For the second time in three years, the U.K. collective SAULT placed two records on my personal Top 10 list, and I could have included a third (go listen to Hendrix-inspired Today & Tomorrow, which was the last of its surprise Nov. 1 downloadable albums to hit streaming services). The members of the group continue to operate under the veil of plausible deniability, which I believe is the only reason we haven't truly reckoned with this historic run of excellence. Whoever gets the first Inflo interview should win a Peabody. As for the rest of these lists, my favorite discovery of the year was Olympia, Wash., songwriter Field School, who makes jangle-pop with the gain cranked ever so slightly. I usually have to wait until after year-end season to go on my annual twee spree, but thanks to When Summer Comes, January arrived early.
Top 10 Albums of 2022
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1. Molly Nilsson, Extreme
2. SAULT, Air
3. Field School, When Summer Comes
4. Oren Ambarchi, Shebang
5. SAULT, 11
6. Panda Bear & Sonic Boom, Reset
7. Angeline Morrison, The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience
8. Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul, Topical Dancer
9. Shirt & Jack Splash, I Turned Myself Into Myself
10. Pinch Points, Process
Top 10 Songs of 2022
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1. Molly Nilsson, "Pompeii"
2. Ethel Cain, "American Teenager"
3. MUNA, "What I Want"
4. Fireboy DML & Asake, "Bandana"
5. Russ Millions x Buni x YV, "Reggae & Calypso"
6. Let's Eat Grandma, "Happy New Year"
7. Joy Orbison x Overmono (feat. Abra), "Blind Date"
8. Conway the Machine, "Stressed"
9. Taylor Swift, "Mastermind"
10. Sunbeam Sound Machine, "I Promise That I'll Try To Give You All My Love"
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