Top 20 Albums of 2022: 11-20

The formula for how to whittle down a year’s worth of the sickest, slickest albums doesn’t require a code; it’s a simple case of what I’ve listened to religiously. And I wasn’t interested in pressing pause on these belters.

11 to 20, with a little rationale, as follows:

‘Fragments’ — Bonobo

My favourite DJ delivered 12 effortlessly enchanting tracks just 14 days into 2022. They sent shockwaves through my speakers and shivers down my spine.

‘The Hunna’ — The Hunna

Among the begging crowd, I was treated to a first live play of The Hunna’s self-titled emo masterpiece at their Leeds show, and the studio sound was even crisper.

‘Surrender’ — Maggie Rogers

It’s a very different pick genre-wise for me, but when the jaunty pop goodness of Maggie Rogers was introduced to my ears, I sat upright and took note.

‘Pawns & Kings’ — Alter Bridge

My dear Dad said this wasn’t AB’s best, but sorry, this was still a huge head-banging invitation by my standards. ‘Holiday’ is a ripper, and the artwork is ace.

‘Gulp!’ — Sports Team

If ‘The Drop’ wasn’t one of your summer soundtracks, where were you? Alex Rice and his pals set an epic pace with this delectably fresh record.

‘Cheat Codes’ — Danger Mouse, Black Thought

Naughty, electronically-fuelled rap coming right at you. Guests on this mega-drop included Run The Jewels, Michael Kiwanuka, MF Doom and many more.

‘Radiate Like This’ — Warpaint

Six years after their last album, ‘Radiate Like This’ sprang me into the avant-garde spheres again, initially spearheaded by mellow ‘Champion’.

‘Choose Your Fighter’ — Nova Twins

A firing-on-all-cylinders debut that earned Nova Twins their Mercury Prize nomination, deservedly. They blew the roof off King Tut’s when I saw them, too.