Yes, this is another end-of-year best-of-2022 post, but don't scroll away just yet! I wanted to take a moment to show some love to the artists, albums, and songs that got me through this rollercoaster of a year.
You can listen to my favorites from this year on Spotify here. To learn more about why I chose these as my picks, keep reading! These lists are in no particular order.
The Sweetest Albums of 2022
"Little Green House" - Anxious
Genres: Pop, Rock, Dreamo
Vibes: The kind of band that can sound like radio pop but can make Connecticut kids mosh and stage dive like they're at a rowdy hardcore fest.
Favorite Tracks: All of them, but especially "Afternoon"
For Fans Of... Fiddlehead, Citizen, Drug Church, having a crisis over the fact that you graduate college soon
"Chloë and the Next 20th Century" - Father John Misty
Genres: Folk, Americana, Indie
Vibes: This album (and every FJM album) has pretentious hipster vibes but I'm actually very here for it. This is a record you can calmly fall asleep to and an album you can over-analyze for months all at once. Favorite Tracks: "Kiss Me (I Loved You)," "Q4," "We Could Be Strangers"
For Fans Of... Big Red Machine, George Ezra, Lana Del Rey, acting better than your friends because you know this album and they don't
"Midnights" - Taylor Swift
Genres: Pop, Electronic, Indie
Vibes: Staying up all night overthinking every interaction you've ever had, but romanticizing it. Also glitter.
Favorite Tracks: "Mastermind," "Anti-Hero," "Labyrinth"
For Fans Of... Lorde, Carly Rae Jepsen, Halsey, sparkly blue Colourpop eyeshadow
"HOLY FVCK" - Demi Lovato
Genres: Pop-Punk, Emo, Rock
Vibes: Former Disney star taking ownership of their life and having the emo phase that being in "Camp Rock" never let them have.
Favorite Tracks: "EAT ME (feat. Royal & the Serpent)," "SKIN OF MY TEETH," "HAPPY ENDING"
For Fans Of... Paramore, Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morissette, Taylor Swift's "give me back my girlhood, it was mine first" lyric
"Split" - Broken Vow, Set Straight
Genres: Hardcore. That's about it.
Vibes: Two bands with multiple straight-edge members released a split on 4/20.
Favorite Tracks: The two BV songs on this are their two best songs.
For Fans Of... Magnitude, Restraining Order, Inclination, coping with your trauma by moshing at VFW gigs
"Being Funny in a Foreign Language" - The 1975
Genres: Indie, Pop, Rock
Vibes: I hated this band's last album. I've loved everything else they've ever done. This record has me forgiving them for whatever it is that they put out in 2020.
Favorite Tracks: "About You," "All I Need To Hear," "Oh Caroline"
For Fans Of... The Band CAMINO, Bleachers, Lucy Dacus, happy-crying in the car with your friends late at night because you can't believe that this is your life
The Sweetest Songs of 2022
"Afternoon" - Anxious
Album: "Little Green House"
Favorite Lyric: "So I’m the child who still depends / On small things like being on time / And you will either way / I can't hide my mistakes / From someone so wise / Treasured in your eyes"
Listen When You... are taking the train into the city and feel like the main character in a coming-of-age movie
"Million Miles of Fun" - Drug Church
Album: "Hygiene"
Favorite Lyric: "Newsflash / I need news less"
Listen When You... have lost all faith in humanity for the millionth time
"Burn" - Broken Vow
Album: "Split"
Favorite Lyric: "If it was up to me, you would’ve never got this far / All prayers to the god that you think you are"
Listen When You... are trying to hit a new PR at the gym and/or are harboring a lot of anger (a combination of both works best)
"Hung Up" - Highwind, L. St. Germain
Album: "Something Right in Between"
Favorite Lyric: "It's a chemical reaction that you love but just can't have it"
Listen When You... just got done reading a book/watching a TV show with a couple you have a new obsession with (ex.: Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston)
"Pixie" - Pollyanna
Album: "Slime"
Favorite Lyric: "You couldn't love me, or you didn't want to"
Listen When You... need to scream a little bit (the reasoning is not important)
"Family Line" - Conan Gray
Album: "Superache"
Favorite Lyric: "I was a kid but I wasn't clueless / Someone who loves you wouldn't do this"
Listen When You... need to remind yourself that you aren't who came before you
"Permanent Resolution" - Homesafe
Album: Single
Favorite Lyric: "All I know is I'm indebted to you now / Embedded to the sound / Of your voice as it calls out"
Listen When You... are down bad for someone who doesn't care if you live or die
"Hell Hounds" - chloe moriondo
Album: "Blood Bunny Deluxe"/"SUCKERPUNCH"
Favorite Lyric: "You're tall, but in my boots, I'm taller"
Listen When You... are tired of living in a male-dominated world (so like every day)
"HAPPY ENDING" - Demi Lovato
Album: "HOLY FVCK"
Favorite Lyric: "And I tried to be your hero / I lent you my voice / I was your poster child / It was working for a while / But it didn't fill the void"
Listen When You... are in need of a good cry about growing up (bonus points if you're a recovering people pleaser)
"she knows it" - Maggie Lindemann
Album: "SUCKERPUNCH"
Favorite Lyric: "Every day with him is like some fight club"
Listen When You... are down bad for someone who doesn't care if you live or die - but make it queer
"About You" - The 1975
Album: "Being Funny in a Foreign Language"
Favorite Lyric: "There was something about you that now I can't remember / It's the same damn thing that made my heart surrender / And I'll miss you on a train / I'll miss you in the morning"
Listen When You... are mourning the loss of your dream job/school/friend group/relationship/city/etc.
"Labyrinth" - Taylor Swift
Album: "Midnights"
Favorite Lyric: "I thought the plane was goin' down / How'd you turn it right around?"
Listen When You... are falling in love and don't want anyone to catch you
What were your favorite albums and songs of 2022? Let me know by tweeting me at @JENSESSlON or the blog at @StrawbSkiesBlog!
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