Favorites of 2022
hello from my small speck of earth
beginning at the end
It’s the end of 2022 which, ok? My sense of linear time has been worse this year than 2020 and 2021. Floating in some nebulous space is where I’m at. Not great, not fun, at least not for me, personally. But, thank god, there were things I liked quite a bit:
1. Favorite Records
Sharon Van Etten - We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong: This one really got me after I saw it performed - Sharon’s live show is incredible. I saw her in Asheville with Angel Olsen and Julien Baker on the Wild Hearts Tour, it ruled.
Daniel Villarreal - Panamá 77: Holy shit, this record. This might be the top of the list, honestly, it’s so rich and jammy - it’s truly vibrating on its own frequency. Daniel is a good human and a genius. I feel blessed to make music even remotely close to him, truly an artistic force of nature.
Silvana Estrada - Marchita: This record is exquisite. Really affecting breakup records are few and far between for me (Madi Diaz’s History of a Feeling is the previous addition), and this one’s a hit. Plus, she plays the cuatro, and in this house we love it.
Hurray for the Riff Raff - Life on Earth: Gosh, Alynda is just one of the best folk artists of our time. They write and sing with such strength but admit to not having all of the answers. Also, from a craft standpoint, all of these songs sound like singles to me and that’s quite a feat.
Amber Mark - Three Dimensions Deep: I do love an album that focuses on the connection of the inner world we each have and the mysterious spirituality of of the universe. Sometimes that connection is so strong, you hear the universe so clearly, you speak out into it with authority. Sometimes it’s broken, hanging on by a thread, completely obscured by static so you can’t hear your own thoughts. The transformation in this record has comforted me through my own internal shifts this year.
Rosalía- MOTOMAMI: Despite having very complicated feelings about Rosalia’s place in Latin music, I can’t deny how good this album is. She’s an incredible performer, there’s no doubt about how hard she works and it pays off.
The Weather Station - How Is It That I Should Look at the Stars: This was a record that didn’t get me on the first listen, but luckily I had the wisdom to know it wouldn’t. TWS is the definition of close listening. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that this is a slow burn because the lyrics are very straightforward, but it requires undivided attention, like climate change and the survival of our species, which Tamara writes about with such clarity, love, and anger.
Pictoria Vark - The Parts I Dread: As someone from a nowhere place, I really get into records that have similar nowhere energy (see Campdogzz, see Karima Walker). Victoria sounds both like a howling emptiness and the only person around for miles, it’s incredible.
Bad Bunny - Un Verano Sin Ti: I love a record that has bummers and bangers in equal supply. Dance it out! Cry it out! I love every minute of it.
Angel Olsen - Big Time: My favorite coming-out-later-in-life record. It’s gorgeous and wry, and it feels like some of the lyrics here even surprise herself as she’s singing them.
Hemlock - Talk Soon: Carolina sent me this record before it was released, and I loved it. I personally find it very difficult to use the texture of voicemails or field recordings effectively, but they nailed it.
Florist - Florist: Warmth radiates from this record. The feeling of a community rallying around you after a loss is so present and hopeful here.
Beth Orton - Weather Alive: At least once a year I find myself being pulled into the orbit of a Grown Ass Woman Record, and boy is this it. As I get older and things in my life become more complicated, I look to artists that help me see what’s worth keeping and what’s worth leaving behind.
Alex G - God Save the Animals: “God is my designer, Jesus is my lawyer” might be the best line of the year. For better or worse, I am a Sufjan stan, and anytime someone writes about religion in a way that baffles me, I’ll keep listening.
SASAMI - Squeeze: I was trying to describe this record to someone with no knowledge of Sasami and I think I said “it’s a metal pop record? with some 90s rock vibes? and some Fleetwood Mac choruses” and I think I stand by that. It’s fun, you are in for a treat.
2. Favorite Songs
You can listen to a playlist of them here: Apple Music | Spotify
3. Favorite Thing I Collaborated On
The music video for “Miranda.” You haven’t seen it? What! Watch it now, please. I loved making it, with Robert and co., it infused my weird, sad summer with delight.
4. Favorite Thing I Ate
This was tough - but I keep thinking about a huge roasted cauliflower at Pizzeria Mozza, breakfast tacos at Homestate, and bagels at Courage Bagels, all in LA (thank you Evan!!). Damn, I missed LA, so glad I was able to go back. Especially because…
5. Favorite Project
I finished an EP this year! I was in LA in April and finished overdubs with Nicholas Papaleo, a pal and owner of the very cool studio HE BUILT called Inside Voice. After two years of slowly eeking these songs out we spent 8 straight hours really giving them a face. I missed being in the studio!
4. Favorite Book
I read a lot of memoirs this year, and as I predicted, Crying in H-Mart got me good. I think I open-mouth cried at least twice while reading this. Michelle asks herself a lot of the same questions I do about my mother and how she ties me to my identity and cultural experience. I also really enjoyed Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, it delighted me from start to finish.
6. Biggest Misses (for me)
Muna’s Muna. I don’t have a spicy take and I don’t think this album is bad but it is the victim of bad timing - it came out the day the Dobbs decision did and unfortunately I haven’t been able to listen to it without thinking about that. Thanks a lot, Supreme Court.
Getting COVID - I spent two and a half years dodging it and got it in October (not on tour, to my relief and surprise). Can’t say I recommend it! Got the new booster a month before and it was still a rough five days.
Social media, honestly, hate to say it but… it’s not getting better! So here I am, literally emailing people like it’s 2006 and honestly… I think it’s gonna be great.
Here’s the Deal for 2023
Starting in January, once a month I will send out an email that is free. It will have stuff like this - things I like, things that are making me 👀 or 🤔, what I am doing, eating, reading, etc. If you are really into it, you can…
Become a paid subscriber for either $5/month, $39/year, or $100 to be a Founding Member. Y’all, that is a deal. You will get paid subscriber-only emails with some writings on:
Doing Music Business
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Whatever Else You Want to Know About
And also
Photos
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As always, thank you so much!!! If you are here because you are on my Tinyletter show info list, I will not be offended if you unsubscribe and you will still get show announcements periodically on that list. Thanks!
- IO/HG