It was another fantastic year of releases from a variety of artists, some familiar and some making their big debut. Check out our list of the Top 30 Albums of the Year!
30. Poliça - Madness - Continuing to show their ingenuity as well as showcasing Channy Leaneagh’s hypnotic vocals, Madness is a great follow-up to their 2020 When We Stay Alive. Sexy, haunting, and beautiful, Madness is anxiety, love, and post-Covid life swirled into a powerful tincture that heightens the senses. One of my top three albums. - Jesse
29. Methyl Ethyl - Are You Haunted? - This album will win best album in Australia and should help draw more attention to this theatric and creative band. Each song has multiple movements, moods, and Jake Webb’s heavy vocals. Also in my top three. - Jesse
28. Brijean - Angelo - This duo and their music is funky, fun, and the perfect blend of cool and nerdy. Their follow-up to Moody, this album shares their vulnerability while keeping you busy on the dance floor. - Jesse
27. black midi - Hellfire - Damn! Give this album a chance. It is militant, angry, and cold, but reread its title, Hellfire. However, it is also a blend a many different styles, orchestrated madness at its best. - Jesse
26. Peach Pit - From 2 to 3 - Peach Pit came back with their third record From 2 to 3 and continued to produce. The Vancouver four-piece also toured the country with pretty great success as well. While From 2 to 3 might not be as strong as its predecessors, it’s still a worthwhile successor. - Michael
25. The Wombats - Fix Yourself, Not the World - Not unlike Spoon and their release of Lucifer on the Sofa, The Wombats are a band that has been around for awhile but brought new great energy to Fix Yourself, Not the World. All the songs are catchy, and “Method to the Madness” is one of the best of the year, just wait for that change. - Jesse
24. Sault - 11 and Today & Tomorrow - These two albums are stand-outs from the SIX ALBUMS that Sault released this year!!! Prolific and relevant, they reached out to the alt-soul and alt-rock fans with 11 and Today & Tomorrow. Funky and dancy, Sault will hit you with true life. - Jesse
23. Surprise Chef - Education & Recreation - An Australian jazz-funk band that has been on my radar for a little while, Surprise Chef took their music to another level with Education & Recreation. (A great music trend of 2022.) This is an album that fits perfectly into the soundtrack of my life. - Jesse
22. Khruangbin & Leon Bridges - Texas Moon - The sequel EP to the duo’s Texas Sun - it complements the former so well and I love the two-part format. - Anna
21. Orion Sun - Getaway - This EP is smooth like butter, no surprise coming from Orion Sun as she knocks it out of the park again. - Anna
20. Dry Cleaning - Stumpwork - For their second album, Dry Cleaning added the layers of texture that they only hinted at in their minimalist sardonic post-punk debut album, New Long Leg. Experimenting musically without straying too far, Stumpwork shows a band that has learned from the runaway family tortoise, “Gary Ashby.” - Jesse
19. Omar Apollo - Ivory - With hits like “Tamagotchi,” the viral “Evergreen,” “Bad Life” and more, Omar had a strong 2022 complimented by his successful Prototype tour. - Anna
18. 070 Shake - You Can’t Kill Me - One of the industry’s exceptional growing female contemporary rappers Danielle Balbuena made waves with her second full-length album released this year. - Anna
17. Steve Lacy - Gemini Rights - This album gave us the viral hit “Bad Habit” and an accompanied controversial tour. But it also gave us 10 phenomenal tracks that defined 2022 for many. - Anna
16. The 1975 - Being Funny in a Foreign Language - The group’s fifth studio album debuted this year and left no ‘75 fan disappointed. Though its sonic simplicity and minimal tracks stray from their norm, the record proves yet again that this band can do anything and kill it every time. - Anna
15. The Weeknd - Dawn FM - The format of this record was an experimental success by The Weeknd. It’s dark and chilling but draws you in from the start and leaves you wanting more. Petition for Jim Carrey to be on more The Weeknd records! -A
14. Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You - One that is sure to top many lists for Top Albums of the Year, it seems that musically Big Thief can do no wrong. Adrianne Lenker and Co. continue their adventurous indie sound that draws in sonic inspirations from all over. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You is a winner. - Michael
13. Mitski - Laurel Hell - An early entry, dropping in January, Mitki's Laurel Hell had staying power. Intertwining deep themes of relationships and more with 80's dance style rhythms, the album just begs to be danced to. - Michael
12. Weyes Blood - And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow - Weyes Blood's monumental follow-up to Titanic Rising. This November arrival made waves upon impact. Natalie Mering on this album questions today's connectedness of humankind and damn does it hit. - Michael
11. The Black Keys - Dropout Boogie - The Black Keys continue to be one of the best bands out there and continued their massive success with this year’s Dropout Boogie. The album earned the Akron, OH duo nominations for the Grammys this year as well. - Michael
10. Band of Horses - Things Are Great - Band of Horses continued to be one of the most underrated bands in alternative music today and they continued to shine with Things Are Great. They also supported The Black Keys on their massive Dropout Boogie Tour. - Michael
09. Sharon Van Etten - We’ve Been Going About this All Wrong - Sharon Van Etten continued her string of success with her releases of strong albums. She also toured with Angel Olsen and Julien Baker for their ‘The Wild Hearts’ tour that was a massive success. So with a well performing album and a star studded tour under her belt, 2022 was a banner year for Van Etten. - Michael
08. Built to Spill - When the WInd Forgets Your Name - Recent signees to one of our favorite labels, Seattle-based Sub Pop Records. Indie rock vets Built to Spill hit it hard in 2022 with the release of When the Wind Forgets Your Name and a tireless touring schedule. We look forward to more from one of our all-time favorites. - Michael
07. Father John Misty - Chloë and the Next 20th Century - One of the best songwriters in alt music today returned with his latest entry into his discography, Chloë and the Next 20th Century. Father John Misty made a lot of interesting choices on the album, particularly with instrumentation as there was nary an electric guitar to be found. Instead FJM focused on noir-Hollywood orchestral arrangements for the melodies of this effort with great success. - Michael
06. Maggie Rogers - Surrender - Maggie Rogers returned with her follow-up to her 2019 album Heard it in a Past Life with the infinitely more pop focused Surrender. She had a number of singles including “Want Want” and “That’s Where I Am” that tracked well this year and she is currently lighting up the tour scene. - Michael
05. Soccer Mommy - Sometimes, Forever - Soccer Mommy returned with her follow-up to 2020’s Color Theory titled Sometimes, Forever. It marked another strong entry into Sophie Allison’s discography and her third album overall. She’s among the strongest songwriters in alt music today. - Michael
04. The Smile - A Light for Attracting Attention - A collection of post-punk jazz alt-rock fusion, this concept album stands on its own. However, the A Light for Attracting Attention Tour has become a display what these amazing musicians can do live and how they continue to challenge themselves musically. Absolutely brilliant. - Jesse
03. Florence + The Machine - Dance Fever - This might be my album of the year. Florence poured her heart out on every track, unraveling her vulnerability and struggle to identify her dual self as an artist and woman. Produced by Jack Antonoff, this one's a f*cking masterpiece. - Anna
02. Spoon - Lucifer on the Sofa - Catchy rhythms, on-point lyrics, and the humorous while also humanist attitude of album reflect the great energy of Spoon. Although it was released early in the year, its companion album, Lucifer on the Moon, and Spoon’s heavy touring schedule helped keep this as my pick for Album of the Year. - Jesse
01. Wet Leg - Wet Leg - Perhaps the debut of the year, the indie rock group from the Isle of Wight made waves with their 2022 self-titled release. Their singles included “Chaise Lounge”, “Wet Dream”, and “Ur Mum”, though if you take it from us the whole damn album is a banger. - Michael
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