No rankings. Just 50 songs that tell the story of music in 2022’s second half
*all songs were released between June 1 and December 1 of 2022. Any songs released in December will only be eligible to appear on next year’s first issue of this series
By Ben Leshan
Anywhere With You- Maggie Rogers
“Anywhere With You” is the anthem of Maggie Rogers’ Surrender album, and the passion she has for music, and for life, is absolutely palpable on this record. Starting off with a soft verse over keys, and then building into heavier drums and massive vocal moments towards the end, this track is structured to make you feel so much on sound alone. The songwriting will draw you in even deeper, with vivid descriptions of how it feels to care deeply about another person.
LOLSMHII- Westside Boogie
Westside Boogie is an incredibly well-rounded and skilled rapper, and “LOLSMHII” shows off his best skills. Over a lowkey drum pattern and smooth, jazzy production, Boogie is deeply emotionally vulnerable on this track, starting off slow, and then building into a beat switch. As the instrumental comes with heavier drums Boogie starts to get more and more off his chest, building to a cathartic, yet slightly unfinished feeling climax that makes most sense in the context of his More Black Superheroes album.
Daddy Kane- Roc Marciano, The Alchemist feat. Action Bronson
44-year-old New York emcee Roc Marciano has a lot of respect in hip hop, but he’s not the biggest commercial name. Our pick for the best track off his high quality joint record with producer The Alchemist, The Elephant Man’s Bones, “Daddy Kane” features a beat that is top-tier by Alchemist’s astronomically high standards, a charismatic guest verse full of eclectic bars from underrated spitter Action Bronson, and a fantastic and confident delivery of high quality bars from Marciano.
Complex- Katie Gregson-MacLeod
“Complex” is a song that gained its popularity on TikTok, where Gregson-MacLeod shared the track’s chorus and got millions instantly hooked. Built on a bare bones piano melody and vocals full of pain, the young Scottish singer delivers a compelling anthem for people who are emotionally torn apart by a relationship with a partner who doesn’t nearly reciprocate their intense feelings.
Open Arms- Mozzy
Sacramento rapper Mozzy is quietly one of the best overall rappers out right now, and this track is absolutely beautiful. Featuring Mozzy’s killer voice over melancholy pianos and a drifting vocal sample, this song details how the streets took Mozzy in with “open arms”. He does a fantastic job of explaining how he had nowhere to turn to but crime, and his lyricism is top-tier as he does so. This track is incredibly emotional and well-crafted, and is definitely one of the best hip hop tracks of the year so far.
Acid Eyes- Paolo Nutini
Paolo Nutini wrote a lot of incredible songs for his album Late Night in the Bittersweet, but “Acid Eyes” stands out from the crowd melodically and emotionally. With indie rock production and an incredible vocal performance from Nutini, the track dives into the feeling of realizing how much someone meant to you after they have already left, and deeply regretting not expressing it back then.
Another Heartbreak- Giveon
Giveon seems to always make our best songs lists, and he deserves it as one of the best and most consistent rnb singers in the world. This track is a big ballad, based in a sad piano melody that gives Giveon’s immaculate tone room to shine through. He shows off incredible vocal skill and emotionality on this track, and his delivery of the message, being apprehensive in a new relationship because of previous heartbreak, is done in an incredibly convincing and passionate manner.
Bones- Soccer Mommy
“Bones” is built on the contrast between a grungy guitar lick and Soccer Mommy’s soft and clear vocals. The resulting sound is addicting, and the interplay between the indie production and the unorthodox structure of the chorus sounds amazing. The track is also full of emotion, with Soccer Mommy delivering a story of heartbreak that will be sure to captivate listeners.
Minnesota is a place that exists- glaive
Glaive is one of our favorite new artists out right now, and this might just be his best song to date. With an impeccably built structure that uses layered vocals, heavy drums, and an absolutely infectious synth melody to get you hooked, glaive shines vocally and shows that he can meld angsty emotion with thoughtful and intricate concepts. He certainly lived up to his billing as one of our artists to watch in 2022 with this track.
