Kurt Write Things' Top Five Songs of 2022
/2022 was hectic. Here are five songs from this year that hooked me through the haze of stress and kept me happy.
All songs are from indie artists, some of whom have tricky names to Google search. Yet all would be happy with a few new fans hearing their music.
Let's discover your next favourite thing:
Dazy - 'Out Of Body'
Feel-good arena-sized power pop coated in howling guitar fuzz. It's somehow the product of just one guy named James Goodson from Richmond, Virginia. It's noisy and nice. It's gravel and sugar. It's addictive.
Big Nothing - 'Still Sorta Healing'
We're all still sorta healing from something. This slice of warm and welcoming guitar pop from Philly-based Big Nothing has bassist Liz Parsons spin a simple story of bittersweet reflections. It’ll help you get lost inside a sound while doing some healing yourself.
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - 'Tidal River'
The ceiling’s on fire and the train’s leaving the station, but don't let that get you down. Play this jangle-pop groover from Melbourne, Australia with its glimmering three-guitar attack and you'll feel your wave coming on soon.
Goose - 'Hungersite'
The main guitar riff from this masterpiece by Connecticut indie-jam band Goose has managed to live rent-free in my head since I first heard it in March. The fact that it's also the product of velvet-voiced lead singer Rick Mitarotonda is a happy coincidence. Listen to a live version for all the many magnificent ways it can be played by him.
It’s #SpotifyWrapped season, so here’s writer Kurt Duvel’s top five songs of 2023 and some thoughts about Queens Of The Stone Age, Foo Fighters, The Tubs, Mammoth WVH, and Fall Out Boy.