BestOf

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2022 Favorites

  • Afrorack - The Afrorack (Hakuna Kulala)
  • Authentically Plastic (Hakuna Kulala)
  • Carmen Villain - Only Love From Now On (Smalltown Supertown)
  • Cate Le Bon - Pompeii (Mexican Summer)
  • Coral Club - Lost Cities (Moon Glyph)
  • Daniel Rossen - You Belong There (Warp)
  • EXEK - Advertise Here (Castle Face)
  • Flore Laurentienne - Volume II (RVNG Intl.)
  • FOQL - Wehikuł (Mal)
  • Francesa Heart - Eurybia (Leaving)
  • Green/Blue - Offering (HoZac)
  • Jamie Levinson - s/t (s/r)
  • Julmud - Tuqoos (Bilna'es)
  • Katarina Gryvul - Tysha (Standard Deviation)
  • La Punta Bianca - Disquiet (Detriti)
  • Latest Fad - LSD Spider (Fading Systems)
  • Matt Evans - Soft Science (Moon Glyph)
  • Mauskovic Dance Band - Bukaroo Bank (Bongo Joe)
  • Meridian Brothers - Meridian Brothers & El Grupo Renacimiento (Ansonia)
  • Naima Bock - Giant Palm (Sub Pop)
  • Non Plus Temps - Desire Choir (Post Present Medium)
  • Onyon - s/t (Trouble In Mind)
  • Papercuts - Past Life Regression (Slumberland)
  • Pye Corner Audio - Let’s Emerge! (Sonic Cathedral)
  • Salamanda - ashbalkum (Human Pitch)
  • Sessa - Estrela Acesa (Mexican Summer)
  • Société Etrange - Chance (Bongo Joe)
  • Sofie Birch - Holotropica (Intercourse)
  • The Soundcarriers - Wilds (Phosphonic)
  • Sunfear - Octopus (Dark Entries)
  • Winged Wheel - No Island (12XU)
  • Yves Jarvis - The Zug (Anti-)

Reissues & Compilations

  • Branko Mataja - Over Fields And Mountains (Numero Group)
  • Coco Lagos y sus Orates - Descargas (Vampi Soul)
  • Groupo La Droga - s/t (Vampi Soul)
  • Hydroplane - s/t (Efficient Space)
  • Iceblink - Carpet Cocoon (Moon Glyph)
  • Los Kintos - s/t (Vampi Soul)
  • Travesía - Ni Un Minuto Más De Dolor (Little Butterfly)
  • V/A - The Afrosound Of Colombia Vol. 3 (Vampi Soul)
  • V/A - Color de Trópico Vol 3 (El Palmas)
  • V/A - Perú Selvático - Sonic Expedition into the Peruvian Amazon 1972-1986 (Analog Africa)
  • V/A - Saturno 2000 - La Rebajada de Los Sonideros 1962-1983 (Analog Africa)
  • V/A - Síntesis Moderna: An Alternative Vision Of Argentinean Music 1980-1990 (Soundway)

Babu

Babu Best of 2022

Babu’s New Releases

  • Beyoncé  - Renaissance (Parkwood)
  • Shygirl  - Nymph (Because)
  • Junglepussy - Jp5000 (Junglepussy)
  • Sudan Archives  - Natural Brown Prom Queen (Stone’s Throw)
  • FKA twigs - CAPRISONGS (Young)
  • Black Rave Culture  - BRC Vol 2 (Black Rave Culture)
  • Paurro - Galavisión (Cómeme)
  • Björk - Fossora (One Little Independent)

Albums that are not new but I fell in love with during 2022 (Babu)

  • Solange - True (Terrible)
  • Lady Gaga - ARTPOP (Interscope)
  • Sunbear  - Sunbear (Soultrain)
  • Arca - KICK ii (XL)
  • Arca - kick iiii (XL)
  • Azealia Banks - Broke With Expensive Taste (Prospect Park)
  • JAY-Z - The Blueprint (Roc-A-Fella)
  • Blood Orange - Coastal Grooves (Domino)

Live Shows (Babu)

  • Smino - March 11 - Lower Sproul @ UC Berkeley
  • Yves Tumor - March 18 - 1015 Folsom
  • Doja Cat - April 17 - Coachella
  • Phoenix - June 8 - Primavera Sound
  • Gorillaz - June 9 - Primavera Sound
  • Arca - Sept 24 - Portola
  • Five Armed Sloth - November 4 - Battle of the Bands @ UC Berkeley
  • Machine Girl - November 29 - Regency Ballroom

DJ sets (Babu)

  • Ash Lauryn - February 6 - The Monarch
  • Jamie xx - April 17 - Coachella
  • Tygapaw - June 11 - Primavera Sound
  • Honey Dijon - June 20 - Battle Hymn - NYC
  • Mike Q - October 1 - Space 550 San Francisco
  • Physical Therapy - October 8 - Club 6 San Francisco
  • The Carry Nation - October 30 - Unter - NYC

Berkestir

Berkestir 2022

New Stuff

  • Afrorack - The Afrorack (Hakuna Kulala)
  • Marisa Anderson - still,here ( Thrill Jockey)
  • A Place To Bury Strangers - See Through You (Dedstrange)
  • Chris Bathgate - The Significance Of Peaches (Quite Scientific)
  • The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field (Carpark)
  • Black Jesus Experience - Good Evening Black Buddha (Agogo)
  • Boris - Heavy Rocks (Relapse)
  • Jane Antonia Cornish - Sierra (Cantaloupe Music)
  • Brian Eno - Foreverandevernomore (Opal)
  • Fenella - The Metallic Index (Fire)
  • Floating Points Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra - Promises (Luaka Bop)
  • Goat - Oh Death (Rocket)
  • Gnod - Hexen Valley (Rocket)
  • Harlem Gospel Travelers - Look Up! (Colemine)
  • Hawkwind - We Are looking In On You (Cherry Red)
  • Robyn Hitchcock - Shufflemania! (Tiny Ghost)
  • Latest Fad - Lsd Spider (Fading Systems)
  • The Linda Lindas - Growing Up (Epitaph)
  • Mikayla Mcvey - Time Turns Everything (The Long Road Society)
  • Meridian Brothers & El Grupo Renacimiento - S/T (Ansonia)
  • Jessica Moss - Galaxy Heart ( Constellation)
  • Marissa Nadler - The Wrath of the Clouds(Sacred Bones)
  • Posthuman - Echo Almaz East (The Dark Outside)
  • Pye Corner Audio - Let’s Emerge! (Sonic Cathedral)
  • The Soft Moon - Exister (Sacred Bones)
  • Troposphere 7 - Grey Parrots (Hakuna Kulala)
  • Veryan - Here//Now (S/R)
  • Erie Wanda - Internal Radio (Joyful Noise)
  • Johanna Warren - Lessons for Mutants (Wax Nine}
  • White Hills - Mitosis( Heads On Fire Industries/White Hills)
  • White Hills - The Revenge Of Heads On Fire( Heads on Fire/ White Hills)

Old Stuff

  • Can - Live In Cuxhaven 1976 (Spoon)
  • Coil - Musick to Play In The Dark 2 (Dais)
  • Sandy Denny - Early Home Recordings (Earth)
  • Minoru Fushimi - Thanatos of Funk(180G)
  • Hawkwind - Dreamworkers of Time Th I’ll e BBC Recording 1985-1995 (Atomhenge)
  • Nazz - Lost Masters & Demos (Purple Pyramid)
  • Nik Turner - Space Ritual 1994(Purple Pyramid)
  • V/A - Dave Brock Presents…This Was Your Future Space Rock (And Other Psychedelics) 1978-1998 (Cherry Red)
  • Walter Wegmuller - Tarot (Breeze)

Carnacki

11 favourite cassettes (in alphabetical order)

Diane Barbé - A Conference of Critters (forms of minutiae)
Andrew Chalk - Dreams (Faraway Press)
David Colohan - Small Moves Ellie Small Moves / Night, North Paterson (Was Ist Das?)
Euphotic - Conjugate Regions (Ikuisuus)
Kemper Norton - Rife (Woodford Halse)
Lia Kohl - Too Small to be a Plain (Shinkoyo)
Daniel McLennan - Unfurling Redemption (Cruel Nature)
Marissa Nadler - The Wrath of the Clouds (Sacred Bones)
Manja Ristić - Him, Fast Sleeping, Soon He Found in Labyrinth of Many a Round, Self-Rolled (mappa)
Skyminds - Terra Preta (Not Not Fun)
To End It All - Live At Teatro De La Psychomachia / Strength Is Nothing (ft. Zvi) – A Partial Soundtrack For Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Stalker” (Scry Recordings)

11 favourite digital-only releases (in alphabetical order)

Eszter Balint - I Hate Memory (S/R)
Jesse Olsen Bay - weather/weight (S/R)
Cinder Well & Jim Ghedi - I Am A Youth That’s Inclined To Ramble (S/R)
Circuit Des Yeux - Sunset Poem, reimagined by Claire Rousay (Matador)
Clipping - Remxng series (Sub Pop)
irr. app. (ext.) - “Attention Dear” 2022 Digital Monthly Single series (errata in excelsis)
Lime Rickey International - The Train (S/R)
Carol Anne McGowan - re:versions (S/R)
Rabbit Rabbit - Rabbit Rabbit Radio Volume 5: Love Is Code (S/R)
Songs Of The New Erotics - There Walked Slowly From Time To Black Rosettes, Golden Eye Breathing It In, And They To Spring (Disembraining Songs)
Various - For Ukraine vols. 1-3 (Headphone Commute)

