Best Hidden Gem Albums of 2022 with Reviews
by Alex Harford
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While I've called this list hidden gems, they actually are my favourite albums of 2022. It just turned out that most are under the radar enough to seem underappreciated or even underrated.
The below and more are all in my Best of 2022 Spotify Playlist, with most of my absolute favourites in the first 75 tracks.
1Nerina Pallot: I Don't Know What I'm Doing
Singer-songwriter
pop rock
adult contemporary
Album #: 7
United Kingdom
Review
The pop of Year of the Wolf was the first Nerina Pallot album I loved. Since, her three albums have all been different and interesting while still having that brilliant pop edge. They didn't immediately capture me, but I'm always glad I listen again, as they're always Album of the Year material.
Obviously autotuned vocals (because of how often autotune is badly used) are usually a turn-off for me and were when I first heard I Don't Know What I'm Doing's opening track, "Cold Places."
But after 2 or 3 listens, the way the autotune effect fades throughout the song works perfectly, and is probably the best use I've heard since Cher kicked it off with "Believe."
One of many things that makes Nerina Pallot a great songwriter is the unexpected, and "Cold Places" starts with beautiful solo harp flourishes, is briefly hauntingly wintry as the harp fades and the autotuned vocal comes in, gradually builds into what seems is about to become an orchestral dance banger, only to cut to piano and Nerina's stunning vocals (the autotune effect long past obvious), then as the song reaches its conclusion, dramatically bursts into that dance banger that was promised earlier.
For a track I didn't like on first listen, it's my favourite from the album - and absolutely superb live with Nerina and her band, as is second track Alice at the Beach.
Listen to "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" from Nerina's previous album, Stay Lucky, and tell me that wouldn't be an all-time classic if it was written by one of the big stars from the 70s or early 90s. I don't know which songs from I Don't Know What I'm Doing will be the classics yet ("Mama" and "Only the Old Songs" have that timeless classic feel Nerina does so well), but it's an album that further seeps into me with every listen.
The likes of Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Laura Nyro, and Joni Mitchell have been mentioned in other reviews of I Don't Know What I'm Doing.
With her modern Pallot twist, I think Pallot is up there with them all. "Only the Old Songs" features Elton John-esque piano, a song called a homage to all the artists I felt saved me."
On an album about confusion, loss, finding joy, and getting through life as best we can, "only the old songs sound the same."
I shouldn't be surprised that (apart from a couple of songs) it's the third Nerina Pallot album in a row I wasn't sure about at first but soon became an album of the year contender.
Throughout the album there are musical details here and there that reveal themselves on further listens, and it's an album where everything sounds like it was meant to be there.
Nerina Pallot is up there with Paul Steel as one of the great underrated songwriters of the 21st Century. His Carousel Kites album is a grower and especially superb if you invest the time. I've had a dream...can we have a Pallot/Steel collaboration? Maybe pick a song of each others to cover - I'd love to hear how Pallot interprets Steel and vice-versa. I know both are Steely Dan fans...
Nerina Pallot also features in my best gigs of 2022.
Favourite songs: Cold Places / Mama
Amazon
2Ef: We Salute You, You and You
Post-rock
cinematic
Album #: 5
Sweden
Review
Opening track "Moments of Momentum" is a superb and lush piece of music and should be soundtracking huge nature documentaries like Sigur Rós' Takk... did. In a just world, the track would be as well known as anything from Takk...
That's not to take away from Ef sounding like Ef, which - with their interweaving of percussion and rock instruments plus brass - they do very much throughout We Salute You, You and You.
Intended as support for anyone who had or is having rough times during or post-pandemic, this is Ef at their most cinematic and beautiful.
Amongst the beauty is darkness. Apart from a few exceptions, I'm not usually a fan of post-hardcore, but the occasional forays into such noise on the latest Ef album work brilliantly, as do the male and female vocals.
A consistently excellent album throughout. Nearly ten years since their previous album, I feel like the ambition shown on the very good Mourning Golden Morning has come to fruition with We Salute You being Ef's magnum opus.
