TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2022

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#2. Summertime Blues by Zach Bryan

Genre: country

Top 3 Songs:
Oklahoma Smokeshow
Motorcycle Drive By
Twenty So

Just like Asian Glow, Zach Bryan makes both of my lists this year although this time, I have similar praise for Summertime Blues as I do American Heartbreak. If you were turned off by the 2-hour, 30 song runtime of the latter then this 9-song EP, less than 30 minutes long should at least be more palatable if you want to know why Zach Bryan is getting so much deserved praise. Zach Bryan’s detailed songwriting, knack for great hooks, and warm production are all on display yet again, and shows that while he may have overblown it with his mainstream debut, he’s far from out of any ideas or creativity in country. I hope he continues his momentum as a country act worth watching and I hope more people, even those who aren’t into country give this project a shot.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#1. EXPLICIT: THE MIXXXTAPE by WARGASM

Genre: digital hardcore nu-metal

Top 3 Songs:
PYRO PYRO

Holy fucking shit.

So this will be a shock to some who’ve heard of WARGASM and I will acknowledge if you find this EP overly obnoxious, stupid, and tryhard, I can completely. On the surface level, it does seem like the sort of one-dimensional and meat-headed numetal fusion I’d normally write off. But even after my first listen, I felt like it was something special.

The industrial metal and digital hardcore music alongside chiptune, the surprising range from Sam Matlock to do both aggressive screaming and a solid baritone, paired Milkie Way’s bratty demeanor that can even be be fun and poppy, the hard riffs that still carried a great amount of melody in the guitar and hook, melodies, even the surprising amount of depth in the songwriting in its dissection of fame and rockstar tropes, all of it added into something I would normally find irritating but found rather creative, certainly nothing any metal or industrial album gave me in a similar fashion. Nervous tension on one hand, and gleeful abandon in the other, it just felt like a breath of fresh air, a tightrope act that could have easily been a laughable failure but not only pulled it off, it feels like something only they can do. Amidst the simpleminded aesthetic, WARGASM reveals an act unlike any other in music right now. Creative, transgressive, and even smarter than most would give them credit, being hard as hell and with some really catchy melodies and hooks. Without a doubt, some of the best hardcore music of the year, the best EP of the year, and while I might be the only one to say that, I’ve got no problem standing by that.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#20. Jackpot Juicer by Dance Gavin Dance

Genre: post-hardcore math rock

Top 4 Songs:
For the Jeers
Feels Bad Man
Pray to God for Your Mother
Cream of the Crop

This is the album I’m most surprised not only made the list but ended up this high. I’ll be honest I’d never really listened to DGD prior to this year and had heard rather negative things about them so I didn’t really expect high things from them. What a surprise then that they not only made some of the catchiest rock music of the year - with some of the best hooks and melodies all year - but paired it with smart writing on fame, nihilism, and competitive mindsets in the digital age, the nature of art creation in relation to fan judgment, and drug abuse. Not to mention, the mix of math rock compositions with some great synth and guitar passages add to that fun.

If you’re put off from listening to this record by the allegations that’ve come out against Tillian, fair enough. Normally I’d be hesitant to platform art from musicians I think have done terrible actions. And yet, I can’t deny the emotional punch this album gave me and even with that knowledge, the album actually provides an ironic form of schadenfreude. It’s a strange experience that I’ve never really felt with any album I’ve recommended but one that stuck with me throughout the year. For what it’s worth, I think that’s worth talking about.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#19. AMERICAN GURL by Kilo Kish

Genre: electropop

Top 4 Songs:
AMERICAN GURL
INTELLIGENT DESIGN
NEW TRICKS: ART, AESTHETICS AND MONEY
NO APOLOGY

Oh I was excited for this. I really wish I’d been following Kilo Kish prior to this year because she’s the type of smart but catchy electropop I’m more than willing to promote. And yeah the hype is real for this, electropop with an experimental edge - balancing 80s synthpop, darkwave, trap, indie rock and even R&B - and smart lyrics but still a lot of fun beats and choruses. With smart commentary on American narcissism in society and media and how much we both crave it and still see it as a fun game (hense a lot of the chiptune synths and 16-bit sprite music) despite all the damage it done, as well as critiquing this sort of holier than thou attitude a lot of these rich people and power hungry politicians have. And yet there is still a drive to achieve the same status, there’s a reason it’s so appealing.

