Hiya Jade :heart: :heart: two snap concerts! Dua was one of my favourites of the year, so polished and well put together and the setlist was near perfect. Obviously the Chromatica Ball was an insane experience today and seeing you all there only made it even better! :wub:

Hey Joseph :heart: :heart: oh yes of course you went to Dua as well :o glad you had a great time seeing her too - I agree on all of those fronts! I'm so glad we ended up running into you and Bal in the end for Gaga after we thought the chance might've passed :lol: she really knows how to put on a show *.*

 

Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga I’d love to see in concert someday - great to read that both would definitely be worth it

Yay, would highly recommend *.* I always regretted not seeing Gaga during the heights of her 2009-2011 fame but her set lists are still strong!

 

(ooh page 2 already, will get cracking with another section soon.)

I was there with you for all three of those of course - shook that you didn't include The Script tbh x - so can attest to the enjoyment of all of them (minus Gaga travel issues). ROSALÍA was my fave of the bunch this year too (particularly for the live vocals on 'G3 N15' and 'SAKURA' :wub:) so pleased to see her snatching the #1 spot at the last minute there *.*

 

I think I'd put the Lorde concert 2nd out of the 4 I went to with you this year (not including The Bootleg Beatles as that's slightly different) but otherwise the same ranking as you! Though all of them were generally great so it's pretty hard to rank. Just going by setlist quality Gaga would probably place ahead of Dua for me thanks to the run of not so great songs in the Dua setlist as you mentioned :kink:

 

Really just happy the world is back in a normal enough place that you were able to do a ranking of concerts!

I was there with you for all three of those of course - shook that you didn't include The Script tbh x - so can attest to the enjoyment of all of them (minus Gaga travel issues). ROSALÍA was my fave of the bunch this year too (particularly for the live vocals on 'G3 N15' and 'SAKURA' :wub:) so pleased to see her snatching the #1 spot at the last minute there *.*

 

I think I'd put the Lorde concert 2nd out of the 4 I went to with you this year (not including The Bootleg Beatles as that's slightly different) but otherwise the same ranking as you! Though all of them were generally great so it's pretty hard to rank. Just going by setlist quality Gaga would probably place ahead of Dua for me thanks to the run of not so great songs in the Dua setlist as you mentioned :kink:

 

Really just happy the world is back in a normal enough place that you were able to do a ranking of concerts!

Indeed, hello frequent concert buddy *.* even accompanying me to Gaga when original plans fell apart (although I'm glad you were happy to come and enjoyed the set list!)

 

I agree that both of the ROSALÍA songs you mention stood out live :wub: I was so hoping 'SAKURA' would deliver after the way it was executed on the album. 'G3 N15' hasn't been as much of a favourite for me as it has for you but she sold the hell out of that one live.

 

Poor Lorde, I guess it being pretty Solar Power heavy (to be expected of course!!) pulled the overall music quality down a bit for me, compared to others, when it's my least favourite album by her, but so glad I got to hear some big favourites live - 'Ribs' was a special moment for me especially, the crowd jumping during the instrumental was very euphoric. I also quite liked being in an intimate venue, as my claustrophobia means I can't stand in crowds, so this was a closer view than I'd normally get. Meeting Bal for the first time was also special! See, this is why it was so hard to narrow it down, I was adamant to make a lot of good memories this year post-Covid :lol: I guess this was my second time seeing The Bootleg Beatles but still a wonderful evening as a super fan.

Thanks for all the love so far for the concert section! I am slowly catching up on everyone else's EOY countdowns in return.

 

2022: TOP 3 CINEMA EXPERIENCES

 

 

01. Everything Everywhere All At Once

watched: 2nd June 2022

 

 

02. Top Gun: Maverick

watched: 25th May 2022 + 28th August 2022

 

 

03. She Said

watched: 30th November 2022

 

I think it's probably safe to assume that I'm not going to the cinema during the next four days (back to work tomorrow :cry:) so time to finally crack on with another of these top 3 sections. This year I really found a love for cinema trips like never before. I'm not sure why I particularly had the bug, when historically I always enjoy the escapism it offers (well, as long as the movie isn't terrible :kink:) - perhaps it was a year of post-lockdown desire in general alongside the several concerts too. At the start of the year I definitely recall still wearing masks in some settings, as I had special tie-up ones to accommodate the aftermath of my otoplasty surgery. We were still made to social distance at work. So the beginning of 2022 vs. the end point now feels wildly different in that sense. My #1 pick of the year was in absolutely no doubt from the moment it finished. This was the second film I watched in 2022 after the acclaim and synopsis drew me in. Of course, it is the magnificent Everything Everywhere All at Once which stayed with me for a while. It's a difficult one to explain when fingers are substituted for hot dogs at one point and there are emotional talking rocks during another. This absurdist comedy drama really has to be seen to be understood. Essentially, it focuses on protagonist Evelyn who connects with various versions of herself, from parallel dimensions, in order to stop the multiverse from being destroyed. The execution is incredibly creative and there is so much heart underneath the wackiness. I found the storylines that ran alongside the action so powerful. From the exploration of cross-generational trauma to some seriously huge questions about our very existence. Expect strong acting performances of several interesting characters from the likes of Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan. That first viewing was such a perfect experience so I'm almost scared to watch again! But I got the DVD for Christmas so I really must utilise that soon.

 

At #2 we have none other than the highest grossing film of the year, how commercial of me. This is of course action drama sequel Top Gun: Maverick starring Tom Cruise as naval aviator Maverick once more. This was my first cinema trip of the year as my family were keen to see it, so I thought I'd tag along. They weren't the only hyped ones as the guy sitting in front of us was dressed up as Maverick and everything! I went in with no expectations as I'd never actually seen the first film, from 1986, before. So I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The ultimate highlight for me was the thrill of the flight scenes, which took up a sizeable chunk of the movie. The dangerous mission provided edge-of-your-seat moments and stunning aerial cinematography. Away from the action, I also felt emotionally satisfied by the plot even without seeing the previous film. Here, Maverick is confronting the past as he trains younger Top Gun graduates, especially as one of them is the son of his best friend who was killed in the original movie. Fast forward to August and I finally saw Top Gun, alongside Maverick again, in a double bill experience in the cinema. This was the first time I'd ever attended a double bill! So this helped me to get to know Goose, the aforementioned best friend, further more than anything. I'd argue that the sequel was the more exciting watch of the two, which is no mean feat when the original is a classic. This was definitely a triumphant return after such a long wait for fans of the original.

