Top 25 Albums of 2022

Top 100 Songs of 2022

Many days late and many bucks short, I have finally completed my Top 100 Songs of 2022.

I couldn’t find a consensus for #1 song. I don’t recall this happening in my previous year end playlists (which now date back a decade!). It came down to songs ranked one though four, and I kept moving the #1 slot amongst them.

My #1 song ended up being “After the Earthquake” by Alvvays. It’s a bright and bouncy song siloed in warp speed, layers of riffs and a constant pounding like someone running faster and faster from the world.

#2, “The Shade” by Rex Orange County (no, he’s British not from the OC) is the catchiest track of the year. His voice, normal, sweet, and real, rings in my ears like the morning tweets of the birds. He’s a talent. I loved last album, and this year’s was a great followup.

Quarters of Change was my favorite new band of the year, hands down. I’m surprised “Ms. Dramatic” wasn’t my #1 song. Damn close.

“Karaoke” by Beach Bunny (#4) and “Matilda” by Harry Styles (#6) will probably have the most future nostalgia. These were my two favorite songs by my little girl. Good taste!

“Gone Girl” seemed big, rhythmic, catchy, and a spotlight of her vocals (which I was less than thrilled to see lip-synched on SNL), but I could have put one of many others from SZA’s new album in this #6 spot, the album was that good.

People talked a lot about MUNA’s new album but not enough about their feature on The Knocks “Bodies” (#7).

Let’s talk Remi Wolf, whose “wyd” (#8) is one of two LIVE recordings that made the playlist. Impressive when you hear how much she wails. Also, Remi spits the verse of the year with her flow and cadence:

All these little bitches telling me what to do /
They really gettin’ me hot /
I got a bone to pick /
Ain’t got a bone to lick

I’m not surprised Beyonce (#9) is so high on this list, she may be the biggest and most talented pop star since Michael Jackson. Speaking of pop stars, Taylor Swift’s “Anti-hero” (#27) and Charli XCX “Yuck” (#36) cracked the list.

Should “Call from You” by Anxious (#14) have been higher? I LOVE this song. It’a a mix of everything I loved from the emo / screamo bands of my youth: The Used, Thursday, New Found Glory, The Deftones, and so on. There’s a fine balance of rock. rhythm, and melody that bands have to take when screaming in parts of the song. Well, Anxious, you did it.

Do you know who Djo is? Listen to “Change” (#18) and then do some quick research. Yeah, that’s Steve lol.

Artist whose popularity exploded this year? Fred again…I’ve never really been into electronic music, but his music gets me (#22 and #52). Same with Swedish House Mafia (#58).

Breakout artist of the year? JVKE. Yeah, he’s a knockoff Post Malone. But he’s melding classical music in a way that Post doesn’t. It’s alluring. Check out “this is what heartbreak feels like” (#24) and Jungle’s remix of “golden hour” (#40).

Compared to most years, this year does not have many rap songs. I just wasn’t captivated by much. But JID (#41) still showed up to show he’s a lyrical switchblade, quick, sharp, and quick. Coast Contra (#16) is another groups I’ve been digging.

Speaking of rap, how good is “Mirrors” (#16)? Maybe it’s nostalgia since it sounds like a Kanye (and did you notice the intentionally ripped flow from Kanye in a verse?) beat rapped by a 90s group in their prime.

It was a good year in music. Not great. Not even close. But good is good.

Top 100 Songs of 2021

After listening to 62,510 minutes of music, 1,377 Artists, and 149 genres, I’ve digested a lot of tunes in 2021! There are so many different sounds and styles to this year’s playlist, it may be the most eclectic mix yet! We have a West African artist (Falle Nioke), a Turkish band with all sorts of influences (Altin Gun), a rock band in Niger (Mdou Moctar), a rapper from Chattanooga, Tennessee (Isaiah Rashad), an indie band from Minneapolis (Hippo Campus), masters in electronic music from across the pond in England (Disclosure), one of the more consistent electro-pop bands out there from Scotland (Chvrches), the best rock band I’ve heard in years, hailing from Baltimore (Turnstile), and so many more!