SPOILER: Click to show

Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#18. Aethiopes by billy woods

Genre: abstract conscious hip-hop

Top 4 Songs:
NYNEX
Remorseless
Heavy Water
Sauvage

My appreciation for billy woods has been slow but gradual. From not vibing or feeling like an outsider listening to his style to eagerly anticipating new releases, in terms of underground acts, he’s not only one of the best, but always offers an experience even if the nihilistic subject matter and tone doesn’t really vary from project to project. And with this, this might be my favorite project of his yet What a hip-hop album: smart and intelligent lyrics talking about systemic racism and the effects of colonialism, really showing the real horror of it all, but balanced with intricate flows and some surprisingly sticky production that still really captures the atmosphere of a broken world. It’s just everything you could love and want out of hip-hop and it really deserves all the acclaim it’s gotten. And some of drumless beats sometimes feeling empty and claustrophobic only heighten not only the fear and paranoia, but also the holes of light and hope that come from proper black unity.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#17. Premonition by White Lung

Genre: punk rock

Top 4 Songs:
Date Night
Winter
Hysteric
One Day

Something really annoying happened in December when just as I thought the year was done giving us great albums, 3 A+ albums came out and I had to change my list. On one hand, it was annoying but on another, I couldn’t complain when more great music came out This is the shortest album on the list, barely passing 30 minutes but it’s worth it. And while I’d normally praise the simple but clever feminist lyrics what I really love aobut this was the instrumentation. Strong drumming with a lot of firepower, great guitar work capable of shredding and giving satisfying melodic hooks, Short and sweet but with great catchy hooks, Mish Barber-Way’s great voice portraying both a strong and tired women, it’s a late edition to the best albums of 2022

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#16. The Forever Story by JID

Genre: southern conscious hip-hop

Top 4 Songs:
Sistanem
2007
Lauder
Crack Sandwich

I said it before but it’s worth repeating: it’s criminal JID didn’t get any hit songs this year as a lead artist. He’s already been one of the best and most promising rappers of today, consistently great as a lead and as a guest feature, without a doubt my favorite act on the Dreamville roster, but this year, he really established himself as someone to look out for. So yeah, this lives up to all the acclaim it's been getting. Without a doubt one of the best rap albums of the year and I know this is a hefty claim, with how mainstream accessible this is, I can see this album having a long shelf life like good kid, m.A.A.d. city, and really propel JID to being one of the top rappers of the decade. It’s just a complete package of great bars to match the braggadocious attitude, fun beats with a mainstream edge, and still a ton of good storytelling regarding black poverty and the price of success.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#15. foxtails by Fawn

Genre: post-hardcore screamo

Top 4 Songs:
ataque de nervios
life is a death scene, princess
la belle indifférence
bbq

While there’ve been heavy, atmospheric, and crushing albums I’ve praised on this list, I would never really categorize any of them as being hard to stomach based on the subject matter. With the possible exception of one album later on, this is probably the heaviest, most depressing album on this list, and yet also one of the most beautiful. The beautiful use of strings against the simmering post-hardcore production, Megan Cadena-Fernandez’s emotional vocals in both her softer performances and her impassioned screams, and most of all: the powerful lyrics of surviving and suppressing trauma just to get by in life and push through. If you're at all a fan of post-hardcore, I can't recommend this album enough, it's fantastic

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#14. Hold The Girl by Rina Sawayama

