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Entries categorized as “Best Albums of the Year” 481 results
Drew writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2022: DJ Drew
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2022. Our next list is from DJ Drew.
Being new to this as I am, and not really feeling strongly about a Ranking priority (they're ALL good), this is just a list of my top favorites.
Wait. I revise that -- Jeremy Cunningham is really #1. It's really that good. At the bottom of the Top Ten, I have my top ten for last year. And if I could, I'd put Liam Kazar Due North at the #1 position for both this year and last, because I really do feel strongly about ranking his album #1.
A Better Ghost by Jeremy Cunningham (Northern Spy)
From start to finish, an astonishing, beautiful, strong, compelling album. Up there with McCraven, Parker, and all the others in terms of talent.
algabor writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2022: Al Gabor
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2022. Our next list is from volunteer Al Gabor.
#1 Spirituals by Santigold (Little Jerk)
Mired in isolation and writer’s block during the pandemic, Santigold looked to Black spirituals for inspiration. No, you are not going to hear echoes of Mahalia Jackson here. But Santigold creates songs of transcending struggles in her own vernacular. A powerhouse album.
Eric Wiersema writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2022: Eric Wiersema
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2022. Our next list is from DJ and Assistant Music Director Eric Wiersema.
It’s hard to believe that 2022 is already mostly in the books! I guess time flies when you’re having fun. I genuinely mean that too!
After the COVID-plagued years of 2020 and 2021, it felt great to, more or less, resume life as normal *mostly* without fear. It was great to see live music year-round this year, enjoy both Pitchfork and Riot Fest in their regularly scheduled times (not exhausting back to back weekends) and experience the triumphant return of CHIRP’s Record Fair and Other Delights.
Last and definitely not least, it was great to experience any and all new music that found its way to my ears! 2022 was my second full-year as a regular CHIRP DJ and Assistant Music Director and I was exposed to an insanely large amount of new music as a result.
While being consistently fed 20 or more albums a week ensures that my thirst for new music is always quenched, it is not without its drawbacks. It is damn near impossible to keep up with and fully digest everything thrown my way. It is way harder now for new albums to truly stand out and remain a part of my long term musical diet.
Fortunately, a handful of albums were able to break this mold that will stick with me for years to come. I look forward to seeing my fellow CHIRPers lists as well to check out albums I missed or revisit albums that didn’t initially grab me on the first listen!
#1 Wet Leg by Wet Leg (Domino)
Call me basic if you want, but Wet Leg lives up to all of the hype they have been getting for the past two years. I love their brand of upbeat and quirky indie rock that will even get the normies to consume a couple of warm beers on the chaise longue! I actually requested "Chaise Longue" at my brother’s wedding this summer and everyone flocked to the dance floor!
While the singles are undoubtedly Wet Leg’s strongest material, the rest of the album grew on me after a few listens and still remains in my regular rotation today. Favorite Tracks: "Chaise Longue," "Angelica," "Wet Dream," "Ur Mum"
Steven Grady writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2022: Steven Grady
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2022. Our next list is from DJ Steven Grady.
#1 Shufflemania! by Robyn Hitchcock (Tiny Ghost)
In pandemic-riddled 2020, Robyn Hitchcock wrote and recorded several tracks and then emailed them randomly to various artists to overdub as they wished.
The result? His first studio release in five years, sporting a worthy cast of musicians including former Soft Boys mates Kimberley Rew and Morris Windsor, Johnny Marr, Seán Ono Lennon, Brendan Benson, and longtime companion Emma Swift. Hitchcock reinvents himself yet again, serving up a self-described antidote, not about the world we live in, but a reaction to it.
From Socrates to Scorpio to serpent gods, Shufflemania! is yet another masterpiece Hitchcock has added to his wonderfully unique discography.
Mike Bennett writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2022: Mike Bennett
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2022. Our next list is from DJ and Board Member Emeritus Mike Bennett.
Another year, and way more music to listen to than time to listen to it. I just went through the list I made of 2022 albums and EPs that I listened to this year (at least once, and most of these at least a few times), and my count came out to 245. Yeah, it was a great year for music, as I liked them all, and there are so many more things I played at CHIRP in our rotation that I never got around to fully giving a shot. (Or records I got as I was wrapping up this list, like the new SZA and Lous and The Yakuza). While I get that one should not be ranking things when it comes to art, making lists is a natural for anyone who has a sense of order (or is beholden to Nick Hornby's High Fidelity). These are the records I enjoyed the most, the ones I just kept going back to, and made it to the top of my large pile.
#1 Topical Dancer by Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul (Dewee/Because)
This Belgian duo mixes techno, R & B and funk with witty and incisive topical lyrics to make music you can think to and dance to at the same time. It never becomes strident, because it’s laced with humor, sometimes silly, often cutting. At various times, I heard things that reminded me of Laurie Anderson, LCD Soundsystem, and (an admitted influence) Talking Heads. This is all topped off by the infectious personality of Adigéry, whose singing is extremely compelling.