What a year! Music is a subjective art form so opinions may vary significantly depending on your taste – but for me personally, 2022 was the best year for new music in quite some time. Deciding on the final order of this list was especially challenging, with four instant classics competing for the top spot. But ultimately, the order I settled on is secondary to the fact that all of these records left a tremendous impact on me this year and have remained in heavy rotation since.
10. The Mars Volta – The Mars Volta
The return of The Mars Volta after a ten-year hiatus is one of the most significant musical events of my lifetime. Finally getting to see them live was a dream come true, and returning to their music after a long break allowed me to discover a whole new level of appreciation for their discography. Albums such as Frances The Mute, Amputechture, and Deloused in the Comatorium are among the most challenging, yet rewarding, pieces of music that have ever graced my eardrums.
Having said all of that, I can’t let my excitement about the band’s return factor into my evaluation of this new self-titled album. While it’s a strong effort that ranks among the year’s more enjoyable listens, it’s not a masterpiece like the records listed above. That seems largely by design – the dynamic duo deliberately challenged themselves to write short, concise songs with no frills, the exact opposite of what they’re known for and their fans expect. The fact that not a single track on here runs even five minutes long is downright shocking for longtime listeners, and honestly a bit disappointing.
At the same time, I salute Omar and Cedric for trying something new and refusing to allow anyone to define their sound. And when you consider this album in the context of its creators’ intentions, it’s pretty damn good. The hooks are infectious from beginning to end and none of the tracks are quite as simple as they first seem, with deceptively complex instrumentation and subtle production touches revealing themselves on repeat listens. The lyrics are also more direct and emotionally poignant than anything Cedric has written previously.
Though it doesn’t deliver the visceral energy and mind-blowing experimentation I’ve come to expect from The Mars Volta, this is still a beautiful record that hits hard when you’re in the right mood for it.
9. Domi & JD Beck – Not Tight
Keyboardist Domi Louna and drummer JD Beck are both absurdly talented musicians. They may look like they’re still in high school, but don’t be deceived – these two have the kind of chops that most veterans could never achieve even with decades of practice. To watch the two of them jam on stage can only be described as euphoric.
On their first album, the duo keep their jamming to a minimum, focusing on compact songs that often incorporate vocal hooks. As a result, the record doesn’t quite capture the excitement of their live shows. However, it’s still a work of dizzying musicianship that’s enhanced by a stacked list of guest stars.
Thundercat adds a smoldering bass solo to the title track, while Herbie Hancock lends his legendary presence to album highpoint “Moon.” Other guests include Anderson .Paak, Mac Demarco, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Busta Rhymes, and Snoop Dogg. With that kind of support, the future looks very bright for these two young and incredibly skilled musicians.
8. Shintaro Sakamoto – Like a Fable
The fourth solo album from Shintaro Sakamoto delivers more of the experimental lounge-pop that fans have come to expect from him. Perhaps because his lyrics are all sung in Japanese, the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist doesn’t have a very large following in the US. That’s a shame, since Sakamoto consistently delivers quality records and Like a Fable is no exception.
From the distorted trombone stabs of the opener to the sugary backing vocals on the title track, this is an album filled with subtle hooks that will slowly lodge in your brain. Sakamoto incorporates a diverse sound palette throughout featuring lap-steel guitar, flute, saxophone, and more. With its combination of uniquely layered instrumentation, funky grooves, and quality songwriting, Like a Fable offers a little bit of something to please everyone.
7. Elusin – Synfuels
The debut record from Norwegian singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Elusin, Synfuels arrives as a fully-formed sound. Mixing elements of shoegaze and noise rock with synth-pop and electronica, it’s an album that keeps you guessing by cycling through a variety of moods over the course of its brief thirty-minute runtime.
“Locked and Loaded” lulls the listener into a meditative trance with its abrasive bursts of distorted guitar punctuated by wispy, fairy-like vocals filtered through walls of effects. Just when you’ve settled into that vibe, “The Hymn of the Mountain Priestess” jars you out of it with its siren-like synths, booming sub-bass, and irresistible vocal hooks sung in Norwegian. As if that weren’t enough, the title track adds swelling strings and ambient textures to the mix, while closer “Heartlocket” ends the experience on a gentle note with bright, melodic guitar tones and raw, heartfelt vocals.
