Albums I Liked This Year: 2022

Here is a list of albums I liked this year, and some brief thoughts on them.

Eddie Vedder,

Earthling

This album, for lack of a better phrase, had me at hello. The opening track is just fantastic, and I was super ready for pretty much anything from the Pearl Jam universe after 2020’s Gigaton, which I loved more than most Pearl Jam fans did (I think). This is just a great rock album from the often-imitated-never-duplicated King of Being Pissed About Stuff, Eddie Vedder. A great listen this year.

Tears for Fears,

The Tipping Point

Eighteen years after their most recent album, Tears for Fears returned this year with a poignant and relevant work of art. The Tipping Point is a delightful and modern collection of songs from Curt and Roland, and do not overlook the opening track, “No Small Thing,” which was on heavy rotation for me this year. I don’t talk much about my love for Tears for Fears, but I love them enough that I was super excited for this album this year, and it did not disappoint.

Band of Horses,

Things Are Great

Band of Horses is one of those little, overlooked bands I got into in the 2000s that I’ve taken with me over the last fifteen years. (I mean, have you heard their 2007 album, Cease to Begin? It’s amazing.) This album was a total mood album this year; a short and sweet 10-track collection of lovely music to listen to for the spring. And also, how fun is this music video?

Weezer,

SZNZ

It wouldn’t be a year-end album review without an offering from Weezer. Right? Rivers publicly mentioned, at one point in 2021, that he would want to do a four-seasons-esque EP release, where each EP would be released on the first day of each season, and the songs would be themed around the tone of the season. In early 2022, Weezer started promoting what looked like a Spring EP, and on March 21, 2022 it was released. We then knew that Rivers had made his idea happen, and the rest of the EPs were on their way. I love the tone of each EP, as they really do feel like the season with which they coincide. I love the album art, as it’s just a statue of Rivers’ head that has made its way through the four seasons. There’s some orchestral sounds on each EP that are reminiscent of Vivaldi, which is fun. And the EPs have produced some great singles - most notably the one above (“A Little Bit of Love”), and “Records” (from the Summer EP). The Winter EP is on its way, and I’ve heard it’s going to be all toned-down sad, acoustic, Elliott-Smith-esque stuff. I’m here for it.

Red Hot Chili Peppers,

Unlimited Love/Return of the Dream Canteen

We’re now seeing the effects of an ongoing pandemic on music, which is that bands are all releasing an insane amount of studio music. I’d like to say it’s becoming overkill, but I’m not there yet. Red Hot Chili Peppers released two albums this year, six months apart. They’re both pretty run-of-the-mill Chili Peppers albums, full of good music and funky rock and roll. John Frusciante returned this time around, which is always a good thing for the Chili Peppers, and which is why the result was two albums. The writing didn’t stop, and Frusciante contributed a good amount of electronic vibes on the second album, Return of the Dream Canteen. Overall, a great contribution to 2022 music.

Jack White,

Fear of the Dawn/Entering Heaven Alive

Jack White also produced an insane amount of studio music this year, but that’s on-brand for him. In April, he released the rock-heavy Fear of the Dawn, which was followed in July by the folk-and-acoustic-heavy Entering Heaven Alive. This time, I preferred the acoustic album (sometimes I prefer his rock albums), but they’re both good. Jack White can do what Jack White wants, and as long as he keeps churning out music, I’ll keep listening.

The Head and the Heart,

Every Shade of Blue

I had a realization this year that The Head and the Heart might be one of my favorite bands. I’ve been listening to them for years, and in all honesty I’m not quite sure how their 2019 album, Living Mirage, didn’t end up on my 2019 album review list, except that maybe I was snobbier back then. Either way, I’m giving them the love they deserve this year by trumpeting the greatness of their 2022 album, Every Shade of Blue. Let me tell you - I had a hard time picking a song to showcase from this album, but I picked this one because I have been wailing it in my car for the past eight months.

