2022 in Review (Also Cool's Top Albums)

Illustration by Malaika Astorga

Sounds Cool 2022 (Also Cool’s Top Albums)

Alvvays - Blue Rev (Polyvinyl / Transgressive / Celsius Girls)

“These are 14 zippy songs that echo in your brain long after they end, largely thanks to the group's ability to repeatedly knock reliable song machinery into a woozy disequilibrium.” — Jacob Ganz, NPR

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Born At Midnite - Alternity EP (Arbutus Records)

“Born At Midnite show the range of their DIY stylings with ‘Alternity’, incorporating an invigorating drum beat alongside bouncing neon synths and slick guitar licks to create a stylish, swaggering whole. It’s the perfect setting for this tale of a high-class party, where everyone’s wearing designer clothes and bopping around in this rarified social strata.” — Rob H., Beats Per Minute

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Boyhood - My Dread

“Stroke It” on Also Cool’s Playlist Refresh (June 24th, 2022)

“Central Frontenac’s Caylie Runciman—AKA Boyhood— has recently shared ‘Stroke It’, the second single from her upcoming album My Dread. Complete with Runciman’s signature contemplative instrumentation and frank delivery, ‘Stroke It’ indicates a deepened confidence in her artistic stride.”

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Cola - Deep In View (Fire Talk)

Interview with Cola by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter (May 17th, 2022)

“Rather, Deep In View relishes in poetic revelations in a era of lukewarm takes. With an observational tone akin to David Byrne’s commanding Talking Heads personas, coupled with direct, yet animated, guitar-bass-drum arrangements reminiscent of early works by The Strokes, Cola strikes political conversation on modern life with refreshing sincerity.”

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DR. GABBA - Planet Piano

Review of DR. GABBA’S “MAGIC RIDER” by Malaika Astorga (May 5th, 2022)

We discovered DR. GABBA earlier this year when the Tiktok algorithm gods were feeling particularly generous. The anonymous space doctor pairs old-school video game graphics with bouncy, synth-heavy beats, which he used to roll out his 2022 album Planet Piano. "Plasma" and "Googoo Lagoon" were the standout tracks that took the algorithm by storm, but "Sunday 2pm" was our personal favourite. DR. GABBA has since gone on to play his first live show with non-other than Montreal electro-sweethearts Blue Hawaii in Los Angeles and will hopefully be blessing us with another synthy space journey sometime soon.

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Dry Cleaning - Stumpwork (4AD)

“It’s post-punk but also incandescent slow rock; it’s hardcore vandalized with Dadaist-diary meditations; it’s cold and moody but also lush and friendly, alternately borderline industrial noise or dream pop.” — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork

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Gloin - We Found This (Mothland)

Interview with Gloin by Holly Hilts (November 24th, 2022)

“While their 2019 album Soft Monster was loaded with head-bangers, there are some more soothing rhythms on We Found This, always with some level of distortion and dark underbelly (a Gloin signature).”

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Grim Streaker - MIND (Mothland)

Grim Streaker featured in Also Cool’s FME 20th Anniversary Top Picks (August 30th, 2022)

“Brooklyn’s Grim Streaker sport weirdo sing-talk rock that you cannot help but bop to. Their latest album MIND is described as ‘a surreal, subversive world of four songs that reflects on the current state of mental health, laughable social constructs and the inescapable working grind.’”

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Imogen Heap - Chordata Bytes I (Megaphonic Records)

“Heap helped define the popular soundtrack of the early 2000s. Her solo work and sole album as a part of the electronic duo Frou Frou have become touchstones for the millennials who grew up hearing Heap’s otherworldly, oft-modulated vocals on-screen. Now 44, the pop innovator continually resurfaces as a point of inspiration.” — Cat Zhang, Pitchfork

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Isabella Lovestory - Amor Hardcore

Isabella Lovestory is a perfect balance of sexy bitchiness and everything we love about reggaeton. Her 2022 album Amor Harcore took Montreal's perrero princess to new heights this year, with countless shows across the globe, including some memorable shows in her hometown. It's an album to pre before a night out with your besties or blast while you get over your ex.

