Gangsta rap gods Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too $hort have banded together to form the ultimate super group. Mount Westmore snuck out their first album a couple of weeks back and it's just a blast. Snoop, Cube, 40, $hort is filled with bangers from start to finish.
It's the 90's, west coast style again!
Shaking off the previous years of pandemic blues, 2022 was a magnificent lion's roar of 12 months for music. So many great bands released fab albums that it was quite hard for me to pick only 22.
But I did. Here they are!
In an age of garbage pop, computer generated and voice modulated nonsense, it's refreshing to hear a band playing straight up guitar based pop. This Toronto based outfit released their third record this year and it's their best one yet.
The London Suede came roaring back in 2022 with a shovel to the head stunner of an album. All eleven tracks are mint. An instant Brit Rock classic...
20. Peter Doherty: The Fantasy Life of Poetry and Crime
So so happy this god-like genius is still kicking around and making great music. Doesn't everyone have this kind of fantasy life?
19. Johnny Marr: Fever Dreams Pts. 1-4
Johnny Marr continues his colossus like striding of the music world with another fantastic release this year. Sixteen tracks of power, love and soul!
18. Blossoms: Ribbon Around The Bomb
Blossoms are one of those bands that remind of the golden era of Brit Rock. They release a few singles and EPs. Then their first album. And then they just GO, getting better with each record. I'm happy to see they are carrying the sword from the lady in the lake...
17. The Sherlocks: World I Understand
Barnsley, South Yorkshire has been beaming at these lads with their third long player storming across England with its passion and power. Cool dudes with guitars...
16. The Wombats: Fix Yourself, Not The World
Liverpool's own The Wombats continue to offer sage advice and mind expanding sonic explorations that carry the torch of most excellent pop music. Brit Rock is alive and well!
Atlanta's Earthgang are the regents of rap music today. Ghetto Gods is an absolute triumph from start to finish. The world should take note of these truly gifted artists.
Mattiel is another great band from Atlanta that should be on everyone's radar. Their stellar pop is most inspirational!
13.The Fixx: Every Five Seconds
The 80s are alive and well and The Fixx are making darn sure of that. What a fucking amazing record. I caught them live last summer and they are still incredible.
12. Todd Rundgren: Space Force
It's always an extra special treat when Todd releases a new record. Though he tours constantly, new albums come only come every few years. This one sees him returning to collaborations with a variety of artists. Here is one of my faves with Neil Finn.
11. Liam Gallagher: C'mon You Know
Our kid is still a force with which to be reckoned. His third solo record is his best. I love the variety of styles and themes.
10. Greentea Peng: Greenzone 108
The Queen of Soul Psychedelia showered 2022 with more awesomeness. A truly soul lifting experience.
9. Sugar Ray Rayford: In Too Deep
Speaking of soul, Sugar Ray Rayford is at the forefront of the soul revival that has all the rage for the last several years. I am so glad that this style of music is still being made.
The Sheffield lads continue their dominance over the musical world with yet another amazing offering. NME awarded The Car the number one spot this year for Best Album. It's a continuation of the themes and styles of their last record so you'd better find that martini and favorite lounge whilst listening.
7. Sunflower Bean: Headful of Sugar
This Brooklyn outfit just rips my heart out in the most wonderful ways with each new release. Their latest record cuts deep into my romantic soul...
The sonic realms created by this young man from Los Angeles are truly expansive. And yet, he manages to personalize so many of his songs. Listening to this latest record makes me feel like I'm in some sort of eternal lounge with love in the air...
I've loved this band for 25 years now and they haven't made a bad record. Their latest is one of their best. It kicks ass and rocks!
4. Tears For Fear: The Tipping Point
They haven't made that many albums but the ones they have made...wow. Their latest has been years in the making and the wait was well worth it. Roland and Curt are gems...
3. Turin Brakes: Wide Eyed Nowhere
This one surprised me. I've like this band for a couple of decades and found their music to be enjoyable. Their 2022 offering is dragon level awesome. Every track is stunning and beautiful.
