My Favorite Albums, 2022
Counting down my 100 favorites of the year gone by
The list that garners reactions such as “you really ranked 100 albums?” and “my album should have been on this” every year is finally here. I listened to 610 new albums in 2022, these were my favorites. As usual, most of these albums could move up or down handful of spots depending on the day, but these are all my favorite albums in their (general) right spot.
Made a playlist with all the songs in this post (one for every album) here!
My Favorite Albums, 2022
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY
The last album new album I listened to before starting on the list was SZA’s, released on December 9th, 2022. Anything released after (Little Simz, Ab-Soul, etc) wasn’t taken into consideration (will be for next year's list). Albums released in mid to late December of 2021 (after I had already started putting together my albums list for that year) were considered for this list.
100. MOSQUITO - LYZZA
Genres: Electronic, Dance
Recommended For Fans Of: M.I.A., Shygirl, LOLAWOLF, Metaverse club music
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
This sounds like the music the DJ would be playing in a speakeasy club that you can only get into with a virtual reality headset.
99. Sweet Company - Vicky Farewell
Genres: R&B, Indie, Pop, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Kali Uchis, Mac Demarco, Ginger Root, Homeshake, Naruto love songs
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Read my full writeup on this soulfully sweet debut from Vicky Farewell, here!
98. Dance Fever - Florence + the Machine
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock, Anthemic Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Lorde, HAIM, Bleachers, High school English teacher core music
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
An album that’s big, dramatic, and bursting with feeling.
97. Farm To Table - Bartees Strange
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Bruce Springsteen, NNAMDÏ, The War On Drugs, Military brats
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
The DC via everywhere else rocker took a big step forward with this nuanced sophomore album.
96. Drill Music In Zion - Lupe Fiasco
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Jay Electronica, Black Thought, Looking up what lyrics mean on Genius
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Not his best album by any means, but Fiasco puts together a great album (allegedly) in just three days to prove he’s still got it. Inspiration came from the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi – the perfection of imperfection.
95. Nicks and Grazes - Palm
Genres: Alternative, Math Rock, Indie Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Pom Poko, Deerhoof, Animal Collective, Eccentric vibes
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
What band today is utilizing the steel drum like Palm?
94. LOWERSELF - DavidTheTragic
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Rage, Soundcloud Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Playboi Carti, Destroy Lonely, 454, ALL CAPS SONG TITLES
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
The Atlanta rapper proves himself on his first project since a big Kenny Mason cosign.
93. The Funk Will Prevail - Kaelin Ellis
Genres: Funk, Soul, Dance, Hip-Hop, Electronic, Instrumental
Recommended For Fans Of: CARRTOONS, The Kount, Knxwledge, Chill instrumentals to study and relax to
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Kaelin Ellis is funky without forcing it, as he pulls out all the stops and flexes all his chops with this dynamic project.
92. LP3 - Hippo Campus
Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Glass Animals, COIN, Grouplove, Straight to the point album titles
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
The band leans more into anthems and sunny pop while still maintaining their signature style.
91. Superstar - Mall Girl
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock, Math Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Pom Poko, NNAMDÏ, Deerhoof, The Beths, Norwegian rock
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Read my May writeup on this eclectic debut here!
90. The Loneliest Time - Carly Rae Jepsen
Genres: Pop, Synth Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: MUNA, The Aces, Magdalena Bay, Continued ‘Call Me Maybe’ redemption arcs
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
Am I going to get assassinated if I suggest this was the best pop album released the day Midnights came out?
89. SID THE KID - Deaton Chris Anthony
Genres: Electronic, Hyperpop, Noise Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Oliver Tree, Jane Remover, Cowgirl Clue, Knockoff NBA logos
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Deaton Chris Anthony formally invites everyone into the strange, loud, and endlessly entertaining world of SID THE KID.
88. Diaspora Problems - Soul Glo
Genres: Hardcore, Punk, Noise-Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Show Me The Body, Backxwash, Bad Brains, Zulu, Hardcore but make it Ska (sometimes)
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Read my March writeup on one of the most disruptive hardcore releases of the year, here!
