My Top Ten Songs of 2022

For those of you who use Spotify, you know their famous “Wrapped” summaries dropped today. We are a people who love it when our particulars and predilections are noticed; we like it (or are encouraged to like it) when we can compare our taste to that of others. (I use “we” self-consciously here.) Spotify tells me I spent 106,363 minutes listening to music in 2022; I am deeply committed to sound as a comfort and inspiration!

I care a great deal about country music. Folks who are smarter and more discriminating than I like to argue about the various subgenres of country: Americana, Red Dirt, Texas Country, Hillbilly Punk, why Pop Country and Country Pop are distinct, and so on. Taxonomies bore me, but I respect that they are important; what matters to me is discovering new music while continuing to treasure the old. And so, complete with links, my top ten songs of 2022. (All of these songs have been released since January 1, and none of these are covers.)

These are the songs that broke my heart, lifted my spirits, made me think, and helped me write. Take a listen if you like; if you are on Spotify, you can find the playlist here.

Most of these artists are not household names; I hope you find one you like. And if you really like their sound, buy their merchandise, or see them in concert — because Spotify doesn’t pay the bills.

10. Old Tin Can, Josiah and the Bonnevilles.

    9. The Lost Years, Stephanie Quayle

8. I’m Just a Clown, Charley Crockett

7. Half Grown, Zach Bryan

6. Burnin’ Both Ends of the Bar, Wade Bowen

5. Gold Standard, Kelly Mickwee (she wrote it and others sang it before 2022 but this is the first year she’s released it)

4. You Can’t Trust Fate, Stacy Antonel

3. Wealth of Sorrow, Cahalen Morrison

2. Kelley’s Drive, Morgan Wade

1. Tulsa’s Last Magician, Willi Carlisle