Ryan LaCroix, host of The Oklahoma Rock Show, shares his favorite Oklahoma albums of 2022.
15. Kaitlin Butts - What Else Can She Do
LISTEN: Blood, Bored If I Don't, It Won't Always Be This Way
14. Cliffdiver - Exercise Your Demons
LISTEN: IKEA Strikes Back, Who Let The Hawgz Out?, New Vegas Bomb
13. Keathley - Burning Bras EP
LISTEN: Xombie, Lucy, Silhouettes
12. Money - Money
LISTEN: Down4ever, Budd Dwyer, Slower Hell
11. Chelsea Days - Chelsea Days
LISTEN: Just My Luck, As I Go, Dealer's Hand
10. Young Weather - Broken Ladder
LISTEN: Frontera Sin Fin, Angel Gabriel Funk, Papermaps
9. Bartees Strange - Farm to Table
LISTEN: Cosigns, Wretched, Hold the Line
8. Lex - NOW EP
LISTEN: Rosey, FOMO, Selfless
7. John Calvin Abney - Tourist
LISTEN: Call Me Achilles, Watch Me Go (Back In Time), Holy Golden West
6. Companion - Second Day of Spring
LISTEN: 23rd Street, Forfeit, Second Day of Spring
5. Chat Pile - God's Country
LISTEN: Why, Tropical Beaches, Inc., Slaughterhouse
4. Jason Scott & the High Heat - Castle Rock
LISTEN: Quittin' Time, Suffering Eyes, Ft Worth
3. Husbands - Full-On Monet
Husbands has nearly a decade of surf rock goodness under their belts, first as a cross-country bedroom project and now as a full band. Anchored by its two songwriters and founding members Danny Davis and Wil Norton, Husbands is rooted in layered sounds, lush harmonies and catchy hooks. Continuing on that strong foundation is the driving, dream pop gem Full-On Monet. It's a record that dabbles in nostalgia, particularly on "Liked to Party" and "Garth," and often feels like a tug of war between restlessness and tranquility. Its fractured lyrics aren't always easy to interpret, but that's not the point. Full-On Monet is ultimately a good time record, so take it all in and embrace the vibes.
LISTEN: Must Be a Cop, Liked to Party, Wishbone
2. The Flycatchers - Letters EP
Letters has a remarkable touch to it. The Flycatchers' singer Chris Jones weaves together tales of lost love, insecurity and concern for others into the five inspired tunes that comprise this EP. It's a record of healing, and an example of budding confidence in Jones' work. Early releases from The Flycatchers were ones to take notice of, but more rooted in an Americana vein. That changed with 2021's flowers & weeds EP, a more atmospheric and emotional collection of songs. Letters builds upon that change, and the recordings are amplified by a backing crew of local all-stars, notably the fine guitar work of Isaac Stalling and wondrous backing vocals of Ken Pomeroy.
LISTEN: Marigold, Rhythm, Voices
1. ᎠᏅᏛᏁᎵᏍᎩ (Anvdvnelisgi) compilation
For its sheer impossibility alone, we should all be praising how ᎠᏅᏛᏁᎵᏍᎩ (Anvdvnelisgi)'s creators pulled off this Cherokee language compilation. To gather together more than a dozen Cherokee musicians with songs as far ranging in genres as pop, metal, folk and reggae is quite a task in itself. But to then translate songs previously recorded in English to the Cherokee language — some were also created from scratch in Cherokee — and teach some of the musicians how to correctly pronounce and sing those words is just mind-blowing. All that could be for naught if the music was average, but the songs are consistently great. Kalyn Fay's "Judadatla Tsisqwa" and Ken Pomeroy's "Galvladi" are great reworks of their previous releases. Travis Fite's reggae styling of "Squasesdedi" and Austin Markham's pop jam "Osdawidigalisda" are major standouts too. Then, Agalisiga's "Gatlohiha" and IIA's "Anvdvnelisgi" are great introductions to young Oklahoma talent. The compilation is a creative and modern approach to language revitalization. The Cherokee language has seen a decline in First Language speakers over the years, with an estimated 2,000 First Language speakers in existence. The hope is that by creating this album, and through Cherokee Nation's language programs, more folks will become interested in, and learn, the Cherokee language. The end result is the most welcome and surprising listen of 2022.
LISTEN: Judadatla Tsisqwa, Hatsewa, Gatlohiha
More albums I really enjoyed:
- Beau Jennings & the Tigers -Heavy Light
- Brothers Griiin -Joy City
- Downward -The Brass TaxEP
- Ezekiel Songs -Times That Shape Us
- John Fullbright -The Liar
- Josh Fudge -TECHNICOLOR
- Levi Parham -Sure, Okay, Great.
- Love Seats -latelyEP
- Medisin -Wanderer
- Nate Ward -Sessions
- Nia Moné -DysphoriaEP
- Ragland -Guardian
- Ramsey Thornton -Ramsey ThorntonEP
- Sun Deep -Quarantined Thoughts
- Tim Buchanan -The Pourin' RainEP
- Zach Bryan -American Heartbreak
Listen to the Oklahoma Rock Show, every Friday night at 7 p.m. on The Spy on KOSU.
