The 10 Best RGV Albums of 2022
The quantity of local EP/album releases is decreasing, but not the quality. This past year was full of unforgettable collaborations, thematically dedicated masterpieces, and homegrown inspiration. Enjoy. Be sure to check out The 20 Best RGV Songs of 2022 as well!
10. Vince Spano - The Prescribed Project EP
Get your 90’s fix with these post-grunge and bluesy alt-rock tunes full of quality guitarwork, vocals that are equal parts tender and gritty, and burning passion throughout.
9. Afterlife Dating Site - NFT
A fast and loose mixtape showcasing the many moods and styles of this psychedelic rap project that challenges categorization, from the oddly calming advertisement music in “dotcom” to the elegiac synths of “qualia”. Dynamic flows with lyrics full of weird flexes and bizarre imagery, and soundscapes that are simultaneously pleasant and abrasive.
8. Wallo2k & Valley Swerve - 2kSwerve
A unique version of Latin trap. Smokey gamer electronics from Valley Swerve and the smooth, glossy flows of Wallo2k. It’s slick, vibey, but also has a biting edge.
7. I Killed Techno! - Don’t Dream In The Grave
The most refined album from the RGV’s horror-punk raconteur. The upgrade in production and scope doesn’t degrade IKT’s campy fun. The canned strings and murky effects sound more cinematic, and the absurd violence reinforces his raw expression.
6. Glare - Heavenly
(Yes, this was released last December, but we didn’t come across this EP until the release show in the first week of 2022.) It’s tough to stand out in the saturated shoegaze scene, but the mystique of Glare’s presence and aesthetic helped the band make a name for themselves. A digestible 14-minute slice of intense moods - endearment, loneliness, cynicism - to fit their heavenly walls of blurry, disorienting haze.
5. Fronterawave - Calavera
Morbid curiosity, hauntology, and Hispanic lore pervade these gothic cumbia vignettes. Its dilapidated production, eerily slow speeds, and droning repetition are intoxicating to get lost in.
4. Italia - Dedicado a Brownsville, con amor
Inspiration flows freely in this home-themed mixtape, from the corrido blues of “No He Olvidado” to the blaring cumbia anthem “Puro 956”. Italia shows that her best singing is in Spanish (especially in the opening “Si tu te vas”) and drops some swift, cascading raps as well.
3. City of Dawn - Moonwheel
City of Dawn’s most distinguished take on meditative music, letting the unconscious take the wheel by using the Muse EEG headset to let his brainwaves move the instrument parameters. Etheral bells and cavernous winds rumble, clip, and crescendo in a hallucinatory haze. Guest Flutist Sherry Finzer’s performances sputter, lilt, and soar over these dronal backdrops. It’s ambient music that is more than just background fodder.
2. Paolo Honey - From the Honeycomb
It’s the last release under the “Paolo Honey” name, but it’s Paolo Santiago’s warmest experience yet. Folky pop and bossa nova serenades that have the up-close intimacy and minimal instrumentation of an impromptu performance. It’s a humble sound, but a dazzling experience, with the guest singers bringing some fun duet interplay for good measure.
1. Brandon Guerra & Jonathan Leal - After Now
Reflecting on the global turmoil of today, the profoundness of the topics fit the profoundness of the sounds - agile jazz, haunting ambient passages, neo-soul sentimentality - while also anticipating the possibilities of the future. A lot of doom and gloom, but also a sense of hope. The powerful spoken word performances by Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson bolster the album’s message as well. It’s a great soundtrack to assess ourselves and our goals for the new year.
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