As Summer's heat begins to simmer down, and the NFL begins to take over the cultural conversation, it's time for fall. That means you're about to get dragged to a farm to pick something you can easily pick up at the supermarket down the street, walking through leaves that seemed to be green just yesterday, and trying to figure out what you're doing for Thanksgiving. Fall is without a doubt the best season there is, and to meet that theme of excellence, the music that's about to be released this fall looks to be some of the best of the year.
We've got an already legentary metalcore band who seems to be putting together some of their best work, the return of pop punk's most beloved band, and the world's greatest band returning from their hibernation. With so many headlines flyign around, one question comes to mind: is the Album of the Year about to be released in Autumn of this year?
The short answer to that question is probably yes. That's not to discredit any album that's come this year, but it does seem that the quality is kicking up a level as the colors begin to change. As I'm looking at the list of bands releasing new material this fall, I'm seeing at least two bands who I've given the AOTY award to, and a few others who have had releases come ever so close to the title. It makes sense, given the funneling of new material into a window where touring behind said material was an actual possibility, but there's a difference between a rush of new albums and the flood that's upon us. Hold your breath, this fall's album releases are sure to try to take it away.
Before we dive into the albums that look to take the crown of 2022's top album this year, let's remind ourselves of who they're up against. The crown for 2022 runs through June 23, as that's the day we were graced with Coheed and Cambria's Vaxis II and Alexisonfire's Otherness, the two albums that have been going blow for blow with one another for my top spot this year. Don't sleep on Pathos, the sophomore release from British metalheads Conjurer, which was released a week later as well. I've been loving Underoath's Voyeurist more and more as the year has rolled on, so they may end up climbing back to the top of the ranks. There's also Maggie Rogers, whose new release Surrender somehow sounds even bigger than her debut Heard it in a Past Life. The year's been good to us, but it's about to go from good to great. Below, we're going to run through the albums I've got on my radar, as well as their chance to be the AOTY when the calendar shifts into 2023.
Pianos Become the Teeth - Drift (Releasing August 26)
It's fitting that the first release I'll be highlighting here is from a band that you may not have heard of, but that's just how Pianos Become the Teeth have gone about their business. They've never broken through in the way that The Hotelier or Turnover have since the emo revival kicked off, but they've been making music just as good (or better) than those bands for years now. The best evidence of this is Keep You, the band's moody, cathartic 2014 release that finsihed second in my AOTY race that year. The only album better? That would be Home, Like Noplace is there, only the greatest emo album of the 2010s. So if it takes a literally perfect album to top Pianos Become the Teeth, you know they've always got a chance.
AOTY Chances: Not too high, but not 0, either. The singles have shown a very subdued and layered approach, and if they're able to combine that with the louder, more emotional moments of Keep You, we could have a classic on our hands.
The Dangerous Summer - Coming Home (Releasing August 26) The Dangerous Summer's comeback has far exceeded expectations, as they've now released as many full-lengths before their hiatus as they have after it (3 albums apiece). Their new release, due out on new label Rude Records this Friday, features an album artwork that feels reminiscent of the Disney/Pixar classic Up. Can a band whose songs are almost as sad as that movie's first 15 minutes conjure up another classic? Their first few tracks that have been unleashed to the masses seem to suggest that we've got another great record on our hands.
AOTY Chances: Low. I'll never count out the band that put out Reach for the Sun, but there's a lot of great stuff coming out in the next few weeks.
The Wonder Years - The Hum Goes On Forever (Releasing September 2)
There's just something different about the leadup to a new album from The Wonder Years. After becoming the torchbearers for pop-punk through their relentless chase for their best work, the band seem to have come together for another special release through the pandemic. First single "Oldest Daughter" feels like it could have fit into any of the band's releases, while "Summer Clothes" shows the band exploring the sounds of their Burst and Decay releases in their official releases as well. Meanwhile, "Wyatt's Song" is one of the band's most infectious choruses, and "Low Tide" features that classic TWY melancholy we've grown accustomed to. Though the subject matter of the band's songs has changed--it's been revealed that much of Dan "Soupy" Campbell's lyrics are centering around his experiences as a new father--you can rest assured that the heart that pumps into these songs and into your speakers or headphones is ever-present as always.
AOTY Chances: High. I've got a lot of hope for this one, and the consistent quality of the songs released so far back up that sentiment.
Holy Fawn - Dimensional Bleed (Releasing 9/9)
I get a lot of bands and artists thrown at me that I should listen to, but only a few of them ever really stick. I remain thankful that Holy Fawn was one of the bands that was suggested to me that I took the deep dive on. Holy Fawn's sound, self-described as "loud heavy pretty noises," will have listeners thinking they're hearing a new Deafheaven record, which is one of the best compliments you can give a band these days. Their debut Death Spells provides the perfect mix of layered compositions and crashing breakdowns, while the vocals go from shrieking screams to more delicate clean vocals. It appears that Dimensional Bleed will be a sort of expansion on that sound, as it seems like the band have tightened their screws and turned up the intensity yet another notch. "Death is a Relief" remains one of the best songs I've heard all year.
AOTY Chances: High. This album feels like it's got true wild-card status, and I really don't quite know what to expect from it, which only heightens my excitement to hear it.
The Devil Wears Prada - Color Decay (Releasing 9/16) I will say this to anyone who will listen: The Devil Wears Prada are about to put out the best album of their career. There's just no doubt in my mind about that. The evidence is painted across all four of the songs they've released in preparation for the official release. Each track takes a different path, but still finds a way to bring that signature TDWP sound: heavy riffs, biting lyrics, and a great back-and-forth between Mike Hranica and Jeremy DePoyster's vocals. Whether it's the straightforward breakdown-heavy "Sacrifice" or the poignant chorus of "Salt," the band is throwing everything they have into this release, and it's all adding up to the fact that there may not be another metalcore album released in 2022 that matches TDWP's intensity.
AOTY Chances: Extremely high. Listen to "Time" and try to tell me that you wouldn't want to hear the rest of this album as quickly and as loudly as possible, I dare you.
The 1975 - Being Funny in a Foreign Language
I can sit here in the dim light of my apartment and act like any of these albums can plant their flag in the ground as the AOTY, but the truth is, until The 1975's new album is released, their presence will still loom large over my consideration of the year's best music. The 1975 have released 4 full-length albums; three of them (The 1975, I like it when you sleep..., and A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships) have taking home AOTY honors. With that in mind, I can firmly state what my AOTY is until Being Funny has been out long enough for me to dig into it. If "Part of the Band," a track that grows on me more with each listen, and "Happiness," a song that immediately jettisoned itself into the band's greatest hits, are any indication, the band still has its fastball, and if they keep throwing the gas they're capable of throwing, no one's going to be able to touch their stuff.
AOTY Chances: They're the odds-on favorite right now.
While it's a safe bet that The 975 will take the crown, there's still a lot of time left in the year, and I'm so excited to have this many releases to listen to in such a short time. Let me know what I missed in the comments below or on Twitter, and enjoy the music!
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