50ish Great Songs of 2022

You’re here for the best songs of the year and I’ll do my best to give them to you. If you’re reading this, you probably like ACTUALLY GOOD music so why not subscribe to get some ACTUALLY GOOD emails in between all that other NONSENSE from your stupid boss or Chipotle or whoever. Those guys aren’t gonna give you ANY music recs, that’s for SURE.

Next year I’d like to start working more directly with bands, maybe do some interviews. We’ll see. Onto the songs. As always, thanks for reading.

There’s the playlist on Sp*tify. Hit shuffle. Let it ride. I’ve been driving around listening to it (that’s how I test my playlists out) for a few weeks as I’ve added to it. There was so much good music this year and these are all jams, bops, and/or bangers.

But keep reading for some thoughts on some of the songs, plus YouTube links. They aren’t really in any official order. If you’re on this list, you can absolutely claim “Crit says I wrote the Song of the Year.” Do it!

Maybe try one now, forget your have the tab open and then press play on a different song later?

Expert Timing - “The Bigger Picture” 

I said I’m not ranking these, and I’m not, but I think if I had to pick one song for Song of the Year, this is the one.

Ben Quad - “You Gotta Learn to Listen, Lou”

Those guitars. Yes yes yes. If I did a top eleven records instead of top ten, I think this would have been there. It’s so solid.

Birthday Dad - “Hollywood Forever Cemetery”

Alex Periera is a mad genius. This record (The Hermit) made my top ten and really blew me away. I think this is the best song on it, featuring one of the best lyrics of the year:

Hollywood Forever Cemeterycouldn’t tell you why, but I feel wearymaybe it’s this endless search for meaning that I didn’t ask to join

A Place For Owls - “Deliberate Practice”

An incredible song. An incredible record. Reminiscent of The Weakerthans, Death Cab, early Manchester Orchestra. Those are big compliments and I do not make those comparisons lightly. I can still remember the vivid and immediate chills I got from first hearing I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child and the vibes were similar when first hearing this record. It’s warm, tender, and powerful.

Carly Cosgrove - “Sit n Bounce”

is growth reserved for sitcoms?or people who pretend to care?and is it worse to think you’re cured or cursed beyond repair?did I get better or just better at hiding?this excuse takes a lot of effort and I hope that you like it.

The Dreaded Laramie - “Where Do the Hardcore Kids Go?”

Catchy, funny, power pop that makes a reference to “Surf Wax America” — yeah, this song does it all for me. I helped fund this band’s Kickstarter this year and cannot wait to hear it.

Breakup Haircut - “Why Can’t I Be Cool Enough to Move to Berlin?”

I don’t want to move to Berlin OR smoke cigarettes but when they sing why can't I be cool enough to move to Berlin? / we'd smoke cigarettes in alleys if we moved to Berlin it’s fun and catchy enough that it somehow makes me want to do both?

Camp Trash - “Let it Ride”

The “Camp Trash is a Real Band” thing is a fun gag but it’s not up for debate. A real debate would be Camp Trash is the Best Band. They just might be. I wrote about their record earlier this year.

Sadurn - “icepick”

Great band, great song, great voice.

Cheekface - “When Life Hands You Problems”

Every line in this song is the best but I am yelling “someone’s in here” from the bathroom stall of life is just on another level.

Thank You, I’m Sorry - “Parliaments”

TYIS doing a floaty shoegaze-y song? I’m in.

I’m watching smoke curl out the windowno one’s home, I’m getting stoned

Letting Up Despite Great Faults - “She Spins”

Speaking of shoegaze, Letting Up Despite Great Faults (an incredible band name) from Texas put out a great record this year. It’s as warm and shimmering as a lava flow. I didn’t see enough people talking about them this year. Get on board.

Blushing - “Sour Punch”

Letting Up toured with Blushing this year, and I really wish it had come to the northeast.

Signals Midwest - “Blind Contour”

Maybe the most consistent band around. Every release is Great. I’ve been able to see them a bunch over the past few years and each one feels really special. You can feel the joy and warmth on the stage.

so make me a blind contour drawing of the future capturing the form in all its grace, flaws, ritual and promise

Gladie - “Nothing”

fruit gets ripe before it gets rottenand I keep seeking advice that I've already gottenI keep seeking advice that I must have forgottenwhat would it feel like to want nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing?

Saturdays at Your Place - “Tarot Cards”

This song grabbed me immediately. My partner played this song for me (she knows just what I like and when she shows me a song, it’s guaranteed to be A Song) and this is how quickly I was on board. One second in, I was interested. Two seconds in, I asked her who it was. The lyrics start at 0:10, so at 0:11 I said “oh yeah” out loud. By the chorus at 0:33, I was completely down with it. Reminds me of early Front Bottoms, when they were still incredible.

Bartees Strange - “Heavy Heart”

Bartees makes cool seem effortless. He so easily blends so much of his influences into his sound and the result is two solid records. 2020’s Live Forever caught me out of nowhere and he somehow managed to surpass it with this year’s Farm to Table.

Future Teens - “Good Reason”

sometimes life feels like being on late night drivewhere someone’s taken the exit signsreplaced your headlamps with flashlightsand you’re just trying to get somewhere and not die

Scarlet Street - “Digging Up Jimmy Hoffa’s Body”

A great band out of Cincinnati, the home of my favorite hippopotamus. Energetic, meaningful, raw pop-punk. Look for their record in 2023.

Matilde Heckler - “Emo Needs More Fucking Girls”

She’s right. The sky is the limit for this special local artist. I saw her live and knew right away there was something happening in front of me.

Gang of Youths - “the angel of 8th ave.”

A perfect song? Might be. Huge jam.

there is heaven in you now

Wicked Bears - “Lucky”

This song is just fun as hell.

why do you party? ‘cause I like to dance. when do you party? when I get the chance.

Timeshares - “Dead Birds”

This record is just so good. It made my top ten. Got to see them twice at FEST and they were great.

ONE FALL - “Shoot Straight”

Here’s a new local band with great pop punk hooks. They’ve only recorded three songs and played one show, but there’s a lot here.

Into It. Over It. - “Akron, OH”

IIOI is one of those bands that just gets better with every release. Being a longtime fan of the Evan Weiss cinematic universe has paid off with so many good songs over the year.

Death Cab for Cutie - “Foxglove Through the Clearcut”

One of the very best songs they’ve ever written, and they’ve written a LOT of good songs.

Hi. This is the end. Might as well leave a comment. What’s your favorite song on this list? What’s your favorite song (from this year) that ISN’T on this list?