There’s rap, rock, soul, ballads, electro-pop, electronic, spoken word, funk, and who knows what other “genres” Spotify might class these songs as.

Nonetheless, there’s something for everybody, and hopefully a ton of new music* to discover.

*If you really like a song, check to see if that artist’s album is on my Top 25 Albums of 2021, and that’s a good indicator it’s a great album :)

Top 25 Albums of 2021

In mid-December, I stumbled upon an album that blew me away. One of those mesmerizing albums to listen over and over. I won’t forget where I was listening to this, when, and it’s impact on me. The band is Turnstile. The album is their third, GLOW ON.

Turnstile isn’t a rock band, they’re not hardcore, they’re not 90s grunge, they’re not punk, they’re not screamo. They’re an amalgamation of the best of all of these genres being played at the perfect times during songs. It’s raw and unique, influenced by previous generations, yet no one has made music like this.

Each band member’s instrument stands out on so many tracks. And the sounds, lyrics, and emotion explain the rest.

This is an album for you to experience. It’s for the opener, “MYSTERY” to blast off your speaker doors. It’s for the cowbell to break down on “BLACKOUT” and the piano to explain on “DON’T PLAY.” It’s a relaxing state of calm on “ALIEN LOVE CALL” amidst the surrounding chaos, culminated in the massive mosh pit that is “T.L.C.”

And only after the album ends to you fully exhale…

As for the other 24 albums, Isaiah Rashad’s The House Is Burning, his third album, continues to astound me. His music is on his terms. There are songs that people unfamiliar with Rashad would scoff at because it doesn’t sound like it’s supposed to, but those are the true artists you have to pay attention to. The more time you spend with all of Isaiah Rashad’s three albums, the more you’ll fall in love.

Speaking of falling in love, Faye Webster is a gem. Her low-key, maximum chill albums are meant for sunsets with your feet up. Her music is epitome of “state of mind” music where it just relaxes me. She’s not catchy, no songs get stuck in my head, but I’m always coming back.

Vince Staples self-titled album comes in at #4. It’s my favorite album he’s released in a discography with great quality control. Like Rashad, Staples is underrated (though not nearly as ignored by critics as Rashad) because of his lack of “hits” and “star power,” yet that’s his exact strength. He is who he is. He makes the music to express himself, nothing more, nothing less.

Staples’ 2021 album is melancholy and trauma. On first rep, the album sounds chill, but digging deeper it’s haunting. Staples is lonely and in a dark place. He can’t escape (mentally or physically) his hometown of Longbeach, CA, where his traumatic past of murder, gangs, guns, and survival still ring inside his head today.

As always, the artist says it the best:

Fuck a friend, I don't want no friends with no open hands (Fuck 'em)
Count my bands, all alone at home, don't you call my phone (Fuck 'em)
Everyone that I've ever known asked me for a loan
- “Law of Averages”

When I see my fans, I'm too paranoid to shake they hands
Clutching on the blam, don't know if you foe or if you fam
I don't got a plan, I'm just out here thugging 'til the end…
I am tired, tired, over again.
- “Sundown Town”

Don’t get murdered, lil’ niggas out here with no purpose…
It's not what you think
I could be gone in a blink
I don't wanna leave
Yeah, it's not what you thought
We dying broke or live with broken hearts
- “The Shining”

Verse 1
I don't wanna die, but I will for the cause…
I don't wanna rebound, I just wanna sleep sound
Don't wanna dream 'bout the shit I done did
You know these trips come with baggage, been all 'cross this atlas
But keep coming back to this place 'cause they trapped us
I preach what I practice, these streets all I know
And there's no place like home

Verse 2 (The BEST verse on the whole album!)
Yeah, I'm on PCH, going south, blower on the seat
With the windows down, music loud, let 'em hear the beat
When it's quiet out, I hear the sound of those who rest in peace
Tryna drown the violence out, but let 'em say that they want beef
And we riding out, finding out where them niggas be
If they hanging out, lay 'em out, airing out the street
Then it's out the way, out-of-state, please don't tell on me
Don't need no more felonies, all these broken memories
I be solo dolo, never know who working with police
When I hit the set, it's loaded; I don't know who envy me
I'm the only one who made it out—you remember me?
Is you a frenemy? You plan on killing me? No?

