Issue 1: Welcome to Band Practice

An intro to the newsletter and my favorite albums of 2022 so far!

Hi!! Welcome to Band Practice! I’m so glad you’re here. Grab a snack and let’s get started. I want to begin by sharing what this is and why I’m doing it and then we’ll get to my first batch of reviews (a special edition): my favorite albums of 2022 thus far.

What is Band Practice?

Band Practice is a weekly newsletter that will feature at least seven new albums (from 2022) each week with my reviews and why I think you might like them. I’ll start off each issue talking a little bit about a theme or topic relevant to that group of albums and then dive into brief overviews of each album—with a more in-depth spotlight on my favorite from the group. My goal is to keep the selection as fresh and diverse as possible. At the end of each issue, I’ll include the link to the playlist that accompanies this newsletter (it’s at the end of this issue, too). There may be some bonus content and bonus seasonal playlists every now and then, too. We’ll see! It’s all very new and still taking form!

Why am I doing this?

At the start of this year, I set a goal for myself to listen to a new album every day as a way to push myself to listen to a wider variety of music beyond what my usual algorithm gave me. So far I’ve listened to 172 albums¹. About a month into this goal, I realized, “this. this is what I love. this is what I want to do. I want to listen to music all of the time.” This has always been a passion of mine, so why not lean into it? I don’t know why I previously thought, “listening to music can’t be a job” when it is very much a job! Critics! They’re a thing!

I had already been cataloguing thoughts about the albums I listened to in my head, so how much harder could it be to write them down?? Turns out it’s hard!! Very hard! But, I’m going to do this even though it’s hard. I’m doing this because I’m passionate about it and I want to get good at it. I see a future for myself in this space.

What’s with the name?

There are two meanings behind why I named this newsletter “Band Practice”. Firstly, this is a skill that I’m working on that involves practice. Secondly, and more personally, a while ago my therapist asked me if I could remember a time when I felt the most “alive”. The things that came to mind all had to do with music whether it was going to shows every week when I was in college or lining up at midnight at Sonic Boom for new album releases and then getting home and listening to them immediately. It was also was when I played in a band at church. It wasn’t just the performing in the band that made me feel alive but the practice, the collaboration, and the community—the idea of working things out musically together. When I left the church, I lost that. I’ve left a lot of the musical parts of myself behind, actually, and this project is helping me find them again.

Besides wanting to practice at something I want to get good at, I’m doing this newsletter to find a music community again—a community that feels like band practice felt. I’d like to build one here with you. I invite you to comment on these posts, share what you’ve been listening to and what you like/don’t like. I look forward to hearing what you have to say.

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My top 7 albums of 2022

To me, a great album has to have a few things: a strong point of view, all its songs have a purpose, a cohesive sound, and it moves me in some way. All of these albums meet that criteria.

Laurel Hell - Mitski

Alternative

Mitski’s reemergence from her hiatus is a force. She captures the grit of struggling relationships and self-actualization and sets it to lush synths and 80’s-style beats (the good part of the 80’s). Jazzercise to “The Only Heartbreaker” and “Love Me More”. Cool down and feel your feelings with “Heat Lightning” and “There’s Nothing Left for You". It’s time to work some things out! Press play during the moment in your relationship when you realize, "maybe I’m the problem”.

Favorite track: Heat Lightning – When the piano cascades in it absolutely wrecks me. Just this on repeat forever until I perish.

Also listen on Apple Music, bandcamp

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Deadpan Love - Cautious Clay

R&B/Soul

Deep, soulful, reflective. If there’s one album I think almost everyone would love, this would be it. The subject matter is relatable (self-realization, finding your way, love) and it’s so smooth musically. It’s also the most singable album I’ve listened to this year. You’ll want to sing it. You’ll want it to get stuck in your head. It’s a part of you now. Perfect for curling up in a corner and journaling about your feelings.

Favorite track: Can’t possibly choose! It’s a three-way tie between Agreeable, Roots, and Rapture in Blue.

Also listen on Apple Music, bandcamp

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Squeeze - SASAMI

Alternative

SASAMI made it her mission to “appropriate white, male music,”² so she took on metal and the result is epic and dynamic. There are rock ballads (The Greatest, Not a Love Song), folk-rock moments (Tried to Understand), among songs that absolutely shred (Skin a Rat, Say It). She didn’t have to go this hard but she did. Metal successfully appropriated. Play it when you’re making plans to f*ck up the patriarchy.

Favorite track: Say It - That 90’s NIN-esque landscape interrupted by her soft, lilting vocals? Yes. A thousand times yes.

Also listen on Apple Music, bandcamp

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Multitude - Stromae

French Pop

This is the most beautiful, dynamic album I’ve listened to this year. Stromae uses a vast arsenal of instruments, sounds, and genres to deliver what is less of an album and more of a…movie in your ears(??). Seriously. There’s bagpipes, orchestras, reggaeton-influenced moments, electronic sounds—it’s cinematic. A moment I wish I could relive for the first time: when the beat drops in Invaincu (the opening track). You won’t be prepared for it, but listen to it anyway.

