What a year, huh?
Welcome back. We get to talk about music again! This was a fun year of music. It’s not often that some of my most listened to artists are NEW to me. Lots of new artists releasing their quarantine records. Lots of artists putting out new material to take advantage of Bandcamp Fridays. Lots of artists who sat on their album in 2020, and decided to just get it out there in 2021. It’s been interesting to see how the process has changed for artists, and how they are approaching music in a pandemic.
As always, there is no particular order or rankings. Music is so personal and so moody. Some days I want soft, others I want heavy and angry. They shouldn’t be ranked! Music isn’t a competition in my world.
I know it’s been another difficult year.
If you’re in the position to, try the music on Spotify, but please please please….
BUY THE MUSIC ON BANDCAMP.COM!
Ideally, on the first Friday of a month, in which the artists get 100% of their sales.
As always, here are the previous lists:
2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 , 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Playlists
Feel free to subscribe!
There is WAY more music in the playlists than posted on here.
Go exploring!
Everything I listened to (on Spotify)
Favorite Records of 2021
The War On Drugs – I Don’t Live Here Anymore
It’s been 4 years since we had a TWOD album. They haven’t skipped a beat. A massive lush slow psychedelic dad rock that feels almost if Floyd & Dylan had a hipster love child, which I believe was their original band name. Don’t quote me. But this a perfectly moody record that would be a fitting soundtrack for evening drive home.
Webbed Wing – What’s So Fucking Funny
The dream of the 90s is alive with Webbed Wing! Ex-Superheaven singer /guitarist partners back up with the incredible producer Will Yip for this alt rock gem. It’s like Weezer / STP songs through Yip’s sonic instagram filter, and it absolutely works. The songs are perfectly poppy, and have terrific arrangements. Any time pedal steel finds its way on a rock record, I’m into it.
Pet Symmetry – Future Suits
At this point, it seems like if Evan Weiss releases a record, it’ll be on here. The latest Pet Symmetry is no different. Perfectly concise pop rock tunes by a trio of dudes who don’t take this too seriously. But, the record seriously rips. Every song is a collection perfect of ear worm melodies you’ll be singing by the end of the tune. The production is so slick, and the QR code album art gets bonus points.
Failure – Wild Type Droid
I tell all of my student’s bands, don’t release your records late in Q4, so they have a chance to be on some end of year lists. This record breaks my rule. But, I love Failure, and a week in, I LOVE this record. Assembled from 50 hours of improv jamming during quarantine, this is the most straight ahead rock record Failure has had since comfort. It feels like a band in the room, as opposed to the layers of dripping effects. It’s short, to the point, and way less of a space rock odyssey than the previous works. And that’s a feature, not a bug.
Kowloon Walled City – Piecework
It’s been 6 years since KWC graced us with their presence. They are a wholly unique band on this list. They scratch a very unique and specific itch for me. Heavy, angry, aggressive, atonal, while retaining this perfect clarity I don’t get from ANY other heavy bands. Scott Evans serves as singer / guitarist / recording & mixing engineer, and this is amongst his best work at all of that. Super double props for the label having the purchase download available in hi-res 88.1 for us audio nerds. As Scott said “it’s cool for folks to hear it at home how we hear it in Pro Tools”.
Lucy Dacus – Home Video
Lucy Dacus is an absolute powerhouse of a songwriter. She’s been on this list before with the 2018 boygenius
record. Her lyrics were some of the absolute best musical story telling I heard in 2021. And her melodic delivery is flawless. VBS is a perfect song to me, and one of the best tunes I heard in 2021. It wouldn’t shock me if we look back in a decade and think this one of the best records of 2020’s.
Check out our boygenius cover song party video!
Thrice – Horizons / East
Well, if you’ve checked any of my previous lists, you’d know that Thrice is a frequent visitor. I always say that they have the unique distinction of being a band whose musical trajectory has paralleled my own. Tap their unique brand of alt rock, and exploration of the subsets of the genre right into my veins. Everything about this record is terrific in my eyes. Bonus points for them building their own recording studio, making it themselves, and having the aforementioned Scott Evans mix it.
