| Pangea's 2022 [finished] |
| 50 |  | Null (USA)
Origin
United States
Atmospheric Black Metal
Longing for Winter II
Tones down the folk elements of Hiraeth and goes for a more straightforward atmoblack album. It's very good, but funny enough the length bothers me a whole lot more as it did on Hireath even though it is significantly shorter. I guess with the folk element the feeling of the adventure also went for me. But there is still many great moments on here |
| 49 |  | Cult of Luna
The Long Road North
Sweden
Post Metal
Cold Burn
Feels very by the numbers for Cult of Luna. Luckilly, CoL by the numbers is still better than most bands so this kicks ass. Opener Cold Burn in particular is a scorcher and one of their best |
| 48 |  | Domestic Terminal
All The Stories Left To Tell
United States
Indie Rock/Emo
All The Stories Left To Tell
Very nice and twinkly album from yoyo and co. Love the warm atmosphere and vocals |
| 47 |  | Material Girl
i85mixx21-22
United States
Hip Hop/Sound collage thing
i85mixxalbumversion
I do really like the production here. Quite busy and energetic, but still focused as well. Rapping fits the vibe very well |
| 46 |  | Honey Harper
Honey Harper and the Infinite Sky
United Kingdom
Alt Country
Reflections
Honey Harpes moves away from the dreamy country and makes more regular (i guess) country. It's still good! The music is still very pretty and easy to listen to |
| 45 |  | White Lung
Premonition
Canada
Punk
If You're Gone
The weakest White Lung since the debut and it's still very good. Guitar playing is great as ever, still very catchy and fast-paced. |
| 44 |  | Pi Ja Ma
Seule Sous Ma Frange
France
Indie Pop
Destination l'amour
Very cute and happy indie pop. Just let the good vibes flow through you |
| 43 |  | Static Dress
Rouge Carpet Disaster
United Kingdom
Post Hardcore
fleahouse
Hey good sputcore! This is a very fun listen with a ton of energy and it's catchy as fuck. The chorus of fleahouse lives rent free in my head |
| 42 |  | Jambinai
Apparition
South Korea
Post Rock
Until My Wings Turn to Ashes
Love Jambinai's style of post rock and this is a very solid addition to their discog. The South Korean instruments add so much to the atmosphere |
| 41 |  | Saya Gray
19 Masters
Canada
Indie Folk/Psych Folk
Empathy 4 Bethany
I struggle a bit with these albums with a lot of tracks that are mostly short as the tracks often feel more like snippets of ideas rather than full fledged songs. This is not different here, but I can't deny that there are some great tunes here |
| 40 |  | Otoboke Beaver
SUPER CHAMPON
Japan
Hardcore Punk
I Am Not Maternal
Definitely one of the most fun gigs i had this year, and the energy they show on stage transfers very well on record too. Somewhat of a similar issue as with saya grey, but the chaotic nature does work well for them |
| 39 |  | The Smile
A Light For Attracting Attention
United Kingdom
Art Rock
The Smoke
Radiohead side project that is quite good i think. Kind of a Moon Shaped Pool adjacent, but slightly better. I'll take it |
| 38 |  | Gospel
MVDM: Magick Volumes Of Dark Madder
United States
Progressive Rock
Gospel goes full prog, including flutes! I enjoy it quite a bit, but it did tire me out a little after repeated listens |
| 37 |  | Lykotonon
Promethean Pathology
United States
Black Metal/Industrial Metal
Seeing Silver In Shadow
Very cool and sinister industrial black metal. Closer Seeing Silver in Shadow is one of the year's best |
| 36 |  | Wormrot
Hiss
Singapore
Grindcore
Glass Shards
Goes hard and the string arrangements do a great job of adding variety and contrast to grind |
| 35 |  | Nneka
Love Supreme
Nigeria
Neo Soul
Space
Great soulful and well-varied album. Wonderfully produced too. Every track offers something a little different. |
| 34 |  | Skalpel
Origins
Poland
Nu Jazz/Downtempo
White Label
Mixing jazz samples and hip hop beats. Very cool and very chill. Love to put this on while lounging on the sofa |
| 33 |  | Somewhere South of Here
Leave Me for the Crows
United States
Punk/Alt Rock
July
Great stuff from Pitchforkarms and co! Definitely reminds me a lot of the Menzingers, which is a very good thing. Has that great catchy anthemic quality to it |
| 32 |  | Daniel Avery
Ultra Truth
United Kingdom
Breaks/Ambient Techno/Atmo D&B
Higher
Very different direction for Daniel Avery here, but it works really well. Very atmospheric and ethereal. I think that the melodies are really nice here and the album is varied enough to make the hour runtime work. |
| 31 |  | City of Caterpillar
Mystic Sisters
United States
Post Hardcore/Post Rock
Mystic Sisters
Kind of went back and forth with this one, but final verdict is that is really good! They nail a pretty dark atmosphere here and the whole album feels quite intense |
| 30 |  | Denzel Curry
Melt My Eyez See Your Future
United States
Hip Hip
Walkin'
Love the production here, the samples are used really well and makes the album feel very soulful. |
| 29 |  | Tears for Fears
The Tipping Point
United Kingdom
Pop Rock/Synth Pop
Rivers of Mercy
