In 2022 we all got back to normal and enjoyed live music and the fantastic albums released this year. So it’s that time of year again when the XS Noize writers have sat down and thoughtfully compiled what they have enjoyed the most. Without further ado, here are our top 50 favourite albums of the year.
50. Ibaraki – Rashomon
49. Gogol Bordello – Solidaritine
48. Michael Timmins – The Lightness Of The Dread
47. Metric – Formentera
46. Stacks – Love And Language
45. Trentemøller – Memoria
44. Sofie Birch – Holotropica
43. Matisyahu – Matisyahu
Matisyahu has proven he is a truly creative and innovative chameleon from his continuous physical transformation and musical innovation. This ability has earned him over half a billion streams and five million physical sales.
42. Soul Glo – Diaspora Problems
41. Bowling for Soup – Pop Drunk Snot Bread
While Bowling for Soup has not made a musical evolution throughout their 28 years as Radiohead has through their back catalogue, this has never been their plan or a promise to their fans. The band has promised to be fun and honest and help people get through life’s challenges. Bowling for Soup has fulfilled their commitments to fans and all people facing anxiety and mental health challenges through Pop Drunk Snot Bread.
40. The Chats – Get Fucked
39. Everything Everything – Raw Data Feel
38. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Unlimited Love
The album starts on a high note with the single ‘Black Summer’, which immediately brings Frusciante’s signature guitar sound to the fore, along with his backing vocals, reminiscent of his work on 2006’s Stadium Arcadium. Singer Anthony Kiedis sings that he’s “been waitin’ on another black summer to end”, perhaps a nod to the again-returning guitarist. The strong start is maintained through ‘Here Ever After’, a feel-good song destined to be a hit during live performances, which sees Kiedis at his best with a strong vocal showing.
37. Working Men’s Club – Fear Fear
36. Sports Team – Gulp!
For an album that is just over 33 minutes long, Sports Team packs in a lot of musical variety and bizarre subject matters, and Gulp! doesn’t lose momentum. The influences are many and easy to detect, but Gulp! belongs to Sports Team and Sports Team alone.
35. Megan Thee Stallion – Traumazine
34. Rammstein – Zeit
33. Alvvays – Blue Rev
32. Thom Southern – Plaza
31. Beth Orton – Weather Alive
30. Half Man Half Biscuit – The Voltarol Years
29. Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork
28. African-American Sound Recording – Tamika’s Lodge
27. Hot Chip – Freakout/Release
26. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Cool It Down
The 50 best albums of 2022: 25 – 1
XS Noize: Albums of the year 2022 compiled by Iam Burn from lists by Mark Millar, Michael Barron, Ben P Scott, Marija Buljeta, Lee Campbell, Lori Gava, Randall Radic, Stuart Evans, Alina Salihbekova, David McElroy, Rebecca Haslam, Imelda Hehir, Marc Leach, Julie Blore-Bizot, Ashley Kreutter.
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