Ten Best Rock Albums of 2022 | Greg Cahill

Never imagined Kate Bush’s 1985 hit “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)”—driven by Netflix’s mega-hit Stranger Things and a flood of TikTok fan videos—to push the shy songstress back onto the pop charts. And didn’t expect Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood to re-emerge as the Smile. Or figure Todd Rundgren to deliver an engaging album of duets. Or foresee comebacks from Tears for Fears (The Tipping Point), Bowie (the lost Toy album), or the Mars Volta (their eponymous return). Or strong live albums from Liam Gallagher (Down by the River Thames), Regina Spektor (an official boot of her 2002 debut 11:11), Fleet Foxes (the finely crafted A Very Lonely Solstice), the Grateful Dead (three discs from the acclaimed Dick’s Picks series) and the Pixies (Live at Brixton, a behemoth 8-LP box culled from the 2004 reunion tour). And classics! The Beatles’ Revolver remixed and remastered? Yes, please. Pink Floyd’s Animals in 5.1 surround? Wow. CSN’s self-titled 1969 acoustic juggernaut? Sweet. A new Earth-friendly collaboration from Neil Young and Crazy Horse? Check. Cover tunes by Cowboy Junkies and Cat Power? Hell, yeah. And a 90s-rock revival from London Suede, Spoon, Built to Spill, and Death Cab for Cutie? Not bad. Here are ten albums that put a smile on my face.

1. David Bowie: Brilliant Adventure 1992-2001. Parlophone/Iso.

2. The Smile: A Light for Attracting Attention. XL.

3. Guided by Voices: Tremblers and Goggles by Rank. GbV Inc.

4. Alex G: God Save the Animals. Domino         Records.

5. Todd Rundgren: Space Force. Cleopatra Records.

6. London Suede: Autofiction. BMG Records.

7. Elvis Costello & the Imposters: The Boy Named If. Capitol/EMI.

8. Soccer Mommy:  Sometimes, Forever.  Loma Vista/Concord.

9. Cowboy Junkies: Songs of the Recollection. Proper.

10. Mark Knopfler: The Studio Albums 1996ñ2007. Warner/Rhino.