Finally, my #5 Album of 2021 is a veteran, one that was my #16 (criminally underrate by me!) Album in 2017 and #2 Album in 2014, The War on Drugs. It’s a great album yet only their third best album. Check it out.

And some quick hits on the other 20:

• The Deafheaven album is a must-listen if you enjoyed “Great Mass of Color”

• The Floating Points album is the only instrumental album this year. Great study music.

• CHVRCHES continues to put good music out.

• Black Country, New Road is for a very specific crowd, but it was one of the most unique albums I heard this year.

• Arlo Parks has been hailed by every critic for this album, rightly so. It’s worth checking out.

• Lute is a rapper who tells it like it is and sounds like he means it. I loved this album, and there are so many great features (like JID, Little Brother, Saba, and Cozz) on it.

• Big Red Machine is a super duo (Justin Vernon and The National’s Aaron Dessener) who got a ridiculous amount of performers (Taylor Swift, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes, and Sharon Van Etten), and the album is very mellow. A great weekend play.

• Benny the Butcher is one of my favorite new rappers out there. He’s “drug rap” which isn’t everyone’s thing, but the man played the game to get to this point and tells the tales.

• Parquet Courts keeps making their unique blend of rock sound compelling.

• Little Simz should probably be higher, she’s a phenomenal MC, lyricist, and storyteller. This album was on all the big publications’ year end lists.

• Speaking of artists on big publications lists, Tyler, the Creator’s album this year was rated as the best album or in the top five by a number of the most noteworthy publications. I did not feel their love of the album nearly as much, but the album is great from front to back, and no one sounds like Tyler.

• Last one I’ll mention is Doja Cat. I seem to have one album on the pop spectrum every year (last year, it was Dua Lipa), and this album is ridiculous entertaining, upbeat, and enjoyable. She’s a great performer and rapper. I listened to this album all the way through and was wowed.

That’s it for the year of 2021! Thank goodness. But at least we had music. Here’s to 2022!

