Top 10 Albums of 2022

Arjun’s Picks

Honorable Mentions: Beatopia – beabadoobee, #exclusive – 9lives, God Save The Animals – Alex g, NO THANK YOU – Little Simz

10.

Artist: Blksmith

Album: DIGITAL TWIN

Genre: Breakcore/DnB

DIGITAL TWIN is a super interesting listen. Breakcore is a genre of electronic music that combines elements of breakbeat, jungle, and hardcore techno. It is known for its fast and complex rhythms, heavy use of samples, and aggressive or experimental sound design. What individualizes this project is the unique use of samples which creates an amazing sonic experience.

9.

Artist: Lupe Fiasco

Album: DRILL MUSIC IN ZION

Genre: Hip-Hop

DRILL MUSIC IN ZION is a politically charged album by Lupe Fiasco that addresses issues of social injustice, police brutality, and the struggles of the Black community in America. This album, at its root, is a jazz project, with witty words intertwined in between. Shockingly, there is no drill music but rather ironically, conscious hip-hop; these tracks are more lyrical than harsh, demonstrating Fiasco’s talent as an artist.

8.

Artist: Black Country, New Road

Album: Ants From Up There

Genre: Alternative Rock

Ants From Up There is the debut album from British band Black Country, New Road. The album features a mix of post-punk, alt rock, and other experimental elements, with lyrics exploring themes of youth and identity. The band’s unique sound and dynamic songwriting makes for a fun and engaging listening experience.

7.

Artist: Metro Boomin

Album: HEROES & VILLAINS

Genre: Hip Hop/Trap

HEROES & VILLAINS is a collaborative album by Metro Boomin, featuring a wide range of artists including A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage, Young Thug, and The Weeknd. The album showcases Metro Boomin’’ signature trap sound and highlights the versatility of the featured artists. The project displays a mix of hard-hitting beats and introspective lyrics, making it a standout release in the trap genre. This is just another example of how Metro brings out the best in artists.

6.

Artist: JID

Album: The Forever Story

Genre: Hip-Hop

The Forever Story has brought JID onto the national hip-hop scene and cemented him as one of the most talented rappers in the game right now. JID’s flow on songs like “Stars” or “Raydar” is immaculate, with each word and syllable feeling like it belongs withs a clear purpose. Some of the wordplay that JID displays is crazy too. He starts an Avengers lyric theme halfway through “Raydar” and then completes it at the end by saying “Collect my stones, ***, collect my gems / protect my stronghold, respect my shield / Until I’m long gone but while I’m here / I can snap my fingers and they’ll disappear.” Every word has two interpretations and meanings. The range of emotions JID displays on this album also allow the listener to connect with the album more. For example, “Kody Blu 31” sees JID interpolate an African American spiritual to represent the current situation in America of mass incarceration and how it is similar to slavery. He even samples Tane Runo on “Stars” saying “I like these new slaves” to convey that while the perception of Black people has changed in the past 200 years, the same systems of institutional racism still continue to exist today. JID is a poet.

5.

Artist: Earl Sweatshirt

Album: SICK!

Genre: Hip-Hop

You either love it or hate it, and I have to go with the former. A big part of my appreciation for the album is the production, which is a combination of experimental and lo-fi beats. The beats are often dark and gritty, with a strong emphasis on bass and drums. The album features production from Earl himself, as well as other well-known producers such as Alchemist, Knxwledge, and Black Noi$e. One of the standout tracks on the album is “Lobby (int),” which features a heavy bass line and distorted drums and a beat that is layered with samples and spoken word, creating a chaotic yet cohesive sound. Overall, the production on SICK! is a perfect match for Earl’s introspective and introverted lyricism. The beats are raw and unpolished, giving the album a sense of authenticity and rawness. It’s an album that showcases the talents of Earl Sweatshirt and his unique vision as a producer and artist.

4.

