IEYL 2022 Music Recap: Albums Of The Year

A List of My Favorite Albums In 2022 (25–11)

Welcome back to another piece in IEYL’s 2022 Music Recap Series. We are back with the prized album list. Below you will find my album rankings, 25–11. This was an incredibly fun piece to write and one filled with projects from all across the calendar last year. From classical music to alternative pop and r&b we have a strong representation of the industry’s full board of genres in this piece.

I love these albums to my core. Each and every one of them holds a special place in my heart. Like every year, the list below is additionally a relfection on me and my year. If we had the time, I’d go into the impact these albums had on my life and the influence they are still having on my journey.

Still, I hope you bring home some new favorite after reading this article. Any and all of them deserve to be on your playlist and music libraries.

Okay, that’s enough introduction, dig in!

25. Home, Before, and After — Regina Spektor

Home, Before, and After is a slow and steady meditation about home. Here, Spektor unpacks her observations around life in her various homes. While she sings from different characters points of view the listener is washed with delicate orchestral pop production.

24. Gifted — Koffee

On this summery raggaeton tone, Koffee is displaying pure gratitude. Be prepared to dance to your heart’s content and reminisce about the gorgeously difficult journey to your current situation. As the rising Jamaican star continues to climb the ranks of the music industry, this record will remain a time stamp for genuine appreciation.

23. Hypochondriac — Brakence

Brakence brings such an eclectic approach to pop music. The inspiring young hyper pop star improves his rich artistry on the impressive sophomore project, Hypochondriac. The album is mesmerizing, tragic, brutally honest, and insanely addictive.

22. 11:11 — Pinegrove

The legacy of the beloved indie band lives on with the phenomenal project, 11:11. Steeped in climate and socio-political woes, the band searches for silver linings on the big-band-sounding album. On 11:11 Pinegrove sound grander and ready for larger stages as their production hits harder with more expansive chords and harsher drums.

21. The Gods We Can Touch — Aurora

On her transcendental third album, Aurora explores the worldly toxins plaguing us all. Across magically soundscapes and fairy-like vocal runs we get closer to Aurora and our inner Gods. Step into this project when you want to take a walk into an ethereal dimension where our inner beings are as transparent as an ocean.

20. My New Wings (Deluxe) — Joanna Jakubas, London Symphony Orchestra

The widely respected classically-trained singer teams up with the London Symphony Orchestra to create a splendid wonder. Flipping pop culture moments and mainstream tunes into classical pieces, Jakubas cements her place in the zeitgeist of pop. You haven’t heard the greatest potential of the West’s finest music until you dive into Jakubas’s iteration of songs like “I Will Always Love You”, “Hallelujah”, and “My Heart Will Go On”.

19. How To Let Go — Sigrid

How To Let Go is a sweet and intimate pop record by the young Swedish star, Sigrid. There are many layers to love and it’s complicated ways and How To Let Go goes through many of them. Sonically, this is Sigrid’s most ambitious record yet and demonstrates her talents in the stadium-pop, hitmaker space.

18. Un Verano Sin Ti — Bad Bunny

The undisputed album of the summer, Un Verano Sin Ti continues the legendary run by Puerto Rican mega star, Bad Bunny. Surrounded by his Latin American peers, the project is a brilliant representation of the genres that make Latin America such a hot bed for magnificent music. Thematically, Un Verano finds Bad Bunny searching for love in the forever season of summer.

17. Bell Bottom Country — Lainey Wilson

With Bell Bottom Country, Wilson found superstardom. Musically, it showcases Wilson’s emotive songwriting and memorable hooks. She has a very bright legacy to build, and this album feels like an important career-defining moment in her journey.

16. Cometa — Nick Hakim

This album is for those who are falling deep in love and feel like they’re on a cloud. The progressive soul artist continues to push the genre forward on this dynamic and exquisitely layered project. Hakim has a gift for drawing you with his haunting vocals and then keeping you there with the hyper-detailed production.

15. A Sky Without Stars — Eliza

Few artists could pivot the way Eliza did on A Sky Without Stars and succeed the way she did. Her latest album, in a lot of ways, is a debut for her new sound direct. Wrapped in intense lo-fi beats, whispery vocals, and neo-soul sensibilities, this album is a beautifully intimate journey into the little worlds we create in a city.

14. Feorm Falorx — Plaid

For a duo as historical and time-tested as Plaid, Feorm Falorx sounds mighty futuristic. The electronic album is rich in warm rhythms but doesn’t loose it’s edge, especially on songs like “Tomason”. The electronic duo also enlisted AI to create a lot of the imaging for the album, so the next generation of the music industry is clearly on their mind. If you ever want to feel like you’re on a space ship on the brink of civilization turn to this phenomenal body of work.

13. Surrender — Maggie Rogers

Surrender is all about finding peace in sacrificing self-control. This lovely sounding album reignited my love and appreciation for Rogers in the alternative pop space. Her sound leans closer to electro pop on this record and her voice is even more confident. Nevertheless, her folk roots are still present all throughout the album. In many ways, it’s these folksy vocal runs that brings the heart and a soul to an otherwise dance-filled album. Play this one when you want and need to let loose and be free.

12. New Mythology — Nick Mulvey

New Mythology is an optimistic journey into the stories we tell. Grounded in harmonious chords and calming vocals, Mulvey brings fascinating purpose to human kind’s existential struggle. This album is packed with huge and layered folk-pop tunes that move through you like a morning breeze. It’s a refreshing listen, and definitely added newfound energy and purpose to me as the Spring fully committed to Summer weather.

11. Self Explanatory — Ne-Yo

As one of the premier singer-songwriters of his generation, Ne-Yo’s ear for beautifully melodic love tales is unmatched. Not only has he been great at gifting these songs for other people, but he’s saved some timeless songs for himself. On Self Explanatory all eyes are on Ne-Yo, and the love traps he’s locked himself inside of. These immaculately created heart-break tunes are some of Ne-Yo’s work best to date, and that’s not an easy task to accomplish. Between the anthemic banger, “Stay Down” to the wintery ballad “What If”, Ne-Yo showcases the range of his talents on an album coined for serious self reflection and acceptance.

Writer Recommendation time! These writers are great and deserve all the reading time you could spare :) Don Drewniak MSKSLKTR Don Drewniak

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