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     Fred Tadrowski Member Username: Ftadrowski Post Number: 145 Registered: 03-2015 |
My Beautiful England – David Westlake Shufflemania! – Robyn Hitchcock Shinnty Fia – Fontaines D.C. Heart Under – Just Mustard On The Ghostline, with Hands of Lighting - Halfway Good and Green Again – Jake Xerxes Fussell The Spur – Joan Shelley We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong - Sharon Van Etten Two English singer-songwriters, two Irish bands, an Australian band, an American singer-songwriter, and two American folk artists produced by the same person (James Elkington) are on this list. I did see Fontaines D.C., Just Mustard, Jake Xerxes Fussell and Joan Shelley all live this year, so that might have helped make my selections. There was not much other music with vocals released this year that thrilled me. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4801 Registered: 03-2005 |
Thanks for your list Fred. If the first song on Skinty Fia were typical of the album it would be a shoo-in as my favorite for the year. As it is I think my favorite Fontaines D.C. is their second album. There is a good chance that I have not yet heard the album I eventually conclude is my favorite of 2022. It takes time to find these things. But at this moment, in alphabetical order: The Bone Carver - And Also the Trees. This gothic/emo group can easily be dismissed as self-parodies but they still do a convincing job of it. I do with the drums had been better recorded on this new album. Luna Menguante - Juarez. This prolific gritty neo-psychedelia band from Pamplona will have to run out of steam at some point but for now they keep delivering. Think early Dream Syndicate but with the advantage of two writers and vocalists, one male and one female. Nachalo Prekasnoy Druzhby - Peremotka. Awkwardly, the best post-punk darkwave revival record I've heard this year is Russian. When he heard one of the tracks from this album my older brother asked me whether I thought musicians ever supported wars. I had no answer of course but the same question had been circling in my mind right before he asked me. Summer at Lands End - The Reds, Pinks & Purples. San Francisco's Glenn Donaldson delivers floppy-eared hopeless romanticism recalling some of the more wistful Grant McLennan. I'm a big fan and cannot rave about The Reds, Pinks & Purples enough. Promising entries that may gain status with me as I live with them longer: Clubwater - Clubwater. I've only just taken delivery of this Indonesian jangle pop album. On three plays it is holding up well. The sole cover on the album is of the Brighter song "Half Hearted." That should give a good idea of their aesthetic. Cozy Slippers - Cozy Slippers. This female band from Chicago appeals but my only question is whether their songs might prove to be too uniform. Time will tell. The Lovely Basement - Lovely Basement. There's something about Bristol that produces fringe-level indie artists, often veterans of earlier decades, who manage to keep putting out fresh and enjoyable music. In this case it's Kevin Bache, formerly of The Raw Herbs. On the Meadow - Umbrella Puzzles. This Oakland-based jangle pop name is the latest outlet for East Bay (Oakland) tunesmith Ryan Marquez. Honorable Mention: Summer Lightning - The Bathers. Because the overwhelming bulk of this release consists of re-recordings of songs from The Bathers' first album I don't consider it eligible for consideration as an album of the year. The title song, however, is at least newly exposed if it is not in fact an actual new composition. It's my favorite song on the album. Biggest disappointment of the year: Ottoline - L A Salami. I enjoyed seeing him perform live but much of his new album lacks the laser bright music hall/folk appeal of his past records. He occasionally dabbles half-heartedly in hip hop and meanders in songs that feel unfinished. I hope he gets back on track. | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 552 Registered: 05-2005 |
Happy New Year! No obscure names or new acts for me in 2022. Michael Head - Dear Scott Wilco - Cruel Country Midlake - For The Sake Of Bethel Woods Fontaine D.C. - Skinty Fia Still have to listen : Black Country New Road, Beach House, Big Thief, Phoenix, Dominique A ... Of 2022 I haven't liked records of Spoon, Daniel Rossen... Some very fine concerts : Fontaines D.C. (five stars one!), Françoiz Breut, Nada Surf. | ||
| Burgers Member Username: Burgers Post Number: 205 Registered: 05-2005 |
A load of great albums in 2022. I may have missed one or two but here are my favourites:- 30 Rachel Dadd - Kaleidoscope 29 Peaness - World Full of Worry 28 Jesca Hoop - Order of Romance 27 Julia Jacklin - Pre Pleasure 26 indigo Sparke - Hysteria 25 Porridge Radio - Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky 24 Caroline Spence - True North 23 Marina Allen - Centrifics 22 Modern Studies - We Are There 21 Erika Lewis - A Walk Around the Sun 20 The Bug Club - Green Dream in F# 19 Wet Leg - Wet Leg 18 Angel Olsen - Big Time 17 Fontaines DC - Skinty Fia 16 Alvvays - Blue Rev 15 Caitlin Rose - CAZIMI 14 Dana Gavanski- When It Comes 13 Sorry - Anywhere But Here 12 Kevin Morby - This Is a Photograph 11 Warpaint - Radiate Like This 10 Erin Rae - Lighten Up 9 Horsegirl - Versions of Modern Performance 8 Nilüfer Yanya - Painless 7 The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field 6 Lightning in a Twilight Hour - Overwintering 5 Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B 4 Joan Shelley - The Spur 3 The Delines - The Sea Drift 2 Dry Cleaning - Stumpwork 1 Courtney Marie Andrews - Loose Future |