Favorite track: L’enfer — The composition of this song is just as gutting as the subject matter. Stromae sings about moving through a dark place in his life, including suicidal ideation. His subdued vocals and piano accompaniment gets interrupted by a full choir, booming percussion, and an electronic sound that I can only describe as what it might sound like when some sort of space cruiser suddenly puts on the brakes. Just trust me.

Also listen on Apple Music

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Havasu - Pedro the Lion

Alternative

Honestly, David Bazan could sing the contents of a CVS receipt and I would be in heaven—his rich, taffy-pulling voice gets me every time. But, he tells such a beautiful story on this album that I was gripped for every line of it. Havasu is the second of five planned albums documenting David Bazan’s childhood and coming of age—each one based on a city where he grew up³. This one is set in Lake Havasu City, Arizona and catches up with him in the middle of prepubescence. It covers all of the joys and woes of adolescence: first love, heartbreak…even being forced into the school band. It will bring you right back to that place. Think of it as exposure therapy.

Favorite track: Teenage Sequencer — Would you like to relive the agony of your first crush? No?? Listen anyway! It’s beautiful. When the chorus comes in my heart drops. Probably one of my top-five favorite songs this year.

Also listen on Apple Music, bandcamp

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Three Dimensions Deep - Amber Mark

R&B/Soul

I am suspicious of hour-long albums, but Amber puts no second to waste! Every song has earned its right to be there and it has range. The album starts off strong with three(!) certifiable bangers, but the third act of the album is where Amber opens up a portal to (dare I say it) another dimension and delivers some of the best tracks on the album. The sounds move into a futuristic and experimental space. Keep a chair handy when you get to the Peter Gabriel-esque “Darkside”—you will need to sit. down. Play this album when you need a big dose of self-esteem. Amber’s gotchu.

Favorite track: Cosmic — Ugh. This song. This song is like dessert. After a couple of listens you’ll find yourself singing along with the “right, right, right”. Indulge!

Also listen on Apple Music

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This is for the Barbarians - Mondo Cozmo

Alternative

If you’re not familiar with Mondo Cozmo, I need to prepare you for his voice. I can only best describe it as “caffeinated Bob Dylan”—although he does have some Thom Yorke moments (I Wanna Live Like Everybody). Once you’ve assimilated to it, this album will knock your socks off (I think it’s so much better on the second listen for this reason). The transitions on this album are *chef’s kiss*. They’re so seamless that you may find yourself not realizing that he’s moved from one song on to another entirely. This is especially true in the sort of trilogy of “I Wanna Live Like Everybody,” “Ww3,” and “Eyes of Love”—all set in G Major. This album is raucous, dynamic, and perfectly structured—it’s also a lot of fun. Listen to this walking on a sunny day with your headphones in and you’ll see the world with new eyes.

Favorite track: Meant for Livin’ — It starts off as a Dylan-esque almost-patter-song and gets increasingly chaotic. It feels like a tantrum in the best way.

Also listen on Apple Music

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Other favorites so far this year

• River - RIVER (Alternative)

• Asha’s Awakening - Raveena (R&B/Soul)

• Bahaman - Rokia Koné and Jacknife Lee (Worldwide)

• Small World - Metronomy (Alternative)

• Regards to the End - Emily Wells (Alternative)

• Nobody’s Home - Bakar (Alternative)

• Painless - Nilüfer Yanya (Alternative)

• Ghost Song - Cécile McLorin Salvant (Jazz)

• Few Good Things - Saba (Hip-Hop/Rap)

• Crash - Charli XCX (Pop)

• MOTOMAMI - ROSALÍA (Pop Latino)

• Metamorphosis - Cloud Cult (Folk)

• New Preoccupations - Caracara (Indie Rock)

• This Shame Should Not Be Mine - GGGOLDDD (Rock)

• Zeal & Ardor - Zeal & Ardor (Metal)

• Bronco - Orville Peck (Country)

• Serpentina - BANKS (Alternative)

• Familia - Camila Cabello (Pop)

• Live Your Truth Shred Some Gnar - NOBRO (Alternative)

• It’s Almost Dry - Pusha T (Hip-Hop/Rap)

• The Line Is A Curve - Kae Tempest (Alternative)

• WET TENNIS - Sofi Tukker (Dance)

• Everything Was Beautiful - Spiritualized (Alternative)

• WE - Arcade Fire (Alternative)

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The Playlist!

I’ve been keeping a running playlist of my favorite songs off of each new album I’ve listened to this year (one per album). The songs are listed in chronological order of listening. I’ll include the link at the end of each issue of this newsletter and it will be updated weekly. Any pre-2022 albums that I listen to will be kept in separate playlist that you can listen to if you follow me on Spotify or Apple Music. The songs from this issue are already ordered within the playlist…you’ll have to scroll around for them.

365 Albums in 2022 - Apple Music playlist

365 Albums in 2022 - Spotify playlist

Thanks so much for reading! Next week we’ve got some big ones to talk about: Kendrick Lamar, The Smile, and more! You won’t want to miss it. Until then, let me know what your favorite 2022 albums are in the comments. I’d love to know!

1. Some of the albums I listened to at the beginning of the year were 2021 releases, while I was waiting for 2022 releases to roll in. They’re not included on the master playlist, but in a separate one.

2. Source

3. Source