Julie's Top 10 Albums From 2022

Eleven months ago, I launched Your Girlfriend Made You A Mixtape with a playlist of my Top Ten Albums from 2021. Thank you for listening, reading, subscribing and helping spread the word. It has been a complete joy for me to share my playlists with you. I look forward to more great music in the year ahead. On that note, it is time for my Top Ten Albums of 2022. Several of these artists made appearances on earlier playlists so I opted to use new tracks on this playlist.

My favorite album of the year was Beyoncé’s masterpiece, Renaissance. It is impossible to count the number of times I have listened to this record and every time something new catches my ear. Renaissance an homage to the dance floor, specifically black queer dance culture and it is glorious. Don’t get me started on the transitions. The epic one-two punch of “Pure/Honey” into “Summer Renaissance” might be the best album closer of all-time.

It is hard to believe that I ended last year seeing one of Wet Leg’s first American shows at a tiny club in Brooklyn and a year later they have played Madison Square Garden, been covered by Harry Styles and are nominated for multiple Grammy Awards. They are so much fun and I absolutely adore them.

Alvvays new one, Blue Rev, is their best album yet and is stacked with solid track after track. Speaking of great tracks, “Runner” from Alex G is definitely one of my favorite songs of the year. When I saw him perform live, “Mission” blew me away as well. Angel Olsen also blew me away live. She is truly a force and Big Time is stunning. It took me a minute to come around to Plains, the new project from Jess Williamson and Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield, but I am all in. The Beths are consistently great and New Zealand indie pop rules. Actually, I saw Sasami open up for The Beths this summer and she is truly a star. Weyes Blood’s And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow was just released a few weeks ago and it quickly made an impression. Natalie Mering’s voice is extraordinary. Rounding out my top ten is British post-punk band, Yard Act. It’s good fun.

There you have it. I hope you enjoy these. Hit me back with your 2022 favorites and Happy Holidays!

Julie's Top 10 Albums of 2022

Beyoncé - Renaissance

Wet Leg - Wet Leg

Alvvays - Blue Rev

Alex G - God Save The Animals

Angel Olsen - Big Time

Plains - I Walked With You A Ways

The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field

Sasami - Squeeze

Weyes Blood - And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow

Yard Act - The Overload