of 2022 <3

MOTOMAMI - Rosalía

A fast and furious vision projected directly from the apocalypse. Instantly iconic, and along with its boundless versatility, it really makes me want to ride a motorcycle.

Favorite Tracks: SAOKO, LA FAMA, COMO UN G

Preacher’s Daughter - Ethel Cain

“But what’s *actually* your favorite album of 2022?” This one, without a doubt. I can’t think of the last time a record stunned me as much as Ethel Cain’s debut. While not for the faint of heart, Cain’s exploration of a haunted American life is the type of album that burrows into your skin and refuses to leave, and by this point, I think I’d feel empty without its presence.

Favorite Tracks: Hard Times, Thoroughfare, Sun Bleached Flies

Renaissance - Beyoncé

I can’t even be sad about not being able to get tour tickets, because the dance parties I had alone in my dorm room to this album are more than enough. Sonic brilliance, with each transition from track to track feeling like a breath of fresh air into life itself.

Favorite Tracks: ALIEN SUPERSTAR, VIRGO’S GROOVE, SUMMER RENAISSANCE

SOS - SZA

Worth the long, excruciating wait. The rare 23-track album where nothing feels like filler, and where each song is a unique revelation about who the artist is as a person. This actually became my most-listened album on Last.fm without me even realizing it, amazing!

Favorite Tracks: Seek & Destroy, Nobody Gets Me, Open Arms

Un Verano Sin Ti - Bad Bunny

The quintessential summer album. An escape to a beach with your friends whenever you need it the most, and the good vibes here are so fun to sink into. A career-defining record, and I’m just so glad Bad Bunny has received the recognition he deserves from it.

Favorite Tracks: Después de la Playa, Tití Me Preguntó, Otro Atardecer

- Josh Rosenthal