11 favourite small things (in alphabetical order)

Bevis Frond - Typical Freakout 7” (Hypnotic Bridge)
Danielle Dax - Invictus Arduis 7” (Heaven’s Lathe)
The Doomed Bird of Providence - Ransoms for Cars 7” (10 to 1)
DWLVS - On a Clear Drop You Can See Forever 7” (Stoned to Death)
Andrew Liles / Lux Lyall & Andy Votel - Care In The Community / Six 7” (Golden Lion Sounds)
Nurse With Wound - Shipwreck n’ Roll 7” (ICR)
People Like Us - Free Sunshine 7” (Heaven’s Lathe)
Shanna Sordahl - So She Shone / So They Shone 7” (Full Spectrum)
Surplus 1980 with GW Sok - Kremlin Gremlin 7” (A Dull Fiddler) (Surplus Industries)
Andrew Weathers - Early Works 8” (Full Spectrum)
Nick Cave - Seven Psalms 10” (Cave Things)

22 favourite live shows (in chronological order)

  • Senyawa, 1 March, The Lab, SF
  • Kali Malone, 10 April, Grace Cathedral, SF
  • Dean Santomieri / Tom Nunn, 15 April, Mosswood Chapel, Oakland
  • Jake Blount, 19 April, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
  • Cheryl E. Leonard, 22 April, Mosswood Chapel, Oakland
  • Grouper, 29 May, The Castro, SF
  • Emily Wells, 10 June, Starline Social Club, Oakland
  • Grale, 22 July, Mosswood Chapel, Oakland
  • Steve Von Till / Helen Money, 9 Aug, Starline Social Club, Oakland
  • Emily Jane White, 11 August, The Chapel, SF
  • Lia Kohl, 12 August, Mosswood Chapel, Oakland
  • Circuit Des Yeux, 17 August, The Lab, SF
  • Marissa Nadler / Jessica Way / Serpentent, 24 August, Golden Bull, Oakland
  • Sarah Davachi, 10 September, Grace Cathedral, SF
  • Melt-Banana, 1 October, Great American Music Hall, SF
  • Fierce as Death: Queer at the Song of Songs, Jewlia Eisenberg memorial, 2 October, CJM SF
  • Dire Wolves, 2 October, The Knockout, SF
  • Luxury Skin, 25 October, Sid Gold’s Request Room, NYC
  • Trevor Dunn’s Trio-Convulsant plus four, 27 October, Solar Myth, Philadelphia
  • Edward Schocker / Keith Evans, 13 November, Shapeshifters Cinema, Oakland
  • Old Million Eye, 17 November, Beauty Supply, Oakland
  • Kristin Hersh, 28 November, Bottom of the Hill, SF

25 favourite records (in alphabetical order)

Abronia - Map of Dawn (Cardinal Fuzz / Feeding Tube)
Marisa Anderson - Still, Here (Thrill Jockey)
Félicia Atkinson - Image Language (Shelter Press)
Jake Blount - The New Faith (Smithsonian Folkways)
Burd Ellen - A Tarot of the Green Wood (Mavis)
Matti Bye Ensemble - Häxan (Time Released Sound)
Charming Hostess - The Ginzburg Geography (Tzadik)
Common Eider King Eider - Yearn (Cyclic Law)
Jane Antiona Cornish - Sierra (Cantaloupe)
Current 93 - If a City is Set Upon a Hill (HomAleph)
Dreadnought - The Endless (Profound Lore)
Clara Engel - Their Invisible Hands (Elephant Shrew)
Laibach - Wir Sind Das Volk (Mute)
Adrian Lane - Missing The Crows (whitelabrecs)
Cheryl E. Leonard - Antarctica: Music from the Ice (Other Minds)
Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch - Ravage (130701)
Mama’s Broke - Narrow Line (Free Dirt)
Jessica Moss - Galaxy Heart (Constellation)
Nina Nastasia - Riderless Horse (Temporary Residence)
Nurse With Wound - Nefarious vols. II - III (United Dairies)
Raum - Daughter (Yellow Electric)
Various - Women Take Back The Drone (UBUIBI)
Emily Wells - Regards to the End (Thesis + Instinct)
Emily Jane White - Alluvion (Talitres)
Kristeen Young - The Beauty Shop (S/R)

Some favourite plain ol’ reissues (in alphabetical order)

Human Greed - Black Hill: Midnight at the Blighted Star (Was Ist Das?)
Nurse With Wound - The Ladies Home Tickler (United Dirter)
Nurse With Wound - Salt Marie Celeste - Salt (United Dirter)

Some favourite reissues into physical form of previously digital-only items (in alphabetical order)

Kate Carr - Making Do Vol. 1 (Tool Use)
Dark Leaves - Laid Under Leaf, Under Branches (Ramble Records)
Clara Engel - The Cicada Session & In The Fog (Ramble Records)
Mekons - Exquisite (Glitterbeat)

Carolyn

Best of 2022

Carolyn’s 22 Favorite Albums of 2022

  • The Cool Greenhouse- Sod’s Toastie LP (Melodic)
  • New Buck Biloxi - Cellular Automaton LP (Total Punk)
  • Alien Nosejob - Stained Glass LP (Anti Fade/ Total Punk)
  • Petrol Girls - Baby LP (Hassle)
  • Unsanitary Napkin - All Billionaires Are Bastards LP (Sorry State)
  • Fat Earthers - Bored LP (s/r)
  • Ghost Car - Truly Trash LP (One Little Independent)
  • Bret McKenzie - Songs Without Jokes LP (SubPop)
  • Billiam - Billie Dafoe (fan club exclusive)
  • MIT - The Male Idiot Theory cassette (Discos Peroquébien)
  • Otoboke Beaver - Super Champon ス ー パ ー チ ャ ン ポ ン LP (Damnably)
  • Peace De Résistance - Bits and Pieces LP (Peace De Récords)
  • Hurry Up! - Dismal Nitch LP (Comedy Minus One)
  • Jon Spencer & The HITmakers - Spencer Gets Lit LP (In The Red)
  • Judy & The Jerks - Music To Go Nuts LP (Thrilling Living)
  • Ribbon Stage - Hit With The Most LP (Perennial Death)
  • Sniffany and The Nits - The Unscratchable Itch LP (PRAH Recordings)
  • The Mary Veils - Esoteric Hex LP (PNKSLM Recordings)
  • McQQeen - II casette (Big Neck)
  • Split System - Vol 1 LP (Legless)
  • Sweet Knives - Spritzerita LP (FDH)
  • R.E.D - Religion Equals Decay - Music For The Masses Volume 1 and Music For The Masses Volume 2 (s/r)

Carolyn’s 22 Favorite Eps of 2022

  • Model Zero - Little Crystal 7” (Sweet Time)
  • Sprints - A Modern Job 7” (Nice Swan)
  • Smallspeaker - This Record Kills Trend Scums 7” (Smlspk)
  • Arrêt - Demo cassette (1753)
  • Billiam/ The Vovos - Vampire Club 7” (Billiam)
  • Gut Health - Electric Party Chrome Girl 7” (Marthouse)
  • Cosmit - It’s Cosmit cassette (Specialist Subject)
  • Snõõper - Town Topic 7” (s/r)
  • RMFC - Access 7” (Anti-Fade)
  • CPR Doll - Music For Pleasure cassette (Under The Gun)
  • Dr. Sure’s Unsual Practice/ Bench Press - A Split 7” Between Friends 7” (Marthouse)
  • Real Distractions - Stupid 7” (Perennial Death)
  • The Necessary Evil - Vida Desastre flexi disc (1753)
  • Sex Shop Boyz - EP (Enlarged Penis)
  • Silicone Values – Burn the 1980’s (s/r)
  • Würst Nürse - The Würst Nürse Cürse (s/r)
  • Gee Tee - Rock Phone 7” (Goner)
  • Isolation - Fabric Tear 7” (s/r)
  • Dangüs Tarküs - Concrete Hearts (Ketchüp and Müstard Indüstries)
  • Wild Evel and The Trashbones - Berlin On Fire 7” (s/r)
  • Hannah Barberas - When You Were My Boyfriend (s/r)
  • Battlebeats - You Don’t Know Me 7”

Carolyn’s Favorite Songs of 2022

  • Da Groins - The General Public
  • Snõõper - Powerball
  • Cool Greenhouse - Get Unjaded
  • Sick Thoughts - Mother, I Love Satan
  • Half Heads - Green and Gold
  • Trash Knife - Stand Up
  • Man A Monster - Warm Blooded Creatures
  • Dion Lunadon - It’s The Truth
  • Nasty Rumors - Shut The Hell Up
  • MC16 - Class War
  • Tite Nauts - On Your Lawn (Antifas)
  • Les Dead Boobs - Marre
  • Glycereens - Electric
  • Memes - Second Thought