Genre: pop

Top 4 Songs:
Holy (Til You Let Me Go)
Hold the Girl
This Hell
Frankenstein

While having expectations are normal, I think they can also be rather toxic. I normally do my best to keep my expectations as low as possible because having too much hype can sink a product. I think that’s why this got so many mixed reviews as people did have such high standards for Rina. And yes, this isn’t as good or as experimental as her debut - but on the other hand, I didn’t expect another SAWAYAMA, especially since that album is still my favorite straightforward pop album of the decade. Take this album for what it is, it’s still a showcase on why Rina is one of the best pop acts right now with powerful vocals and lyrics against colorful production. For 2000s pop rock to gothic religious pop to even a stab at pop punk, Rina’s not only got the taste for different sounds, but the pop instincts to make it work. And she doesn’t half ass it on the lyrics either: from takedowns of religious bigotry, to coping with childhood trauma, to reflecting on her relationship with her mother.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#13. Two Ribbons by Let's Eat Grandma

Genre: electropop

Top 4 Songs:
Hall of Mirrors
Insect Loop
Happy New Year
Two Ribbons

Well y’know how I just said I try to keep my expectations low for most album, I do make some exceptions and with this. Especially after Let’s Eat Grandma nearly topped my list of the best songs of 2021 and reminded me why I loved them back in 2018, how could I not be excited. And sure enough this was everything I wanted out of a Let’s Eat Grandma comeback and then some? It not only cut the fat of all the slow moments that dragged their last album and refined their sound into making more catchier but just as emotionally captivating electropop, it also showed their growth as writers even when talking simply about their friendships and the trials they’ve gone through together

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#12. The Long Road North by Cult of Luna

Genre: atmospheric sludge metal

Top 4 Songs:
Silver Arc
Cold Burn
An Offering to the Wild
Beyond II

And speaking of projects I was excited to hear, despite how much atmospheric metal I’ve consumed, it’s rarely ever gotten close to my Top 10 with the exception of envy back in 2020. I was excited when I heard a single this back in December and my god did this meet my expectations and then some. Despite being more than an hour long and featuring several passages clocking over 10 minutes long, it doesn’t feel like a slog or even that daunting to get through. Cold, brutal, textured, and heavy in its atmosphere but also never overly self indulgent. It's just a simple album at its core that looks at the harsh wilderness and pushes through, not with a naivete but with gritted strength. Just an incredible album, if you're into atmospheric metal or even if you want to get into the genre, seek this out immediately. It just kicks ass and has gone down as my favorite metal album of the decade so far.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#11. Baby by Petrol Girls

Genre: riot grrrl

Top 4 Songs:
Fight for Our Lives
Violent by Design
One or the Other
Violent by Design

Sometimes you don’t need a lot of complex lyric, heavy subject matter, intricate compositions, or varied vocal performances. Not that this album is by any means simple in its musicianship but it’s not gonna win any awards for subtlety or unique lyrics What is is however is one of the best punk albums of the year, one of the best punk albums of the decade in fact, full of pure angry music with great empowering and simple lyrics, with a great infectious and anarchist energy thanks to great hooks and vocals. Whether it’s tackling the issue of abortion rights, systemic violence of women - especially by police

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#10. HIS HAPPINESS SHALL COME FIRST EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SUFFERING by Backxwash

Genre: industrial horrorcore

Top 5 Songs:
MUZUNGU
MULUNGU
ZIGOLO
KUMOTO
MUKAZI

And speaking of music that’s viciously violent and angry, it took awhile for Backxwash to really click with me over the past 3 years. From appreciating and respecting from a distance her blend of industrial music with hardcore hip-hop, to really admiring her style and her furious songwriting, she’s not an act for everyone nor does she make music that’s easy to digest. But she’s without a doubt an artist you can’t ignore and this year, she showed her full potential with her best project to date. If you’re familiar with her work, this album sonically would give you what you expected. Heavy and heavily distorted cacophonous percussion against sharp synths and guitars to creating a haunting spectral atmosphere. And with Backxwash being the vengeful spirit, harmed from trauma not only from systemic racism and transphobia, but from domestic bigotry and abuse, demanding justice not just from society but from God themselves, wondering how they could allow a world so unjust. But while it’s bleak and crushing at times, it’s also empowering and even inspiring in her path towards self-fulfillment as a black, trans artist.. It’s a fully realized haze of anger, fear, and self-triumph

