Best Music of 2022

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Here’s my personal list of the top new music releases in 2022 in the genres to which I pay the most attention.

Best Classical Album:

Bach: St. John Passion (Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, directed by John Eliot Gardiner)

This new recording was made at the height of the pandemic, which created technical challenges for the director and musicians. Nevertheless it is fresh and vibrant, worthy of Gardiner and these legendary groups.

Honorable Mention:

  • The New Four Seasons: Vivaldi Recomposed (Max Richter, Elena Urioste, and Chineke! Orchestra)

  • From Afar (Víkingur Ólafsson)

  • Dawn (Ola Gjeilo)

Best Electronic Album:

Raum (Tangerine Dream)

The legendary Kraut-synth group continues strong even without founder Edgar Froese, who died in 2015. Froese lives on, with the group utilizing his music software files and accessing his recording archive for the production of Raum. It’s not one of the best in Tangerine Dream’s tremendous catalog, but fans of electronic music will find much to appreciate.

Honorable Mention:

  • Sojourns (Erik Wøllo)

  • Aftermath (Thom Brennan)

Best Classical Crossover Album:

Building Blocks, Pt. 5 (Neil Cowley)

Cowley’s blend of piano, synths, ambient electronics, drum machines, and effects is both stimulating and calming. I love working to this EP.

Honorable Mention:

  • Cinema (Alexandre Tharaud)

Best Jazz Album:

No new releases captured my interest this year. Apple Music tells me my third-most played artist in 2022 was Miles Davis. So that’s what I’ll be listening to until something interesting comes along…

Best Rock Album:

The Elephants of Mars (Joe Satriani)

Satriani can still shred. But at 65, what’s more impressive is how he continues to expand the genre he created. My favorite tracks are E 104th St NYC 1973 and Sahara.

Honorable Mention:

  • Revolver (2022 Mix) (The Beatles)

  • An Hour Before It’s Dark (Marillion)

Best Alternative Album:

Unlimited Love (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Some great grooves on this album. The bass line on “Aquatic Mouth Dance” is infectious.

Best Soundtrack:

Severance: Season 1 (Theodore Shapiro)

The soft dissonances on piano add tension to an already strange story.

Best Older Albums:

Favorite listening this year among older albums:

  • Bach: The Cello Suites – Recomposed by Peter Gregson (Peter Gregson)

  • J.S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (Collegium Vocale Gent & Philippe Herreweghe)