2022 has finally come and gone. I can't recall a year in my life littered with such magnificent highs, and devastating lows. The challenge will be to hold fast to cherished memories while leaving the year far in the rear-view mirror. You might think that we'd opt to get off the rollercoaster ride that is our nomadic life—but you'd be wrong. Our bags are packed and tomorrow we head to start a year abroad in Panama. Anyway, the six of you reading this likely already knew that. So I'll spare you the details and get to why you really came. The music.
2022 was an exciting year for music. The industry officially moved into a post-covid era and the amount of music released and live tours booked reflected this return to normalcy. I had the privilege to see a couple of my favorite artists and it felt like a breath of fresh air to experience the music live. You could tell that the artists were itching to get in front of crowds again.
I've personally developed a new obsession with house music. I spent a lot of time this year being more active, and that led to a lot of EDM getting played. It seems I wasn't the only one. It was interesting to see house elements woven into albums from major artists like Drake and Beyonce. I can't say I loved what they did. But I am intrigued to see if the trend will continue into the new year. There is so much more I could talk about but let's dive into the list!
12. In Lieu Of Light - Reuben And The Dark
I love it when a local band makes my list. These guys never fail to disappoint and I am always shocked that they aren't bigger. They have so much talent, and more than that, there seems to be a real emotional element attached to the songs they write. In Lieu of Light highlights their suberbly smooth yet emotionally charged vocals and beautifully poetic songwriting. Favourite tracks: All My Friends and YES.
11. Surrender - Maggie Rogers
Maggie started as a viral sensation. Not one to rest on her laurels, she is constantly honing her style and craft. Just watch one interview with her and you'll see how committed she is as an artist. She pours her whole self into her work and it shows. Surrender is essentially two albums in one. Half are introspective ballads and the other half are high-energy pop bangers. She kills both styles. Favourite tracks: Want Want and That's Where I Am.
10. Leap - James Bay
This ranking might be a bit of a legacy favouritism pick on my part. It's not that it's not good. Because it is. The album would have ranked higher if it didn't feel a bit homogenous. I just love listening to James Bay. His voice is too good and he writes killer music that just speaks to me. Leap is no different and I find myself constantly returning to listen to it. Favourite tracks: Give Me The Reason and Silent Love.
9. Otherness - Alexisonfire
More Canadian content. For those not used to the genre, Alexisonfire has always been a good gateway into metal. Otherness is no different as it feels like it has more of the Dallas Greens melodic influence in it. It actually feels like a spiritual sister album to City and Colour's A Pill for Loneliness, which is maybe why I like it so much.
Favourite tracks: Sans Soleil and Survivors Guilt.
8. Dance Fever - Florence + the Machine
I'll admit it, this album started out way higher on my list when it debuted. I was never a Florence fan in their early days but over the last few years, I have been won over. Her singing has become less of a gimmick and more of a showcase of her range and power. The writing in Dance Fever feels more personal than in albums past. It feels like a statement album against the oppression of religion and the patriarchy, and I am all for that. Favourite tracks: My Love, King, and Choreomania.
7. Time On My Hands - Ásgeir
This is a wholly well-crafted album. The vibe is hauntingly beautiful. It's perfect for a chill day or a moment of quiet reflection. I am a sucker for Icelandic bands. It's pretty wild for such a small nation to have produced so many incredible artists. Time on my Hands is good in part because of the soothing melodic vocals. The indie folk nature of the album has it feeling like one big lullaby. Favourite tracks: Vibrating Walls, Snowblind, and Golden Hour.
6. Nathan's House Obsession
I couldn't figure out how to properly rank these house albums. They kind of have a similar vibe to them. The common theme is that they aren't just great dance albums, they're also albums full of great songs. Have you ever been looking for an album where you can party all night but also cry yourself to sleep to? These fit that bill. Do yourself a favour and check them out. Some of my favourite songs of the year are from these albums.
Departure - Abroad
Paradise Again - Swedish House Mafia
The Last Goodbye - ODESZA
The Silence in Between - Bob Moses
Palaces - Flume
5. Black Blossom - Zola Blood
Zola Blood seems to be a band that is still trying to define its sound. I love being along for the ride. Black Blossom shifts between sounding like M83 and Radiohead, which is high praise, but assuredly deserved. This album has a cohesive sound without feeling repetitive. I love it when an indie band experiments with electronic sampling. Favourite tracks: Do It, Bright Eyes, and It Never Goes.
4. Midnights - Taylor Swift
I did not see this coming. So take your judgy eyes elsewhere. I still don't like her. Evermore was a masterpiece, but I considered it a one-off because of Justin Vernon. Midnights is the best pop album of the year by a long shot. Clever songwriting, great production, and a version of Taylor Swift that doesn't take herself too seriously. Favourite tracks: Maroon, Lavender Haze, and Midnight Rain.
3. Fallen Paradise - Vancouver Sleep Clinic
One of two hidden gems from Australia making their way to the top of the list. You might classify this as another one of Nathan's indie emotional bands. If that's something you do. But if you have never heard of VSC, then this is the perfect introduction to their melancholic, hypnotic, and often cosmic brand of music. Favourite tracks: Love You Like I Do, The Wire, and The Flow.
2. Blood Moon - RY-X
Honestly, both Vancouver Sleep Clinic and RY-X could be in this spot. But RY-X is slowly becoming one of my favourite artists. Check out this live performance video and I guarantee you will fall in love. Blood Moon is a representation of everything good about RY-X. It's ethereal, it's brooding, and it's a masterclass in intimate songwriting. This music does all kinds of things to my emotions and it's beautiful. Favourite tracks: Your Love, Spiral, and Let You Go.
1. Actual Life 3 - Fred Again..
If you have followed any of my writing for Live Nation this past year, or paid any attention to my socials, you saw this coming. Over the course of the last 18 months, Fred has skyrocketed to one of my favourite artists. It's not just the way he samples and his expertise in producing wildly catchy beats, it's the passion he puts into his work, and just being a genuinely lovely human being. Actual Life 3 is the final album in his series of turning real-life spoken word and vocal samples into incredible music with an authentic emotional element to it. I had the opportunity to see him live in Paris and it was everything. Favourite tracks: Nathan (still breathing), Bleu (better with time), and Danielle (smile on my face).
I read a lot of lists before I made this one. Let me assure you that not many people are talking about these albums. Part of me gets bummed out because I really am passionate about how good these are. But then again, what does Rolling Stones know anyway?
As always I hope you enjoyed the read and can walk away from this blog with some new music to listen to. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a fabulous 2023!
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