Top 25 albums of 2022.
2022 was a fun year for music to me. Although, i either had to make more of an effort to find the excellent music i still listen to or lean onto more mainstream releases than ever. My list consists of artists i already adored or that i have never listened to in the past. It’s been an adventurous ride and for the past week i’ve sprinted through several records to solidify this list more and more.
There’s this trend lately of “ranking objectively based on your personal taste” any form of media and there’s no such thing as objectivity when it comes to your personal taste so of course, there will be albums that you expected on here or that you would’ve ranked higher but this list is 100% subjective and i hope that instead of asking “Where is this album?”, you decide to dive into whichever you have not listened to on this list yet.
Honorable mentions:
Dance Fever- Florence + The Machine.
Genre: Indie rock/pop.
Wet Leg- Self titled.
Genre: Indie rock.
The Lead- FLO.
Genre: R&B.
Marci- Self titled.
Genre: Pop.
Three Dimensions Deep- Amber Mark.
Genre: Pop, R&B, afrobeat, funk, etc…
DAWN FM- The Weeknd
After Hours is a very special record to me. It’s flawless in its concept and execution in my opinion. I was kind of scared by how Abel was going to follow up his magnum opus and once i started seeing the reactions to this album i got really scared. I’m a natural contrarian so obviously i went in looking for elements that allowed me to be an “apologist” of this record. In my first listen i understood every bit of criticism towards it but as i replayed it more and more i started loving this record. Yes, there are cuts i’m not crazy about but the production here is just superb.
I love the transitions, the risks he takes by creating whole new atmospheres in songs like Take My Breath, Gasoline and even Out Of Time. All i can say is that as this album grows on you, you catch new elements that make this such a thrilling experience musically.
Special- Lizzo.
I love Lizzo. I could say thousands of things about my devotion for this woman and her ability to make me feel empowered and comfortable in my skin even if it´s for just 3 minutes during one of her songs. My confidence and the way i perceive my own body was impacted profoundly by her presence since 2019 and i was immensely excited about her comeback.
I remember defending Rumors when it came out and saying it’s a fiery celebration of Lizzo’s pride on her accomplishments and how regardless of everyone online loving her or not she stood on everything she represents and is. When that song got scrapped, i was bummed thinking i’d take much more time for her to finish her album.
When About Damn Time dropped i was instantly hooked by the flute arrangements, her charismatic vocals, the colorful and groovy production and music video. As she kept teasing up her upcoming project, i got more desperate to listen to it.
And i love Special. It might have some mixed reviews but this is a fantastic follow up to Cuz I Love You to me. Of course, it’s not as bombastic or versatile but the deep cuts and hits that we get here are on the same quality level. You can find it on the key change of 2 Be Loved, the horn sections in Everybody’s gay or the marvelous Lauryn Hill sample in Break Up Twice.
From songs like If You Love Me or Special you can see how intimate this project is to Lizzo and i am having the time of my life spending every minute next to it.
Electricity- Ibibio Sound Machine.
I’ve heard an endless number of times that pop music is on a crisis. 50% of my list is filled with excellent pop albums but this one? It’s the most unique and sonically complex out of the bunch. I didn’t know a single thing about this group and i got introduced to them through this project.
At first, i was overwhelmed by the experimentation and layered synths with ethnic instrumentation throughout every track but as i came back to certain songs i was able to click with how intentional every sound here is.
Songs like All that You Want, 17 18 19 and Truth No Lie were faves of mine from the beginning but Something We´ll Remember and Oyoyo climbed up my ranking very quickly.
I’m so glad i got to check this out! Love the production, lyricism and vocals. Even if there are certain tracks i’m yet to settle with, this is still an amazing pop album to me.
Dirt Femme- Tove Lo.
I didn’t get Tove Lo until this album. Yeah, i LOVE Glad He’s Gone but that’s it. I’ve never loved or came back to one of her projects regularly. When i pressed play on this album i was scared of how that preconception i had of her would affect my sentiment on these songs.
She managed to shut me up with a very diverse and profound track-list with songs that tackle themes like not wanting to live an idealized life in “suburbia” with kids and a marriage, body dysmorphia, the nature of love and how dangerous it can be. All of that with an unbelievable work by the producers, great composition and a very cohesive set of tracks.
I can say now that i’m a Tove Lo fan and that i’ll keep songs like Attention Whore, How Long, Grapefruit, Call On Me and much more on repeat during the rest of my existence.
And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow- Weyes Blood.
