Year In Review - 2022

The first full uninterrupted year post pandemic saw us enjoy gigging and clubbing again and I was thankful to get to see a lot more live music than I had the previous few years with The Killers, Anne-Marie & Manic Street Preachers all providing memorable sets.

The range of music released was perhaps wider than ever with the blurring of house and hip hop not letting up, indeed there was a reported revival of sorts with house identified as having a rebirth. Whilst this was largely spearhead by big name pop acts in the charts, for the primary product - the album, LP, Playlist - it was the hip hop that artistically made the most noise with great albums by Black Thought, Kendrick Lemar and Nas (again) whilst Pusha-T, Little Simz and Drake made vital contributions as well.

This got me thinking back to Black Thoughts comments to Complex in 2017 about the crossroads that hip hop and its culture are at: are we now starting to see a subtle change in direction? With the huge social change seen since the start of the MeToo movement and the murder of George Floyd, is there a demand for the return of more thought provoking rap, where lyrics are not the least important aspect of hip hop and where the message is centre stage?

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

CHEAT CODES

Danger Mouse & Black Thought

1 Throughout the history of hip hop, there have been legendary duos that seize the initiative and play an important role in moving the genre forward. Eric B & Rakim spearheaded the golden age, Outkast took over in the nineties whilst more recently Run The Jewels have reminded the genre of its roots, of its importance and the role it can play. One of the most productive producers in recent times, Danger Mouse - producer extraordinare behind Gnarls Barkley, the Jay-Z Beatles mash up The Grey Album as well as countess productions - has teamed up with the lead rapper of The Roots to create a rap masterpiece and remind everyone that this genre hasn't peaked yet.

    Black Thought is on top form and is joined by a stellar array of A grade rap talent in the form of Raekwon, Joey Bada$$, A$AP Rocky and most brilliantly the late and much missed MF DOOM. No line is wasted and the spitting is interwoven by Danger Mouse's expertly chosen soul samples.

DEAR SCOTT

Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band

2 In 1999 NME put Liverpool's Mick Head on their front cover and stipulated 'This man is our greatest songwriter' before asking if we recognised him? Head is perhaps British rock's greatest survivor, even more so than say Weller or Albarn. Head never had the success he was due, due to a combination of bad decisions and bad luck and both The Pale Fountains and Shack, his two primary bands that he led in the eighties and nineties should have shone more brightly. But with Dear Scott he's gained his highest charting album and will perhaps finally attain the acclaim and credit he is owed?

MEMORIAL

Thus Love

3 Out of nowhere comes this new band from Vermont, US. An exciting mix of Ty Segall, Psychedelic Furs and Television, I've not been this excited about a new band for a long time. The band we've been waiting for?

4. A Light for Attracting Attention by The Smile

5. Caprisongs by FKA Twigs: going mainstream FKA Twigs pulls off

6. Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar
7. Endless Rooms by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
8. Radiate Like This by Warpaint
9. Wet Leg by Wet Leg
10.  Music From Wakanda: Black Panther Forever OST by Various Artists

SINGLES OF THE YEAR

1. B.O.T.A. (Baddest Of Them All) by Eliza Rose and Interplanetary Criminal: pure unadulterated fun based on Lisa Lisa And The Cult Jam's Let The Beat Hit Em. A festival highlight and genuine throwback song that improved on the original.

2. Bad Habit by Steve Lacy

3. Last Last by Burna Boy

4. As It Was by Harry Styles

5. Down by Hot Chip
6. Repetitioner by Thus Love

7. New Body Rhumba by LCD Soundsystem

8. Step By Step by Braze + Falcon feat. Panda Bear
9. Baiana by Nia Archives

10. Body Paint by Arctic Monkeys

DEEP CUTS OF THE YEAR

1. Glory by Sault: opening track from London collective Sault's 11th album and one of five released in 2022. Whilst none are as strong as their previous efforts, there are highlights perhaps none more so than this gritty hard hitting number with arguably the beat of the year.

2. Nascer, Viver, Morrer by Tim Bernardes
3. All About You by The Knocks feat. Foster The People
4. Nothing's Happening By The Sea by Blank & Jones feat. Mick Roach
5. GMT - Jamie xx Remix by Oliver Sim
6. Virgo's Groove by Beyonce
7. Dreamin Of The Past by Pusha T feat. Kanye West
8. Hood2Hood by Nas
9. Heart and Soul by Leftfield

10. Falling by Daphni