Our first full year as parents meant Spectral Nights did not get as much love and attention as we would have hoped these past 12 months but our love of music remains strong – and we won’t be disappearing anytime soon!
2022 was yet another fine year for album releases with new bands leaving an impression and old favourites coming back with fire in their bellies… Without further ado, here is a Top 5 of albums we’ve loved this year.
Suede – ‘Autofiction’
As the reviews said at the time, this record was the result of a revitalised band; Brett Anderson delivering powerfully honest lyrics about life and loss, giving, grieving and growing against a soundtrack of wiry punk hooks and timeless indie-pop melodies.
Wet Leg – ‘Wet Leg’
It’s an obvious choice but the Isle of Wight duo – equally at home on the Radio 1, Radio 2 and 6 Music playlists and supporting both Harry Styles and Pulp – were one of the success stories of 2022. Riffs, wry humor and songs you’ll be singing for days after hearing them just once. ‘What?’ more could you ask for…
Gintis – ‘Hope is All We Have’
A new band to us in 2022 that we never quite got round to reviewing but the album has been on constant rotation. Ruminating on life, love and death amidst moments of baroque pop genius and heartfelt melancholia, the album – produced by Bill Ryder-Jones – reminded us of acts like The Divine Comedy and Super Furry Animals, but with extra poignancy.
Stars – ‘From Capelton Hill’
Canada’s finest returned with another simply stunning album covering all the important things in life – and the end of the world. ‘If I Never See London Again’, one of the record’s standout moments, takes on extra significance after the collective trauma we’ve all experienced over the past few years…
Nordic Giants – ‘Symbiosis’
Released way back in February, the long-awaited follow-up to 2015’s ‘A Seance of Dark Delusions’ melded together elements of traditional post rock with math, jazz, classical interludes and the occasional vocal. It’s a record that attempts to find – and embrace – the lighter moments in life.
Other albums we liked in 2022: Momma – ‘Household Name’, Sea Power – ‘Everything Was Forever’, Tomberlin – ‘I Don’t Know Who Needs to Hear This’, Everything Everything – ‘Raw Data Feel’, Life – ‘North East Coastal Town’, Dry Cleaning – ‘Stumpwork’, Snow Coats – ‘If It Wasn’t Me, I Would’ve Called It Funny’, Jamie Lenman – ‘The Atheist’, Spielbergs – ‘Vestli’, Sharon Van Etten – ‘We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong’, Why Bonnie – ‘90 in November’, Architects – ‘The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit’, Cheerbleedrz – ‘Even in Jest’, Good Looks – ‘Bummer Year’, Kevin Devine – ‘Nothing’s Real, So Nothing’s Wrong’, Wild Pink – ‘ILSYM, Bartees Strange – ‘Farm to Table’, Big Thief – ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You’, Yard Act – ‘The Overload’, The Big Moon – ‘Here is Everything’, Arctic Monkeys – ‘The Car’…