Top 25 Albums of 2020

1. Taylor Swift - folklore

2. BENEE - Hey u x

3. Mac Miller - Circles

4. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush

5. Beach Bunny - Honeymoon

6. Run the Jewels - RTJ4

7. Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension

8. Fleet Foxes - Shore

9. SAULT - Untitled (Rise)

10. HAIM - Women In Music Pt. III

11. Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia

12. Georgia - Seeking Thrills

13. Glass Animals - Dreamland

14. Delta Spirit - What Is There

15. Caribou - Suddenly

16. Amine - Limbo

17. Marlowe - Marlowe 2

18. Samia - The Baby

19. The Neighbourhood - Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones

20. Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters

21. Statik Selektah - The Balancing Act

22. Kota the Friend - EVERYTHING

23. Dogleg - Melee

24. 21 Savage & Metro Boomin - SAVAGE MODE II

25. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Sideways to New Italy

Top 100 Songs of 2020

1. Video Game – Sufjan Stevens

2. WHATS POPPIN – Jack Harlow

3. Supalonely (feat. Gus Dapperton) – BENEE

4. august – Taylor Swift

5. Blue World – Mac Miller

6. Your Love (Déjà Vu) – Glass Animals

7. Is It True – Tame Impala

8. The Wheel – SOHN, Metropole Orkest

9. Pretty Please – Dua Lipa

10. Cherry Flavoured – The Neighbourhood

11. Promises – Beach Bunny

12. Gamesofluck - Parcels

13. ooh la la (feat. Greg Nice & DJ Premier) – Run The Jewels

14. Kool – BENEE

15. Everybody – Mac Miller

16. Light One Write One – Elzhi

17. Can I Believe You – Fleet Foxes

18. Joy Of My Life – Chris Stapleton

19. Borderline – Tame Impala

20. the last great american dynasty – Taylor Swift

21. SMELLS LIKE INCENSE – Jack Harlow

22. Woodlawn – Aminé

23. The Good Ones – Widowspeak

24. People, I've been sad – Christine and the Queens

25. Edge of Town – Middle Kids

26. Tangerine – Glass Animals

27. Santos Party House – Smoke DZA, Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, Big K.R.I.T., Girl Talk

28. Eugene – Arlo Parks

29. Starting Over – Chris Stapleton

30. Kawasaki Backflip – Dogleg

31. Hammond Song – Whitney

32. Sunblind – Fleet Foxes

33. The Things We Do – Foster The People

34. Better Distractions – Faye Webster

35. If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know) – The 1975

36. April – Beach Bunny

37. Don't Wanna – HAIM

38. Déjá Vu – The Dead Tongues

39. I Don't Belong – Fontaines D.C.

40. 17 – Pink Sweat$

41. Laugh Now Cry Later (feat. Lil Durk) – Drake

42. Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat – Del Water Gap

43. I Feel High – Poolside, Ben Browning

44. Rich Nigga Shit (feat. Young Thug) – 21 Savage, Metro Boomin, Young Thug

45. Nebraska Dreams – Joshua Lee Turner

46. Making Sense – Delta Spirit

47. Landslide – Sufjan Stevens

48. Small Business – Marlowe, L'Orange, Solemn Brigham

49. Keep It Moving (feat. Nas, Joey Bada$$, & Gary Clark Jr.) – Statik Selektah

50. Minnesota – Samia

51. Afterthought – Joji, BENEE

52. Started Out – Georgia

53. I Know The End – Phoebe Bridgers

54. The Climb Back – J. Cole

55. Rare Air – Mildlife

56. Shiva (with JID & EARTHGANG feat. Benji. & Jurdan Bryant) – Spillage Village

57. Yesterday – Dan Croll

58. FEDS – Nick Grant, Tae Beast

59. Hit Different – SZA, The Neptunes, Pharrell Williams, Ty Dolla $ign

60. Mr. Man & K.i.D – KYLE

61. Give It To Me – Pink Sweat$

62. Swimming Pool – Eliza & The Delusionals

63. Real Love Song – Nothing But Thieves

64. Savage Remix (feat. Beyoncé) – Megan Thee Stallion

65. out of sight (feat. 2 Chainz) – Run The Jewels

66. Drifter – Tree Theater

67. Feel You – My Morning Jacket

68. Introduction – Joshua Lee Turner

69. Preach Honest – Marlowe, L'Orange, Solemn Brigham

70. Graceless Kids – Best Coast

71. anywhere – Jonah Yano

72. Windows Cry – REASON

73. VERY ALONE – Zaia

74. Dionne (feat. Justin Vernon) – The Japanese House

75. Extinct – REASON, Isaiah Rashad, JID

76. Underneath – Public Practice

77. Lo Mein – Lil Uzi Vert

78. Moments / Tides – Goth Babe

79. RIP Luv – 21 Savage, Metro Boomin

80. Falling Thunder – Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

81. Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You) – Bombay Bicycle Club

82. She Knows This – Kid Cudi

83. OK – Wallows

84. And It's Still Alright – Nathaniel Rateliff

85. Cuba – Theophilus London

86. Sign – Roosevelt

87. Black Habits I (feat. Jackie Gouché) – D Smoke

88. Canyonheart – Israel Nash

89. Thank God I Made It (feat. Queen Naija) – Benny The Butcher

90. Every Tradition – Bully

91. Opaline – Jeff Tweedy

92. Mustang – Bartees Strange

93. B.Q.E – Kota the Friend, Joey Bada$$, Bas

94. honey – boy pablo

95. Bluebird – Gus Dapperton

96. Fits – Do Nothing

97. Life – Dom Kennedy, 24hrs, Casey Veggies

98. anything – Adrianne Lenker

99. Lifetime – Romy

100. King – Ark Patrol