87. Grow Your Hair Long If You’re Wanting To See Something That You Can Change - Field Medic
Genres: Folk, Alternative, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Slaughter Beach Dog, Elvis Depressedly, Wondering what music an emo Bob Dylan would make
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; Field Medic is just Bob Dylan if he had access MySpace and Tumblr in his formative years. Sobriety sounds good on him with one of his most reflective projects yet.
86. Air Guitar - Sobs
Genres: Alternative, Indie, Bedroom Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Kero Kero Bonito, Weezer, Superorganism, Gwen Stefani covers
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Read my writeup on the kaleidoscope of influence the band from Singapore looks through on their second album, here!
85. Aethiopes - Billy Woods
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Underground Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Boldy James, Denmark Vessey, Quelle Chris, Listening diligently to every word of a bar
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Woods continues to push his case as the king of the underground.
84. A Light For Attracting Attention - The Smile
Genres: Alternative, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Black Country New Road, Destroyer, Radiohead two and a half
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
It doesn’t hit the lofty ambitions a post-Radiohead Thom Yorke project sets, but what project ever could really?
83. Broken Hearts Club - Syd
Genres: R&B, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Ravyn Lenae, Fans Hues, Kehlani, The Internet band members that didn’t get TikTokified
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
The long awaited followup to Fin delivered a plethora of slow burning R&B jams.
82. 10 - Westside Gunn
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Griselda, Fly Anakin, BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
The most unique voice in Griselda delivers one of their best projects of the year.
81. Devil for the Fire - Vundabar
Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Hippo Campus, Surf Curse, Throwing your eight year old song that TikTok made a hit onto another album 4 da streamz :P
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Vundabar songs kind of creep up on me, like I don’t always think much of them on my first listen, but will catch the songs in my head weeks later and have to go back to them. This album is no exception.
80. Running In Waves - George Riley
Genres: R&B, Electronic, Soul, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: John Glacier, Nia Archives, Dreamcastmoe
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Riley’s second project sets her up as a major artist to watch in the electronic influenced R&B field.
79. Skinty Fia - Fontaines D.C.
Genres: Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Sports Team, Shame, IDLES, Prominent Irish accents
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Their 2020 album A Hero’s Death gained my attention (along with many other fans across the States), and now they’ve went and topped that.
78. Forgiveness - Girlpool
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Ian Sweet, Cherry Glazerr, LaLa LaLa, Finale projects
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
The ever evolving duo goes out strong on what will likely be their final album.
77. DECIDE - Djo
Genres: Rock, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Her’s, Crumb, When Daft Punk worked with Julian Casablancas
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
A few more releases this good and people might start calling him the guy from Djo instead of the guy from Stranger Things.
76. Killing Nothing - Boldy James & Real Bad Man
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Underground Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Griselda, Billy Woods, Quality and quantity
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Consider this a placement for all the great output from Boldy James in 2022, with this album being my favorite (though Fair Exchange No Robbery comes very close)
75. And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow - Weyes Blood
Genres: Alternative, Singer-Songwriter, Folk Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: The Carpenters, Angel Olsen, Jenny Hval, Buddhist anthems
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
The 2nd of what Weyes Blood calls a three album trilogy, And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow offers hope in places it’s hard to find.
74. Wet Leg - Wet Leg
Genres: Post-Punk, Alternative, Indie Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Dry Cleaning, Cheekface, Horsegirl, Dry British humor
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Jeering tongue in cheek lyrics collide with raucous post-punk riffs on this lively debut from Wet Leg.
73. Guitar Music - Courting
Genres: Post-Punk, Rock, Punk, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Sports Team, Eades, Squid, Music with guitars in it
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Maybe Guitar Music will do for rock music what Pop 2 did for pop music.
72. FAST TRAX 3 - 454
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Babyxsosa, 24hrs, Bear1Boss, Florida man music
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
454 does it all on this self rapped, produced, and mixed one of a kind project.
71. Magic Hour - Surf Curse
Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Vundabar, Beach Goons, Indie movie main character music
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
An old track blowing up on TikTok (sensing a theme here?) doesn’t phase Surf Curse as they stick to what they do best.
70. Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To the Sky - Porridge Radio
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: English Teacher, Dry Cleaning, Black Country New Road, Repeating lyrics to make you feel them harder
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
A beautiful continuation of everything I loved about 2020’s Every Bad.