 

Rounding this off is the last movie I watched at the cinema just under a month ago. She Said is classified as a biographical drama film and centres on the investigative journalism that exposed Harvey Weinstein's abuse and sexual misconduct against women. As a journalism graduate this interested me immensely. I was sad to hear that it didn't exactly set the Box Office alight, but I can see why on paper my own interest in the journalistic side of the crime may not be massively widespread. But it was important and fascinating viewing, so I wish more people did care to seek it out. I was of course aware of this terrible story but I was thoroughly gripped watching the intricacies of the investigation unravel. It was pretty emotionally exhausting, due to the disturbing nature of the content, but powerful and riveting nevertheless. The investigation was lead by two strong female characters with a lot of integrity, played brilliantly by Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan. This follows them on their journey from the very start to the end of publishing the story and there is an interesting mix of supporting characters along the way. I'd definitely recommend if you're in the right headspace for the tough subjects it tackles.

 

Back to music next, with TOP 3 ALBUMS ^_^ then top 100 songs as the main event...

I didn't compile my albums long enough to do a chart but I know that Rina and Taylor would both be too 3 at the very minimum. You appeared to really love Rina this year and that's so fantastic. One of the best albums of the year for me for sure.

Some appreciation for Everything Everywhere All At Once cos there's none in here yet x (I'm sure they'll be much more to appreciate to come of course, glad you're finally doing one of these!)

I didn't compile my albums long enough to do a chart but I know that Rina and Taylor would both be too 3 at the very minimum. You appeared to really love Rina this year and that's so fantastic. One of the best albums of the year for me for sure.

Are you planning to solidly do an album chart for 2023? I only started part-way through this year, by dumping a list in the multi-chart thread, but it's been great motivation for staying on top of albums to a decent extent in 2022. It's funny you should mention Rina as I am re-listening to her album right now :o which means it has made the short list of my top 30 albums this year. But I'm brutally cutting that down to 10% for the ordering and commentary, because I want to put the significant focus into top 100 songs this year, so this definitely gets finished. I think maybe next year I'll just do top 100 songs and top 10 albums and cut out extras. Anyway, I'll post the whole short list here for anyone who doesn't venture in the Lounge (see: top albums of 2022 thread) nevertheless.

 

Some appreciation for Everything Everywhere All At Once cos there's none in here yet x (I'm sure they'll be much more to appreciate to come of course, glad you're finally doing one of these!)

:wub: why thank you for dropping in to give that masterpiece the love it deserves. Hope you will enjoy, this feels long overdue after being quite consistent with weekly charts for a good 4 years now.

I've took on a mission next year, to watch lots of movies & TV shows to have a life. :lol:

I've took on a mission next year, to watch lots of movies & TV shows to have a life. :lol:

:lol: whatever floats your boat! I was very late to purchasing a Netflix account tbf.

2022: TOP 3 ALBUMS

 

 

01. ROSALÍA - MOTOMAMI

top picks: CANDY, CUUUUuuuuuute, SAOKO, COMO UN G, DESPECHÁ

 

 

02. Working Men's Club - Fear Fear

top picks: Widow, Rapture, Circumference, Cut + Ploys

 

 

03. Vandal Moon - Queen Of The Night

top picks: Queen Of The Night, Sweet Disaster, War, Sunlight + Young. Deadly. Beautiful.

 

So, I wasn't entirely expecting Spanish singer ROSALÍA to top my list this year based on the pre-release tracks alone. I did enjoy 'SAOKO' quite a lot but thought 'LA FAMA' was merely "good" and 'CHICKEN TERIYAKI' was actually quite annoying and not what I expected from her at all. Her sophomore album El Mal Querer was an artistic masterpiece so my hopes had been high for an eventual follow-up. Bré had sent a track from her flamenco debut to the BuzzJack Song Contest, which I did point, but it was the song 'PIENSO EN TU MIRA' from her second album that truly made me sit up and take notice back in 2018. I think that was thanks to someone (Jake?) on here who started a thread about it. I then went back and fell in love with 'MALAMENTE' too, before diving into the whole album. Fast forward to now and we had a pre-release song that felt like it was pandering to TikTok more than anything, which is so not what I wanted from her. So it was a relief to listen through the album and realise that this was another Happier Than Ever situation, where the pre-release songs weren't totally representative of the quality that the album actually did contain. MOTOMAMI is a Spanish language album of two contrasting energies, with MOTO being the strong and experimental side, while MAMI is the more vulnerable and confessional half. The record explores themes such as transformation, female sexuality, isolation, heartbreak and more. A massive strength of the record for me is that it constantly keeps you on your toes with the sheer range of diversity in the music styles. Here we have alternative reggaeton, bachata, hip-hop, traces of flamenco like her debut, art pop, chiptune (!), bolero and electropop amongst others. PHEW. I remember my first listen occurring before a day at the office and I was initially sleepy, but putting this on gave me all the energy I needed that day. My favourite song on the record, 'CANDY', is an emotional mid-tempo heartbreak song that credits Burial, due to the vocal melody borrowing from his 'Archangel'. 'CUUUUuuuuuute' was initially my favourite (and is still right up there!) thanks to its Arca-esque franticness. I was bound to love this one when it's a deconstructed club song (think: Amnesia Scanner type weirdness). Despite such an energetic start it still has time to switch-up into piano balladry! ROSALÍA said she was inspired by 'Wuthering Heights' and that is my favourite Kate Bush song, so an excellent moodboard. 'SAOKO', the aforementioned pre-release song, has similarly electric energy but instead adopts more of a reggaeton production style. This is a genre that can feel quite samey, but she always knows how to make it interesting with more of an experimental spin. Heck even a more basic reggateon song in 'Con Altura' still had enough ROSALÍA magic to keep me interested. 'SAOKO' also has an avant-jazz break to keep us on our toes once again. It's a rip-roaring song all about transformation which could act as a good hype song into the new year. 'COMO UN G' was my biggest grower on the album which I initially thought was "good" but this turned into love in time. It's a piano ballad about unrequited love and the vocal build-up really gets me every time. We were also treated to a deluxe version of the album called MOMOMAMI+ back in September, which offered even more experimentation. 'DESPECHÁ', the lead for this expanded version, was the fifth (!) and final top 3 hit in my chart from this album - expect my top 100 songs to be littered with la ROSALÍA! It's a super fun and freeing mambo moment from her. It's about letting go of bad energy in your life and moving forward without regret, so it is no wonder that it suited summer smash status on Global Spotify. It was recently revealed that MOTOMAMI is Metacritic's #1 most acclaimed album of the year so it looks like my taste aligns perfectly with the critics this year. Never would I have expected this from the pre-release selection alone but I clearly needed to have faith in her as she delivered in the end with an extremely confident, off-the-wall, emotional and forward-thinking record. Hearing it in the flesh, with her amazing vocals on top form, was the icing on the cake. I'd highly recommend if you're open to experimental non-English language music.

