As is becoming a Hogmanay tradition, here’s is this music?’s writers’ chart for 2022.
This may or not be a first, but the number one also tops the 2022 albums list compiled at jockrock.org.
Some readers will be aware that these exist as ‘sister sites’ – and thus sharing writers and therefore voters. However, it’s notable that even without votes cast by writers common to both publications, the number one would have remained unchanged, such was the support for it across our team.
Our winner is a familiar face in the Scottish music scene – although being Irish-born and Chicago-raised, Jill O’Sullivan brings with her an international background well and truly developed in Scotland, with acts such as Sparrow and the Workshop, bdy_prts, The Grand Gestures, Broken Chanter, The Fruit Tree Foundation, and Bastard Mountain amongst others.
And now, following a 2020 EP entitled ‘Not Your First’, comes what is technically a debut solo long-player – albeit with support from label co-owner and musical / production sidekick, former Frightened Rabbit man Andy Monoghan, plus drummer Peter Kelly.
Anyway, without further ado, we crown Jill Lorean’s solo ‘debut’ as our Album of the Year for 2022.
1. Jill Lorean – This Rock (Monohands)
2. Big Joanie – Back Home (Kill Rock Stars)
3. Gentle Sinners – These Actions Cannot Be Undone (Rock Action)
4. Bodega – Broken Equipment (What’s Your Rupture?)
5. Wet Leg – Wet Leg (Domino)
6. Port Sulphur – Speed of Life (Creeping Bent)
7. A New International – Lost and Later Songs (ANI)
8. Kathryn Joseph – For You Who Are The Wronged (Rock Action)
9. Jenny Hval – Classic Objects (4AD)
10. Paulo Nutini – Last night in the Bittersweet (Atlantic)
11. Alvvays – Blue Rev (Transgressive)
12. Yard Act – The Overload (Island)
13. World To Me – Pit Pony (Clue Records)
14. The Burning Hell – Garbage Island (BBIsland)
15. Fortis et Fidus – The Reverse Cowgirls (Bandcamp)
16. Pictish Trail – Island Family (Fire)
17. Weyes Blood – And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop)
18. The Nightingales – The Last Laugh (Tiny Global Productions)
19. Telefís – a hAon (Dimple Discs)
20. Peaness – World Full Of Worry (Totally Snick)
21. Leftfield – This Is What We Do (Virgin)
22. Pumajaw – Scapa Foolscap (Self-released)
23. Fortis et Fidus – The Reverse Cowgirls (Bandcamp)
24. Amateur Cult – The Mirrored Pattern (Armellodie)
25. The Proclaimers – Dentures Out (Cooking Vinyl)
26. Becca Starr – Speak No Evil (In Black)
27. Rosalie Cunningham – Two Piece Puzzle (Esoteric Antenna)
28. Bis – Systems Music for Home Defence (LNFG)
29. Alex G – God Save the Animals (Domino)
30. Half Man Half Biscuit – The Voltarol Years
(Still persevering with #boycottspotify, but for any of the above a quick Bandcamp search should allow you to try before you buy).