After such a stellar debut, expectations will inevitably be high for the follow-up record. Though Synfuels won’t be easy to top, I’m excited to see how Elusin develops her sound and establishes her musical identity going forward.
6. Panda Bear & Sonic Boom – Reset
This isn’t the first time that Animal Collective’s Panda Bear and Spacemen 3’s Sonic Boom have worked together, but it’s the first time they’ve released an official collaboration record. Thankfully, it doesn’t disappoint in the slightest, as Reset finds both of these modern psychedelic legends in top form, delivering an album that’s sure to please hardcore fans of both musicians.
The tracks are built primarily around looped samples from old soul and doo-wop songs, such as The Everly Brothers’ “Love Of My Life” and The Drifters’ “Save The Last Dance For Me.” This lends the record a sense of comforting nostalgia, immersing the listener in a mood of reflecting on simpler, happier times. These loops also offer the perfect backdrop for Panda Bear’s signature golden harmonies, with his unmistakable voice gently guiding the listener through each track.
This isn’t a Panda Bear solo record, though. In addition to creating the loops that serve as the foundation of the album, Sonic Boom also sings with Panda on several tracks and even takes the lead on a few. It feels like a true collaboration, with both musicians making their stamp and contributing equally to the finished product. If your eyes don’t pop out of your head listening to the soaring harmonies of “In My Body” or the head-spinning vocal hocketing on “Danger,” you might want to double-check that your ears still work.
5. Toro Y Moi – Mahal
Toro Y Moi has been on a roll for several years now, consistently coming through with great albums that each sound totally different from one another. Mahal is yet another stylistic departure for the singer/songwriter/producer, combining elements of rock, funk, jazz, and more into a psychedelic stew that never fails to hold your attention.
Mahal is a concept album of sorts, taking the listener on a wild road trip that they won’t forget. The record flows seamlessly from top to bottom, with the sounds of a revving engine and distorted snippets of radio broadcasts serving as perfect transitions. It’s alternately the most diverse and cohesive Toro Y Moi release to date, rapidly flipping through genres while always maintaining its warm, laid-back mood.
This is an album that demands to be listened to all the way through, but some highlights include the bursts of saxophone on “Goes By So Fast,” the haunting vocal melodies on “Clarity,” and the explosive guitar solo on closing track “Days in Love.” With its memorable songwriting, dynamic instrumentation, and exceptional production, Mahal makes a strong case to be recognized as Toro Y Moi’s defining work.
4. Animal Collective – Time Skiffs
Time Skiffs is the first Animal Collective record to feature all four members since 2012’s Centipede Hz, a shocking ten years ago. It’s also the best album they’ve released since then, making up for what it lacks in wild experimentation with some of the band’s most clear and concise songwriting to date. Tracks like “Prester John,” “We Go Back,” and “Royal and Desire” would be an excellent place to start for new listeners, unusually accessible by Animal Collective’s standards but still sounding like no one else.
The album was recorded remotely during the pandemic, but you’d never know these four guys weren’t in the same room with each other. The chemistry and bond that makes their music so special is felt in abundance, while the production arguably sounds closer to the group’s live sound than any of their previous releases. I saw most of these songs performed at Desert Daze all the way back in 2019 and was thrilled to finally hear them recorded after the band had to wait for so long.
Animal Collective have such a large and diverse discography that it’s virtually impossible for them to please everyone. There are always going to be some fans who want them to repeat what they’ve done in the past, rather than continuing to experiment and embrace new sounds. But that’s not Animal Collective’s style and they have no interest in catering to fans who only like the old stuff – with this band, you’re either along for the ride or you aren’t. Having said that, if you can’t find something to love in the stirring vocal harmonies, intricate rhythms, and brain-tickling textures of Time Skiffs, then it’s hard to imagine how you ever became a fan in the first place.