 

My second favourite record of the year is from a group I knew very little about before but then one song came along and changed everything. Working Men's Club had floated around on BuzzJack previously in one of the song contests, so they were somewhat on my radar, but evidently not enough. I suppose it's difficult to stay on top of all of the artists you enjoy in song contests as there can be so many of them. But I did check out this brand new shiny lead from their upcoming sophomore album Fear Fear called 'Widow'. That song went on to be the longest running #1 in my chart for 2022, so you could say I rather enjoyed it! I'm sure everyone who knows me on here is aware that I have a penchant for dark, 80s synths and here was a song that sounded like a cross between Depeche Mode and New Order. But it doesn't feel like a total pastiche, they have an amazing way of taking this sound and making it feel fresh for a modern landscape. It probably helps that the captivating lead vocalist, Syd Minsky-Sargeant, is only about 20 years old?! :drama: he really has such a mature delivery so I never would've guessed. 'Widow' lured me in with its pulsating synths and dark way of conveying isolation. This very personal theme, that became widespread for obvious reasons, runs through the album alongside dance-floor ready beats and uptempo guitars to juxtapose the mood. So it's not completely doom and gloom. 'Rapture' was the album track that captivated me the most from the rest of the record and I think "feel the hippocampus, praying like a mantis" has to be the most standout lyric for me across them all. 'Circumference' was the second single presented to us after 'Widow' so it had a lot to live up to. It was certainly a different vibe sonically as the production became more icy and mid-tempo. The lyrics are still dark like 'Widow' but instead talk about the frustrations of small town life. This was more of a slow burner but clicked in time and became another top 5 hit in my chart. 'Cut' is the latest single that this project has offered up in all 7 minutes of its glory. There are still frustrations in these lyrics but also a real urgency to push through it - "you gotta give it, gotta take it, gotta break it, gotta make it". This is an example of one of the more guitar heavy songs on the record so I'd offer this up as a starting point if you're more into that than synths. 'Ploys' was the third single from the album and did a 180 on the slightly more laidback vibe that 'Circumference' presented. This one burst through the doors with its killer bassline and 21st Century angst, expressing: "when we talk of the times, we talk in the past tense". If you want to give the album a go then '19' is a very explosive start production-wise too. The thought-provoking lyrics and interesting electronic-meets-post-punk production never really lets up and I'm so happy to be able to say that, as I was worried that 'Widow' might be setting a bar that was too high. I've since gone back and listened to their debut too, which was also a very enjoyable body of work, I definitely need to revisit that again. This band is a credit to the U.K. and I can't wait to see what they do next.

 

I know both MOTOMAMI and Fear Fear have their fans on BuzzJack but my bronze medal feels extremely underrated on here. Vandal Moon were another song contest artist discovery, thanks to Cody, then Bré recommended another one of their songs to me - 'Sweet Disaster', from this album. Immediately I was all over that one like a rash. Here you have a dark, dramatic offering ("Your lies, cut me I bleed") with darkwave-style gothic production, which was right up my street. This particular song has a really strong, memorable hook as well that continued to stand out in the context of the album. It was soon leapfrogged in my affections by the title track 'Queen Of The Night' with its pounding goth drums and synths, plus lyrics that take on more romantic phrasing. I totally approve that "my highness" is used as a form of address on an album called Queen Of The Night. This is another with a very sticky chorus. The "queen of the night" in question, the centrepiece for the whole album, is a woman who is trying to navigate a claustrophobic world that is falling apart. 'War', a title that straight away alludes to that internal battle, was an immediate favourite too but a bit of a switch-up as it's more of a moody ballad, but once again backed with super interesting production, goth synths once more but with keyboards shining here in particular too. The lyrics feel pretty otherworldly in places so it's a good piece of escapism, even if still rooted in darkness. 'Young. Deadly. Beautiful.', like 'Sweet Disaster', is another that was pushed with a video. This feels like a pretty Depeche Mode-esque moment on the album, so it's not just Working Men's Club who were giving me all of those dark 80s vibes this year. The synths here are delicious and I love how this one effectively uses hooky pitched up vocals as a device to move the song along. Rounding out my top 5 is 'Sunlight' in all of its goth rock glory. Those guitars on this one are seriously epic. The "Can you be mine?" line launching into the choppy low pitched instrumental hook has to be one of the best transitional moments on here. Overall it's a highly enjoyable darkwave meets post-punk album lead by the fantastic deep, commanding vocals of Blake Voss. If you enjoy bands like The Cure or the aforementioned Depeche Mode then you may enjoy some of the material on offer. This project feels seriously under-discussed (easy to see why, when some of the songs have less than 10,000 streams) so I couldn't recommend it more if you're into dark alt music as much as me!

 

So, those are my top 3 standout albums that all deserved a lot of words :wub: but I enjoyed many others, so here's an alphabetical list of all of my top 30 albums of 2022:

 

ADULT. - Becoming Undone

Bad Bunny - Un Verano Sin Ti

Beach House - Once Twice Melody

Beyoncé - RENAISSANCE

Black Country, New Road - Ants from Up There

Boy Harsher - The Runner (Original Soundtrack)

Daniel Avery - Ultra Truth

Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future

Everything Everything - Raw Data Feel

Gabe Gurnsey - Diablo

George FitzGerald - Stellar Drifting

Hatchie - Giving The World Away

Kendrick Lamar - Mr Morale & The Big Steppers

Metric - Formentera

Mitski - Laurel Hell

Nova Twins - Supernova

Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl

ROSALÍA - MOTOMAMI

Röyksopp - Profound Mysteries

Röyksopp - Profound Mysteries II

Röyksopp - Profound Mysteries III

Shygirl - Nymph

Soccer Mommy - Sometimes, Forever

Taylor Swift - Midnights

Tove Lo - Dirt Femme

Vandal Moon - Queen Of The Night

The Weeknd - Dawn FM

Wet Leg - Wet Leg

Weyes Blood - And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow

Working Men's Club - Fear Fear

 

I made a playlist of them all so I can easily access them, but in case anyone else wants album inspo (for a diverse range of genres at that x) I might as well link it here:

 

 

+ a cool graphic because why not:

 

 

(top 3 at the front, the rest then alphabetical)

 

Main event time to follow... top 100 songs of 2022 :cheer: this time descending from 100-1 in batches.

