2022: Noisescape’s Top Releases of the Year
Everyone’s soundtrack of 2022 varies, which is why we wanted to highlight some of our personally significant releases from the year as well as our readers’ favorites. Since we are a publication dedicated to showcasing a wide array of genres, the selections were naturally eclectic. Before getting into our poll results, a few of our staff members shared their favorite albums that were released this year.
Staff Picks
PREACHER’S DAUGHTER - ETHEL CAIN
Ethel Cain’s Preacher’s Daughter is such a uniquely gripping project in so many facets. Cain delivers an eerie conceptual album following the (mostly) fictionalized stories behind the character of Ethel Cain. Songs such as “Family Tree,” “Western Nights” & “Strangers” recounting haunting traumas including religious guilt, domestic abuse & ...cannibalism? That’s right. Guarantee you’ve never heard a more beautiful song about a more twisted topic. We need A24 Films to start a screenplay for this whole album already.
- Deirdre Kelly (@beatsbydeirdre)
LISTEN: Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon
SHOALS - PALACE
I first saw & heard Palace in October 2021. Their sound has stuck with me ever since. Shoals conveniently had its release the following January & was the perfect addition to the music I first discovered. To me, this is an album I will always come back to & listen from start to end, and has been constantly with me throughout this year.
STANDOUT TRACKS: “(Lover) Don’t Let Me Down,” “Where Sky Becomes Sea” & “Friends Forever”
- Elena Torrano (@el____na)
LISTEN: Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon
ALL 4 NOTHING - LAUV
International pop star Lauv delivers his best, most cohesive collection of tracks with new record, All 4 Nothing. Clocking in at under 40 minutes, the record eliminates the filler that bogged down parts of his previous two projects how I’m feeling, and I met you when I was 18. Main singles “All 4 Nothing” and “Kids Are Born Stars” are some of his strongest yet, but it’s the album tracks that make the record shine. “Stranger” showcas- es his impressive vocal prowess, “Molly In Mexico” is an underrated and masterfully produced high-energy banger, and both “Stay Together” and “Better Than This,” while short, feature some of Lauv’s best non-commercial hooks. While many of these songs were designed to be sung with crowds of thousands jumping in unison to the thumping beats, it is not a joyous record by any means. “Hey Ari,” “I (Don’t) Have A Problem,” and “Bad Trip” are painfully hon- est and vulnerable accounts of a man acknowledging his demons, and his at- tempts to exist with them. Through his pain, Lauv created a body of work that both satisfies his brand as an artist and, more so than ever, peels back the layers of the human being behind the art for all to see in a show of solidarity, and understanding, with those going through their own battles.
- Noah Wade (@njwade_)
LISTEN: Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon
PALACES - FLUME
My album of the year is Palaces by Flume. I originally found Flume right before his album Skin came out in 2016 and he’s been one of my favorite artists ever since. He’s an artist that is very sentimental to me and someone that I respect a lot. His new album is kind of reminiscent of Skin and features light and melodic songs featuring some incredible vocalists like MAY-A and Caroline Polachek. He is currently finishing up his U.S. tour and I was able to catch him when he came to Michigan. It was my first time seeing him and for me, it was such a good show, he played a nice mix of old songs and newer songs from Palaces. He recently released Slugger 1.4, which is a song that he found on his old computer from about 2011-2012 during his album titled FLUME. I am very excited to see what his next project is as he says he plans on releasing more older music!
- Michaela May (@mr_photog)
LISTEN: Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon
CAPRISONGS - FKA TWIGS
When I think about this album, the one word that pops into my mind is “dreamy.” I didn’t listen to this album until August, but I was immediately hooked from the first song. Es- sentially, CAPRISONGS is what introduced me to who and what FKA twigs is, and perfectly shows what makes her stand out from other artists. To me, this album is about discover- ing one’s self and their worth. There are a few songs about heartache and loneliness, but it still is fun and sonically beautiful. If you’re interested in contemporary r&b, trip- hop music, I highly suggest taking a listen!
- Alex Cortes (@amarie.jpeg)
LISTEN: Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon
Our Readers’ Favorite Releases of 2022
Here at Noisescape Magazine, we conducted a survey for our readers to submit their favorite releases from this year. We created several categories including some genre-focused ones including: rock, pop, r&b, metal, country, EDM and rap. We also included categories for fan-favorite EP’s and singles. We’ve finally accumulated & determined our end results. So, if your favorite made it to our list, it was someone else’s favorite too! Everything listed was submitted more than once, thus creating a more concise Top 5 result. Thank you so much to everyone who participated.
TOP 5 ROCK ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
Love Me Forever - Pinkshift
Changes - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
[MESSAGE FROM THE CLERGY] - Ghost
Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You - Big Thief
5SOS5 - 5 Seconds of Summer
TOP 5 POP ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
Being Funny In A Foreign Language - The 1975
Harry’s House - Harry Styles
MUNA - MUNA
Hold The Girl - Rina Sawayama
Decide - DJO
TOP 5 R&B ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
Blue Water Road - Kehlani
Dawn FM - The Weeknd
Renaissance - Beyoncé
Ivory - Omar Apollo
S.O.S. - SZA
TOP 5 METAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
A Eulogy For Those Still Here - Counterparts
Dark Sun - Dayseeker
Voyeurist - Underoath
Pain Remains - Lorna Shore
Heroine - Thornhill
TOP 5 COUNTRY ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
Subject To Change - Kelsea Ballerini
Different Man - Kane Brown
Same Truck - Scotty Mcreery
Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? - Tyler Childers
Good Person - Ingrid Andress
TOP 5 RAP ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
Traumazine - Meg Thee Stallion
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers - Kendrick Lamar
You’re Still Here, Ho? - Flo Milli
Kings Disease III - Nas
Her Loss - Drake & 21 Savage
TOP 5 EDM ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
Thrive - Slander
Palaces - Flume
Spiral - Rezz
Loner - Alison Wonderland
Thrill of the Chase - Kygo
TOP 5 EPs OF THE YEAR
is this what i look like? - Yours Truly
Old Clothes - Tigers Jaw
Year of the Snake - Softcult
INFLUENDO - TroyBoi
Rose Colored Dreams - Conversation Piece
TOP 5 SINGLES OF THE YEAR
“This Is Why” - Paramore
“About Damn Time” - Lizzo
“Change” - DJO
“sTrAnGeRs” - Bring Me The Horizon
“In The Stars” - Benson Boone
TOP 5 BREAKTHROUGH ARTISTS OF THE YEAR
Ethel Cain
Tate McRae
eph see
Beach Weather
Scene Queen
Your Top 10 Albums of the Year
Midnights - Taylor Swift
Harry’s House - Harry Styles
Being Funny In A Foreign Language - The 1975
Renaissance - Beyoncé
Past Lives - L.S. Dunes
CAPRISONGS - FKA Twigs
Preacher’s Daughter - Ethel Cain
Un Verano Sin Ti - Bad Bunny
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers - Kendrick Lamar
Otherness - Alexisonfire
Just like last year, we’ve curated a Noisescape playlist comprised of all the tracks & artists listed above as well as a bunch of other tracks released this year that didn’t make the cut. So, if you feel like you missed out on some releases this year, our playlist is a great way to catch up before the new year! Or just revel in all of the fantastic music.