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#9. SOS by SZA

Genre: R&B

Top 5 Songs:
Good Days
Gone Girl
Blind
Kill Bill
Used

And to think I, like many, thought this album would never actually come out. And given the hype and delay for this album, this should’ve been a big disappointment, especially given it was more than an hour long. But no, this more than lived up to the hype, and ironically, by staying simple and refining the basics. It might be long but never dragging and overstaying its welcome, thanks to a great pace, a nice blend of various pop and R&B sounds, from trap to more indie influences, even a stab at pop rock, much like Rina, SZA showed not only an ear for other genres , but the instincts to fit right in. Couple that with refining her songwriting, and giving her best hooks and songs ever

SPOILER: Click to show

Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#8. Fossora by Björk

Genre: art pop

Top 5 Songs:
Ovule
Her Mother’s House
Ancestress
Fossora
Victimhood

And speaking of albums that were heavily hyped. I’ve seen a lot of mixed responses to this album, not just from people aren’t that big a fan of Bjork’s music, but also from fans of hers. And to an extent, I get it. Sometimes, avant-garde experimental art isn’t easy to approach and it can drive people away. But I do think this album isn’t getting the credit it deserves.

As expected, the Gorgeous classical arrangement, and Björk’s typically powerful and emotive voice. But it wouldn’t be a Björk project without touching lyrics either, here discussing nature in conjunction with motherhood, womanhood, and healing. I especially love the use of fungus as the primary image throughout the album, a live being that grows in darkness into something beautiful, vivid, and lively. And whether that’s finding strength from your own personal faith, coping with the passing of a parent, accepting your status as a victim, or even falling in love, it’s a mature For me it’s a standout art pop project, my favorite of the year - and yet another album to add to Björk’s catalog of incredible albums.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#7. Performance of a Lifetime by August, Yours Truly

Genre: spoken word post-industrial sound collage

Top 5 Songs:
In the Reeds
Circus Heart
If I’m Not Yours
The Stage
For Just a Moment

I can imagine this is the most obscure album on this list and in most years I would’ve never even heard of this album. I mean hell, this guy only has 73 subscribers on his YouTube account. But please don’t let the obscure nature of this act disway you from checking this out. Thanks to reporting on new releases, I caught my ears on this small spoken word act and discovered one of the most unique experiences I had last year. It’s a weird mash of post-industrial…not even melodies, sounds and spoken-word passages to create a cosmic horror of sorts on being an artist, finding and seeking validation from others or to be self-serving, control but isolation vs acceptance but destruction, melodramatic perhaps but it’s done so captivatingly and in an engaging way, I couldn’t help but feel dread and yes creeped out. It isn’t for everyone but give it time, it’s at least an experience. Creating, haunting, and atmospheric, it’s one of the most ambitious albums I’ve heard all year with cryptic lyrics about the nature of worth and art - and thus, also one of the best things I’ve heard in 2022.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#6. Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road

Genre: experimental art punk

Top 5 Songs:
Good Will Hunting
Chaos Space Marine
Snow Globes
Haldern
The Place Where He Inserted the Blade

For the longest time, I had this at the top of the list. And while it may have shifted down the card, that in no way means it’s any less a fantastic album. It’s pretty much an expansion of their debut. Still with the slow building songs with the horns and guitars, keeping the drumming to a minimum, and the subtly great poetry on picking the pieces of his life back together after a break-up, it’s a relatively simple formula but not only do you feel the great emotional progression from song to song, the crescendos and key changes pay off amazingly as well. Beautifully written, great instrumentation and performances - not to mention a swan song for Isaac Wood, just everything a sophomore album should be, and where this band goes next without Isaac, only time will tell.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#5. Bronco by Orville Peck

