By Ian Bremner
2022 was the most adventurous year to date. Chasing new sounds and feelings became more important than hearing favorite songs repeatedly. 2022 was heady, but still honky tonk-y. 2022 was musically rewarding beyond belief, and yet, there was still so much more left unheard. Instead of being overwhelming, it was invigorating to keep going. Here is an unranked, wayward list of records that kept the heart beating in 2022.
Below is an unranked list of the best records & EPs of the year. Listen to the playlist at the bottom:
Lee Baggett – Anyway
Mr. Sam & The People People – People People People People!
Ty Segall – Hello, Hi
Austin Leonard Jones – Dead Calm
Kassi Valazza – Highway Sounds
Izaak Opatz – Extra Medium
Karl Blau – Love & Harm
Erin Rae – Lighten Up
Jake Xerxes Fussell – Good and Green Again
Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You
Charley Crockett – The Man From Waco
The Smile – A Light For Attracting Attention
Kikagaku Moyo – Kumoyo Island
Terry Kane – Muscle Test
Caitlin Rose – Cazimi
Lee Fields – Sentimental Fool
Anais Mitchell – Anais Mitchell
Plains – I Walked With You A Ways
Pusha T – It’s Almost Dry
Swamp Dogg – I Need A Job… So I Can Buy More Auto-Tune
Shintaro Sakamoto – Like A Fable
Rich Ruth – I Survived, It’s Over
Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Kaina – It Was A Home
Andrew Bird – Inside Problems
The Deslondes – Ways & Means
Ian Noe – River Fools & Mountain Saints
Father John Misty – Chloe & The Next 20th Century
Damien Jurado – Reggae Film Star
Weyes Blood – And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
Credit Electric – out of love in the face of a shadow
Charles Stepney – Step On Step
Vieux Farka Toure & Khruangbin – Ali
Tyler Childers – Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven?
Teddy and The Rough Riders – Teddy and The Rough Riders
Color Green – Color Green
Nikki Lane – Denim & Diamonds
Small Paul – Strangeland EP
Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer – Recordings From The Aland Islands
Mapache – Roscoe’s Dream
Dark Canyon – Dark Canyon
Carlos Nino & Friends – EXTRA PRESENCE
Wilco – Cruel Country
Cooper Kenward – Cooper Kenward
Black Thought & Dangermouse – Cheat Codes
Sean Thompson – Sean Thompson’s Weird Ears
Emily Nenni – On The Ranch
Delicate Steve – After Hours
Dezron Douglas – ATALAYA
Molly Lewis – Mirage
Bill Callahan – YTILAER
Kurt Vile – (Watch My Moves)
Lady Wray – Piece Of Me
Angel Olsen – Big Time
Lambchop – The Bible
Julia Jacklin – PRE PLEASURE
Nilufer Yanya – Painless
Kevin Morby – This Is A Photograph
Alabaster DePlume – GOLD
Cass McCombs – Heartmind
Tommy & The Ohs – Mariposa Gold
Drugdealer – Hiding In Plain Sight
Tommy Alexander – Feelings
Amanda Shires – Take It Like A Man
Bonny Light Horseman – Rolling Golden Holy
Drive-By Truckers – Welcome to Club XIII
Blk Odyssy – Blk Vintage: The Reprise
The Revelators – Revelators Sound System EP
Daniel Villarreal – Panama 77
Bitchin Bajas – Bajacilliitators
Taylor Kingman – Hollow Sound
Makaya McCraven – In These Times
Michael Rault – Michael Rault
Kyle Hamlett Duo – Tape Diamonds
Broken Bells – Into The Blue
Old Rookie 