{"id":20445,"date":"2022-12-13T22:39:05","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T03:39:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/?p=20445"},"modified":"2022-12-14T11:31:01","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T16:31:01","slug":"southeast-of-heavens-top-albums-of-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/?p=20445","title":{"rendered":"Southeast of Heaven&#8217;s Top Albums of 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Southeast of Heaven\u2019s Favorite Album Of 2022<\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Children of the Sun<br \/>\nRoots<br \/>\nReleased: March 18, 2022<\/h2>\n<p>Swedish psychedelic roots rockers <strong>Children of the Sun<\/strong> dominated 2022 as my favorite release of the year. The amount of growth that Children of the Sun has had just since their 2019 debut Flowers absolutely blew me away. Stepping away from the flower child rock a bit, Roots showcased a darker, more grownup side of this young band. Toxic relationships, environmental awareness, and self-reflection are just a handful of topics covered on this album.<\/p>\n<p>The maturity of the lyrics, the musical delivery, and energy has Children of the Sun sounding like a band twice their young ages. Roots is an album that made a huge impact on me and I can see this being a timeless album in it\u2019s own right. If this is any indication of where Children of the Sun are heading, it won\u2019t be long before the world knows of this fantastic band.<\/p>\n<p>Standout Tracks: Blood Boils Hot, Leaves, Roots, Thunder<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Children of the S\u00fcn. Leaves - Live at Piren\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5FQ6o3nwNJc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>======================================================================<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The Top 10 (In No Particular Order)<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Blood Incantation<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Timewave Zero<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Released: February 25, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you would have told me even just in January that an album by Colorado death metal band Blood Incantation I would\u2019ve laughed until I puked. One of my best friends told me about this album because she knew I was really into psychedelic ambient music. Timewave Zero is an album that I listen to quite often when I am trying to wind down and take my mind on a cosmic journey outside of this plane. While it helps when you\u2019ve got a little green to enjoy, sober you can achieve lift off as well if you open your mind and allow the music to take you there.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Blood Incantation - 2-26-2022 \u201cTimewave Zero\u201d excerpt @ Gothic Theater, Denver CO\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/etV3L3oj7Rk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>======================================================================<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hallas<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Isle of Wisdom<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Released; April 08, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Swedish adventure rockers Hallas returned in 2022 with Isle of Wisdom which, in my opinion, is their greatest work to date. As silly as the term \u201cadventure rock\u201d sounds, it is without a doubt the best way to describe the music of Hallas. If you could take a comic book and translate into music, you have Hallas. Isle of Wisdom, like their previous work, is pure escapism. As much as I love dark music and thought provoking lyrics, sometimes it can get a bit too heavy. Hallas creates a whole world of their own if you open up your mind enough, you can even find yourself as part of the adventure. For anyone who loves progressive rock with an element of hard rock\/metal, this is an album that will appeal to you.<\/p>\n<p>Standout Songs: Advent of Dawn, Elusion\u2019s Gate, Gallivants of Space, The Wind Carries the Word<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"H\u00c4LLAS - Elusion&#039;s Gate (Official Video) | Napalm Records\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/svU0bGxM8n4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>======================================================================<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hellsingland Underground<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Endless Optimism<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Released: November 12, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Swedish Classic Rockers Hellsingland Underground was a band that flew way under my radar for far too long but hey, better late than never right? Hellsingland Underground was brought to my attention by my buddy Jacob Hellenrud from Children of the Sun. I was sent a press release written by the lead vocalist\u2019s 16 year old daughter (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/?p=20425\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>READ HERE<\/strong><\/a>) and it sold me immediately. These guys scratch just about every disgusting itch in every fold of my fat musical being. With influences ranging from The Allman Brothers Band to Frank Zappa, Hellsingland Underground is a band that quickly became a favorite of mine and also boasted on of the best albums I heard in 2022. This one is a must.