As we wind down this year, I’m hopeful that 2023 is not another dumpster fire.
I will say this about the past 12 months: Music helped.
Big Thief made the best album of the year, followed closely by Angel Olsen.
We lost the extraordinary trumpeter Jaimie Branch way too soon. Before she left, she and collaborator Jason Nazary delivered Anteloper’s excellent Pink Dolphins.
I love the songs that MJ Lenderman, Grace Ives and Nilüfer Yanya delivered, the sounds of Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling and Andreas Werliin and the strong new offerings from Wilco, OFF! and Mitski.
Here are the best albums of 2022 in order.
Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling, Andreas Werliin – Ghosted
And another list: The next group of best albums in alphabetical order by artist.
The Beths – Expert in a Dying Field
Congotronics International – Where’s the One?
Horsegirl – Versions of Modern Performance
Makaya McCraven – In These Times
Oceanator – Nothing’s Ever Fine
All the Young Punks 