69. froge.mp3 - Piri & Tommy Villers
Genres: Garage, Dance, Electronic, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: PinkPantheress, Fred Again…, Shygirl, Big frogs
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Con: They’re not exactly doing anything PinkPantheress isn’t already doing better. Pro: They’re still really good at everything they’re doing.
68. Surrender - Maggie Rogers
Genres: Pop, Indie Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: King Princess, Taylor Swift, Betty Who, NYU core pop
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Getting a Masters of Religion and Public Life from Harvard never felt more relatable.
67. Remember Your North Star - Yaya Bey
Genres: R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop/Rap, Jazz
Recommended For Fans Of: Liv.e, KeiyaA, Amindi, Long tracklists with short runtimes
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Yaya Bey spans R&B, soul, jazz, rap and more on this all encompassing project.
66. Household Name - Momma
Genres: Grunge, Alternative, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Wednesday, Slow Pulp, Enumclaw, Pretending it’s the 90s
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Momma is pushing themselves to the forefront of grunge rock revival.
65. I Can’t Wait - TiaCorine
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Soundcloud Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Hook, Babyxsosa, Bootychaaain, Paris Hilton namedrops
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Proves she can rap on a wide range of beats, showcasing versatility and having a blast doing it.
64. Impostor Syndrome - AG Club
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Brockhampton, BLACKSTARKIDS, Remembering when Odd Future was a thing
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Another album that put versatility on display, AG Club showed me a lot with this one.
63. Shape Up - Leikeli47
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Club
Recommended For Fans Of: Azealia Banks, Tkay Maidza, Cardi B, Voguing to rap songs
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Leikeli47 delivers a project full of bass heavy and club ready bangers.
62. The Parts I Dread - Pictoria Vark
Genres: Indie, Rock, Alternative, DIY
Recommended For Fans Of: Courtney Barnett, Soccer Mommy, Snail Mail, Bass Guitar booty shorts
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Read my writeup on this dreadfully self-aware debut, here!
61. demon time - Mura Masa
Genres: Dance, Pop, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Whethan, Calvin Harris, Shygirl, AlunaGeorge, Finding new artists to listen to on albums with lots of features
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
In something of a bounce back album, Mura Masa reminds everyone that he’s a producer who can craft fun and cohesive projects of his own.
60. misery - EKKSTACY
Genres: Grunge, Surf, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: The Drums, Pity Party, Yot Club, Being depressed
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
EKKSTACY sounds like if Lil Peep was frontman for The Drums and that’s awesome.
59. Laughing so Hard, it Hurts - MAVI
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: MIKE, Navy Blue, Earl Sweatshirt, Ducking the sophomore slump
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
When The Sun Talks was no fluke (as if there was any doubt), MAVI is one of the best young lyricists we’ve got.
58. Love Me Forever - Pinkshift
Genres: Punk, Rock, Power Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Meet Me @ The Alter, Vial, Pool Kids, Telling your therapist on people
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
A thunderous debut from one of my favorite young bands in rock right now.
57. Bad Influence - Ojerime
Genres: R&B, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Kelela, Erika de Casier, George Riley, Short albums
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
Another dark, hypnotic R&B project from Ojerime.
56. Muna - Muna
Genres: Synth Pop, Indie Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Pale Waves, The Aces, Claud, The Phoebe Bridgers cinematic universe
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Life is so fun on the self-titled (and first since being freed from RCA) album by MUNA.
55. Nymph - Shygirl
Genres: Electronic, Dance, R&B
Recommended For Fans Of: LYZZA, Kilo Kish, COBRAH, Eartheater, Being shy but authentic
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Sexy club pop bangers on an eclectic debut that also comprises rap, UK garage, folktronica, and Eurodance.
54. ALMETHA’S SON - SwaVay
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: JID, IDK, Deante Hitchcock, When James Blake works with rappers
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Feels like an arrival album for SwaVay, who sounds hungry as hell on this.
53. I Love To Lie - Lowertown
Genres: Alternative, Grunge, 90s rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Pretty Sick, Bully, Lying
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Lowertown spews love, hate, nonsense, and everything else on their grimy new project.
52. I Love You Jennifer B - Jockstrap
Genres: Electronic, Art Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Spelling, black midi, Weird noises turned into songs
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
The offspring of producer Taylor Skye and Black Country New Road member Georgia Ellery is as strange, abstract, sophisticated, and entertaining as you might expect.