BelgraveRoad_1- Aitch
This track is a top-tier rap album intro track, featuring fantastic production, assertive rapping, and quality lyricism. Rapping over a beat with vocal samples, minor chords on the piano, and a heavy drum pattern, Aitch tells the story of where he is in life right now, getting introspective and vulnerable, and also showing and telling listeners how he stands out from the crowd. This song draws you in and keeps you hooked until it ends.
Crack Sandwich- JID
“Crack Sandwich” is a story track, but it is also a banger on its sonics alone. On the song we hear JID take us through the context of his childhood before outlining a story of when he and his siblings got into a brawl with strangers at a club in New Orleans. From the beat, to the chorus, to the lyricism, to the story, this track is fantastic. It also immerses the listener in JID’s world, and contributes significantly to the family theme of his stellar album The Forever Story.
NDA- Megan Thee Stallion
“NDA” is built on a hard beat that gives Meg the room to rap at her highest level. The haunting production melody and heavy drums give Megan the perfect pocket for her flow, and she takes advantage, creating a record that is made to turn you up, and should have been a bigger commercial hit than it has been. This track gives the Houston rapper the opportunity to rap relentlessly, setting her up to be at her absolute best.
Third Wheel- Zoe Wees
Zoe Wees has been a favorite on Moonlxte since our first ever article, and she proved us right once again with this track. With production that leans into pop punk, but provides room for Wees’s big, soulful voice to shine, this track shows a new side of what the young artist can do. The songwriting is also high quality, using the clever concept of being a third wheel in a romantic relationship because your partner still isn’t over someone else.
The Highs & The Lows- Chance The Rapper feat. Joey Bada$$
Chance The Rapper has had a rough time in the media since the release of his less-than-successful album The Big Day in 2019, but he has been proving recently that he’s back to being the rapper so many know and love from projects like Acid Rap and Coloring Book. Chance and Joey show off great chemistry and incredible rapping on this track. We also get a fantastic melodic hook from Chance, a nice, laidback vibe, and a meaningful and clearly delivered message about getting through the hard parts of life.
Stick Season- Noah Kahan
Vermont singer Noah Kahan has proven to be an amazing storyteller with a killer vocal tone throughout his career, but this song is his best work yet. A thoughtful and self-reflective take on a breakup track, Kahan creates a sad song that is an anthem you will want to scream out the window no matter your mood. After blowing up on TikTok, this could be the biggest commercial hit of Kahan’s career, and it set the tone for what was an excellent forthcoming album.
Don’t come back- Renforshort
“Don’t Come Back” is easily one of the top pop songs of the year, featuring lyrics about feeling relief that a painful relationship has ended. Renforshort, one of our artists to watch this year, delivers a great vocal performance, and the song is written and structured nicely. Ren does a great job of writing melodies that get stuck in your head and reflecting on emotional experiences that will resonate for her audience.
Sticky- Drake
Drake went into full dance mode on Honestly, Nevermind, but “Sticky”, one of the songs on the record that leans much more hip hop, is a highlight of the record. With an eery sounding beat featuring an unorthodox glitchy melody and a driving bass pattern, Drake is set-up perfectly by the production to craft an immaculate flow. This song sees Drake doing something innovative and new, and it sounds like what many fans would hope he can consistently bring to the table at this stage of his career.
Love you more than me- Montell Fish
“Love you more than me” is literally one of the saddest songs you will ever hear, but it is absolutely beautiful. Fish shows why he was one our artists to watch this year with magical vocals that float over sparse production, calling out into the void, telling the world that he still loves a woman more than anything even though she cheats on him. The melody and story are deeply captivating, and this record stands out on what is an excellent album in Fish’s Jamie.
Oklahoma Smokeshow- Zach Bryan
It has already been established that Zach Bryan is absolutely next-level as a songwriter when it comes to modern country artists, and “Oklahoma Smokeshow” shows off everything he can do, with evocative story-telling, beautiful vocals, and gut-wrenching emotion. On the track Bryan sings about a woman who will never reach her big dreams because of her small town relationship, and you will be absolutely captivated from start to finish.
Love Is…- Toosii
Built on a sample of Julia Michaels’s “Love is Weird”, “Love Is…” builds on the model of other sad melodic trap songs that work with an obvious vocal sample of another track. The beat is beautiful, and Toosii gets introspective and vulnerable about his mental health. He also shows off some incredible melodies on this song. As he sings about the end of a relationship, Toosii leans into his sadness and anger, and creates a musical moment that will be sure to hit home for a lot of his listeners.
