Rich's Top Ten Releases Of 2022

Another year and I’ve been horrible at keeping up with releases for this one – but I definitely have my favourites.

Want to give shout outs to other great releases that came out this year including Earl Sweatshirt Sick! [Hip-Hop]; Dälek Precipice [Experimental Hip Hop]; Abduction Black Blood [Black Metal], Lord Mantis Tormentor [Sludge/Death/Black Metal]; Lustmord The Others (Lustmord Deconstructed) [Experimental/Drone]; Boris W [Alternative Rock/Metal]; Sault Angel [Classical]; Infinity Knives/Brian Ennals King Cobra [Experimental Hip-Hop]; Gnod Hexen Valley [Experimental/Noise Rock]; Your Old Droog YOD Presents: The Shining [Hip-Hop]; The Body/OAA Enemy Of Love [Electronica/Industrial]; Blackbraid Blackbraid I [Black Metal]; Viagra Boys Cave [Noise Rock]; Thraa Into Earth [Drone] and Adwaith Bato Mato [Rock].

10. CELESTE – ASSASSINE(S)


Genre: Post-metal / Black Metal / Screamo

Man… if you know Celeste (FR), then you know what you’re in for. If not, expect to be pummelled to gristle thanks to the bands unrelenting tremolos, technical drumming and spitting screams. Throughout the eight tracks, the band violently blend black metal, hardcore, sludge and emo (skramz).

Favourite tracks: De tes yeux bleus perles, Il a tant reve d’elles, Elle se repete froidement.

9. MITSKI – LAUREL HELL

Genre: Pop/Indie
WE HAVE THIS!

Mitski changed direction much to everyone’s surprise, replacing rock with 80’s nostalgia synths. This might upset some hardcore fans of yore but “Laurel Hell” only goes to prove whether it’s with a bass guitar, keys or even a car tire: Mitski can write songs with her eyes closed.

Admittedly not my favourite of hers but still a strong pop album.

Favourite tracks: The Only Heartbreaker, Working for the Knife, Love Me More.

8. SHYGIRL – NYMPH


Genre: Electronica
WE HAVE THIS!

In all honesty, this isn’t what I expected and had been hoping for that uber X-rated, heavy style to explode on here. However this is a way gentler journey than her previous material – almost like the 00’s drum ‘n bass/pop that would be blasting from schoolkids’ phones except really, really GOOD.

Coochie (a bedtime story) has no right to be so equally catchy and humorous at the same time.

Favourite tracks: Firefly, Coochie (a bedtime story), Nike.

7. ELYSIAN FIELDS – ONCE BEAUTIFUL, TWICE REMOVED

Genre: Indie/Pop

Man… why does no-one pay attention to Elysian Fields so much? Despite coming out with a perfect album in 2000, “Queen of the Meadow”, the duo have released a solid line of albums since. That said: I think this is the best they’ve done in years.

This one feels a lot more cohesive, has a fluent flow throughout and has the clever witticisms you’d want from the sensual and husky Jennifer Charles. Plus, I swear you can play this album on repeat seamlessly with the beginning of Road Trip and the final piano chord of Pack These Boxes. Pretty sure it’s meant to be.

Favourite tracks: Pack These Boxes, We’ll Get There Yet, Lucid Dreaming.

6. WU-LU – LOGGERHEAD


Genre: I honestly don't know. Don't ask.
WE HAVE THIS!

An incredible and unexpected debut from Miles Romans-Hopcraft aka Wu-Lu and the gang, it genre-jumps from track to track, providing one of the most interesting releases of the year.

From the murky diamond of Scrambled Tricks hip-hop, the basement-dwelling drum’n’bass Facts to the rocking single Times – Wu-Lu clearly has no interest in sticking to one sound. And I’m thankful for that.

Favourite tracks: Scrambled Tricks, Times, Ten.

5. BILLY WOODS – CHURCH


Genre: Hip-Hop

If you haven’t scrolled further down, then let me just spoil it for ya: this is one of two Woods releases that made my list. Another year of two surprise albums (same happened in 2019) and both are stellar works… AGAIN.

I do just like the other album a touch more, but that doesn’t negate this one in the slightest – the other is just that incredible. You get the atmospheric beats and rabbit-hole lyrics here, and the imagery both create is intoxicating.

Favourite track: Pollo Rico, Schism, All Jokes Aside.

4. SOUL GLO – DIASPORA PROBLEMS


Genre: Hardcore/Metal/Experimental
WE HAVE THIS!

I wrote about this album in a post that you can read here, so I won’t repeat too much. This was the high-energy album I needed for this year, with the added bonus of extreme aggression and humour interwoven.

The whole band is fucking incredible, but I still can’t get my head around Pierce Jordan’s vocals. HOW DOES HE DO THAT?!

Favourite tracks: Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmyass?), Spiritual Level of Gang Shit, GODBLESSYALLREALGOOD, Driponomics.

3. J.I.D. – THE FOREVER STORY


Genre: Hip-Hop

J.I.D. has been an artist I’ve harped on about to anyone and everyone – to me he’s one of the greatest and most consistent MCs we have. From the crazy flows, the witty lyrics, the humour, intelligence; this album has it all. It’s also the most we hear J.I.D. opening up.
 
Frankly this is the album I’ve been expecting for J.I.D. and ranks as my favourite of his. I can’t wait to see what else he comes up with, his talent is exciting.
 
Favourite tracks: Money, Raydar, Surround Sound, Can’t Punk Me.

2. CHAT PILE – GOD'S COUNTRY


Genre: Sludge / Noise Rock / Metal

Jesus. I've been waiting forever for someone to pick up the gantlet that bands like Admiral Angry and Black Sheep Wall threw down well over a decade ago, and finally they have!

This has been on non-stop for me and I wrote about it in more depth here.

Favourite tracks: grimace_smoking_weed.jpeg, Why, Pamela.

 QUELLE CHRIS - DEATHFAME

Genre: Hip-Hop

This album is a hard-hitter overall, I swear the album analyses our need to be remembered after death, the race to establish our memory for others, and it cycles through the many moods and perspectives surrounding this (along with its ultimate futility).

Whether it's humility and wanting to lead a simple/problem-less life (Alive Ain't Always Living), snarling and baring teeth in the title track or struggling with depression (The Sky...) the album is a testament to Quelle Chris' insightfulness. It also showcases his ridiculous talent for crafting songs - a congratulations is in order too with Lizzo using the Chris Keys-produced Sudden Death beat for her track Coldplay!

Favourite tracks: DEATHFAME, Alive Ain't Always Living, The Sky Is Blue Because the Sunset is Red. 

BILLY WOODS - AETHIOPES


Genre: Hip-Hop

I don't know how to approach this album with a description, it's truly one of the most haunting hip-hop albums - it seems to follow Billy Woods and his time in Zimbabwe when he was young. It really does feel like some musical equivalent of Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness', especially in the first half - it's filled with wilderness, loss, danger, grief, struggle, poverty, violence, etc.

Just to push it even further, the Preservation-produced beats feature African percussions and samples of classic rock, reggae, soul, etc. The two sync up perfectly here.

Another great year for Billy Woods and his fans. The greatest.

Favourite tracks: Asylum, Heavy Water, NYNEX.