Punk 

“Take a look at this place, it’s a fucking mess!” An epic lament that punctuates this deep cut taken from London based punk rock duo Bob Vylan’s sophomore studio album, The Price Of Life. 

39. 

beabadoobee 

Talk 

Dirty Hit | Indie Rock 

Filipino born, London based artist Beatrice Laus returned with another stellar single of nostalgic indie rock, for any of us that have ever wanted to feel like the lead in an early ‘00s rom-com. 

38. 

Kendrick Lamar 

Auntie Diaries 

Aftermath / Interscope / Top Dawg | Hip Hop 

A tricky one to talk about, but, I guess that was the point: this track from Kendrick Lamar prompted a much-needed conversation about an important issue, within an industry that typically avoids, or simply ignores, such discourse. 

37. 

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever 

The Way It Shatters 

Sub Pop | Indie Rock 

Man, the Australian rockers sure know how to promote an album. On this debut single from their third album, Endless Rooms, there is a robust quality to the music and the mixing as it builds towards a satisfying conclusion. 

36. 

Cheekface 

We Need A Bigger Dumpster 

Self Released | Indie Rock 

This single is a classic example of the good natured, tongue-in-cheek features that have earned the L.A. based trio a lot of new fans and attention as they continue their prolific consistency. 

35. 

Benny The Butcher & J. Cole 

Johnny P’s Caddy 

EMPIRE / Griselda | Hip Hop 

‘They wanna know what I brought to Griselda? I say, ‘Validity”’, so says the New York rapper Benny The Butcher, stated around assured and confident bars that only strengthen his claim. J. Cole brings his A-game for this first time collaboration too. 

34. 

Soccer Mommy 

Shotgun 

Loma Vista | Indie Rock 

Sophia Allison maintained her trusted schedule of great new rock music under her Soccer Mommy alias with this lead single to her latest LP, Sometimes, Forever. 

33. 

Loyle Carner 

Nobody Knows (Ladas Road) 

AMF | Hip Hop 

A tour-de-force of production and performance. On his latest single, London’s Loyle Carner shares the struggles and personal pain experienced when being made to feel like you don’t have a place to fit in. 

32. 

Angel Olsen 

All The Flowers 

Jagjaguwar | Singer-Songwriter 

An absolutely gorgeous track taken from Angel Olsen’s latest album, Big Time. With a naked tenderness, this deep cut manages to stop me in my tracks every time it begins to play. 

31. 

Beach House 

Through Me 

Sub Pop | Alternative 

In a generous (though unconventional) move Baltimore duo Beach House released their double album in separate instalments. Out of all four batches, this is the single I most eagerly returned to. 

30. 

Shalom 

Agnes 

Saddle Creek | Alternative 

Brooklyn’s Shalom had a breakout year with a couple of really stellar singles. For my list though, I settled on her brooding and utterly fantastic cover of the Glass Animals single. Dare I say it betters the original? Yes I do. 

29. 

Julia Jacklin 

Be Careful With Yourself 

Transgressive | Indie Rock 

“Please stop smoking, want your life to last a long time. If you don’t stop smoking, I’ll have to start, shorten mine.” What an excellent opening lyric, as Julia Jacklin encapsulates feelings of complete devotion in the form of a witty repartee. 

28. 

T.V. Priest 

It Was A Gift 

Sub Pop | Punk 

Easily one of the most underrated post-punk albums of the year was the sophomore effort from this London based band. And, since this is probably the most underrated track from said album, it was a must for this list. 

27. 

Ravyn Lenae 

Satellites 

Atlantic | R&B 

‘We can fly anywhere you’d like, you and I’, Ravyn Lenae opens this track with an invitation that may as well be posed to the listener as the ensuing harmonies and Steve Lacy-assisted production proceed to sweep us our feet. 

26. 

Greet Death 

Your Love Is Alcohol 

Deathwish Inc. | Indie Rock 

More brilliance from the merchants of gloom, Greet Death. The sadcore outfit based out of Michigan continued to promote their latest EP, New Low, with this endearingly dreary single. 

25. 

Tomberlin 

happy accident 

Saddle Creek | Singer/Songwriter 

Sarah Beth Tomberlin embraced a rockier sound on this single from her sophomore studio album and I couldn’t have been happier about it. It makes for a perfect companion to the themes of frustration and uncertainty. 

24. 

Young Fathers 

I Saw 

Ninja Tune | Alternative 

This may be one of the best singles ever released by the Scottish trio Young Fathers, as they masterfully dance along a tightrope of alternative eccentricity, and a captivating accessibility. 

23. 

Johanna Warren 

I’d Be Orange 

Wax Nine | Indie Rock 

“If everyone was a color, you’d be red and I’d be orange, even though I don’t like orange, just so I could sit next to you in the rainbow.” And with that, Johanna Warren may have had the most adorable lyric in a song all year. 

22. 

Steve Lacy 

Bad Habit (Sped Up) 

RCA | Alternative 

An altered experience of the guitarist’s viral single. I don’t know why I enjoyed this quickened version so much more than its laidback predecessor, maybe it just doesn’t make me think of TikTok while listening to it? 

21. 

Makaya McCraven 

Dream Another 

XL | Jazz 

The Chicago based composer and producer surrounds himself with an accomplished ensemble for this single that finds an effortless balance between elements of funk and jazz with an easy-going cadence. 

20. 

The Chats 

The Price Of Smokes 

Bargain Bin Records | Punk 

A classic punk sound from the Aussie’s sophomore album. This cut opens with a raw bassline and closes with one of the most humorously brutal motifs heard all year: “Those bastards in parliament oughta be hung by their necks!”

19. 

