15 Best Albums of 2022 So Far Pt. 1
No Specific order
Link to the reviews on the caption
Album: Diaspora Problems
Artist: Soul Glo
Genre: Hardcore Punk, Noise Rock
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb1TxTqssZH/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Album: Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You
Artist: Big Thief
Genre: Indie Folk, Folk Rock, Alt-Country
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaBZU_oMaOW/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Album: Melt My Eyes See Your Future
Artist: Denzel Curry
Genre: Conscious Hip Hop, Boom Bap, Experimental Hip-Hop
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbyvXk8ssOB/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Album: Super Champon
Artist: Otoboke Beaver
Genre: Hardcore Punk, Garage Punk, Noise Rock
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cde72obMG9P/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Album: Ants From Up There
Artist: Black Country, New Road
Genre: Art Rock, Post Rock, Chamber Pop
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZs11xVMGlx/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Album: Gloria
Artist: Patricia Taxxon
Genre: Glitch Pop, Electropop, EDM
https://www.instagram.com/p/CayHr1PMYci/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Album: Once Twice Melody
Artist: Beach House
Genre: Dream Pop, Neo-Psychedelia
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaYpLGXs1dR/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Album: Marchita
Artist: Silvana Estrada
Genre: Chamber Folk, Singer-Songwriter
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ0dkWys3ex/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
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Beach House - “Once Twice Melody”
This is the 8th album by Baltimore-based dream pop duo Beach House. Together, Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally have been releasing highly praised material since the mid-2000’s. Records like "Teen Dream" (2010) and "Bloom" (2012) are considered modern classics. With a consistently dreamy and colorful sound, Beach House manages to please longtime fans while also keeping things fresh. With psychedelic influences and an 80’s-inspired new wave approach, "Once Twice Melody" does exactly this. On an almost 1,5 hour-lasting record, we hear the band shifting between these two directions. The arpeggiated and bright synths on "Masquerade" and "Over and Over" create the retro feel of the 80’s, while the phaser and reverb effects on "Through Me" and "Hurts To Love" embody that psychedelic sound. Along with Victoria Legrand’s hazy vocals and the recurring string sections, it’s quite a magical journey. The metaphorical lyrics help paint this colorful, euphoric, but also tragic picture. With the album being built out of 4 separate EP’s, returning to one of these EP’s every once in a while may do the material more justice. Because listing through "Once Twice Melody" in one go, makes some tracks feel similar or less memorable. Still, Beach House maintain their status as Dream Pop pioneers with this well-crafted and ambitious project.
Best track: “Pink Funeral”
Rating: 7,5
Released: February 18, 2022
Bella Union
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alt-J - “The Dream”
The British indie rock band released their 4th album. In 2012, we were first introduced to the colourful and eccentric sound of alt-J. The combination of art rock, electronica and even some soul influences made the group a one-of-a-kind act. The albums that followed up their 2012’s stellar debut still contained interesting songwriting, but especially "RELAXER" (2017) lacked the focus and cohesiveness of "An Awesome Wave" (2012). With 5 years having passed, the band returns with "The Dream". The record starts off pretty solid. That mix of quirkiness, swagger and luscious melodies, has become a signature sound for alt-J and makes for some enjoyable songs. "U&ME" grooves while "Happier When You’re Gone" is soothing to the ears. However, things start to get all over the place and drawn-out as soon as "The Actor" comes to a close. The pumping electro beats on "Chicago" and opera vocals on "Philadelphia" feel a bit random or even awkward. Meanwhile, watered-down tracks like "Walk a Mile" and "Losing My Mind" fail to grab the full attention. After 5 years, you might expect that the band could come up with some fresh and thought-out ideas, but unfortunately, "The Dream" is a mediocre album.
Best track: “U&ME
Rating: 6
Released: February 11, 2022
Infectious Music
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Big Thief - “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You”
The New York-based indie folk group releases its 5th album. After dropping 2 critically-acclaimed albums in 2019, Big Thief became a household name within the indie scene. With organic-sounding instrumentation, clever songwriting and frontwoman Adrianne Lenker unusual singing style, the band has developed a pretty refined sound. Now, with "Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You", a 20-track double album, the band embraces the twangy sound of country music while also exploring some other sonic directions. It’s Big Thief just putting out ideas, unfiltered. It results in some cozy-sounding campfire jams, including acoustic guitars, violins and harmonizing vocals. But, songs like "Time Escaping" and "Blurred View" go in a more artsy and experimental direction. There are even some hints towards dream pop/shoegaze on "Flower of Blood". With 80 minutes of material, things may not always sound as cohesive or memorable. Lenker introduces topics like nature and intimacy, but there isn’t a clear lyrical theme on this record. And as mentioned previously, the vocals can be a bit inaccessible to some. However, the clear musical chemistry between members and diverse songwriting make the album still a well-crafted effort.
Best track: “Simulation Swarm”
Rating: 7,5
Released: February 11, 2022
4AD
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Mitski - “Laurel Hell”
The Japanese-American singer-songwriter releases her 6th album. With every release, Mitski Miyawaki’s (simply known as Mitski) fan base grew. The theatrical art pop of her earlier work and the later indie rock approach came together on the musician’s biggest album yet: "Be The Cowboy". With "Laurel Hell", Mitski dives into the world of 80’s-inspired synth pop. It results in a very keyboard-driven album. Tracks like "The Only Heartbreaker" and "Love Me More" contain that bright and choppy 80’s sound. The lyrics, on the other hand, have a darker theme on this record. Mitski addresses her artistic struggles, isolation and a failed relationship. It’s all brought in quite compelling metaphors. However, the album just doesn’t match the quality of previous records. Despite the 3 strong tracks that "Laurel Hell" starts off with, other songs feel a bit underwhelming. It lacks the memorable hooks and distinctive melodies we normally get from a Mitski project. Especially, the slow-paced "Everyone" and earlier mentioned “Love Me More" are kinda uninspired. Still, this isn’t a particularly bad album. There’s always enough sincerity in Mitski’s songwriting to makes her work worth a listen.
