My Favorite 2022 Albums
#1 – Palomino – Miranda Lambert
A day after my 50th birthday, I’m not about to change my entire personality and not name a new album by my favorite artist as my favorite album of the year.
I’ve sung Miranda Lambert’s praises many times on this blog, and she keeps giving me new reasons to sing. The latest is Palomino, her ninth solo album and yet another stellar country collection.
How many artists have released nine straight bona fide bangers? I’m not talking about a middling album or two bridging three of four stronger releases… every single one of Lambert’s ten albums is brilliant. I could make a case for any one of them as her best album. If I was asked to rank them, I’d probably hang myself instead.
So yes, Palomino was a treasure and a treat, another fine offering of smart, sensitive songwriting touching on Lambert’s favorite themes of loneliness and wanderlust.
I didn’t hear many new albums this year, but I’m thrilled I got to hear this one.
I’m sunny side and over easy, hundred miles from Alameda
Stopping by and taking in the view
Just pickin’ up a souvenir, swap a story, share a beer
Feel the itch that makes me wanna move
[Pre-Chorus 1]
‘Cause there’s always been a stranger in my soul
Who loves a good goodbye and a good hello
[Chorus]
I’m just a tourist, I don’t know where I belong
It might sound foolish, yeah, but nowhere feels like home
So I’ll roam from town to town, taking snapshots of the world
And I’ll laugh away the lonely and give a local bar a whirl
And I wanna see it all, so I keep movin’
I’m just a tourist
[Verse 2]
I’m the guitar case and a denim jacket, if I don’t need it, I don’t pack it
Mama always told me travel light
I’m better on the intеrstate, I’ll hitch a ride or take a train
Always onе more postcard I can write
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I guess Hohenwald is my hometown for now
I’ll sit a spell, but I won’t hang around
[Chorus]
‘Cause I’m just a tourist, I don’t know where I belong
It might sound foolish, yeah, but nowhere feels like home
So I’ll roam from town to town, taking snapshots of the world
And I’ll laugh away the lonely and give a local bar a whirl
And I wanna see it all, so I keep movin’
I’m just a tourist
[Pre-Chorus 3]
I’ll take a couple memories, but I won’t stay behind
I’ll never be a number on a population sign
[Chorus]
I’m just a tourist, I don’t know where I belong
It might sound foolish, yeah, but nowhere feels like home
So I’ll roam from town to town, taking snapshots of the world
And I’ll laugh away the lonely and give a local bar a whirl
And I wanna see it all, so I keep movin’
I’m just a tourist
[Outro]
I’m just a tourist
Mighty nice to meet you
See you when I see you
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m glad that your favorite artist gave you such a nice gift for your 50th birth year!
It’s sweet to learn you still consider Lambert your favorite artist. I’d have a harder time declaring mine after feeling let down by Lovett’s more recent albums, so it’s heartening to know Miranda hasn’t let you down.
Being a casual listener (mainly through what you’ve shared on the blog over the years), I find I always enjoy her songs but never find them substantially different from those released by other wonderful female country artists. Maybe that’s the ultimate appeal of country music? Its predictability becomes a sort of comfort food for the ear. I’ve listened to more country music by artists I don’t know at all since watching Yellowstone, whose music wranglers/curators/producers take the task very seriously. I find I like and appreciate far more of the songs that appear on their soundtrack than I ever want to skip.
Today’s song is poignant; if it is autobiographical, I hope she might someday find a place she’ll call home, as doing so certainly won’t rob her of the experience of being a tourist!
I agree with the above comments. And once more
Happy Birthday! ❤️