The theme of 2022 for much of the world was that of trying to move on from a traumatic couple of years and readjust to life as normal (whatever that means). Much of the music released last year reflected the conflicted feelings of inner turbulence and cautious optimism which came along with this. Live shows came back on a large scale, leading to many artists who had been holding out finally releasing albums. The consequence of all of this was a lot of great music, which I’ve attempted to sift through and pick out the very best for you. This comes with the obvious caveat that all my choices are to my personal taste, but I’d like to think that all of these albums are of very high quality personal taste aside. I’ve also included some honourable mentions at the bottom along with a Spotify playlist I’ve made of my top songs of the year. Without further ado then, here are my top 30 albums of 2022:
30. Curren$y & The Alchemist – Continuance
Legendary hip hop producer The Alchemist forms an unlikely duo with New Orleans rapper Curren$y to make this lo-fi jazz rap project. The combination of smooth jazz piano with Curren$y’s understated bars makes for 37 minutes of easy listening, with each track fitting seamlessly into the next in a way that keeps the listeners attention throughout. This is a project of very high quality and it’s worth keeping an eye out for anything the pair release together in the future.
29. Lupe Fiasco – DRILL MUSIC IN ZION
Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco’s eighth studio album is a standout moment in his discography. Undoubtedly a huge talent and an insightful individual, these qualities shine through here in a way they haven’t always done in his previous releases. The social commentary surrounding drill music – and the consumerism which feeds it – is pointed while not being too preachy or taking away from the quality of the tracks.
28. Fred again.. – Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)
The third instalment in the London producer’s Actual Life series follows very much in the footsteps of its predecessors. He interlaces short clips of him and others talking with a group of introspective dance tracks to create a sad party atmosphere. Admittedly, the idea might have lost a bit of its emotional impact compared to the original – which was released during one of the national Covid lockdowns – but the catchiness of some of the best songs on this one just about makes up for it.
27. Adeem the Artist – White Trash Revelry
Up and coming singer-songwriter Adeem the Artist’s second major release is a story of somebody coming to terms with an internal conflict. Sonically, this album is filled from front to back with solid country songs. The lyrics depict a pansexual, non-binary person struggling to weigh up the good and bad sides of their Christian upbringing in North Carolina. The depth of the writing mixed with the strength of the tunes makes for a highly endearing listen.
26. Roc Marciano & The Alchemist – The Elephant Man’s Bones
Making it onto this list for a second time, The Alchemist this time teams up with veteran of the New York underground rap scene Roc Marciano for a hard-hitting, jazz-influenced hip hop album. The most obvious quality of this project is how deeply sinister it is. The Alchemist combines unnerving vocal samples with eerie piano sections and Roc Marciano sounds decidedly callous while spinning vague threats into clever punchlines. There are certainly some tracks which leave this feeling more than others, but the album succeeds in being a wholly unsettling experience.
25. Molly Nilsson – Extreme
Swedish singer Molly Nilsson’s tenth album is a beautifully eclectic listen. Her poetic lyrics create vocal earworms which are drowned out by synths and guitars to put you into an indie pop trance which you won’t want to snap out of.
24. Nilüfer Yanya – PAINLESS
In 2014, Nilüfer Yanya was made an offer by One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson to join a new girl group he was producing. She rejected the offer, and the album she’s put out eight years later shows not only how different of a direction (pardon the pun) she’s gone in but how much better off she is for it. This is a borderline indie rock masterpiece, with the grungy guitar riffs complementing her mellow delivery of lyrics painting the image of an outsider. In fact, she’s far from an outsider as she’s well on her way to becoming a sensation.
23. Plains – I Walked With You A Ways
Indie folk darlings Waxahatchee and Jess Williamson combine to form the supergroup Plains and put out one of the better albums in both their discographies. This record goes in a more distinctly country direction than most of their individual efforts, but it works a treat as they harmonise beautifully over twangy yet laid back instrumentals. The overall feeling left by this album is one of pleasant nostalgia and general optimism for the future.
22. The 1975 – Being Funny In A Foreign Language
On the surface, there isn’t anything hugely different about the Manchester-based outfit’s fifth album from their previous releases. A collection of upbeat, synth-filled pop rock tracks largely follows the band’s usual formula, but there’s an emotional element to this which has been missing in their other works. This album’s track list is packed full of deep expressions of love which fit perfectly with the sound to provide a fulfilling and sentimental listen.
