I have always been into music. But in 2022 specifically, I listened to so much music – a  whopping 20,000 minutes according to my yearly Spotify Wrapped! I leaned on music more than ever to provide comfort when I needed it or just when I wanted to dance. 

At the time that I am writing this, the 65th Grammy Awards are this weekend, Feb 5th. Since I was young, the Grammy Awards have always been yearly staple viewing in my household. So I thought I would create my own list of albums that have shaped my year. Here’s my take on the most influential albums of the year and my pick for the ultimate “winners,” old and new.

While thinking about all the music I listened to this year, It was very cool to see how my music taste has evolved during different eras or seasons over these past few months. 

What have been some of YOUR favorite albums over the past year? Let me know in the comments. <3

Winter 2022

Starting off, the beginning of the year was… eventful to put it simply. I found myself listening to more upbeat rock and alternative influences during this time because I was going through it LOL. The top artist that I will always remember listening to during this time is Paramore, and especially her 2007 album, Brand New Eyes. This album was very comforting during a not-so-great time. My fave tracks were Ignorance and Decode.

Spring 2022

The spring seasons felt like a new chapter so I was listening to new artists and albums that helped me bring joy back. Jon Batiste is an amazing artist who released his album We Are in 2021 and at the 2022 Grammy Awards brought home the album of the year award! The lead single Freedom is the best song to dance to and lift you up. Absolutely love this song and album!

Miley Cyrus released her Attention: Miley Cyrus Live album in Spring 2022 and put together remastered live versions of her old songs from the Hannah Montana days, mashed up with some of her personal favorite songs. The nostalgia of her old songs, combined with her fave songs, was a great way to introduce fans to songs she loves. She mashed up her song We Can’t Stop and the Pixies song Where Is my Mind. This song was at the top of my Spring playlist. 

Here is a list of some other influential albums from Spring 2022:

My December – Kelly Clarkson 

Hot Fuss – The Killers 

Harry’s House – Harry Styles 

Denim and Rhinestones – Carrie Underwood

Hook Me Up – The Veronicas 

Summer 2022

Here is where it gets fun. In the summer, I started listening to albums all the way through, multiple times, so I could experience the storytelling that goes into album artistry. I went on lots of long car trips so I would download lots of new albums I had never heard all the way through before and “liked” the songs that stood out. Here are some examples of albums that truly shaped my summer: 

Sam’s Town – The Killers 

This is one of my absolute favorite albums and I listened to it SO many times this summer. The title track Sam’s Town has such captivating energy and really sets the tone for the rest of the album. It was my 5th top song this year on Spotify!  Listening to this album all the way through and viewing it as a story was such an amazing experience. I love this album so much. 

Superache – Conan Gray

I wasn’t really familiar with Conan’s work before. After listening to this album, I am definitely a fan and will continue listening to this album and his previous songs. This album was very inspirational to me and was SO well written. 

Melodrama and Solar Power – Lorde 

Melodrama is an iconic album and so highly praised. Solar Power gave off the summer vibes and was a great representation of my 2022 summer. 

Emails I Can’t Send – Sabrina Carpenter

An amazing pop album that provides amazing beats & melodies but also has excellent and clever writing. 

Some other albums from this summer <33:

Honestly, Nevermind – Drake 

When Facing the Things We Turn Away From — Luke Hemmings 

Young Blood – 5SOS (I will always correlate summer 2022 with seeing 5SOS live!!!) 

Renaissance – Beyonce 

All the Things that Could Go Wrong – Johnny Orlando

Details – Frou Frou

Lust For Life –  Lana Del Rey

Fall 2022

Heading into the Fall, I had all this appreciation for the music I listened to in the previous months. The Fall was when I listened to lots of NEW music because artists I was introduced to in the summer started putting out new music in the autumn. 

Fave albums from the end of Summer into the Fall (some new, some older): 

Long Way Down – Tom Odell

Monsters – Tom Odell

Stranger in the Alps – Phoebe Bridgers

The Hardest Part – Noah Cyrus

Parachutes – Coldplay

Subject to Change – Kelsea Ballerini

5SOS5 – 5SOS

Gemini Rights – Steve Lacy

Love Angel Music Baby – Gwen Stefani 

The New Abnormal – The Strokes 

Midnights – Taylor Swift (and all her albums ofc)

After listing all these albums, I can see that I really listened to so much music and expanded my music taste. Some newer albums I just recently discovered or albums that just dropped were Midnights by Taylor Swift, Being Funny in a Foreign Language by 1975, Tidal by Fiona Apple, and Dance Fever by Florence and the Machine. 

And My Awards Go To…

New Pop Vocal Album of the Year: Emails I can’t Send by Sabrina Carpenter and Midnights by Taylor Swift 

My Favorite Past Pop Album: Love Angel Music Baby by Gwen Stefani

My Favorite Past rock Album: Sam’s Town by The Killers

Best Alternative Album: Dance Fever by Florence and the Machine and Being Funny in a Foreign Language by The 1975. 

This was a fantastic year for me for discovering and enjoying music from many genres. 

And here’s to more incredible music in 2023!

Thank you for reading! XOXO

Sincerely, 

Sadie