Has it really been an entire year!? 2022 felt like a triumphant return to normalcy in the music world, with more artists releasing music and touring than ever in the wake of the pandemic. New releases seemed to be nonstop with one great album dropping after another – and I ain’t complainin’!
My tastes tend toward two extremes: danceable synth-heavy electronic grooves and stripped-down acoustic indie folk. Luckily, 2022 was a great year for both genres! That said, whittling it down to just 10 albums was a Herculean task. So, I present to you my top 23 albums of 2022!
And, if you’re so inclined, listen to a playlist of my top songs from these albums here!
Important note on year-end album lists in general: This is just one person on the internet’s humble opinion about what’s good. And while I like to think that I’m alright (sometimes anyway), I would in no way claim that I know best when it comes to art (which we sometimes forget is what music is all about). These are far from the only good albums released this year and the order in no way indicates that one is superior to another.
1. Blaqk Audio – Trop d’amour (BlaqkNoise, September 16)
Okay. So pretty much any time Blaqk Audio releases an album it becomes my instant favorite and this one was no exception. In only a few short weeks, these 10 songs dominated my Spotify Wrapped. 2022 has been a busy year for Davey Havok and Jade Puget – who also toured with their band AFI – but they made sure to do this album justice with a September album release show in Los Angeles and one of the wildest merch drops I’ve ever seen, including a 6-foot vegan whip. If you feel like some ‘80s-style moody vocals, powerful melodic hooks, and darkwavey electronic beats galore, give this one a spin! My top songs: “Cowboy Nights,” “Absolute Scenes,” “Sharp Teeth”
Read my full review here and check them out here.
2. MOTHERMARY – I Am Your God (Italians Do It Better, January 28)
Coming in like a literal bat out of hell at the top of the year was this catchy debut art pop album by MOTHERMARY – identical twin sisters Elyse and Larena Winn – who escaped misogynistic small-town Mormonism and embraced their feminine power through sensual electro beats and wildly seductive live shows. All 12 songs on I Am Your God are absolute fire and I binged this album pretty hard early in 2022 (and still do). If you ever get a chance to catch these ladies live, you better take it! Between their clever banter about cults and the joy of naps, squirt-gun baptisms, and chaotic dance moves, it’s a damn good time. My top songs: “Catch Fire,” “Give It Up,” “Pray”
Check them out here.
3. Sacred Skin – The Decline of Pleasure (Synthicide, May 27)
With their authentic old-school synths and sultry vocals, Sacred Skin managed to perfectly capture the ‘80s’ essence on their debut album in ways that few bands have. From top to bottom, this album sparkles and shines with moody synths, tasteful guitar licks, and husky vocals. The brainchild of two Brians – DaMert and Tarney – Sacred Skin formed during the 2020 lockdown and has been rocking ever since. I was lucky enough to catch them live twice in 2022 and their stage presence is as solid as their first album. I can’t wait to see what they’ll do next! Definitely a band to watch. My top songs: “Colder,” “Far Away” “Circles”
Read my full review here and check them out here.
4. Johanna Warren – Lessons for Mutants (Wax Nine/Carpark Records, October 7)
There’s always been something about the genius of dark folk queen Johanna Warren’s lyrics combined with her angelic, otherworldly vocals and perfectly-timed guitar strums. She has stunned on all of her previous releases and this much-anticipated album was no different. As usual, she tackles some pretty heavy topics and provides a refreshingly candid take on the world’s many injustices, her voice swinging flawlessly from sweet and delicate to searing and angry. Fittingly, this album mixes her stripped-down acoustic guitarwork with some heavier electric guitar distortion reminiscent of ‘90s shoegaze and grunge at its finest. She even throws some piano in for good measure. My top songs: “I’d Be Orange,” “Piscean Lover,” “Tooth for a Tooth”
Check her out here.
5. Sadurn – Radiator (Run For Cover Records, May 6)
Philadelphia indie folk band Sadurn burst onto the scene in early summer, gifting the world with their sweet and raw debut album Radiator. Recorded by singer-songwriter Genevieve DeGroot alongside their newly formed band in a cabin during the 2020 lockdown, Radiator retains the magic of lo-fi yet adds just the right amount of balancing touches. It’s a warm, honest record full of DeGroot’s delicate vocals, tasteful guitar accompaniment, and uniquely astute lyrics. Sadurn is definitely a band to watch! My top songs: “snake,” “moses kill,” “radiator”
Read my full review here and check them out here.
