Okay gang, this is my last look back at the year that was. I had a few different ideas about how to put the final pin in 2022 but, seriously, if you want to read more album reviews they’re out there in Internetland by the tens of thousands, and I’ve already shared the ones that really made me sit up and pay attention. So let’s have some fun and hand out some awards, shall we? Everybody likes awards.
• BEST ALBUM by a Band I Never Heard Of Award: Prince Daddy & the Hyena - These guys are making loud and proud music in Albany, too far under the music industry's radar to be concerned about stuff like "demographics" or "chart position." They have a seemingly incompatible love of punk propulsion and crooning popcraft, but it all mashes together with great songwriting and unbridled fun. Good to know there are still records like this out there if you dig a little.
• GEORGIA O’KEEFE Award: Bjork, Fossora - Because somebody needs to carry on the great American tradition of stylized representations of the female anatomy.
• MVAUTR (Most Valuable Always Under the Radar) Award: Beth Orton, Weather Alive - I've been a fan and have followed her career since her brilliant second album, Trailer Park. This is her eighth, all of them fascinating and unique. Her subtle blend of electronica and folk music always draws me in, and is always a train and a couple cab rides from the popular charts.
• MOST LIKELY TO BE A HIT If Anybody Ever Heard It Award: Delicate Steve, After Hours – Melodic and catchy electric guitar songs, no vocals are needed because his playing is amazingly expressive. Easy to hum or nod along to, almost yacht-rockey in places. I truly believe a lot of people would like this as a popular change of pace.
• MOST OVERHYPED ALBUM Award: Taylor Swift, Midnights - The media domination, the multi-variation album releases, the stranglehold on the album and singles charts; all for a decidedly middle-of-the-pack Taylor album.
• BEST COVER ART Regurgitation Award: black midi, Hellfire - An album cover that looks like it was conceived after a hard night of slamming pizza and Tequila Sunrises (are those still a thing?).
• ARTIST MOST NEEDING TO CUT BACK ON CAFFEINE Award: Ryan Adams - Mr. Adams has become a bit of a music industry pariah when he was outed by the MeToo movement as being a real dick around women (surprising nobody). His response has been to hole up and pump out albums with very limited releases, either physically or digitally. In 2022, he made five, one of them a double album. He clearly didn't write enough memorable songs for five, and his remake of Bruce's Nebraska is the definition of useless.
• BEST COVER ART/Album Title Combo: Perfume Genius, Ugly Season - I get it, ugly. Mr. Hadreas may have gotten away with it if the title and artwork weren't attached to his weakest record in years. Adds a layer of meaning he probably didn't intend.
• WORST ALBUM TITLE for a Major Release Award: Big Thief, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You - I quite like, but don't love, this critical darling of a record. The title reads like they whittled down the possibilities to three, couldn't make a final decision, and went with all of them.
Other contenders: Country Stuff the Album by the egregious Walker Hayes (listen if you want a condescending laugh) and Bowling for Soup's Pop Drunk Snot Bread (although that might also be one of the best).
There can't be a "first annual" anything. "Inaugural", yes, but it can't be annual until the second one rolls around. Be that as it may, I'd like to nominate the two DOUBLE Red Hot Chili Peppers albums for the "Worse and More Of It" award for 2022. Jack White's two albums gave the Red Hots a run for their money but both of his at least fit on a single CD.