Carolyn’s Favorite Reissues/Archival Releases released in 2022

  • Ivy Green - I'm Sure We're Gonna Make It / Pak 'm Beet 7” (Wap Shoo Wap)
  • Ervin Berlin - Junior’s Got Brain Damage 7” (Total Punk)
  • Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice - Scomo Goes To Hawaii / While Aus Burns LP (Marthouse/ Swash)
  • Les Calamities - Encore! 1983​-​1987 LP (Born Bad)
  • Dangerous Girls - Recordings 1978-1982 LP (Rave Up)
  • Aunt Sally LP (Mesh-Key)
  • Schoolgirl Bitch -  Abusing The Rules 7” (Breakout)
  • Antler Joe and The Accidents - Go Commercial 7” (Last Laugh)
  • Neighborhood Blues Boys - Slave Girl 7” (Mighty Mouth)
  • Bam Bam - Villains (Also Wear White) 7” (s/r)

Carolyn’s Favorite Compilations of 2022

  • GTRRC III 2xLP (Legless)
  • Polish Sausage Sauerkraut A Collection Of Gizmos Covers cassette (Gulcher)
  • She Don’t Need You cassette (Girlsville)
  • Swatches Vol 2 (Painters Tapes)
  • Standing With Ukraine (Socks On)
  • When Are You Gonna Quit & Get A Real Job? (Raving Pop)
  • Typical Girls Volume 6 (Emotional Response)

Carolyn’s Favorite Shows of 2022

  • Bono - The Orpheum
  • Snooper - Eli’s Mike High Club
  • My Name Is Joe - Ireland’s 32
  • Bauhaus - The Masonic
  • Bret McKenzie - The Fillmore
  • Jon Spencer and the HitMakers - Bottom of the Hill
  • Tav Falco- The Great Northern
  • Soft Cell - The Masonic
  • Roxy Music - Chase Center
  • Bruno Mars - Lincoln Center, NYC

2022 Songs to Inspire Us To Finally Eliminate the Patriarchy

  • Petrol Girls - Baby, I Had An Abortion
  • Petrol Girls - Clowns
  • Unsanitary Napkin - All Billionaires Are Bastards
  • Trash Knife - Stand Up
  • Isotope Soap - The Power Of Weak Minds
  • Panic Shack - Jiu Jits You
  • Sniffany and the Nits - The Unscratchable Itch
  • Gut Health - Lethargic
  • Hurry Up - No! 
  • Nasty Rumors - Shut The Hell Up

Deep Mission

Best of 2022

  • Nadia Ackerman - Coconut Bunny Cake
  • Gaye Su Akyol - Anadolu Esderi
  • Elvis Costello & The Imposters - The Boy Named If
  • Mary Fahl - Can’t Get It Out of My Head
  • The Mutants - Curse of the Easily Amused
  • Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio - Cold as Weiss
  • Mayya - Infinite Possible Futures
  • Steve ‘n’ Seagulls- Another Miracle
  • Phuong Tam - Magical Nights
  • Afro Yaqui Music Collective - Maroon Future
  • Michelle D’Amour & The Love Dealers - Hot Mess
  • The Great Necks - Impressions of Spain
  • Cameron Knowler & Eli Winter - Anticipation

DJ Aahh

2022 Top 10 Releases Z-A

  • Weval - Time Goes (Technicolor)
  • Sonogram -  Compendium (Simulacra)
  • The Soft Pink Truth - Is It Going to Get Any Deeper Than This? (Thrill Jockey)
  • Sen Morimoto - Sen Morimoto (Sooper)
  • Momu - Moons of Jupiter (Loöq)
  • Maps - Counter Melodies - Part 1 (Mute)
  • Louis Cole -  Quality Over Opinion (Brainfeeder)
  • Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song (Smalltown Supersound)
  • J.Rocc - A Wonderful Letter (Stones Throw)
  • Automatic - Excess (Stones Throw)

DJ Dokkaebi

DJ Dokkaebi’s Favorite Albums of 2022 (In No Particular Order)

  • Mitski - Laurel Hell (Dead Oceans)
  • Ethel Cain - Preacher’s Daughter (Daughters of Cain Records)
  • Julia Jacklin - PRE PLEASURE (Polyvinyl Record Co.)
  • Cate Le Bon - Pompeii (Mexican Summer LLC)
  • The 1975 - Being Funny in A Foreign Language (Dirty Hit)
  • Mapache - Roscoe’s Dream (Innovative Leisure)
  • Big Thief  - Dragon New Warm Mountain (4AD)
  • Andres Miguel Cervantes - The Crossing (Speakeasy Studios)
  • Father John Misty - Chloe and The Next 20th Century (Sub Pop Records)
  • Alex G - God Save The Animals (Domino Recording Co Ltd)
  • SASAMI - Squeeze (Domino Recording Co Ltd)
  • Beach House - Once Twice Melody (Sub Pop Records)
  • Rubi Ate the Fig  - Desert Electric (Desert Recordings)
  • Khruangbin and Vieux Farka Toure - Ali (Dead Oceans + Night Time Stories)
  • Kokoroko - Could We Be More (Brownswood Recordings)
  • Xiomara Torres - La Voz Del Mar (Patois Records)
  • Trombone Shorty - Lifted (UMG Recordings)
  • Little Simz - NO THANK YOU (AWAL Recordings)
  • The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble - Step Down (Colemine Records)
  • Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio - Cold As Weiss (Colemine Records)
  • Black Jesus Experience - Good Evening Black Buddha (Agogo Records)
  • Sessa - Estrela Acesa (Mexican Summer)
  • Weyes Blood - And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop Records)
  • Faye Webster - Car Therapy Sessions (Secretly Canadian)
  • Park Jiha - The Gleam (tak:til)

Other Good Albums of 2022

  • Fat Trout Trailer Park - Florida (22Twenty)
  • Harlem Gospel Travelers  - Look Up! (Colemine Records)
  • Third Coast Percussion - Perspectives (Cedille)
  • Ravyn Lenae - HYPNOS (Atlantic Recording Corporation)
  • NewJeans - NewJeans 1st EP (ADOR Co)
  • Toro Y Moi - MAHAL (Dead Oceans)
  • Steve Lacy - Gemini Rights (L-M Records)

DJ Dokkaebi’s Favorite Albums of 2022 (In No Particular Order)

  • Mitski - Laurel Hell (Dead Oceans)
  • Ethel Cain - Preacher’s Daughter (Daughters of Cain Records)
  • Julia Jacklin - PRE PLEASURE (Polyvinyl Record Co.)
  • Cate Le Bon - Pompeii (Mexican Summer LLC)
  • The 1975 - Being Funny in A Foreign Language (Dirty Hit)
  • Mapache - Roscoe’s Dream (Innovative Leisure)
  • Big Thief  - Dragon New Warm Mountain (4AD)
  • Andres Miguel Cervantes - The Crossing (Speakeasy Studios)
  • Father John Misty - Chloe and The Next 20th Century (Sub Pop Records)
  • Alex G - God Save The Animals (Domino Recording Co Ltd)
  • SASAMI - Squeeze (Domino Recording Co Ltd)
  • Beach House - Once Twice Melody (Sub Pop Records)
  • Rubi Ate the Fig  - Desert Electric (Desert Recordings)
  • Khruangbin and Vieux Farka Toure - Ali (Dead Oceans + Night Time Stories)
  • Kokoroko - Could We Be More (Brownswood Recordings)
  • Xiomara Torres - La Voz Del Mar (Patois Records)
  • Trombone Shorty - Lifted (UMG Recordings)
  • Little Simz - NO THANK YOU (AWAL Recordings)
  • The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble - Step Down (Colemine Records)
  • Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio - Cold As Weiss (Colemine Records)
  • Black Jesus Experience - Good Evening Black Buddha (Agogo Records)
  • Sessa - Estrela Acesa (Mexican Summer)
  • Weyes Blood - And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop Records)
  • Faye Webster - Car Therapy Sessions (Secretly Canadian)
  • Park Jiha - The Gleam (tak:til)

Other Good Albums of 2022

  • Fat Trout Trailer Park - Florida (22Twenty)
  • Harlem Gospel Travelers  - Look Up! (Colemine Records)
  • Third Coast Percussion - Perspectives (Cedille)
  • Ravyn Lenae - HYPNOS (Atlantic Recording Corporation)
  • NewJeans - NewJeans 1st EP (ADOR Co)
  • Toro Y Moi - MAHAL (Dead Oceans)
  • Steve Lacy - Gemini Rights (L-M Records)