51. Sick! - Earl Sweatshirt
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: MAVI, MIKE, Billy Woods, Earl projects that don’t have EAST on them
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Earl Sweatshirt is deep in his bag with his latest collection of raps featuring Zelooperz and Armand Hammer.
50. Reflexions - Tony Shhnow
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Cloud Rap, Plugg
Recommended For Fans Of: Zelooperz, Zack Fox, Duwap Kaine, Artists that release all the time
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Tony Shhnow had a breakout year, and is pacing himself to be a force for years to come.
49. Subaru Boys: FINAL HEAVEN - Cruel Santino
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Dancehall, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Odunsi (the Engine), Sarz, Amaarae, Concept albums
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Cruel Santino pulls a wide variety of features on his first album since 2019.
48. Three Dimensions Deep - Amber Mark
Genres: R&B, Soul, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Raveena, Kehlani, Ama Lou, Using music as a replacement for therapy
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
The long awaited debut album shows Amber Mark at her best yet.
47. Giving The World Away - Hatchie
Genres: Dream Pop, Rock, Alternative, Synth Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Fazerdaze, Alvvays, Japanese Breakfast, Music from down under
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Hatchie continues her run of synth pop rock dominance.
46. It Was A Home - KAINA
Genres: R&B, Indie, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Sen Morimoto, Raveena, Thanya Iyer, Cozy core music
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
The Chicago singer reflects inward on what really makes home and community with her excellent sophomore album.
45. Ramona Park Broke My Heart - Vince Staples
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Isaiah Rashad, Jay Rock, Earl Sweatshirt, Rappers with Netflix deals
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
I still don’t love all of this project, but there’s plenty of Vince at his best on here. In the end, the good heavily outweighs the bad.
44. Amor Hardcore - Isabella Lovestory
Genres: Reggaeton, Electronic, Hip-Hop
Recommended For Fans Of: La Goony Chonga, Ms Nina, COUCOU CHLOE, Needing a new artist to Stan
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Amor Hardcore is easily one of the hardest albums I heard all year, good God.
43. Crunkstar - Duke Deuce
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Crunk
Recommended For Fans Of: Juicy J, Peewee Longway, Doe Boy, Dance circles
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
WHAT THE FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
42. Wasteland - Brent Faiyaz
Genres: R&B
Recommended For Fans Of: PARTYNEXTDOOR, dvsn, Daniel Caesar, Toxicity
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Feel like the skits were definitely not necessary (as I skip them with a swiftness every time), but the songs are good enough to make up for that.
41. Expert In A Dying Field - The Beths
Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Remember Sports, illuminati hotties, Courtney Barnett, Kiwis
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
The Beths have been a model of consistency and quality since their debut broke out in 2018, no exception here.
40. age/sex/location - Ari Lennox
Genres: R&B, Soul
Recommended For Fans Of: Summer Walker, Snoh Aalegra, Mereba, Hating the dating scene
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Ari Lennox gets sultry and flexes her vocals on this worthy successor to 2019’s Shea Butter Baby.
39. 4NEM - Chief Keef
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Lil Durk, Fat Trel, Young Nudy, Glo Gang Worldwide
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
With nothing left to possibly prove, Keef drops a project to remind everyone why he was the blueprint for a whole generation of rappers.
38. <COPINGMECHANISM> - WILLOW
Genres: Rock, Punk, Emo
Recommended For Fans Of: Meet Me @ The Alter, Pinkshift, Pale Waves, Screaming out your problems
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Releasing a great album so your fans might forget about your MGK collab >>>
37. Her Loss - Drake & 21 Savage
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Drake, 21 Savage, A palette cleanser from Honestly Nevermind
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
This feels like Drake desperately throwing everything at the wall to make the people that hated Honestly Nevermind (raising hand emoji) forget it also came out this year. Not all of it hits (like that terrible Meg line), but a lot of it does. His best project since More Life.
36. Crash - Charli XCX
Genres: Pop, Dance, Club
Recommended For Fans Of: Carly Rae Jepsen, Rina Sawayama, Allie X, Lorde
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Entering her sell out era better than most could, it’s Charli baby.
