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Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2022: Clarence Ewing
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2022. Our next list is from DJ and Online Media Co-Director Clarence Ewing.
It's been another great year for music. As the years pass, I’m even more grateful for the existence of outlets like CHIRP Radio (and its spiritual siblings across the country) that continue to flourish at exactly the same time commercial music radio has bottomed out.
Here are 10 albums that perked my ears up in 2022, and here’s to more in 2023 and beyond...
#1 Social Music at Troost Vol. 3: (Other) People's Music by 75 Dollar Bill featuring Sue Garner, Cheryl Kingan & Chris Nelson (Social Music 2022)
The kind of rustic, crunchy, fiery, funky, raw, and groovy stuff that pairs just as well with a frozen winter day as with standing in front of a midnight summer bonfire.
Sarah Spencer writesCHIRP Radio’s Best of 2022: Sarah Spencer
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2022. Our next list is from DJ Sarah Spencer.
I've been saying this every year for the last 4 years, but I'm going to say it again: this year was an excellent year for music. Perhaps this one above all.
Each January, I start keeping a list of contenders for my yearly top 10. By July 2022, I thought I had a solid top 10. I thought if the rest of the year was rubbish, I'd still have 10 great albums on my list.
But of course, the rest of 2022 WASN'T rubbish, and I found myself making new additions to the top 10, jostling things around right up until the start of December.
For all this talk of a top 10, in the end, please consider this a very fluid top 10. These are all records I've spent a lot of time with: some I've danced to, some I've cried to, some I've created art alongside... and some I've done all three. The order of my favorites fluctuate daily, so this is a suggestion of an order.
And In the Darkness, Hearts Aglow by Weyes Blood (Sub Pop)
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"