ADRIAN BELEW
Elevator
My favorite frontman for King Crimson (80s and 90s), as well as sometimes sideman for David Bowie, Talking Heads and others, released another solo album this year, and although his output isn't exactly commercial, it is always adventurous and usually upbeat and fun. Check out the leadoff track:
ANDY BELL (of Ride)
Flicker
If you like Ride, England's shoegaze rockers from the 90s and onward, then you'll probably like this solo effort from co-frontman Andy Bell (not the guy from Erasure...different Andy Bell). Dreamy guitar sounds and evocative lyrics. I'm properly entranced.
ROBYN HITCHCOCK
Shufflemania!
I believe this is Robyn's 1,458th solo album. I'm exaggerating a bit but not much. I've never run across a bad Hitchcock album, but this one's quickly becoming one of my favorites on repeated listenings. The tracks range from gentle/cheeky psychedelia, to barnstormers like this one:
ANYWAY GANG
Still Anyways
The Anyway Gang is a Canadian indie-rock supergroup consisting of Sam Roberts, Chris Murphy (from my beloved Sloan), Menno Versteeg (from Hollerado), and Dave Monks (from Tokyo Police Club). This group's output doesn't necessarily eclipse any of their other work, but it's equal to the sum of its parts. Feel-good hit of 2020, right here:
TEARS FOR FEARS
The Tipping Point
What a great album. Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith have been in the background for a while, but they've stepped back into the limilight with a passionate, masterful album. Speaking of master...
BANANARAMA
Masquerade
Well this was unexpected, but quite welcome: New Wave darlings Bananarama returned in 2022 with this very good album. The lyrics sound like they were written by a besotted 19-year-old, but that's not a bad thing, as they are paired with insanely catchy sounds and rhythms, and their ethereal singing voices.
SLOAN
Steady
Now say them together: Sloan Steady. A cute little play on words to describe their entire career path. Patrick (the rockin' one) once said something like "In the early days, I assumed we would keep playing larger and larger venues as we grew in popularity. But instead we kept going back to the same places, getting enthusiastic crowds. I realized over time that it was much more important to us to remain true to ourselves and play to the fans who cared and kept coming." Can confirm: I've seen them in small clubs many times over the years and they've always been ecstatic, communal events.This album is just as good as the rest of their catalog, by which I mean it's FANTASTIC.
THE COWSILLS
Rhythm Of The World
When I was a little kid, my sister bought the 45 single "Hair" by The Cowsills. I loved it and played it probably over a hundred times. So fun! I realized years later that they had put out quite a few albums, trying to leave behind them the "bubblegum pop" tag (the brothers really wanted to rock, more like their heroes of the day, such as Jimi Hendrix), but their mom brought in little Susan and well, they remained The Cowsills as we know and love them. Fast forward 55 years, and the 3 surviving siblings just released a new album, and it's really good! Hippy idealism and sunny dispositios are alive and well (love Susan's bellbottoms). The only misstep is "Nuclear Winter" which would have made more sense on a Weird Al Yankovic album (like this song). Aside from that, enjoy!
BLINKER THE STAR
Love Oblast
Jordon Zadorozny (the wizard behind the moniker Blinker The Star) is a modern day Todd Rundren (a true star - who is also still putting out albums BTW) in that he can do it all: He wrote, performed, produced and mixed the album, with a little instrumental help from some friends. I got on board with his genius in 1999 with the album August Everywhere, and he continues to weave a magic musical spell. When he puts out a new album on Bandcamp, I'm happy to buy it directly from the artist.
BRENDAN BENSON
Low Key
This is more of an EP (about 30 minutes long), but wow the songs are killer! Brendan has spent time in some bands (most notably The Raconteurs with Jack White), but I like his solo stuff a little better. Here's an absolute banger, my favorite track:
AWOLNATION
My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers & Me
I don't often include covers albums in this list, but the song selection, and care taken with each one, warrant special attention. This is just thoroughly cool. Songs range from barnstormers (Fugazi's "Waiting Room"), change of tone (Harvey Danger's "Flagpole Sitta"), to a fun gender voice switch like this:
KING'S X
Three Sides Of One
Comeback album from one of my favorite power trios. Fourteen years since their last studio album, and this one is just as good, nay better, than their last few. Drummer Jerry Gaskill suffered two major heart attacks and yet, somehow, they are back in full force, sounding better than ever. Hope they come back through Portland on tour sometime!
MEGADETH The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!
Sometimes I just wanna hear some shredding and headbanging (figuratively; need to take care of my neck), and these are my go-to guys. Megadeth are models of sustained quality and perseverance: 37 years, 16 albums, despite radial neuropathy leaving leader Dave Mustaine unable to play (he's better now), drug addiction, band member changes, and more. This stuff is just incredible, and the video (apparently they're making one for all the songs) is truly cinematic (and violent).
THE BETHS
Expert In A Dying Field
When I'm gauging my enthusiasm for a band, these days I ask: "Would I risk Covid to see them live?" In the case of New Zealand's The Beths, the answer: "I saw them last year in a crowded venue and I saw them again this February, 2023." Songwriter Elizabeth Stokes has a special talent for clever, insightful lyrics. Here, she applies the metaphor of specific technology knowledge that gets phased out, to a relationship that is coming to an end. She should get an award just for coming up with a new way to look at a breakup. But the music and melody are fantastic as well, the band full of spark...and then the harmonies! In the title track below, it elevates at 3:10 to a glorious finish. Melancholy but also hopeful, because she's got her musical friends and is making a joyful noise.