35. Un Verano Sin Ti - Bad Bunny
Genres: Latin, Reggaeton, Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Ozuna, Karol G, J Balvin, Making Money
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Truly the album heard ‘round the world.
34. Luv 4 Rent - Smino
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Saba, Reggie, Tobi Lou, St. Louis accents
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Smino continues pushing his unique and high quality brand of warm neo-soul raps.
33. Please Have a Seat - NNAMDÏ
Genres: Alternative, Indie, Hip-Hop/Rap, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Palm, Spirit of the Beehive, Sen Morimoto, Luke Titus, Artists that can do any genre
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
NNAMDÏ pushes the boundaries of his sound even further (which is really saying something) on his latest and greatest album.
32. EA Monster - Young Nudy
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Pi’erre Bourne, Valee, Ken Carson, Adventure Time trap
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
The trap rapper with an oddball sound is one of the most consistent out right now.
31. Natural Brown Prom Queen - Sudan Archives
Genres: R&B, Soul, Neo-Soul
Recommended For Fans Of: Solange, Yaya Bey, Kadhja Bonet, Full package artists
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
The singer, songwriter, and violinist made a major statement with her new album.
30. Mahal - Toro y Moi
Genres: Indie, Alternative, Psychedelic
Recommended For Fans Of: Washed Out, Blood Orange, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Vibes
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Welcome to MAHAL. Take your shoes off, stay a while.
29. Melt My Eyez See Your Future - Denzel Curry
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: JID, Earthgang, Flatbush Zombies, Robert Glasper features
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Curry opts for lyrics over bangers (though this still bangs) on the ambitions Melt My Eyez See Your Future.
28. It’s Almost Dry - Pusha T
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Freddie Gibbs, Vince Staples, The Joker laugh
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Pusha T albums never really miss.
27. American Gurl - Kilo Kish
Genres: Alternative, Art Pop, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: ABRA, Dizzy Fae, Tei Shi, Kelela, The Childish Gambino cinematic universe
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Kish is one of those artists that keeps evolving and getting better with every project.
26. softCORE - Fousheé
Genres: Punk, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Willow, Amindi, Kilo Kish, Simulation theory
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Fousheé channels into old school punk energy for this unexpected but welcomed project.
25. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You - Big Thief
Genres: Indie, Folk Rock, Bluegrass, Country
Recommended For Fans Of: Lomelda, Waxahatchee, Julien Baker, Feeling melancholy
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Big Thief pushes further into bluegrass/country sounds while keeping their own spin on it all.
24. Asha’s Awakening - Raveena
Genres: R&B
Recommended For Fans Of: Thanya Iyer, Kaina, Amber Mark, Meditation tracks
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Beautiful meditations, reflections, and self-love from Raveena on Asha’s Awakening.
23. SOS - SZA
Genres: R&B, Soul, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: H.E.R, Jorja Smith, Kali Uchis, Lying
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Probably would be ranking this higher if I’d gotten more time with it in 2022.
22. Blue Rev - Alvvays
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock, Shoegaze
Recommended For Fans Of: Slow Pulp, Fazerdaze, Hatchie, Reverb
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
This is a fantastic album (don’t get me wrong), but I feel like the hype around it on every publication’s lists has to be partially attributed to voter’s remorse that they didn’t show Antisocialites this same love. Right?
21. Miss Power - Connie Constance
Genres: Indie Pop, Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Lava La Rue, Nilüfer Yanya, Arlo Parks, Floating like a feather
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
It’s very impressive how she can balance indie pop tracks with more hardcore cuts, and also pull back to very vulnerable songs like Yuck.
20. The Forever Story - JID
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Kendrick Lamar, Kenny Mason, Denzel Curry, The college football player to rapper pipeline
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
JID rises to the occasion, and hits it out of the park on his biggest album yet.
19. Las Ruinas - Rico Nasty
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Flo Milli, Doja Cat, Bbymutha, Sugar trap
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
It’s crazy how Rico has so many great projects out at this point and none of them sound like each other.
18. Sometimes, Forever - Soccer Mommy
Genres: Indie, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Lucy Dacus, Snail Mail, Girlpool, Chill but kinda sad
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Of all the bands that debuted in the indie rock boom around 2017-18, Soccer Mommy’s sound is one that has grown and matured the most. Here she enlists producer Oneohtrix Point Never for Sometimes, Forever.