DJ Donut Monoxide

Donut Monoxide - Favorite Live Music of 2022

  • January 29 -  Ivy Room - The Young Barons
  • February 12 - Ivy Room - Generacion Suicida
  • March 12  -  Fox Theatre - Judas Priest
  • April 16, and October 6 - UC Theatre - The CHATS
  • April 19 - Independent SF - Viagra Boys
  • May 17, SF Masonic - The Damned(original line-up except for Captain Sensible) , Blondie
  • May 22, SF Masonic - Bauhaus
  • May 28, Eli’s Mile High Club - BongFather, Rosie Plaza
  • June 4th, Ivy Room - Year of The Fist, The Vulturas, Throw Rag
  • June 16 - Ivy Room - Las Sucias, Fred Frith Trio
  • June 17 - Great American Music Hall - Healing Magic, Cephalic Carnage, Calavera Brothers
  • July 2,3  - Mosswood Meltdown - Twompsax, The Dirtbombs, Podium, The Carbonas, The Fevers, The Vaxxines (cover of Bondage Up Yours!)
  • July 4 - Backyard of house a few doors down from Stay Gold - Poison Ruïn
  • July 8, - Bottom of the Hill - Electric Machine Gun Tits, Top Secret Robot Alliance
  • July 16 - SF Independent - Bombino
  • August 13 - Bargain Rock Showcase - Durty Whyte Boots, Boars, Phantom Surfers
  • August 27 - The Fillmore - Mdou Moctar
  • September 9 - Shoreline - George Thorogood
  • September 23 - Fox Theatre - Grace Jones
  • September 25 - The Last Dirtbag Challenge - Hot Laundry
  • September 27 - Concord Pavilion - Iron Maiden
  • October 2, - Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - Amythyst Kiah
  • October 5, The Chapel - King Khan & The BBQ Show
  • October 7,9 - Thee Stork Club - The Mummies
  • October 8,9 - Halloween Meltdown -  Amyl & The Sniffers, The Spits, Sheer Mag, Body Double, The Bugs.
  • October 13 - Great American Music Hall - Brujeria, Napalm Death
  • October 29 - Masonic SF - The B-52’s
  • October 31, A Driveway in Oakland - Driveway Follies Puppet Show. Founded by Larry Schmidt…
  • November 5 -  Downtown Oakland -  Penury, Cancer Christ, DeathgraVe, Necrot, **Possessed**
  • December 11 - Regency SF -  The BellRays, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes

E. Lit

Favorite Albums of 2022:

  • Wrecking Crew - Sedale Threat (Wrecking Crew)
  • Billy Woods & Preservation - Aethiopes (Backwoodz Studioz)
  • Elucid - I Told Bessie (Backwoodz Studioz)
  • AJ Suede & Televangel - Metatron’s Cube (Fake Four Inc)
  • WateRR & Tone Beatz - Order of the Day: Return of the Cherry Tree (Filthe)
  • Buck 65 - King of Drums (s/r)
  • Andrew - The Rain Knows What It’s Doing (Three Dollar Pistol)
  • Roc Marciano & The Alchemist - The Elephant Man’s Bones (ALC)
  • Louis Cole - Quality Over Opinion (Brainfeeder)
  • Psalm One & Custom Made - Bigg Perrm (Filthe)

Excuse My French

Excuse My French Best of 2022 List:

New Releases:

  • bvdub - Violet opposition (n5MD)
  • Mark Barrott - Travelling Music EP (International Feel recordings)
  • S.O.N.S. - The Escape (S.O.N.S.)
  • Zakè & 36 - Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel II (PITP)
  • Biosphere - Shortwave Memories (Biophon records)
  • Horace Andy - Midnight Rocker (On-U Sounds)
  • Horace Andy - Midnight Scorcher (On-U Sounds)
  • Kyle Hall - Good Hado EP (Forget The Clock)
  • Eris Drew & Octo Octa - Day After A Night With U / Stars & Water (fabric originals)
  • Marine Eyes - Chamomille (PITP)
  • Karsten Pflum - Camera Obscura (Touched Music)
  • Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - When The Lights Go (Nice Age)
  • Bon Enfant - Diorama (Duprince)
  • Veronica Stanton - Caught Up On A Feeling (s/r)
  • Tiken Jah Fakoly - Braquage de Pouvoir (Chapter Two)
  • Khondo - Plus Haut Que La Tour Eiffel (La COuvreuse)
  • Mademoiselle K - Mademoiselle K (Kravache)
  • Les Gordon - Nuances (Morning Crash Record)
  • Bjork - Fossora (One Little Independent Record)
  • La Féline - Tarbes (Kwaidan Records)
  • Zazie - Aile-P (La Zizanie)
  • Montparnasse Musique - Archeology (Real World Records)
  • Maxence CYrin - Melancholy Island (Warner Classics)
  • Fally Ipupa - Formule 7 (F'Victeam Entertainment)
  • This Immortal Coil - The World Ended A Long Time Ago (Ici Ailleurs)
  • Gaël Faure - L'Eau et La Peau (Zamora Label)
  • Arovane + EMHO - In Between (Sonic Dialogue)
  • Gimmik - Sonic Poetry (n5MD)
  • Okada - Fragility (n5MD)
  • Jean-Michel Jarre - Oxymore (Columbia, Sony Music)
  • Gaël Faye, Grand Corps Malade & Ben Mazué - Éphémère (Anouche Records)
  • Aldous Harding - Warm Chris (4AD)

Re-releases & compilations

  • v/a - Penrose Showcase, Vol. 1
  • v/a - NFRv_009 Natural Rhythm, Saison, Risk Assessment (No Fuss Records)
  • v/a - Found Sound, VOl. 3 (Touched Music)
  • Adham Shaikh - Early Works 1992-1994 (re-discovery records)
  • FM Skyline - Deluxe Memory Suite (100% Electronica)
  • Nuron + Fughe - DAT Tapes 1993-1994 (De:tuned)
  • v/a - Dailysession Gig Pak EP 1 (Dailisession Records)
  • This Immortal Coil - The Dark Age of Love (Ici Ailleurs)
  • v/a - Inside Records, Vol. 1 (Inside Records)
  • OrelSan - Civilisation (7th Magnitude, 3ème Bureau, Wagram Music)

Excuse My French Best of 2022 List:

New Releases:

  • bvdub - Violet opposition (n5MD)
  • Mark Barrott - Travelling Music EP (International Feel recordings)
  • S.O.N.S. - The Escape (S.O.N.S.)
  • Zakè & 36 - Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel II (PITP)
  • Biosphere - Shortwave Memories (Biophon records)
  • Horace Andy - Midnight Rocker (On-U Sounds)
  • Horace Andy - Midnight Scorcher (On-U Sounds)
  • Kyle Hall - Good Hado EP (Forget The Clock)
  • Eris Drew & Octo Octa - Day After A Night With U / Stars & Water (fabric originals)
  • Marine Eyes - Chamomille (PITP)
  • Karsten Pflum - Camera Obscura (Touched Music)
  • Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - When The Lights Go (Nice Age)
  • Bon Enfant - Diorama (Duprince)
  • Veronica Stanton - Caught Up On A Feeling (s/r)
  • Tiken Jah Fakoly - Braquage de Pouvoir (Chapter Two)
  • Khondo - Plus Haut Que La Tour Eiffel (La COuvreuse)
  • Mademoiselle K - Mademoiselle K (Kravache)
  • Les Gordon - Nuances (Morning Crash Record)
  • Bjork - Fossora (One Little Independent Record)
  • La Féline - Tarbes (Kwaidan Records)
  • Zazie - Aile-P (La Zizanie)
  • Montparnasse Musique - Archeology (Real World Records)
  • Maxence CYrin - Melancholy Island (Warner Classics)
  • Fally Ipupa - Formule 7 (F'Victeam Entertainment)
  • This Immortal Coil - The World Ended A Long Time Ago (Ici Ailleurs)
  • Gaël Faure - L'Eau et La Peau (Zamora Label)
  • Arovane + EMHO - In Between (Sonic Dialogue)
  • Gimmik - Sonic Poetry (n5MD)
  • Okada - Fragility (n5MD)
  • Jean-Michel Jarre - Oxymore (Columbia, Sony Music)
  • Gaël Faye, Grand Corps Malade & Ben Mazué - Éphémère (Anouche Records)
  • Aldous Harding - Warm Chris (4AD)

Re-releases & compilations

  • v/a - Penrose Showcase, Vol. 1
  • v/a - NFRv_009 Natural Rhythm, Saison, Risk Assessment (No Fuss Records)
  • v/a - Found Sound, VOl. 3 (Touched Music)
  • Adham Shaikh - Early Works 1992-1994 (re-discovery records)
  • FM Skyline - Deluxe Memory Suite (100% Electronica)
  • Nuron + Fughe - DAT Tapes 1993-1994 (De:tuned)
  • v/a - Dailysession Gig Pak EP 1 (Dailisession Records)
  • This Immortal Coil - The Dark Age of Love (Ici Ailleurs)
  • v/a - Inside Records, Vol. 1 (Inside Records)
  • OrelSan - Civilisation (7th Magnitude, 3ème Bureau, Wagram Music)

Film Close-Ups

Film Close-ups' Favorite Films of 2022:

  • Aftersun
  • Banshees of Inisherin
  • The Batman
  • Confess, Fletch
  • Crimes of the Future
  • EO
  • Everything Everywhere All At Once
  • Fire of Love
  • Flee
  • Glass Onion
  • Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
  • Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
  • Hatching
  • I Didn't See You There
  • Memoria
  • Men
  • The Menu
  • Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
  • My Old School
  • Nope
  • The Northman
  • Petite Maman
  • Prey
  • Remember This
  • Tár
  • Three Thousand Years of Longing
  • Turning Red