Favourite songs: Moments of Momentum
Bandcamp Amazon
3Battle Beast: Circus of Doom
Heavy metal
power metal
symphonic metal
Album #: 6
Finland
Review
I adored "No More Hollywood Endings" from Battle Beast's previous album. It had another couple of great tracks too.
While Circus of Doom doesn't quite have a track I love as much as "No More Hollywood Endings," it's consistently strong song to song, with melodies to burn throughout. Title track "Circus of Doom" is one highlight.
Great guitars, super synth stabs, theatrics, and the kind of powerful female vocals I love. Bombastic brilliance interspersed with brilliance, and my favourite Battle Beast album to date.
Battle Beast also feature in my best gigs of 2022.
Favourite songs: Circus of Doom / Where Angels Fear to Fly
Amazon
4Powder Pink & Sweet: Little Stories
Dream pop
shoegaze
Album #: debut
United States
Review
The long-awaited first full release from Powder Pink & Sweet does not disappoint.
Their mesmerising way with dreamy melodies and vocal harmonies sounds like no one else to me, though I love the Slowdive-esque walls of beautiful noise that "It's the Space" and album closer "Secret Garden" stray into. I'd love to see the band live.
The soothing "Grey Day" is my highlight and one of my favourite songs ever.
Favourite songs: Grey Day / Secret Garden
Bandcamp
5Pencey Sloe: Neglect
Dream pop
shoegaze
Album #: 2
France
Review
I gradually fell in love with Pencey Sloe's dark-edged dream pop on debut album Don't Believe Watch Out.
Like the debut, follow-up Neglect has a couple of songs I instantly loved, and the rest soon seeped into my conscience with further listens.
Favourite songs: all of them
Bandcamp Amazon
6Breanna Barbara: Nothin' But Time
Psychedelic rock
indie rock
blues rock
Album #: 4
United States
Review
"Diamond Light's" catchy 1960s yé-yé sound hooked me onto Breanna Barbara and reminded me of Fabienne Delsol. I expected (initially hoped for given I love that style of music) more of the same from Nothin' but Time.
It doesn't continue in that vein, but the hazy and bluesy psychedelic rock that fills much of the rest of the album shows unfounded hope can be great. It's not a genre I'm usually a big fan of, and maybe it's the female rather than male-led inspiration that's most common in the rock genres that gives Nothin' but Time the edge for me. That's no surprise, as before they were written out of history, the likes of Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey were the most well-known blues singers around.
The vocals are excellent throughout, and Barbara tackles plenty of tough themes. "Me Too," for example, which reminds me of Nina Simone musically and in the emotional delivery. Nothin' but Time feels like it was a cathartic album to make, and it's one of those albums that deserves attention and gets better with every listen.
Album-closer "Weaning" could've been a suitable recent Bond theme (and one of the best), both musically and theme-wise, with lyrics about moving on from your past self.
Favourite songs: Diamond Light / Me Too
Bandcamp Amazon
7Caroline Loveglow: Strawberry
Dream pop
chillwave
Album #: debut
United States
Review
I said somewhere that Caroline Loveglow had almost out-Hatchied Hatchie on Strawberry, but Hatchie's new album is brilliant too.
Loveglow infuses Strawberry with melodic synths and ethereal pop melodies. Her production combines everything perfectly. If any album sounds like its title this year, then this one sounds like the finest strawberries.
Music to dream to, and rounds out a top 7 albums where any could've been my album of 2022.
Favourite songs: Patience Etc... / Strawberry
Bandcamp Amazon
8Feeder: Torpedo
Alternative rock
grunge
Album #: 11
United Kingdom
Review
While it didn't catch my attention at first, "The Healing" - a song about coming out of the pandemic and one of Feeder's longest - is up there with their best album openers. It's a "Just the Way I'm Feeling" kind of anthem with a burst of hard hitting and heavy guitar in the middle.
Title track "Torpedo" harks back to "Stereo World" with it's heavy riffing in verses and melodic and uplifting chorus. "Magpie's" heavy and darkly crunching riffs are my favourite on Torpedo. "Decompress" should be a grunge classic.
"Hide and Seek," a lighter moment in the album, harks back to Yesterday Went Too Soon's most beautiful moments.