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The Linda Lindas - Growing Up (Epitaph Records)

The Linda Lindas’ POP Montreal show review by Rebecca L. Judd (October 8th, 2022)

“The friendship between the four teens was palpable, and their appreciation for punk rock and its motifs of eccentricity lit the stage the whole night through. Between coordinated sways and jittering struts, the group carried themselves with carefree coolness that felt easy to absorb.”

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Magi Merlin - Gone Girl (Bonsound)

Magi Merlin comes into herself and her sound with her explosive 2022 album, created in collaboration with her longtime friend, Funkywhat. Using themes of rage, raving, and ultimate self-expression, Magi hit the ground running with this release, launching herself across international stages for much of the year.

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Maryze - 8

Review of “Experiments” by Malaika Astorga (March 7th, 2022)

“Inspired by her Celtic roots, years of studying jazz, and a healthy obsession with emo as a teenager, Maryze's music transcends genre while still providing one hook after the other.”

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MICHELLE - AFTER DINNER WE TALK DREAMS (Transgressive)

“Much like its predecessor, the record sees each member narrate not only their own vulnerability, but that of their bandmates, encouraging survival and self-improvement over group harmonies and striking pop choruses. Their liberation is individual and universal at once.” — Sophie Williams, NME

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Eliza Niemi - Staying Mellow Blows (Vain Mina / Tin Angel Records)

Interview with Eliza Niemi by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter (August 4th, 2022)

“Between cello musings, folk experimentations and modular synth flirtations is Niemi’s most bountiful collaboration to date—a testament to her talent and creative kinship.”

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OMBIIGIZI - Sewn Back Together (Arts & Crafts)

Interview with OMBIIGIZI by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter (October 1st, 2022)

“Through its exploration of both individual and collective identity, Sewn Back Together reckons with the realities of generational trauma, guided by familial teachings and a connection between Monkman and Sturgeon that transcends their collaborative brilliance.”

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PACKS - WOAH (Fire Talk, Royal Mountain Records)

PACKS featured in Also Cool’s 2022 POP Montreal Top Picks

“Accompanied by an acoustic guitar, WOAH has Link returning to her solo, unbrushed songwriting roots with a refined lyrical palette and imaginative composition (and an ode to Ottawa commercial radio on the track ‘fm’).”

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Shallowhalo - No Fun

“Yesterday’s Toy” on Also Cool’s Playlist Refresh (June 24th, 2022)

“Shallowhalo, NYC’s resident sparkly synth royalty, recently released their no-skip album No Fun—and ‘Yesterday’s Toy’ has been on repeat since the drop. For fans of Strawberry Switchblade, Kate Bush, and Cleaners from Venus, the track is a shimmering cascade of sound perfect for your summer playlist.”

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SZA - SOS (Top Dawg / RCA)

“SZA has mastered the art of the inner monologue, transforming deeply personal observations into gilded songs that feel intimate, relatable, and untouchable, all at once.” — Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Pitchfork

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Wombo - Fairy Rust

Released in the summer of 2022, Wombo's Fairy Rust has stayed on our daily playlists ever since. "Regular Demon" was an instant favourite, combining spooky sounds, slightly cryptic lyrics, and an elevated postpunk sound. Other Also Cool favourites from the album include "Sour Sun," "Below the House," and "RVW."

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Listen to our year in review below!

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Isabella Lovestory, Dry Cleaning, Dune Rats and Pony Girl - Also Cool's Playlist Refresh

Pony Girl via Bandcamp

The first official weekend of summer is here, and Also Cool HQ’s Playlist Refresh will help you celebrate. Soak up our latest selection of the finest tunes on the block.

In need of some fiery new tunes to pump you up for a night out? Montreal sweetheart and pop star Isabella Lovestory has released her latest track “Cherry Bomb.” It’s a song for city girlies to hype each other up with, and perfect to get nasty to on the dance floor. Produced by Chicken, the swanky reggaeton single flaunts Lovestory’s prowess with a sugar-coated rush. Lovestory’s glossy self-directed music video complements the new single – watch it below.

