COUNTING DOWN OUR TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2022, ACCORDING TO WRITER/MUSICIAN JOSH BELL
Looking back at 2022 as the year that it was might elicit very different responses depending on who you ask – but one thing is for sure, and that is that music fans were treated to an unforgettable lineup of tunes from legends and newcomers alike. Here at Get Some Magazine we’ve compiled a list of 10 of our absolute must-listen albums from this year, so get ready to ring in the New Year with these fresh new additions to your playlist.
10. Gemini Rights – Steve Lacy
If you’ve owned a TikTok account in 2022 there’s no doubt you’ve been exposed to some degree of Lacy’s sleeper viral hit “Bad Habit” in some form or another. But don’t let Internet infamy fool you - this ten-track psychedelic meets R&B album is a feast of the artist’s best production and songwriting to date as he explores themes of heartbreak and sexuality within a framework of retro pop glamour.
Standout Tracks: “Mercury”, “Sunshine”, “Give You The World”
9. Beatopia – beabadoobee
Taking inspiration from the saccharine dream pop world of the early 2000s – beabadoobee’s sophomore full-length ‘Beatopia’ is a heavy dose of pop escapism that never fails to feel fresh and innovative despite its nostalgic influences. There’s a comforting air to this album that reads as an attempt to connect with the inner child and all bases are covered here. The album is a fully immersive scope of sounds and genres from prickly pop-punk to lullaby-like ballads. Hell, she sounds absolutely authentic in her approach to carving out each nook and cranny of this world.
Standout Tracks: “Pictures of Us”, “Don’t Get the Deal”, “Talk”
8. Hold The Girl – Rina Sawayama
Setting the bar high on her career defining debut “SAWAYAMA” expectations were set for 2022’s follow up “Hold The Girl” and I’m happy to announce Rina did not disappoint here. On this new foray into the world of genre-mashing alt-pop the British born artist proves once again she is a master maximalist throwing everything at the production table but the kitchen sink. It’s a pop juggernaut of sounds that doesn’t shy away from its campy hair metal influences.
Standout Tracks: “Imagining”, “Frankenstein”, “Holy (Til You Let Me Go)”
7. Ivory – Omar Apollo
Omar Apollo’s long-awaited “Ivory” delivers on every level expected of the indie artist and more. Opening with an angelic choir of ghostly vocals on its titular intro before descending into a world of alternative R&B excellence, “Ivory” proves just why he’s earned the title of a songwriting perfectionist. There’s a lightness that permeates through the angst of each song’s message, leaving this third entry in his discography as his most poignant to date.
Standout Tracks: “Bad Life”, “Go Away”, “Evergreen”
6. Hypochondriac – Brakence
Emo-rap meets hyper-pop outfit Brakence knows a thing or two about pushing the envelope of experimentation with his music, and his explosive LP ‘Hypochondriac’ is no exception. With bombastic production that feels like a hybrid of PC Music’s most adventurous efforts with a millennial punk rock twist, it’s a winning combination that leaves this third entry in his lineup feeling like his most fully realized offering to date.
Standout Tracks: Introvert, Venus Fly Trap, Caffeine
5. Preacher’s Daughter – Ethel Cain
Few artists are able to create a mythology and cult following as rich and detailed as found on Ethel Cain’s stellar debut ‘Preacher’s Daughter’. Beneath the Journey-esque pop glimmer of its opening track lies a dark and twisted tale of Americana in the Midwest as its titular heroine reckons with themes of religious trauma, abandonment, and abuse. With a voice that is sure to melt even the hardest of hearts and a catalog that ranges from gospel folk to blood-curdling grunge metal, this is an album that is sure to leave an impression on you long after it’s run its course.
Standout Tracks: “American Teenager”, “Hard Times”, “Sun Bleached Flies”
4. Laurel Hell – Mitski
Mitski’s final foray into the music world is a bittersweet affair that doesn’t hold back on its emotional weight and sparkling production. The one-two punch of “The Only Heartbreaker” and “Love Me More” works as the heart of the record delivering two unforgettable 80’s pop tunes back to back. Mitski’s infamous melancholy is still ever present here with some of her best lyric work to date – making a record of finality that speaks to the pitfalls of a life in the public eye.
Standout Tracks: “The Only Heartbreaker”, “Love Me More”, “Working for the Knife”
3. Being Funny In a Foreign Language – The 1975
Shedding the indulgent excess of their past two bodies of work for a tight-knit track list with zero filler – “Being Funny In a Foreign Language” is The 1975 at their very best. With production from powerhouse Jack Antoff at the helm, this is the UK band’s most laser-focused work to date. Frontman Matt Healey’s signature cynical playfulness is still present but within the scope of a project that is as earnestly hopeful as it is enjoyable to listen to on repeat.
Standout Tracks: “Looking for Somebody (To Love)”, “Oh Caroline”, “All I Need to Hear”
2. Dance Fever – Florence and The Machine
The concept of a lockdown album might be a cliché in 2022 but Florence Welch comes out of the shadows on ‘Dance Fever’ to deliver her most enthralling and sonically daring work to date. Inspired by the medieval concept of ‘Choreomania’, a phenomenon in which women would dance themselves to death – the album plays out as a love letter to the human desire to connect in a time of isolation. Her powerhouse vocals anchor the album’s ethereal production and lyrically ‘Dance Fever’ is an exercise in baring your soul.
Standout Tracks: “Choreomania”, “Free”, “King”
1. Soccer Mommy – Sometimes, Forever
Nashville-based indie outfit Soccer Mommy has made a career out of capturing the intimate fleeting moments of melancholy we all face while bringing them to life gloriously in their music. On “Sometimes, Forever” this concept is made its most powerful with perfectly understated production to carve out a world that grapples with existential dread and change in a way that feels transformative and completely cathartic. New flavours of shoegaze and electronic flourishes enter the mix without losing the essence of what makes this band so special. ‘Sometimes, Forever’ is lightning in a bottle – a record that speaks to the sigh of relief felt by a world that is finally getting back on its feet.