I keep umming and ahhing over whether to make an EOY albums list myself (I still need to finish listening to albums from the year first :ph34r:) but all 3 of these would definitely rank at least decently highly for me too so taste *.*

 

Definitely need to try and advertise Vandal Moon to more people on BuzzJack whenever they put out more material (or just right now - I really encourage anyone who thinks the description looks interesting to at least try a couple of the songs xx) if it maintains the standard from this era as they're too good to just be a niche Brade (via Cody) fave! Sadly a very under the radar album in general with those disgustingly low streaming numbers indeed though (and last I checked most of the songs don't even have lyrics online oops) - in fact I nearly missed that it even released in the first place despite them staying on my radar for the release of 'Sweet Disaster' :drama: - but they really delivered a no-skip album for me, totally nailing that melancholy 80s synthpop style. Need to shout out the stunning and devastating closing track 'The Way You Cry' as well which is my personal favourite :wub:

 

I actually kind of forgot Working Men's Club were in BJSC and on inspection I didn't even vote for their song there :ph34r: but this era certainly clicked with me a lot more, and as much as I did like all of the singles this one was all about the deeper cuts for me with my holy trinity being '19' (what an intro, the production :cheeseblock:), 'Money Is Mine' (super dark lyrically but one of the biggest earworms for me) and 'Heart Attack' (also a major earworm as is 'Cut'). Seems that our opinions on this album are very different despite both loving it overall haha! It is my least favourite of the 3 here but I think it would still be top 20 minimum and maybe top 10 in an EOY list for me.

 

I don't think I have much else to say about 'MOTOMAMI' that I haven't said elsewhere but yeah #unsurprisingspoilers that would be my AOTY as well. I already loved every song on the original album (not counting the two 1 minute tracks which are fine as transitional moments but I wouldn't really go back to on their own x) and then it was cemented further by the '+' version adding another 5 songs that were all varying levels of great too, and cemented further further by seeing her live. The fact that paragraph basically doubles as a dictionary of music genres and it is still basically a no-skip album says it all. She can just do no wrong for me this era, and I include 'CHICKEN TERIYAKI' in that :ph34r: (it's nowhere near one of my faves from the album don't get me wrong but I think it's an underrated basic bop and the video is iconic x). I went to think of other songs I wanted to shout out besides the ones you mentioned and it was literally basically half of the album haha. But aside from 'G3 N15' which I sang the praises of in my reply to your concerts post, 'HENTAI' and 'DIABLO' are my other biggest standouts not included in that post, basically totally opposite vibes from each other but both flawless. #streammotomami x

Everything Everywhere All At Once was one of my favourite films of the year too, so inventive and so much fun! The whole "multiverse" idea is being done to death right now but this was 100% one of the more creative takes on it. Having said that, I watched it with my family and they thought it was terrible

Top Gun Maverick was one of the few films I went to see in cinemas this year but absolutely felt like the big cinematic moment of the year.

 

Of course nuestra reina ROSALÍA is a great choice for #1 album, it only gets better with time (and I'm a proud member of the CHICKEN TERIYAKI defence club :lol: ). I haven't listened to the other two but based on your descriptions I'm definitely interested now!

I keep umming and ahhing over whether to make an EOY albums list myself (I still need to finish listening to albums from the year first :ph34r:) but all 3 of these would definitely rank at least decently highly for me too so taste *.*

 

Definitely need to try and advertise Vandal Moon to more people on BuzzJack whenever they put out more material (or just right now - I really encourage anyone who thinks the description looks interesting to at least try a couple of the songs xx) if it maintains the standard from this era as they're too good to just be a niche Brade (via Cody) fave! Sadly a very under the radar album in general with those disgustingly low streaming numbers indeed though (and last I checked most of the songs don't even have lyrics online oops) - in fact I nearly missed that it even released in the first place despite them staying on my radar for the release of 'Sweet Disaster' :drama: - but they really delivered a no-skip album for me, totally nailing that melancholy 80s synthpop style. Need to shout out the stunning and devastating closing track 'The Way You Cry' as well which is my personal favourite :wub:

 

I actually kind of forgot Working Men's Club were in BJSC and on inspection I didn't even vote for their song there :ph34r: but this era certainly clicked with me a lot more, and as much as I did like all of the singles this one was all about the deeper cuts for me with my holy trinity being '19' (what an intro, the production :cheeseblock:), 'Money Is Mine' (super dark lyrically but one of the biggest earworms for me) and 'Heart Attack' (also a major earworm as is 'Cut'). Seems that our opinions on this album are very different despite both loving it overall haha! It is my least favourite of the 3 here but I think it would still be top 20 minimum and maybe top 10 in an EOY list for me.

 

I don't think I have much else to say about 'MOTOMAMI' that I haven't said elsewhere but yeah #unsurprisingspoilers that would be my AOTY as well. I already loved every song on the original album (not counting the two 1 minute tracks which are fine as transitional moments but I wouldn't really go back to on their own x) and then it was cemented further by the '+' version adding another 5 songs that were all varying levels of great too, and cemented further further by seeing her live. The fact that paragraph basically doubles as a dictionary of music genres and it is still basically a no-skip album says it all. She can just do no wrong for me this era, and I include 'CHICKEN TERIYAKI' in that :ph34r: (it's nowhere near one of my faves from the album don't get me wrong but I think it's an underrated basic bop and the video is iconic x). I went to think of other songs I wanted to shout out besides the ones you mentioned and it was literally basically half of the album haha. But aside from 'G3 N15' which I sang the praises of in my reply to your concerts post, 'HENTAI' and 'DIABLO' are my other biggest standouts not included in that post, basically totally opposite vibes from each other but both flawless. #streammotomami x

Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed comment - although I did think if anyone would appreciate this trio of picks the most, it would be you :lol: *.*

 

If a whole EOY is too daunting then you should definitely dump a post of your favourites in the 'best albums of 2022' thread as I'd be intrigued to see what all of yours were!