<\/p>\n<p>Standout Songs: Hustlin\u2019 Around, Old White Men, Strangest Kind of Mind, The Uninvited Guest<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Hellsingland Underground - Hustlin&#039; Around (Music Video)\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/87romj8jv3A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>======================================================================<\/p>\n<p><strong>Los Bitchos<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Let the Festivities Begin<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Released: February 03, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Some of the best artists are the ones that you really can\u2019t compare to anything. Los Bitchos from London released one of my favorite albums this year called Let The Festivities Begin. This album is a collection of instrumental songs covering such genres as calypso, reggae, psych rock, and Latin music. That is just what I can think of off the top of my head so I\u2019m sure there is more in there. Los Bitchos was one of the bands I so needed this year and their music was a huge uplifting thing for me. Not too many bands make me literally dance but Los Bitchos makes me dance like no one is watching\u2026 even if I couldn\u2019t give a rats ass if someone was watching.<\/p>\n<p>Standout Songs: The Link is About to Die, Piesta (Fresh Start), Las Panteras, Tripping at a Party<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Los Bitchos - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8M3u0Pfg1Ko?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>======================================================================<\/p>\n<p><strong>Marissa Nadler<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>The Wrath of the Clouds (EP)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Released: February 04, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The sequel EP to Marissa Nadler\u2019s 2021 album The Path of the Clouds was yet another example of how nobody does it like she does. The ambient, cosmic space folk that she has come to be so well known for is represented on this EP and what I love the most is that it doesn\u2019t sound like \u201cthrow away\u201d songs. Sometimes when artists release an EP following a release, it consists of songs that weren\u2019t good enough to make the album. These songs, however, are every bit as good and they stand on their own just as they should. Marissa Nadler continues to deliver a signature sound that comforts me like a warm blanket on a winter\u2019s night. It\u2019s mood music that takes me just where I want to be when I need to be free from it all.<\/p>\n<p>Standout Songs: Guns on the Sundeck, Some Secret Existence, Saunders Ferry Lane<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Guns on the Sundeck\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/o0BRFqfnE30?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>======================================================================<\/p>\n<p><strong>Proper Pet<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>The Singles<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Released: January 01, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The only band on my top albums list that didn\u2019t release a full album in 2022. I let this slide because Tempe, Arizona\u2019s Proper Pet released a staggering 20 songs to Spotify (and even more via their YouTube channel). While it may not be an album, I put them all into one playlist and decided to give them one of the best albums of 2022. Proper Pet is a duo (Zachary Christian and Abigail Corinne) that I can only describe as the ADHD of musical artists. EDM, folk, psych rock, and psych pop are just a few of the words I can use to describe the sound of this magnificent duo. 2022 was a huge year for this TikTok break out band and if this year was any indication of their greatness, we have a lot to look forward to in the future from Proper Pet.<\/p>\n<p>Standout Songs: Lose Control, Peaches In July, Until We Die, CYU<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Peaches in July - Tangelo Session\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aJf_gPpYvRQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>======================================================================<\/p>\n<p><strong>Serpentent<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Ancient Tomes, Volume I: Mother of Light<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Released: May 20, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Seattle\u2019s Anne K. O\u2019Neill put out one of the best \u201cunder the radar\u201d albums of the year under the moniker Serpentent and it was an album that was unbelievably moving. O\u2019Neill\u2019s dark, gothic, and ethereal folk inspired creations combined created Ancient Tomes Volume I: Mother of Light. The songs on Ancient Tomes Volume I are some of the most sparsely complex and fulfilling compositions I have ever heard. Melodic acoustic guitar playing, subtle percussion, and a haunted voice that sounds as if it has been released after being confined for so long. The music on Ancient Tomes Volume I: Mother of Light can only be described as beautifully unsettling. Trust me, this is a great thing and it\u2019s something you definitely want to experience.