Foob

Music that shaped Foob in 2022

Music that was released in 2022 (or very close to 2022)

  • Biosphere - Shortwave Memories (Biophon)
  • Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra - Promises (Luaka Bop)
  • The Necks - Three (ReR Megacorp)
  • Los Days - West Winds (Too Good)
  • Sote - Majestic Noise Made In Beautiful Rotten Iran (Sub Rosa)
  • Chris Child & Micah Frank - Tape Pieces Vol. 3 (Foil)
  • Simon Posford – Flux & Contemplation - Portrait Of An Artist In Isolation (Twisted)

Music that was not released in 2022

  • Victrola - Maritime Tatami / A Game Of Despair (Dark Entries)
  • René & Angela - Wall To Wall (Capitol)
  • Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - Impressions (Red Record)
  • TOPS - Picture You Staring (Arbutus)
  • VA - Anthology of Electroacoustic Lebanese Music (Unexplained Sounds Group)
  • Delegation - Eau De Vie (Mercury)

Imaginary Radio

Imaginary Radio’s Best Of 2022

Imaginary Radio’s Top 2022 Releases

Belle & Sebastian - A Bit Of Previous (Matador)
Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (4AD)
Bill Callahan - YTI⅃AƎЯ (Drag City)
Charley Crockett - The Man From Waco (Son of Davy)
Courtney Marie Andrews - Loose Future (Fat Possum)
Dr. John - Things Happen That Way (Rounder)
Frankie Cosmos - Inner World Peace (Sun Pop)
Jazzanova - The Sound Of Detroit (Strata)
Julia Jacklin - Pre Pleasure (Polyvinyl)
Kingdom Of Mustang - Into Beautiful Blue (Kool Kat)
Lambchop - The Bible (Merge)
Laura Veirs - Found Light (Raven Marching Band)
MONO - My Story, The Buraku Story [soundtrack] (Temporary Residence)
ORA Singers - Stella (harmonia mundi)
Rusty - The Resurrection Of Rust (EMI)
Tedeschi Trucks Band - I Am The Moon [all four] (Fantasy)
The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field (Carpark)
The Dead Tongues - Dust (Psychic Hotline)
The Linda Lindas - Growing Up (Epitaph)
Toro Y Moi - Mahal (Dead Oceans)

 

Imaginary Radio’s Top 2022 Shows

AJ Lee & Blue Summit - The Independent
Anaïs Mitchell - The Chapel
Avett Brothers - JazzFest
Bela Fleck - Freight & Salvage
Bonnie Light Horseman - Hardly Strictly
Dashawn Hickman & Charlie Hunter - Hardly Strictly
New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars - Quarterfest
NRBQ - The Chapel
Rhiannon Giddens - SF Jazz
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers - Hardly Strictly

Leftfield Lance

2022 Favorites

7"

  • Communicant - La Roue (Six Tonnes de Chair)
  • The Gabys - S/T (Fruits & Flowers)
  • Lassie - Temporary Cemetery (Turbo Discos)
  • Neutrals - Bus Stop Nights (Static Shock)
  • Paperniks - S/T (s/r)
  • Snooper - Town Topic (Electric Outlet)

12"

  • Children Maybe Later - What a Flash Kick! (Sloth Mate)
  • Horsegirl - Versions of Modern Performance (Matador)
  • Non Plus Temps - Desire Choir (Post Present Medium)
  • Ribbon Stage - Hit with the Most (K)
  • Rose Mercie - ¿Kieres Agua? (Celluloid Lunch)
  • Smirk - Material (Feel It)
  • The Submissives - Wanna Be Your Thing (Bruit Direct)
  • Tony Jay - Hey There Flower (Mt St Mtn)

Tapes, Downloads, etc.

  • Added Dimensions - S/T (s/r)
  • Galore - Blush (Paisley Shirt)
  • Onyon - S/T (U-Bac)
  • Red Pants - When We Were Dancing (Paisley Shirt)
  • Self Improvement - Visible Damage (Floating Mill)
  • Society - All Flies Go To Hell (Spared Flesh)

 

Lucky Star

Lucky Star 2022 Favs

New(ish) Releases:

  • Indigo De Souza - Any Shape You Take (Saddle Creek)
  • Wet Leg - Wet Leg (Domino Recording Co.)
  • Girlpool - Forgiveness (Girlpool Music)
  • Chalk Talk - Sometimes I Call You (S/R)
  • Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams (Transgressive Records)
  • Weyes Blood - And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop Records)
  • FKA Twigs - Caprisongs (Atlantic Recording)

Old Releases:

  • Elliott Smith - Figure 8 (UMG Recordings)
  • Amy Winehouse - Frank (Universal Island Records)
  • Mazzy Star - She Hangs Brightly (Capitol Records)
  • The Meters - Rejuvenation (Atlantic Recording Corp.)
  • Marvin Gaye - I Want You (UMG Recording)
  • Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, And Delivered (UMG Recording)
  • Pretty Sick - Angel Landing (Dirty Hit)
  • Cymande - Promised Heights (Partisan Records)
  • Minnie Ripperton - Come to My Garden (Capitol Records)
  • Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - I Learned The Hard Way (Daptone Records)
  • Donny Hathaway - Live (Atco Records)
  • Funkadelic - America Eats Its Young (Westbound Records)
  • Parliment - Mothership Connection (The Island Def Jam Music Group)

Megasoup

Megasoup's Favorite Albums From 2022:

  • Acid Twilight - Mustang Zodiac (Not Not Fun)
  • Adrian Quesada - Boleros Psicodélicos (ATO)
  • Afrorack - The Afrorack (Hakuna Kulala)
  • Al Lover - Cosmic Joke (Fuzz Club)
  • Alina Bzhezhinska - Reflections (BBE)
  • Amanda Whiting - Lost in Abstraction (Jazzman)
  • Arthur King - Changing Landscapes {Mina Las Pintadas} (AKP Recordings)
  • Auntie Flo & Sarathy Korwar - Shruti Dance (ManMakeMusic)
  • Barbie Bertisch - Prelude (Love Injection)
  • Beau Sorenson - Indifference Will Devour You (Bandcamp self release)
  • billy woods - Aethiopes (Backwoodz Studioz)
  • Bitchin Bajas -  Bajascillators (Drag City)
  • Carmen Villain - Only Love From Now On (Smalltown Supersound)
  • Chancha Vía Circuito - La Estrella (Wonderwheel)
  • Channelers - Time, Space, and Thought (Inner Islands)
  • Chip Wickham - Cloud 10 (Gondwana)
  • Coral Club - Lost Cities (Moon Glyph)
  • Daniel Villarreal - Panamá 77 (International Anthem)
  • Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek - Dost 2 (Bongo Joe)
  • Emeka Ogboh - 6°30′33.372″N 3°22′0.66″E (Danfotronics)
  • Ensemble Nist-Nah - Elders (Black Truffle)
  • Esmerine - Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More (Constellation)
  • Fields Of Mist - Illuminated60 (Ilian Tape)
  • Ghost Power - Ghost Power (Duophonic Super 45s)
  • Gi Gi - Sunchoke + Lamella Pressed (Good Morning Tapes + INDEX:Records)
  • Gianluca Petrella & Cosmic Renaissance - Universal Language (Schema)
  • Golden Brown - Luminous (Inner Islands)
  • Greg Foat - Psychosynthesis (Blue Crystal Records)
  • Günter Schlienz - Ausflüge I (Cosima Pitz)
  • Homeboy Sandman - Still Champion (Mello Music Group)
  • Horace Andy - Midnight Rocker + Midnight Scorchers (On-U Sound)
  • Hugjiltu 胡格吉乐图 - Cycle 循环 (Dustyballz)
  • Immanuel Wilkins - The 7th Hand (Blue Note)
  • Jasper Høiby - What It Means To Be Human (Edition)
  • Joel Ross - The Parable of the Poet (Blue Note)
  • Kanot - Textile Fantasies (Höga Nord Rekords)
  • Kraus - Fire! Water! Air! Kraus! (Soft Abuse)
  • Lara Somogyi - Exclamation (Mercury KX)
  • Los Amparito - Recalentados (Bandcamp self release)
  • Lucrecia Dalt - Ay! (RVNG Intl.)
  • Makaya McCraven - In These Times (International Anthem)
  • Mary Halvorson - Amaryllis (Nonesuch)
  • Maya Youssef - Finding Home (self released)
  • Mega Ran x Amerigo Gazaway - STRANGERS: Back To The Lab (Soul Mates)
  • Melody's Echo Chamber - Emotional Eternal (Domino)
  • Misha Sultan - Roots (Hive Mind Records)
  • Montparnasse Musique - Archeology (Real World)
  • N Chambers - Mirage Colony (Soft Profile)
  • Natalia Lafourcade - De Todas las Flores (Sony)
  • Nok Cultural Ensemble - Njhyi (SA Recordings)
  • Nomade Orquestra - Na Terra das Primaveras (Bandcamp self release)   
  • Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling & Andreas Werliin - Ghosted (Drag City)
  • Park Jiha - The Gleam (Tak:til / Glitterbeat)
  • Perkutao - Mis Ancestros (Buh)
  • Popp - Blizz (Squama)
  • Purelink - Puredub (Lillerne Tape Club)
  • Raveena - Asha’s Awakening (Warner)
  • Rhabdomantic Orchestra - Almagre (Agogo)
  • Rokia Kone & Jacknife Lee - BAMANAN (Real World)
  • Rosa Beach Mason & Sean Conrad - Wake (Inner Islands)
  • Sabla + Đ.K. - Totem Society (Worship)
  • Salamanda - ashbalkum (Human Pitch)
  • Sarathy Korwar - KALAK (Leaf)
  • Sault - UNTITLED (God) + 11 (Forever Living Originals)
  • Sessa - Estrela Acesa (Mexican Summer)
  • Soda Lite - Aqua Solar Cura (Not Not Fun)
  • The Soft Pink Truth - Is It Going to Get Any Deeper Than This? (Thrill Jockey)
  • The Soundcarriers - Wilds (Phosphonic)
  • SpaceMoth - No Past No Future (Wax Nine)
  • The Spy from Cairo - Animamundi (Wonderwheel)
  • The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble - Step Down (Colemine)
  • Tapani Rinne & Juha Mäki-Patola - Open (Hush Hush)
  • Tim Bernardes - Mil Coisas Invisíveis (Psychic Hotline)
  • TOROZEBU - TOROZEBU (Black Acre)
  • Wau Wau Collectif - Mariage (Sahel Sounds)
  • The Weather Station - How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars (Next Door)
  • WEMA - WEMA (!K7)
  • Weyes Blood - And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop)
  • Winter - What Kind Of Blue Are You? (Bar/None)
  • V/A - Adrian Sherwood Presents: Dub No Frontiers (Real World)
  • V/A - ZZK Sound Vol. 4 (ZZK)