Weyes Blood did it again. I’m glad she tried to aim for something different than Titanic Rising. It’s the same dream/chamber pop she’s known for but this time around we get more experimentation with sound, concept and lyricism. Songs like Twin Flame, It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody, God Turn Me Into a Flower are a testament of Natalie’s artistry.
Her sound is so solid and every song sounds expensive and lush and brilliant. Love this one!
Fossora- Björk.
Björk refuses to miss. After 30+ years into her career, she dropped a project that is not only unique in its sound but 10 times better than Utopia. From the lead single, it was obvious how disjointed and weird this record was about to be. The way she described it is very accurate, “biological techno” makes sense only when you listen to it.
This is arguably one of her most accessible projects with deep cuts that are stunning. Ancestress is one of the best songs she’s ever made, Victimhood is as lowkey as it is invigorating once you reach the end, the title track is celebratory in its beauty and there are more songs from this project to be praised. I’m glad to know she’s still got it. 10 albums in and the quality speaks for itself!
Ugly Season- Perfume Genius.
I am a huge fan of Mike’s music. No Shape and Set My Heart are two of my favorite pop albums ever. His discography is so unapologetic and multifaceted as his intricate lyricism and capacity to make catchy but experimental pop music.
Going into this, i realized from the very first track that this is a complete left turn from his previous projects. It’s significantly artsier than everything he’s ever done. I’m not even a huge fan of ambience but Mike’s capacity to balance how every song progresses makes this a mind-bending and immaculate record.
With years, i think this might become one of my favorites from him.
The Car- Arctic Monkeys.
I’ve never loved a project by Arctic Monkeys (the ones i’ve heard) but this one just worked for me. The arrangements, the quiet but significant vocals in the mix and Alex´s lyricism that shines the most on this production just works magnificently.
Even if i think it’s not perfect, songs like There’d Better Be A Mirrorball, The Car or Big Ideas are some of the biggest marks they’ve reached artistically in their entire career.
Gemini Rights- Steve Lacy.
Steve is an excellent songwriter. I’d not been introduced to one of his albums before but i checked this out and i was immediately stunned thanks to his composition skills and style ornamented by pillowy but gorgeous instrumentation behind of him. It’s dramatic but with a very dreamy presentation that begs for you to pay attention because of the amount of detail you can find in it.
Big Time- Angel Olsen.
I got to check 3 different Angel Olsen albums this year and this is my least favorite out of them. And my least favorite Angel Olsen album is one of my favorites from this year. She’s THAT good.
She’s excellent at what she does and this is a project where you are a witness of someone who knows what she’s doing from beginning to end. She presents herself as a folk country darling on this one. Her lyricism here is enchanting, heartbreaking and breath-taking. The production is elegant and it happens to be immaculately mixed too. Everything that’s great about this record you can appreciate right away.
Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You- Big Thief.
Great folk music. All that’s been said about this album is true. Excellent from top to bottom and its lyricism is just as comforting as every melody and instrument displayed. I recommend Love Love Love, Heavy Bend and Simulation Swarm.
I Love You Jennifer B- Jockstrap.
This is When We All Fall Sleep’s big sister. A much more mature dark pop album with artsy elements that still don’t take away from its catchy songwriting and ear worm melodies.
This is Georgia’s (Lead singer and co-producer of the duo) second appearance on this list. I must say, her tone is unbelievably sweet and soothing. Also, her lyricism is on par with some of the biggest and most ambitious songwriters out right now.
Taylor Skye’s production here is ambitious and progressive. The experimentation here is boundless, limitless and timeless.
age/sex/location- Ari Lennox.
From the delicate keys and the bass lines to the unapologetic lyricism and the outstanding vocals, this is an album which elegance can be discovered just by a glance. Its themes of self discovery, romance and confidence are fundamental to its beauty. Ari Lennox has proven to be one of the strongest voices in the music industry. Her drive is focused, prudent and extremely smart. Even the EP she released a few days before this album is filled with excellence.
Ari is a force to recon with and i’m glad we get to live while she’s rising towards a prime that’s awaiting for her.
NO THANK U- Little Simz.
Simbi dropped what might be an album of the decade contender last year and she decided to close this year with a BANG as well.
This is personal, insightful, powerful but more intimate somehow. The epicness of Sometimes I Might be Introvert turned into skeletal beats with swells of instrumentation every now and then but all of the attention goes to the storytelling. Which is as enchanting and thrilling this time around.
I’ll get to spend more time with this one and solidify my thoughts, but one thing i´m sure about right now is that i love it!
Lucifer On The Sofa- Spoon.