Danger Mouse & Black Thought 

Strangers (feat. A$AP ROCKY and Run The Jewels) 

BMG | Hip Hop 

This fantastic single features an all-star cast; all of which proudly represent their talents to the fullest. Probably the greatest highlight from the collaborative efforts of producer Danger Mouse, and rapper Black Thought. 

18. 

Florist 

43 

Double Double Whammy | Folk Rock 

“We had a home once, what a funny thing. We had a home once, there were fireflies.” Emily Sprague paints a picture as pretty as the song it is framed within. An enchanting highlight from the Brooklyn based quartet’s self-titled album. 

17. 

Sudan Archives 

Selfish Soul 

Stones Throw | R&B 

The rhythmic energy, the transcendent harmonies, and the addictive brevity. It all adds up to make Brittney Parks sound like a well-rounded superstar as she performs under her Sudan Archives moniker. 

16. 

Good Looks 

Almost Automatic 

Keeled Scales | Indie Rock 

With tight instrumentation, a fantastic singalong appeal to the hook, and a physical heft to the production, the Texan quartet kick off their debut studio album with what is, ostensibly, just an outstanding rock song. 

15. 

Say She She 

Prism 

Karma Chief | R&B 

The title track of the L.A. based trio’s debut album features vocal harmonies so beguiling it’ll have you performing an unofficial audition to become the fourth member of the group within a couple of listens. 

14. 

yeule 

Bites On My Neck 

Bayonet Records | Alternative 

A highlight from the Singapore born, London based artist’s new album, Glitch Princess. With an unorthodox complexity, this track dances towards bombastic euphoria as it convinces the listener to sing and scream along. 

13. 

Skullcrusher 

Whatever Fits Together 

Secretly Canadian | Singer-Songwriter 

“I left home in the Summer, I cried in the stairway. When I hugged my brother, I tried to hide my face.” An emotive opening image from Helen Ballentine’s haunting single under her Skullcrusher moniker, as she reflects on the uncertainties of life. 

12. 

Big Thief 

Red Moon 

4AD | Indie Folk 

A country tinged folk rock single lifted from Big Thief’s mighty double album. It’s fun and infectious energy will have you unashamedly performing some coarse rendition of a barn dance in no time. 

11. 

Yaya Bey 

Reprise 

Big Dada | R&B 

A slick and mellow highlight taken from the Brooklyn based artist’s sophomore studio album. Yaya Bey manages to effortlessly melt together cool sounds of hip hop, jazz and R&B.  

10. 

Drive-By Truckers 

The Driver 

ATO | Southern Rock 

The opening track and lead single from the Truckers’ latest LP. With a riff heavy enough to blow a fuse, and observational lyrics that feel as though they are lifted straight from the pages of a Donald Ray Pollock novel, this is the country rock band’s finest single in a long time. 

9. 

LCD Soundsystem 

new body rhumba 

Columbia / DFA | Alternative 

Provided for the movie ‘White Noise’, the Brooklyn based dance-punk sextet returned with a new single for the first time in five years. There’s nothing particularly new to say here: this track is classic LCD Soundsystem, and it’s fantastic. 

8. 

Saba 

2012 (feat. Day Wave) 

Pivot Gang, LLC | Hip Hop 

The Chicago based rapper gets reflective on this smooth and soulful single taken from his latest LP. The storytelling somehow manages to be both personal, and relatable, as Saba contemplates past memories, and makes us all feel old in the process. 

7. 

Colin Stetson 

Remember Me 

Walt Disney Records | Ambient 

Honestly, I still haven’t seen the space exploration themed show that this was recorded for, but it stands as not just the most optimistic I have ever heard Colin Stetson, but the prettiest piece of music he may have ever released. 

6. 

Wunderhorse 

Teal 

Communion Group | Indie Rock 

Technically released as a single last year, this track features on the debut album from Wunderhorse. The imagery, the storytelling, and the performance are all ace, as Jacob Slater finds balance between gentle rumination and an inspired fury. 

5. 

Soul Glo 

Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmyass) 

Epitaph | Punk 

Perhaps the most ferocious bit of punk heard all year. This served as the opening track to the Philadelphia trio’s newest studio album, Diaspora Problems. A thrilling and bruising track that will steal your heart, and your lunch money too. 

4. 

Conway The Machine 

Stressed (feat. Wallo267) 

Interscope | Hip Hop 

In a year where young men found a new figure that espouses ignorant rhetoric for them to follow, it was both refreshing and reassuring to hear an artist as tough, physical and confident as Conway The Machine discussing issues like mental health with such thought provoking poise and bravery. 

3. 

Kurt Vile 

Mount Airy Hill (Way Gone) 

Verve Forecast | Indie Rock 

My new favourite Kurt Vile song, even if I can’t provide a cogent explanation on what separates it from his other moments of folk rock brilliance over the years. On this single taken from his latest LP, (watch my moves), we are treated to dreamy guitar tones, a sauntering pace, and a rare Kurt Vile falsetto. 

2. 

Wednesday 

Bull Believer 

Dead Oceans | Indie Rock 

A near nine minute single from the North Carolina based rock band, which is heavy, intense, and extremely fun. A New Year’s party, a never ending nosebleed, Mortal Kombat, and the crushing weight of the music - these are the details that helps create the most epic crescendo to a song this year across any genre. Finish him! 

1. 

Khruangbin & Leon Bridges 

Mariella 

Dead Oceans | Alternative 

The closing statement to their latest collaborative project; a new EP which serves as the sequel to their 2020 release, Texas Sun. With a vocal melody that prompts a timely swoon with every listen, the serenity of the drifting harmonies and guitar tones, this is the most romantic track in either artist’s catalogue, and the best thing they have done together so far.