The Freshman 15: 2022's Best Debut Albums

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 8, 2022

Next week, we'll release our final overall list of this year's best overall albums. But our ongoing best of 2022 coverage continues right now with a look at this year's top newcomers in music.

Above is our list of the 15 best-reviewed debut albums of 2022, ranked by Metascore. Note that albums must have at least 7 reviews—and be a full-length LP (or mixtape) rather than an EP—to be eligible for inclusion. Albums are ranked by Metascore prior to rounding based on scores as of December 6, 2022.

10 of 16 photo by Deewee/Because Music

85Topical Dancer by Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul

(#6) Produced by Soulwax, Topical Dancer is the full-length debut for the Belgian electronica duo of Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul, who previously collaborated on a trio of EPs. The album features provocative vocals from Adigéry in four languages (including French, Dutch, and Creole as well as English) set against electro-pop/electroclash beats.

“A riveting debut from two artists whose music pokes you in the side as often as it makes you move.” —Pitchfork

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