Cannot lie. I needed a rock album for this list so i went through several of them from this year but this one is what caught my entire attention. I am very selective when it comes to records from this genre, because i lean more onto softer instrumentation. It’s a flaw of mine. heavy production can overload my senses within seconds.
And this album surprised me because it manages to have some heavy passages but it’s so well balanced that i could process it from my first listen. The build ups and catchiness of these tunes is infectious. I don´t seem to get enough of them.
I am not a rock connoisseur so i don’t know who to compare this album with but if you like the genre (or even as an introduction to it), you’ll definitely enjoy this.
Too Much To Ask- Cheekface.
I am not a huge fan of punk stuff but this stopped me on my tracks. The almost spoken word delivery with silly lyrics that range from anti-imperialism to cutting off relationships from your life to pessimism during the pandemic to wanting to be the featured singer on an EDM song, with instrumentation that is so well played and a vibe that is so gripping, it seduces you into replaying it multiple times…EVERYTHING about this record is insane to even describe but monumental in my eyes.
I’ve been playing this ever since i listened to it and it´s such a short yet effective mood booster. Cannot recommend this enough!
SOS- SZA.
SZA did it again. How? I’m still wondering. At first, i had a lot of issue with the length but as i’ve got time to sit with it, i don’t mind it. Although CTRL is still a step or two above narratively, i completely adore every second of this pack of tracks.
Snooze, Gone Girl, Blind, Forgiveless, Ghost In The Machine, Kill Bill and several songs more are some of her best songs ever. Her lyricism has gone too far and her storytelling on here is more effective and hard hitting.
I’m currently obsessed with this album and its minimalism and attention to detail. also, the risk taking on the mix blows my mind everytime.
CAPRISONGS- FKA Twigs.
This was love at first sight. Twigs is one of my favorite artists so it wasn’t really hard for me to love CAPRISONGS.
What i love about it the most? How much fun she seems to be having, her exploring themes just for the sake of doing it while still sounding mature and grounded. Specially on Minds of Men and Thank You Song.
But the tracks i enjoy the most from here are the most bombastic and danceable ones. Papi Bones is an explosive collaboration with breath taking chemistry, just as Dajeerling and Jealousy. Ride the Dragon is an infectious intro with some glitchy but so well produced moments…
This mixtape is the truest example of an artists being versatile and yet, true to their sound. Every song here sounds the way she wanted it to sound and it feels so intentional that you cannot doubt her artistry at any point.
Meridian Brothers & El Grupo Renacimiento- Self titled.
I’ve stated several times that salsa is a top 3 genre of all time for me. From the range of its themes but specifically how political it manages to be? right up my alley.
I was patiently awaiting for a new Meridian Brothers release since i really liked Cumbia Siglo XXI back in 2020 and once i heard it was a salsa album, i was SOLD.
And it’s so good… the weirdest salsa music like ever and i’m fond of it. The instrumentation is just as pristine and exquisite as i needed it to be but the whole vocal processing that makes every melody sound creepy was an incredible choice.
The concept of the album is disjointed since it covers themes about police brutality, addiction, making salsa for pretentious people, having “no heart” and thanking god for it or atomic bombs being built all over the world. It’s not disturbing but it’s so yielding you almost get lost at some spots trying to find a way to really grasp everything that’s going on.
Ants From Up There- Black Country, New Road.
What can i say? I’m not really original for this but i’ve cherished this record for almost a year now. Every production choice is perfectly placed. The lyricism just WORKS for me. How am i not supposed to love this?
So show me the land you acquire
And slip into something beside
The holes you try to hide
And lay out your rules for the night
Oh, don't eat your toast in my bed
Oh, darling, I
I never felt the crumbs until you said
"This place is not for any man
Nor particles of bread"
Songs like Concorde, The Place Where He Inserted the Blade and Good Will Hunting are some HUGE highlights of the year to me.
If you get it, you get it i guess.
Marchita- Silvana Estrada.
Talked about this one on here already but i still could go on and on about it for years. Its beauty cannot be contained by any word on any human language but like a painting you want to detail from top to bottom, you can contemplate it and appreciate with awe how a human being can be capable of something so stunning, potent and vulnerable at the same time.
This is Mexican folk at its core. In her expressions, vocal style, chord progressions and its rustic quality, there’s nothing here that could not be understood as a love letter to grief, a goodbye kiss that is as not tangible as it is present, like a rush of wind on a September afternoon.
Devastatingly beautiful.
The Forever Story- JID.
JID is a star. In every sense of that word. He is a composer to reckon with, a lyricist that can be compared to the greats, a totally capable singer and a musician that people should look up to. This is a stellar project. The highest point of someone’s career if you may.
