Top 50 Albums Of 2022

A year of change for me personally, and a year of further recovery for us all generally. There was the lasting impact of a global pandemic, the sale of Twitter and another eyebrow raising list from the folks over at Rolling Stone magazine. But, as is always the case, great music endured, and there was no shortage of fantastic new albums for us to find catharsis in that were released over the past twelve months. So, let’s celebrate them. 

Here are my top 50 albums of 2022. 

50. 

Dry Cleaning 

Stumpwork 

4AD | Indie Rock 

On their second album, the spoken word performances return as front-woman Florence Shaw shares lyrics that feel like wistful anecdotes, and intrusive thoughts. Let’s all just try and ignore that hideous album cover though. 

Favourite track? Driver’s Story 

49. 

Earl Sweatshirt 

SICK! 

Tan Cressida / Warner | Hip Hop 

Californian rapper Earl Sweatshirt returned with another succinct project of abstract hip hop. The flows are both bleak and arresting, with a tone so introverted it made for an appropriate soundtrack to the looming threat of further lockdowns.

Favourite track? God Laughs 

48. 

Nils Frahm 

Old Friends New Friends 

LEITER | Ambient 

Nils Frahm’s latest effort is a near eighty minute odyssey of archival material recorded from the years of 2013-2020. As expected, the subdued minimalism and deep quiet of his ambient compositions are as captivating as they are contented.  

Favourite track? Corn 

47. 

Syd 

Broken Hearts Club 

Columbia | R&B 

After the dissolution of hip hop collective Odd Future, and the current inactivity of her band The Internet, Syd finds her own voice with a relaxed ease and assured composure on what is her latest solo album. 

Favourite track? Fast Car 

46. 

Wet Leg 

Wet Leg 

Domino | Indie Rock 

As we were all hoping, based off the strength of the singles which preceded the full LP’s release, this is a sharp and concise array of indie rock bangers that don’t take themselves too seriously, even despite the hype. 

Favourite track? Chaise Longue 

45. 

Open Mike Eagle 

Component System With The Auto Reverse 

Auto Reverse | Hip Hop 

With off-kilter beats and production, and witty ideas and observations of topics from his personal life to professional wrestling, Open Mike Eagle continues to be one of the most talented and consistent voices in underground rap. 

Favourite track? Burner Account (feat. Armand Hammer) 

44. 

Bill Callahan 

Ytilaer 

Drag City | Singer-Songwriter 

While some of his previous albums may have been stronger projects in totality, this had plenty of memorable tracks that showcase the talents of this veteran singer-songwriter, and why he has now been a critically acclaimed voice in four different decades. 

Favourite track? Last One At The Party 

43. 

MAVI 

Laughing So Hard, It Hurts 

MAVI 4 Mayor | Hip Hop 

On the sophomore studio album released by the young rapper from North Carolina there is a relaxed brevity to each track as they stroll and kick their feet to the sound of some cool and laidback production. 

Favourite track? High John 

42. 

yeule 

Glitch Princess 

Bayonet Records | Alt. Pop 

Charismatic and unpredictable music features on this new release from the Singapore-born, London-based artist. An album that leans into strong aesthetics and provides suitable soundtrack material to sources from anime to video games. 

Favourite track? Bites On My Neck 

41. 

Fana Hues 

flora + fana 

Sweet Virtue / Westminster | R&B 

Californian Fana Hues performs over some ethereal backdrops which combine the romantic intimacy of bedroom pop with the cool accessibility of R&B on what is her sophomore studio album. 

Favourite track? moscato 

40. 

Special Interest 

Endure 

Rough Trade | Alternative 

Imagine a warehouse party, you’re tired and sweaty and have just been handed a pill by a stranger covered in glitter. That’s the vibe created by the New Orleans punk rock band on their third album, as they combine a harsh dissonance and a thudding playfulness. 

Favourite track? Midnight Legend 

39. 

Mitski 

Laurel Hell 

Dead Oceans | Indie Rock 

A dreamy experience for Japanese-American artist Mitski’s first album in over three years. Following on from her breakout LP, Be The Cowboy, there is a continued battle between darkness and light on this collection of layered pop and rock tracks. 

Favourite track? Heat Lightning 

38. 

Vince Staples 

RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART 

Blacksmith / Motown | Hip Hop 

Probably my favourite work from the Californian rapper since his sublime debut album all the way back in 2015. Staples is at his earnest and honest best on this slick and accessible LP. 