Genre: industrial horrorcore

Top 5 Songs:
Kalahari Down
All I Can Say
Let Me Drown
Any Turn
Outta Down

Like many of the acts on this list, I didn’t immediately take to Orville Peck’s work. He had an interesting and distinct voice, and I liked that we had yet another queer artist in country, particularly one with an eye for deconstructing old, masculine, cowboy archetypes, but I’d mostly been lukewarm on his old projects. Well I’m so glad to have turned around on him because this is outstanding. Without a doubt one of the best country albums in a while - perhaps what’s the best country album of the year so far - it's so creative and with so much flair that I really wish this was talked about more outside of country circles. Orville Peck’s updated old school style might be overblown and overly theatrical but damn, if he can’t sell it with gorgeous belting and more sincere ballads, plus while he’s known more for his low baritone but can pull off a higher register really surprisingly well. Not to mention that satire of masculine tropes hasn’t gone away, with a lot of emotional details as he tries to live free out in the wild west - live on an adventure high - even if that comes with its own pain and heartbreak. It’s catchy, emotional country music, the type I’d recommend even to those who don’t like country.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#4. Tongues by Tanya Tagaq

Genre: post industrial spoken word

Top 5 Songs:
Tongues In Me
Earth
Monster
I Forgive Me
Do Not Love Fear

This is now the point in the list when any number of these songs could’ve been considered (by me) the best album of the year. Coincidentally enough, this was one of the first albums I heard released last year and immediately after my first listen, I knew this was something special. Even after 5 uninterrupted listens this album is just incredible and even now, it tackled colonialism and its lingered in a way no album I’ve ever really heard has. I might be hyperbolic and say various albums or music feels very aggressive, unhinged and viscous but this album truly feels, fittingly enough, animalistic. Tanya snarls and growls her way through this album with pride for her heritage and acidic hatred towards the corrupt government systems that not only pushed Canadian natives to the side, but continue to disadvantage and disenfranchise them to this day. But what’s ingenious is that it’s not just manic, unfocused anger either. There’s some fantastic abstract poetry regarding the history of Canadian colonialism, the cultural gaslighting that’s been done, the assimilation of culture and language, and even the harm of unregulated hunting and the meat industry. And despite the brief runtime of this album, it never felt too short and proof that less can be more. A brilliant but eyecatching album, this is something you shouldn't ignore just for experience alone, one of my favorite discoveries of last year for a reason.

SPOILER: Click to show

Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#3. NO THANK U by Little Simz

Genre: conscious hip-hop

Top 5 Songs:
Broken
Heart on Fire
Silhouette
X
No Merci

This is the latest album to break into the Top 5 but when Little Simz drops a new project, y’know I had to listen to it thoroughly to see if it would live up to hype. Given how both her albums last year also made my Top 10 and GREY Area was also among my favorite albums of 2018, I also had high expectations. And yet somehow, Simz managed to top herself yet again, with this being my favorite project of hers to date.

You don’t need to me to parrot what everyone’s said about Simz on her technicals but I think it’s worth praising how even if Simz wasn’t a great rapper with flows that can be tight and fast, but also glide effortlessly with great wordplay, she’s still be a great artist with an ear for smooth, jazzy relaxing instrumentals that can also get darker, and of course for remaining one of the best writers, not just in hip-hop, but in music today. If SIMBI was all about her realizing and proudly proclaiming her strength and power as a black woman, NO THANK YOU take a look at her vulnerabilities or her capacity to be willingly weak, especially in a system that shuns any form of weakness. Not that there aren’t times to be steadfast, it’s still great to hear her rail against capitalism profiting off of black trauma, but it’s an all about being humble and building yourself up one step at a time, and picking yourself back up when you falter. At just 28, Simz finds herself continuing to top her work and releasing some of the best hip-hop music of any year, so who knows how many more great albums she’ll give us. I know I’ll be excited for what comes next

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#2. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar

Genre: conscious hip-hop

Top 5 Songs:
Mother I Sober
N95
Purple Hearts
Auntie Diaries
Die Hard

Let's get this out of the way: yes, it’s not his best output. Yes, it’s rather long, not filled with a lot of hooks, and can be self-indulgent. Yes, there are parts I think are problematic and wrong moves both artistically and just in general with the Kodak Black features and the slurs on Auntie Diaries There are a lot of flaws with this album, and most of them I agree with. This is far from a perfect album. But in terms of albums that gave me an emotional experience like no other - I mean I literally spent 2 hours dissecting this album - I couldn’t leave it anywhere but this high.

