Southeast of Heaven’s Favorite Album Of 2022
Children of the Sun
Roots
Released: March 18, 2022
Swedish psychedelic roots rockers Children of the Sun dominated 2022 as my favorite release of the year. The amount of growth that Children of the Sun has had just since their 2019 debut Flowers absolutely blew me away. Stepping away from the flower child rock a bit, Roots showcased a darker, more grownup side of this young band. Toxic relationships, environmental awareness, and self-reflection are just a handful of topics covered on this album.
The maturity of the lyrics, the musical delivery, and energy has Children of the Sun sounding like a band twice their young ages. Roots is an album that made a huge impact on me and I can see this being a timeless album in it’s own right. If this is any indication of where Children of the Sun are heading, it won’t be long before the world knows of this fantastic band.
Standout Tracks: Blood Boils Hot, Leaves, Roots, Thunder
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The Top 10 (In No Particular Order)
Blood Incantation
Timewave Zero
Released: February 25, 2022
If you would have told me even just in January that an album by Colorado death metal band Blood Incantation I would’ve laughed until I puked. One of my best friends told me about this album because she knew I was really into psychedelic ambient music. Timewave Zero is an album that I listen to quite often when I am trying to wind down and take my mind on a cosmic journey outside of this plane. While it helps when you’ve got a little green to enjoy, sober you can achieve lift off as well if you open your mind and allow the music to take you there.
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Hallas
Isle of Wisdom
Released; April 08, 2022
Swedish adventure rockers Hallas returned in 2022 with Isle of Wisdom which, in my opinion, is their greatest work to date. As silly as the term “adventure rock” sounds, it is without a doubt the best way to describe the music of Hallas. If you could take a comic book and translate into music, you have Hallas. Isle of Wisdom, like their previous work, is pure escapism. As much as I love dark music and thought provoking lyrics, sometimes it can get a bit too heavy. Hallas creates a whole world of their own if you open up your mind enough, you can even find yourself as part of the adventure. For anyone who loves progressive rock with an element of hard rock/metal, this is an album that will appeal to you.
Standout Songs: Advent of Dawn, Elusion’s Gate, Gallivants of Space, The Wind Carries the Word
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Hellsingland Underground
Endless Optimism
Released: November 12, 2022
Swedish Classic Rockers Hellsingland Underground was a band that flew way under my radar for far too long but hey, better late than never right? Hellsingland Underground was brought to my attention by my buddy Jacob Hellenrud from Children of the Sun. I was sent a press release written by the lead vocalist’s 16 year old daughter (READ HERE) and it sold me immediately. These guys scratch just about every disgusting itch in every fold of my fat musical being. With influences ranging from The Allman Brothers Band to Frank Zappa, Hellsingland Underground is a band that quickly became a favorite of mine and also boasted on of the best albums I heard in 2022. This one is a must.
Standout Songs: Hustlin’ Around, Old White Men, Strangest Kind of Mind, The Uninvited Guest
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Los Bitchos
Let the Festivities Begin
Released: February 03, 2022
Some of the best artists are the ones that you really can’t compare to anything. Los Bitchos from London released one of my favorite albums this year called Let The Festivities Begin. This album is a collection of instrumental songs covering such genres as calypso, reggae, psych rock, and Latin music. That is just what I can think of off the top of my head so I’m sure there is more in there. Los Bitchos was one of the bands I so needed this year and their music was a huge uplifting thing for me. Not too many bands make me literally dance but Los Bitchos makes me dance like no one is watching… even if I couldn’t give a rats ass if someone was watching.
Standout Songs: The Link is About to Die, Piesta (Fresh Start), Las Panteras, Tripping at a Party
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Marissa Nadler
The Wrath of the Clouds (EP)
Released: February 04, 2022
The sequel EP to Marissa Nadler’s 2021 album The Path of the Clouds was yet another example of how nobody does it like she does. The ambient, cosmic space folk that she has come to be so well known for is represented on this EP and what I love the most is that it doesn’t sound like “throw away” songs. Sometimes when artists release an EP following a release, it consists of songs that weren’t good enough to make the album. These songs, however, are every bit as good and they stand on their own just as they should. Marissa Nadler continues to deliver a signature sound that comforts me like a warm blanket on a winter’s night. It’s mood music that takes me just where I want to be when I need to be free from it all.
