Rough Trade announces its 100 best albums of 2022, led by Smile’s Attention-grabbing light. To celebrate, the indie retailer is selling exclusive vinyl presses tied to the top 20 albums on its roster. New performances from Mitski, Jack White, Rina Sawayama, Angel Olsen, and more are featured. Find the list of exclusive offers available in store and online below. Check out the full list of Rough Trade here.
“We want to thank Rough Trade (NYC) for considering us our vinyl album of the year, it means a lot,” Smile said in a statement. “Indie record stores and labels are still islands of menace, but absolutely essential to finding new music, existing music out of the clean, homogeneous world of endless repetition we are exposed to without being asked. We depend on independent music stores as much as we depend on others to find Inspire, challenge and stay motivated and amazed by music. Music would be nothing without that independence – no-nonsense fodder, cheap disposable furniture in a store that no one notices and no one cares about.”
01 smile: Light to attract attention
Attention-grabbing light Pressed onto smoky colored vinyl along with a 10-inch EP, Open Floodgates / Hair Dryer. The album includes Cillian Murphy’s reading of William Blake’s poem “The Smile” and tracks taken from the first live performances of Smile at Magazine London in January 2022.
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02 Jack White: Fear of dawn / entering heaven alive
Jack White’s 2022 albums will be pressed on vinyl patches grouped into a three-pack of vinyl, which includes Live from Marshall Street LP bonus.
03 Rina Sayama: Hold the girl
The sophomore LP will be releasing Rina Sawayama’s sophomore LP on Lemonade and Black Vinyl. Plus she’s suppressing her 2017 mini-album Rena On orange and blue marbled vinyl.
04 wet leg: wet leg
Wet Leg’s debut album will be pressed on gold-tone vinyl.
05 Black Country, New Road: ants from there
New Road’s second album, Black Country, will be pressed on clear, natural colored vinyl. The group will also be releasing a file Never again Part Two EP, which features covers of songs by Magnetic Field, Caroline Polachek, Regina Specter, and Billie Eilish.
06 Mitsky: Hell Laurel
Mitsky’s sixth album will be pressed on sapphire and white colored vinyl, and a set of 12-inch demos will also be released. Stay soft, eat.
![Mitsuki Laurel Hell [Rough Trade]](https://media.pitchfork.com/photos/636e783985c56cdcf2576548/master/w_1280%2Cc_limit/Mitski%2520-%2520Laurel%2520Hell.jpg)
Jul 07: glitch princess
Yeule’s debut album will be released with a 3D cover. The artist also releases a floppy disc featuring two songs, “The Things They Did For Me Out of Love” and “The Interruption (Live).”
![Yule [Rough Trade]](https://media.pitchfork.com/photos/636e79025896056b7b96e717/master/w_1280%2Cc_limit/Yeule%2520-%2520Glitch%2520Princess.png)
08 Fontaine DC: Skinty Fia
Fontaines DC’s third album will be pressed on red and black colored vinyl. The band is also releasing a Skinty Fia Sessions 10″ EP, which features stripped-down versions of “The Couple Across the Way”, “Jackie Down the Line”, “Roman Holiday” and “I Love You”.
![Fontaine DC [Rough Trade]](https://media.pitchfork.com/photos/636e79485896056b7b96e719/master/w_1280%2Cc_limit/03_FONTAINES-DC_SKINTY-FIA_EOY_FRONT_YELLOW-BACKG.jpg)
09 black midi: Hell Fire
Black Midi will be released live firea live version of their third album recorded during a performance of NOS Primavera Sound Porto in July 2022.
10 yard rule: overload
The Yard Act debut LP will be released with a remix of the Mad Professor album.
11 Alphas: blue priest
Alfave’s third album will be pressed on orange vinyl.
12 Wes Blood: And in the dark, hearts glow
Weyes Blood’s latest album will be released with a custom dust cover and double-sided label.
![Wes blood [Rough Trade]](https://media.pitchfork.com/photos/636e7a0c9d80f12c99793e52/master/w_1280%2Cc_limit/WeyesBlood_AITDHA_RoughTrade_MockUp.jpg)
13 Angel Olsen: Great moment
Angel Olsen’s latest album will be released with Postcard Handbooks, which includes a selection of ripped postcards with a mix of press photos and newspaper ads.
14 hp: Modern performance releases
Horsegirl’s debut album will be released alongside Rough Trade Superdisc 12“.
15 They Hate Change: Finally, new
Their latest album, They Hate Change, will be pressed on blue and red tinted vinyl.
16 Nova Twins: Supernova
The Nova Twins’ second album will be released with an alternate cover and a signed postcard.
17 Yes Yes Yes: cool it
The fifth album of Yeah Yeah Yeahs will be released with an exclusive portal cover, song brochure and pictures.
![Yes Yes Yes [Rough Trade]](https://media.pitchfork.com/photos/636e7ae952d2c19afe7c8930/master/w_1280%2Cc_limit/YeahYeahYeahs%2520-%2520Cool%2520It%2520Down.jpg)
18 The Long Society: Tired of freedom
The Lounge Society’s debut album will be released alongside test recordings!, a series of pre-album sessions recorded with producer Dan Carey.
19 Weird Brits: From farm to table
Party Strange’s debut album will be pressed on blackout blue vinyl.
20 Aussies: wrong model
The Osees’ latest album will be released with a fold-out poster sleeve.
![Aussies [Rough Trade]](https://media.pitchfork.com/photos/636e7ba885c56cdcf257654a/master/w_1280%2Cc_limit/oseesposterslvfrntHIRES.jpg)