Just the way Kendrick dives into Black hurt without leaving any corners unturned: from internalized homophobia to the faultyness of idolizing Black celebrities to a generational history of sexual abuse within families, it’s all things that can make you collapse and shut everyone else off to reflect - and Kendrick does. But it also shows the light in finding comfort in new families to help heal old wounds, to stop the cycle of hurt and abuse before it grows too big, and to be accountable for mistakes and taking concrete means to grow and mature, as a man, a father, and a brother. And despite the issues people have with the lack of mainstream hooks, across the 80 minute runtime, not once in any of my listens was I bored or uninterested. It may be safe for some, might be controversial for others, it’s my favorite rap album of last year.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS  

[dremolus - solarpunk]

So as much as I loved both Mr. Morale, something in me didn’t feel right calling it the best album of 2022. Perhaps it’s the various real concerns people have with it that I agree with, and perhaps the idea of celebrating an artist’s work that isn’t their best, but it narrowly missed the top spot. For it, I knew it needed to be something bigger: something that wasn’t just amazing, something that wasn’t just a new creative peak for an act, something that wasn’t just as fully realized and complete as their vision could be, but something that would hold up as the decade continued. And for me, in the end: I think one album fits that bill the best.

SPOILER: Click to show

{The best album of 2022 is...}

#1. SHUNKA RYOUGEN by Haru Nemuri

Genre: industrial horrorcore

Top 5 Songs:
[/iHeart of Gold
Inori Dake Ga Aru
bang
déconstruction
Pandora

First thing is that it of course sounds sonically vibrant and properly epic. With various instruments from gospel organ, horns, guitars that never feel underpowered or undermixed, quick fast-paced drum patterns, beautiful guitar passages, even buzzy synths, and Haru Nemuri’s always manic yet controlled delivery, selling both anxiety, anger, love, and passion, and still managing to be catchy, just from a music experience, this is one of the best of the year.

And that’s before delving into the lyrics, really being a long journey of hope and resilience even in the information age of constant news and from governments where all sides are in it for themselves, content for selfish sloganeering than actually fixing shit. Reminding yourself evil comes from within, not from any external forces but at the same time, providing unity to the fight even while others are dying for real. And the threat is real, especially with climate change coming faster and faster…leaving most of us facing the brink of it while the wealthy and ones with power get off without much of a scratch.

Despite the epic swell of the music and upbeat loud sound, it’s actually a rather bleak album and by the end there is no concrete solution to the situation. It’s almost like it’s worth sinking into apathetic nihilism. And yet, even at the end, despite all that, there’s still a call to live just to live. That life itself and the experience of existence is worth fighting for, it’s what gives us meaning, and we can set the limits of how accomplished and fulfilled of a life we live.

And in a year that felt so depressing, stagnant, and slow, in a year where it truly felt like the worst doomer fantasies felt coming true, this was the type of music the expressed everything. Creative, experimental and politically sharp, while still being empowering and emotional, and still being a good catchy rager, this will go down as one of the best rock albums of the year so far and is a great showcase as to why Haru Nemuri continues to be one of the most interesting and unique Japanese acts around.

And in my opinion, it’s the best album of 2022.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sexy Biches}Mayman HamedM1 💔  ramona wants sleep rekwiem razorshark  Daryl the Beryl  willapted33  GP  Choco  Crimsonio  rom  samo🦕  peacebone  wheatsquares33  born  fearlessarrow  filthy  Leaf  lyhom  Web  Nick P  wrip  rimetm  BB🌕  kimberly  kindofbiased  MoD  otaviohmg  trilogy  Sambalada  Rose "Payola" Nylund  singingrulebritannia  violentdreams  walt91  𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤  Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ  Darkest Hour  Fanstar1  joshtheking  Nasarati  tanooki  rekwiem  Triple 9  @crapkuki23  M5AGTS