21. MIKE – Beware of the Monkey
New York and London-based experimental rapper MIKE delivers exactly what anyone who has been listening to his work over the years has come to expect. The beats are wonderfully crafted around rich soul vocal samples, while MIKE raps with as much clarity as ever while reflecting on a difficult couple years – especially emphasised by the voice recordings of his late mother – and presenting his optimistic outlook on the future.
20. Aldous Harding – Warm Chris
New Zealand singer-songwriter Aldous Harding’s career to date has consisted mainly of virtuosic folk songs with eccentric vocal performances (eccentric both in their delivery and the content). On her fourth album Warm Chris, she takes this one step further by abandoning her traditional sound for more of a pop influence, although no description would fully encapsulate what genre these songs truly are. The more upbeat tracks on this album have an almost nursery rhyme-like simplicity to them which allows her to turn them into bizarrely catchy anthems using her oddball lyrics and vocal inflections. Though they don’t stand out quite as much, the mellower moments come in the form of piano ballads which allow her to further display the musical talent which has made her so successful.
19. Earl Sweatshirt – SICK!
Rapper Earl Sweatshirt was thrown into the spotlight at 16 through his success with the group Odd Future. Since then, his releases have mainly focused on his struggles with depression at different stages of his career. He’s always had a remarkable way with words, able to lay bare his darkest emotions while delivering some of the most well-structured rhymes of any rapper out there, and he only gets better at this with each successive project. On his previous album, Some Rap Songs, he pioneered a new sound in alternative hip-hop while reflecting on his mental state becoming lower than it had ever been. While SICK! may not be quite as impactful, it gives him the chance to show how much better he’s doing and muse over his new role as a father while still offering up some fantastic songs.
18. Cate Le Bon – Pompeii
Accomplished Welsh artist Cate Le Bon’s music has always been hard to put a label on and her sixth studio album is no different. Pompeii is her taking her art-pop style in a more bare bones, almost baroque direction. The rich, synth-heavy beauty of tracks such as ‘Moderation’ give this album endless replay value and make it a must-listen for casual fans and music nerds alike.
17. billy woods – Church
Underground hip hop icon billy woods has built a reputation over the past 20 years as someone who can write bars like no-one else. The variety of his references make his albums into history lessons for anyone interested enough to research them, while his dark humour and uncanny ability to paint a picture in the listener’s mind make for some truly unique moments (a stand out in this regard being the track ‘Frankie’, which he spends the entirety of describing the inside of a drug addict’s apartment). His second album of the year, Church, is just one of his many releases in which he spins some haunting tales and provides social commentary through comparisons with obscure historical figures. Producer Messiah Muzik’s stripped back, chilling instrumentals also give him the perfect platform to do so.
16. Carly Rae Jepsen – The Loneliest Time
With her 2011 smash hit ‘Call Me Maybe’, former Canadian Idol contestant Carly Rae Jepsen set the tone for the next decade – not just for her career, but for mainstream pop music in general. On her sixth album, the overblown 80s throwback pop music with which she’s become synonymous takes a small step towards modernisation, without losing the almost cheesy sentimentality which has made her so popular over the years. Her lyrics have also become more refined while painting the same image of young love as they always have. Overall, this album is very sweet and is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of anyone who listens.
15. Spiritualized – Everything Was Beautiful
English rock band Spiritualized’s ninth studio album comes as a sort of sequel to 2018’s And Nothing Hurt, being recorded during the same sessions. Having said that, this release is a grander affair all round. ‘Always Together With You’ is a mammoth of an opening track and sets the tone for a rich, emotional psychedelic rock experience. The heavily layered instrumental backing is luscious and ethereal; the lyrics are deep but subtle enough not to take the listener out of the moment it creates.
14. Kevin Morby – This Is A Photograph
Another album defined by a fantastic opening track, indie rock singer Kevin Morby’s seventh solo album has a strong theme of reflecting on the past. This nostalgia is conveyed excellently through the lyrics and the pleasant vocal performances are underpinned by optimistic folk instrumentals which are often more hard-hitting than they have any right to be. Morby’s ability to write a great song was never in question, but it’s surprising for a relatively small artist just how expensive and well-assembled the production sounds. This is an album with a good concept which is executed to absolute perfection.