The pop legends are back and their comeback is better as it has any right to be. MoreThe duo clearly hasn't lost their touch with melodies. It sounds beautiful and it is really catchy |
| 28 |  | S10
Ik Besta Voor Altijd Zolang Jij Aan Mij Denkt
The Netherlands
Alt Pop
Adem Je In
Shortly after making international waves with the Eurovision entry 'De Diepte', S10 released this album that clearly shows her being one of the best things Dutch pop has to offer. She is a much better song-writer and lyricist as most others in the scene. This is a very moody album, but still really nicely varied. The latter can be a trap as well, as some tracks don't work as well as others. But most of this is really good |
| 27 |  | Brutus (BE)
Unison Life
Belgium
Post Hardcore
Storm
Banger band releases banger album. No suprise here. Brutus's mix of post hardcore intensity and post rock soundscapes is shown really well. I also really appreciate their pop sensibilities. Songs like Victoria and Storm work are real earworms and super fun listens. |
| 26 |  | Black Country, New Road
Ants From Up There
United Kingdom
Indie Rock/Chamber Pop
Snow Globes
Feels like a mature outing as For the First Time with it's chamber instrumentals (although i may prefer the debut a little nonetheless). It's is a very pretty album often and keeps on growing on me. May have been higher if i would make the list even later. |
| 25 |  | Darkthrone
Astral Fortress
Norway
Doom Metal
The Sea Beneath the Seas
You can always count on Darkthone with delivering quality. They continue with the slow doom of the previous one and it still works well. Nice moody atmosphere and the always great riffs. |
| 24 |  | Stromae
Multitude
Belgium
Art Pop
Santé
Stromae has always been a very talented artist, but this is his first great album. It's by far his most consistent, and his only one with actually good production. The album takes inspiration from many sources with rich instrumentation that complement the songs perfectly. |
| 23 |  | Spoon
Lucifer on the Sofa
United States
Indie Rock
On The Radio
Indie band playing boomer rock and it's a lot of fun. Certainly doesn't sound particularly unique but many of my favourite tunes of the year are on here. |
| 22 |  | Al Wootton
Wyre
United Kingdom
Ambient Techno
Marcia
This is for both Wyre and Callers Spring as they are both eps of the same triology. Both excellent. Such a rich atmosphere and i love the deep feeling hard hitting beats |
| 21 |  | Melt Yourself Down
Pray for Me I Don't Fit In
United Kingdom
Dance Punk
Pray For Me, I Don't Fit In
I was gonna review this but then I didn't, oops. Anyway this is a fucking blast like Melt Yourself Down always are. So much energy, chaos and this probably their catchiest album. Balance and t/t have excellent choruses |
| 20 |  | Aequorea
Dim
United States
Post Metal/Doom
Mirrors
Wonderfully executed post metal album here, certainly one of the best post-adjecent stuff of the year for me. The ambience is layered and beautiful. Some great riffs here too. |
| 19 |  | Gospel
The Loser
United States
Screamo/Prog
Hyper
The more prominent prog keys makes this sound a lot more goofy as the Moon is a Dead World, but they are a lot of fun as well. The technical proficiency of the band is still immaculate and the drums still go super hard. It's not as an obivous classic as Moon, but it's excellent come back nonetheless |
| 18 |  | Kendrick Lamar
Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers
United States
Hip Hop
Die Hard
Very introspective stuff from Kendrick Lamar here dealing with personal trauma and various other issues to sometimes controversial degree. I think this album gives the opportunity for his excellent story-telling to shine with a relatively minimal, but soulful production. Maybe a little uneven with its length, but songs are excellent i think. |
| 17 |  | Rolo Tomassi
Where Myth Becomes Memory
United Kingdom
Metalcore/Post Metal
The End of Eternity
I didn't return to this too much during the year, but everytime I did it was a treat. A gorgeous album really. Rolo Tomassi at this have perfected the balance of the softer piano lead stuff and the harsher metalcore and it's a absolute joy to hear it. |
| 16 |  | Preoccupations
Arrangements
Canada
Post Punk
Ricochet
Woo Preoccupations are back to being good again after their one misstep with New Material. We love to hear it. It has all the super catchy post punk shit that i love from them and it's such a fun listen |
| 15 |  | Charlotte Adigery and Bolis Pupul
Topical Dancer
Belgium
Art Pop/Tech House
Esperanto
Kinda peculiar art pop/house stuff with social-political lyrics. The lyrics are often serious, but in a fairly cheeky manner that are a perfect balance of getting the message across while being humorous. The quirky production super well here as well. So much personality in this album and it's a blast to listen. |
| 14 |  | Raum
Daughter
United States
Ambient/Drone
Passage
Another year, another Liz Harris album in my top whatever list. This is so tranquil and quiet that the soft piano notes are often the largest disturbers of the peace. Reminds me the most of her Nivhek work with how spacious it is, but much more pretty and relaxing. |