And no, that doesn’t means it won’t get better than this. It will. Somehow, this perfect album won’t be hard for him to top because his talent pours through every word, every melody, every flow.
The amount of themes and concepts he manages to get through are not only impressive but
A proof of someone who does not only writes from experience but from knowledge. He’s an indisputable poet who will be studied within years to come.
MOTOMAMI- Rosalía.
There’s a full article on this one here too but i must say, i didn’t know how better this could get with each listen? Recently rewatched her interview with Jaime Altozano and the word genius is useless when it comes to her. The composition in HENTAI, the outro of SAOKO saying “take that and chop it", referring to clothing a designer is making for her but also her voice, and right there the vocal chops get in the mix???? And i don’t even have the knowledge on some references from asian cultures that make appearances throughout the album but i’m sure they also have a much more deep meaning that i’m yet to capture.
Also, can we talk about her balladry on this? HENTAI, COMO UN G, SAKURA and G3 N15 are some of her best songs without a doubt.
Rosalía, you’ll always know fame and glory.
RENAISSANCE- Beyoncé.
This is officially my most played album from this year. To even imagine that we would be graced by a new Beyoncé album in 2022 was something i am still processing. On top of that, it being a perfect dance record just as versatile and immense as Lemonade? You could’ve told this to me earlier this year and i would’ve busted out laughing at the thought.
The concept of RENAISSANCE is very tied up to Lemonade, at least to me. She picks up things right where she left us. She’d gone through so much grief and pain, her only way out was expressing them through song. At the end of that journey, Formation was a celebration that marked a new beginning. Which we get to continue throughout this entire tracklist.
ALIEN SUPERSTAR shocked me to my core. Beyoncé making a vogue song as UNIQUE and poignant is all i’ve ever wanted. CUFF IT is probably the best disco track we’ve got from the revival we’ve went through since Don’t Start Now and Blinding Lights dropped.
RENAISSANCE is an experience. A celebration that you can enjoy from beginning to end thanks to its transitions. The CUFF IT- ENERGY- BREAK MY SOUL and PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA- VIRGO’S GROOVE runs are terrific!
Talking about the best song of all time, VIRGO’S GROOVE is ACROBATIC. Somehow, Beyoncé pushed herself vocally up to a point of breaking every existent limit of the human voice.
This is my first time saying this and i’m trusting myself by asserting… this is her best album. Her most abundant and prolific artistically.
De Todas Las Flores- Natalia Lafourcade.
2022 was the year i realized i love Jazz. I started getting into artists like Esperanza Spalding, Ella Fitzgerald, Alice Coltrane and Nina Simone (She leans on more to blues though), also albums like Have One On Me defined an obscure unexplored corner of my music taste i was yet to explore.
I was seeking for something in this genre that could resonate with me in the same way some of my all time favorites have. I knew Natalia was dropping this year, but i didn’t expect for her to drop what might be my favorite album of the decade this far.
Natalia has been known for making Mexican folk music. My now second favorite album from her is a revision on classics from the genre but also re-imaginations of previous tracks she’d make earlier in her career.
When i listened to the swells of strings that open the album and the first song, i knew i was in for a fantastic body of work but very different from what she´s done in the past. The incorporation of Jazz influences here is splendid.
“De Todas Las Flores” -Of all the flowers- is a metaphor for those flowers in your garden that whiter thanks to lack of caring. Of course, that garden sometimes is your own life. Someone becomes the center of it and suddenly, you become some planet in their solar system.
“Pasan Los Días” is devastating. A song about the aftermath of a relationship. The ghost of that person haunts you everyday and you’re holding on to it because you’re still in denial. That belt at the end with the switch up is utterly glorious.
“Maria La Curandera” is a song based on a poem by Maria Sabina, which is focused on people being the cure to our own pain. Being able to bring relief and medicine to someone else or ourselves is a gift we don´t often appreciate and that´s what she highlights on this track.
“Caminar Bonito” is a love song i will make sure of being in my wedding playlist, “Que Te Vaya Bonito Nicolás” is a tribute to a cousin of hers that passed away in Chile, “Mi Manera de Querer” is about seeing the positive in everyone that surrounds you and loving with no regrets.
Every song in this album is blissfully composed, produced, written and performed to me. This is even in my top 5 of all time dare i say.
This is a record that unfolds in front of you as you get through it. Unadultered, layered and lush folk/jazz music.
So… i’d love to hear your thoughts. What is your top 5 this year? Which album did i miss and you think i could love? Which ones are u interested on checking out? Let me know if u do!