On repeats
Hot Chip - Freakout/Release
When Eleanor was released, two of my friends and I posted the same link in our group chat at the same time because we were so excited. Turns out we were all subscribed to the Hot Chip newsletter. Lesson learned: when you and your friends are subscribed to the same artist newsletter, that’s how you know you’re in good company.
Standout tracks: Eleanor, Broken, Hard to Be Funky
Destroyer - LABYRINTHITIS
Destroyer’s Kaputt was such a staple of my early 2010 playlist, and then I just forgot that they exist. So I was pleasantly surprised to find out that a) they have a new album in 2022, b) they actually have been releasing an album almost every year.
I didn’t know what to expect and I wasn’t expecting much—a lot of the artists I grew up with did release a new album this year, and I haven’t liked them as much as they want to. But LABYRINTHITIS blew me away with its production and a lot of musical moments that hooked me on first listen, some of which to me feel still distinctly Destroyer, but a step up from Kaputt: the fast drums in Suffer, the piano interlude in All My Pretty Dresses, the danceable Eat the Wine, Drink the Bread.
Standout tracks: Suffer, All My Pretty Dresses, Eat the Wine, Drink the Bread, The States
Little Simz - No Thank You
Thank goodness I didn’t start writing this post before Little Simz dropped No Thank You, because there is absolutely no way that I’m writing this post without mentioning No Thank You. As it was a surprise release that was released just almost a year after SIMBI, I wrongfully thought that this would be a less cohesive version of it. In some ways, it’s true—No Thank You is more raw, but it doesn’t make it any less powerful, and the production is also a standout. The bars truly don’t miss and she wasted no breath; there were no fillers at all. I fell in love with Broken on a first listen, and Gorilla has no business to go as hard as it goes, but I very much welcome it.
Standout tracks: Broken, Gorilla, Silhouette
Favorite lyrics: Generational trauma you’ve had to deal with alone / No father, how do you become a man on your own?
Charli XCX - Crash
Charli XCX’s Crash is one of those albums where the deep cuts are way stronger than the singles. I found the features to be especially weak; a Charli XCX x Rina Sawayama collab is a dream in concept, but I still can’t get it out of my head that the majority of Beg For You is a sample. I found New Shapes to be kind of eh and it’s still a skip for me even until this day. I like Good Ones and Baby better, but for me personally the standout tracks are Constant Repeat and Yuck. Also, Crash the track is probably my favorite opening track this year.
Standout tracks: Constant Repeat, Yuck, Crash, Baby
Alvvays - Blue Rev
I was only vaguely familiar with Alvvays, only knowing a couple of singles such as Dreams Tonite which is never part of my rotation anyway. I wasn’t intrigued enough until when my friends couldn’t shut up about Alvvays’ Blue Rev right on the day it was released. I trust their music taste, so I went to check out the album thinking I’d dip by the third track, but boy was I wrong.
The production is meticulous, the guitars are fun. Tile by Tile is hands down my favorite sad banger of the year; the heartbreaking lyrics, the heartwrenching strings…
I’m also a sucker for good transitions, and Blue Rev does have some (Magdalena Bay’s Mercurial World remains unbeatable in this aspect).
Favorite tracks: After the Earthquake, Tile by Tile, Easy On Your Own?, Pomeranian Spinster
Favorite lyrics:
At night I take the calls from telemarketers / In hopes of hearing your drawl / I let them blather on / Without a thought I surrender my credit card
Carly Rae Jepsen - The Loneliest Time
On the release date of The Loneliest Time, I was supposed to be on a ship in the middle of nowhere, and I was bummed with the thought that I have to wait yet another day to listen to the album. But they rescheduled the ship last minute, and so I was able to get to the city (and get decent cell signal) right when The Loneliest Time was released. God knows how much I love Carly Rae Jepsen, I guess.
Surrender My Heart has been a certified bop even since its leak, which I didn’t listen to, but they were not wrong. It’s an anthem for recovering dismissive avoidant people indeed and boy oh boy I feel so seen. As always the case with CRJ, I have no idea why the bonus tracks (or B-sides) are bonus tracks; I strongly believe Anxious should have been a single. The Loneliest Time featuring Rufus Wainwright has become one of my comfort songs.
Western Wind does not crack my top 5 in the album, but I still wish there were more Rostam-produced songs; I wonder how a Rostam-produced CRJ album will be like.
Favorite tracks: Surrender My Heart, Anxious, Bends, The Loneliest Time
Favorite lyrics:
I’ve got a lake house in Canada / And I’m probably gonna harvest your organs. People hate this line and Beach House in general, but come on, it’s funny as hell.
Phoenix - Alpha Zulu
I’ve been a Phoenix fan for over 10 years at this point, and I always had this fear that one day there will be a Phoenix album that I dislike. That almost happened with Ti Amo but I eventually warmed up to it, although it did take me almost a year (and some of my Phoenix all-time favorite tracks now actually come from Ti Amo! Goodbye Soleil, Telefono among others).
With Alpha Zulu, I’m glad to say that day has not come, and hopefully I will never live to see that day.
I know people who find Alpha Zulu kind of eh, and I was one of those people on first listen - but by second listen, I accepted that we’re getting goofy Phoenix this year, and I don’t mind.
Favorite tracks: After Midnight, Winter Solstice, Artefact, Alpha Zulu
Live shows
I saw 38 different acts this year, the majority I saw during Primavera Sound. Outside of Primavera Sound I saw Billie Eilish, Sigur Ros, Epik High, Black Eyed Peas, and Green Day.
All of my top 5 sets of the year were in Primavera though, in no particular order:
- The National
- Pavement
- Lorde
- Phoenix
- The Smile
Honorable mentions: Mavis Staples was so fun. I was on the barricade for Jamie xx. Run the Jewels was fun as hell but I was already beat by the time they went on stage. 40% of The Strokes’ set was Julian Casablancas talking and slurring. Karen O is a fucking icon. I fainted during Bauhaus and I’m pretty sure I was the only person who showed up with a non-black outfit in the crowd. Dancing to Danny L Harle’s hyperpop mix for 2 hours straight until 6 in the morning will forever be a part of my core memory.