One
Arcade Fire
Without question the best album so far of 2022 is Arcade Fire’s We. I can state this unequivocally because it’s the one my daughter likes to listen to with me. When the teenager and the dad find agreement, who can argue with that?
Two
All Them Witches
Not far behind, and the album I’ve been listening to in the evenings for my “savoring” meditation is All Them Witches Live On the Internet.
Three
Khruangbin & Leon Bridges
I’m a sucker for bluesy drone collaborations and the new album by Khruangbin & Leon Bridges hits all the right notes. So chill.
Four
The Smile
Yes, I’m a Radiohead fan, which means I’ll watch for and listen to all their side projects. The Smile is the most recent, and it’s got that Thom Yorke solo album sound to it while also being decidedly Radiohead. Probably their best side project yet.
Five
Fontaines D.C.
I’ve been really into punk and post-punk the last year, and the new Fontaines D.C. opens with a song that I guess you could only call “roots” or “folk”-punk. It’s gorgeous.
Six
Boris
There’s a whole mood that is experimental rock heavy metal drone psychedelia noise ambient music. I think I first got into this sound listening to Sonic Youth, and Kim Gordon’s new minimal blues team-up with Loren Conners, At Issue (formerly of Sonic Youth) is also wonderful, but the new release from the Japanese band Boris hits the real sweet spot for the genre. I recommend headphones. Also, I don’t know if they planned this but their album title is the same as Arcade Fire’s new album just minus the “e.”
Seven
Warpaint
Warpaint is in my top five bands of all time. I simply can’t get enough of the kind of ambient yet driven rock they lay down. They are a force of nature. There’s a great interview with the all-female band up at The Guardian, and I recommend it for insight into the nature of creativity over the long haul.
Eight
Poliça
Okay, this last one doesn’t come out until Friday, but you can listen to the early release tracks on streaming services, and I doubt there will ever be a year when Poliça comes out with an album where I don’t put it in a top ten list. Synth pop from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Yes, please.