My top 10 non-metal records of 2022:
1. Outerwear - The Outerwear Limits
Scratchy janky nihilistic noise rock/post-punk from Ohio. This was a Spike in Vain side project recorded back in 1984 but not released until now I guess. Basically sounds like SiV but more bored and morbid, with less quality control. Raw and sarcastic.
2. 100 Story Building Drowning in Cum - Elderly Juvenile Delinquents on Parade
Basically the continuation of legendary sardonic punks Sockeye, just under a different name. I've obviously never visited Cleveland but the place seems to produce a lot of bands like this. Devo, The Electric Eels, The Pagans, Spike in Vain/Outerwear etc. Unserious nonsensical cynical asshole music that seems to only exist to piss people off.
3. The Chats - Get Fucked
Distinctly Aussie garage rock with hardcore punk energy. Pretty sure they call their music "shed rock" which makes perfect sense! Catchy as shit.
4. L.O.T.I.O.N. Multinational Corporation - W.A.R. in the Digital Realm
20 minutes of heavy thumping groovy riffed industrial rocking digital hardcore that oozes with 80's imagery of post-apocalyptic warrior punks, dystopian stripclubs and robotic wasteland gangsters! So heavy it almost verges on metal at times. Nuclear mutant danceclub music.
5. Placebo - Never Let Me Go
Feels a lot more like the Placebo I know than their last album. At times it's like
Sleeping with Ghosts part 2 or something. Intensely nostalgic sound.
6. The Mutants - Curse of the Easily Amused
Another fucking great archival release. Cult San Fran new wave/post-punk band loaded with garage rock and jangle pop qualities. This is a bunch of never-released versions of songs released elsewhere, plus like 6 never (ever) released tunes. Better than their sole studio album! Pretty sure the tracks are from the early 80's.
7. Beach House - Once Twice Melody
80 odd minutes is fucking excessive but this album is so damn good, especially when it peaks at certain moments, that I can't complain too much. Very lush and feelsy, a true pop epic. It's like pure candy euphoria.
8. Jethro Tull - The Zealot Gene
Wild to consider how consistent J.T. are. Almost 60 years later and they're still creating such playfully odd and interesting prog music. This album is lyrically like a snapshot of the 2020's in all its absurdity and idiocy. A very poignant record that may divide fans, which I love.
9. Garden of Worm - Endless Garden
I don't know how a Finnish doom metal band managed to reinvent themselves into a late 60's style acid rock band, but I'm here for it!
10. The Serfs - Primal Matter
More awesome music from Ohio. A minimalistic cold-wave trio that sounds very authentically early 80's to me. Only reason it isn't higher is because if you're not in the right mood it feels a bit repetitive by the end. Luckily it's only about 29 minutes long. But still an incredible release with a lot of niche elements while remaining catchy as hell.
Fuck knows when/if I'll ever listen to that new Richard Dawson album. 81 fucking minutes long.