allkindsofgoodmusic

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Shoegaze went quickly from the new hot thing in the early 90s, to a much maligned genre. But it refuses to die and is still alive and well today. It grew out of 80s indie, but has spawned sub-genres like blackgaze, punkgaze and metalgaze. This list however, explores the overlap between shoegaze and another genre that initially struggled for both commercial and critical success: power pop. What they have in common are lovely melodies and guitars. Lots of guitars. Here you will find songs from the late 60s up until today. Some famous, some obscure, all great. They all have one thing in common: they should be played loud.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.      

1. Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You

The Brooklyn Quartet has graced my lists before, but just as Alvvays they have not reached this height before. “Dragon New Warm…” is their masterpiece and one of the best albums of the 21st century so far. It’s always amazing to hear a band at the absolute peak of their abilities. Big Thief makes americana in a wide and generous definition of the genre. If Zach Bryan digs where he stands, Big Thief incorporates other elements and in some cases it’s hard to understand that the songs come from the same band. Adrienne Lenker’s voice is a dead giveaway though. Her vocals are immediately recognisable. Not necessarily a pleasant voice, but extremely expressive and Lenker has developed her singing a lot and can do more with it now. Unfortunately, they haven’t made a video of the album’s greatest song, “Simulation Swarm”. Max Oleartchik’s playing on the (fretless?) bass is enough reason to buy the whole album.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.      

2. Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen

Brittney Parks is a ridiculously talented musician. Her debut (2019) was interesting, but the follow-up is a masterpiece. Her music is grounded in r’n’b, but covers a lot of ground. She plays a number of instruments herself, including the violin, and the arrangements on the album are brilliant. There are influences from west African music, but also contemporary artists like SZA and FKA Twigs. Parks has all the makings of a future superstar.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.      

3. Alvvays - Blue Rev

Alvvays have been on my lists before but never this high. That is as it should be, since this is their best album so far. The Canadian band started making music in the overlap of twee and shoegaze, but their range is much broader than that now. This is music close to my heart and it feels good that you can still make great guitar-based pop in the Big Star – Todd Rundgren – Teenage Fanclub – Replacements – Posies-type of tradition. Unlike those bands, Alvvays do not rely on harmonies as much, but singer/songwriter Molly Rankin always had more personality in her vocals than most of her contemporaries, and she has developed that even further. This is in no way innovative or original, but perfectly crafted. Like a well-tailored suit.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.      

4. Zach Bryan – American Heartbreak

I had never listened to Bryan before. He’s a navy vet who has recorded a few albums without much noise. Then he had the balls to release a 34(!) song album, “American Heartbreak”, this year and it blew everything away. It’s like when Stephen Merritt released “69 Love Songs” in 1999, but in a totally different genre. “American Heartbreak” is a monumental album. I would not be surprised if in 20 years’ time it will be considered the greatest musical achievement of 2022. Not all 34 songs are great, but most of them are and a few will be classics. Some critic wrote that Bryan’s songs “take the shortest path from feeling to words”, and I think that is a good description. Roots, traditional country, americana, Bryan’s music is firmly rooted in an American tradition. He reminds me of a young Kris Kristofferson, and that is a very good thing.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.      

5. Leikeli47 – Shape Up

Another artist who prefers to wear a mask, or to avoid appearing in her videos altogether. Leikeli comes from Brooklyn and her third album is my favourite rap-album of 2022. In a year where most hip-hop producers seemed to put all their focus on hi-hat programming, Leikeli is a welcome change. Beats sounds more like Missy Elliott or Busta Rhymes than trap or drill, and that’s fine by me. Clever samples and a smooth flow make this an excellent album. “Baseball” might the best sport/sex innuendo on record. Great bassline too. It should be released as a single.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.    

6. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava

One thing is certain: no band produced more great music in 2022 than the psych-rock behemoth from Melbourne. They managed to release five(!) albums this year, all of them great. Don’t know if that has ever happened before. If I had to choose, I would pick IDPLML as the best of them. Not only that, but one of the best albums in King Gizzard’s already vast catalogue. They are sometimes called a jam band, but they are so much more than that. Just watch the live performance attached. At 11:00 they start with “Iron Lung”, a track so huge it needs its own monument. Awesome.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.    

7. Special interest – Endure

They are from New Orleans but if you expect trad jazz you will be disappointed. Special Interest are often referred to as punk, but that doesn’t really capture their sound. A very glam version of punk maybe, with influences from house, disco, and body. I mean they don’t even have a drummer, like some hedonistic, less nihilistic version of Suicide. It’s true to punk in the sense that a lot of the music is confrontational, angry, and political. But it’s also joyous and a celebration of sexuality and counterculture. Music to get you going.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.    

