PopMatters' 80 Best Albums of 2022

Musicians were more active in 2022 and it resulted in a vast treasure trove of superb work. The best albums of 2022 pushed boundaries and are more varied than ever.

Source

# 1

RENAISSANCE by Beyoncé

Album • Jul 29 / 2022 Dance-Pop House Contemporary R&B

# 2

Fear Of The Dawn by Jack White

Album • Apr 08 / 2022 Blues Rock Experimental Rock Art Rock

# 3

A Light for Attracting Attention by The Smile

Album • May 13 / 2022 Art Rock

# 4

As Above So Below by Sampa the Great

Album • Sep 09 / 2022 Conscious Hip Hop

# 5

Midnights by Taylor Swift

Album • Oct 21 / 2022 Alt-Pop

# 6

THE POWER IN US by Poppy Ajudha

Album • Apr 22 / 2022 Neo-Soul

# 7

The Last Goodbye by ODESZA

Album • Jul 22 / 2022 Electronic Dance Music

# 8

Hold The Girl by Rina Sawayama

Album • Sep 16 / 2022 Pop Rock Dance-Pop

# 9

Profound Mysteries by Röyksopp

Album • Apr 29 / 2022 Electropop

# 10

Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road

Album • Feb 04 / 2022 Art Rock Post-Rock Chamber Pop

# 11

Farm to Table by Bartees Strange

Album • Jun 17 / 2022 Indie Rock

# 12

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You by Big Thief

Album • Feb 11 / 2022 Indie Folk Folk Rock

# 13

Once Twice Melody by Beach House

Album • Feb 18 / 2022 Dream Pop Neo-Psychedelia

# 14

Wet Leg by Wet Leg

Album • Apr 08 / 2022 Indie Rock

# 15

Ultra Truth by Daniel Avery

Album • Nov 04 / 2022 Progressive Breaks Ambient Techno

# 16

Stumpwork by Dry Cleaning

Album • Oct 21 / 2022 Post-Punk Indie Rock

# 17

Angels & Queens - Part I by Gabriels

Album • Sep 30 / 2022 Soul Contemporary R&B

# 18

The Overload by Yard Act

Album • Jan 21 / 2022 Post-Punk

# 19

MOTOMAMI by ROSALÍA

Album • Mar 18 / 2022 Neoperreo Art Pop

# 20

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar

Album • May 13 / 2022 Conscious Hip Hop West Coast Hip Hop

# 21

Take It Like A Man by Amanda Shires

Album • Jul 29 / 2022 Singer-Songwriter Alt-Country

# 22

Freakout / Release by Hot Chip

Album • Aug 19 / 2022 Synthpop Alternative Dance Indietronica

# 23

Nothing To Declare by 700 Bliss

Album • May 27 / 2022 Experimental Hip Hop Deconstructed Club

# 24

Let's Say For Instance by Emeli Sandé

Album • May 06 / 2022 Pop Soul

# 25

Hellfire by black midi

Album • Jul 15 / 2022 Avant-Prog Brutal Prog

# 26

Where's the One? by Congotronics International

Album • Apr 29 / 2022 Tradi-Modern

# 27

LIFE ON EARTH by Hurray for the Riff Raff

Album • Feb 18 / 2022 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 28

Skinty Fia by Fontaines D.C.

Album • Apr 22 / 2022 Gothic Rock Post-Punk

# 29

Natural Brown Prom Queen by Sudan Archives

Album • Sep 09 / 2022 Alternative R&B Art Pop

# 30

Tableau by The Orielles

Album • Oct 07 / 2022 Dream Pop Neo-Psychedelia

# 31

Weather Alive by Beth Orton

Album • Sep 23 / 2022 Art Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 32

God Save the Animals by Alex G

Album • Sep 23 / 2022 Indie Rock Indie Folk

# 33

Reason to Smile by Kojey Radical

Album • Mar 04 / 2022 Conscious Hip Hop Neo-Soul UK Hip Hop

# 34

The New Faith by Jake Blount

Album • Sep 23 / 2022 Americana

# 35

Melt My Eyez See Your Future by Denzel Curry

Album • Mar 25 / 2022 Conscious Hip Hop Southern Hip Hop

# 36

angel in realtime. by Gang of Youths

Album • Feb 25 / 2022 Indie Rock Chamber Pop

# 37

Breaking The Thermometer by Leyla McCalla

Album • May 06 / 2022 Acoustic Blues Caribbean Folk Music

# 38

LOGGERHEAD by Wu-Lu

Album • Jul 08 / 2022 Experimental Hip Hop Post-Punk

# 39

The Loneliest Time by Carly Rae Jepsen

Album • Oct 21 / 2022 Dance-Pop

# 40

a tape called component system with the auto reverse by Open Mike Eagle

Album • Oct 07 / 2022 Abstract Hip Hop West Coast Hip Hop

# 41

Expert in a Dying Field by The Beths

Album • Sep 16 / 2022 Power Pop Indie Rock

# 42

GREENZONE 108 by Greentea Peng

Album • Sep 09 / 2022 Neo-Soul Psychedelic Soul

# 43

Ugly Season by Perfume Genius

Album • Jun 17 / 2022 Art Pop Experimental

# 44

Out of Heart by FLOHIO

Album • Oct 07 / 2022 UK Hip Hop Wave

# 45

Surrender by Maggie Rogers

Album • Jul 29 / 2022 Pop Rock

# 46

Queen of Sheba by Ibrahim Maalouf + Angelique Kidjo

Album • Jun 24 / 2022 Jazz Jazz Pop

# 47

I Love You Jennifer B by Jockstrap

Album • Sep 09 / 2022 Art Pop Glitch Pop

# 48

Warm Chris by Aldous Harding

Album • Mar 25 / 2022 Chamber Pop Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 49

En Är För Mycket Och Tusen Aldrig Nog by Dungen

Album • Oct 07 / 2022 Neo-Psychedelia Psychedelic Rock

# 50

Heterosexuality by Shamir

Album • Feb 11 / 2022 Indie Rock Alternative R&B