Eligibility Criteria:
Any single, be it a radio, promotional or video release.
Released during the calendar year of 2022, or those released earlier that reached either its chart peak or greatest visibility in 2022.
Limit of one proper single per artist, though an artist can appear multiple times if they were on a feature or collaboration with another artist.
50) Julie Roberts & Jamey Johnson- “Music City’s Killing Me”
This track from Roberts’ latest LP unites two Nashville stars from the 2000s who each were, at one time, forecasted to be budding mainstays on the country dial. That destiny didn’t come to fruition for either party, due to respective personal demons and long droughts of recording inactivity. It’s wonderful to hear from both of them again, and their inconsistent professional conquests only further inform the ache with which they sing about Music City. This is a George & Tammy-worthy song, and a fabulously sung and executed entry in the annals of traditional country duets. (September 2022)
49) Kate Bush- “Running Up That Hill”
The coolest and most unexpected chart story of 2022. Propelled by its presence on the soundtrack to the current season of Netflix’s Stranger Things, this career highlight for the art-pop visionary is enjoying a tremendous resurgence and earning the kind of airplay it was unjustly denied upon its initial release, thirty-seven years ago. It’s a riveting record, and sounds just as creative and forward-looking as it did in 1985. Not to mention that its success also lays bare the obvious influence that Bush has unquestionably had on enigmatic female artists like Florence Welch and others in the decades that have followed. May it usher in a whole renaissance of recognition for Bush and her pivotal library of work. (May 2022)
48) Mt. Joy- “Lemon Tree”
Like so many of Mt. Joy’s best moments, “Orange Blood” begins as a meditative coffeehouse ballad and escalates beautifully into a passionate and jangly folk anthem as it unfolds. Along the way we’re treated to vibrantly evocative vocals and rich, visual lyrics that seductively lures your headspace as the listener into a quietly enriching realm of musical comfort and peace. By its finale, it transforms itself from a song of survival to a song of thriving triumph. (April 2022)
47) Luke Combs- “The Kind of Love We Make”
Far and away, my favorite Luke Combs single to date. The country superstar soaks his bold Southern twang in a vat of smooth R&B heat, and the results are fire. Combs long ago established the vast range residing within his huge honky pipes, but this subtle stylistic pivot showcases them as prominently as any track that he’s soared the charts with thus far. More of this please, Luke. This is red-hot country gold right here. (September 2022)
46) Purple Disco Machine and Sophie and the Giants- “In the Dark”
I’m rather disappointed in myself for taking nearly a year to uncover this fiery dance banger, but I’ve certainly been making up for lost time with the amount of incessant spins I’ve given it over the past month. Tino Piontek’s gorgeous dance beats prove the perfect companion for Sophie Scott’s hauntingly velvet vocals. The makings of a modern disco staple. (October 2022)
45) Weezer- “A Little Bit of Love”
Weezer rolled out a series of EPs revolving around the four seasons and launched with this instant charmer that strips back their complex rock sound to mostly acoustic guitar, harmonica and River Cuomo’s unmistakeable vocals. It’s precisely on point with the thematic concept of its source album (SZNZ: Spring), with a fresh sense of rebirth and rediscovery of joy and strength, both of which Cuomo’s delivery is stacked with. It’s impressively authentic in all of its unbridled optimism and hope. It’s inspired and welcome food for your soul, from beginning to end. (March 2022)
44) Nikki Lane- “First High”
A tantalizing launching pad for the fourth record from the badass queen of Outlaw-inflected country-rock. The combination of Lane’s unflinchingly twangy purr and the blistering guitar picking is an intoxicating blend. It immediately hooks you and doesn’t let you off from the minute Lane leaves the station here. The rocking musicianship is so tight and confident, showcasing a band every bit the outstanding ensemble that Lane’s magnetic performances demands. Wake up your neighbors with this one, and don’t give any Fs in the process. They’ll thank you later. (June 2022)
