Favorite Albums of 2022 (so far...)

A Sampling of the Music That's Been Fueling Me This Year

We’re over halfway through 2022, and an avalanche of records have filled the playlists I listen to as I travel to my day job. I’ve listened to far more albums than I’ve returned to. Some of the stuff I’ve only listened to once, such as Beyoncé’s Renaissance, has been great, but not on heavy rotation for me. So I’ve decided to make a list about the albums that haven’t left my daily routine.

There were a couple albums that I liked but didn’t wholly love (such as Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers and Beach House’s Once Twice Melody) missing from this list. But once again, these are the records I’ve been returning to and this is not necessarily a full critique of them.

In any case, here they are. Unranked.

Big Thief: Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You

Big Thief’s fifth studio album might be their best. I first fell in love with this group when I heard “Real Love” from their debut Masterpiece. Every song on Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You walks with the distinct freedom of playing as though no one is listening. It traverses rock, country, bluegrass and folk — and the lyrics are as playful as they are incisive as lead singer Adrianne Lenker’s voice warbles out big truths from simple observations. You wonder how much more Big Thief can grow. And are we ready for it?

Favorite tracks: “Spud Infinity,” “Dried Roses,” and “Blue Lightning.”