Year in Review: My Top Albums of 2022

Two years ago I wrote a (lengthy) recap of the year and ranked my top albums of that year. This year, I've decided to bring the project back, taking you through my top albums of the year. Don't worry though, I'll keep this article brief, relative to my 2020 article. Without further ado, let's get into it!

Honorable Mentions:

Here are a handful of albums that I liked, but that didn't make the Top 5 cut. If you see your favorite album on here, sorry (not sorry)! These albums aren't ranked, only the top 5 are.

Dawn FM — The Weeknd

Dawn FM is a follow-up album to The Weeknd's 2020 release After Hours. The tonality and themes of this latest release bare obvious resemblances to the previous album, but I didn't connect with it in the way that I'd hoped to. Though, while I didn't fall in love with Dawn FM, I did find a special place for it and did enjoy it casually—just not enough to place it in my top 5.

Harry's House — Harry Styles

Perhaps the biggest surprise, Harry's House is one of the most successful albums of the year from one of its most successful artists. While I thoroughly enjoyed many songs on the album, I did not find it as cohesive or compelling as the albums in my top 5. Still, this album is very well-made and worth the hype.

Midnights — Taylor Swift

Ah, blasphemy! Yes—Taylor Swift's tenth studio album has not found itself in my top 5. While I did consider it, since the album overall is another solid triumph for Swift and one of her most successful albums, I myself was not wholly won over. I think the album begins to drag in its latter half, which is why I couldn't place it in the top 5. Still, songs like "Anti-Hero", "Question...?", and "Karma" are strong additions to Swift's discography. On the flip side, "Vigilante Shit" might be the artist's worst.

Give Me The Future — Bastille

Bastille has long been one of my favorite artists. Despite this, the band's fourth album did not place in my ranking. The album is a major shift for the band in tone and content—while still tackling some of the more heady and heavier themes they're famous for. Still, it lacked cohesiveness and I did not listen to the album as consistently as I did my top 5.

Top 5 Albums of 2022:

5. The Loneliest Time — Carly Rae Jepsen & Hold The Girl — Rina Sawayama (TIE)

For me, The Loneliest Time is one of the greatest examples of what a good album can do for an artist. Carly Rae Jepsen, whose hit song "Call Me Maybe" long-defined the artist, has released her fourth album and thanks to the lead single "The Loneliest Time" going viral on social media, has gained renewed interest in her work. While "The Loneliest Time" is the most popular song on the album, it is a wholly enjoyable album that can stand on its own without the lead single. Carly Rae Jepsen's latest release is, for me, one of my favorite of the year.

Rina Sawayama's latest album Hold The Girl stays true to the artist's early-2000s aesthetic, and comes across as inspired heavily by the likes of Avril Lavigne. Similar to her previous album Sawayama, which placed second in my 2020 review, Hold The Girl contains pop-punk anthems like "Frankenstein" and "Catch Me In the Air", coupled with more poppy songs like "This Hell" (a personal favorite). Sawayama's latest album is hands down one of my favorites of the year. Enough to deserve to tie for a place on the list.

4. Bronco — Orville Peck

Bronco is the sophomore album of now-famous country artist Orville Peck. Peck, who has risen to fame in the increasingly diversified country genre is known for his eclectic style and choice to keep his face hidden behind masks. Peck's second album is hands down one of the best albums of the year. Introduced to me by a close friend, I have not been able to stop listening to Bronco. The album is an introspection of love and self-doubt while affirming a longing for "home". Orville Peck's vocals range from baritone whispers to higher belts, all tied together by a southern twang and a hint of Elvis. If you are anything like me and have a general distaste for Country music, I urge you to give Bronco a listen.

3. DECIDE — Djo

Who is Djo? Turns out, it's one of the stars of Stranger Things: Joe Keery! This is something I didn't even know when I found the album on Spotify a few months ago. Keery's DECIDE is a quirky but astute album that tackles the issues of the modern era with pop-synth tracks. To put it simply, DECIDE slaps. This album is perfect for studying, for when you're running on the treadmill, or when you're just going about your day and running errands. The album is incredibly versatile and can be listened to virtually whenever. Go listen! Joe Keery makes some great music.

2. Special — Lizzo

Unsurprisingly, Lizzo's Special is in my top 5. This album, plain and simple, was my most anticipated of the year. Not only that, but it didn't remotely disappoint. The album is fun, empowering, and reaffirms Lizzo's commitment to making self-love the central theme of her work. While the lead single "About Damn Time" went viral on Tik Tok and generated its own dance, the true gem of the album is "2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)", which explores the desire to be loved but debates the vulnerability that comes with it. While most creatives encounter a "sophomore slump", Lizzo has avoided the phenomenon and instead triumphed with a bigger hit than her first studio album.

1. Renaissance — Beyoncé

Truly, I think it goes without saying: Beyoncé's Renaissance is easily the best release of the year. This methodically crafted album with allusions and tributes to great artists before her, along with a newer, more confident sound contribute to the greatest album of the year. One of this album's strong suits is that it flows naturally from one song into another, transitioning between tracks much like Lady Gaga's Chromatica (2020). This album totally snuck up on me. While I didn't listen to it much upon its release, it quickly grew on me as I listened through it. Part of the reason why I think this album deserves the top spot for me personally, is that I'm a very casual fan of Beyoncé. I like a few of her songs, but I have never really felt compelled to listen to an entire album of hers—until now.

Thank you for taking the time to read my year in review! I will be doing something similar for my top movies of the year as well, so make sure to keep an eye out for that. What were your favorite albums of the year? Let me know!