43) Panic! At the Disco- “Viva Las Vengeance”
A rollicking return that should have absolutely no problem aiding Brandon Urie and company in reclaiming the rock throne that they vacated four years ago. This is a surging burst of pop-rock power and urgency that is as addictive as any prior hit in their canon. Urie’s rousing vocals are as impressive as ever, and he unleashes this hair-raising delivery in a fashion as smooth as silk. The band’s classic emo sound hasn’t missed a beat and they layer in creative new flourishes, a harpsichord solo for instance, that adds a perfect amount of new spice to their well-honed style. (June 2022)
42) Billy Strings- “In the Morning Light”
Without question, Billy Strings is doing for modern bluegrass what acts like Alison Krauss & Union Station and Nickel Creek did for the medium back in the late 90s and early aughts, utilizing his visceral vocals and prodigious musicianship to turn a new generation of listeners onto the natural beauty of the fabled genre. He’s also reminding those us who have overlooked that treasured style of music in recent years as well. “In the Morning Light” is my favorite performance I’ve discovered thus far. There’s just such a majesty to Strings’ mountain voice and the way it blends with the fiddle and mandolin perfection surrounding it. Listening to it on your pods and shutting your eyes will absolutely recharge your soul. (February 2022)
41) Bonnie Raitt- “Livin’ For the Ones”
A sage, and catchy, piece of advise from one of rock’s greatest living poets. “Livin’ For the Ones” encourages each of us to be grateful for the blessings we do have, with the gift of a new day being chief among them. It’s easy to forget all of those who weren’t so lucky to receive the same. It’s also easy to wallow in life’s disappointments and dark moments, especially during these past few years. Raitt acknowledges this, rather than outright taking us to task for being Debbie Downers. It’s that blend of sympathy, and an assertive reminder to trudge forward in memory of those we’ve lost, that makes this track so genuine and substantive, rather than the saccharine Hallmark card it could have been. Another great latter day single from the fabulous Raitt. (June 2022)
40) The Head and the Heart- “Every Shade of Blue”
The lead single from the indie-rock band’s fifth album finds them further expanding their once rootsy sound, and the results continue to be glowingly gorgeous. The verses convey a lonely soul on the brink of giving up on life, with the chorus playing like a desperate plea from their lover to ride through the storm with them. Lead vocalist and guitarist Jonathan Russell conveys this story with such beautiful, emotional heft and sensitivity while the swelling arrangement of strings further paint a powerful and illuminating message of love and strength persevering through life’s darkest moments. There’s a sense of isolated loneliness and mental anguish at the core of the song that certainly feels lifted from quarantine, and therefore incredibly timely, but this is a universal message as well that can apply at any one of life’s more challenging moments, when the ones we love are as vital as ever to our survival and recovery from a difficult life stage. (January 2022)
39) Spoon- “The Hardest Cut”
A loose and chugging piece of rock paradise that absolutely smacks you in all the right places each time it plays. It shoots out of the gate with tremendous gusto and manages to build that intensity even more over the course of the next three minutes. “The Hardest Cut” spills over with electric anticipation and anxiety all at once; it manages to feed your rock & roll hunger while striking a number of foreboding nerves along the way. Which is really the essence of the very best rock music in the first place, isn’t it? Spoon is still firing on all the same red-hot cylinders they were in the mid to late 90s.
