s December 2021 draws to a close and 2022's rising shadow darkens our world, we cannot help but feel that we've only experienced March 2020 just a few weeks ago. Where has all the time gone? 'Where the fuck did April go?' so aptly asked Mike Skinner. Can you believe that Dua Lipa has been with us for over three years? No, neither can we. And where are we diving headlong toward? If the recent months of global pandemic, climate change-induced disasters, right-wing terror, and systemic genocides are anything to go by, the forthcoming year can only expected to get even worse. Perhaps the only bright spot on the horizon is the one that has been with us since time immemorial—next year’s pop music will always be better than the year before. That's pretty much the only thing we can count on these days, but we’ll probably be here again in the forthcoming year to attest to it. Fortunately, Covid keeps bringing dividends, musically speaking. It even brought ostensibly long-lost friends into the recording studio, such as ABBA, Atomic Kitten, Duran Duran, Texas, and The Streets (who actually came back to music at the start of the pandemic last year, but we're still excited by his return).

Speaking of returning Scandinavians, Annie comes back as a long-lost friend, and bearing her best album yet. It trades in gloriously bittersweet nostalgia, a flavour she has not dealt with before. But let's go back to the beginning, where we start off this year's survey with the talented Mr James Blake, and we end with him as well, because he's starting to produce catchy pop tunes that you can hum to, and we’re all better off for it. As you may have noticed, we also finally succombed to BTS. It was only a matter of time, because we're 'international' after all.

We lost so many great musicians dear to us back in 2020, that we did not even have the chance to acknowledge the legend who died on Christmas day, 2020: Tony Rice. His departure reminds us of George Michael's passing on Christmas a few years ago. Because Tony Rice died after the release of our liner notes for 2020, we're now rectifying this omission. His influence on our musical upbringing and our taste in music can never be underestimated, and we’re honouring him here with a track he performed as lead vocalist with J.D. Crowe’s band in 1975.

Some songs never go away; this version of 'Rasputin' by Majestic echoes the Cardi B and Boney M mash-up from last year. Another echo of last year’s mix is 'Whole again.' The appearance of this Liverpudlian classic last year in the form of Andy McCluskey's original demo has now been repeated by the reconvened Kitten to celebrate England manager Gareth Southgate and his team's runner-up performance in Euro 2021. As you may have noticed, Liverpudlians over the years love to sing about football's coming home. McCluskey's OMD is also represented here, which brings us to our cover graphics.

This year's accompanying images were taken mostly in January 2016 in Dresden in the German state of Saxony. A baroque tour de force, the city has been dubbed the 'Florence of the North,' and we cannot stop loving it. The city had experienced the inferno of hell, and has somehow risen again, more beautiful than ever. Maybe there's still a glimmer of hope for us. Anyway, for your convenience again this year, a m3u playlist file as been included in each of the zip packages below to ensure easy proper sequencing for the mp3 tracks. As usual, remember to click on each image displayed above here for its corresponding full-sized, hi-res version.

1. James BLAKE - Famous last words (04.16)
2. CHVRCHES - Asking for a friend (05.05)
3. The STREETS - Where the fuck did April go (02.55)
4. Lana DEL REY - Let me love you like a woman (03.22)
5. DISCLOSURE (featuring Kelis) - Watch your step (03.50)
6. Joel CORRY (featuring MNEK) - Head and heart (02.46)
7. BLEACHERS (featuring Bruce Springsteen) - Chinatown (04.08)
8. BTS (featuring Megan Thee Stallion) - Butter (02.47)
9. BLACK EYED PEAS (with Shakira) - Girl like me (03.44)
10. ARCA (featuring Sia) - Born yesterday (03.20)
11. ANNIE - Forever '92 (04.06)
12. The WEEKND (with Ariana Grande) - Save your tears (remix) (03.04)
13. PET SHOP BOYS - Will o' the wisp (04.28)
14. FLEET FOXES - A Long way past the past (03.55)
15. Jackson C. FRANK - Relations (03.47)
16. J.D. CROWE AND THE NEW SOUTH - Old home place (02.50)
17. Sturgill SIMPSON - Voices (2020) (03.38)
18. Chris STAPLETON - Nashville, TN (03.36)
19. Colter WALL - Cowpoke (03.13)
20. P!NK - All I know so far (04.39)
21. BIG RED MACHINE (featuring Taylor Swift) - Renegade (04.15)
22. Tyla YAWEH (featuring Post Malone) - Tommy Lee (03.46)
23. The STREETS (with Tame Impala) - Call my phone thinking I'm doing nothing better (02.49)
24. Shane CODD - Get out my head (02.32)
25. ABBA - Don't shut me down (03.59)
26. Bob MOULD - Next generation (02.21)
27. XTC - Playground (04.20)
28. OMD - Dresden (03.37)
29. SAINT ETIENNE - Surrey in July (02.59)
30. Donovan WOODS - Whatever keeps you going (03.27)
31. ANNIE - Miracle mile (05.07)
32. MAJESTIC x BONEY M. - Rasputin (03.06)
33. SAWEETIE (featuring Post Malone, DaBaby, Jack Harlow) - Tap in (remix) (04.14)
34. ATOMIC KITTEN - Southgate you're the one (football's coming home again) (03.09)
35. YOLA - Starlight (04.03)
36. TEXAS - Mr Haze (03.39)
37. MEGAN THEE STALLION - Savage (Major Lazer remix) (05.00)
38. MAJOR LAZER (featuring Marcus Mumford) - Lay your head on me (03.20)
39. DURAN DURAN - Tonight united (03.08)
40. James BLAKE - Say what you will (04.41)

ou can now explore other years' pop survey compilations and their respective liner notes and artwork by hovering over the artwork displayed to the left-- this will identify the year of the compilation of each corresponding image. Clicking on each image will take you to that year's dedicated page. The JR East Suica Penguin is just a convenient placeholder icon.

Reach us at 'bcbloke' on all the usual toxic social media platforms