 

Yes Queen Of The Night feels like such a hidden gem (although I know that Roba listened to the title track at the very least, as commented in my personal chart <3) - I was so intrigued off the back of 'Sweet Disaster' and your own glowing praise and indeed, it was top quality. That's right the lyrics aren't out there (maybe 'Sweet Disaster' aside) so hopefully at least some of the interpretations in my head have been correct :lol: Oh yes, 'The Way You Cry' is another highlight (made my chart of course) - it was brutal narrowing these down to just 5 favourites in all honesty!

 

Poor brave 'Valleys' :kink: I can't believe I only gave that 4 points - now look at me. Their debut is well worth a go even if you weren't too hot on that one! Like Queen Of The Night, this is another no-skips album for me so again it felt harsh to only choose 5 favourites :lol: '19' was next in line, agreed that it has some really standout production.

 

Ooh yay, snap :cheer: it must be so cool seeing several of your BJSC artists breaking out - from ROSALÍA to 070 Shake to BROCKHAMPTON ('Sugar'), I still don't think that's properly happened for me :lol: well, I guess that remix of 'Lauren' by Men I Trust was was picked up a bit if we extend it to other contests. I knew you'd be first in here to defend 'CHICKEN TERIYAKI' :kink: maybe I would be less harsh towards it if I'd discovered it in amongst the album, but it just left me cold as a standalone idk. That and the 'CANDY' remix are the two songs on the deluxe that I'd be tempted to skip but almost everything else is varying shades of brilliant, so it just had to be my AOTY. So much of it stuck around in my chart for ages! Agreed that 'DIABLO' is a standout (was shook when hearing a wild James Blake during my first listen *.*) and I'm definitely starting to get the 'G3 N15' hype more after hearing her live vocals.

 

Everything Everywhere All At Once was one of my favourite films of the year too, so inventive and so much fun! The whole "multiverse" idea is being done to death right now but this was 100% one of the more creative takes on it. Having said that, I watched it with my family and they thought it was terrible

Top Gun Maverick was one of the few films I went to see in cinemas this year but absolutely felt like the big cinematic moment of the year.

 

Of course nuestra reina ROSALÍA is a great choice for #1 album, it only gets better with time (and I'm a proud member of the CHICKEN TERIYAKI defence club :lol: ). I haven't listened to the other two but based on your descriptions I'm definitely interested now!

OMG more Everything Everywhere All At Once love in here, so happy to see it :wub: lol this is true, I didn't see too many films last year but could barely breathe without seeing the phrase "...was my multiverse of madness" on social media :kink: haha can relate, my family also gave it a watch and I think it was a bit too 'weird' for them - but right up my street at least. Top Gun: Maverick is definitely one of those films that is worth seeing on the big screen! Glad I gave it a chance after not seeing the first one.

 

<3 thought you would approve of that #1 album too! Gah, 'CHICKEN TERIYAKI' stans multiplying on here :drama: :kink: Ooh, well you did send Mareux to BJSC and that is all kinds of wonderful darkness too, so I do think you could potentially enjoy Working Men's Club and Vandal Moon too! I'd suggest 'Widow' and 'Queen Of The Night' as a basic starting point <3

I am very disappointed to see Taylor and Tove both miss your top 3 but the fact that they're included is enough for me. Both my two favourites albums of the year alongside Hold The Girl and The Loneliest time. That would definitely be my top 4. Maybe renaissance would bring up the rear. Solid list outside your top 3 though!

As for your question about my albums chart next year, I'll be doing it all the way through the year. I can't say I listen to a lot of albums though so it'll be pretty slow as it has been for the last few weeks but I can't very well be the mod for that section of the pc forum and not have an album chart myself. 🤣🤣 I'm very grateful for your contribution everywhere and for anyone else reading, if you ever wan contribute too, you're more than welcome!

I think that's a great top 3 Jade - although I haven't listened to many albums from last year in full, several of those I have done appear in your top 30, including Fear Fear which turned out to be my favourite. The comparisons of Working Men's Club to Depeche Mode and New Order comparisons are apt (perhaps more Joy Division in Cut) and as well as the conviction in those vocals, the production is so accomplished, especially considering how young they are. I was originally more drawn in by Circumference with that swirling, suffocating riff, but over repeat listens I would have to agree that Widow is the pinnacle of the album - the urgent synth sequence and the chorus are unforgettable.

 

I listened through several MOTOMAMI tracks shortly after it came out (as I had for a number of ROSALÍA tracks around the time of TKN being a minor hit), without anything really sticking, but DESPECHÁ has changed that for me, as its melody and instrumentation are really memorable. Hopefully she can have a Top 40 as lead artist in the not too distant future! I hadn't listened to the Vandal Moon album until earlier, and although I found it a little on the gothic side for my usual choice, I did recognise Sweet Disaster as something I'd heard before and quite liked, so that could grow into a favourite of mine. Look forward to your top 100 songs!

Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed comment - although I did think if anyone would appreciate this trio of picks the most, it would be you :lol: *.*

 

If a whole EOY is too daunting then you should definitely dump a post of your favourites in the 'best albums of 2022' thread as I'd be intrigued to see what all of yours were!

 

Yes Queen Of The Night feels like such a hidden gem (although I know that Roba listened to the title track at the very least, as commented in my personal chart <3) - I was so intrigued off the back of 'Sweet Disaster' and your own glowing praise and indeed, it was top quality. That's right the lyrics aren't out there (maybe 'Sweet Disaster' aside) so hopefully at least some of the interpretations in my head have been correct :lol: Oh yes, 'The Way You Cry' is another highlight (made my chart of course) - it was brutal narrowing these down to just 5 favourites in all honesty!

 

Poor brave 'Valleys' :kink: I can't believe I only gave that 4 points - now look at me. Their debut is well worth a go even if you weren't too hot on that one! Like Queen Of The Night, this is another no-skips album for me so again it felt harsh to only choose 5 favourites :lol: '19' was next in line, agreed that it has some really standout production.

