Well, Hello. It’s that time again. The most painful and rewarding process. This year I listened to far less music than I typically do. Still, Spotify said that I listened to over 1,500 (!) different artists this year. That's wild. Listening to music isn't necessarily a productive habit, but for me, its impact on my overall well-being is hard to define. A good song can do more for me than most medical remedies. It opens my mind to different genres and artists. Things I never thought I would enjoy. A good song that fits just right is one of the greatest feelings. Those types of moments are rare - especially with the volume of artists I listen to. But when it does happen, it's like nothing else in life. It makes me want to spontaneously dance my ass off - as awkward as it may look. That's what always draws me back. The pursuit of that feeling. The pursuit of finding the perfect song. Finding that perfect album. The pursuit of finding that new artist that can change everything. Then share that with the people around me. This year I found some of those artists. Here’s a glimpse into the best albums I listened to in 2022:
Top albums of 2022
Julia Jacklin - PRE PLEASURE
Oh, Julia. I’d like anything you put out. Maybe it’s from that show at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC. I brought my wife - who was my girlfriend at the time. We were standing on a platform above the crowd, nestled in the back of the venue. The entire show, Julia Jacklin just stared at me. Now, she could have been just generally looking in my direction. She could have been staring at something on the wall or just looking into the distance. But, it looked like she was eye fucking me a bit - my wife agreed and half-forced us to leave early. Sometimes I close my eyes and dream about what my life would be like married to an Australian singer. Hmmm. Anyway, this album is similar to Crushing but less upbeat. It’s not for everyone. It’s slow. It has some great strings. It has some guitar - not nearly as much as I would like. It’s filled with incredibly thoughtful, deep lyrics and haunting vocals. You have to be in the right mood. I’m not going around and recommending this album to everyone, but for me, it’s great. One day, Julia, we’ll meet again.
Top Songs:
End Of A Friendship
I Was Neon
Be Careful With Yourself
Love, Try Not To Let Go
Built To Spill - When The Wind Forgets Your Name
This album almost slipped under the radar. Built To Spill was first introduced to me by JT when Untethered Moon came out. I’m a gigantic fan of that album. But, that was 7 years ago - it feels like yesterday. I essentially forgot about Built To Spill. I knew they released a Daniel Johnston covers album in 2020, but I never listened to it. The only reason I listened to this album was through a random playlist created by Spotify. I was working, listening to music in the background, and heard "Spiderwebs" and immediately thought who is this?!. After listening to the full album, I realized I’d almost made a huge mistake. This album starts off with so much voracity. It doesn’t stop. This album feels fast, but not rushed. It’s complex but sounds simple. Great guitar chords and solos. The organs in "Elements" are fantastic. It’s a great top-to-bottom album. No truly disappointing tracks. Just a kick-ass rock album. This is why music is great. There are so many different options and artists. Yet, sometimes the best music is sitting right under your nose. Waiting to be found.
Top Songs:
Spiderweb
Alright
Gonna Lose
Elements
Small Paul - Strangeland
I guess sometimes size really doesn’t matter. This 4 song EP makes my list for the sheer fact that it’s perfect. Would I rather have a band release their full-blown album or release their four to five best songs from the album as an EP? Fuck. They might be onto something here. And that album cover. It’s pure happiness. I can’t get enough of it. "Mountain" is the best opening song on an album - or EP - this year and "Stranger in a Strangeland" is probably the best song to end an album in 2022. That opening sequence in "Mountain" with the slow bass intro is what music is all about. It makes me smile every time I hear it. Add in the guitar solo after the clap and tambourine starts us off - I thought that was the drums until I fucking heard the drums. That’s all I need. It’s a must-listen-to album. It’s an inviting album. It’s literally less than 20 minutes long. I’m down for more EPs. And more bands are made up of other bands.
Top Songs:
Mountain
Soul Sugar
Stranger in a Strangeland
Drugdealer - Hiding in Plain Sight
Pure mother fucking funk. I’ve been waiting for Drugdealer to release an album like this. He’s always been so close - a great song here and there. This one did it for me. Great harmonies. Crazy funk - someone to love is just, wow. It feels like I’ve been transported back in time. Give me the bass. The horns. The vocals. The guitar. God, it’s just great. It’s like all of the 70s in one album. If you need a good pick-me-up, here you go. You can’t be mad listening to this. It’s impossible. Another artist that found their fucking musical bliss. The funkiness is overwhelming. It’s so good. And then the last song on the album. It’s interesting - not something I’m necessarily into. Weird way to end an album after just killing me with funk and perfection. Still, good shit.