Shallowhalo, NYC’s resident sparkly synth royalty, recently released their no-skip album No Fun — and “Yesterday’s Toy” has been on repeat since the drop. For fans of Strawberry Switchblade, Kate Bush, and Cleaners from Venus, the track is a shimmering cascade of sound perfect for your summer playlist.

With their second LP Stumpwork slated for October via 4AD, UK post-punkers Dry Cleaning give us a taste of the wonderful malaise to come with their latest release “Don’t Press Me.” Against the apathetic strut of vocalist Florence Shaw, the minimal and disjointed melody illustrates the pleasure of gaming and the enjoyment of intense and short-lived guilt-free experiences.

Shaw elaborates, “The words in the chorus came about because I was trying to write a song to sing to my own brain: ‘You are always fighting me / You are always stressing me out.'”

Watch the accompanying music video, animated by Peter Millard, below.

Hailing from Australia’s indie scene, the garage-punk vibrations of Dune Rats will pluck your heartstrings well into the weekend. Their latest single “Melted Into Two” sets a sunny scene for upcoming album Real Rare Whale, out next month via Ratbag Records / BMG. “Melted Into Two” was penned by Dune Rats along with DZ Deathrays’ Shane Parsons, and showcases some new thematic waters within a healthy dose of infectious melody. When asked about “Melted Into Two”, the rockers shared: 

"This song is the closest thing to a love song we've written. It grew from meeting a young couple at a bar who talked about a time when they were on acid and believed if they tried hard enough, they could melt into each other, creating one person. We reckon you can meet people throughout life, whether it be romantic or not, that you become so close too and in tune with, that you become one.”

To make you swoon a little harder, the music video beautifully interpolates the romance of Kelly Jansch—sister to bassist Brett Jansch—and her partner Ellie. Fall in love with “Melted Into Two” below!

NYC’s cumgirl8 have whipped up a fresh batch of angular electroclash, and it fits perfectly with that Saturday night stomp you’re bound to take. Enlisted as part of Suicide Squeeze Records’ Pinks and Purples series, the dance-punk group have responded with “dumb bitch.”

Emerging from a sinister bass underbelly, the track launches into an anthemic rebellion that pulsates with purpose. Bassist Lida Fox explains that “dumb bitch” was written to “...[explore] the space between romance, masochism, pleasure, narcissism, and the balance of how much we give and take in our relationships”. Its biting commentary skates across the gothic beat with ease, hooking listeners until the last drop. Stream the single below.

On National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Toronto-based experimental shoegaze act Zoon (Daniel Monkman) shared their new EP Big Pharma. The album marks Monkman’s first release since their 2020 debut as Zoon, and features a star-studded list of collaborators that includes the likes of Leanne Betasamosake-Simpson, Cadence Weapon, and up-and-coming Ottawa-based artist Jasmine Trails. Leaning heavily into Zoon’s masterful musical world-building, Big Pharma also makes room for vulnerability from the artist between atmospherics. 

On Big Pharma, Zoon shares: 

“‘Big Pharma’ is about me trying to bring awareness about the pharmaceutical industry and their lies,” Monkman explains. “I talk about how they destroyed my community of Selkirk, Manitoba and many more small towns and cities. A whole generation completely changed in just a matter of five years, Families torn apart and loved ones lost to addiction and overdoses. Our treaty card ensures that our medical insurance is covered but a lot of the time the only medication that’s available for free is the stuff that’s most addictive. I found this alarming and made me connect the dots linked to an underlying form on genocide happening right under our noses.”

Stream “OopeeUm (feat. Jasmine Trails)” below.

Hull-based pop outfit Pony Girl kicked off the month with their new single “Age of Anxious”,  teasing their to-be-released album Enny One Will Love You out on Paper Bag Records October 14th, 2022. “Age of Anxious” is a glossy trip-hop lament to the woes of young adult life, laden with catchy hooks and Easter eggs throughout (including a saxophone solo!). Watch the music video below.