13. Kenny Beats – LOUIE
American hip hop producer Kenny Beats never planned to record a studio album. This all changed in early 2021 when he learned that his father had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He used all of the feelings from this period later in the year to compile a tribute, named LOUIE after his father, who was originally meant to be the only person to hear it before Kenny was thankfully persuaded to release the project to the public. He interlaces snippets of him and his father talking with rich instrumentals, often appearing to ruminate over life and death, with occasional features from some well-known rappers. All these elements combine brilliantly to create a project which will surely be treasured by Kenny, his father and all who listen.
12. Mura Masa – demon time
Considering that Guernsey-born producer Mura Musa peaked in popularity in around 2017, this album is a serious statement. The star-studded cast of features shows that his pull amongst his fellow artists is as big as it ever was and the quality of the songs shows why. There’s a certain light-heartedness to these tracks, whether it be the upbeat instrumentals littered with cute sound effects (not least the 2000s ringtone-like beat of ‘prada (i like it)’) or the cheeky one-liners dropped by some of the featured artists. However, that isn’t to say that the album isn’t filled with bangers from front to back. At least half of these tracks would go down well at any club, and it would be surprising if his career didn’t experience some sort of second wind off the back of releasing such a solid project.
11. The Smile – A Light for Attracting Attention
Legendary rock band Radiohead may not be planning any new releases but lead singer Thom Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood are certainly doing their best to recreate the feeling of the band’s music with their side project The Smile. A band originally formed so that they could practice music together during one of the COVID-19 lockdowns, this album proves that the surrealist alternative rock style which they pioneered is still very much alive and there’s a lot more that they can do with it. Dark and pensive from start to finish, with Greenwood’s unerring guitar performances being a particular highlight, the highest compliment which can be given to this album is that it wouldn’t look at all out of place in Radiohead’s discography.
10. Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul – Topical Dancer
Belgian duo Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul start off the top 10 with an album so 2022 it hurts. Topical Dancer is a 50-minute fever dream which takes a sardonic approach to addressing the biggest issues affecting today’s society, especially those around race and sex. Backed by Bolis’s off the wall dance beats, Charlotte essentially delivers a spoken word monologue which spans twelve tracks and four languages. Despite the heaviness of the topics covered, Charlotte’s approach and even the instrumentals create such an immense sense of irony that this album is funnier than it is sad. It’s clear that the pair – or at least Charlotte – are speaking about their own negative experiences and are using humour as a tool to make it more digestible. This album is so bizarre that it’s hard to describe without hearing it, but it’s a grand statement from two artists we’ll no doubt be hearing more from in the future.
9. Beyoncé – RENAISSANCE
From relative unknowns to the most famous artist on this list, what is there to say about Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE that hasn’t already been said? The legendary singer returned out of nowhere for her first solo studio album in six years, which to everyone’s surprise was a house album. Perhaps to everyone’s even bigger surprise was just how well she pulled it off, managing to make anthemic bangers of equal, or even higher, quality to any one of her previous releases while exploring a completely new sound. As it turns out, the 90s house diva image goes perfectly with Beyoncé’s empowering lyrics and big voice. This isn’t an easy genre to transition to make either, as fellow superstar Drake found out when he tried a similar stunt to very different results earlier in the year.
8. Alex G – God Save The Animals
American singer-songwriter Alex G already had an impressive catalogue before this, but his first studio album (which is his ninth solo album) really shows how far he’s come from his early days of DIY releases on Bandcamp. Many elements of God Save The Animals are like those of any other solid indie rock album, but the choppy and eclectic nature of the production has an almost hip hop flavour at points. This album is remarkable in that it’s so complex yet so simple in how it comes across to the listener. The emotions conveyed by almost every track are deep yet obvious and palatable, and the production choices are always masterfully tailored towards this end.
7. Yaya Bey – Remember Your North Star
On Brooklyn singer Yaya Bey’s second studio album, she sounds like she’s been a mainstream selling artist for years. The backing music is comprised of tight and soulful R&B tracks (although ‘pour up’ adds a surprising house song into the mix), with the live instrumental performances adding a layer of sonic depth to the project. The shining light, however, is Yaya’s amazing voice. She effortlessly moves through her wide vocal register and belts out her affirming lyrics with a composure which belies her status as a relative newcomer. This album’s crowning achievement is that clearly a lot of effort has gone into each track, yet it radiates positivity in such a laid-back way that it comes across as nonchalant.