We all want to be pointed towards True North. A-Ha decided to record there and produce a mind boggling effort. Most folks know them as a one hit wonder that also did a James Bond song. But they are so much more and this record proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt.
1. Ryan Adams: Chris, Romeo and Juliet, FM, Devolver, Nebraska
The Album of the Year is actually plural for the first time on this site. Ryan Adams has given new meaning to the word "prolific" with five releases this year, all of which are amazing. In fact, Adams has inspired me to create a new recognition here at MarkiesMusic and that's Artist of the Year.
In so many ways, Adams was 2022. His deep introspection and optimistic malaise was perfect for the year. I saw him live last October with my daughter and it was three hours of exactly why he's the greatest living American songwriter.
Here's a sampling of his output this year...
It is with great pride and joy that the number one track of 2022 goes to The Linda Lindas for their amazing song, "Oh!"
These young LA kiddos have bucked all the computer based garbage pop filled with heavily modulated vocals that we hear these days in favor of a straight up pop/punk sound that I used to hear when I was their age. It warms my heart so much to hear music like this again...
Congrats to The Linda Lindas!
Trying to listen to Earthgang's magnificent track "Waterboyz" without shaking it is darn near impossible. You just gotta move!
It's a cornucopia of urban stream of consciousness...
The opening track to the latest Stereophonics record is a banger with a capital B! That's why it's my choice at number three in 2022!!
Nice to the Cwmaman lads back to form..
The title track from the album of the summer is keeping me quite warm in the North Woods on these long and cold winter nights. "The Tipping Point" is a perfect Tears For Fears track in every way...
Turin Brakes made an amazing record this year. This is the best track on it. Just a giant pile of gorgeousness.
Man, I love Sunflower Bean. The Brooklyn trio has seeped deeply into my soul since their inception seven years ago. The opening track from their latest record is my number six for the year.
Pure pop bliss...
The Black Keys have themselves a grand master, dragon level banger of a track. "Wild Child" cooks from start to finish. I dare you not to dance while listening to it. It's impossible! You can't do it!
The pride of Montclair, New Jersey gets the nod at #8 this year with the jangly guitar pop track, "Alaska." Pinegrove = Indie bliss.
The loungey and lovey lo-fi of Cuco is perfect for this time of year. Find a loved one and snuggle up to stay warm in your heart and soul...
The vison widening track "On The Run" by Atlanta's own Mattiel brings us into the top ten of this year's best tracks. I am very obsessed with the beauty of this song. I want to live in the world it created...
The Sherlocks are a band that I've really come to deeply enjoy over the last couple of years. I wish more bands would make music like this. Expansive pop that warms the soul from Barnsley, South Yorkshire...
Those Denton, Texas lads known as Midlake have finally returned with new music and it's made 2022 all the better. The best track from their latest record is called "Feast of Carrion" and it is truly glorious.
Nostalgia working overdrive...
I've played A-Ha's new record over twenty times now and I'm still blown away by it. I know it's a cliche but good grief what a tour de force. The opening track still sends chills down my spine...
The kid turned out a great record this year and "Diamond In The Dark" is an absolute corker. I can see the lights from phones being waved in the year for a banging stadium sing a long...
"Another idiot with a brand new phone."
The line from this track that led me to fall in love with it immediately. The Wombats are the pride pride of Liverpool. Dancy dream pop at its finest!
Pat Fish left this earth last year but his legacy will endure forever. His last gift to all of us is a true gem and this is just a corker of a track from it!
The ever amazing Blossoms, fine Greater Manchester lads, turned out a corker of a pop song this year. We are all "Born Wild" when that 80s sound is heard...
The gentle, soothing feeling that this track brings reminds me of the gentle slide onto the bar stool and a fresh, cold one being poured and served. The Delines are a Portland treasure.
I want to hang out with an eco warrior goddess. Maybe even several of them. Listening to Todd's song about such folk makes me want to be a part of their scene ASAP.
Next up in the countdown is the ever prolific Ryan Adams with "Doylestown Girl" from one of his FOUR albums this year, Romeo and Juliet.
It sounds like it came out in 1981!