Florence + The Machine, Dance Fever

Aside from the obvious (Taylor Swift), this is my favorite album of the year. I adore Florence Welch’s voice, and all of her albums are good, but this might be the best one. It’s a fantastically diverse collection of songs, my favorite being the second-to-last, “The Bomb,” which I have listened to non-stop since the album’s release. The whole album, in its entirety, is just Florence + The Machine perfection.

Hanson, Red Green Blue

Don’t ever sleep on Hanson. They were one of my favorite contestants on The Masked Singer (and I knew it was them the whole time), and this 2022 album is fantastic. One complaint: It’s a little long. Some editing and paring down a few songs would’ve made it a little more palatable. However, the album is a trio-collection of songs, each collection individually produced by each Hanson brother. So, I guess it stands to reason why the album is so long. Either way, it’s a great listen, front to back. I loved it this year, especially “Rambling Heart” and “The Gift of Tears.”

Harry Styles, Harry’s House

Harry Styles is just dreamy. And I don’t mean dreamy like he’s cute and I want him to be my boyfriend. He’s just dreamy as an artist. He has a bit of a Bowie/Prince vibe that is also all his own. I can’t look away. And I wasn’t even some huge One Direction fan, nor have I listened to any of his other albums. But man oh man, this album is good. It’s just a dreamy album. It’s smooth and easy and digestible and give me all the Harry Styles, from now until forever.

Onelinedrawing, Tenderwild/Departure

A relic from my 20s and my emo years, Onelinedrawing (Jonah Matranga) is an artist I will always support. He’s an artist who appreciates good ideas, music, and creativity, and he’s not here for the money and fame. It’s been a while since he released anything under his Onelinedrawing moniker, so I was excited when he released Tenderwild this year, and paired it with a later EP, Departure, which I loved. Support good art and good music and good creators. It’s worth it.

Michelle Branch, The Trouble With Fever

If you haven’t read about Michelle Branch’s recent troubles, please do entertain yourself by reading about her domestic violence arrest and subsequent Millennial loyalty. To be honest, I feel it. Michelle Branch is the real deal. She arrived on the scene in the early-2000s with her guitar and without choreography or body glitter. I’ve seen her live. I’ve loved all of her albums, including her work with Jessica Harp as The Wreckers, which is fantastic. I really loved her 2017 album, Hopeless Romantic, which she (ironically) worked on with her now-husband, Patrick Carney (if they’ll do it with you, they’ll do it to you). The Trouble With Fever is a little edgier and was an acquired taste for me, but I’ve grown to really like it. Don’t sleep on Michelle Branch.

Marcus Mumford, Self-Titled

This is just a pared-down Mumford album, to be honest. But Marcus is a great songwriter, I love his voice and lyrics, and this is just a good album. It’s been a nice addition to my 2022 album repertoire.

Willow, Coping Mechanism

Y’all. Willow’s 2021 album, Lately I Feel Everything was wonderful, but her 2022 album, Coping Mechanism, is even better. She’s fully leaned into the pop-punk vibe, her voice has matured, and I suppose Hollywood nepotism allowed her to explore her craft more than most artists might be able to. This album is amazing.

Taylor Swift, Midnights

My favorite album of the year, which I’m sure you knew was coming because I am your resident Swiftie friend. Midnights is a concept album of all-new songs, centered around Taylor Swift’s traumas that have kept her up in the middle of the night. Perhaps you’re a new Swiftie and you just really like the tunes, and that’s great. But my favorite part of this album is that it’s just entrancing if you’re familiar with all of Taylor’s past traumas, and you know what all of the songs are (probably) about. The marketing for this album was genius, “Bejeweled” is an absolute bop that also makes me cry (because we all know it’s about letting go of Karlie - proud Gaylor here, which I am happy to discuss with you over drinks in private because Taylor doesn’t owe us anything!), and “Anti-Hero” is easily one of Taylor’s best songs (the hiss at the end of the bridge! THE HISSSSSSSSS!). The other best part is that I am a proud owner of two tickets to The Eras Tour in July and I will be there, singing all of the songs and probably catching COVID (but hopefully not).