Some years it’s tough to pick 31 songs and 2022 was definitely one of those years. Maybe it’s because musicians have just emerged from quarantine, maybe the industry is putting more money out there, or maybe we’re just paying more attention. Whatever the reason, these songs likely would have made the 31 list on weaker years so it seems only right to share our runners-up list.

FAVORITES THAT MISSED THE TRAIN

At the outset there were some bands that we just assumed would make it. Belle & Sebastian, Foals, and Ladyhawke are favorite bands that frequently place on our annual list. All three albums are great and, had their been room, we would have included them. The only criticism to be leveled is that all three are basically just more of a great thing; all these bands have incredible catalogs and these releases don’t evolve the sound. They bring great to the mix but not new.

There were also offerings from artists we deeply revere. Aimee Mann and Brian Eno stand out in that both are generational talents that have released transformational albums across their long and storied careers. Mann’s Queens of the Summer Hotel was commissioned as a score for a stage production. I worry we may, still, be missing it’s brilliance as it is intentionally less approachable than her previous work. Even so, the album is a fine addition to her catalog. Likewise, Eno’s FOREVERANDMORE is a work of art that may well be beyond me. Given it’s the first mostly-vocal album from Eno in over fifteen years, I will keep trying to find my way in. For Eno, the effort is almost always worth it.

2022 saw some pretty stellar collaborations that didn’t quite make the final list. The Bangles Susanna Hoffs follows up her brilliant Under The Covers series but, unlike her prior partnering with husband Matthew Sweet, Bright Lights features duets with a number of amazing talents. 31-favorite Flaming Lips came to the table with 14-year old Nell Smith and an album full of Nick Cave covers. Despite the amazing backstory, Where The Viaduct Looms never quite rose above either artists prior work. The incredible Sparks (whom we only recently embraced) cut a track with Todd Rundgren on his new massive multi-artist collaboration LP, Space Force. Despite some serious star power, Space Force left us both indifferent, despite the occasional stand-out (like my personal favorite STFU).

Andrew Bird, Cat Power, and Laura Veirs are all artists we like but, perhaps, not love. They’ve been contenders for many previous years and, again, this year made the short list but not the final one. Regardless, their work is beautiful and definitely worth a listen – especially Cat Power’s heartfelt cover of the Replacements Here Comes a Regular.

Former indie-band giants Jack White (the White Stripes) and Johnny Marr (the Smiths) released solo albums in 2022. Both are quite good and, while not pushing much beyond their trademark sounds, have more than a few true standouts. Again, in a less competitive year, these would likely have made our 31 final list.

2022 saw the return of more favorites from decades past, including Arcade Fire, CousteauX, Salim Nourallah, Small Sins, Simple Kid, Spoon, and Suede (aka The London Suede). We had largely considered these folks to be in the retired bucked, having produced little to no music over the last decade-plus. Hearing these musicians again was a real treat but nostalgia was not enough to bring them over the top.

Finally, some former first-timers followed up with some really great music that should be heard. Angel Olsen’s vocals are as haunting as ever, and Courtney Barnett’s alt-folk-rock twang still pierces the air. Two Door Cinema Club continue their on-again-off-again 31 Songs placement, with this year missing but only just. Anoushka Shankar’s moving new release, Love Letters P.S., pairs spoken word with her well-established compositional bonafides. Finally, Joywave’s Muse-like anthem-electronica stand loud and proud as they continue to evolve their sound.

NEWCOMERS THAT MIGHT MAKE IT NEXT TIME

Most of the Almost-31s were from musicians we’ve considered or included in previous years. DC Gore comes from darkwave roots, channeling Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys in all the right ways. Katy J Pearson’s unique voice has a wholly new dizzy and dreamy sound that is reminiscent of 31 finalist Wet Leg. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever blends an Atlanta 80s sound with Manchester vocals to create an engaging, post-punk poppy sound.

We also discovered some old hands that we just hadn’t heard until 2022. This is the first year that (for me) Lana Del Rey resonated with her latest release, Chemtrails Above the Country Club. Ty Segall, having been an active musician for more than a decade, hardly qualifies as a newcomer but he is to us. Segall’s deft sound ranges from early British prog to metal to folk. British audio/visual duo the KVB has also been around for more than a decade which likely explains why their shoegaze-meets-pychadelic sound is so very reminiscent of the Primitives (whom I adore deeply). Devo pointed out Swedish rock band Sator, a favor we posted about earlier in 2022. Sator’s Ramones-meets-Dickies sound was, I thought, a surefire win for 31. Regardless, Sator is a win any year and will be on my watchlist for many more to come.

2022 Playlist: Almost 31s

Track by track, with artist + album