17. God Save the Animals - Alex G
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock, Folk Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Florist, Field Medic, Hovvdy, duster, Lice concert scares
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Every time I feel like Alex G has released his best album, he puts out another one that makes me second guess.
16. Being Funny In A Foreign Language - The 1975
Genres: Alternative, Pop, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Bleachers, The Japanese House, COIN, The never-ending antics of Matty Healy
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Hearing this live every night for the last two months may have influenced my opinion on this a little.
15. Few Good Things - Saba
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: JID, Smino, Noname, Fousheé’s 2022 feature run
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
More than a few good things about Saba’s latest, the thought and care he puts into his projects is evident.
14. RUFFS - Kenny Mason
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Paris Texas, Jean Dawson, JID, Deftones, Knowing what you’re gonna be for Halloween
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Mason is still doing some of the best rap/rock hybrid of anyone right now.
13. CHAOS NOW* - Jean Dawson
Genres: Alternative, Punk, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Paris Texas, Kenny Mason, Junior Varsity
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
In addition to one of the craziest albums of 2022, his tour supporting it had one of the rowdiest pits I was in last year.
12. Beatopia - Beabadoobee
Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Snail Mail, Halsey, Jordana, Miso soup
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Beabadoobee expands her sound with her best album to date.
11. Topical Dancer - Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul
Genres: Electronic, Dance, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Ibibio Sound Machine, LCD Soundsystem, Special Interest, Bitingly critical sarcasm
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Social commentary, but make it fun, sophisticated, and danceable.
10. Hypnos - Ravyn Lenae
Genres: R&B, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: Fousheé, Mereba, Joyce Wrice, Syd
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Pretty impressive that a debut I’ve been anticipating since basically 2016 didn’t disappoint in any way.
9. CYBERKISS* - BLACKSTARKIDS
Genres: Hip-hop/Rap, Indie Rock, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: AG Club, Deaton Chris Anthony, Jean Dawson, RXK Nephew
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
They’re going to be mad at me no matter where I put this.
8. Dawn FM - The Weeknd
Genres: Synth Pop, R&B
Recommended For Fans Of: Michael Jackson, Drake, Majid Jordan, Jim Carey
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
It’s like The Weeknd was so mad about the After Hours Grammy disrespect, he went back and said, “how quickly can I make an even better version of that album?”
7. Ivory - Omar Apollo
Genres: R&B, Indie Rock, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Dijon, Steve Lacy, Choker, McDonalds employees making it big
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Even as a big fan I was not expecting an album as polished and complete as this, incredibly impressive project from the young artist.
6. Gemini Rights - Steve Lacy
Genres: R&B, Indie, Funk
Recommended For Fans Of: Thundercat, Prince, SiR, Brent Faiyaz, Geminis
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
The album that exploded Lacy’s already high popularity, and deservedly so.
5. Renaissance - Beyoncé
Genres: Dance, Club, House, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: It’s Beyoncé
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
Somehow both meeting and surpassing the insurmountable amount of hype and expectations that come along with a new Beyoncé album (though we still need some visuals!).
4. Caprisongs - FKA twigs
Genres: R&B, Electronic, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Kelela, ABRA, Eartheater, Shygirl, Capri-Suns
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
FKA twigs is just having fun on this experimental pop tape, and the results are amazing.
3. Painless - Nilüfer Yanya
Genres: Alternative, Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Indigo De Souza, Jay Som, Porridge Radio
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
Came out in February and never fell out of my rotation. Love the way her vocal takes are light, but she layers them until they feel thick/full.
2. MOTOMAMI - ROSALÍA
Genres: Pop, Electronic, Latin, Reggaeton
Recommended For Fans Of: Karol G, J Balvin, Arca, Chewing and staring
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
La Rosalía transcended language and sound with this phenomenal project.
1. Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers - Kendrick Lamar
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: You know if you like Kendrick Lamar or not at this point
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
An intentionally flawed and imperfect album that Kendrick uses to create something that only he could. Maybe one year Kendrick will release an album and it won’t be my favorite of that year, but that year has not arrived yet.