Top Songs:
Hard Dreaming Man
Valentine
Pictures of You
The Berries - High Flying Man
I felt The Berries got away from what they do best on Throne of Ivory, which is just rip guitar solos and bring that BDE. They were a bit more mellow which was disappointing. Let me tell you what, they’re back to their old ways. This is an album I could listen to all day, every day. If I could sum up the style of music that I enjoy and listen to the most, this is it. Heavy guitar. Upbeat drums. Unique vocals. Did I mention guitar solos? Amazing build-ups - almost every song starts out with a solid instrumental intro. What better way to start a song than with a guitar solo?! This album is a slam dunk for me. It’s everything I want and love in music. If you enjoy kick-ass music that rocks your face off, this album is for you.
Top Songs:
Exceptional Fabric
Down That Road Again
High Flying Man
Eagle Eye
Choose To Get High
7. Craig Finn - A Legacy of Rentals
- There is no other album on my list like this. It’s the opposite of what I thought I would like. It’s almost like spoken word poetry. It’s one of the best ways I’ve seen someone tell a compelling story. "Messing with the Settings" is pure excellence. It’s the first song on the album about a close friend who dies and he writes her eulogy. It’s beautiful. It has an amazing, complimentary female singer and violin finish. He’s a very compelling and thoughtful storyteller. I’ve never heard anything like it with such a great combination of instruments. The strings. The horns. The harmonies. "The Year We Fell Behind" reminds me of a Bruce Springsteen song. "Never Any Horses" has that solid guitar that I love - the tone is that raspy, jarred version. It’s amazing what you can create when you change that tone. If you don’t listen to the full album, you’ll miss some gems. Not an album I thought would make my list, but it’s too damn good to not have on here.
Top Songs:
Messing with the Settings
Never Any Horses
The Amarillo Kid
Birthdays
Jacky Boy - Mush
My heaviest album on the list - though parts of MJ Lenderman might be close. This falls somewhere between the Smashing Pumpkins and Supercrush. It’s super fast-paced - "Get Me Out" will get you going. incredible drumming. Distinct guitar tones and solos on every song. Great vocals where you can actually feel the music. It’s hard to describe an album where you know the artists care about what they’re creating. It’s different in the best way possible. It just sounds better. It is better. I’m a huge fan of getting in and out on an album - 35 minutes is my sweet spot. Mush gets a lot done in a short period of time - just shy of 30 minutes. If you have time for only one song, listen to "Good Enough". If you have time for two, listen to "If You Mean It". The harmonies. The solo. The drums. The strings solo! This album surprised me. The more I listen, the more I like it. Take it all in.
Top Songs:
Live It Up
Good Enough
Sun
Get Me Out
If You Mean It
Michael Rault - Michael Rault
Another fun album. An album you’ll catch yourself nodding your head to and awkwardly moving your shoulders back and forth - maybe that’s just me. Absolutely love his voice. It’s so 70s. Crazy funk. It’s definitely in the same vein as Drugdealer - come to find out he’s played in Drugdealer. Listen to "Right On Time". If you’re not dancing by the time that chorus hits, something wrong with you. Seriously. You should look into some of your personal issues around joy and happiness. The bass is so underrated. "Neither Love Nor Money" makes me feel like I’m smiling, walking around pointing finger guns, and winking at random people. If you want some fun, uplifting music with some sad lyrics, a smooth guitar, killer keys, incredibly funky bass, and excellent solos - check out "Exactly What I Needed". You’re welcome. This album fucking rocks. It does. It’s a great top to bottom with no lagging songs. It’s really hard to determine what top songs to choose, so I just added a bunch. Please, go listen.