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

Album: Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

Genre: Conscious Hip-Hop

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar is a powerful and thought-provoking album that showcases the rapper’s incredible lyrical prowess, as well as his ability to tackle important social and political issues while balancing personal ones. The album features a mix of hard-hitting beats and smooth, soulful grooves that perfectly complement Kendrick’s passionate and insightful lyrics. The album opens with the track “United In Grief,” a powerful anthem that sets the tone for the rest of the album. Kendrick’s lyrics are filled with references to the struggles of the Black community and the importance of standing up for oneself and one’s beliefs. Another very important theme is Kendrick being a role model to the Black community and his responsibility entails. One of the highlights of the album is the track “Die Hard,” which addresses Kendrick’s vulnerability as an artist through an introspective lens while also maintaining an incredibly “catchy” beat. The album is a powerful statement on the state of the world today and a reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right.

3.

Artist: Beach House

Album: Once Twice Melody

Genre: Dream Pop

Once Twice Melody by Beach House is a dreamy, atmospheric album that showcases the duo’s signature sound of ethereal vocals and lush instrumentation. The album opens with the title track, a slow-burning, hypnotic song that sets the tone for the rest of the record. Throughout the album, Beach House explores different moods and textures, from the upbeat pop of “Over and Over” to the melancholy ballad “Pink Funeral.” The band also experiments with different instrumentation, incorporating synths, pianos, and saxophones to create a diverse soundscape.Victoria Legrand, the lead singer of the duo, has particularly strong vocals on this album, with her emotive delivery adding depth and meaning to the lyrics. The album’s production is also noteworthy, with the band using reverb and other effects to create a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere. Overall, Once Twice Melody is a well-crafted album that showcases Beach House’s talents as songwriters and musicians. It is a perfect album for fans of dream-pop and indie rock, and if that doesn’t sound like something you would like, listen to it anyway. It’s worth it.

2.

Artist: Quadeca

Album: I Didn’t Mean To Haunt You

Genre: Art Pop/Variety

For those who know me, you would know Quadeca has had a major influence on my music taste. For the many who don’t know who he is, Quadeca is a Youtuber-turned-artist who started his career making FIFA videos, but started taking his music career more seriously and went on to release some great albums. To briefly summarize, I Didn’t Mean To Haunt You (or IDMTHY) is a concept album following the story of a man who commits suicide and follows his story as a spirit, “haunting” his past loved ones. This is exactly what I wanted from Quadeca. I’ve been a fan for too long and really enjoyed his first real project Voice Memos, a corny rap album. It was always a fun listen that constantly grew on me. The standout track from Voice Memos and one of my favorite songs to this day was an interlude called “A Dream I Can’t Remember.” At some point, Quadeca pointed out he felt nervous to make a “real” track due to what people would think of it, but the interlude is an amazing outlier that changed and was the start of Quadeca’s own unique sound. It was developed with a handful of tracks on his second album From Me to You. Then this album dropped and it was a collection of all of those sounds that I loved from these standout tracks. I absolutely love the production and the sound of the album: ethereal and euphoric. The concept and feelings portrayed throughout the project really push it to its peak. The diversity of sound from “knots” to “sorry4dying” all while following the same story make this a perfect album.

I really struggled not to make this #1.

1.

Artist: Denzel Curry

Album: Melt My Eyez See Your Future

Genre: Conscious Hip-Hop

This is one of the craziest albums I have ever heard. It takes everything you love about hip-hop and mixes it with a sound that is new and refreshing. The beats range from aggressive to jazzy to everything in between and Denzel matches these instrumentals with his vocals. The diversity in tracks show why Denzel really is one of the greats. This project also shows he can work with so many different kinds of artists, my favorite being 454 on the track “Sanjuro.” The topics that Denzel speaks on are also so deep and provocative (in a good way). He manages to speak on both his mental health and how systemic racism, and just racism in general, piles onto his state of mind. For example, on “Melt Session #1” Denzel narrates his life: “Manipulation to get what I want/ Getting very distant after I got what I need/ Writing rap and wisdom, whiskey, women, wars and weed.” Curry’s vulnerability allows the listener to feel empathy for Curry, as well as forcing the listener to self-reflect on their own flaws and issues. Denzel’s wordplay on this record is elite as well. On “Angelz” Denzel says, “I could either live like Jay or die like Jah,” Jay referencing Jay-Z, who lives a life of wealth and infamy, and Jah referencing XXXTentacion, one of Denzel’s good friends, who was murdered in 2018. This album is so amazing. There is a reason why I put it number one.