Probably Feeder's heaviest and most intense album, but "Submission" and "Desperate Hour" (despite the titles) end Torpedo on an uplifting note.
Feeder were also one of my gigs of 2022.
Favourite songs: The Healing, Magpie, Decompress
Amazon
9Salvana: Salvana
Shoegaze
Album #: debut
Spain
Review
My favourite kind of dreamy shoegaze noise to turn up loud. At times Salvana's self-titled debut is like a cross between Slowdive and Nothing, who are two of my all-time favourite bands.
Favourite songs: Keroseno / Ultramar
Bandcamp Amazon
10The Big Moon: Here Is Everything
Indie rock
indie pop
Album #: 3
United Kingdom
Review
Given the lack of female-led bands in the genre(s) and how much I love The Big Moon's debut album, I was disappointed when they moved away from their noise pop leanings, and it took hearing Barcelona's songs live in 2022 to realise how good they are.
The guitars are still there, and The Big Moon have made a fine third album in Here Is Everything - their best yet. Plenty of anthemic moments, with lyrically, Juliette Jackson getting personal about pregnancy and motherhood struggles.
Once I properly took in the themes in Here is Everything, it went up another level. At times it's an achingly beautiful album.
The overall feeling is positive and joyful, with The Big Moon's wonderful vocal harmonies playing a huge part in that.
Back to my initial disappointment in The Big Moon's change of musical direction; instead it's been awesome to see their growth, and Here is Everything is just the kind of album that (apart from occasional exceptions) has been missing for too long thanks to how male-dominated music has been and still is.
It's great bands like The Big Moon continue to pave the way, and the gender disparity in all kinds of music is slowly improving.
The Big Moon were one of my favourite gigs of 2022.
Favourite songs: Trouble / Two Lines
Bandcamp Amazon
11Paul Draper: Cult Leader Tactics
Alternative rock
indie rock
art rock
Album #: 2
United Kingdom
Review
The Mansun frontman's second album is up there with the best of the poppier side of Mansun. Especially superb are "Omega Man" (feat. Steven Wilson) (which wouldn't sound out of place on a Mansun album) and "You've Got No Life Skills, Baby!"
I wasn't sure whether to include this album in my chart given recent news and the fact Draper hasn't come across well when I've seen him live.
Favourite songs: Omega Man / You've Got No Life Skills, Baby
Amazon
12Lumenette: All Around My Head
Dream pop
ethereal wave
Album #: debut
United States
Review
I was excited to see the occasional Hammock vocalist had an album out, and I bought the CD after hearing the first two and a half tracks. All Around My Head is more beautiful than I could've imagined, with darkness but an overall uplifting feel, that at times isn't far away from Hammock's more ethereal dream pop moments. The album came during and helped me through an especially tough time.
Favourite songs: 2000 Feet / Deeper / Wake Up
Bandcamp Amazon
13Hatchie: Giving the World Away
Dream pop
alternative dance
baggy
Album #: 2
Australia
Review
Giving the World Away feels like a much more solid album than Hatchie's debut, Keepsake (which was very good and included "Without A Blush," one of the best pop songs I've ever heard).
I love the new direction Hatchie's taken with some tracks, especially the Manchester baggy element of the superb title track.
Favourite songs: Giving the World Away / Sunday Song
Bandcamp Amazon
14Sea Power: Everything Was Forever
Post-punk
indie rock
dream pop
Album #: 12
United Kingdom
Review
Parts majestic, meditative, urgent, and anthemic. Classic Sea Power.
Favourite songs: Green Goddess / Lakeland Echo / Doppelgänger
Bandcamp Amazon
15Pixy Jones: Bits n Bobs
Psychedelic pop
Album #: debut
United Kingdom
Review
Kind of like the album cover suggests, musically Bits n Bobs is catchy and fun psychedelic pop. At times I'm reminded of Harry Nilsson and Gilbert O'Sullivan alongside the obvious The Beatles comparison (comparisons I only make if the music is great).
After investigating Pixy Jones' origins, it's a shame I missed his band El Goodo until now.
