2022: The Return of the Stage, the Studio, and the Statement
By 2022, the fog was lifting.
Tours resumed. Studios reopened. And after two years of introspection, the legends came back with fire.
But this wasn’t a simple return to business as usual—2022 saw Masters artists experimenting, collaborating, and speaking out. Some pushed boundaries. Some sharpened their roots. Some simply reminded us they could still write circles around the competition.
The pandemic had tested everyone, but 2022 was the response: resilient, creative, and louder than ever.
New Music from Masters Artists in 2022
Here’s a look at the best new releases from artists who first broke through 20+ years ago—still kicking ass, still evolving, and still earning their spot on the stream.
⚡ Rock Royalty, Still Charging Forward
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Unlimited Love & Return of the Dream Canteen
Two albums in one year with John Frusciante back in the lineup. Funk, weirdness, and wide-open jamming.
Def Leppard – Diamond Star Halos
A glam-tinged throwback mixed with mature introspection. Surprisingly rich.
Ozzy Osbourne – Patient Number 9
Grammy-winning comeback featuring Jeff Beck, Tony Iommi, and Eric Clapton. A wild, dark ride from the Prince.
The Smashing Pumpkins – ATUM: A Rock Opera in Three Acts
The start of an ambitious trilogy. Dense, conceptual, and defiant.
🧠 Poets, Rebels, and Sonic Explorers
Tears for Fears – The Tipping Point
Their first album in 18 years. Deeply personal and sonically lush.
Suede – Autofiction
Loud, raw, and punk-infused. A rebirth in sound and spirit.
Elvis Costello – The Boy Named If
Classic Costello with bite, wit, and tight production. Vintage but urgent.
🎙️ Vocal Legends, Aging Like Fine Vinyl
Bonnie Raitt – Just Like That…
A stunning album full of emotional storytelling—won Grammy for Song of the Year.
Sharon Van Etten – We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong
Atmospheric, anxious, and beautifully written. A quiet stunner.
Bryan Adams – So Happy It Hurts
Hooky, energetic, and filled with joy. The title says it all.
🌾 Country, Blues, and Americana Giants
Willie Nelson – A Beautiful Time
Released on his 89th birthday. Reflective, moving, and still smooth as hell.
Drive-By Truckers – Welcome 2 Club XIII
Personal stories and Southern snapshots from a band aging into wisdom.
Lucinda Williams – Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 6: You Are Cordially Invited…
A tribute to country classics, filtered through Lucinda’s smoky brilliance.
🧪 Unexpected Experiments & Comebacks
Porcupine Tree – CLOSURE / CONTINUATION
Their first studio album in 13 years—progressive, cinematic, and totally immersive.
Santana – Blessings and Miracles
A guest-heavy record mixing Latin rock, pop, and spiritual musings.
2022: Not a Comeback. A Statement.
If 2020 was the shutdown and 2021 was the reopening, 2022 was the moment the artists we champion at Masters Radio reminded the world why they matter.
They didn’t just tour the hits. They wrote new ones.
They didn’t just return. They reasserted their place.
And we were here for it—every riff, verse, and surprise collaboration.