6. Urban Heat – Wellness EP (Spaceflight Records, July 29)
2022 was a year of hot breakout artists and Austin synthwave band Urban Heat definitely fits the bill. Their six-song EP is jam-packed with dark, moody bangers – and a few poppier moments for good measure. It’s a poignant exploration of extremely modern issues like anxiety, the woes of a lost generation, and the importance of self-care over criminally sick grooves. Frontman and songwriter Jonathan Horstmann is a powerful presence and, if this EP is any indication, Urban Heat will certainly go far! My top songs: “LIVING WELL,” “HAVE YOU EVER?” “CITY LIGHTS”
Read my full review here and check them out here.
7. Sin Cos Tan – Living in Fear (Solina Records, October 21)
I’ve always felt that Finnish synthpop duo Sin Cos Tan is wildly underrated. Made up of producer and DJ Jori Hulkkonen – who has worked with Pet Shop Boys and Tiga among others – and vocalist and songwriter Juho Paalosmaa of the equally synthy Villa Nah, Sin Cos Tan has somehow managed to fly below the mainstream radar despite seriously catchy synthpop tunes like 2012’s “Trust” and “Sooner Than Now” under their belt. I have been eagerly awaiting this new album for a decade and it did not disappoint. Every song is glittery and danceable, Paalosmaa’s vocals soar, and Hulkkonen’s production is flawless. My top songs: “More Than I Can Love,” “Tightroped,” “Own the Night”
Check them out here.
8. Maggie Rogers – Mixtape 001: Dawn, Mixtape 002: Dusk, and Mixtape 003: Night Drive EPs (Capitol Records, February 23, March 2, March 10)
I’m a sucker for stripped-down demo-like offerings and singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers graciously delivered with this trio of Mixtape EPs centered around the concepts of dawn, dusk, and night drives. Who can’t relate to that? Rogers announced on Twitter that she intended these “moody mixtapes” – which pulled from her back catalog – to be a warm-up act for her new material. Indeed, 2022 was a big year for Rogers, who released her explosive album Surrender (which gets an honorary mention on this list), toured overseas, and performed at Coachella, but for me, it’s all about the eloquent and simple folky tunes she snuck onto these EPs (especially those featuring banjo). Plus, there’s just something inherently awesome about making mixtapes in the Spotify era. My top songs: “New Song (feat. Del Water Gap),” “James,” “Little Joys”
Check her out here.
9. Animal Collective – Time Skiffs (Domino Recording Company, February 4)
Animal Collective are, to me, the gods of freak folk – which is kinda sorta the best genre ever – and I’ve religiously checked out everything they’ve released for decades. In my humble opinion, Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Deakin, and Geologist have never sounded better. Put simply, they are aging like a fine purple-bottled wine with notes of strawberry jam. Time Skiffs is their 11th album and sees the four founding members back together for the first time in years. It brings all of the quirky fun, disjointed melodies, zany lyrics, and off-the-wall sounds you’d expect and maybe even a little more, channeling the vibe of the group’s earliest years. My top songs: “Prester John,” “Walker,” “We Go Back”
Check them out here.
10. The Districts – Great American Painting (Fat Possum Records, March 11)
Formed in 2009, The Districts are a Pennsylvania-based indie rock band you don’t want to miss. The prolific band already has quite a few great songs under their belt – like 2013’s epic “Long Distance” and 2015’s popular banger “Young Blood” – and Great American Painting is their fifth full-length release. Vocalist, guitarist, and frontman Rob Grote – alongside the newly tweaked lineup of guitarist Pat Cassidy, bass player and keyboardist Braden Lawrence, and drummer Alex Held – put on an energetic performance and this album really captures the essence of the band’s live shows. It’s full of jangly, upbeat poppy rock jams and every single one is sure to get stuck in your head! As an aside, Grote is a stand-up guy. When the band’s van broke down during their 2022 tour, he flew to the next tour stop and performed an acoustic set rather than cancelling the date. My top songs: “No Blood,” “Outlaw Love,” “Hover”
Check them out here.
11. Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (4AD, February 11)
Pretty much everyone talked about this album in 2022 – and for good reason! First of all, it wins for album title of the year and its album artwork featuring a simple pencil drawing of an animal band performing around a fire is easily the best cover of the year. But it’s the album’s 20 charming indie folk songs that truly shine. Most of the songs are simple and understated acoustic ballads that showcase Adrianne Lenker’s tender vocals and poetic lyrics, making us feel as if we’re also sitting around a fire with a teddy bear and a dinosaur. It’s far from Big Thief’s first rodeo – this is their fifth album after all – but it proves that the greatest music is often pure and simple. My top songs: “Change,” “Little Things” “No Reason”
Check them out here.
12. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Cool It Down (Secretly Canadian Records, September 30)
Indie rock legends the Yeah Yeah Yeahs releasing their first album in nearly two decades was a big moment for elder millennials like myself. But what could easily have been just another nostalgia album turned out to be something much, much more. Cool It Down is shockingly modern and relevant, yet also retains everything we’ve always loved about Karen O and friends. At just eight songs, it’s short and sweet but every song offers something special and unique – plus there’s even a collaboration with Perfume Genius. It’s a gritty and poppy electronic album for the ages. My top songs: “Wolf,” “Fleez,” “Blacktop”
Check them out here.
13. Pretty Bitter – Hinges (Blossöm Records, June 24)
Hinges is only the second offering from Washington, D.C.-based indie pop band Pretty Bitter, but you’d certainly never know that by listening! The brainchild of songwriter Emelia “Em” Bleker and vocalist Miriam “Miri” Tyler, Pretty Bitter features Tyler’s powerful vocals and Bleker’s poignant lyrics – which explore mental illness, childhood trauma, and toxic celebrity culture among other equally intense topics – over a backdrop of music masterfully arranged by multi-instrumentalist Zack Be. Hinges effortlessly transcends genres, hopping from shoegaze to synthpop to indie folk and back again. Pretty Bitter is definitely a band to watch! My top songs: “She’s Pure Astral Light (or so she says),” “BDI/Lore,” “[Redacted] Dies at the End”
Read my full review here and check them out here.
14. Lav Andula – ANG3L(thr34T) (Self-released, July 7)
There’s really no one quite like dark electronic artist Lav Andula, who has moved seamlessly from noise to witchhouse to K-pop to drearwave to folky country throughout her career. Andula’s third full-length album, ANG3L(thr34T), is no exception. It’s a seven-song masterpiece full of catchy beats, topical lyrics, and perfectly crafted electronic soundscapes that is sure to transport you to a whole new realm you didn’t know you needed in your life. After many listens, I’d have to say that Lav Andula deserves a genre all her own. My top songs: “v1rUS,” “Sh4rp Kn1f3,” “Wh3n”
Read my full review here and check her out here.
15. My Idea – CRY MFER (Hardly Art, April 22)
Quirky indie pop band My Idea is the creative partnership between two already-established artists, Palberta’s Lily Konigsberg and Water From Your Eyes’ Nate Amos. CRY MFER is the duo’s full-length debut and not a single one of its 13 songs disappoints. Mixing lo-fi, indie folk, old-school keyboard orchestra hits, and glitchy noise elements with hooky pop perfection and lyrical explorations of pain, physical intimacy, and life in general, this album is sure to get stuck in your head for life. My top songs: “Cry Mfer,” Breathe You,” “Popstar”
Read my full review here and check them out here.
16. Noah Deemer – The Sleepwalker (Self-released, May 6)
New York’s Noah Deemer has long been part of a collective in which he collaborated on many projects but, in 2018, he decided to break out on his own. His debut album The Sleepwalker didn’t see the light of day until 2022, but I’m thrilled it finally did. It’s a borderline ambient album with a few hard-hitting lyrics that is bizarrely catchy despite all of its non-conformity. Somehow mixing shoegaze, jazz, progressive rock, indie pop, and country, Deemer’s seven-song album makes you feel like you’re dreaming or drifting deep underwater – and that’s awesome. I can’t wait to see what he’ll do next! My top songs: “Modern Ruins,” “Lay Your Hands,” “Underwater Green/Coming Down”
Read my full review here and check him out here.
17. Jack White – Entering Heaven Alive (Third Man Records, July 22)
Okay, so admittedly I’ve always been a big Jack White fan. Anything he does, whether it be with The White Stripes, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs, or solo pretty much turns to gold. And his double album release in 2022 was no exception. White kicked the party off with the heavier album Fear of the Dawn in April, following it up with the mellower Entering Heaven Alive in July. Fear of the Dawn is a fantastic record but I’m a sucker for White’s stripped-down acoustic work. I loved every second of Entering Heaven Alive – particularly the jaunty piano-heavy “Taking Me Back (Gently),” which indeed gently took me back and was one of my favorite songs of the year. I’ve flapper-danced to this one in my house on a number of occasions. My top songs: “Queen of the Bees,” “If I Die Tomorrow,” “Taking Me Back (Gently)”
Check him out here.
18. The Lowest Pair / Small Town Therapy – Horse Camp (Delicata Records, October 14)
Horse Camp is a collaboration between Small Town Therapy – made up of Bay Area multi-instrumentalists Adam Roszkiewicz and Leif Karlstrom – and The Lowest Pair, an Olympia, Washington-based indie folk duo made up of Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee. The result is a maelstrom of musical ability. I find this album soothing and my ears happily pick out something new in the instrumentation each time I listen. Between the four talented musicians, there’s a lot going on: mandolins, guitars, fiddles, and multiple banjos (in a good way). But don’t be alarmed! The resulting sound is completely refreshing and avoids falling into bluegrass tropes. Lyrically, it’s a love letter to the Pacific Northwest which I always enjoy. The Lowest Pair has been a favorite of mine for years and pretty much everything they release is fantastic. My top songs: “Couple of Jerks,” “Oak Leaf,” “Dandelion Tides”
Check them out here.
