For those that celebrate, I hope you had a fantastic Christmas! And happy Boxing Day as well!
Usually, this space is for what we’ve listened to over the past week. For the last Monday of 2022, I thought I’d change it up. Below are 40 of my favorites from across the year.
What were your favorite songs of 2022? Have something you listened to over and over? If you found one from a previous year, that’s ok too. Share ‘em below!
According to Spotify, my top songs of 2022 were “Break Apart” by Bonobo, “The Maze” by Manchester Orchestra, “Forever More” by Hothouse Flowers, “The Gates of Paradise” by Luxury, and “Lebanon” by Ondara.
I write for a living, and I have a specific playlist I listen to while writing (I can’t listen to just anything), so after listening to this playlist several hours a day for several days a week it tends to down rank all the other music I listen to for fun. 🤓
Hothouse Flowers! Haven’t thought of them in an eon or two. I used to play their album Home all the time. I just looked them up and they are still together! Very cool. I’ll have to check out their later albums when I come up for air in 2023...
Too many songs to list. My Spotify list is totally bogus. Other than the fact that XTC still remains my most-played band and will probably remain so until my ears give out. In terms of 2022 releases, I’ve slowly been compiling my 100 favorite tunes of 2022 on the ol’ Earworm and Song Loops (50-75 coming out tomorrow!).
I don't usually do lists of songs - it takes all the time I have to determine my favorite albums, even if I recognize some songs stand apart from albums, like The 30th, a stunning track from Billie Eilish's Guitar Songs single, or Bananaz, the one precious song pinkcaravan! gifted to us in 2022. To keep it simple, however, here are my favorite songs from my top 5 albums:
Jeremy, I just checked out your list (super briefly) and landed on Palm, who I hadn’t heard before, and loved them. Totally in my wheelhouse. Thanks for the tip!
Yeah- I discovered Dazy a couple years ago on Bandcamp and have been singing his praises ever since. He/they are playing near me at the end of January and I’m super excited. Maybe coming to your neck of the woods? Perhaps a 2023 interview for On Repeat?;)
I saw them at Rough Trade’s IndiePlaza Festival - they went on at noon and eight hours later after seeing other great bands like The Muckers, Horsegirl, Claud, and Automatic, I was still singing their songs. That’s when I had the idea their record might be a keeper
Sorry if I already commented about these lol BUT two of my favorite songs from 2022 were "Flowers" by AKTHESAVIOR and "Do Better" by Ab-Soul. I think they both have beautiful messages as well as being sonically beautiful. "Last One Standing" by Monophonics is another excellent one. It came out in 2020 but I heard it for the first time in 2022. It's on an album called It's Only Us which is also fantastic.
According to Spotify, my top songs of 2022 were “Break Apart” by Bonobo, “The Maze” by Manchester Orchestra, “Forever More” by Hothouse Flowers, “The Gates of Paradise” by Luxury, and “Lebanon” by Ondara.
I write for a living, and I have a specific playlist I listen to while writing (I can’t listen to just anything), so after listening to this playlist several hours a day for several days a week it tends to down rank all the other music I listen to for fun. 🤓
Hothouse Flowers! Haven’t thought of them in an eon or two. I used to play their album Home all the time. I just looked them up and they are still together! Very cool. I’ll have to check out their later albums when I come up for air in 2023...
I was late to the Bonobo party, but I’m glad I found it! Great music to write/read/whatever by.
Edit: Hothouse Flowers! What a cool blast from the past. I had no idea they were still playing. 😃
There were a few songs that I could put on repeat without ever getting tired of listening to them this year:
- Spud Infinity by Big Thief
- 2am by The Beths
- Summer at Land's End by The Reds, Pinks & Purples
- If You're Not Dark by Superchunk
....and in the 'sorry not sorry' category, Chaise Longue
But how did I sleep through listening to Domino and Jimmy this year?! What a follow up to My Curse. Someone needs to revoke my Cincinnati residency.
I love that they brought My Curse around full circle. The whole record is fantastic!
Great shout with The Reds, Pinks, & Purples!
Favorite song: Beach House's "Superstar." hands down.
thanks for the rec Terry, love this!
+1 for Beach House!
Too many songs to list. My Spotify list is totally bogus. Other than the fact that XTC still remains my most-played band and will probably remain so until my ears give out. In terms of 2022 releases, I’ve slowly been compiling my 100 favorite tunes of 2022 on the ol’ Earworm and Song Loops (50-75 coming out tomorrow!).
love to see braxe + falcon and tourist on here!
How great is that Tourist record?!
right!! easily became my most played of the year
I don't usually do lists of songs - it takes all the time I have to determine my favorite albums, even if I recognize some songs stand apart from albums, like The 30th, a stunning track from Billie Eilish's Guitar Songs single, or Bananaz, the one precious song pinkcaravan! gifted to us in 2022. To keep it simple, however, here are my favorite songs from my top 5 albums:
43 - Florist
Go Home - Angel Olsen
Ur Mum - Wet Leg
Love In The Dark - Hollie Cook
Johnny Ray - Nev Cottee
If you want to dig deeper, the whole list is here: http://anearful.blogspot.com/2022/12/best-of-2022-top-25.html#.Y6xTZnbMJPY
Love the Hollie Cook shout! If year-end lists were compiled during the summer, that record would have definitely made mine!
Jeremy, I just checked out your list (super briefly) and landed on Palm, who I hadn’t heard before, and loved them. Totally in my wheelhouse. Thanks for the tip!
That's what it's all about! Happy holidays!
What a list! Thanks for sharing it here. I think i mentioned it on Twitter, but Dazy was a huge find for me this year.
Yeah- I discovered Dazy a couple years ago on Bandcamp and have been singing his praises ever since. He/they are playing near me at the end of January and I’m super excited. Maybe coming to your neck of the woods? Perhaps a 2023 interview for On Repeat?;)
Perhaps!
I saw them at Rough Trade’s IndiePlaza Festival - they went on at noon and eight hours later after seeing other great bands like The Muckers, Horsegirl, Claud, and Automatic, I was still singing their songs. That’s when I had the idea their record might be a keeper
That’s quite a lineup! Sounds like a killer show.
Sorry if I already commented about these lol BUT two of my favorite songs from 2022 were "Flowers" by AKTHESAVIOR and "Do Better" by Ab-Soul. I think they both have beautiful messages as well as being sonically beautiful. "Last One Standing" by Monophonics is another excellent one. It came out in 2020 but I heard it for the first time in 2022. It's on an album called It's Only Us which is also fantastic.
Monophonics are amazing! Pretty much everyone on Colemine records is, I 'spose.