2022 was a big year for music. There was the return of many artists who had been quiet since before the pandemic, such as Mitski, Arctic Monkeys, and Kendrick Lamar. Even Kate Bush made a comeback with ‘Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)’, despite its initial release being 1985. Along with Bush there were many pop hits this year with Taylor Swift’s Midnights and Harry Styles’ Harry’s House. Considering the remarkable year of music that was 2022, here are the 10 best albums of the year.
10. Weyes Blood: And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
While not the best album overall, And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow is sure to be some of the best cover art of the year. This is the fifth full length album by Natalia Mering under her stage name Weyes Blood. Mering, as always, has a similar vocal performance to Aimee Mann, and indeed similarly interesting lyrics. She sings, “Trying to break away/From the mess we made/Oh, we don’t have time anymore to be afraid” on the song ‘Children of the Empire’ detailing the “mess” children have been left with on this planet. And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow will leave listeners in awe of Mering’s song writing skills.
9. Beach House: Once Twice Melody
Dream pop duo Beach House’s eight studio album is presented in four chapters. As usual with a Beach House album, it marks an evolution in their music, with only traces left of their original form which was reminiscent of bands like Mazzy Star. Songs like ‘Superstar’ remind you of the duo’s past, a track about two star-crossed lovers; “When you were mine, we fell across the sky/Backlit up against the wall”. The shoegaze-like elements of Once Twice Melody allow you not just to listen to this album, but makes it feel like an experience in and of itself.
8. Rina Sawayama: Hold The Girl
Following her EP RINA and the following album SAWAYAMA, it is clear that Rina Sawayama is now on a winning streak with Hold The Girl. Sawayama’s second full length album incorporates many different genres of pop to create an emotional collection of tracks surrounding self-acceptance and staying in touch with your younger self; “I wanna remember, she is me, and I am her/So, hold the girl, hold the girl”. Songs like ‘This Hell’ and ‘Imagining’ prove how brilliant Sawayama has become at creating perfect hits, even though they are on very different places on the pop spectrum.
7. Florence + The Machine: Dance Fever
One thing you can always expect from a Florence + The Machine album is Florence Welch’s powerful vocal performance, and the bands fifth studio album is no exception. Dance Fever is exactly what it says on the tin, and more. It may at first seem like another set of addictive Florence + The Machine songs, but many of these dance-inducing tracks have lyrics which are brutally honest and poignant. On the track ‘Dream Girl Evil’, Welch makes fun of the expectations placed on women; “Make me perfect, make me your fantasy/You know I deserve it/Well, take it out on me”. Dance Fever features a lot of Florence + The Machine’s best work yet and may just have you suffer the same fate as Welch on the song ‘Choreoamania’; “I just kept spinnin’ and I danced myself to death”.
6. Father John Misty: Chloë and the Next 20th Century
On his fifth studio album under the stage name Father John Misty, Joshua Tillman makes a turn towards big band jazz and 1950s-esque pop. Chloë isone of those albums that transforms you to a different time. It feels like a journey through 1940s Hollywood, but it becomes clear that it is less a journey to the time itself, and more poking fun at the romanticisation that this period and place often attracts. Chloë is filled with typical Hollywood characters and stories, often romantic and tragic, such as on the song ‘Kiss Me (I Loved You)’. ‘The Next 20th Century’, the most traditional Father John Misty song on the album, finishes it off with the magic of Hollywood disappearing and a declaration for, given the pain the century appears to hold, how important genuine love is; “I don’t know ‘bout you, but I’ll take the love songs/If this century’s here to stay”.
5. Natalia Lafourcade: De Todas las Flores
It is quite rare nowadays for an album of this style to be released. De Todas las Flores is a Latin folk album, but it draws on many other genres, including jazz and chamber music. Of All the Flowers, the album’s title in English, is the Natalia Lafourcade’s first full album of original works in years. It has a rich and joyous sound, for example, the addictive piano and trumpets on ‘Muerte’. The Mexican singer-songwriter described the album as being a diary for many feelings including heartbreak, loss, and grief, and this is reflected in the lyrics; “Heal yourself, my girl, with the love of the most beautiful and light the fire/Surrender your pains, that they turn to dust and new flowers come”. Even without an understanding of Spanish, or the aid of a translation, De Todas las Flores is incredibly enjoyable and makes for an amazing listening experience. Do your ears a favour and give this one a go.