Best track: “Working for the Knife”
Rating: 6,5
Released: February 4, 2022
Dead Oceans
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Saba - “Few Good Things”
The Chicago-based rapper releases his third solo studio album. With 2018’s “CARE FOR ME”, Tahj Malik Chandler, better known as Saba, gained critical acclaim. With influences taken from jazz rap, R&B and conscious hip hop, Saba combined personal and narrative writing with pleasant lo-fi production. On “Few Good Things”, Saba reflects on the success he had during the past years and the struggles that came with it. Having to grown up in poverty, the rapper is skeptical about money and fame. On tracks like “Stop That” and “Survivor’s Guilt, this skepticism is displayed raw and unfiltered. However, for the majority of the album, it’s presented in a more melodic and soothing way. With delicate keys, lo-fi beats and nostalgic lyrics, the songs contain a more R&B/pop feel rather than the cohesive and jazzy approach of “CARE FOR ME”. It doesn’t always compliment Saba’s talents, as some vocal melodies and clunky production like on “a Simpler Time”, feel a bit underwhelming. However, there are moments where Saba’s solid flow and well-crafted wordplay about childhood memories and his family, really show that he is a gifted rapper with a story to tell.
Best track: “Soldier”
Rating: 7
Released: February 4, 2022
Pivot Gang LLC
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Zeal & Ardor - “Zeal & Ardor”
The Swiss/American metal act releases its third official studio album. Combining the soulful slave chants of black spiritual music with the ominous and satanic themes of black metal, musician Manuel Gagneux basically created a new genre. It reached its full potential on 2018’s "Stranger Fruit". Then "Wake of a Nation" EP (2020) hinted at a new direction with its electronic elements and political songwriting. However, "Zeal & Ardor" doesn’t go above and beyond. It feels more like a thematic sequel to "Stranger Fruit". The soul-inspired rhymes, harsh screams and thundering metal riffs are still present. And this is not necessarily a bad thing, because it remains such an intriguing combination. Though the instrumentation leans more towards progressive metal than black metal this time around. It results in some pretty badass and complex breakdowns, like the ones on "Erase" and "I Caught You". The more accessible tracks contain some industrial characteristics like drum pads and gritty synths, which keeps things fresh. However, the song structures on these tracks (like "Golden Liar" and "Bow") feel a bit uneventful. Towards the end of the record, Gagneux manages to surprise us again with "Hold Your Head Low" and "J-M-B", 2 tracks that feel outside Zeal & Ardor’s comfort zone. "Zeal & Ardor" may not top its predecessor from 2018, but Gagneux’s songwriting and producing talents still shine through on this apocalyptic record.
Best track: “Erase”
Rating: 8
Released: February 11, 2022
MVKA
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Animal Collective - “Time Skiffs”
The Baltimore-based indie group releases its 11th album. With their unique and colorful mix of experimental pop, psychedelia and indie rock, Animal Collective have achieved a cult status by now. From their left-field and obscure work of the early 2000’s, to their psychedelic magnum opus: "Merriweather Post Pavillion" in 2009, the band gained high praise. In the 2010's, the group released some decent records, but couldn’t reach that creative high again. With "Time Skiffs", all 4 members reunite again and create an uplifting and dreamy record. Rather than the hyperactive approach of 2016’s "Painting With" or the ambient influences of "Tangerine Reef" (2018), "Time Skiffs" embraces a grooving, percussive and colorful sound. With different kinds of percussion instruments, xylophones and sparkly synths, the songs have an exotic feel. From the psychedelic first two tracks to the euphoric ending of "Strung with Everything", the album is like a vivid dream that you wake up from every once in a while, only to be pulled back in. This is executed nicely on the first half of the tracklisting. Unfortunately, the so-so vocal performances and lack of memorable hooks on the second half, make it more of a snooze fest rather than the sonic trips that the band created in the past.
Best track: “Preston John”
Rating: 6,5
Released: February 4, 2022
Domino Records
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Black Country, New Road - “Ants From Up There”
The British band releases their second album. Last year, Black Country, New Road brought us their highly anticipated debut record. An interesting and artsy blend of abstract post-punk, building post-rock and some exotic Klezmer music. With "Ants From Up There", the band’s sound has become more cohesive and distinctive. The post-rock influences are still there, but the band also incorporates elements of baroque music and jazz, which leaves a bigger spotlight for the violin, saxophone and piano. It results in a colorful, theatrical and emotional sound. Compared to the band’s debut, most songs contain a more structured verse-chorus approach, leaving room for more accessible moments. Still, all songs take captivating and adventurous turns, keeping it far from generic. And of course, there are singer Isaac Wood’s one of a kind vocals and lyrics. His poetic wordplay takes you into his troubled mind, plagued by anxiety, heartbreak and melancholia. With beautifully crafted metaphors like the retired Concorde airplane resembling a failed one-sided relationship. It’s all brought in his low and shaky vocal delivery. Unfortunately, it has taken its toll on Wood’s involvement with the band, as he left the Black Country, New Road to get better. However, with well-crafted arrangements, luscious instrumentation and honest songwriting, "Ants From Up There" sees Wood leaving on an artic high.
Best track: “The Place Where He Inserted the Blade”
Rating: 9
Released: February 4, 2022
Ninja Tune
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