38) Silk Sonic featuring Thundercat and Bootsy Collins- “After Last Night”
This is an utterly ridiculous and equally entertaining trip through the aftermath of a horn-dog’s hook-up the previous night, and it’s also as emblematic as any track of the campy charms that made An Evening with Silk Sonic such a well-rounded and insatiable showcase of funk and R&B. Yes, the lyrics are over-the-top and silly, as intended. Though not as much so as Bootsy Collins’ put-on verbal machinations that serve as the cherry on the record’s entire ambiance. But, then you listen to Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak unleash the fiery authenticity and suave stylings of their legit R&B chops on the chorus. That’s when you further realize that this record is just as impressive as it is hilarious. (July 2022)
37) Carly Pearce- “What He Didn’t Do”
Another excellent single from an undeniable career record. In a true country turn-of-phrase, Pearce tells more about the collapse of her marriage with what she’s not saying, and the results form another gripping break-up tune from what is already a classic divorce record. Her vocals are perfectly stained with that painful mix of conviction, heartbreak and acceptance, and the tender, mandolin-driven arrangement gives the song the pure, neo-trad sound it requires. This lady is on one hell of an artistic upswing. (May 2022)
36) Amanda Shires- “Hawk for the Dove”
Amanda Shires is one of those truly dynamic female voices who can sound like an angelic songbird one moment, and then the next instantly transforms into a menacing ghostly vocal presence that sounds hell-bent on stealing your soul away. “Hawk For the Dove” is planted squarely in the latter sphere, and we’re all the better for it. The wall of crashing garage rock guitars further enhances the tone of pending doom magnificently. Just listen to her coo that evil chorus with no apologies: “I’m well aware of what the night’s made of. And I’m coming for you like a hawk for the dove.” It’s in that moment when you realize that she’s describing a dastardly attraction between two lovers, and not some form of revenge or punishment for crimes committed, and then your jaw really hits the ground. (June 2022)
35) Tami Neilson- “Baby, You’re a Gun”
What an atmospheric marvel this performance is; not that any pre-existing followers of the dynamic Tami Neilson will be surprised. She’s been mesmerizing a cult following with her ravishing brand of country noir across four albums already, but “Baby You’re a Gun” would be the perfect coming-out moment for this Canadian dynamo. It exhibits all of the very best virtues of Neilson’s music, from the intelligent songwriting to the stylish and daring sonic choices. But no quality is more significantly unique as her voice, which manages to recall the first time a classic artist like Patsy Cline or a modern-day renegade like Neko Case first sent goosebumps up your arm. This track is so devilishly alluring that it will find you in your sleep; but the beautiful swerve is that it will ease your troubled soul in the process. (April 2022)
34) Sunny Sweeney- “Easy As Hello”
God damn, Sunny Sweeney just keeps getting better with each successive album release. On one hand, I’m so grateful that she’s here present in the current era to supply us with such intelligent and well-executed female country records. On the other hand, I wish she could time-travel this phase in her career back to 1992 so she could truly achieve the level of stardom and recognition that her music warrants. Her stark and literate contrasting between the initial moments in a relationship to the final ones carries so much emotional weight, truth, and painstaking beauty. (June 2022)
33) Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats- “I’m On Your Side”
What an exhilarating, rousing single delivered here by Mr. Rateliff and his reliable Night Sweats. This is one of those late-blooming album cuts that I didn’t necessarily single out upon initial spins of The Future, and it may now reign as my favorite track from the band to date. The song itself is a steadfast pledge of support and commitment, and Rateliff does a mighty job lending it with the proper weight and sincerity. But it takes on a whole new level of passion and conviction thanks to the sweltering performance by the Night Sweats. It’s what makes this band so consistently excellent. The leader and the band itself constantly push each other to be better, but never overshadow the other. They both thrive together as one. (May 2022)
32) Paramore- “This Is Why”
The long awaited return from the rock favorites, “This Is Why” marks the first proper single release from Paramore since 2018. While lead vocalist Hayley Williams certainly made the most of that interim period, by releasing two stellar solo projects, there’s just no denying that there’s just something uniquely special about hearing her perform within the confines of the band that launched her into one of the rock world’s rare female heavyweights. The track finds all of the band’s hyperactive, angsty goodness in full effect, but it’s particularly tasty how Williams lures you in by singing the bitchy first verse with such angelic fashion, before unleashing the bold commentary on today’s toxic social climate that this song really is: “If you have an opinion, maybe you should shove it. Maybe you should scream it. Or maybe you should keep it to yourself.” (October 2022)
31) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss- “Quattro (Worlds Drift In)”
“Quattro” is easily my stand-out choice from Raise the Roof. The entire project is beautifully haunted, no doubt. However, this track’s positioning as the opening track sets that tone out of the gate in glorious fashion, and it’s a superb standalone moment as well. It’s far past cliche at this point to classify anything in Alison Krauss’ radius as chilling, but this is as ghostly as anything in her legendary catalog, and it may be my ultimate pick of the tracks she’s recorded with Robert Plant over their two albums together. It’s ominous. It’s eery. And it’s magically sublime in every way. (January 2022)
30) Florence & The Machine- “King”
My God, this woman and her voice are such a force to behold. She is the king, queen, master, and anything else she wants to be of anything she chooses. “King” is a fascinating performance that, like all the great F&TM records, builds and burns with a an aura and presence that is both haunting and utterly seductive. The woman here is grappling with both the conflicts she faces in her relationships, as well as those she faces within herself, and it’s difficult to imagine another female voice working today that can so effortlessly and provocatively deliver the weighty thoughts and emotions that come along with. (March 2022)
29) Ashley McBryde featuring Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack and Pillbox Patti- “Bonfire at Tina’s”
A tremendous cornerstone of the Ashley McBryde concept album. First off- kudos to McBryde for giving such prominent spotlight to some of today’s most under-appreciated female country voices. Their marvelous talents and personalities all collide here in beautiful fashion to create a down-home, filter-less women’s anthem that is stirring, sharp and snarky all at once. Another home-run added to what has been a run of singles that has been remarkably flawless from the outset. (October 2022)
28) Shania Twain- “Not Just A Girl”
This companion piece and namesake of the excellent Netflix chronicling of the country legend’s trailblazing career, as well as the first preview of Twain’s first body of new songs since 2017, quickly nudged past “Life’s About to Get Good” as my favorite track of Shania’s latter day career. I love the polished but punchy trappings that effervescently combine acoustic folk licks, twangy slide guitar, and pure pop backing vocals. Twain herself sounds fantastically invigorated in her confident delivery of this batch of rapid-fire, perfectly effective, and not-to-mention on-brand, empowerment platitudes. Listen closely as Twain commands her lover to “hold me, but don’t you hold me down” and then emphatically challenges, “Is that what you expected? That would I just accept it? To stand behind you, not beside?”. There’s absolutely no doubt, that even through all of the life evolutions and challenges, this is still the same woman who helped reshape the entire female narrative in both country and pop. (July 2022)
27) The Weeknd- “Sacrifice”
What a banging jam this single is; easily the highlight for me off of Dawn FM. The intense hook of that funky rock riff that percolates the entire track is unstoppable, and when it combines with the chilling, seductive tones of the lead vocal it immediately recalls the similarly euphoric juxtaposition that defined Michael Jackson’s greatest rock-leaning classics like “Bad” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”. The very best of the Weeknd’s anthems carry such a haunted yet infectious spirit to them, and “Sacrifice” may be the best example of this masterful combination to date. It’s deliriously catchy and spooky all at once. This dude’s on on an incredibly potent run. (January 2022)
26) First Aid Kit- “Out Of My Head”
The self-destructive tendencies of an anxious mind has never sounded quite as beautiful as they do wrapped in the heavenly harmonies of First Aid Kid and the soft thunder of their brand of folky power-pop. As an individual who struggles with an anxiety disorder myself, it’s particular cutting and painfully relatable to take in the words of the first verse: “Back in time, oh, I go wondering/Through the rooms of my mind/Every door that I’ve been closing/All the people that I have let down.” But there’s a strange dichotomy at play when hearing such negative self-talk delivered in such brutally honest yet soothing fashion. It shakes you back to reality and the reminder of the evil tricks that one’s mind can play on itself, and through the elegant build of the track, you can feel yourself getting the resolve, confidence and strength to fight back and reclaim your own self-worth. (November 2022)
Continue to: Part I
The 706 