Halloween- Kenny Mason
Kenny Mason is one of the most underrated rappers out right now by a mile, and “Halloween” is one of the most innovative and ear-catching tracks of the year. The song is a genreless mix of Kenny’s two styles, melding punk and emo production melodies and vocals with trap drums and high quality rapping. This is a sonic masterpiece, and it might be one of the most complete songs Mason has released to date.
PIRATE RADIO*- Jean Dawson
This song is an insane sonic experience. It sounds as though Dawson took inspiration from a sea shanty (as per the name of the track) but he made it into a serious indie song. Filled with luscious sounds and beautiful strings, the production provides an excellent backdrop for Dawson to show off the clean side of his vocals. This is one of the most innovative tracks of the year, but it also makes for a nice and easy listen.
Innocence and Sadness- Dermot Kennedy
With many of his tracks this year drifting into a new lane compared to his early work, “Innocence and Sadness” is a classic piano ballad from Kennedy. Featuring his raw vocals and fantastically emotional songwriting, this track is sure to put you in your feels. Vocally, sonically, and emotionally, this song really shows how Kennedy is at the top of the game when it comes to modern singer-songwriters.
Morning- Charlotte Lawrence
22-year-old Charlotte Lawrence is not yet a huge name in music, although she has seen significant commercial success, but this track feels like the first in a new, breakout chapter. With an infectious song structure, quality, breathy vocal delivery, and song-writing that goes deeper than a typical pop track, Lawrence hits all the marks for a great song here. This song should definitely get you excited for coming releases from a talented young artist.
California Breeze- Lil Baby
Lil Baby was criticized for the quality of some singles he released leading up to this project, but “California Breeze”, although an album cut, shows how good Baby can be at crafting a standalone track when he gets it right. Spitting with hunger over an infectious sample and heavy trap drums, the Atlanta emcee hits the right mix of lyricism and flow to draw in his listener and keep them intrigued over the course of 3 minutes.
Hurricanes- Rina Sawayama
One of our first artists to watch to begin 2021, Rina has been on the rise we predicted, and this song is some of her best work to date. With a voice and style that will remind you of Lady Gaga, Sawayama has the ideal voice to sing massive pop choruses, and she kills one on this track. The build up on this song in transportive, and will take you to another dimension once the chorus drops. This is also simply one of the best displays of vocal talent on a pop track this year.
Star Tripping- Kevin Atwater
A breakthrough act this year on TikTok, Kevin Atwater comes through with one of the best written songs of the year on “Star Tripping”. With a gripping story about falling for another boy who was unwilling to date publicly or treat him well despite being in a romantic relationship because of his religious upbringing, Atwater’s painfully evocative lyrics will make you feel everything with him. The emotional vocals and slightly grungy acoustic guitar are well-done, and the writing makes it clear that Atwater has a lot of potential beyond this incredible track.
Sunshine- Steve Lacy feat. Fousheé
Steve Lacy has received a lot of praise for his 2022 album Gemini Rights, with “Bad Habit” being the breakthrough single, but “Sunshine” might be the true star of the show. With a ridiculously infectious drum groove, extremely catchy vocal melodies, and fantastic chemistry between Steve and New Jersey singer Fousheé, this track will have you nodding your head and tapping your foot the whole way through.
October Passed Me By- girl in red
A follow-up to girl in red’s breakthrough song “we fell in love in october” from 2018, “October Passed Me By” is a reflection on the relationship that inspired the original love song. Her first release since her amazing 2021 album if i could make it go quiet, this track is full of lyrical references to the original song. She has good things to say about the feelings she holds onto instead of centering her anger or sadness, and the sonics match the message in quality.
Once:Once- Jay Wheeler
Built on a beat that sounds like something The Kid Laroi or Post Malone would use due to its guitar riff and synths, but with fast-paced drums that suit Wheeler, the Puerto Rican singer is able to balance lyrics and delivery that sound like they are from a ballad with fast-paced pop-hit appeal. The song title is a reference to the time 11:11, which holds spiritual significance as a time to make a wish, as Jay sings in Spanish about always wishing for a girl he deeply misses, but can’t get back.
Anti-Hero- Taylor Swift
“Anti-Hero” might be the biggest immediate commercial success of the year, and this track shot to number one on Billboard in its first week out for good reason. The vivid and memorable lyrics, the catchy, energetic production, infectious vocal melodies, and anthemic emotionality make this one of the best pop tracks of the year, and one that many listeners haven’t able to stop playing on repeat.
THE PPL I’VE BEEN- Brevin Kim
Brevin Kim continue to come with genreless bangers packed with intensely emotional songwriting and an eclectic blend of sounds. This track is no different, using heavy bass, acoustic guitars strums, and filtered vocals with big drops into the choruses to craft a mood you can get lost in. The duo of brothers show why they were one of our artists to watch this year on this track.
No One Dies From Love- Tove Lo
Source: @tovelo
On this track we see Tove Lo sing about relationship problems over bouncy electronic production. This is a well-structured pop song, with ear-catching processed vocals on the choruses, and a lot of movement in the synths. Tove gets you up and dancing, and builds the track to higher and higher levels of energy as it progresses. A standout from her strong album Dirt Femme, this is easily one of the best dance pop tracks of the year.
Eyeliner- Ekkstacy
“Eyeliner” fits right into Ekkstacy’s catalog in terms of sound, with a driving bass line and indie drum groove over minor guitar chords and floating, breathy vocals. We can hear Ekkstacy, one of our artists to watch in 2022, tapping into some gravel in his voice on the verses and then keeping things airier on the hooks. The track will get you lost in his sonic and emotional world, and builds on the success of his biggest hit “i walk this earth all by myself” by mixing incredibly dark vocals with somber, yet danceable production.
Men on the Moon- Chelsea Cutler
Source: @chelseacutler
Chelsea Cutler has shown to be one of the best songwriters in pop music in recent years, and this track shows off more of that incredible work. Her vocal tone shines through really well here, and the song concept, that humans have gone as far as putting people on the moon, yet that her relationship still can’t work, is an interesting and thoughtful one. Sonically, this track plays with space really well and allows Cutler’s vocal to shine while accenting it with quality production.
Blessed- GloRilla
Source: @Glorillapimp
GloRilla has been one of the fastest rising rappers in the game this year, and her success looks sustainable due to her skill and unique delivery. On this track her deep and confident voice commands a classic Memphis-style beat with dark piano chords and heavy drums. Memphis legend Yo Gotti (her label boss at CMG) adds an excellent verse to the track, and GloRilla kills it with a memorable chorus. Watch out for more from the Memphis rapper going forward.
CUFF IT- Beyoncé
On an album full of fantastic dance music, this track might be the easiest to dance the night away to. In line with an album direction that works to appreciate the way queer, Black artists pioneered electronic dance music, Beyonce focuses on inclusivity and fun on this song. With lyrics full of calls to be confident and be yourself, active bass and drums, and catchy melodies, Bey more-than accomplished her goal of creating a great dance track that makes everyone feel welcome here.
I’m Not Her- Wet
Source: @wet
New York indie band Wet are known for playing around with vocal mixes and arrangements to create quirky and catchy soundscapes that deliver real emotion, and they accomplish that once again on this track. Over open production void of drums or significant percussive elements, lead vocalist Kelly Zutaru delivers a drifting ballad full of painful emotions here.
10:36- Beabadoobee
On “10:36” Beabadoobee is more on the rock side of her indie pop sound, using heavier guitar and drum sounds to build big choruses that will be sure to get stuck in your head. Bea has shown a great ability to make rock-leaning tracks jam-packed with melodic ear candy alongside quality lyricism and storytelling. This track is just another example of why she is an important artist to watch right now.
Yukon (Interlude)- Joji
Source: @sushitrash
Don’t look now, but Joji is one of the biggest pop artists in the world. The former internet comedian now has a slew of hits under his belt, but this track, on the lower profile side of his recent releases (especially on the same project with monster hit “Glimpse of Us”), has a ton to offer. With a beat that features hip hop style drums over piano and strings, Joji creates memorable vocal melodies and a track with tons of replay value.
Forget Me- Lewis Capaldi
Source: @lewiscapaldi
Lewis Capaldi had a lot to live up to as he released his first song since his excellent debut album Divinely Uninspired To a Hellish Extent, but he hit the spot with this track. A little more high tempo and energetic than fans are used to hearing Capaldi, the song works, and has garnered high levels of commercial success due to a strong concept, expressive emotionality, and a top-tier vocal performance. If you forgot that Capaldi was a star, this track was sure to make you remember how good he is.
Do you miss me?- Pinkpanthress
Source: @pinkpantheress
Pinkpantheress is pushing the sound of music, and she has been able to meld the spirit of futuristic innovation with present commercial success. Using beats that may call upon hyperpop, but that deviate in significant ways from the budding genre, you never know quite what you are going to get from her new songs. This track uses her breathy vocals to create incredibly catchy melodic moments over a beat that feels somewhat reminiscent of very early EDM music with a multitude of unexpected influences.
Save yourself first- contradash
Source: @contradash
contradash is quietly one of the best songsmiths in modern music, with an incredible ear for melody, and an ability to tastefully use distortion and unorthodox production techniques to give catchy pop songs an alternative edge. This track uses heavily distorted synths over bouncy drums behind dash’s clear vocals. As he tells the girl he is seeing she should “save yourself first”, you can hear the emotion in his voice and feel it viscerally through the production.
Habits- Genevieve Stokes
Source: @chowdergiirl
Coming out of Maine at 19-years-old, Stokes has emerged onto the national scene with incredible vocals and mature songwriting. The production here is able to meld a nostalgic and solemn feel with a slightly warm comfort, and Stokes’s vocal tone will be sure to hit you. As she calls out, “on again, off again, love you like oxygen” you will feel every word she says.
Suckerpunch- FLETCHER
Source: @findingxfletcher
FLETCHER shows off an ability to write a radio-ready pop love song on this track. The vocal and production melodies will draw you in, and the song concept is interesting, that unexpected love felt like a “suckerpunch”. This is the kind of track that could be a smash hit if it is able to find the right momentum on social media, and it has all the elements to stream incredibly well.
Lip Service- Cautious Clay
Source: @cautiousxclay
Cautious Clay does not get nearly the amount of recognition he deserves, and this track further proves that point. Whether or not you have already heard the beauty of his vocal tone, it will draw you in immediately over lowkey production to begin the track, and as guitars and drums start to drop and the song builds energy, you will find yourself still caught up in the way his voice sounds, and the way his words make you feel.
Sorry To Me Too- Julia Michaels
Source: @juliamichaels
Julia Michaels has proven her ability as one of the best pop songwriters in the game right now, and this track shows more of her versatility, with a chorus that plays with vocal mixing techniques from EDM that create a unique sonic experience. Michaels draws her listener in with the warmth and vulnerability of her tone, and comes up with a strong concept, expressing that she is also sorry to herself for the ways her partner failed her in a relationship.
Home By Now- MUNA
Indie pop band MUNA really broke onto the national scene last year with their song “Silk Chiffon” featuring Phoebe Bridgers, but this song is one of many that shows they do not need big name features to create great tracks. The production here mixes indie pop with dance music, employing punchy snares and driving synth bass to accent lead singer Katie Gavin as she questions whether she and her partner would have metaphorically been “Home By Now” if she had stayed in the relationship.
Here With ME- d4vd
Source: @d4vddd
Gen-Z artist d4vd has experienced a meteoric rise since his song “Romantic Homicide” blew up on TikTok, and this track is poised to be his second smash hit, cementing his status as a potential mega star. A love song over guitar chords and drums that feel reminscent of a vintage, doowop style sound, d4vd shows off incredible vocals delivered in a striking tone, a great melodic ear, and high quality songwriting. Do not let yourself forget about d4vd.
Bars Into Captions- Quavo, Takeoff
Source: @quavohuncho
After Takeoff was killed at just 28 this November in Houston, this one feels bittersweet, but the track shows off a lot of what made him special, and also shows excellent chemistry with his fellow-Migos member and uncle, Quavo. Not many rappers could pull off an interpolation of Outkast’s “So Fresh, So Clean” but Quavo and Takeoff bring their Atlanta energy and mastery of flow to appropriately pay homage to the Atlanta classic. RIP Takeoff.
Enjoyed the post? Check out our playlist with one song from each of these amazing projects
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