3. Bjork – Fossora
It’s been a long five-year wait since Bjork’s last album (2017’s Utopia), but any amount of waiting would’ve been worth it for an album this good. From its opening note to its last, Fossora is a stunning experience that delivers a little bit of everything I love about her music.
You want pulse-pounding beats? Check. How about lavish orchestral arrangements? Yep, plenty of those too. You want chill-inducing vocal performances and raw, unfiltered emotion? This is Bjork we’re talking about, so of course there’s plenty of that. There’s also incredible production and mixing that allows every sound to come through in perfect clarity, with special attention paid to the low end. Whether you blast it through speakers or headphones, Fossora is a total-immersion experience.
The album is also deeply moving, incorporating universal themes of love, loss, and family. The record’s centerpiece, “Ancestress,” finds Bjork harmonizing with her son to pay tribute to her late mother while closing track “Her Mother’s House” is a stunning duet with her daughter. Best of all is “Allow,” one of the most stirringly beautiful pieces of music I’ve ever heard – seriously, just try listening to that song without getting goosebumps.
Fossora is far from Bjork’s most cohesive record, with some moments that feel a bit out of place or jarring within the context of the track list. Despite this, the peaks of the album reach such extraordinary heights that I would still rank it among her finer efforts. Nearly thirty years after the release of her seminal Debut, Fossora offers a potent reminder that this legendary artist will never stop experimenting and pushing her music forward into uncharted sonic territory.
2. Malibu – Palaces Of Pity
The second release from French singer/composer/producer Malibu (who also releases music as Belmont Girl and DJ Lostboi), Palaces of Pity is as beautiful and majestic as music gets. Inspired by the ceaseless ebb and flow of the ocean’s tides, Malibu’s music similarly washes over you in a way that feels both calming and overwhelming at once. Each track is built on endless layers of droning synths, swelling strings, and pulsing sub-bass, with her unfathomably angelic vocals soaring over the top.
This is the kind of music that can move a person to tears – it certainly has achieved that effect on me. There’s an emotional quality to the release that feels universal, like Malibu is tapping into all of our collectively shared grief and providing the perfect vessel to let it all out. But even though it’s tinged with sadness, Palaces of Pity is also a blissful and life-affirming record that provides a cathartic healing experience for the listener.
I just wish it was a bit longer – with a brief runtime of 25 minutes, it inevitably leaves me wanting more. On the other hand, the short length has ensured that I listen to it over and over again, marveling each time that the music never loses even a shred of its awe-inspiring power. After this stunning breakthrough, I can’t even begin to imagine what Malibu will do next – but I know that I can’t wait to find out.
1. Merely – Sculpture
It’s very rare that I discover a musician and immediately become a diehard fan, but that’s exactly what happened with Merely. A Swedish singer/songwriter/producer who never stops exploring and reinventing her sound, Merely’s discography encompasses a wide variety of moods while managing to remain remarkably consistent. Sculpture, her fourth full-length album, is the artist’s most ambitious and refined work to date, highlighting everything she does well in one cohesive listening experience.
As always, Merely’s vocals are stunning from start to finish. She is a singer in complete command of her voice, conveying bottomless depths of emotion in every note and harmonizing with herself to awe-inspiring effect. Her songwriting is equally impressive – every track features infectious melodies and tremendous lyrics, filled with poetic imagery and aching authenticity that resonates with me on a deep level.
Co-produced with longtime collaborator Cotton Mouth, and with additional production on two tracks by Malibu, Sculpture is a marvel of sonic clarity and sensory immersion in which every sound is perfectly placed. There are always so many details to focus on, rich textures and subtle vocal layers that only reveal themselves with repeat listens.
I truly don’t have a single negative thing to say about this album. The vocals are gorgeous, the songwriting and production are immaculate, and the track list flows perfectly from top to bottom. It all culminates in “Book of Hours,” a ten-minute stunner of a closer that is so hypnotically mesmerizing and transcendently moving that the song feels like life itself by the time you reach the end of it. With Sculpture, Merely has created a masterpiece and solidified her place among my very favorite musicians.