Standout Songs: Guns on the Sundeck, Some Secret Existence, Saunders Ferry Lane
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Proper Pet
The Singles
Released: January 01, 2022
The only band on my top albums list that didn’t release a full album in 2022. I let this slide because Tempe, Arizona’s Proper Pet released a staggering 20 songs to Spotify (and even more via their YouTube channel). While it may not be an album, I put them all into one playlist and decided to give them one of the best albums of 2022. Proper Pet is a duo (Zachary Christian and Abigail Corinne) that I can only describe as the ADHD of musical artists. EDM, folk, psych rock, and psych pop are just a few of the words I can use to describe the sound of this magnificent duo. 2022 was a huge year for this TikTok break out band and if this year was any indication of their greatness, we have a lot to look forward to in the future from Proper Pet.
Standout Songs: Lose Control, Peaches In July, Until We Die, CYU
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Serpentent
Ancient Tomes, Volume I: Mother of Light
Released: May 20, 2022
Seattle’s Anne K. O’Neill put out one of the best “under the radar” albums of the year under the moniker Serpentent and it was an album that was unbelievably moving. O’Neill’s dark, gothic, and ethereal folk inspired creations combined created Ancient Tomes Volume I: Mother of Light. The songs on Ancient Tomes Volume I are some of the most sparsely complex and fulfilling compositions I have ever heard. Melodic acoustic guitar playing, subtle percussion, and a haunted voice that sounds as if it has been released after being confined for so long. The music on Ancient Tomes Volume I: Mother of Light can only be described as beautifully unsettling. Trust me, this is a great thing and it’s something you definitely want to experience.
Standout Songs: Ancient Tomes, Winding, Mother of Light, The Fountainhead of Fire
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Simrit
Live in Nevada City
Released: 2022
Simrit is an act that I accidentally stumbled upon just two nights before completing this list. Talk about cutting it close but damn was it worth the wait. Led by Greek singer/songwriter Simrit Kaur, Simrit released Live in Nevada City which was recorded live in Nevada City, California in 2021. Now before stumbling upon them on Spotify, I had never heard a single thing about them but this live album is all it took to rope me in and. Ethereal, psychedelic World Beat music. That says it all but it’s so much more than that. The lengthy compositions and smooth, relaxing sounds is something that I feel will also connect with jam band loves as well because it’s just got that special, magical mood. The stylings of diverse artists such as Sting and Sade are probably the closest I can come to describing Simrit but honestly, Simrit is it’s own entity and what an amazingly beautiful entity it is. Music for the head, heart, and soul.
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Soccer Mommy
Sometimes, Forever
Released: June 22, 2022
What comes around goes around. A saying has never been more true after discovering Nashville based artist Soccer Mommy. Led by singer/songwriter Sophie Allison, Soccer Mommy’s 2022 release Sometimes, Forever was the album that I had no idea that I needed in my life. Elements of 90s alternative rock, psych pop, stone rock, and alt-americana are just some of the things that are represented by the material on this album. My ADHD was absolutely in heaven when such a vast array of styles and the voice of Sophie Allison is smooth, subtle, and quiet yet commanding. It’s like when the quietest person in the room is talking and everyone stops to listen only to find out that that person had more to say than anyone that was even worth a shit. Sometimes, Forever is a magnificent collection of songs and it’s an album that introduced me to another new artist that has secured a spot in my top tier of favorite bands.
Standout Songs: Bones, Unholy Affliction, Darkness Forever, Feel It All the Time
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Wilma Nea
This Too Shall Pass
Released: March 04, 2022
Swedish singer/songwriter Wilma Nea is the only artist be represented twice on my top albums list this year. Wilma, who is the keyboardist/backing vocalist for Children of the Sun, released her debut solo album, This Too Shall Pass and it was one of the best surprises of the year for me. I really didn’t know what to expect before checking this one out but I was absolutely floored. For a woman in her early 20’s, Wilma Nea is an old soul. Drawing from influences like Queen, 90s pop darlings Jellyfish, and Regina Spektor, Wilma Nea combined them all into one big melting pot of pop goodness that is so sweet you are guaranteed a toothache by the end of it all.
Standout Songs: The Beginning, Stoked, Part of a Club, Days Like This
TOP ALBUMS OF 2022 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
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