Year In Review: Best of 2022 – In The Loop Magazine’s Staff Picks

Dec 30, 2022 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

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2022 ending up bringing a lot of change to the music industry. Change in how music is made. Change in how we watch and experience live music. Change in how we get our music. Recession and a still lingering global pandemic have give us all reasons to approach things a little differently when trying to indulge in our favorite audio passions.

Record companies changed how we purchased and acquire music. Bands have pivoted on how the record and perform. Newer media outlets like Tic Tok, Twitch and streaming media platforms have become the new norm for us since 2020’s shutdown that cooped us all in, held us back and made us rethink how we spend our time and hard earned dollars.

Thankfully, we all joined hands, mixed the bowls and melded the minds to come up with things to keep us entertained, challenged and ripe for whatever pickin’ we could get when it came to media live or taped.

Here are our best picks for 2022.

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Bobby Talamine’s Annual Year End Review 2022

Albums of the Year:

10:  Beach House – “Once Twice Melody” Considering at first that it’s a double album of songs says lots, in my opinion- a double album presented in four chapters between Victoria and Alex. And it’s a grand vision at that throughout.

9: Bjork – “Fossora”- A revelation, between polymath and occasional industrial beats, followed by heartbreaking beauty, all in an ode to motherhood, while also rediscovering her roots.

8: Confidence Man – “Tilt” They’re brash electro poppers- with an affinity for anything described that’s down and dirty sexy, and explaining as such all the while making you gyrate and act out ridiculous in a club night kinda way. How to get your man – how to get your woman onto the dance floor…that’s the main goal throughout their bangers, with assured beats front and center.

7: Boy Harsher – “The Runner” (Original Soundtrack) – Compelling as both film and soundtrack. Tantalizing beats, courtesy of Gus, with fresh and riveting seductive vocal from partner Jae Matthews. Sometimes hostile, sometimes hypnotic- this release from them has consistently been in and out of rotation for me since its release earlier this year.

6: Mitski – “Laurel Hell” – So theatrical, Mitski is, and still, thought provoking as well. from past years, feeling like a “Nobody’, to now feeling like a “Somebody”, and to explore her relationships in such vivid detail, such as she did headlining at Pitchfork this past summer…both were (and are) continuous revelations of the good kind.

5: The Smile – A Light for Attracting Attention” – The first week of December they performed in Chicago. They released their album back in mid May. Have to say from actual recording to performing live – riveting on both counts. A supergroup worthy of all things cool, and not any weaknesses in writing. concept, and performing. Thom, Jonny and Tom tap into all things our collective dread, while taking deep dives into complex arrangements. In other words, a music hound’s dream.

4: Kendrick Lamar – ” Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” – Still- At the top of his game. This album – it’s all about shedding things, both of the personal and physical kind. Talking out your problems- unleashing the demons within, goes a long way of getting some modicum of serenity in this unpredictable world, although the strain of it all is temporary. Kendrick lays it all out better than anybody else ever could.

3: Wet Leg – “Wet Leg” – Bringing brashness and so much fun back to all things indie. Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers- the both of them, have led this past year in slapping you across the face and making you pay attention to wickedly crafty songwriting, all the while done carefree with gigantic smiles across everyone’s faces, both audience and band.

2: Fontaines DC – “Skinty Fia” Dublin’s awesome five piece continue to be adventurous, and still deeply drenched in heart breaking ballads and Interpol ish drained melodies. It’s profoundly moving, hearing their songs on Skinty Fia in their entirety. That they’ve been anointed one of the best bands to watch currently, says lots, even though if you were to ask them about that- they could give a shit. Love this about them- Music first- publicity and word of mouth second.

1: Weyes Blood – “And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow”  An artistic vision of the end of the world, but all done with such style and honesty, all the while finding good in the midst of all the non stop consuming pain. This album, recently released back a month ago in November, and a song released a month before that in “It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody”, which is compelling and so sophisticated as all get out. Her sense of melody, steeped in a Joni Mitchell ish vibe of the good kind just holds you spellbound, amidst the talk of ecological disaster, and a most uncertain future that is clearly evident in her worldview of things. How to cope? How to proceed? How to try to live through powerlessness at all the chain of events? Just do you best, no matter what, to just try to take things as they come. And use this glorious album as a guide as well. Best album release of the year.