Favourite songs: I'm Not There
Bandcamp Amazon
16Little Simz: NO THANK YOU
Hip hop
Album #: 5
United Kingdom
Review
I loved "Introvert" from Little Simz' previous album, but the album as a whole seemed slightly too long. NO THANK YOU is a snappier 50 minutes and along with Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, has turned Little Simz into my favourite rapper.
Mental health is the topic on "Broken," one of my favourite tracks. "Broken" and more tracks also highlight experiences of the black community in mental health and music with at times, a great pop edge.
I will investigate Little Simz' earlier albums and hope to catch her live in 2023.
Favourite songs: Broken / Heart on Fire
Amazon
17Cloudwalk: Rise Again; My Sun, My Mind
Shoegaze
post-rock
post-punk
Album #: debut
Denmark
Review
If The Cure stuck to slower songs and made post-rock? Rise Again; My Sun, My Mind has a strong shoegaze influence too.
Musically some really beautiful and light melodies amongst a darker undercurrent. "My Sun" is a wonderfully melodic instrumental opening, and on other tracks the vocals add an edge that makes Cloudwalk stand out.
Favourite songs: My Sun / Stranger
Bandcamp Amazon
18Lost in Kiev: Rupture
Post-rock
Album #: 4
France
Review
Rupture isn't as exciting to me as Lost in Kiev's previous album Persona, but it's still one of the best post-rock albums of 2022 and very solid from start to finish.
Lost in Kiev continue with their often subtle use of electronics amongst occasionally crushing guitars and drums, and beefy and catchy basslines. Rupture will probably grow on me even more with further listens.
Favourite songs: Solastalgia / We Are / Another End is Possible
Bandcamp Amazon
19Tallies: Patina
Dream pop
jangle pop
Album #: 2
Canada
Review
Gazy jangly dream pop with some brilliant pop songs and even a splash of garage rock.
Alvvays have been getting lots of plaudits for their very good latest album, but I prefer the indie pop/dream pop of fellow Canadians Tallies this year. Seeing them support Alvvays on their UK dates would be a dream...
Favourite songs: No Dreams of Fayres / Catapult
Bandcamp Amazon
20Daydream Twins: Daydream Twins
Dream pop/psychedelic
Album #: debut
United States
Review
I'm a sucker for the kind of gorgeous dream pop the Daydream Twins have created on their self-titled debut album.
Favourite songs: Thule's Trip Into the Palace of Hallucinogens / Carpop
Bandcamp Amazon
21Sonja: Loud Arriver
Hard rock
heavy metal
Album #: debut
United States
Review
A solid and enthralling hard rocker from start to finish, with driving drums and bass, and the best guitar riffing I've heard in ages, plus gothic overtones and anger.
Loud Arriver is only 38 minutes long, but I was surprised to see two tracks over 5 minutes long (one hitting 6 minutes), as it all flies by for relistening.
Favourite songs: When the Candle Burns Low… / Pink Fog
Bandcamp Amazon
22Slowly: Distance
Shoegaze
Album #: 3
Canada
Review
Nothing-esque at times in its grungy approach to shoegaze, and like Nothing, one of those albums that gets better with every listen, with consistently great melodies revealed through the haze.
Favourite songs: Dizzy
Bandcamp
Other Albums
My top 20 albums are European and North American centric, so here are favourites from elsewhere:
a.k.a YAYA by 야야 킴 [YAYA Kim]
Jazz pop/art rock/art pop
South Korea
At 2hr21mins it's long, so I've only repeatedly listened to CD1 so far, which is very good.
Favourite track: Anger is my power
Bandcamp Amazon
Here and There by Kibrom Birhane
Jazz/Ethiopic
Ethiopia
I'm not a big jazz fan, but I love the African influence here, and the production and layering is superb.
Favourite track: Mender (one of my absolute favourite tracks of 2022)
Bandcamp Amazon
Sequana by Souad Massi
Singer-songwriter/folk music/chanson
Algeria
Favourite track: Dessine-moi un pays
Amazon
Even more favourites:
U137, Cloakroom, Emily Jane White, Shadow Universe, Basement Revolver, Still Motions, Go With Strangers, The Beths, Visions of Atlantis, Knifeplay, Robyn Hitchcock, Alvvays, Danger Mouse & Black Thought, The Bug Club, Cannons.
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