Megasoup's Favorite Reissues and Archival Releases from 2022:

Broadcast - Maida Vale Sessions (Warp)
Celestine Ukwu - No Condition Is Permanent (Mississippi)
Charles Stepney - Step on Step (International Anthem)
Faust - Punkt (Bureau B)
Los Golden Boys - Cumbia de Juventud (Mississippi)
Luis David Aguilar - Ayahuasca: Música para Cine de Luis David Aguilar: 1978-1983 (Buh)
Martin Franklin & Richard Clare - Invocation (Oryx_Records)
Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Strangers From The Universe (Bulbous Monocle)
V/A - The Afrosound Of Colombia Vol. 3 (Vampi Soul)
V/A - Eccentric Deep Soul (Numero Group)
V/A - Exploring Gong Culture In Southeast Asia: Massif And Archipelago (Sub Rosa)
V/A - Padang Moonrise: The Birth of the Modern Indonesian Recording Industry 1955-69 (Soundway)
V/A - Perú Selvático - Sonic Expedition Into The Peruvian Amazon 1972-1986 (Analog Africa)
V/A - Pierre Barouh and the Saravah Sound - Jazz, Samba and Other Hallucinatory Grooves 1965-1976 (WeWantSounds)
V/A - Saigon Supersound, Vol. 3 (Saigon Supersound)
V/A - Saturno 2000: La Rebajada De Los Sonideros 1962-1983 (Analog Africa)
V/A - Soul Jazz Records presents STUDIO ONE MUSIC LAB (Soul Jazz)
V/A - Unity Is Strength (Trojan)
V/A - Wamono Groove: Shakuhachi & Koto Jazz Funk '76 (180g)
V/A - With Love: Vol. 1 (Mr. Bongo)

Megasoup's Favorite Singles, EPs, and Mini-Albums (less than 30 minutes):

Chip Wickham - Astral Traveling (Gondwana)
Cousin - Hudson (Nummer)
Dania - Voz (Geographic North)
Esau - Other Places (Bandcamp self release)
Julian Zyklus - Waterpiano (Hush Hush)
Malibu - Palaces of Pity (UNO)
Matthew Halsall – The Temple Within + Changing Earth EPs (Gondwana)
N Chambers - Grid Flora (Bandcamp self release)
Pachyman - El Sonido Nuevo de (ATO)
Shabaka - Afrikan Culture (Impluse!)

Microtone

Microtone: 22 Albums I Kept Returning to in 2022 (chronological by release date)

  • The Soundcarriers – Wilds (Phosphonic)
  • Voision Xi 喜辰晨 -  Lost for Words 欲言又止 (JZ Music)
  • Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You (4AD)
  • Carmen Villain – Only Love from Now On (Smalltown Supersound)
  • Park Jiha – The Gleam (Glitterbeat)
  • YĪN YĪN – The Age of Aquarius (Glitterbeat)
  • Maya Youssef – Finding Home (S/R)
  • Saphileum – Ornaments (Oslated)
  • Amine Mesnaoui & Labelle – African Prayers (Lo Recordings)
  • Golden Brown – Luminous (Inner Islands)
  • Billow Observatory – Stareside (Felte)
  • Wema – WEMA (!K7)
  • Shabaka Hutchings – Afrikan Culture (Impulse!)
  • Acid Twilight – Mustang Zodiac (Not Not Fun)
  • Salamanda – Ashbalkum (Human Pitch)
  • Esmerine – Everything Was Forever Until It Was No More (Constellation)
  • Medicine Singers – Medicine Singers (Stone Tapes/Joyful Noise)
  • Skyminds – Terra Preta (Not Not Fun)
  • Sun Dawei  – Yòu 右 (SR)
  • Emeka Ogboh - 6°30′33.372″N 3°22′0.66″E (Danfotronics)
  • The Soft Pink Truth – Is It Going to Get Any Deeper Than This? (Thrill Jockey)
  • Lucrecia Dalt – ¡Ay! (RVNG Int’l)

Microtone: A few notable compilations, collections, and retrospectives

  • Kiyoshi Yamaya, Toshiko Yonekawa, Kifu Mitsuhashi – Wamono Groove: Shakuhachi & Koto Jazz Funk ’76 (180g)
  • Liang YiYuan 梁奕源 – Those that Die in a Dream: A Twenty Years Retrospective (Unexplained Sounds Group)
  • Various Artists – Begging the Moon: Phleng Thai Sakon & Luk Krung, 1945-1960 (Death is Not the End)
  • Various Artists – Drifting with Friends (Eating Music)
  • Various Artists – For Ukraine Volumes 1, 2, and 3 (Headphone Commute)

Pop Goes The Weasel

Favorite Songs of 2022

  • Charlotte Adigery & Bolis Pupul - "HAHA" - Topical Dancer (DeeWee)
  • EXEK - "Beyond Currency" - Advertise Here (S/R)
  • James Hunter Six - "Never" - With Love (Daptone"
  • Ibibio Sound Machine - "!7 18 19" - Electricity (Merge)
  • Julia Jacklin - "I Was Neon" - Pre-Pleasure (Polyvinyl)
  • Cate Le Bon - "Dirt on the Bed" - Pompeii (Mexican Summer)
  • Tove Lo - "True Romance" - Dirt Femme (Pretty Swede)
  • Modal Melodies - "Driving" - Modal Melodies (Anti Fade)
  • Kevin Morby - "This is a Photograph" - This is a Photograph (Dead Oceans)
  • Weyes Blood - "It's Not Just Me, It's Everybody" - And in the Darkness Hearts Aglow (SubPop)

 


Favorite Album from 2021, Not Heard Until 2022:


Dummy - Mandatory Enjoyment (Trouble in Mind)

Rare Earth

2022 Favorites

New Releases:

  • Cate Le Bon - Pompeii (Mexican Summer)
  • Papercuts - Past Life Regression (Slumberland)
  • OSEES - A Foul Form (Castle Face)
  • Alvvays - Blue Rev (Polyvinyl Record Co.)
  • Father John Misty - Chloë And The Next 20th Century (Sub Pop)
  • John Carroll Kirby - Cryptozoo (Stones Throw)
  • Automatic - Excess (Stones Throw)
  • Mitski - Laurel Hell (Dead Oceans)
  • Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (TDE)
  • Vince Staples - Ramona Park Broke My Heart (Blacksmith Recordings)
  • Duster - Together
  • Weyes Blood - And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop)
  • Kikagaku Moyo - Kumoyo Island (Guruguru Brain)
  • Thee Sacred Souls - thee Sacred Souls (Penrose)

Reissues:

  • Betty Lou Landreth - Betty Lou (Backatcha)
  • Frank Ocean - Blonde (Blonded)
  • John Coltrane - Blue Train (Stereo & Mono) (Blue Note)
  • Hallelujahs - Eat Meat, Swear A Oath (Black Editions)
  • Grachan Moncur III - Evolution (Blue Note)
  • Farm - Farm (Guerssen)
  • Grant Green -  Feelin’ The Spirit (Blue Note)
  • Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media - In The Groove (Deep Jazz Reality)
  • Sandro Brugnolini - L’Uomo Dagli Occhiali A Specchio (Edizioni Musicali Redi)
  • Alice Coltrane - Ptah, The El Daoud (Verve)
  • Sun Ra - The Futuristic Sounds Of Sun Ra (Savoy)
  • Harold Budd - The Pavilion Of Dreams (Superior Viaduct)
  • Ziad Rahbani - Houdou Nisbi (Wewantsounds)
  • Miho Kei & Jazz Eleven - Kokezaru Kumikyoku (HMV)