And on the periphery that had time of multiple listens in 2022 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Cool It Down”, Oliver Sim – “Hideous Bastard”, Alex G – “God Save the Animals”, and Amorphis – “Halo”.

Best Live Shows of 2022

Not in any particular order, simply because of large venue / small venue- the take of performance is equally compelling depending on band related to size of venue, and in that regard, hold equal worth of “Top Ten” this and that. Anyone that says otherwise is missing out on what compelling live performance is all about. So- no number ten to number one in my review of Live Performance 2022.

With that in mind: Tool, at the United Center earlier this year. The Mars Volta at the Aragon Ballroom. Kraftwerk at the Aragon Ballroom. The Smile at the Riviera Theatre. Mitski headlining at Pitchfork this past summer. Deftones with Gojira at the Huntington Bank Pavilion in the late spring. Failure at the Bottom Lounge back in the summer. Rammstein at Soldier Field over the summer. Swedish House Mafia at the United Center this past summer. Turnstile at the Aragon in the fall. Riot Fest Day Three with Nine Inch Nails. Sparks at the Copernicus Centre in the early spring. Amyl and the Sniffers at Logan Auditorium in the late spring. Actors at the Chop House back in late spring. The Bellwether Syndicate with Then Comes Silence at the Empty Bottle in the early fall. All of these shows- you should’ve been there. Cold Waves X Day 4 with Front 242 & Nitzer Ebb.

Here’s to an exciting 2023 everyone.

Bobby Talamine

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2022 Year End Review

By Angela Urban

This year we visited new venues that were within a few hours of Chicago. Great getaway ideas for 2023. We visited the Rust Belt in East Moline, IL in December.

This venue is great, and over 100 years old, former automobile manufacturer Moline-Knight. Large space,  beautiful murals, large outdoor courtyard, and restaurant adjacent. Venue has plenty of bars, pizza was $5.00 a slice. Beers were $7.00 for a 16 oz.

If you get the chance stop by The Rust Belt in the Quad Cities. Upcoming concerts feature Rick Springfield, and conventions like Midwest Monster in  2023, with many more to come

Check out their website.

https://therustbeltqc.com/

We stopped by the Brown County Music Center in Nashville, Indiana in October. This is a venue has not been around very long, but it is perfect for concerts.

Be prepared to pay for parking, carry in only a clear bag, and go through metal detectors. They are serious about security in Indiana at this venue.

Upcoming concerts include Weird Al Yankovic, Josh Turner, Dave Mason, Lewis Black, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Buddy Guy and Chicago

Check out the shows

https://www.browncountymusiccenter.com/

We visited the Spooner Block Party in Spooner, Wisconsin in July. They have a new venue this year, it is great, plenty of room and the entertainment was 2022 was a great combination of entainment  Great White and Sawyer Brown.

What a great summer get away, and a can’t miss event of the summer visit the Block party. In 2023 they are having .38 Special and Blackhawk

https://spoonerblockparty.com/

Go visit some new places in the New Year and support the concert venues as you go.

Enjoy 2023 everyone!

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Christopher David’s Best of 2022:

Albums

Momma – Household Name

Wet Leg – Wet Leg

The London Suede – Autofiction

The Afghan Whigs – How Do You Burn

Jack White – Fear of the Dawn

Angel Olsen – Big Time

Dayglow – People in Motion

Slipknot – The End, So Far
Ryan Adams – Romeo & Juliet

Jack White – Entering Heaven Alive

Henning Zinoviev & Floating Candles – ‘Die Nude for Satan’ (OST)

Ryan Adams – FM

Shows 

Failure – Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL (July)

Tool – United Center, Chicago, IL (March)

The Smashing Pumpkins  – Metro, Chicago, IL (September)

Jack White – Credit One 1 Arena, Chicago, IL (August)

Franz Ferdinand – Vic Theater, Chicago, IL (August)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Riot Fest, Chicago, IL (September)

Iron Maiden – United Center, Chicago, IL (October)

W.A.S.P. – Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL (December)

Maneskin – Lollapalooza, Chicago, IL (August)

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Best of 2022, Year End Review

By James Currie

This year was a mix for me. It started slow, as we all expected, but had its moments. The summer season really picked up. Almost too much. So much happening, overlapping and traveling to get to the “must see” events. I was overwhelmed to keep up with all that was happening. Then it stalled in the late fall and winter, harder than most years bringing things to an abrupt close.