| 13 |  | The Gathering
Beautiful Distortion
The Netherlands
Art Rock/Dream Pop
Black is Magnified
Album title is kind of a lie, because there is not much pronounced distortion, but it is also kind of not a lie because it is a beautiful. One of their prettiest and dreamiest albums, Beautiful Distortion really makes Silje's vocals shine and every song is a delight to listen to. |
| 12 |  | Wiegedood
There's Always Blood at the End of the Road
Belgium
Black Metal
FN Scar 16
Banging album. Album opener FN Scar 16 is one of the hardest hitting tracks of the year and kicks the door open with an intense force. Wiegedood doesn't let it's grip loosen afterwards throughout the runtime and delivers one of the most aggressive and filthiest album of the year |
| 11 |  | Little Simz
No Thank You
United Kingdom
Hip Hop/Neo Soul/Gospel
Angel
Not nearly as extravagant as previous years' Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, but almost as good. Love the production, it has so much soul and the orchestral touches are lovely. Lots of identity between each track and they all offer something different. |
| 10 |  | Saidan
Onryo II: Her Spirit Eternal
United States
Punky Black Metal
Queen of the Haunted Deli
Most fun i've had with a black metal album in a while. Full energy, punky bm with super fun riffs and catchy as well. First three tracks is one of my favourite runs of the year and the second half is still very good. Extremely fun! |
| 9 |  | Natalia Lafourcade
De Todas las Flores
Mexico
Chamber Folk
De Todas las Floras
Gorgeous album with perfect laid back atmosphere. Just want to dim the lights, lay on the sofa and play this on repeat. Feels super romantic to me too, will play this to a future partner |
| 8 |  | Gang of Youths
Angel in Realtime
Australia
Indie Rock/Chamber Pop
forbearance
I dig the more restrained approach for them this time. Go Farther in Lighntess had it's great moments, but to me it felt somewhat overblown in its larger than lifeness, certainly with it's length. This doesn't mean Angel In Realtime isn't corny and saccharine, it is! But to me David Le'aupepe's voice and lyrics always feel sincere and warm, which makes for this beautiful, uplifting album. |
| 7 |  | Chat Pile
God's Country
United States
Noise Rock/Sludge Metal
Slaughterhouse
Certainly one of the nastiest and most frantic album of the year. Loud and perpetually angry at the world, God's Country is one of the hardest hitting albums on the year. A track like 'Why' would sound too on the nose in the hands of most bands, but Chat Pile's ugly anger, makes it sound all the more poignant. |
| 6 |  | The Soft Pink Truth
Is It Going to Get Any Deeper Than This?
United States
Funky house shit
Deeper Than This
Lot of fun! Many super dancable house tracks with delicious funky bass, but also still very varied. There are also some great slower jams like 'Moodswing' and 'Sunwash' and some very nice uplifting string sweeps. Many flavours, all great! |
| 5 |  | Melody's Echo Chamber
Emotional Eternal
France
Indie Pop/Psych Pop
Personal Message
The ultimate summer album for me this year. It's gorgeously arranged indie pop and every track is so dreamy and bright. An absolute joy |
| 4 |  | Perfume Genius
Ugly Season
United States
Art Pop
Photograph`
I'm a huge Perfume Genius stan so this being among the top of 2022 shouldn't be a suprise. However this was definitely his most difficult album for me to get into, and I only did so about half a year after its release. Perfume Genius has always quite artsy pop but none of it has been as abstract and non-conventional as Ugly Season. But, eventually I did get sucked into its gorgeous and gripping eerie atmosphere, and I'm so happy that happened |
| 3 |  | Ashenspire
Hostile Architecture
United Kingdom
Black Metal/Prog Metal
Cable Street Again
One of the more unique and intense albums I have heard in 2022. Wonderfully mixes black metal, aggressive strings and trumphet bits to create one of the more sound pallets of the year. Love the choice for the more spoken-word vocals as well. Fits the angry and somber mood perfectly and they have so much character. The crying bits in Cable Street Again were particularly effective to me. |
| 2 |  | SOUL GLO
Diaspora Problems
United States
Hardcore Punk/Skramz/Hip Hop
We Wants Revenge
Oh man does this album fucking HITS HARD. So much anger and energy with super cool instrumentals and some insane screaming vocals. Not sure what ekse to say other than that literally svery track is a fucking banger |
| 1 |  | Ethel Cain
Preacher's Daughter
United States
Indie Pop/Slowcore
Sun Bleached Flies
I have been more and more drawn to narrative-driven albums lately and Preacher's Daughter might be my favourite. The story is paced perfectly within the album with strong lyrics and excellent song-writing to boot. It's a heavy story, but it's performed so beautifully that it becomes very cathartic. Seeing Sun Bleached Flies live was one of the best experiences of my 2022 |
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