 

Ooh yay, snap :cheer: it must be so cool seeing several of your BJSC artists breaking out - from ROSALÍA to 070 Shake to BROCKHAMPTON ('Sugar'), I still don't think that's properly happened for me :lol: well, I guess that remix of 'Lauren' by Men I Trust was was picked up a bit if we extend it to other contests. I knew you'd be first in here to defend 'CHICKEN TERIYAKI' :kink: maybe I would be less harsh towards it if I'd discovered it in amongst the album, but it just left me cold as a standalone idk. That and the 'CANDY' remix are the two songs on the deluxe that I'd be tempted to skip but almost everything else is varying shades of brilliant, so it just had to be my AOTY. So much of it stuck around in my chart for ages! Agreed that 'DIABLO' is a standout (was shook when hearing a wild James Blake during my first listen *.*) and I'm definitely starting to get the 'G3 N15' hype more after hearing her live vocals.

 

I think I will definitely post a list there when I've finished listening to all the albums I still want to catch up with, just unsure if I'll be up to the task of actually putting them in an order - I could maybe do similarly to you and just make a small ordered list then a longer unordered one I guess!

 

'Valleys' wasn't too far off my votes tbf and... I was about to say I did like one other song off their debut but just checked and it wasn't on that album at all whoops, just a one off single between eras ('X'). I am open to hearing more stuff from the debut at some point though! Do you have any particular songs you'd recommend?

 

Indeed always fun to see my BJSC artists occasionally getting real world success (ROSALÍA is definitely the most unexpected one as I sent her before 'MALAMENTE' even came out so she was still just a moderately hyped flamenco artist, no reason to suspect she'd pivot into pop/reggaetón/500 other genres and become a worldwide chart star and critics' fave haha). It is a shame there hasn't been any notable Jadakissnia artists blowing up indeed, hopefully one day as there are lots of great options.

 

And oh yeah the 'CANDY' remix is kind of a skip but eh there's a better version of the same song on the album so :kink:

 

I hadn't listened to the Vandal Moon album until earlier, and although I found it a little on the gothic side for my usual choice, I did recognise Sweet Disaster as something I'd heard before and quite liked, so that could grow into a favourite of mine.

 

The promo is working :cheeseblock: (even if not necessarily quite as glowing a review as me and Jade give it :kink: but still pleased you gave it a try and got at least one good song out of it)

I am very disappointed to see Taylor and Tove both miss your top 3 but the fact that they're included is enough for me. Both my two favourites albums of the year alongside Hold The Girl and The Loneliest time. That would definitely be my top 4. Maybe renaissance would bring up the rear. Solid list outside your top 3 though!

As for your question about my albums chart next year, I'll be doing it all the way through the year. I can't say I listen to a lot of albums though so it'll be pretty slow as it has been for the last few weeks but I can't very well be the mod for that section of the pc forum and not have an album chart myself. 🤣🤣 I'm very grateful for your contribution everywhere and for anyone else reading, if you ever wan contribute too, you're more than welcome!

:ph34r: both two of the best pop records of 2022 for me which is still high praise! That's cool that 4 of your absolute favourites are in my list, sadly this Carly era hasn't connected with me very much.

 

Haha I did think surely you would be taking one on after putting in so much effort to catch up on the historical album charts :kink: I feel you, my personal chart of songs is so fast-moving but albums are snail-paced, as for the majority of the year I listen to one a week at the very most :kink: aww, some lovely words there. :wub:

 

I think that's a great top 3 Jade - although I haven't listened to many albums from last year in full, several of those I have done appear in your top 30, including Fear Fear which turned out to be my favourite. The comparisons of Working Men's Club to Depeche Mode and New Order comparisons are apt (perhaps more Joy Division in Cut) and as well as the conviction in those vocals, the production is so accomplished, especially considering how young they are. I was originally more drawn in by Circumference with that swirling, suffocating riff, but over repeat listens I would have to agree that Widow is the pinnacle of the album - the urgent synth sequence and the chorus are unforgettable.

 

I listened through several MOTOMAMI tracks shortly after it came out (as I had for a number of ROSALÍA tracks around the time of TKN being a minor hit), without anything really sticking, but DESPECHÁ has changed that for me, as its melody and instrumentation are really memorable. Hopefully she can have a Top 40 as lead artist in the not too distant future! I hadn't listened to the Vandal Moon album until earlier, and although I found it a little on the gothic side for my usual choice, I did recognise Sweet Disaster as something I'd heard before and quite liked, so that could grow into a favourite of mine. Look forward to your top 100 songs!

Oh wow, I wasn't actually expecting anyone to go out of their way to listen to Queen Of The Night so thank you for taking the time to do that :wub: that's a totally fair comment, it appeased both the synth-pop and goth lover in me but can understand why that particular kind of straddling may not be for everyone. Happy to hear that 'Sweet Disaster' was a good takeaway for you though, that does seem like the most accessible song on the album. Hooray for Working Men's Club being more up your street in general :heart: they've been such a revelation for me. As 'Widow's #1 payola provider (:P) I am, of course, a happy bunny that it has clicked with you more over time.

 

'DESPECHA' seems to have been a breakout moment for quite a few on the forum (especially with a name like Cardi jumping on the remix - that version is not the preferable version for me but I'll take whatever exposure x) - I totally agree that it's memorable without even being a kookier moment in the project. Fingers crossed, still salty about 'TKN' narrowly missing out -_- :lol:

 

Yay, shall be ready to move on to the songs soon.

 

I think I will definitely post a list there when I've finished listening to all the albums I still want to catch up with, just unsure if I'll be up to the task of actually putting them in an order - I could maybe do similarly to you and just make a small ordered list then a longer unordered one I guess!

 

'Valleys' wasn't too far off my votes tbf and... I was about to say I did like one other song off their debut but just checked and it wasn't on that album at all whoops, just a one off single between eras ('X'). I am open to hearing more stuff from the debut at some point though! Do you have any particular songs you'd recommend?

 

Indeed always fun to see my BJSC artists occasionally getting real world success (ROSALÍA is definitely the most unexpected one as I sent her before 'MALAMENTE' even came out so she was still just a moderately hyped flamenco artist, no reason to suspect she'd pivot into pop/reggaetón/500 other genres and become a worldwide chart star and critics' fave haha). It is a shame there hasn't been any notable Jadakissnia artists blowing up indeed, hopefully one day as there are lots of great options.

 

And oh yeah the 'CANDY' remix is kind of a skip but eh there's a better version of the same song on the album so :kink:

Yessss even alphabetical would be fine by me! I think I'll put more effort into ordering the albums next year - I honestly thought it'd just be a quick little add on but I had forgotten how many albums I loved this year and underestimated how many words I'd want to write. For now, this'll do and I guess 100 songs still to count down is plenty :P

 

I remember 'A.A.A.A.' being an absolute tune and there's a particular one-two punch at the end of the album with 'Teeth' and 'Angel' - the latter is 12 minutes long which I think you may appreciate!