Compilations:

  • V/A - America Dream Reserve (Smiling C)
  • V/A - Busy Is Good (Big Nice)
  • V/A - Down & Out (NTS)
  • V/A - Padang Moonrise (The Birth Of The Modern Indonesian Recording Industry 1955-69) (Soundway)
  • V/A - Perfect Motion (Perfect Motion)
  • V/A - Saturno 2000-La Rebajada De Los Sonideros 1962-1983 (Analog Africa)
  • V/A - Sky Dust Drifter (Forager)
  • V/A - V4 Visions: Of Love And Androids (Numero Group)
  • V/A - Vacation From My Mind (Forager)
  • Norma Tanega - I’m The Sky: Studio And Demo Recordings, 1964-1971 (Anthology)
  • Roberta Vandervort & Sally Townes - Roberta Vandervort & Sally Townes (Forager)
  • Mary Lattimore - Collected Pieces: 2015-2020 (Ghostly)
  • Stereolab: Pulse Of The Early Brain (Switched On Vol. 5) (Duophonic UHF)
  • Karate - Time Expired (Numero Group)

7”:

  • SvenWunder - Asterism Waltz (Piano Piano)
  • Caroline Polachek - Billions (Perpetual Novice)
  • Thee Oh Sees - Dark Weald (Philthy Phonographic)
  • Sven Wunder - Jazz At Night (Piano Piano)
  • Surprise Chef - The Positive And The Negative (Mr. Bongo)
  • Thee Sacred Souls - Trade Of Hearts (Penrose)

Live Shows:

  • Osees @ The Chapel
  • Karate @ Great American Music Hall
  • Kikagaku Moyo @ The Warfield
  • Thee Sacred Souls @ The Chapel
  • The Smile @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
  • Stereolab @ The Fillmore
  • Cate Le Bon @ The UC Theater
  • King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard @ The Greek
  • Cindy Lee @ Rickshaw Stop
  • The Red Pears @ Bottom Of The Hill
  • Margaritas Podridas @ Eli’s Mile High
  • Os Mutantes @ The Chapel
  • Hania Rani @ The Chapel
  • Broken Social Scene @ Gundlach Bundschu

Sparkle Motion

Best of 2022 List

Music without words (mostly)

  • Ahmad Jamal -Emerald City Nights Live at the Penthouse 1965-1966 (Jazz Detective)
  • Caroline Shaw, Attacca Quartet -  Evergreen  (Nonesuch)
  • Bitchin Bajas -  Bajascillators  (Drag City)
  • Chip Wickham - Astral Traveling (Gondwana)
  • Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch  -        Ravage (130701)
  • Glenn Dickson - Wider Than the Sky  (S/R)
  • Jeffrey Derus, Brandon Elliott: Choral Arts Initiative -  From Wilderness: A Meditation On The Pacific   Crest Trail (Navona)
  • Jóhann Jóhannsson, Theatre of Voices, Paul Hillier & American Contemporary Music Ensemble - Jóhannsson: Drone Mass (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Julian Lage - View With a Room (Blue Note)
  • Kali Malone - Living Torch (Portraits GRM)
  • Kham Meslien - Fantomes…Futurs (Heavenly Sweetness)
  • Kirk Knuffke Trio - Gravity Without Airs  (Tao Forms)
  • Makaya McCraven - In These Times (International Anthem)
  • Mary Halvorson - Amaryllis/Belladonna  (Nonesuch)
  • Matthew Shipp Trio - World Construct (ESP Disk)
  • Myra Melford’s  Fire and Water Quartet – For The Love of Fire And Water (RogueArt)
  • Oren Ambarchi  - Shebang (Drag City)       
  • Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling & Andreas Werliin   - Ghosted (Drag City) 
  • Park Jiha - The Gleam  (Glitterbeat)
  • Shara Nova & A Far Cry - The Blue Hour (New Amsterdam)
  • Third Coast Percussion - Perspectives (Cedille)
  • Vicky Chow - Jane Antonia Cornish: Sierra (Cantaloupe)
  • Vikingur Olafsson - From Afar (Deutsche Grammophon)

 

Music with words

  • Aldous Harding - Warm Chris (4AD)
  • Angel Olson -  Big Time (Jagjaguwar)
  • Aoife Nessa Frances -  Protector  (Partisan)
  • Beach House -  Once Twice Melody (Sub Pop)
  • Beth Orton -  Weather Alive(Partisan)
  • Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You (4AD)
  • Bill Callahan - Reality (Drag City)
  • Cat Power - Covers (Domino)
  • Cate le Bon - Pompeii (Mexican Summer)
  • Cecile McLorin Salvant  - Ghost Song (Nonesuch)
  • Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul - Topical Dancer (Dee Wee)
  • Daniel Avery - Ultra Truth (Phantasy Sound)
  • Daniel Rossen - You Belong There (Warp)
  • Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek  - Dost 2 (Bongo Joe)
  • Fenella - The Metallic Index (Fire Records)
  • Gwenno - Tresor  (Heavenly)
  • Horace Andy  - Midnight Rocker (On-U Sound)
  • Jake Blount  - The New Faith (Smithsonian Folkways)
  • Jenny Hval  - Classic Objects (4AD)
  • Kae Tempest - The Line is a Curve (American Recordings)
  • Kurt Vile - (watch my moves) (Verve)
  • Lucretia Dalt  - Aye! (Rvng Intl.)
  • Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band - Dear Scott (Modern Sky UK)
  • Panda Bear & Sonic Youth – Reset (Domino)
  • Rich Ruth - I Survived, It’s Over (Third Man Records)
  • Rokia Kone & Jacknife Lee - Bamanan  (Real World Records)
  • S.G. Goodman - Teethmarks  (Verve Forecast)
  • Sam Prekop and John McEntire - Sons Of (Thrill Jockey)
  • Sault  - Air & 11 (Forever Living Originals)
  • Sessa - Estrela Acesa  (Mexican Summer)
  • Spoon  - Lucifer on the Sofa (Matador)
  • The Smile- A Light for Attracting Attention (XL Recordings)
  • Warpaint - Radiate Like This (Virgin)
  • Weyes Blood -  And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop)
  • Wilco  -  Cruel Country (dBpm)


Comps & special collections

  • Bert Jansch - Bert at the BBC (Fire Records)
  • Bill Callahan & Bonnie Prince Billy -  Blind Date Party (Drag City)
  • Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard - Pioneering Women of Bluegrass: The Definitive Edition      (Smithsonian Folkways)
  • Imaginational Anthem Vol. XI: Chrome Universal - A Survey of Modern Pedal Steel – Various Artists (Tompkins Square)
  • Norma Tanega - I’m the Sky: Studio and Demo Recordings, 1964–1971 (anthologyrecordings)
  • Pierre Barouh and the Saravah Sound -Jazz, Samba and Other Hallucinatory Grooves (1965-1976) - (WeWantSounds)
  • Sarah Cahill - The Future is Female, Vol 1 & 2  (First Hand Records)
  • Silberland - Vol. 1: The Psychedelic Side of Kosmische Musik 1972-1986 – Various Artists (Bureau B)
  • Sky Dust Drifter: private press LP’s and 45’s from 1973-1980- Various Artists (Forager Records)

 

Best of 2022 List

Music without words (mostly)

  • Ahmad Jamal -Emerald City Nights Live at the Penthouse 1965-1966 (Jazz Detective)
  • Caroline Shaw, Attacca Quartet -  Evergreen  (Nonesuch)
  • Bitchin Bajas -  Bajascillators  (Drag City)
  • Chip Wickham - Astral Traveling (Gondwana)
  • Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch  -        Ravage (130701)
  • Glenn Dickson - Wider Than the Sky  (S/R)
  • Jeffrey Derus, Brandon Elliott: Choral Arts Initiative -  From Wilderness: A Meditation On The Pacific   Crest Trail (Navona)
  • Jóhann Jóhannsson, Theatre of Voices, Paul Hillier & American Contemporary Music Ensemble - Jóhannsson: Drone Mass (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Julian Lage - View With a Room (Blue Note)
  • Kali Malone - Living Torch (Portraits GRM)
  • Kham Meslien - Fantomes…Futurs (Heavenly Sweetness)
  • Kirk Knuffke Trio - Gravity Without Airs  (Tao Forms)
  • Makaya McCraven - In These Times (International Anthem)
  • Mary Halvorson - Amaryllis/Belladonna  (Nonesuch)
  • Matthew Shipp Trio - World Construct (ESP Disk)
  • Myra Melford’s  Fire and Water Quartet – For The Love of Fire And Water (RogueArt)
  • Oren Ambarchi  - Shebang (Drag City)       
  • Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling & Andreas Werliin   - Ghosted (Drag City) 
  • Park Jiha - The Gleam  (Glitterbeat)
  • Shara Nova & A Far Cry - The Blue Hour (New Amsterdam)
  • Third Coast Percussion - Perspectives (Cedille)
  • Vicky Chow - Jane Antonia Cornish: Sierra (Cantaloupe)
  • Vikingur Olafsson - From Afar (Deutsche Grammophon)

