Revisiting a number of 2022's first half musical releases over the past few weeks has revealed a disheartening common theme: Nearly every record I've heard has some kind of negative or bittersweet caveat attached to my take on them. Of course, there are some exceptions-particularly among the top 10 releases, but a varying degree of negativity, disappointment, etc. is occupying every nook and cranny of this 54-album list.
Kendrick Lamar returned after a 5-year absence with a record that is much better than DAMN, but nowhere near as consistent or dynamic as his earlier landmark efforts. Alleageon's Damnum is a damn fine release, but the energy and volume of catchy riffs are only at about 2/3 of the band's typical level. Even some of my absolute favorites (This World is Going to Ruin You by Vein.fm, Dawn FM by The Weeknd, This Bright and Beautiful World by Greyhaven) are somewhat notable step downs from their brilliant predecessors. There are enough heavy hitters with albums tentatively set for release to hold out hope that better things lie ahead in the second half of the year but given how the past 6 months have played out, I'm not overly confident things will change all that much. Below you'll find the rankings of every 2022 album I've heard so far from worst to best, my picks for the top 25 songs of the 1st half of the year and some other random accolades involving the music of the past 6 months. Hope you enjoy.
54.Banks-Serpentina (C-)
53.Machine Gun Kelly-Mainstream Sellout (C)
52.Maren Morris-Humble Quest (C)
51.Camila Cabello-Familia (C)
50.Black Country, New Road-Ants From Up There (C)
49.Kilo Kish-American Gurl (C)
48.Slowbleed-The Blazing Sun, a Fiery Dawn (C+)
47.Undeath-It's Time to Rise... from the Grave (C+)
46.Monuments-Stasis (C+)
45.State Champs-Kings of the New Age (C+)
44.Post Malone-Twelve Carat Toothache (B-)
43.Korn-Requiem (B-)
42.Drug Church-Hygiene (B-)
41.Charli XCX-Crash (B-)
40.Vince Staples-Ramona Park Broke My Heart (B-)
39.Rosalia-MOTOMAMI (B-)
38.Harry Styles-Harry's House (B-)
37.Mitski-Laurel Hell (B-)
36.FKA twigs-Caprisongs (B-)
35.Worm Shepherd-Ritual Hymns (B-)
34.AURORA-THE GODS WE CAN TOUCH (B-)
33.Rolo Tomassi-Where Myth Becomes Memory (B)
32.p.s.you'redead-Sugar Rot (B)
31.Enterprise Earth-The Chosen (B)
30.Analepsy-Quiescence (B)
29.Foxtails-Fawn (B)
28.Gunna-DS4EVER (B)
27.Soreption-Jord (B)
25.Terror-Pain into Power (B)
24.Florence + the Machine-Dance Fever (B)
23.Meshuggah-Immutable (B)
22.Drake-Honestly, Nevermind (B)
21.Pusha T-It's Almost Dry (B)
20.Northlane-Obsidian (B)
19.Kendrick Lamar-Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (B)
18.Immolation-Acts of God (B)
17.Coheed and Cambria-A Window of the Waking Mind (B)
16.Denzel Curry-Melt My Eyez See Your Future (B)
15.Jack White-Fear of the Dawn (B)
14.Moon Tooth-Phototroph (B)
13.Fit for An Autopsy-Oh What the Future Holds (B)
12.Soul Glo-Diaspora Problems (B)
11.Bad Omens-The Death of Peace of Mind (B)
10.Shadow of Intent-Elegy (B+)
9.Allegaeon-Damnum (B+)
8.Venom Prison-Erebos (B+)
7.Gospel-The Loser (B+)
6.Cave In-Heavy Pendulum (B+)
5.Greyhaven-This Bright and Beautiful World (B+)
4.Animals as Leaders-Parrhesia (B+)
3.The Weeknd-Dawn FM (B+)
2.King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard-Omnium Gatherum (A-)
1.Vein.fm-This World is Going to Ruin You (A-)
Biggest Surprises:
1.Cave In-Heavy Pendulum
2.Bad Omens-The Death of Peace of Mind
3.Northlane-Obsidian
Biggest Letdowns:
1.Banks-Serpentina
2.Undeath-It's Time to Rise... from the Grave
3.Vince Staples-Ramona Park Broke My Heart
Most Underrated:
1.Animals as Leaders-Parrhesia
2.Bad Omens-The Death of Peace of Mind
3.Drake-Honestly, Nevermind
Most Overrated:
1.Undeath-It's Time to Rise... from the Grave
2.Drug Church-Hygiene
3.Rosalia-MOTOMAMI
Top Discoveries:
1.Gospel
2.Soul Glo
3.Foxtails
Top Albums I'm Looking Forward to from July-December:
1.Tallah-The Generation of Danger
2.SZA-TBD
3.Revocation-Netherheaven
Top 25 Songs (in alphabetical order by artist):
Animals as Leaders-Conflict Cartography
Animals as Leaders-Red Miso
Bad Omens-Like a Villain
Bad Omens-The Grey
Cave In-Floating Skulls
Cave In-New Reality
Greyhaven-In a Room Where Everything Dies
Greyhaven-Of Snakes and Swans
Jack White-Fear of the Dawn
Kendrick Lamar-Mother I Sober (feat. Beth Gibbons)
Kendrick Lamar-United in Grief
King Gizzard and the Lizard-Ambergris
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard-Presumptous
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard-The Dripping Tap
Shadow of Intent-Saurian King
Tallah-The Impressionist
Tallah-Telescope
Tove Lo-No One Dies from Love
The Mars Volta-Blacklight Shine
The Weeknd-How Do I Make You Love Me?
The Weeknd-Less Than Zero
The Weeknd-Sacrifice
Vein.fm-Hellnight (feat. Jeff Smith)
Vein.fm-Inside Design
Vein.fm-The Killing Womb
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