 

Yes it's been incredible to witness ROSALÍA's journey both musically and commercially! Crazy that she has a YouTube video with 1 billion+ views, even if that kind of sound targets a reliable market. Let's hope so, we're better at sending established icons it seems, like Chip Skylark B-)

 

:kink: I think original 'CANDY' is so perfect for me that any remix would be a hard sell. Although a Burial one might be interesting... :thinking:

TOP 100 SONGS: 100-91

 

 

100. Kai Whiston - Carrier Signal (with EDEN) | 126 points (peak: #5)

99. Kælan Mikla - Óskasteinar | 126 points (peak: #2)

98. Denzel Curry - Zatoichi (feat. slowthai) | 127 points (peak: #10)

97. Alvan & Ahez - Fulenn | 127 points (peak: #6)

96. TR/ST - The Shore | 128 points

95. Overmono - Gunk | 131 points

94. Kendrick Lamar - Auntie Diaries | 134 points (peak: #8, weeks on chart: 5)

93. Sky Ferreira - Don’t Forget | 134 points (peak: #8, weeks on chart: 6)

92. Taylor Swift - Carolina | 135 points (peak: #7)

91. Ed Harrison - Dive | 135 points (peak: #6)

 

Well, isn't this section very close?! Not only have peaks been drafted in as tiebreaks but also the number of weeks when that is still not enough. Some of these songs suffered criminally short chart runs even by my standards. I recall both 'Auntie Diaries' and 'Fulenn' debuting during a jam packed week which must've broken my record for most new entries in one chart.

 

We begin 2022's top songs list with one of my favourite electronic artist discoveries this year in Kai Whiston. It was a track called 'Between Lures' that, errr, lured me in but 'Carrier Signal' ended up making an even bigger splash in my chart. Gone were the intense strings and instead we have more dance-floor ready house meets UK bass production, with some distortion thrown in for good measure. Irish vocalist EDEN slots in like a glove with his effectively muffled contributions. What a banger. It seems quite surprising that a #2 peaking hit is up next but that's because 'Óskasteinar' is a carry over from 2021. Kælan Mikla take the #99 slot with their standout brand of Icelandic darkwave music. This tense song is dripping with synths and even has layers to the production that I think can only be described as snake charmer music. Lead singer Laufey sounds beautiful throughout despite this quirky description. It has a rather epic build that leads to a key-change and string-laden climax. Bré had previously sent a strong entry by them to the BuzzJack Song Contest, under his nation Persephonia, so I wanted to keep an eye out and am certainly glad I did. At #98 is another Persephonian alumnus who, like Kai Whiston earlier, incorporates distortion into his song. But, this time, it takes over the chorus vocals instead of being a production break. This is Denzel Curry who has also brought slowthai, one of Northampton's finest, along for the ride. Overall this single provides a genre shift to the countdown as it is a conscious hip-hop song, with powerful lyrics that reflect on difficult times and how we unite to get through them. But, despite a fairly chilled out execution initially, the chorus morphs into a breakbeat thrill. The accompanying album is definitely one of my favourite hip-hop records of the year. At #97, we have 'Fulenn' by Alvan & Ahez which turned out to be my favourite Eurovision Song Contest entry of 2022 by the time the final rolled around. However, there is still another to come much higher up as two separate stints really bulked up its chart points. For now, 'Fulenn' was France's submission and really captivated me with the interesting choice of Breton lyrics (a Cornish language) and dark, pounding electronic production. I found Alvan & Ahez to be loveably striking performers so it's a shame that others didn't feel the same as it unfortunately tanked in the contest. Boo! On the subject of dark electronic music... TR/ST is as reliable as ever and added yet another top 10 hit to his tally in my chart. This was a return after a two year absence and was worth the wait, with that familiar distinctive vocal, plus production which mixes haunting sounds with twinkly layers to take the edge off a bit. He absolutely nails this kind of melancholy synth-pop with a huge kick to the chorus.

 

Overmono were another fantastic electronic discovery this year. I was drawn in by the canine artwork and stuck around for the beats. 'Gunk' treats us to laidback, hypnotic looped vocals and perfectly complimentary production with a trance flavour to it. I'm very much here for this nostalgic style. I often gravitate towards dark music but this one takes me to a happy place instead. I suppose balance is never a bad thing! At #94 we shift back to socially conscious hip-hop as 2022 was the year that Kendrick Lamar returned. 'Auntie Diaries' caused a lot of conversation due to the controversial decision to include slurs and dead-naming within the lyrics. I think the intentions were supposed to be good, because the inclusion of them was to shine a light on a previously ignorant place that has blossomed into acceptance and love now. But I can definitely see why the decision would jar and offend. Nevertheless, the subject matter focusing on his trans auntie who he has a positive relationship with, feels groundbreaking for this genre and was a powerful standout on the album. Kendrick may have been absent for a while but Sky Ferreira really takes the biscuit as her sophomore album has been 10 (!) years in the making. But, to be fair, she has faced behind-the-scenes label issues in that timeframe. 'Don't Forget' is a strong taste of what is to come, anyway! It feels fitting lyrically as she is a woman on a mission who wants revenge against people who have wronged her. Marry this with lush synth-pop and rock production and she was on to a winner. Taylor Swift had a remarkable 2022 with Midnights but it's easy to forget that back in summer we only had a soundtrack single that seemed to come and go. But I was drawn in by its classic, ambient folk sounds a lot at least. It felt like a natural successor to the 'folkmore' world. I watched the accompanying film Where The Crawdads Sing, during a couple of days off work for my birthday, which helped to add context to the lyrics. It felt like a good fit with its haunting air of mystery. Rounding off this section is another BJSC alumnus but this time one of my own! I sent a track from Ed Harrison's Neotokyo soundtrack to the contest earlier this year, which is still to come, but I was not expecting new music from him any time soon. That soundtrack dates back to 2009 and he dropped off the grid a bit since then. So imagine my joy when he randomly released a new album last year! I clearly have summoning powers. 'Dive' feels different to my entry as I'd say that is rooted in classic trip-hop sounds while this is more of an in-your-face merging of rock and electronic qualities. It is largely instrumental and takes us on a bit of a dark trip especially accompanied with the animated video. Well, save for the juxtaposition of sweet female vocals repeating the title. He builds an incredible atmosphere here with a mix of bold instrumental layers and more understated moments, like the flute, working together hand in hand.

