The Top 30 of 2022, part 1

Here's the numbers 10 to 1 of 2022. Yes. I liked 2022. Many albums were released which I instantly recognised as special. Some faded away and did not make it to this list. Others remained with me through the months, a few needed a strong reminder. The discussion is closed. This is it for now.

10. We. Arcade Fire

A lot of consternation about the band's leader in 2022, a brother left the band, but We is great album. There's simply no denying there. All different kinds of genre's in music find their way into Arcade Fire's music and come out as Arcade Fire. We attests to this strength.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2022/05/three-albums-17-may-2022.html

9. Toy. David Bowie

21 Years after recording Toy the Bowie heirs decided to release the album, in three forms, finally. Bowie, coming fresh of a tour  in 2001 went straight into the studio with his touring band and revisited several of his pre-'Space Oddity' songs, to great success. Toy is a joy to listen to and a great addition to all that came before.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2022/01/toy-david-bowie.html

8. Ancient Astronauts. Motorpsycho

This band has a firmly secured spot in my list it seems. With Ancient Astronauts, an musical amalgam of different projects, the band does what it is extremely good at. From dead silence to cooking up musical storms. Its all there and extremely convincing.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2022/08/ancient-astronauts-motorpsycho.html

7. Expert In A Dying Field. The Beths

The Beths are here for the second album in a row. Despite not having a 'I'm not Getting Excited', I was musically aroused by the song alright, on its new album, The Beths play so good here. Leading the New Zealand pack, once again, in 2022.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2022/09/expert-in-dying-field-beths.html

6. Concrete Americana. ATEM

The biggest surprise in this list is Concrete Americana. An instrumental album. A rock album led by an acoustic guitar, mostly. If the Sergio Leone of the 2020s needs a composer for a film score, he or she better call Jan Korbach first, as with this music he is the modern day Ennio Morricone. His music speaks without words.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2022/11/concrete-americana-atem.html

5. Chimes At Midnight. Madrugada

The return of the voice to the mothership. Okay, a few songs are too melodramatic, but the rest is of absolutely great quality. The kind that makes a spine tingle. After 14 years Madrugada is back and how. Let's hope the band will tour in 2023.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2022/02/chimes-at-midnight-madrugada.html

4. Die Nerven. Die Nerven

Die Nerven from Stuttgart was a nice band. With 'Die Nerven' the band kicked itself into the champions league of alternative, punky rock. Lead single 'Europa' was a bellwether for an outstanding album. With two German language albums in this list (and an instrumental one), Germany is well represented this year.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2022/10/die-nerven-die-nerven.html

3. Resist. Midnight Oil

The return of the Oils. Comeback albums are not always necessary affairs. Resist though shows a band matching its very best albums from around 1990. Everything is done right here. The rock songs truly rock, the ballads are great ballads. Jim Moginie looks like a Scottish or Irish grandad, moves like one on stage and this year retired to his seat in the pub, leaving behind one, final, fantastic album.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2022/04/resist-midnight-oil.html

2. The Car. Arctic Monkeys

The Car is the total reinvention of Arctic Monkeys. A path that was started on almost a decade ago and now finds its apotheosis in The Car. Whether the band ever finds it way back to two guitars up front has become an irrelevant question. This is the new band. More Alex Turner and sidekicks than ever before. It's also irrelevant. This is superior quality, the grand cru of rock.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-car-arctic-monkeys.html

1. Wet Leg. Wet Leg

That leaves one album. A debut album so full of fun, of quality of energy and naivety. What will be left when the darlings of 2022 have finished touring their 10 songs? Something I truly worry about. Whatever happens, 'Wet Leg' is a fantastic album full of great songs. The next one better than the one that came before. Keep smiling, girls, and don't forget to write in the meantime. release that next album as soon as possible. Be like The Beatles, The Stones, The Kinks, etc. and not like Coldplay and all other acts since. Keep your energy, enthusiasm and naivety close to you for a maximum result in the future.

http://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2022/04/wet-leg-wet-leg.html

Wout de Natris