The Un-Herd Music Top 50 of 2022
1. The Jazz Butcher The Highest In The Land
Like Bowie's "Blackstar" this is an intimate last release by an artist ruminating on his impending mortality. The main difference being that Pat Fish makes you sing along as he breaks your heart.
As far as I can tell, it took 20 years for the band to follow their debut and, incredibly, this infectious collection of Lennon-esque vocals & Cheap Trickian power chords may have been worth the wait.
Opening up their Stonesy sound with ballads, slide guitar, and a hint of country/southern rock only makes it more Stonesy - but this is the mean cold-blooded late 60s Stones, so just know that any stray yayas in yer system are about to get out.
4. Blackbirds FC Magiclands
It's hard to imagine anyone improving on the mellow melodic heights of the Go-Betweens, but this Melbourne band may have done just that. Impossible to resist.
One man band Joey Rubbish delivers so many hooks in these 11 songs you'd be excused for assuming it's a best-of collection. Hints of 80s synth pop, 00s garage, Kinks, Beatles, Thin Lizzy without ever sounding like anything other than the Rubs.
Low key indie pop perfection with a deep & lasting atmosphere of melancholy. Somehow immediately pleasing while also a grower.
At this point it's doubtful a new Spoon album will take anyone by surprise, unless the surprise lies in the recognition that Britt Daniel & co. somehow just keep getting better.
8. Starcrawler She Said
Part of what's been so fun through this band's first 3 albums is the impending sense of a monstrous wave about to break. You can feel they're gonna be deservedly huge, you just don't know when. The time should be right about now.
Melodic, witty, and a little foul-mouthed, Simon Love is single-handedly saving power pop from the wimpy jangle hordes. If there was any justice in the world (there isn't) he'd already be some kinda star.
Dan Auerbach produced Pennsylvania band has a knack for matching vocal melody with an ear worm guitar hook. Nothing overly flashy, but satisfying in the extreme.
11. The Lings The Lings
12. Extra Arms What Is Even Happening Right Now?
13. The Sparklers Miss Philadelphia
14. Dot Dash Madman in the Rain
15. Young Guv III
16. Gyasi Pronounced Jah-See
17. Uni Boys Do It All Next Week
18. Foxy Shazam The Heart Behead You
19. The Hoodoo Gurus Chariot of the Gods
20. The 1990s Nude Restaurant
21. Diamond Dogs Slap Bang Blue Rendezvous
22. Popular Creeps All of This Will End In Tears
23. Interrupters In The Wild
24. 2nd Grade Easy Listening
25. Surf Curse Magic Hour
26. Faz Waltz On The Ball
27. The Handcuffs Burn The Rails
28. Diane Coffee With People
29. Sour Ops Deep Fake
30. Gasoline The Orange Album
31. Fantastic Negrito White Jesus Black Problems
32. Kevin Stevenson Reality Alley
33. The Dip Sticking With It
34. Emperor Penguin Sunday Carvery
35. Too Much Joy All These Fucking Feelings
36. Banditos Right On
37. Cheap Star Wish I Could See
38. Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts Ballad of a Misspent Youth
39. Mattiel Georgia Gothic
40. House of Love A State of Grace
41. Sino Hearts Lightening the Darkness
42. Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club Please Stand By
43. Cheap Cassettes Ever Since Ever Since
44. Pink Mountaintops Peacock Pools
45. Nicky Egan This Life
46. Gladie Don't Know What You're In Until You're Out
47. The Chelsea Curve All The Things
48. No. 2 First Love
49. Triptides So Many Days
50. The Speedways Talk of the Town
1. B1ackbirds FC Magiclands
2. The Spark1ers Our Beloved Grudges
3. The Rubs Hang On To Me
4. Diane C0ffee Bullied
5. Surf Curse Little Rock 'n' Roller
6. Fuzzbubb1e Dragonfly Pt. II
7. Extra Arms Feeling Alright
8. Faz Wa1tz Love Time Bomb
9. Sweet Things Cold Feet
10. Interrupters Jailbird
11. F0xy Shazam Dancing With My Demons
12. Y0ung Guv Good Time
13. Uni B0ys On Your Lovin' Mind
14. Sour 0ps Deep Fake
15. H00doo Gurus Equinox
16. Popu1ar Creeps Black & Blue
17. D0t Dash Space Junk, Satellites
18. The Lings Little Josie
19. Go1d Star Shivers
20. Gyasi Feed Your Face
21. 2nd Grade Teenage Overpopulation
22. Diam0nd Dogs Rocked,Wrecked, Robbed & Ruined
23. Simon L0ve I Will Dance
24. Ceramic Anima1 Long Day
25. Jazz Butcher Never Give Up
