Top Albums of 2022 (1/5/2023)

 I didn't actually love that many albums this year. Yes, it was a great year for music, especially for hip hop, with a large amount of releases. But, there actually wasn't that large an amount of albums that I truly loved this year, at least not enough to even make a top 10. Of course, I liked more than 10 albums, but I didn't think that I liked them enough to actually include them in my top 10 favorite albums list of this year. Instead, I have gathered 7 albums, along with 5 honorary mentions, and also 1 EP. 

Also, the order doesn't really matter here, even if I did try to somewhat order them. My thoughts on these albums change literally like everyday and according to my mood.


1. Dawn FM.

This album released in the beginning of the year and it made me a Weeknd fan. I did not like Blinding Lights that much, but this album just clicked for me. Maybe it was the overall concept of the album, which was actually mostly coherent, or it was the nice transitions and song order of the album, but everything just kind of works. I actually enjoyed the skits inside the songs, and the transition from Best Friends to Is There Something Else? makes me eargasm every time. Also, the choice of including Out of Time after the skit A Tale By Quincy just works sooo well. There's some kind of release of tension in there that I love so much. It especially works well because of just how good Out of Time is. For me, it was an instant classic the moment I heard it. This song was actually the sole reason I gave this album a try. I just wish that he made the skit part of the song another separate song, because it does kind of break up the flow if I include the song in a playlist (or play it in any other context that isn't the original album)


Best Songs: Out of Time

Worst Songs: none, all are pretty good


2. The Loneliest Time - Carly Rae Jepson

Wow. Just pure pop goodness. I actually loved this album way way way more than I thought I would. When this album came out, I literally listened to this and only this for three days straight, while working on my Matlab midterm. There really aren't any skips on this album (except mayyybe Beach House, although I think I had my opinion influenced by Anthony Fantano). It's just bright and happy goodness all around.


Best Songs: Surrender My Heart, Talking to Yourself, Sideways, Bends, Western Wind, So Nice, No Thinking Over the Weekend.

Worst Songs: not really any, maybe Beach House a tiny bit but it's still a good song and worth listening to.


3. Harry's House - Harry Styles

This was an album that I actually waited for. I saw a lot of people shitting on Harry Styles on TikTok, but honestly this is a pretty good album. It constantly surprised me while listening to it by just how much I enjoyed all the songs. I kept expecting it to drop the ball at points, but it never really did. I'm digging this new pop style, even if I do sort of miss the old rock stuff he'd do. 


Favorite Songs: Music for a Sushi Restaurant, Late Night Talking, As It Was, Matilda, Keep Driving

Worst Songs: not really any


4. Being Funny in a Foreign Language - The 1975

The best 1975 album so far. It's not bloated and overly long, at 43 minutes. It's just more 1975 music, and they have established their own style that I haven't really seen anywhere else (there is the band milk., but I think that the 1975 are better). Honestly, there really isn't any other musical group out there that could write a song like Part of the Band.


Favorite Songs: The 1975, Happiness, Part of the Band, I'm in Love With You

Worst Songs: none, but some songs are a bit forgettable to me.


Mr Morale and the Big Steppers - Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick finally fucking dropped. And, I think it lives up to the hype. Kendrick has more things to say than ever, and I really appreciate what he's saying here. The songs on here actually have meaning. And, while not all of them are super listenable (ex: We Cry Together),they all have a purpose. This is definitely a must listen album of the year.


Favorite Songs: N95, Die Hard, Auntie Diaries, Mr Morale, Mirror

Worst Songs: We Cry Together, even though I don't think it was meant to be nice to listen to.



Chloe and the Next 20th Century - Father John Misty

This album sparked an entire rabbit hole of music that I dove into for a month of two. I liked this album so much that I actually listened to Father John Misty's entire discography. Even though the musical style is about the same, for some reason this album is the only one that I always can come back to. It's just so vibey. I love the storytelling of the songs, but I also love the chamber pop aesthetic. Also, Buddy's Rendezvous is one of the best songs ever made.


Favorite Songs: Chloe, Kiss Me (I Loved You), Buddy's Rendezvous, Funny Girl

Worst Songs: none.


Making Steak - HYBS

Making Steak is a weird album to put on here, because I've only listened to it all the way through like once. The reason is because I had already listened to all the singles so many times, and there actually weren't that many new songs on the album. That being said, all of HYBS's songs are pretty good, albeit a little bit generic. They seem like they just like to have fun, and honestly that's a pretty nice vibe.


And now here are my honorable mentions.

Mood, Sunday - Fromm

It's another Fromm album, but this time more focused on simple acoustic guitar sounds. I always sleep well when I listen to this, and Fromm nails that delicate/wistful/sad/nostalgic feel.



Moodswings in to Order - DPR Ian

I think this is what Moodswings in This Order wanted to be, which is a good album. I think he really nails the edgy vibe here, and it actually works.


Everything I Know About Love - Laufey

It's more Laufey songs, and she's very good at what she does, which is make orchestral sad love songs. All the songs here are good, but none of them just stand out to me for some reason. Also, I'm just not super in the mood for some of the songs sometimes.


The Forever Story - JID

I felt like I had to include this. This album was a good album, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as most people did. It's still good, but I don't find myself going back to it when I could listen to other things.


Nicole - NIKI

Of all of NIKI's discography, I think I disliked this the least. It's pretty good, yes, but I just feel like it doesn't live up to the rest of NIKI's discography. High School in Jakarta is one of my favorite songs of the year (and maybe ever also), however.


Back to You - PREP

This EP is another solid EP by PREP. I just want them to release another album, please. I just want more PREP music. They have a formula and my god it works.

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