Best Album of 2022: Marcus King – Young Blood
Marcus King had my attention from his earliest records, but none rose to the top quite like Young Blood. Whether it be the production collaboration with Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) or the raw, honest introspection and coming of age of an artist that knows what he’s capable of musically, this was my favorite album by far this year.
Standout track: Hard Working Man
Tom’s Top 25 of 2022
- Marcus King – Young Blood
- Larkin Poe – Blood Harmony
- Wilco – Cruel Country
- Tedeschi Trucks Band – I Am The Moon
- The Sadies – Colder Streams
- Ben Harper – Bloodline Maintenance
- The Black Keys – Dropout Boogie
- Amy Ray – If It All Goes South
- The Honey Dewdrops – Light Behind Light
- Bonnie Riatt – Just Like That…
- Jamestown Revival – Young Man
- John Fullbright – The Liar
- The Cactus Blossoms – One Day
- Calexico – El Mirador
- Sarah Shook & the Disarmers – Nightroamer
- Greensky Bluegrass – Stress Dreams
- Eli “Paperboy” Reed – Down Every Road
- North Mississippi Allstars – Set Sail
- Sarah Borges – Together Alone
- Banditos – Right On
- Will Hoge – Wings on My Shoes
- Vandoliers – The Vandoliers
- Nikki Lane – Denim & Diamonds
- Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – Crooked Tree
- Trampled by Turtles – Alpenglow
Honorable Mentions:
- American Aquarium – Chicomacomico
- Amos Lee – Dreamland
- Anaïs Mitchell – Anaïs Mitchell
- Aoife O’Donovan – Age of Apathy
- Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You
- Billy Strings – Me / And / Dad
- Brent Cobb – And Now, Let’s Turn To Page…
- The Brother Brothers – Cover to Cover
- Charley Crockett – The Man from Waco
- Cory Brannan – When I Go I Ghost
- Drive-By Truckers – Welcome To Club XIII
- The Deslondes – Ways & Means
- Drew & Ellie Holcomb – Coming Home: A Collection of Songs
- Eric Brace & Last Train Home – Everything Will Be
- Fantastic Negrito – White Jesus Black Problems
- First Aid Kit – Palomino
- G. Love & Special Sauce – Philadelphia Mississippi
- John Calvin Abney – Tourist
- John Craigie – Mermaid Salt
- John Fullbright – The Liar
- John Mellencamp – Strictly a One-Eyed Jack
- JOHNNYSWIM – JOHNNYSWIM
- Josh Rouse – Going Places
- Keb’ Mo’ – Good To Be…
- Kurt Vile – Watch My Moves
- Maren Morris – Humble Quest
- Michelle Malone – 1977
- Particle Kid – Noise & Flowers
- Patty Griffin – Tape
- Rhett Miller – The Misfit
- River Whyless – Monoflora
- San Saba County – Hurry Up & Wait
- Seth Avett – Sings Greg Brown
- Shemeika Copeland – Done Come To Far
- Sophie & The Broken Things – Delusions of Grandeur
- St. Paul & The Broken Bones – The Alien Coast
- Steve Earle – Jerry Jeff
- Town Mountain – Lines In The Levee
- Trombone Shorty – Lifted
- Van Morrison – What’s It Gonna Take?
- Willie Nelson – A Beautiful Time
Just for fun, here’s some picks (not predictions) for the 2023 Grammys:
- Best Album of the Year: Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
- Best Americana Album: Bonnie Raitt – Just Like That…
- Best Bluegrass Album: Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway – Crooked Tree
- Best Traditional Blues Album: Buddy Guy – The Blues Don’t Lie
- Best Contemporary Blues Album: Ben Harper – Bloodline Maintenance
- Best Folk Album: Aoife O’Donovan – Age of Apathy
- Best Regional Roots Music Album: Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas – Lucky Man
About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.