8. Ezra Furman – All of Us Flames

Furman has been a mainstay on the US indie scene for almost 20 years. Furman has always been prolific and maybe that is one of the reasons she has made a number of excellent songs, but never a great album. Until now. Furman came out as a transgender woman in 2021, and that experience runs through “All of Us Flames”. It’s a thrilling ride and Furman’s best work by far. “Forever in Sunset” is probably my favourite song of 2022. On the surface it’s a great, but traditional pop song of the darker kind, but it’s also deeply unsettling with the sound manipulations and Furman’s increased desperation. This is an album that deserved to be much, much bigger.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.    

9. Muna – Muna

They were supposed to be the next big thing. The LA trio signed with a major label and hopes were high. It didn’t work out and they were dropped after one album. Indie-queen Phoebe Bridgers signed them for her label, and Muna started over. The result is the best pure pop album of the year. Colourful, charming, queer, and hooks everywhere. Like silk-chiffon.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.    

10. The Smile – A Light for Attracting Attention

“A Light for Attracting Attention” has been called the best album by a Radiohead sideproject. I would go a step further and call it the best Radiohead-related album since “In Rainbows”. Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood sound more relaxed than for a long time and drummer Tom Skinner’s contribution should not be underestimated. His relaxed and fluid style moves effortlessly between time signatures that could easily be intrusive and too complex. I’m a sucker for a great bassline so “The Smoke” is one of my favourite tracks of 2022.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.    

11. Rosalía - Motomami

Some critics wondered if Rosalía’s highly original electronic take on flamenco on her international breakthrough album “El Mar Querer”, would just be a one-off thing. Now she is a global superstar and seem to be able to absorb a wide array of styles and genres. Hip hop, bachata, reggaeton, champeta, Rosalía’s new album is full of different rhythms. On “Candy” she even samples Burial. And only one flamenco song (“Bulería), even if you can still hear the influence in many of her vocals. Rosalía has been accused of appropriation, especially connected to latin American music. Maybe that’s why her album is full of collaborations with prominent latino artists. Be that as it may, “Motomami” is a great album and Rosalía proves once again that she is a versatile musician..

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.    

12. Kendrick Lamar – Mr Morale & the Big Steppers

Critics all seemed to agree that “Mr Morale…” was not as good as Lamar’s two previous albums. That is true. But let’s have some perspective here. “To Pimp a Butterfly” and “Damn” are two of the greatest hip hop albums ever released. This album is a little too sprawling and unfocused compared with Lamar’s best work, but it’s still better than 99% of the rest that’s out there at the moment.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.    

13. Adeem the Artist – White Trash Revelry

A pansexual, non-binary artist who writes songs about structural racism, economic inequality, religion, and sexuality? Who calls their album “White Trash Revelry”? Whose music is based on roots country? Surely that could never work? Not only does it work, it’s one of the best country albums of 2022 and Adeem the Artist is suddenly the next hot thing. Except of course for those who would like to see them burn in hell. Honky tonk bangers (“Run This Town”), poignant ballads (“Middle of a Heart”), Love Songs (“For Judas”), bar-room rockers (“Heritage of Arrogance”), political statements (“My America”), everything is here. And it all works.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.    

14. Lady Wray – Piece of Me

Lady Wray’s career is filled with what-ifs. She was signed to Missy Elliott’s label in 1997 and even had a guest spot on the classic “Supa Dupa Fly”. Since then, she has made several albums that have been shelved for different reasons, by different labels. A few albums have been released, but without any commercial success. There is a risk that “Piece of Me” will also disappear without much noise, but I hope not because this is an excellent album. Retro soul, not back to the 60s or 70s, but rather the 90s. Great songs, great production, great vibe and just a lovely album. Lady Wray deserves success, and this album should bring her some justice.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.    

15. Grace Ives – Janky Girl

Probably the most fun album of the year. A true pop gem. This is the New Yorker’s second album, but I missed the first. Ives makes short, catchy, and clever electropop songs. It’s like a demonstration of her instrument of choice, the Roland 505. A distinct DIY vibe, but deceptively nuanced as well. She will do well here.

[allkindsofgoodmusic]

Here comes my 25 favourite rock/pop/r’n’b/hiphop/country albums of 2022.    

16. Alex G – God Save the Animals

Alexander Giannascoli triggers a lot of aggravation for me. It’s like he makes music designed to get great reviews from Pitchfork. Even his band looks annoying. Alex G is often compared to Elliott Smith, but I think he’s much closer to British musicians like Badly Drawn Boy. The thing with Alex G though is that if you give his music a chance, he will win you over because it’s so very well done. Great songwriting, great lyrics (if he could just stop going on about his damn dogs) and a production that suits his style perfectly. Annoyingly good.