My musical highlights of 2022.
The best song, album, gig and more from 2022
2022 was a difficult year in many ways. Out in the wider world there was war in Ukraine and political and economic turmoil here in the UK. Personally, the recent loss of my 93 year old Nana has been very difficult. We also lost a number of beloved musicians, most recently Terry Hall, but the loss of Mimi Parker of Low was particularly hard to take. As always music itself was a great comfort. Live music returned, if not to normal than at least to some level of regularity. I saw more live music than any other year since I had kids (admittedly still not nearly as much as before I had kids), and a lot of my favourite artists had new albums out. Still waiting on Joanna Newsom though. Anyway, without further ado, here are my musical highlights of the year.
Album of the Year: Laura Veirs — Found Light
Laura Veirs has been one of my favourite artists for close to 20 years now, but unusually, her new album didn’t grab me immediately. Had she finally lost her touch? Of course not, it was just one of those records whose beauty takes time to unfurl. Containing some of the sharpest, most personal lyrics of her career, along with her usual impeccably crafted songs, Found Light is rare album where every song is a highlight, and up there with the very best of her careeer.
Runners up: Aldous Harding, Danger Mouse & Black Thought, Richard Dawson
Song of the Year: Let’s Eat Grandma — Happy New Year
The best song of the year was also one of the first, released, appropriately enough given its title, on 3rd January. I didn’t personally discover it until later in the year, and my memories of it involve strolling about in the sunshine, with this perfect piece of electronic pop blasting through my headphones. I’m not the sort of person who typically puts songs on repeat, but I listened to this one again and again, the infectious melody and poignant lyrics of childhood proving irresistible.
Runners up: Emily Breeze — Ordinary Life, Lampland — Newborn Feelings, Moxyblossom — Did You Feel That?, Yard Act — 100% Endurance
Gig of the Year : Flaming Lips — Leeds Stylus
I wrote about this one extensively at the time, so won’t go into too much detail here, but suffice to say that after two pandemic hit years, this was the one that really bought back to me the absolute joy of live music.
Runners up: Godspeed You! Black Emperor — Manchester Academy, Jesca Hoop — Howard Assembly Rooms, Imarhan — Brudenell Social Club
New Artist of the Year: Crake
Always good to find an excellent new band, especially when they’re from your home city. Crake’s brand of hushed indie-folk made for one of the best albums of the year in Humans Worst Habits and has already made them one of the finest bands in Leeds.
Runners up: Charlotte Adigery, Yard Act, Cheerbleederz
New (to me) Artist of the Year: Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
There are plenty of artists who I don’t get round to listening to, or even hear about, until they’ve been around for a while. I used to want to know about every new band immediately, but now I’m comfortable that if they’re good enough I will find them eventually. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith has been putting albums out for a decade, but somehow I never got round to listening until 2022. In my head I had the idea that she was some kind of generic indie-folk singer. I’m not sure why, possibly I had confused her with someone else. Anyway, I couldn’t have been further from the truth. Her music is bold, experimental and deeply strange in the best possible way. I enjoyed 2022’s Let’s Turn It Into Sound very much, and am looing forward to exploring her back catalogue.
Runners Up: Black Thought, Leyla McCalla, Jesca Hoop
Playlist of the Year:
Spotify Version below, Apple Music version here
Originally published at http://colourthecortex.wordpress.com on December 24, 2022.
