Gal Pal- Angel in the Flesh
This song is from Gal Pal’s upcoming album This and Other Gestures, which will be released on June 2nd.
The band is playing in Los Angeles at Permanent Records Roadhouse on Saturday 5/13/23 with Laveda and Powder Pink & Sweet
Velvet Starlings- Colours on the Canvas
This song is from the Velvet Starlings’ 2021 album, Technicolor Shakedown.
The band is playing on 5/6/23 (Saturday) at The Echo in Los Angeles with The Bobby Lees.
Amtrac- Domino featuring Samuel T. Herring
This song, featuring Samuel T. Herring from Future Islands, was released as a single last year and is on Amtrac’s 2023 album, Extra Time.
Amtrac is playing in Los Angeles at the El Rey Theatre on Saturday, 4/23/23.
Cuco– Best Disaster
Every month I listen to the majority of bands/singers/musicians/artists who are playing in Los Angeles and select some for a monthly playlist. It includes a variety of genres and usually newer work by the artist.
Pet Fox- Only Warning
This song is from Pet Fox’s 2022 album A Face In Your Life.
The band is playing at The Silverlake Lounge in Los Angeles on Friday 4/14/23 with Bondo and Fime.
Arlo Parks- Impurities
This song is from Arlo Parks’ upcoming album, My Soft Machine, releasing on May 26th, 2023.
She is playing at The Belasco in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 30th.
The Beths- Expert In A Dying Field
This song is from The Beth’s 2022 album Expert In A Dying Field.
The band are playing at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, March 17th, 2023.
Kevin Kaarl- como me encanta
This song is from Kevin Kaarl’s 2022 album, Paris Texas.
He is playing at The Novo in Los Angeles on 3/9/23.
April + VISTA- Every Void
Every month I listen to the majority of bands/singers/musicians/artists who are playing in Los Angeles and then make selections for a playlist the following month. It includes a variety of genres and usually newer work by the artist. Linked below are January 2023’s selections.
The song above is from April + VISTA’s 2021 album, Pit of My Dreams.
After some editing, here is a playlist of my top 100 choices for the best songs of last year. It was an interesting year for music as the world slowly (or in some places quickly) attempted to go back to some kind of normal.
Three artists from last year’s selections make a return appearance with new work- Madison Cunningham; Black Country, New Road; and Rico Nasty- who took the energy up a notch on a Fred Again.. club banger.
Alt-J, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Built to Spill and Nina Nastasia, returned with new work. Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead reunited to form a new band- The Smile.
It felt impossible not to love the energy of F.N.F (Let’s Go), GloRilla and HitKidd’s single lady anthem, or Flo Milli’s self celebration Conceited.
The playlist is a little more California-centric than others out there, which makes itself especially obvious in selections by J. Rocc, Erin Rae, and The Moonjacks.
As always the playlist leans heavily toward indie bands, however there are also some R&B songs included- like potential future classics from artists Jacob Banks, Lee Fields, and Lady Wray.
Songs about economic worries, creative struggles, grief, and, of course, love songs are in every year’s playlist and this year is no exception.
There were a lot of songs to love in 2022, hopefully this list introduces you to a few more.