2022, Wrapped

I think I would speak for most people when I say the release of Spotify Wrapped is one of the most highly anticipated event of the year-end. Well, technically, it was released on early December (so as not to disturb Christmas holiday spirit, I guess). The interactive infographic-statistics of your 2022 music listening activities. Personalized, fun, and easily shareable to social media. 

Usually Wrapped is a hot topic a week before and after its release, early December. Social media pages are filled with people sharing their Wrapped, enhancing their self-identity in music listening, but some don't take it really seriously and turn it into memes. I'm just amused seeing it all though, silently judging my friends and acquaintances based on their music taste.

"Yeah, you do seem like someone who listens to Tulus."

or

"OMG you listen to Weezer a lot this year too? Virgin-ahh boi."

I personally consider this Wrapped moment to observe my own music listening pattern evolution, which in turn also reflects my daily lives during that year. E.g., in 2019 I started exploring a particular low-fi rock music scene which led me to a seasonal obsession to Car Seat Headrest, the Ohio-based band, and their critically acclaimed Twin Fantasy album. This year (2022) though, I mostly listened to music from artists I'm already familiar with. With extra newly developed obsession towards Bloc Party discography.

The year 2022 seemed to be the perfect comeback moment for my favorite indie rock bands that used to climb the chart ladders during my high school years. Casually dropping new bombs making it even harder to move on from my comfort zone.

The easiest example would be My Chemical Romance. Their most critically acclaimed album, The Black Parade, which lifted the emo genre to the mainstream scene, came out during my junior high school period. I remember passing around the physical copy of the CD in my class, and we even made the design of our class jacket influenced by it. Afterwards, they released another full-length LP in 2010, Danger Days, followed by five different EPs with similar theme, Conventional Weapons, in 2012, and cold-heartedly announced their split in 2013, breaking fans' hearts (including me).

All of a sudden in 2020 they announced they're banding again. As My Chemical Romance, and would begin touring. This was unacceptable, so the world closed their borders (due to Covid, but still, the re-banding was too strong they needed to be secured).

To make matters worse (or better?), with no prior announcement or marketing, they released a new single in 2022, The Foundations of Decay. An emotionally drenching track, with grungy mixing, and MCR-special lyricism that will move you into an impromptu karaoke session while bawling your eyes out. 

In the same scope of music scene, I believe Paramore was also pretty well-known. I remember listening to the Riot! album with my junior high bestie in her car sound system. Misery Business is still a solid and timeless anthem to reminisce that year period. More recent in the discography, their 2013 self-titled album Paramore was also well-received with catchy tracks such as Ain't It Fun and Still Into You. Their last full-length album, After Laughter, was released five years ago in 2017. At the end of 2022, they resurfaced with a single, This Is Why. An interesting single, because musically its approach is very contrast from the "Paramore we used to know". It was groovy, easy-listening on the surface but with many layers in-depth, and the lyrics aren't as in-your-face. To me they had move away from their "American emo rock" roots to evolve into more "British indie rock" palate.

Speaking of British indie rock, iconic bands such as Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, and Muse also did comeback in year 2022. I don't really realize how popular these bands might be to everyone else in their high school times. I know that Franz Ferdinand's 2004 release, Take Me Out, was pretty recognizeable. Bloc Party's Banquet released in 2005 also brought their name into indie rock chart, also being featured in SSX game. Muse is probably the most mainstream of these three, with popular tracks such as Starlight, Supermassive Black Hole (2006), and apparently Uprising (2009) (according to Spotify)? Of course, since then, they have already released newer albums and tracks, with mixed reviews.

As a comparison, Franz Ferdinand's latest full-length album, Always Ascending, was released in 2018 with mixed reception due to its musical approach being too bland. Previous Bloc Party album, Hymns, released in 2016, was also less popular because it was too "different", and I guess minimalist gospel-like approach? Muse's Simulation Theory, in 2018, was also of mixed review. Personally, I enjoy the first half of the album, but beyond that it's just unlistenable.

Early 2022, Franz Ferdinand announced their new release, Hits to the Head, which was a compilation album of their popular tracks with remastered audio. The twist? An extra new single, titled Curious. Somehow I love this track so much, even though I know it's musically not FF's best. But as per Franz Ferdinand style, it is groovy, danceable, fun, and timeless. Probably following recent music trend, it wasn't very long, but in turn it ends on a high note. Since the month of its release, I'm still not tired of the track. Sometimes I even wake up with that song playing in my head.

Regarding Bloc Party, I just recently got obsessed with them because of a certain someone. Just when I was taking my time to appreciate their entire discography, especially their debut album and the second one, they appeared with a new album, Alpha Games. This album is... rock solid (pun intended). It still got the core of indie rock, but still brings novelty to the table. The most prominent one is the drumplay. It sounds so new and refreshing, with lots of playing in the hi-hat area. They also use stereo sound mixing, that there are moments where the music ricochets gradually from right ear to left ear. The tracks are fun and good for jamming, probably a bit too fun because the lyrics are... uh? Lol. Overall, from the fifteen tracks on the (deluxe version) album I enjoy the most Rough Justice, Day Drinker, and Strut.

August 2022, after a few months of announcement and marketing, increasing fans' anticipation, Muse released a new full-length album, Will of The People. Well... how shall I comment on this album...

Personally, I feel conflicted. This album is only good (or fun?) if you don't take it seriously. Because the lyrics are so... unserious. It feels too in-your-face and doesn't even try to be clever or using metaphor one layer deeper than blatant persuasion. For some tracks, musically there's nothing new, only reuses of their old guitar riffs (Kill or Be Killed sounds like The Handler). In other tracks, they experimented too much but falling flat, such as the synth-heavy Compliance and ...Halloween. In the early release time, my boyfriend and I only listened to them to laugh at the ridiculous stance of the lyrical and musical direction. But now it kind of grows on me, although I still cannot sing all the lyrics (because it's too goofy). I can stomach Won't Stand Down, and the title track Will of The People can be listened to mindlessly to hype up.

Lastly, it's not a musical review/ramble without mentioning Radiohead. But they're not making a comeback this year. Instead, the dominant lead duo Thom and Jonny are teaming up with Tom Skinner as drummer in a new side project, The Smile. And they are the one releasing new full-length album in year 2022, titled A Light for Attracting Attention. Fifteen tracks combining jazz, grunge rock, and mellow ambient at times. Layers of solid jazzy drumworks, clean strums of nylon guitars, saxophone, and Thom special haunting vocals. (I'm not a certified musician, so I don't know how valid my descriptions are.) The Smoke is an immediate classic to me, one of my Spotify Wrapped 2022 top five. I also love The Opposite and Thin Thing. Especially for their drumming.

Right. So I think I've rambled a lot of my favorite 2022 music releases. More than I think I would.

I'm wondering if 2022 had blessed us with lots of comebacks, how will the 2023 musical landscape follow-up to this situation? Will they release singles again? Is this the moment for the comeback of a world tour? Or is this the beginning of another five-year hiatus from our favorite bands?

I don't know. Let's hope for the best. To 2023 and future great releases!