<\/p>\n<p>Standout Songs: Ancient Tomes, Winding, Mother of Light, The Fountainhead of Fire<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Ancient Tomes\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qkxDDXoLHkY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>======================================================================<\/p>\n<p><strong>Simrit<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Live in Nevada City<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Released: 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Simrit is an act that I accidentally stumbled upon just two nights before completing this list. Talk about cutting it close but damn was it worth the wait. Led by Greek singer\/songwriter Simrit Kaur, Simrit released Live in Nevada City which was recorded live in Nevada City, California in 2021. Now before stumbling upon them on Spotify, I had never heard a single thing about them but this live album is all it took to rope me in and. Ethereal, psychedelic World Beat music. That says it all but it\u2019s so much more than that. The lengthy compositions and smooth, relaxing sounds is something that I feel will also connect with jam band loves as well because it\u2019s just got that special, magical mood. The stylings of diverse artists such as Sting and Sade are probably the closest I can come to describing Simrit but honestly, Simrit is it\u2019s own entity and what an amazingly beautiful entity it is. Music for the head, heart, and soul.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Karam (Live)\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FHWb-fIA_XM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>======================================================================<\/p>\n<p><strong>Soccer Mommy<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Sometimes, Forever<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Released: June 22, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What comes around goes around. A saying has never been more true after discovering Nashville based artist Soccer Mommy. Led by singer\/songwriter Sophie Allison, Soccer Mommy\u2019s 2022 release Sometimes, Forever was the album that I had no idea that I needed in my life. Elements of 90s alternative rock, psych pop, stone rock, and alt-americana are just some of the things that are represented by the material on this album. My ADHD was absolutely in heaven when such a vast array of styles and the voice of Sophie Allison is smooth, subtle, and quiet yet commanding. It\u2019s like when the quietest person in the room is talking and everyone stops to listen only to find out that that person had more to say than anyone that was even worth a shit. Sometimes, Forever is a magnificent collection of songs and it\u2019s an album that introduced me to another new artist that has secured a spot in my top tier of favorite bands.<\/p>\n<p>Standout Songs: Bones, Unholy Affliction, Darkness Forever, Feel It All the Time<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Soccer Mommy - Bones (Official Music Video)\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m1kaQCMB1q8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>======================================================================<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wilma Nea<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>This Too Shall Pass<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Released: March 04, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Swedish singer\/songwriter Wilma Nea is the only artist be represented twice on my top albums list this year. Wilma, who is the keyboardist\/backing vocalist for Children of the Sun, released her debut solo album, This Too Shall Pass and it was one of the best surprises of the year for me. I really didn\u2019t know what to expect before checking this one out but I was absolutely floored. For a woman in her early 20\u2019s, Wilma Nea is an old soul. Drawing from influences like Queen, 90s pop darlings Jellyfish, and Regina Spektor, Wilma Nea combined them all into one big melting pot of pop goodness that is so sweet you are guaranteed a toothache by the end of it all.<\/p>\n<p>Standout Songs: The Beginning, Stoked, Part of a Club, Days Like This<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Wilma Nea - Days Like This\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/959zxymOYWo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">TOP ALBUMS OF 2022 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST<\/h2>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Southeast of Heaven&amp;apos;s Top Albums of 2022\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"380\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/6hplD4nmuhVq5Hn2zZ32eI?si=K045SE4OTT63aDfHzm2yTw&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Southeast of Heaven\u2019s Favorite Album Of 2022 Children of the Sun Roots Released: March 18, 2022 Swedish psychedelic roots rockers Children of the Sun dominated 2022 as my favorite release of the year. The amount of growth that Children of the Sun has had just since their 2019 debut Flowers absolutely blew me away. Stepping away from the flower child rock a bit, Roots showcased a darker, more grownup side of this young band. Toxic relationships, environmental awareness, and self-reflection [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":20447,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,276,277],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-album-reviews","category-music-editorial","category-music-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/reduce-your-record-collection-750x420-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20445"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20445\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20449,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20445\/revisions\/20449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}