6. Pusha T – It’s Almost Dry
Rapper Pusha T, formerly of the duo Clipse, is now on his fourth solo studio album. It’s Almost Dry continues the trend of his previous releases, as he has made minor improvements to 2018’s DAYTONA through smart production choices and concise, hard-hitting bars. The production is handled by legendary producer Pharrell Williams and another iconic rapper-producer (what was his name again?) to devastating effect, with almost every beat giving the dark yet soulful sound which perfectly fits Pusha T’s vicious lyrics and delivery. In terms of the lyrics, he paints essentially the same picture as in each of his previous albums – that of a callous drugs kingpin who has the respect of everyone he comes across – but his improved writing makes this more believable with each release and this one is no different.
5. billy woods – Aethiopes
The highest praise of billy woods was saved for this album. Where Church has something of an eerie feel to it, Aethiopes is truly depraved. The beats, handled by producer Preservation, range from being dauntingly abrasive to being stripped back to the point where they’re barely even present. The effect of this is a somewhat surreal album in which billy woods has free roam to explore any topic he wants. He generally uses this to rap, or even just talk, about very specific scenarios which give a brief window into the dark world he comes from. The features are carefully chosen to complement the feel of the tracks while not interfering with the atmosphere woods’ lyrics evoke. This is bordering between being a rap album and a horror podcast.
4. Natalia Lafourcade – De Todas las Flores
Mexican singer Natalia Lafourcade has spent the last few years bolstering her reputation with some excellent records containing a mix of original material and covers of traditional Latin folk songs. These set the stage for De Todas Las Flores, her tenth studio album and the first containing exclusively original material in seven years. This album is simply stunning whether you understand Spanish or not, with Natalia clearly having been influenced by the music she’s been covering in recent years to release some folk music which is truly on par with the classics. The vocal and instrumental performances are near-perfect from front to back, although the ballad ‘El lugar correcto’ and the ode to death ‘Muerte’ prove to be standout moments. The beauty of this album transcends language and genre barriers and makes it a must listen.
3. The Weeknd – Dawn FM
The Weeknd’s rise to pop stardom over the last decade has been well documented, yet the quality of his recent releases has brought surprise after surprise. 2020’s After Hours seemed like something of a magnum opus, a solid throwback dance-pop record with a consistent theme and some smash hits, but Dawn FM blows it out of the water. This album’s aesthetic is flawless: the cover, the soundscape and the skits featuring Jim Carrey create the feel of a dystopian radio station playing as you fade from life into death. This concept and its execution alone would make this a great record, but the synth-pop sound is so rich that it gives the added benefit of making virtually every song a banger with endless replay value. This is a brilliant album and it makes you wonder how high The Weeknd’s ceiling really is.
2. Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You
Speaking of artists surpassing their expectations, American band Big Thief really outdid themselves with their fifth studio album. They were already at the top of their game with some great indie rock and folk releases, so deciding to release a 20-track double album which spanned a much wider range of indie and country sub-genres was decidedly bold of them. The risk paid off, with Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You being an hour and 20 minute epic which flies by given its duration. Every genre, from traditional folk to pure oddball country, is covered tastefully and spliced with just the right amount of Big Thief’s unique eccentricities. Lead singer Adrienne Lenker is in rare form, her heartfelt lyrics adding a deep sentimentality to this project which is just the icing on the cake of a bona fide modern classic.
1. Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
A man who needs no introduction, Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar returns after five years with his fifth studio album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. This album is obviously something of a cathartic experience for Kendrick, as he spends all 19 tracks giving uncensored ruminations on his journey up to this point, his own dark side and the problems affecting modern artistry (just to name a few topics covered). He uses his unique position as one of the few huge artists who doesn’t need to stay in the public eye or release hit songs to keep his fanbase in order to talk about things few others would get away with, and his sharp intellect really shines through by doing so. There is, however, another quality to this record which isn’t seen (at least to such an extent) on Kendrick’s previous releases: he shows how deeply flawed he is. Every choice made here is with the intention of revealing everything which is going on in his head, both good and bad, and this is executed to perfection. In the end, this is less of an album and more a great piece of literature by the voice of a generation, and there was no question that it would top this list.
Honourable mentions: Angel Olsen – Big Time; Charli XCX – CRASH; Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes; Denzel Curry – Melt My Eyez See Your Future; Jack White – Fear Of The Dawn; Jack White – Entering Heaven Alive; JID – The Forever Story; King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Omnium Gatherum; Leikeli47 – Shape Up; Little Simz – NO THANK YOU; Quelle Chris – Deathfame; Silvana Estrada – Marchita; Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen; Sylvan Esso – No Rules Sandy; Weyes Blood – And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow; Yung Kayo – DFTK