Favourite track? WHEN SPARKS FLY 

37. 

Julia Jacklin 

Pre Pleasure 

Transgressive | Indie Rock 

This is the third studio album from Australian artist Julia Jacklin. Featured on the tracklist are personal songs which contain lyrics that seem to fluctuate between being sternly introspective, and cheerfully facetious. 

Favourite track? Be Careful With Yourself 

36. 

Bartees Strange 

Farm To Table 

4AD | Indie Rock 

Over the past few years we have heard the talented musician Bartees Strange cover songs from the likes of The Antlers and The National. On his latest LP he continues to provide music that feels like a further tribute to those artists, among others, as he simultaneously embraces his own unique sound. 

Favourite track? Hold The Line 

35. 

Johanna Warren 

Lessons For Mutants 

Wax Nine | Singer-Songwriter 

A versatile new release from Florida’s Johanna Warren. This is an album where the music seems to coincide with the fluctuating thoughts and feelings expressed in the lyrics, though there always remains a polite approachability. 

Favourite track? I’d Be Orange 

34. 

Say She She 

Prism 

Karma Chief | R&B 

One of my favourite new finds this year was the debut studio album from this L.A. based trio. It takes a lot to cheer up a perpetual pessimist such as myself, but this concise release of soulful songs with funky undertones consistently managed the feat. 

Favourite track? Prism 

33. 

Soccer Mommy 

Sometimes, Forever 

Loma Vista | Indie Rock 

One of the best examples I heard all year of an artist continuing to provide fans with what we’ve come to expect from them, whilst simultaneously dabbling in subtle attempts of maturing and exploring said sound from a different angle. 

Favourite track? Shotgun 

32. 

Sudan Archives 

Natural Brown Prom Queen 

Stones Throw | R&B 

Vocalist and violinist Brittney Parks released her latest album under the Sudan Archives moniker this year, and it’s both a dizzying and eclectic experience that suggests the further growth of a budding superstar. 

Favourite track? Selfish Soul 

31. 

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever 

Endless Rooms 

Sub Pop | Indie Rock 

‘Open up your window, let the wind march in’. These are sage words of advice from the Aussies, on what is their third studio album, as they provide the kind of music you would want to play on a warm Summer’s day surrounded by friends and an easy-going mood. 

Favourite track? The Way It Shatters 

30. 

Drive-By Truckers 

Welcome 2 Club XIII 

ATO | Alternative 

Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley share songwriting responsibilities - as is expected by fans of the Drive-By Truckers - on what is their third album of country rock standouts in less than three years. 

Favourite track? The Driver 

29. 

Steve Lacy 

Gemini Rights 

RCA | Alternative 

Californian guitarist and producer Steve Lacy had a monster-hit this year with the single Bad Habit. Thankfully, he was able to make the most of the new found attention with the release of this stellar album, which is his best solo work so far. 

Favourite track? Bad Habit 

28. 

Rachika Nayar 

Heaven Come Crashing 

NNA Tapes | Ambient / Electronic 

Labelling this as an ‘ambient’ album feels like a lazy mistake; it is much more stark and attention grabbing than that title would suggest it to be. Captivating brilliance from the Brooklyn based artist’s debut LP. 

Favourite track? Tetramorph 

27. 

Kevin Morby 

This Is A Photograph 

Dead Oceans | Indie Rock 

Kevin Morby releases yet another collection of great folk influenced rock songs; which features an endearing ode to his partner Katie Crutchfield (better known as the equally fantastic Waxahatchee), and a touching tribute to Jeff Buckley.  

Favourite track? A Coat Of Butterflies 

26. 

Jake Xerxes Fussell 

Good And Green Again 

Paradise Of Bachelors | Folk 

The latest release from Jake Xerxes Fussell is an inviting call to gather around the campfire, a piece of imagery which is conjured every time I listen to him play and sing, as he offers his take on more traditional folk songs. 

Favourite track? The Golden Willow Tree 

25. 

Denzel Curry 

Melt My Eyez See Your Future 

Loma Vista | Hip Hop 

At the risk of hyperbole, allow me to suggest that this is the best album yet from the Florida rapper. It’s heavy hitting and explosive as Denzel Curry is at his cathartic and authentic best, while being joined by the likes of JID, slowthai, and many more. 

Favourite track? Walkin 

24. 

Greet Death 

New Low 

Deathwish Inc. | Indie Rock 

My favourite EP of the year. Michigan band Greet Death’s latest project is a wonderfully drab collection of just five songs, though each one of them is a standout of sadcore and shoegaze magnificence. 

