I’m a little late publishing my list of my favorite albums from 2022. So, here is my yearly compilation of records I have written about. This isn’t meant as a competition and isn’t in any particular order. Instead it’s a celebration of work from very talented artists. 2022 brought excitement of the great music . Groups like The Sorels, The Mellons, Faz Waltz, Newtown Neurotics and The Speedways released solid mateial. Since checking their records out, they have been a constant companion on my turntables, DJ sets and for the willing and unsuspecting listeners alike. Below are my selections that stood out for 2022. All articles were published exclusively here at nixbeat.com.
Read the excerpts and then click the links to reviews below.
The Sorels
Love Your Rock N’ Roll EP
Reta Records
Street: 09/02/2022
The Sorels hail from Winnipeg, Canada. They are Jo Jo Rodriguez (vox, bass) , Jennifer Alexander (guitar) and Jill Lynott (drums, vox). Together they have released their third EP via Reta Records and it is aptly titled Love Your Rock N’ Roll. It’s very much a love letter for the sentimentality of the eternal days of old celebrating rock n’ roll excellence. Within these grooves is a style mending aspects of 1960’s girl groups, glam punk but with the infectious nature of power pop. It rips and ought to be heard.
Faz Waltz
On The Ball
Spaghetty Town Records
Release: 04/18/2022
Faz Waltz’s new record proves that rock n’ roll is thriving. In contrast to their previous material Faz Waltz step out of the junk shop and into the hop. Their new album On The Ball is a work of homage that devotes it’s energy to tunes harkening on the days of old. It’s a record that brilliantly channels the spirits of the pioneers of rock n’ roll. Particularly that of Little Richard , Chuck Berry , Elvis Presley , and Eddie Cochran — with some help from The Beatles with Tony Sheridan . The result is the experience of conjuring the closest thing to the soundtrack of American Graffiti for the ears of the 21st century.
The Mellons
Introducing…The Mellons
Earth Libraries
Street: 10/21/2022
The Mellons are a group that manages to exude effortless brilliance. Not surprising then since they draw from the talents of Andrew Colin Beck , Ian Francis , Denny Fulle r and Rob Jepson. Their debut record Introducing…The Mellons boasts a harmonic pop masterpiece that nods toward an idea of baroque rock for the 21st century. It’s clearly a work that is inspired by those who appreciate the music of The Monkees or The Zombies , while also tirelessly binging on the sensibilities of The Beach Boy’s Pet Sounds and The Beatles Sgt Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Newtown Neurotics
Cognitive Dissidents
Cadiz Music
Street: 10/21/2022
For over 40 years Newtown Neurotics have sounded the alarm against the perils of political and social annihilation. They have been brilliantly demonstrating this through an uncompromising punk lead ethos. The artists behind this work toward revolution are Steve Drewett , Simon Lomond and Adam Smith . The result of their efforts is music used as a tool to inform, agitate and organize against the trapping of complacency. Their new album Cognitive Dissidents builds upon this method. It’s eight tracks seek to rail against submission to ignorance and in turn rally against the civilizational decay of our time.
The Speedways
Talk of the Town
Snap/Hurrah Musica/Beluga
Street: 11/26/2022
Since 2018, The Speedways have blazed a trail of hopeless romanticism across the power pop landscape. While initially started as Matthew Julian’s one-off project, The Speedways tuned into a superb collaborative effort between the talents Julian, Adrian Alfonso , Mauro Venegas and Kris Hood . In their four years, the Speedways have honed their craft. They boast a one-of-a-kind authority on longing and heartbreak. Their new record Talk of the Town brilliantly continues this trend. This is by celebrating a spirit of ’79 punky power pop persuasion and adding the infectious elements of 1980’s new wave.
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