We’re nearly three weeks into 2023 and I am finally ready to review various things that I enjoyed about 2022. If you needed to ever ask “Well, how are things going Justis?” that is about the current status. Let’s see how many of these I get through before I totally lose steam. Or drink too much of this wine I just opened. Or both.
Well, everything is in multiples of five so I have decided to only produce four lists to really make this uncomfortable in my brain.
There were more than five good ska albums in 2022. That is pretty crazy. Here are five in a list based on what I think is good.
There were many more not ska albums I liked in 2022. It was easier for me to separate all of this out.
I read about six books that actually came out in 2022 in 2022. That is the best I have done in years. That being said, we are just gonna cover five books that I read in 2022, regardless of publishing year.
I still think it is critical that I do this and I did not even play that many video games in 2022.
These all vary in the amount and type of ska they are so this list is representative of ska and ska-adjacent music. I haven’t thought about what order I would put these in until this very moment. Even I am stressed out about what I might do. Please, lend me your strength.
Apparently I saw Devon Kay & The Solutions at Riotfest in 2021 and could never remember their name until I heard them again with this album release. That’s not because I didn’t enjoy them. It was just a long day. They are really fun and bring a great energy to their live show.
The Slackers put out another album. It is good. They still got it. I will still see them every single time I can.
Bruce Lee Band is now a super group and it is flexed hard on this EP. Rosenstock, Jer, everyone is here. Each track is an absolute delight.
The Anchorage put out one of the most fun, catchy, and impactful ska albums of the year. These hooks in here? That’s the good shit. These were perfect bops leading up to and through a summer of great ska.
If you were to put a gun to my head right now, I would flip the top two albums every other week. In the end of November of 2022 I was in Las Vegas for a second time that year, the first time being for a cancelled music festival. I really don’t like that town and I was there by myself, hungover, and miserable. I popped my headphones on for a walk up the strip for my next work meeting and hit play on this album and transcended time and space. Walking down the disgusting strip, surrounded by places designed to bring out the worst in humans, and hearing that first chorus while wishing I was back near Cleveland was an experience that I would describe as “life altering.” I needed it then like the sports drink I was drinking for my hangover. My experience aside, this album hits hard with tracks like “Mercy, Wash Over Me,” and “Hang my Head,” while having some of the cleverest writing this year on “Gunfight,” and “Stranded.”
I am not sure that I have the capability to actually order this list? Let’s find out.
An emo album that really straddles the line between emo-parody and a good emo album.
It’s midwest emo and it’s fun. Some tracks have a little too much hip-hop-rock style influences but I still find myself humming along to the choruses even with the fake backing drums.
I know that this is ska-core. Go away. I made the rules and I can break them.
Now that these are now the same band, I never have to think about which one is better than the other one. Congratulations!
A Wilhelm Scream had no right putting out an album this good. None. I am very happy they did.
Welcome to the “Justis needs to get pumped before pinball - the album.” I don’t know how I stumbled across a Norwegian Deathpop band as it really doesn’t sound like anything else that I listen to but, I love it.
I like Mom Jeans. I don’t really have anything to add to that.
I just think this Pool Kids album rules.
Chicago midwest smart and catchy as hell emo. This album is bangers top to bottom.
“See You in Chemistry” just hit at the perfect really smart emo. The guitar riffs on this album are so gosh darn good that I think about them all the time. Even right now. Yes, even now.
Just add me on goodreads and keep up to date with what I am reading. I’m good for it. I read sixty-one books in 2022. Here are five. Er, six.
This is cheating because it will be one of the best books I read any year I read it.
Have you met video games? I really had some stuff to turn the ol’ thought box off this year. Nearly everything was very simple and easy. Am I old now? I bought a steam deck and didn’t play any of these games on it. What is wrong with me?
If you have an android phone and don’t buy Slice & Dice, you are committing a crime against yourself. Take yourself to jail.
Elden Ring might be one of my favorite video games ever or, it is one of the worst sequels ever designed depending on when you ask me. I actually played through Bloodborne again this year and I think I still like it over Elden Ring. My mind is fickle though and I could be convinced Elden Ring is better with a cup of coffee. I will feel this way for years until the one day I tell you Elden Ring is obviously better.