NPR Music's 36 Favorite Albums of 2022 (So Far)

The best albums from the first half of the year include sprawling offerings from Big Thief and Bad Bunny, works of fiery introspection from Kendrick Lamar and S.G. Goodman and an abundance in between.

Published: June 28, 2022 12:00 Source

# 1
Album • Jan 28 / 2022 Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul
# 2
Album • May 06 / 2022 Reggaetón Latin Pop
# 3
Album • Feb 11 / 2022 Indie Folk Folk Rock
# 4
Crest by Bladee  +  Ecco2k
Album • Mar 18 / 2022 Synthpop Art Pop
# 5
Album • Jan 01 / 2018 Post-Rock Avant-Folk
# 6
Album • Jan 13 / 2022 Television Music
# 7
Album • Apr 08 / 2022 Traditional Pop Singer-Songwriter
# 8
Album • Jan 14 / 2022 Alternative R&B
# 9
EP • Apr 29 / 2022 Contemporary R&B Deep House Alt-Pop
# 10
Album • May 06 / 2022 Flamenco nuevo Alt-Pop Flamenco Pop
# 11
Album • May 20 / 2022 Pop Rock
# 12
Album • Apr 29 / 2022 Synth Funk Electro-Disco Funky House
# 13
Album • Oct 26 / 2021 Afro-Funk Electro
# 14
Album • Jan 28 / 2022 Post-Bop
# 15
Album • Mar 18 / 2022 Modern Classical Mass
# 16
Album • Feb 02 / 2022 Ambient
# 17
Album • May 13 / 2022 Conscious Hip Hop West Coast Hip Hop
# 18
Album • Mar 04 / 2022 Conscious Hip Hop Neo-Soul UK Hip Hop
# 19
Album • May 13 / 2022 Hardcore Hip Hop
# 20
Album • Apr 29 / 2022 Slacker Rock Alt-Country
# 21
Album • Jan 15 / 2022 Synthpop
# 22
MUNA by MUNA
Album • Jun 24 / 2022 Synthpop Pop Rock
# 23
Album • Mar 04 / 2022 Indie Rock
# 24
Album • May 20 / 2022
# 25
Album • Feb 11 / 2022 Contemporary R&B
# 26
Album • May 20 / 2022 Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul
# 27
Album • Jun 03 / 2022 Alt-Country Singer-Songwriter Americana
# 28
Album • Jan 28 / 2022 Contemporary R&B
# 29
Album • Jun 09 / 2022 Indie Folk Psychedelic Folk
# 30
Album • Dec 16 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Boom Bap
# 31
Album • Jan 21 / 2022 Chamber Folk Singer-Songwriter
# 32
Album • Mar 25 / 2022 Hardcore Punk
# 33
Album • Apr 15 / 2022 Post-Punk Punk Rock
# 34
Album • Apr 29 / 2022
# 35
Album • May 27 / 2022
# 36
Album • Feb 18 / 2022 Rage