Reviewer rates albums of the year in his own award system

I have absolutely no clue what happened at this year’s Grammy Awards. You’d think as a member of an internationally famous rock band (one of our listeners is from the Netherlands according to Spotify) that I would be deeply invested. Heck, I think you’d be surprised to learn I wasn’t INVITED to the Grammy’s with a front row seat. But alas, I have never watched an episode of the Grammy Awards in my entire life. Sometimes I wait and read who won in the newspaper the next week; sometimes I don’t. This year, I didn’t—and it might just stay that way. What can I say? Awards aren’t my thing unless I’m winning, and the Grammys refuse to give my band the time of day.

But I tell you what. I think the idea of giving out awards is pretty cool. I’ve therefore decided to come up with my OWN award ceremony: the Reccys. With how those viewership numbers have been the past few years, I bet we’ll be able to surpass their reach in no time. There’s so many categories that I had to split this up into multiple weeks. Without further ado, here is the first part of my expert opinion on what music was the best in 2022.

**BEST POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR** *“Blue Rev” by Alvvays*

I’m sorry, Taylor Swift fans. Some of the other big pop names seem to have released albums this year, but it seems like the Swifties really liked her album. I didn’t put it as the best pop album, but I tell you what: I have a little treat for you guys later on. Alvvays is more of an indie pop thing, but I’m counting it as pop. Flamingos in the Tree put out some nice indie pop this year, but they already got a review, and I think Alvvays edges them out regardless. This album is somewhat less poppy than the band’s prior releases, but I’d still put it in the category, at least loosely. It’s certainly indie pop, but there’s a sort of noisy or shoegazey element in there, too.

I think a lot of people looking for a traditional pop album aren’t going to be into this, but there’s some really catchy melodic songwriting underneath it all. It’s a really accessible entry point into some more adventurous genres of music, and I think that’s what pop is supposed to be about.

**BEST RAP ALBUM OF THE YEAR** *“SICK!” by Earl Sweatshirt*

Most of the stuff I listened to last year was old-head stuff, like Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. I could’ve given him the award for the project he dropped with Kool Keith, but that one was kind of mid. Denzel Curry, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Vince Staples put out albums that I all enjoyed, and I’m sure one of those would be a more obvious pick, but I’m going with Earl Sweatshirt. I think there’s a bias toward longer albums, and I appreciate the amount of creativity Earl managed to pack into a listening period that respects the listener’s time. In just 10 tracks and 24 minutes, Earl gets the job done. He’s not for everybody, I’ll concede that, but he’s one of the most underrated MCs out there, and I’m proud to give him the award.

**BEST COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR** *“Midnights” by Taylor Swift*

I don’t listen to country music. Instead, I’ve decided to give this spot to Taylor Swift as an apology for stiffing her on “Best Pop Album.” I hope that this is an acceptable compromise to everybody. Fifteen years ago, we’d all be in agreement that Taylor belongs in the country category, so I don’t want to see you complaining now. If you do, direct emails towards the Editor-in-Chief and not me, because I don’t check those. In regards to the album, “Antihero” is a genuinely great tune, but I didn’t hear the others. I do think she deserved some sort of recognition even if I don’t pay a ton of attention to her work.