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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.
#2 Pompeii by Cate Le Bon (Mexican Summer)
“Moderation/I can't have it/I don't want it” sings Cate Le Bon, ironic lyrics on an album that is measured and precise and icily gorgeous. The album has Bowiesque touches and some of the best art pop around. Under the bright hard surface of these jewellike songs burns a steady flame.
#3 Weather Alive by Beth Orton (Partisan)
Beth Orton composed Weather Alive on a second-hand piano, where hitting one key seemed to play ten notes. This fits right in with the theme of the album, where the present moment strikes a chord of memories. Or as Orton sings on “Haunted Satellite,” “Summer runs through winter's blood/Spring's beneath the snow in bud.” A gorgeous, ethereal album.
#4 God Save the Animals by Alex G (Domino)
There’s a portion in Anna Karenina, where the point of view switches to that of a dog who is chasing down snipes. Alex Giannascoli does something similar here. The lyrics give voice to a child, dog, or a naif. The music and vocal manipulations are dazzlingly diverse, but the album is a coherent masterwork.
#5 Boat Songs by MJ Lenderman (Dear Life)
Boat Songs is the album you didn’t know you were craving: an Uncle Tupelo vibe punctuated with Crazy Horse squawk and lyrics marked by sly, offhand humor.
#6 My Heart by Nora O'Connor (Pravda)
Nora O’Connor has been 20 feet from stardom for most of her career, singing background vocals for Mavis Staples, Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, Andrew Bird, and The New Pornographers among others. So it is great to see O’Connor front and center, performing mostly original material. My Heart is her first solo album since Til the Dawn (2004). The material, arrangements and performances here are stellar.
#7 Lucifer on the Sofa by Spoon (Matador)
Didn’t think I was up for a new Spoon album, but Britt Daniels & Co. are very persuasive here. Spoon may be the best band around for making what they do best sound fresh again.
#8 Life on Earth by Hurray for the Riff Raff (Nonesuch)
The songs on Life on Earth are as strong and committed as earlier Riff Raff songs, but more subtle, less on the nose. Alynda Segarra’s work here showcases the strongest songcraft of her career.
#9 Expert in a Dying Field by The Beths (Carpark)
Elizabeth Stokes wears her angst on her sleeve, but somehow manages to make relationship troubles, insecurities, and loneliness sound so catchy. The songs on Expert in a Dying Field perfectly balance sweetness, propulsion, crunch, melody and humor.
#10 Blue Skies by Dehd (Fat Possum)
Local heroes Dehd seemed to be playing everywhere this year. No wonder. Their kinetic music, captured so well on Blue Skies, sparkles in concert.
Honorable Mentions
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers - Nightroamer (Abeyance)
Camp Cope - Running With the Hurricane (Poison City)
Mitski - Laurel Hell (Dead Oceans)
Sharon Van Etten - We’ve Been Going about This All Wrong (Jagjaguwar)
Alvvays - Blue Rev (Polyvinyl/Transgressive)
Next entry: CHIRP Radio’s Best of 2022: DJ Drew
Previous entry: CHIRP Radio’s Best of 2022: Eric Wiersema