Favourite track? Your Love Is Alcohol 

23. 

Loyle Carner 

hugo 

EMI | Hip Hop 

On his third studio album Loyle Carner conveys an audible hurt on the reflective pieces of jazz rap present here. Perfect late-night listening from the London rapper as he shares an autobiographical experience. 

Favourite track? Nobody Knows (Ladas Road) 

22. 

Alex G 

God Save The Animals 

Domino | Indie Rock 

Grounded by faith, Alex G returns with his ninth studio album - though his first after having dropped the (Sandy) title. Lyrically concise and musically diverse, he continues to incorporate elements of folk, rock and pop with great affect. 

Favourite track? Mission 

21. 

Paolo Nutini 

Last Night In The Bittersweet 

Atlantic | Pop/Rock 

Scottish artist Paolo Nutini took his time to craft this long-awaited return; over eight years after his last LP, and the result is his best album yet. Ambitious and diverse, it features influences from the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Arab Strap. 

Favourite track? Shine A Light 

20. 

Kendrick Lamar 

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers 

Aftermath / Interscope / Top Dawg | Hip Hop 

 

Speaking of long-awaited returns. The Compton rapper follows up his Pulitzer Prize winning effort from 2017 with this huge double album. Continuing to justify his lofty list of accolades, Kendrick is as conscientious as ever. 

Favourite track? Auntie Diaries 

19. 

Chat Pile 

God’s Country 

Flenser | Alternative 

For their debut album Chat Pile drags the listener through one of the most harrowing and unforgettable experiences of the year; from the immediate noise and sludge of the opener, to the nightmare-inducing torment of the closer. 

Favourite track? Slaughterhouse 

18. 

MJ Lenderman 

Boat Songs 

Dear Life | Indie Rock 

MJ Lenderman made an appearance on my ‘favourite songs’ list as a member of the band Wednesday. Here, he goes solo for a batch of lo-fi indie rock tracks that channel the likes of Neil Young and Jason Molina. 

Favourite track? Tastes Just Like It Costs 

17. 

Angel Olsen 

Big Time 

Jagjaguwar | Singer-Songwriter 

More stunning elegance from the North Carolina based singer-songwriter, on what is her sixth studio album. The near thirty minute short film accompaniment is worth a watch, and a listen, too. 

Favourite track? All The Flowers 

16. 

Soul Glo 

Diaspora Problems 

Epitaph | Punk 

An album that acts as an abrasive hybrid of post-hardcore punk and hip hop probably shouldn’t work so well, but this third LP from the Philadelphia based trio totally does. 

Favourite track? Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmyass) 

15. 

Beach House 

Once Twice Melody 

Sub Pop | Alternative 

Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand continue to create a most intoxicating sound on what is their eighth album together. At a runtime of almost eitghty-five minutes this is their longest and most ambitious work to date. Produced by the duo themselves, the music sounds vast and boundless. 

Favourite track? Through Me 

14. 

Kathryn Joseph 

for you who are the wronged 

Rock Action | Singer-Songwriter 

Scottish artist Kathryn Joseph continues to create a near-unmatched ambience on what is her third studio album, as both the haunting minimalism and emotive intensity create a truly captivating experience.  

Favourite track? of all the broken 

13. 

Ravyn Lenae 

Hypnos 

Atlantic | R&B 

Though she has been releasing music for several years, garnering attention for her slick and magnetic performances, this is remarkably the debut studio album from Ravyn Lenae. Suffice to say, she met the high expectations with this anticipated release. 

Favourite track? Satellites 

12. 

Good Looks 

Bummer Year 

Keeled Scales | Indie Rock 

Across just seven tracks that cover a little over thirty minutes, we are treated to a polished and well-produced sample of killer rock tracks by a band that already sounds more accomplished than their experience suggests. 

Favourite track? Almost Automatic 

11. 

Tomberlin 

i don’t know who needs to hear this… 

Saddle Creek | Singer-Songwriter 

Back with her sophomore studio album, Sarah Beth Tomberlin’s latest was a sonic arm around the shoulder. As idyllic as a lullaby, these songs are comforting to - as its acronymic title suggests - any who need hear it. 

Favourite track? happy accident 

10. 

Cheekface 

Too Much To Ask 

Self-Released | Indie Rock 

The third studio album from the L.A. based trio boasts more of the idiosyncratic features that have highlighted their sound so far - playful background vocals, tight instrumentation, and the kind of lyrics you’d put on your Tinder bio in an attempt to pass them off as your own witicisms - but, there’s also broader notes of experimentation that makes this their finest work to date. When life hands you problems…listen to Cheekface! 

