Best Music of 2022.5: Jon
The year is over half-over! Join Reviler contributors as they take stock of their favorite music produced thus far!
Local Albums
1. Lanue – In My Mind
Duluth artist Sarah Krueger’s Alan Sparhawk-produced sophomore album may be EP length but it makes up in quality for what it lacks in minutes. This is excellent moody, atmospheric pop.
2. Jonny Darko – The Deer
Jonathan Fuller originally described his music as “the love child of Post Malone, Bon Iver,and Frank Ocean,” which initially seemed like a hard sell to me but it’s a testament to his skill that he has made me a believer.
3. Anthony Newes – In the Dark of the Sea
It’s been a tough year and it’s probably no coincidence that my list is full of music that’s kind of sad. Anthony Newes’ solo record is no exception. With a cast of talented collaborators he’s made one of the year’s best melancholy dream pop albums.
4. Andy Ulseth – How We’ve Changed
It’s tough to create a notable folk/pop record in a scene that has honestly been lousy with them for years. Andy Ulseth’s new record is just such an album. Not only does it have great melodies but Ulseth excels as a lyricist, combining pathos, sincerity, and a wry sense of humor.
5. Green/Blue – Paper Thin
This is just Green/Blue’s sophomore record but due to the longevity of the combined artist’s contributions to the local scene, it feels much more familiar than it would seem. Very few do raw garage/punk better.
6. Alien Book Club –Desecration of the Whispering Salamander
At last – something truly weird on the list! Alien Book club touch on a lot of genres in their latest kaleidoscopic album (maybe all of them?) and it’s a truly fantastic voyage.
7. Nat Harvie – Married In Song
Duluth’s Nat Harvie has been shape shifting musical genres for some time and their latest EP finds them exploring experimental alt-rock (another melancholy album for the list but one done extremely well).
8. Sweetblood – Sky Power
Sweetblood’s Sky Power EP is the perfect antidote to all these other sad records/songs. It’s breezy bit of funky pop that goes down easy and doesn’t leave a bad aftertaste.
9. Kids Ski Free – ST EP
Another EP, this one is an excellent collection of tunes that also covers quite a bit of sonic ground, from punk to nursery rhymes.
National Albums
1. Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
I have enjoyed individual songs on other Big Thief records but never before have I so thoroughly loved every last minute of one the way I do this one.
2. Aldous Harding – Warm Chris
Harding is one of the most talented songwriters on the planet right now and her records just keep getting better and better.
3. Joe Rainey – Niineta
Minnesotan powwow singer Joe Rainey teamed up with Andrew Broder (production) to make this record and I guarantee its like nothing you have ever heard.
4. Amber Mark – Three Dimensions Deep
There has been a lot of great r&b already this year but nothing stands out to me more so than Amber Mark’s opus.
5. Tim Bernardes – Mil Coisas Invisíveis
Multi-instrumentalist Tim Bernardes made a record that, to me anyway, sort of sounds like what you might have gotten if Grizzly Bear had been a Brazilian band obsessed with Tropicalia.
6. Medicine Singers – ST
It’s been a banner year for indigenous music – this one makes for a good counter-point to Niineta (above). Where that record took a focused approach, this one is more of a kitchen sink (but its also not the worse for it).
7. Graces Ives – Janky Star
Grace Ives is a one woman pop/r&b powerhouse, making a record full of tiny, unpolished, pop gems that are utterly perfect.
8. Naima Bock – Giant Palm
I don’t know much about Bock other than the fact she was in Goat Girl and this one probably hasn’t been out long enough for it to truly set in but based on my first initial listens I am enthralled.
9. Junglepussy – JP5000
Shayna McHayle is on an excellent streak. This year’s effort may be a mixtape but it absolutely slays on the level of her previous albums.
10. Jenny Hval – Classic Objects (tie)
Jenny Hval’s best records are the ones where she finds that perfect balance between her arty/experimental side and her talent for gorgeous melody (which she does excellently here).
10. Ravyn Lenae – HYPNOS (tie)
Another great r&b record, Lenae’s is a moody slow-grower. Very few people have this vocal ability and she’s only 23 years old. I can’t even imagine this is her peak (and its pretty damn great).