EDDIE VEDDER
Earthling
Wow, this caught me by surprise. In the past, the dynamic Pearl Jam singer has done quieter, reflective albums, but this is muscular and emotionally charged. This song is deep grief in a righteously rocking package:
But it's not all sadness and power chords: The album wraps up with this very fun, upbeat number, a duet with the inimitable Elton John.
BUZZCOCKS
Sonics In The Soul
Pete Shelley, co-leader (and writer of many of their biggest hits in the 70s), died in 2018, but now Steve Diggle is the sole man at the helm. You could always tell the Diggle songs from the Shelley songs, not just because of who was singing, but Diggle's style was more straightforward rocking and grooving, simple and catchy. So, what used to be about one-third to one-half of a Buzzcocks album, is now all Diggle and band. But for me, that's fine, and certainly better than nothing! Here's one great track, and here's another, and here's a third:
THE FEELING
Loss. Hope. Love.
Another winner from these London lads, six years after their last album and an "indefinite hiatus." Well, the break did them good; they sound invigorated and sweetly melancholic. And this is a great concept for a music video:
THE DEAD DAISIES
Radiance
The Dead Daisies release their best album yet, continuing with the indomitable Glenn Hughes (most well-known for his stint with mid-period Deep Purple) on lead vocals and bass. The title track is only one of many good songs on this LP, but it has a crazy cool video for it:
OFF!
Free LSD
Keith Morris, the original singer of Black Flag and founder of the Circle Jerks, has been flying the punk flag proudly with OFF! since 2012. Not just simple short, sharp shocks though, this is hard and angry, but also musically more complex than the old punk songs, with shifting time and tempo changes, songs that speed up then slow down for a quick interlude, and then go "off" again. This is the real punk rock of today:
KULA SHAKER
1st Congregational Church of Eternal Love and Free Hugs
After releasing two GREAT albums in the 1990's, Kula Shaker got a little quieter and more underground, releasing three albums over the next 17 years. Well, six years after that, they're back in the game. This is all action-oriented eastern-tinged rock music that sounds unlike any other bands.
PORCUPINE TREE
Closure/Continuation
Bandleader Steven Wilson has been a busy guy over the 13 years since the last Porcupine Tree studio album, releasing five solo albums as well as producing and remixing other bands' albums. So I was pretty sure we'd seen the last of PT, but here it is, and it's a grower. On first listen, it didn't make much of an impression, but as I listen to it again now, I realize I just wasn't paying attention. It's fantastic, and stands with any of their past albums musically. Wilson has since announced they will be disbanding again, so at least we have this "closure" as he continues on his own path.
SPOON
Lucifer On The Sofa
Spoon knocks it out of the musical park again. I love the way their songs often veer unexpectedly when you expect them to go straight down the road. This highlight from the album cooks, and singer/songwriter Britt Daniel has one of those great rock 'n' roll voices:
ANDY BELL (RIDE)
I AM A STRANGE LOOP
The Ride guy (his second album on this list!), has highlights of his previous album remixed by other artists. The results are very good, and the album is a very pleasurable listen. If this were the original, it might have outsold the source album, Flicker, released by Andy earlier in 2022. This music will put you in a dream state.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
DEF LEPPARD
Diamond Star Halos
About half this album is good, like, REALLY good. The other half didn't do much for me. This, however, is a rager.
COLLECTIVE SOUL
Vibrating
They've lost a certain hooky something, but they're still doing what they do very well.
WEEZER
SZNZ: Winter
A very strong final release of their four seasons EPs. Is this Winter enough for ya!?
ANTON BARBEAU
Stranger
Quirky, existential, non-sequitur, humorous, and tuneful. This guy is unique, and I love his stuff.
DESTROYER
Labyrinthitis
Dan Bejar of the New Pornographers has been putting out albums almost as long as that band. Once considered a side project, this is just full-on another thing entirely. Quirky and entrancing.
ANN WILSON
Fierce Bliss
The legendary Heart singer steps out for another solo album. About one-third covers (some nice ones) and the rest mostly rockin' originals, with some guests.
YYNOT
Light And Shade
The band that started as a Rush cover band (clever name too), has now done three albums of original music. While still Rush-riff heavy, this is top-shelf stuff, including great lyrics and impassioned vocals.
MIDNIGHT OIL
Resist
Still righteously fighting the good fight, and rocking out while doing it. Bless 'em. Best line: "Who left the bag of idiots open?"
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN
A Little Bit Of Previous
This amazeballs Scottish group forges ahead with their sweetly melancholic (melancholically sweet?) beautiful melodies.
SCORPIONS
Rock Believer
Nothing new here, but the Scorpions still rock; believe it!
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Unlimited Love (April)
Return of the Dream Canteen (October)
These guys are on a creative roll - two albums in 2022 - and if you like what the Peppers did in the early 90s you'll likely dig the new stuff too. Something about Kiedis' facial hair seems a bit off, though...
THE WEEKND
Dawn FM
This guy (born name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) is a true artist, musically and visually. One of the songs here is dark and deep, where his younger pleasure-seeking self beats the crap out of his weakened (see what I did there) older self, but man is it powerful and cautionary. The opening and closing tracks are narrated by (surprise!) Jim Carrey, and this hits hard. Wow.