Favourite track? We Need A Bigger Dumpster 

9. 

Danger Mouse & Black Thought 

Cheat Codes 

BMG | Hip Hop 

For Danger Mouse’s long-awaited return to hip hop he couldn’t have picked a safer bet when it came to a collaborative partner than The Roots’ lead voice, Black Thought. Despite being new collaborators, these two gelled together like a long-established tag team. Additional voices were brought into the fold too, like Raekwon, MF DOOM, and Conway The Machine. 

Favourite track? Strangers (feat. A$AP ROCKY & Run The Jewels) 

8. 

Makaya McCraven 

In These Times 

XL | Jazz 

The best jazz release this year had to be the latest album from the Chicago based musician, bandleader and producer Makaya McCraven. Featuring a collection of supremely talented musicians, Makaya leads a tracklist that had been in production since 2015, which gracefully floats from a funk infused rhythm to an enchanting elegance. 

Favourite track? Dream Another 

7. 

Saba 

Few Good Things 

Pivot Gang, LLC | Hip Hop 

Chicago rapper Saba kept us waiting almost four years for the follow-up to his sublime sophomore studio album, CARE FOR ME. When he finally returned he did so with an album that featured every bit of the emotional pull of his storytelling, beats that switch up from feeling like a lazy slumber to an anxiety attack, and a set of performances that are some of his finest yet. 

Favourite track? 2012 (feat. Day Wave) 

6. 

Florist 

Florist 

Double Double Whammy | Indie Rock 

After releasing one of my favourite albums of 2019 with ‘Emily Alone’, Florist frontwoman Emily Sprague is reunited with her band mates on the group’s fourth studio effort. Like flipping through a stack of old polaroids, the words and the music intertwine to evoke memories of the past. Amongst the shorter, palate-cleansing instrumentals are some of the finest songs released by the band so far.  

Favourite track? 43 

5. 

Wunderhorse 

Cub 

Communion Group | Indie Rock 

Okay, this may just be my new favourite group. English singer-songwriter Jacob Slater fronts this debut studio album from his band Wunderhorse, an album that shares influences from John Martyn to Radiohead. There’s a physicality to the sound that is both well mixed and well performed, with a personal earnestness to the lyrics capable of completely captivating the listener. 

Favourite track? Teal 

4. 

Conway The Machine 

God Don’t Make Mistakes 

Interscope / Shady Records | Hip Hop 

The best hip hop album I heard all year was undoubtedly the latest from Conway The Machine. On the New York rapper’s career best, he lays himself bare with his most transparent project so far. With deeply personal revelations being shared in the lyrics, the heavy stomps of the boom-bap beats, and the delivery from Conway himself, this is a heavy listen, but a courageous one. 

Favourite track? Stressed (feat. Wallo267) 

3. 

Kurt Vile 

(watch my moves) 

Verve Forecast | Indie Rock 

The ramshackle spirit and wandering vibes are here, as Kurt Vile returned for his ninth studio album, which I would suggest is his most underrated to date. Most of the tracklist gives a shrug of the shoulders as they channel a slack rock delivery with the craftsmanship of folk and singer-songwriters of the past, from Neil Young to Bob Dylan. 

Favourite track? Mount Airy Hill (Way Gone) 

2. 

Yaya Bey 

Remember Your North Star 

Big Dada | R&B 

If previous offerings from the Brooklyn-based artist were subtle hints of her potential as a newer artist on the scene, then this latest project sounds, and feels, like a fully realised proclamation of her talent. The palate of sounds can be both bright and bleak, as the elements of jazz, soul, R&B, pop and more, sound so natural together. Each new dynamic is a smooth and graceful transition while she details themes of love; whether it be romantic, platonic, or the all-too-rare love for oneself. 

Favourite track? reprise 

1. 

Big Thief 

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You 

4AD | Folk Rock 

For the first time since I’ve been publicising my ‘end-of-year’ lists, an artist has earned my ‘album of the year’ distinction twice. U.F.O.F., their third LP, claimed the top spot for me back in 2019, and just three years later the Brooklyn based quartet have released a sprawling, majestic double album, and bettered anything they have done previously. A masterful opus of rustic charm that showcases a band that is still in the midst of an unstoppable prime. 

Favourite track? Red Moon…currently