2022 Top Albums
Album PuppyA great album tears open the space-time continuum and creates a new dimension of sound for your ear to inhabit. Whereas a great track can just follow one line to completion, a great album needs an up, down, left, right, floor, ceiling. Some albums are extroverts, welcoming you at first listen. Other albums are introverts, taking their time to warm up. Either way, you want to spend time with them. Genre and rank are a shitty way to divvy up music, so we’ve included some “vibe clouds” below to help you navigate 20 albums to take with you into 2023.
Don’t miss the rest of the 2022 Year In Review.
Electro Flair Beat Salad Moon Coke Beam Voice Magic Cloud Shake
Not necessarily “electronic” music, but these are sounds that could have never manifested before the microchip. Shout out: Claire Rousay and More Eaze, NNAMDÏ, Loz Goddard, Living Hour.
Claire Rousay and More Eaze: Never Stop Texting Me
NNAMDÏ: Please Have A Seat
Loz Goddard: Balloon Tree Road
Living Hour: Someday Is Today
Pop Roxx Key Ensemble Crab Appetizer Shell Craft Line Metrics Wink
All the music on Top Albums strive to be popular, but the Pop Roxxx Stanza selections pay a little more attention to the written and unwritten rules of the game. Sometimes just to turn them upside down. Shout out: Dear Nora, Aldous Harding, Wilder Maker, Mamalarky.
Dear Nora: human futures
Aldous Harding: Warm Chris
Wilder Maker: Male Models
Mamalarky: Pocket Fantasy
Mood Zone Jazz Edge Void Instrumental Rain Nimbus Perc Tab
Music is always a mood. With these albums, mood is a person, place, thing, and flower on the windowsill too. Shout out: Iceblink, Mayaka McCraven, Keeley Forsyth.
Iceblink: Carpet Cocoon
Makaya McCraven: In These Times
Keeley Forsyth: Limbs
Vintage Lever Day Dream Hi Five Shot String Cable Couch
Like Hobbits on Ents, musicians are all standing on the shoulders of giants. These albums make the tradition matter. Shout out: Twen, Kitner, Beat Radio, Pet Fox.
Twen: One Stop Shop
Kitner: Shake The Spins
Beat Radio: Real Love
Pet Fox: A Face In Your Life
Heavy Flavor Shotgun Taxes Balloon Slop Grind Knee Apple Core
Burning tire fire glory, love letters to brick walls, ideological breakdowns to blow out your speakers. Shout out: Kal Marks, Maneka, Already Dead, Green/Blue.