The Best Music of 2022
In 2022, the music industry slowly tried to return from its recent years of pandemic upheaval. Touring came roaring back, flooding the calendar with an overabundance of shows. New music was released at an astonishing clip. Virality became the norm, with one-off songs turning relative unknowns into streaming stars overnight. For our year in review, we look back on what mattered most, with lists that explore the best songs and albums of the year, a dive into our favorite genre-focused picks from rap, rock, pop and more, the books we can’t recommend enough, the music moments in movies and TV shows that you have to see, and more.
.jpg)
The Best Music Videos, Movies, and TV of 2022
Documentaries on Sinéad O’Connor and Phil Elverum, thrilling videos from Rosalía and Björk, a genius “Grunge Frasier” parody, and more.
The Best Progressive Pop Music of 2022
From Haru Nemuri’s punk-inflected J-pop to Coco & Clair Clair’s spaced-out diss tracks, Ralphie Choo’s computerized flamenco and MUNA’s synth-pop fireworks, here are some standout pop songs and albums from this year.
The 43 Best Rap Songs of 2022
From Atlanta to Memphis to Detroit; from lightspeed Jersey club rap to diamond-hard New York drill; rap overflowed with energy again this year.
The Best Music Merch Gifts of 2022
From Rina Sawayama hot sauce to Alvvays mousepads to Björk Christmas ornaments, here are unique gift ideas for every type of music fan.
The Best Music of 2022, According to Pitchfork Readers
Featuring your picks for the best albums and songs of the year
Year-End Wrap-Up: The Best Trends, Tracks, Indie Comebacks, and More
In this episode of the Pitchfork Review podcast, our critics discuss what we loved listening to this year, focusing on independent artists including Animal Collective, Sudan Archives, and Destroyer, along with newcomers like Ice Spice and Grace Ives.
The Best Electronic Music of 2022
Ambient cumbia, postmodern pow wow, modular improv jams, raptor house—these are the songs and albums that defined the year in electronic music.
The 38 Best Rock Albums of 2022
From Alvvays’ panoramic anthems to Chat Pile’s scorched-earth sludge, Soul Glo’s bruising hardcore to Wet Leg’s wily indie rock, these are the rock albums that stood out this year.
The 50 Best Albums of 2022
Featuring Björk, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Rosalía, the Weeknd, Alex G, and more
The 100 Best Songs of 2022
Featuring the 1975, Kendrick, Steve Lacy, Alvvays, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Glorilla, and more
The 15 Best Music Books of 2022
Whether it was a fond remembrance of a lost friend through the lens of ’90s pop culture, an impassioned testimonial to the power of Black women in pop, an intimate look at the life of a hip-hop genius, or Nick Cave’s frank conversations on grief and loss, the best music books this year kept it personal.
.jpg)
Vote Now for Your Favorite Albums and Songs of 2022
Take the Pitchfork Readers’ Poll