19. Silversun Pickups – Physical Thrills (New Machine Recordings, August 19)
Silversun Pickups is another band that will forever be special to elder millennials like myself. (I still maintain that “Lazy Eye” is the song of our generation.) But the indie rockers continue to prove that they are far from a legacy act, regularly churning out great albums. From the eternal shoegaze perfection of Brian Aubert’s vocals to the beloved fuzzy guitars to the tender Nikki Monninger moments fans have come to adore, there’s a lot to love on Silversun Pickups’ sixth full-length album, Physical Thrills. The band also takes some creative liberties, experimenting with new rhythms on songs like “Sticks and Stones” and incorporating piano throughout the album. My top songs: “Sticks and Stones,” “Hereafter (Way After),” “Empty Nest”
Check them out here.
20. Teen Suicide – honeybee table at the butterfly feast (Run For Cover Records, August 26)
Indie rock band Teen Suicide started as the solo project of Sam Ray – also of Ricky Eat Acid and American Pleasure Club – but grew to contain a revolving cast of band members, now including Ray’s wife, rapper Kitty. Teen Suicide is known for experimenting with interesting sounds and genres, creating beautiful melodies that often feature popping tape hiss, background noises, raw acoustic guitars, and hypermiced pianos. It’s pure lo-fi perfection and I am always here for it. As usual, Ray’s lyrical observations shine on this album and there’s even a brief metal moment. My top songs: “get high, breathe underwater (#3),” “i will always be in love with you (final),” “coyote (2015-2021)”
Check them out here.
21. Lykke Li – EYEYE (Play It Again Sam/Crush Music, May 20)
Swedish indie pop darling Lykke Li has been gradually stripping her music down and getting weirder over the years and I am loving it. Her latest offering, EYEYE, has Li singing about lost love and life’s bitter disappointments over the gentle accents of rainfall, warbly guitar, pulsing crickets, and the susurrus of driving cars. It’s a beautifully sparse – if a tad heartbreaking – record that tells a story when listened to start to finish. As usual, Li’s voice is a gift. My top songs: “NO HOTEL,” “YOU DON’T GO AWAY,” “HIGHWAY TO YOUR HEART”
Check her out here.
22. Noah Cyrus – The Hardest Part (Records, LLC/Columbia Records, September 16)
Periodically, I’ll hear an absurdly catchy indie pop tune that gets me where it hurts and sticks with me for days. Often when this happens, it inevitably turns out to be Noah Cyrus. While most people are more familiar with her father Billy Ray and her older sister Miley, Noah, the youngest of the ridiculously successful Cyrus clan, is slowly carving out a name for herself in the indie pop sphere. After years of releasing singles and EPs, Noah finally gifted the world with her debut album, The Hardest Part, in September. Produced by Mike Crossey – known for his work with Arctic Monkeys and The 1975 – and featuring cameos by indie rock legend Ben Gibbard and country star Billy Ray himself, The Hardest Part is a perfect indie pop album. Though it does feature hints of country twang and mainstream pop – as you might expect from a Cyrus – the album manages to stay as raw and emotional as Noah’s hit singles “Make Me (Cry)” and “July” and even reminds me of early Sia at times. My top songs: “Ready to Go,” “Mr. Percocet,” “I Burned LA Down”
Check her out here.
23. The Head And The Heart – Every Shade of Blue (Acoustic) EP (Warner Records, September 9)
I was a massive fan of the mid-2000s-era The Head And The Heart. There was just something magical about the stripped-down indie folk perfection of songs like “Lost in My Mind” and “Another Story” that has kind of been lost on later releases. Don’t get me wrong, the band is still making great music. I enjoyed April’s Every Shade of Blue, it was just a tad too polished and produced for me. But then the band released their acoustic EP in September and the folky magic was back in spades. Hearing the studio-produced and acoustic versions of these powerful songs side by side was a real treat, though I have to admit the acoustic versions are some of my favorite songs of the year. They are absolute stunners and I can’t wait for more. My top songs: “Virginia (Wind in the Night) – Acoustic,” “Every Shade of Blue – Acoustic,” “Hurts (But It Goes Away) – Acoustic”
Check them out here.
This is hardly an exhaustive list of every good album that came out in 2022 but these are my absolute must-listens. Until next year!
