The Best New Albums of 2022...so far
Last updated - 11/18/2022
Halfway through January, we get hit with more than a foot of snow and plummeting temperatures with howling winds and the bleakest of forecasts. What are we to do but kick back and check out some new tunes.
The first new music of the year I recommend getting is the new EP Springtime from Robin Guthrie. It’s a perfect way to start the new year with his dreamy atmospheric music. A perfect prelude to some more of my hot picks to get 2022 off to a great start.
Winter is finally fading away and heading into spring we find three new albums worth checking out in different genres with Charli XCX electronica pop mastery, and pure blues brilliance in Son House's new album of previously unreleased recordings from the '60s. Then we get to really rocking it out with Bryan Adams's latest effort an absolute gem. His album of So Happy It Hurts is full of some of the best songs he's ever written. This is one of his all-time best albums and I really recommend this one to you all.
Well into Spring I've found a few more really interesting albums worth checking out. One is the debut outing from Suki Waterhouse and it's amazing for sure. Then there is a guitar-heavy album from Hater that is really good. If that's not good enough then check out the Black Keys latest because they kick ass!
As summer rolls along we've found some really good guitar rock albums with lots of catchy riffs and lots of youthful angst from Momma, Neighbor Lady, and Soccer Mommy. With a slight detour into abstract sort of goth/rock from Zola Jesus and finally an outstanding guitar rock album from Neil Young & Crazy Horse. Although the Neil Young album is actually from 2001, it is just now being released. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how really good it is. Be sure to check it out.
It's been a while since I've updated this post, but that's because there has not been anything worthwhile to write about until now. Michelle Branch is back and all of the songs on her new album are really good, she never disappoints. Then there's Ozzy, and quite frankly I've never been a fan of his, but I gave his new album a listen and although the themes and overall dark messages conveyed in this album may put some people off, I just have to say it's amazingly good. The songs are top notch and the musicianship and overall production on this album are fantastic. It's no wonder why it just made number 1 on Billboard. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it rocks and the title track is the best of the numbers on the new album.
Well, now we're well into October and we have a couple of new albums from Tove Lo and Zella Day that are pretty interesting and well worth checking out if dance and pop are what you're looking for.
As we're heading fast into the holiday season and the coming winter, releases of new music will be fewer as record companies push legacy albums, greatest hits packages, and even worse, holiday-themed albums. The best new music of 2022 is behind us, but I'll still be on the lookout for a surprise drop. If something else really good does come out I'll post it here for sure. So, keep your fingers crossed and keep checking back to this list of under the radar album releases that are worthy of your hard-earned $$.
Keep checking back from time to time to see this list get updated.
Robin Guthrie - Springtime
Mary Lattimore - Collected Pieces: 2015-2020
Cat Power - Covers
The Lumineers - BRIGHTSIDE
Garcia Peoples - Dodging Dues
AURORA - The Gods We Can Touch
Boris - W
John Mayall - The Sun is Shining Down
Sally Shapiro - Sad Cities
Bryan Adams - So Happy It Hurts
Charli XCX - Crash
Son House - Forever on My Mind
Lucius - Second Nature
Joe Satriani - The Elephants of Mars
The Regrettes - Further Joy
Earthen Sea - Ghost Poems
Jewel - Freewheelin' Woman
Melody's Echo Chamber - Emotional Eternal
Suki Waterhouse - I Can't Let Go
Hater - Sincere
The Black Keys - Dropout Boogie
Lykke Li - EYEYE
Stars - From Capelton Hill
Zola Jesus - Arkhon
Soccer Mommy - Sometimes, Forever
Neighbor Lady - For the Birds
Momma - Household Name
Neil Young / Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Toast
Ozzy Osbourne - Patient Number 9
Michelle Branch - The Trouble With Fever
Tove Lo - Dirt Femme
Zella Day - Sunday in Heaven
Bill Frisell - Four
Weyes Blood - And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow
Rock On!