It was great to see the music industry pull together and try new things to get music out both live and recordings. Getting use to streaming media services was a stretch. I work in tech all day everyday and thankfully we have that option, but it is lack luster for rock n roll. It’s better than nothing, but still a low form of entertainment. Streaming your favorite bands in your home sounds like a great idea, but just comes off like watching a YouTube video. Some figured out how to incorporate live interactions with fans through Q&A and instant feedback, but that still didn’t feel like enough to really accept it and wane for it in the future.

Getting out to live shows again was rough. We all worried about getting COVID-19 and many of us, my self included did (Thanks Rammstein). I was lucky to only get mild symptoms, but others not so lucky. Some have long haul COVID and a couple didn’t make it at all while others got nothing. It was an extra stress that at times, took away from the events I was experiencing.

The concert and festival seen was ever changing, sometimes daily as bands cancelled mid tour from the sickness or denied entry to the country for various reasons including health. This really came to play with festivals who earlier in the year touted the most amazing line ups ever scene only to loose several right before show time with last minute substitutions that didn’t quite make the grade. Or even when tours with bands went on, sometimes it wasn’t with the complete lineups as some members of the band had to bow out due to COVID including one reunion in particular that many said would never happen as two remaining members of the iconic metal band Pantera rejoined for a tribute tour that at one point only had one member left in the band making it for all intensive purposes, a solo act far from the hype of a reunion.

The music released in 2022 was impressive. The show went on. Artists made music and we took it in however we could be it streaming, physical media or live and in person. Here are my highlights from the year that made it all better.

In no particular order besides noted.

Best Albums of 2022:

1. Wet Leg: Wet Leg – (Favorite album of 2022)
2. The Smile: A Light For Attracting Attention
3. Bjork: Fossora
4. !!! (chk chk chk): Let It Be Blue
5. Alt J: The Dream
6. Jack White: Fear of the Dawn
7. Megadeth: The Sick, The Dying & The Dead
8. Tears For Fears: The Tipping Point
9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Cool It Down
10. Placebo: Never Let Me Go

Best Concerts of 2022:

1. Rammstein @ Soldier Field – (Favorite concert of 2022)
2. Iron Maiden @ United Center
3. The Secret Machines @ The Chicago Theatre
4. Gorillaz @ United Center
5. Porno For Pyro @ Lollapalooza
6. Willie Nelson @ Windy City Smokeout
7. Rage Against The Machine @ United Center
8. Tears For Fears @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9. Kraftwerk @ Aragon Ballroom
10. Snapped Ankles @ Empty Bottle

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Colette Custin Bevard:

Top 10 Shows Photographed in 2022:
The Black Keys at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park (notably Low*, The National, and Japanese Breakfast)
Franz Ferdinand at the Riviera Theatre
Sum 41 and Simple Plan at Radius Chicago
Slipknot at TaxSlayer Moline
Flogging Molly at Aragon Ballroom
Failure at Bottom Lounge
Princess Goes to The Butterfly Museum at Metro Chicago
The Revivalists at Aragon Ballroom
Hanson at House of Blues Chicago
* I was truly honored to photograph Low’s incredible drummer, Mimi Parker, at Pitchfork this year. She sadly passed away on November 5th after a horrible battle with cancer.

Shows I’m Looking Forward to in 2023:
Blink-182 at United Center, May 5 and 6
Betty Who at the Riviera, March 21
Inhaler at the Riviera, March 27
The Charlatans and Ride at the Vic, February 7
Yo La Tengo at Metro Chicago, March 24
Bikini Kill at the Salt Shed, April 22
Shania Twain at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, July 1
Fitz and the Tantrums at the Vic, February 2
Iggy Pop at the Salt Shed, March 10
Jake Wesley Rogers at Lincoln Hall, March 25

Top 10 Songs on Repeat in 2022:
Girls Go Wild – LP
The Passenger – Iggy Pop
Living After Midnight – Judas Priest
Pasadena – Young Mister
As It Was – Harry Styles
Bloodbuzz Ohio – The National
Wet Dream – Wet Leg
Burn The Damn Thing Down – The Black Keys
Days Like These – Low
Lunatique – Stereo Total

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