4. SZA: SOS
SZA’s second album was most certainly worth the five years wait. There is something for everyone in this album, which mainly has a R&B and hip hop feel, but a huge variation throughout. It switches up from acoustic ballads like ‘Nobody Gets Me’ to rock tunes like ‘F2F’. Lyrically, SOS hops from being funny to being tragic to being both at the same time; “I might kill my ex, I still love him, though/Rather be in jail than alone”. The features add a nice bit of a vocal change in the album with guests including Phoebe Bridgers and Don Toliver. SOS demonstrates SZA’s true talent for transforming her experiences and feelings into musical beauty. She shows this on the song ‘Ghost in the Machine’ where SZA reveals some of her most personal thoughts and desires; “Can you distract me from all the disaster?/Can you touch on me and not call me after?”. It may be five years or more before we hear from SZA again, but it would not be a surprise to see her top her previous work once again.
3. The 1975: Being Funny In A Foreign Language
As usual with this British pop band, The 1975 begin their album with another track titled ‘The 1975’. It acts as a commentary, along with many other tracks on the album, on the state of the world today with frontman Matty Healy singing “I’m sorry if you’re livin’ and you’re seventeen”. At 43 minutes long Being Funny In A Foreign Language is The 1975’s most compact project yet. It is their first time collaborating with producer Jack Antonoff, known for his work with popstars such as Taylor Swift and Lorde. The band seem to have given Antonoff a lot of freedom, and what results is a joyously beautiful pop record with Matty Healy’s usual heartfelt lyrics. The production is well rounded throughout the album, such as on ‘Part Of The Band’, an excellently arranged song featuring strings, and a guitar solo produced to near perfection. It is all topped off by Matty Healy’s absurd but great lyrics; “I know some Vaccinista tote bag chic baristas”. Being Funny In A Foreign Language also has its fair share of uniquely 1975-sounding pop tunes, such as ‘I’m In Love With You’, a song so corny only this band could pull it off. The track is also sure to be a classic wedding tune of our generation. The 1975 finds in footing in its fifth studio album, with an album loaded with sincerity and the band’s unique sound improved.
2. Big Thief: Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You
Big Thief’s fifth album is the penultimate installation in this list. It is a testament to the quality of the band that they can produce an album that is 80 minutes long yet keeps your attention for each track. It is the folksiest album made by Big Thief so far, but interesting qualities keep the album interesting throughout, such as the odd drums on ‘Time Escaping’, or the spring-like sound of the jaw harp on ‘Spud Infinity’. Dragon is filled with inspired lyrics that will leave the listener wondering, thinking of answers to questions raised; “Would you smile forever, never cry/While everything you know passes”. Adrianne Lenker’s vocals perfectly match the music, with her demonstrating a wide range. The production of this album is also fantastic. The instrumentals are edited brilliantly, such as the guitar solo in ‘Simulation Swarm’. Dragon seems to lack a certain thematic cohesiveness, but this is far from a negative. It results in an album that is less of a concept, and more of a journey through the songwriter’s thoughts and wonderings.
1. Black Country, New Road: Ants From Up There
Finally, in the top spot for 2022 is Black Country, New Road’s Ants From Up There. Released only a year after their acclaimed debut album, the English band released this album with the hopes of achieving a more “accessible” sound than their debut. It would not be inappropriate to call Ants From Up There a breakup album. Lead vocalist Isaac Wood delivers an intensely emotional performance of heart-breaking lyrics surrounding his thoughts of his past partner; “Oh, that every time I try to make lunch/For anyone else, in my head/I end up dreaming of you”. Unfortunately, just a few days prior to the album’s release, Wood announced he would be leaving the band, citing personal reasons.
It is difficult to confine Ants From Up There into one genre. There are elements of post-rock and chamber pop, and the band themselves say they were influenced by artists such as Sufjan Stevens and Billie Eilish. This sound results in a beautifully intimate and melodic album detailing the fall and end of Wood’s relationship. Ants From Up There has an impressive flow to it, with the tracks building to the climactic final 12-minute song “Basketball Shoes”. If ever there was a perfect departure from a band, Wood has achieved it with this album.