10 for 10 so far on songs I am also a fan of, wonder how long this flawless streak will continue :thinking:

 

Definitely believing in the power of Jadakissnia manifesting comebacks tbh especially with Paola & Chiara returning for Sanremo tbh :cheeseblock: but yes was quite a surprise to see new Ed Harrison appearing but another tune from him. A couple of songs here I just replied to in my catchup with Kath's EOY too, I first heard Overmono when 'Gunk' appeared in your chart so I guess I credit that artist discovery to you, definitely one of the most exciting new names in the genre <3 + 'Don't Forget' as well, Sky Ferreira really releasing at a rate of like one single every 3 years but at least they've been pretty high quality when they drop every blue moon :kink: something tells me that album is never happening x

 

Ofc thoroughly overshadowed by 'Midnights' now but I like 'Carolina' more than most of that album tbh, a shame her soundtrack singles never seem to take off (apart from that ZAYN one lol) as this was a great continuation of her folk sound indeed. Kendrick and Denzel definitely both up there with the best rap albums of the year and big highlights from both appearing here, Denzel & slowthai now having 3 songs together and all of them sound very different to each other, the drum n bass swerve on this one really took me by surprise but it was a :cheeseblock: moment. And 'Auntie Diaries' while not necessarily a song I'd want to casually put on too often does feel like quite a monumental and important song for the genre.

 

Shame 'The Shore' doesn't seem to have led into a new album from TR/ST yet but was still another fab single from him anyway so better than nothing! It is sad that 'Fulenn' bombed so hard as I worry that'll discourage France from sending more inventive songs to Eurovision in the future oops (I mean can't blame them when Barbara Pravi did so well for them while being the most French thing imaginable but 'Fulenn' was way more up my street personally). And yay for the excellent 'Óskasteinar' making it in here despite being split over two years <3 'Carrier Signal' was not one of my faves from the Kai Whiston album (actually had the lowest playlist placement for me out of the singles from it) but still a banger, he really came into his own this year after previously mainly knowing him from Iglooghost collabs.

10 for 10 so far on songs I am also a fan of, wonder how long this flawless streak will continue :thinking:

 

Definitely believing in the power of Jadakissnia manifesting comebacks tbh especially with Paola & Chiara returning for Sanremo tbh :cheeseblock: but yes was quite a surprise to see new Ed Harrison appearing but another tune from him. A couple of songs here I just replied to in my catchup with Kath's EOY too, I first heard Overmono when 'Gunk' appeared in your chart so I guess I credit that artist discovery to you, definitely one of the most exciting new names in the genre <3 + 'Don't Forget' as well, Sky Ferreira really releasing at a rate of like one single every 3 years but at least they've been pretty high quality when they drop every blue moon :kink: something tells me that album is never happening x

 

Ofc thoroughly overshadowed by 'Midnights' now but I like 'Carolina' more than most of that album tbh, a shame her soundtrack singles never seem to take off (apart from that ZAYN one lol) as this was a great continuation of her folk sound indeed. Kendrick and Denzel definitely both up there with the best rap albums of the year and big highlights from both appearing here, Denzel & slowthai now having 3 songs together and all of them sound very different to each other, the drum n bass swerve on this one really took me by surprise but it was a :cheeseblock: moment. And 'Auntie Diaries' while not necessarily a song I'd want to casually put on too often does feel like quite a monumental and important song for the genre.

 

Shame 'The Shore' doesn't seem to have led into a new album from TR/ST yet but was still another fab single from him anyway so better than nothing! It is sad that 'Fulenn' bombed so hard as I worry that'll discourage France from sending more inventive songs to Eurovision in the future oops (I mean can't blame them when Barbara Pravi did so well for them while being the most French thing imaginable but 'Fulenn' was way more up my street personally). And yay for the excellent 'Óskasteinar' making it in here despite being split over two years <3 'Carrier Signal' was not one of my faves from the Kai Whiston album (actually had the lowest playlist placement for me out of the singles from it) but still a banger, he really came into his own this year after previously mainly knowing him from Iglooghost collabs.

:cheeseblock: wow, that is very good going *.*

 

Oh yes I am hyped to see the Paola & Chiara comeback unfold at Sanremo festival! Plus my PFSC artist Madame is part of the line-up too. I haven't listened to the Neotokyo soundtrack in full but everything I know from it, when potential hunting, is great so I'm happy that his music continued to be of good quality 14 years later. Ooh I had forgotten that you discovered 'Gunk' from my chart! Well, I'm definitely pleased to hear that it lead to a great artist discovery in general, the EP is fab. Here's hoping a commercial break-through may happen one day. Lmao, yes, Sky must be a frustrating artist to follow regularly :kink: I wasn't too well versed in her music since 'One' so I picked it back up at a very good place. You may be on to something there 😭

 

'Carolina' feels sooo underrated so I'm glad that you appreciate it too! I guess we previously clashed with our Taylor soundtrack opinions, with me liking 'Safe & Sound' a lot more than you :kink: oh yeah, the ZAYN collab is a pretty mediocre one to have been the one to take off oops. I've actually appreciated 'Only The Young' more in recent times after watching Miss Americana on the plane to my last holiday, the creation process was interesting to watch. I guess that's more of a promo single that a soundtrack one, but still, was definitely tied to that documentary! I had forgotten that Denzel and slowthai had as many as 3 collabs :o this really was an enjoyable swerve *.* yeah I hear you, I definitely need to be in the right mood to hear songs like 'Auntie Diaries' and 'We Cry Together', but both have really strong emotional impact.

 

Let's hope TR/ST pulls through with more material this year as 'The Shore' was a very good taste! Yeah I loved how much of a switch-up 'Fulenn' was for France <3 I really didn't see that bomb coming oops, maybe swayed by my own love for it, but let's hope they're not totally discouraged from risks going forward :( they do have AQ status after all. Yay, look out for quite a few 2021 carry overs making the cut - one is very high in particular! Tbf Kai has been very consistent in recent times so understandable if your least favourite is still something you'd consider good. Speaking of Iglooghost... definitely one to watch for my 2023 EOY with 'Rust Genome' doing so well in my personal chart at the moment :kink: