My media picks for 2022

With 2022 in full swing, it has proven to be another year defined by politics, pandemic and public pandemonium. Luckily for me, as the world continued to burn, I was able to deal with the immeasurable amount of media I’ve consumed over the past 12 months. And fortunately for youbecause I want to share my favourites.

From pre-gaming and grinding work in the library to heartbroken emo hours and long I95 commutes – the music released throughout 2022 composed the soundtrack to my summer and my first semester of senior year. Although so many incredible albums have been given to us this year, these are the ones I have played the most;

• MidnightsTaylor Swift – The obvious first choice. The cardinal rule of Taylor Swift songs is that if you felt it, she probably wrote about it, and this album documenting 13 Sleepless Nights is no exception. As someone who went through their healing era this year, “Karma” couldn’t have come out at a better time. Though there’s a few skips now (“Vigilante Shit” sounds like trash reputation track), Swift’s songs have the funny ability to know my tastes better than I do — so if you see me posting “Draw the cat’s eye hard enough to kill a man” without irony, mind your own business. Side note: Will be selling tickets for the Rein for Eras tour… (half joking)

• Myself on the wayTurnover – Turnover is one of those bands that are in a constant state of reimagining. I’ve been a fan ever since I first heard Peripheral vision, and stayed true as they transitioned from indie rock and emo to a softer psychedelic sound. I see their release in 2022 as an extension of their most recent second album, good nature, where they started moving into a groovier gear. It’s the perfect album to add to your driving or prep playlists, for times when you can fully appreciate the layered sounds and funky basslines that make the album so engaging and fun to bang.

• PRE PLEASUREJulia Jacklin – As a pre-existing Jacklin fan, I was eagerly awaiting the release of this album – and it did not disappoint. PRE PLEASURE is a stunning blend of Jacklin’s signature raw writing with more polished production compared to his previous works. While most of the songs are nostalgic and haunting, the high energy points that are scattered throughout command your attention not to stray far. If I had to categorize this album as a personal vibe, it would be “songs to play through your headphones while you lay on your bedroom floor longing and longing” because Jacklin’s self-reflection is sure to rub off on you.

• If I can’t have love, I want powerHalsey – Going back to my earlier statement that I was in my healing era, Halsey’s latest album was the perfect musical accompaniment to much of the anger I felt in 2022. IICHLIWP is a prime example of what is possible when we reject the Jack Antontoffication of contemporary music production. Trent Reznor’s dramatic, gothic production of Nine Inch Nails and Atticus Ross paints the perfect soundscape for Halsey’s unapologetic poetic prose about the dichotomies that exist within everyone that spark inner conflict and self-sabotage. This album is so atmospheric that you feel like you’ve been transported to an alternate universe, making it the perfect album to escape from everyday life.

• Pareidolia Catalog, Vols. 1-4HOMESHAKE – This is the ultimate study album (or should I say albums?). With 62 songs spread across the four volumes, HOMESHAKE graciously gives us over an hour and a half of lofi chill beats to study and relax in – no YouTube video required. As a longtime fan of his work, I’m still waiting for a more personal album from him, something like Fresh air and midnight snack, but I appreciate his decision to release the ambient mix of music he made in quarantine. Until then, I will take this as a sign from the universe to be productive and use this album as the soundtrack for my school work.

My roommates and I were talking the other day that we wish there was a Hulu or Netflix Wrapped like there is for Spotify, so we can see the stats we’ve been accumulating throughout this year. Considering all the nights we’ve spent watching Gossip Girl and our month-long Halloween horror movie marathon, I realize I’d probably be better off not knowing how many hours that was. Fortunately, the commitment to our sofa left me with fond memories film and television recommendations for this year.

• Marcel the shell with shoes. I’ve already said my piece about it in full, but I will include a TL; DR: This movie has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen and I sobbed the whole way through. Fully recommend to everyone everywhere. Change of year, and maybe even change of life.
• 2022 saw the second season of Quinta Brunson’s sitcom Abbott Elementary School air, the Office-style mockumentary that follows elementary school teachers and the administration of a Philadelphia public school. From Buzzfeed, Brunson has made a name for himself over the years as a comedic force and Abbott Elementary School is the perfect example of his work at its best. With an incredible cast including Tyler James Williams of Everybody Hates Chriscomedian Zack Fox and Brunson herself, Abbott Elementary School revitalized the contemporary sitcom for me. Compared to all the overly intense HBO shows I’ve seen this year, Brunson’s creation is a breath of fresh air. The jokes are funny without being rude, making Abbott Elementary School the perfect choice to watch between episodes of the new season of The White Lotus.
• Referring to the month-long Halloween movie marathon, I’ve watched a lot of horror movies this year – mostly bad ones. I wasn’t the biggest fan of a certain blockbuster titled “Wi Test” that came out this year, but Zach Cregger’s directorial debut saved my impression on the state of movies. horror in 2022. Of course, I’m talking about Barbaric – the thriller that somehow leaves you empathizing with the monster in the basement on some of the protagonists. Barbaric, which stars Justin Long, Bill Skarsgård and Georgina Campbell, is delightfully modern in the way it revolves around a double-booked AirBnB and includes a disgraced actor-turned-podcaster as a character, which turns out to be more satirical. how corny. (Slight spoiler ahead) My viewing of this movie came after watching Defenseanother longtime horror that stuck with me, and the end of Barbaric I felt like I was getting revenge on him for what he had done to me.

While I haven’t finished (or started) every book on my reading list, I didn’t want my media consumption to be completely indiscriminate. The best way to combat my shortened attention span while continuing to seek knowledge was to podcasts. The perfect mix of podcasts for me is a healthy balance of information while being fun and entertaining. These have been my go-tos while I’m getting ready, cleaning my apartment, or just want to feel like I’m part of a conversation when I’m actually home alone.

• Binchtopia is a podcast hosted by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb, two women in their twenties with strong roots in online and pop culture as well as feminist history and theory. The pair seamlessly combine these two areas of interest to regularly release episodes exploring topics such as SHEIN’s ethical dilemmas, American marriage culture, and surrogacy. The two girls bring together their unique yet complementary personalities and humor, creating an hour and a half full of witty jokes, back-and-forths, critiques and insightful analysis of modern trends from, usually, a feminist goal. I’m not one to use Patreon, but the Binchies made me seriously consider a subscription recently, because weekly episodes obviously aren’t enough for me.
• When I was a fan of Binchtopia before 2022, a more recent podcast that I added to my rotation was The psychology of your 20s. Host Jenna Sbeg is a psychology graduate who explores the challenges, life experiences, and feelings that typically come with being in your twenties. With topics ranging from career and finances to inter and intrapersonal relationships – there’s likely an episode for everything you’re going through right now. She is also sometimes joined by colleagues in their twenties or experts on the subject to get other ideas and opinions. Every time I finish an episode of this podcast, I come away feeling like I’ve learned something that I can directly apply to my own life. Your twenties don’t come with a guide, but this podcast kinda looks like it.