The Alternative's Top 50 Albums of 2022

The Alternative staff's top 50 releases of the year and our yearly awards

Published: December 20, 2022 17:24 Source

# 1

Blue Rev by Alvvays

Album • Oct 07 / 2022 Indie Pop Shoegaze Noise Pop

# 2

Hallelujah Hell Yeah by String Machine

Album • Feb 25 / 2022 Indie Rock Slacker Rock Chamber Pop

# 3

Pool Kids by Pool Kids

Album • Jul 22 / 2022 Emo-Pop

# 4

Boat Songs by MJ Lenderman

Album • Apr 29 / 2022 Slacker Rock Alt-Country

# 5

Preacher’s Daughter by Ethel Cain

Album • May 12 / 2022 Singer-Songwriter Dream Pop Slowcore

# 6

Cave World by Viagra Boys

Album • Jul 08 / 2022 Dance-Punk

# 7

Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road

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

# 8

MUNA by MUNA

Album • Jun 24 / 2022 Synthpop Pop Rock

# 9

The Hum Goes on Forever by The Wonder Years

Album • Sep 23 / 2022 Alternative Rock Pop Punk

# 10

New Preoccupations by Caracara

Album • Mar 25 / 2022 Indie Rock Midwest Emo

# 11

Hygiene by Drug Church

Album • Mar 11 / 2022 Post-Hardcore

# 12

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You by Big Thief

Album • Feb 11 / 2022 Indie Folk Folk Rock

# 13

Little Green House by Anxious

Album • Jan 21 / 2022 Emo Emo-Pop

# 14

Aethiopes by Billy Woods

Album • Apr 08 / 2022 Abstract Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 15

Prince Daddy & The Hyena by Prince Daddy & the Hyena

Album • Apr 15 / 2022 Emo-Pop Power Pop

# 16

MTV by Mo Troper

Album • Sep 02 / 2022 Noise Pop Indie Pop

# 17

Sweet Tooth by Mom Jeans.

Album • Feb 25 / 2022 Emo-Pop Pop Punk

# 18

Diaspora Problems by Soul Glo

Album • Mar 25 / 2022 Hardcore Punk

# 19

Emotional Creature by Beach Bunny

Album • Jul 22 / 2022 Power Pop Indie Rock

# 20

OUTOFBODY by Dazy

Album • Oct 28 / 2022 Power Pop

# 21

Love Me Forever by Pinkshift

Album • Oct 21 / 2022 Post-Hardcore Pop Punk

# 22

A Place For Owls by A Place for Owls

Album • Aug 30 / 2022 Indie Rock Midwest Emo

# 23

God Save the Animals by Alex G

Album • Sep 23 / 2022 Indie Rock Indie Folk

# 24

Get In Losers, We’re Going to Eternal Damnation by Forests

Album • May 11 / 2022 Midwest Emo Math Pop

# 25

angel in realtime. by Gang of Youths

Album • Feb 25 / 2022 Indie Rock Chamber Pop

# 26

Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms And Lava by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Album • Oct 07 / 2022 Jazz-Rock Psychedelic Rock

# 27

Havasu by Pedro The Lion

Album • Jan 20 / 2022 Indie Rock

# 28

Heal My Head by Valleyheart

Album • Jun 03 / 2022 Indie Rock

# 29

ILYSM by Wild Pink

Album • Oct 14 / 2022 Indie Rock

# 30

Stew by A Will Away

Album • Feb 18 / 2022 Emo-Pop

# 31

SUCKERPUNCH by chloe moriondo

Album • Oct 07 / 2022 Electropop Hyperpop

# 32

Wet Leg by Wet Leg

Album • Apr 08 / 2022 Indie Rock

# 33

Please Have a Seat by NNAMDÏ

Album • Oct 07 / 2022 Art Pop Indietronica

# 34

I’m Scared That’s All There Is by Ben Quad

Album • Jun 29 / 2022 Midwest Emo

# 35

In My Car by Rat Tally

Album • Aug 12 / 2022 Indie Pop

# 36

Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny

Album • May 06 / 2022 Reggaetón Latin Pop

# 37

Unaltered Perspective by Inclination

Album • Jun 22 / 2022 Metalcore

# 38

Then the Lightness Leaves and I Become Heavy Again by Mt. Oriander

EP • Oct 21 / 2022 Midwest Emo

# 39

Expert in a Dying Field by The Beths

Album • Sep 16 / 2022 Power Pop Indie Rock

# 40

New Low by Greet Death

EP • Jun 24 / 2022 Slowcore Shoegaze

# 41

Please Don't Take Me Back by Martha

Album • Oct 28 / 2022 Power Pop Indie Rock

# 42

Giving The World Away by Hatchie

Album • Apr 22 / 2022 Dream Pop Alternative Dance Baggy

# 43

The Long Way, The Slow Way by Camp Trash

Album • Jul 01 / 2022 Emo-Pop Power Pop

# 44

Lucifer On The Sofa by Spoon

Album • Feb 11 / 2022 Indie Rock

# 45

40 Oz. to Fresno by Joyce Manor

Album • Jun 10 / 2022 Power Pop Indie Rock

# 46

Farm to Table by Bartees Strange

Album • Jun 17 / 2022 Indie Rock

# 47

Glory Days by snow ellet

EP • Jun 10 / 2022 Power Pop Emo-Pop

# 48

Cleanse by Joywave

Album • Feb 11 / 2022 Indie Pop Indie Rock

# 49

Melt My Eyez See Your Future by Denzel Curry

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

# 50

For Nasal Use Only by Carpool

EP • Sep 23 / 2022 Emo-Pop