Top Songs:
Exactly What I Needed
Want For Nothing
When I’m Back In Town Again
Inside Your Heart
Right On Time
Dawes - Misadventures of Doomscroller
They’re back, baby! I’ll never forget my introduction to this album from JT. We were zooming one night, listening to music when JT tells me he has a new song from Dawes. Side note, I work at one of the largest tech companies in the world and pride myself on being at the forefront of technology. Well, I couldn’t connect my fucking Bluetooth headphones to my wife’s laptop. I have too much pride to quit. After 30 minutes of struggle, JT pretty much begged me to put him out of his misery and just use my computer speakers without my headset. It felt like I was telling a woman that I just attempted to have sex with, “I swear this doesn’t normally happen.” It’s fucking embarrassing. He probably thinks I’ve been lying about what I do too and I’m actually just an onsite security guard at a tech company or a barista at a Starbucks next to the headquarters of a tech company. That’s the only thing that makes sense after what I displayed. Anyway, he tells me there’s only a live version of the song, but he thinks I’ll like it. My god. Turns out, it’s one of the greatest live performances I’ve ever seen - it was a live version of "Someone Else’s Cafe/Doomscroller Tries To Relax" and it’s that good. I mean, fuck me. You have to watch it. This is my kind of Dawes album. Incredible, classic Dawes songs at Phish-type length. Seven songs in over forty-six minutes?! And one of those seven songs is one minute and thirty-seven seconds. It’s the best combo for me - for Dawes that is. I love when they jam out. That’s when they’re at their best. This album was much needed. It’s so hard to consistently put out great albums. Even the best bands have had mediocre albums. It makes me happy to hear this kind of sound again. Thank you, Dawes. And thank you, JT.
Top Songs:
Someone Else’s Cafe/Doomscroller Tries To Relax
Comes in Waves
Sound That No One Made/Doomscroller Sunrise
Charles Watson - Yes
My God. He did it again. I was a little worried after hearing The Surfing Magazines' new album - not that it was awful, it just wasn’t anything great. How naive that was. This is by far my most listened-to album of 2022. What a masterpiece. My daughter and I absolutely jam out to "All My Mountains". It brings me so much joy and happiness when I can connect with someone I love through music. Especially my daughters. There’s nothing like watching my daughter dance or suddenly sing a song I love. It’s such a contagious sound. It makes everyone happy. The crisp guitar tone. The piano. The pleasant vocals. Charles has such a distinct voice and sound. It’s truly wonderful. Sometimes there are albums that just make you feel whole. It’s tough to explain, but it can make you happy at any moment. You could randomly hear any song off this album and instantly feel better. That’s such a cool feeling. Sometimes it’s better to experience an album vs. explaining why it’s so good. Just listen.
Top Songs:
All My Mountains
People Run Toward People
It Must Be Night
Afghan Hound
MJ Lenderman - Boat Songs
This album though, woof. This is an emotionally driven album. You can feel it. Fucking incredible guitar solos with Country Westernsesque drums. The mood swings are intense. It almost feels like you’re hanging out with a bipolar friend. They’re having a blast and then screaming in your face. The lyrics are playful yet interesting - "Hangover Game" on Michael Jordan being hungover in Utah vs. having the flu is a wild song. You go from dancing to feeling like Neil Young writing Tonight's the Night. It’s an interesting experience. Isn’t that what it’s all about? It’s amazing the influence Uncle Neil still has on the music industry. In almost every album, I hear Neil. It’s a gift and a curse. But, I’m never disappointed. If anything, it’s the ultimate compliment. This album is complex. It meanders through emotions. Different albums are for different moods. Everyone needs a solid, sad album to listen to every now and then that also rocks your face off. Here it is. If this isn’t Neil Young, I don’t know what is. It’s amazing how albums can be so different, yet you can love them all.
Top Songs:
TLC Cagematch
You Are Every Girl to Me
Tastes Just Like It Costs
SUV
Good Looks - Bummer Year
This is why I listen to so many different artists. I’ll try anything twice - or ten times. This album took about 30 seconds. Just some good ol 'southern rock. Fantastic guitar tones and solos. Some of the best vocals and catchiest choruses. Reminds me a bit of Susto with The War on Drugs-type guitar tones and even solos. I mean, no 10-minute songs, but they still have some killer solos - check out "Balmorhea", "Walker Lake", and "Almost Automatic". Every song. Every song has a guitar solo. Sometimes words can’t describe how an album makes you feel. It’s not one particular thing. It’s a collection of perfect parts. Everything is so well executed, it’s like a well-oiled machine. Every song is distinct but has a similar, unique sound. I’m on board with these shorter albums and EPs - just release your best 7 songs and if you want to release the others, release B-sides or a Deluxe album later on. Just a brilliant album overall. This is what makes me continue searching to the ends of the earth for that next great album. Sometimes, I end up finding it.
Top Songs:
Balmorhea
Almost Automatic
First Crossing
Vision Boards
