I’m thrilled to deliver my third annual musical digest in time for us to begin the new year. This year’s curation has taken a bit more of a concerted effort because all nine pounds and four ounces of Louise Powell Hargett arrived on the afternoon of August 10th, and single-handedly turned the rest of 2022 into a steady blur of sleeplessness and vegetation.

Alex and I have been playing Lou our favorite songs everyday—on a new integrated Sonos and vinyl stereo system—but clearly the last four months have been hard to keep up with new releases. Still, I’m proud to be raising our daughter in a house full of lovely and strange music, and so far, I like to think that Lou’s favorite song is They Might Be Giants’ “Doctor Worm.” She’s also heard these top ten albums a lot, and doesn’t object to any.

As tradition insists, let me clarify that, “This isn't all-encompassing, or intended to be definitive of anything. They're just the year's new records that made me happiest when I put them on, and are permanently staying in the rotation.” There are a couple albums that would probably be on this list if I’d heard them sooner, and a few I’ll eventually get around to trying out.

Fuzzed out blissful guitar rock got me in 2022. I think you’ll find that through-line connects most of these records. I’m an old punk now at 37, and while I can still get up for a mosh pit here and there, you’re more likely to find me searching for a melodic mid-tempo rocker while I’m cruising the Valley buying diapers, or pleasantly surprised to be at a seated concert. And these ten records hit that vibe for me perfectly.

Top (10) Albums of the Year - Listen Here on Spotify!
*Featuring 3-4 songs from each, sequenced for maximum pleasure

Wet Leg - Wet Leg
While I don’t rank this list, Wet Leg’s buzzed-about debut hits with such a punch I had to put it first. I’m wary of hyped bands these days, but this was a thrilling discovery rife with a propulsive rhythm section, fuzzy leads, and delightfully wry, sardonic lyrics. It’s a true jam.

2nd Grade - Easy Listening
A nearly perfect power-pop record that channels Alex Chilton, Paul Westerberg, and Robert Pollard (which, now that I type that, might actually be my personal Holy Trinity). It was incredibly difficult to narrow this record down to just three favorite tracks, so if you dig it, keep going and get lost.

SASAMI - Squeeze
The first time I heard this record, I knew it had secured a place in this email. If Sylvia Massy replaced the pop music producers on Liz Phair’s 2003 major label debut, Squeeze would be the resultant masterpiece. The songs I’ve selected for this playlist are my three favorites, but to get the full experience of SASAMI’s Millenium metal influences then start at “Skin a Rat” and hold on.

Wednesday - Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling ‘em Up
A number of great covers albums came out this year, including records that I loved from Cat Power and Steve Earle, but Wednesday’s faithful country (ish) selections were so phenomenal they earned their place in my permanent rotation. I’ve even got the cassette to prove it. Washed in a hazy fuzz, and covered in a sheen of bright feedback, this album will make you pour yourself a bourbon and sulk. You know, in a good way.

PUP - THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND
Alright, here’s the pick-me-up. Ostensibly a concept record about the Canadian punks breaking up in real time, it’s full of cathartic sing-along anthems, some charming piano interludes, and the perfect, heartbreaking ode to the guitar you don’t play anymore, “Matilda.” Getcher tissues out, man.

Kurt Vile - (watch my moves)
It was at Kurt’s show supporting this record in March that I was subsumed into the plushy embrace of the Ace Hotel Theater’s orchestra seating, entranced by the record’s new melodies and expansive guitarscapes. If that concert was two hours, it was too short, but I couldn’t tell you because that night was wonderfully and appropriately hazy.

Bartees Strange - Farm to Table
The follow-up to Strange’s incredible 2020 debut (and the bumping single “Boomer”), Farm to Table expands on his sound with lush verses and loud, dynamic choruses, track after track. My favorite hook of the year is the fist-pumping chorus in “Wretched.”

Built to Spill - When the Wind Forgets Your Name
Doug Martsch’s new album is the epitome of the blissful fuzz rock I loved all year. If you ever wanted to hear what J Mascis might sound like backing up Neil Young, here ya go.

The Mountain Goats - Bleed Out
It wouldn’t be my year-end list if John Darnielle didn’t have a place on it, so here we are again with another new one from the prolific troubadour (and first rate novelist). Bleed Out hits harder than either of the last two records, and is a refreshing change from some of the jazzier ponderings of recent live sets. “Wage wars, get rich, die handsome”—what more can you say.

Titus Andronicus - The Will to Live
If 2nd Grade’s Easy Listening channeled the sweeter side of classic rock radio, Titus Andronicus have recorded a tribute to the era’s arena-rocking giants, but replaced the lyrics with their usual blend of terrible visions and gothic haunts. The best Iron Maiden guitar solo this side of Adrian Smith and Dave Murray can be found on “An Anomaly.”

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I have also put together another four-plus hour “Honorable Mentions and Miscellany 2022” playlist—listen here in Spotify! It’s full of more goodies and fantastic singles (Guided by Voices of course! The Young Fresh Fellows…in 2022! The one song from the new Joyce Manor record that bangs!). This list is essentially the rest of what I've been listening to for the last twelve months, so I hope you dig it too.

I also want to call out two records that I loved this year but don’t fall under my usual rubric. Idle Ray, the latest project from Saturday Looks Good to Me’s Fred Thomas, is a magical little thing but technically released in 2021 (I think). Also, the new “Super Deluxe” remastered edition of The Beatles’ Revolver is a technological marvel and highly worthy of a revisit. To hear more about that process check out this interview with Giles Martin.

And while I have you, for those reading inclined I would also like to recommend a couple of new music books. My friend Jim Ruland’s Corporate Rock Sucks is a fantastic history of SST Records, the former home of punk rock stalwarts Black Flag, Descendents, Husker Du, etc. Dan Ozzi’s thoroughly enjoyable Sellout is about your favorite turn of the century punk bands jumping ship for their major label debuts. And a book I worked on this fall chronicling the history of New Zealand’s influential indie label Flying Nun Records, Needles & Plastic. Tally ho!

Happy New Year. May it be filled with beautiful sound. I hope you'll share your favorites with me too.

Big hugs,
justin