 

Music with words

  • Aldous Harding - Warm Chris (4AD)
  • Angel Olson -  Big Time (Jagjaguwar)
  • Aoife Nessa Frances -  Protector  (Partisan)
  • Beach House -  Once Twice Melody (Sub Pop)
  • Beth Orton -  Weather Alive(Partisan)
  • Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You (4AD)
  • Bill Callahan - Reality (Drag City)
  • Cat Power - Covers (Domino)
  • Cate le Bon - Pompeii (Mexican Summer)
  • Cecile McLorin Salvant  - Ghost Song (Nonesuch)
  • Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul - Topical Dancer (Dee Wee)
  • Daniel Avery - Ultra Truth (Phantasy Sound)
  • Daniel Rossen - You Belong There (Warp)
  • Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek  - Dost 2 (Bongo Joe)
  • Fenella - The Metallic Index (Fire Records)
  • Gwenno - Tresor  (Heavenly)
  • Horace Andy  - Midnight Rocker (On-U Sound)
  • Jake Blount  - The New Faith (Smithsonian Folkways)
  • Jenny Hval  - Classic Objects (4AD)
  • Kae Tempest - The Line is a Curve (American Recordings)
  • Kurt Vile - (watch my moves) (Verve)
  • Lucretia Dalt  - Aye! (Rvng Intl.)
  • Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band - Dear Scott (Modern Sky UK)
  • Panda Bear & Sonic Youth – Reset (Domino)
  • Rich Ruth - I Survived, It’s Over (Third Man Records)
  • Rokia Kone & Jacknife Lee - Bamanan  (Real World Records)
  • S.G. Goodman - Teethmarks  (Verve Forecast)
  • Sam Prekop and John McEntire - Sons Of (Thrill Jockey)
  • Sault  - Air & 11 (Forever Living Originals)
  • Sessa - Estrela Acesa  (Mexican Summer)
  • Spoon  - Lucifer on the Sofa (Matador)
  • The Smile- A Light for Attracting Attention (XL Recordings)
  • Warpaint - Radiate Like This (Virgin)
  • Weyes Blood -  And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop)
  • Wilco  -  Cruel Country (dBpm)


Comps & special collections

  • Bert Jansch - Bert at the BBC (Fire Records)
  • Bill Callahan & Bonnie Prince Billy -  Blind Date Party (Drag City)
  • Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard - Pioneering Women of Bluegrass: The Definitive Edition      (Smithsonian Folkways)
  • Imaginational Anthem Vol. XI: Chrome Universal - A Survey of Modern Pedal Steel – Various Artists (Tompkins Square)
  • Norma Tanega - I’m the Sky: Studio and Demo Recordings, 1964–1971 (anthologyrecordings)
  • Pierre Barouh and the Saravah Sound -Jazz, Samba and Other Hallucinatory Grooves (1965-1976) - (WeWantSounds)
  • Sarah Cahill - The Future is Female, Vol 1 & 2  (First Hand Records)
  • Silberland - Vol. 1: The Psychedelic Side of Kosmische Musik 1972-1986 – Various Artists (Bureau B)
  • Sky Dust Drifter: private press LP’s and 45’s from 1973-1980- Various Artists (Forager Records)

 

Velvet Einstein

Favorites from 2022

 

  • Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil - "Dai Boh" (ENKO)
  • Ibibio Sound Machine - "Electricity" (Merge)
  • IC3PEAK - "Kiss OF Death" (S/R)
  • Kobo Town - "Carnival of the Ghosts" (Stonetree)
  • Leyla McCalla - "Breaking The Thermometer" (Anti-)
  • Shilpa Ray - "Portrait of a Lady" (Northern Spy)
  • Sudan Archives - "Natural Brown Prom Queen" (Stones Throw)
  • Taeyeon - "INVU - The Third Album" (SM Entertainment)
  • Wet Leg - "Wet Leg" (Domino)
  • Yungchen Lhamo - "Awakening" (S/R)

Vernal Pools

Vernal Pools Best of 2022

Top 10 A-Z

  • Charlotte Adigéry/Bolis Pupil - Topical Dancer (Dee Wee)
  • Florist - S/T (Double Double Whammy)
  • Halcyon - The will to nurture (GERYON)
  • Immanuel Wilkins - The 7th Hand (Blue Note)
  • Jemima Coulter - Grace After a Party (Hand In Hive)
  • LEYA - Eyeline (NNA Tapes)
  • Nora Brown - Long Time To Be Gone (Jalopy)
  • Sarah Davachi - Two Sisters (Late Music)
  • Valentina Magaletti - A Queer Anthology of Drums (bié)
  • 700 Bliss - Nothing To Declare (Hyperdub)

Other Favorites A-Z

  • Becca Stevens/Attacca Quartet - Becca Stevens | Attacca Quartet (GroundUP)
  • Dialect - Advanced Myth (Warm Winters)
  • Ellen Arkbro/Johan Graden - I get along without you very well (Thrill Jockey)
  • Ethel Cain - Preacher’s Daughter (Daughters of Cain)
  • Gwenno - Tresor (Heavenly)
  • How Strange It Is - S/T (Bud Tapes)
  • Huerco S. - Plonk (Incienso)
  • Hurray For The Riff Raff - LIFE ON EARTH (Nonesuch)
  • Ibibio Sound Machine - Electricity (Merge)
  • Little Simz - NO THANK YOU (Forever Living Originals)
  • Loshh - akọle (Don’t Sleep)
  • Lowswimmer - Glasshouse 2 (Lowswimmer)
  • Mabe Fratti - Se Ve Desde Aquí (Unheard of Hope)
  • Marina Allen - Centrifics (Fire)
  • Mono Moon - Boundary (S/R)
  • Moor Mother - Jazz Codes (ANTI-)
  • MUNA - S/T (Dead Oceans)
  • Naima Bock - Giant Palm (Sub Pop)
  • Nilüfer Yanya - PAINLESS (ATO)
  • Odie Leigh - How Did It Seem To You? (S/R)
  • Parannoul/Asian Glow - Paraglow (POCLANOS)
  • Scarcity - Aveilut (The Flenser)
  • Shannen Moser - The Sun Still Seems to Move (Lame-O)
  • Sudan Archives - Natural Brown Prom Queen (Stones Throw)
  • Tanya Tagaq - Tongues (Six Shooter)
  • Wildlife Freeway - Sunny (Community Music)
  • Yumi Zouma - Present Tense (Polyvinyl)
  • Zguba - Znój (LOŻA Oficyna)

Vernal Pools Best of 2022

Top 10 A-Z

  • Charlotte Adigéry/Bolis Pupil - Topical Dancer (Dee Wee)
  • Florist - S/T (Double Double Whammy)
  • Halcyon - The will to nurture (GERYON)
  • Immanuel Wilkins - The 7th Hand (Blue Note)
  • Jemima Coulter - Grace After a Party (Hand In Hive)
  • LEYA - Eyeline (NNA Tapes)
  • Nora Brown - Long Time To Be Gone (Jalopy)
  • Sarah Davachi - Two Sisters (Late Music)
  • Valentina Magaletti - A Queer Anthology of Drums (bié)
  • 700 Bliss - Nothing To Declare (Hyperdub)

Other Favorites A-Z

  • Becca Stevens/Attacca Quartet - Becca Stevens | Attacca Quartet (GroundUP)
  • Dialect - Advanced Myth (Warm Winters)
  • Ellen Arkbro/Johan Graden - I get along without you very well (Thrill Jockey)
  • Ethel Cain - Preacher’s Daughter (Daughters of Cain)
  • Gwenno - Tresor (Heavenly)
  • How Strange It Is - S/T (Bud Tapes)
  • Huerco S. - Plonk (Incienso)
  • Hurray For The Riff Raff - LIFE ON EARTH (Nonesuch)
  • Ibibio Sound Machine - Electricity (Merge)
  • Little Simz - NO THANK YOU (Forever Living Originals)
  • Loshh - akọle (Don’t Sleep)
  • Lowswimmer - Glasshouse 2 (Lowswimmer)
  • Mabe Fratti - Se Ve Desde Aquí (Unheard of Hope)
  • Marina Allen - Centrifics (Fire)
  • Mono Moon - Boundary (S/R)
  • Moor Mother - Jazz Codes (ANTI-)
  • MUNA - S/T (Dead Oceans)
  • Naima Bock - Giant Palm (Sub Pop)
  • Nilüfer Yanya - PAINLESS (ATO)
  • Odie Leigh - How Did It Seem To You? (S/R)
  • Parannoul/Asian Glow - Paraglow (POCLANOS)
  • Scarcity - Aveilut (The Flenser)
  • Shannen Moser - The Sun Still Seems to Move (Lame-O)
  • Sudan Archives - Natural Brown Prom Queen (Stones Throw)
  • Tanya Tagaq - Tongues (Six Shooter)
  • Wildlife Freeway - Sunny (Community Music)
  • Yumi Zouma - Present Tense (Polyvinyl)
  • Zguba - Znój (LOŻA Oficyna)