Central Frontenac’s Caylie Runciman—AKA Boyhood— has recently shared “Stroke It”, the second single from her upcoming album My Dread. Complete with Runciman’s signature contemplative instrumentation and frank delivery, “Stroke It” indicates a deepened confidence in her artistic stride. Runciman will be playing on the Saturday lineup of Ottawa’s DIY music festival Side By Side Weekend on July 30th at Club SAW. My Dread releases November 2022 and is available for pre-order here. Watch the official music video below.

Our Playlist Refresh series is available in full on Spotify – click below to stream the catalogue!

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NYC Synthpop Sweetheart Shallowhalo Release "Hypnotize" on Open Tab (Fire Talk)

Art by anahit via Shallowhalo

Imagine a soft-grunge pastel ghost rave in an old Victorian mansion. That's the energy that Brooklyn synthpop artist Shallowhalo (yes her name is inspired by the Cocteau Twins song), the latest addition to the Open Tab roster, embodies with her track "Hypnotize." For fans of sugary-sweet Spanish pop, Kate Bush, Strawberry Switchblade and synthy nostalgia, Shallowhalo is right up your alley.

We got to chat with the singer about the track, her creative inspirations and more. 

Via Shallowhalo

Malaika Astorga for Also Cool: Hi! Let's start who you are and how you got into music.

Shallowhalo: I'm Allyson, and I've been making music as Shallowhalo for about a year and a half now! I've also been playing synth in my friend Harrison's band Turtlenecked since 2019, which is how I got into music. We could only play a couple of shows before lockdown, but by then, I was having so much fun that I just continued writing my own songs throughout quarantine. 

Also Cool: What's the creative scene like where you're based?

Shallowhalo: Now that the vaccine is out, I've been going to shows again, and I've noticed a lot more performances in nontraditional spaces, which is really cool. Just the other week, I went to see Slic play a show on a soccer field at a park in Ridgewood, and it was so much fun. One of my favourite venues is Market Hotel. I always get excited when a train passes by during a show because it feels like it's out of a movie. 

AC: We're big fans of both Strawberry Switchblade and Spanish pop. How did you get into these genres of music, and what are you bringing to them with this project?

Shallowhalo: Growing up, my mom, who is from Guatemala, would always play Spanish music. That's how I learned about bands like Mecano or Jeanette. When we first met, my partner and collaborator, Ezra, introduced me to Strawberry Switchblade because he said my style reminded him of Rose McDowell. 

AC: You have a strong aesthetic vision to go alongside your music. Where do you find your visual influences?

Shallowhalo: I've always been fascinated by musicians who incorporate strong visual components with their music, and recently, I've been in a nostalgic phase with mid to late 2000's electropop. It's a little kitschy, a little 80's, a little perfect, and a little awful. 

AC: Building off of that, if you were to have a Shallowhalo world, what would it look like?

Shallowhalo: It would be an old beautiful Victorian home in the middle of the forest with weeping willow trees out front and a wraparound porch. The home would only be a little bit haunted (by friendly ghosts), and all of my friends would be there. At night, it would turn into a rave. 

AC: Who are some artists who you think deserve more recognition right now?

Shallowhalo: I saw Cowgirl Clue play a few years ago, and I've been a fan ever since. She's consistently putting out cool mixes and songs. Recently, I've been listening to Cumgirl8 on repeat. 

AC: What can we expect from you in 2021? 

Shallowhalo: I have a bunch of demos that I've been sitting on, so I'm definitely aiming to put out an EP or album by the end of the year. Next week, I'm playing my first Shallowhalo show ever at Open Tab's launch party and have a couple more shows planned in October. Stay tuned!

Watch “Hypnotize” below

Shallowhalo

Instagram I Opentab

Bandcamp I Spotify I Apple Music

Malaika Astorga is the co-founder of Also Cool. She is a Mexican-Canadian visual artist, writer, and social media strategist currently based in Montreal.

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