Low – HEY WHAT
I’d say historically, it’s pretty rare for the average band to continually get better over their career. Let alone if their career is damn near 30 years. That’s how you end up with Disco Kiss. But, somehow Low has managed to make a pair of my favorites in their catalog with their two most recent releases. HEY WHAT is a fascinating take on their sound, with the heart beat of the compositions still feeling like traditional Low tunes, but then handed over to producer BJ BURTON to deconstruct, mangle, and rebuild them. It lives somewhere in between the last couple Bon Iver records (which Burton worked on), Ghosts era NIN, with Low’s haunting vocal harmonies floating above them. The vinyl cut is different than your streaming services, so check both!
Quicksand – Distant Populations
Much like 2020’s Hum record, I didn’t expect a Quicksand release in 2021. It’s not that Walter hasn’t been releasing music, you just never know which of his multiple bands will get the record. These songs are PERFECT. Just a great example of what he does best, with that aggressive riff / melodic vocal. Additionally, this was ALSO produced by Will Yip, like Webbed Wing. I know that most people are going to say Slip / Manic Compression are the greatest releases in Walter’s catalog, but hot damn I love this just as much. Sacrilege? Who cares!
Jackson Wooten – A New Child
Well, here is an artist that was totally new to me this year. A young indie-folk songwriter out of Nashville. My friend Matt sent me one tune, and I dug. As I went back through the whole LP, I was absolutely floored. The songs are stunning. The production is perfect. His melodic & lyrical delivery are wonderful. I’m not sure what I’d compare it to, but I think if you enjoy Bon Iver, Pinegrove, or other modern indie/folk, you’d enjoy it, but I don’t think it’s quite like either of them. Just a perfect fall vibes record for me.
Runnner – Always Repeating
Another new-to-me to artist that I was obsessed with for like a month. I couldn’t get enough. I’m sure everyone in my circle was annoyed at me sending them the links. Constantly on in the house / car. It’s probably most closely related to Jackson Wooten on this list, in that it is under the umbrella of indie-folk, but it’s a much much different vibe. It’s the brain child of one guy, who mostly does it all himself, and it sounds killer. The songs have dense instrumentation, big vocals, and a vibey indie production. They toured opening for Pinegrove, so that’s probably a good representation of their overall appeal. I love it so much.
Teenage Wrist – The Earth Is A Black Hole
Welp, this was one of my absolute most anticipated records for the year. They released the single Silverspoon last year, and it leveled me. Still one of my favorite songs THIS year too. I said the dream of the 90s was alive earlier? Not as much as it is here! It’s like a grunge representation of Jimmy Eat World, playing poppy space rock. And if you know me, that’s basically a top compliment. Super crisp and modern production. Big drums. Bigger guitars. And just perfect pop songwriting. I love it so much.
Other Great Records
Any of these could have been in my favorites of the year, but just wasn’t the case as of the day I wrote this.
Royal Blood – Typhoons
I love Royal Blood. This record is just a fun, poppy, disco-y jammer. It was produced by Mark Ronson, and it absolutely FEELS that way.
Manchester Orchestra – The Million Masks of God
Black Mile is an ALL TIMER for me, so it was going to be a tough act to follow up. This record feels like a continuation, in all of the right ways.
Dr. Colossus – I’m A Stupid Moron With An Ugly Face And A Big Butt And My Butt Smells And I Like To Kiss My Own Butt
Well. This is weird. This is a Sabbathy / Red Fang feeling band, that writes about The Simpsons. It shouldn’t work, but my god it rips so hard. If you didn’t know The Simpsons, you’d still dig it, but if you do, you’ll LOVE it.
Mastodon – Hushed And Grim
Mastodon can do no wrong. This is a marathon of riffs, insane drums, great vocals, and incredible metal tunes.
Strand Of Oaks – In Heaven
Great full band indie / americana. Jim & Stan is the best song you’ll ever hear about a man’s cat passing away, and getting to hang with Jimi Hendrix in heaven. God. A tear jerker. (seriously).
Big Red Machine – How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last
Justin Vernon & Aaron Dessner’s collaborator project. A collage of cool & trippy songs with a variety of other artists. So girl named Taylor sang too. She’s good. Could probably venture off on her own.
Every Time I Die – Radical
This record is SUCH a jam. The heavy songs rip. The melodic songs may be the best in their catalog. And the production so super crisp.
Bleachers – Take the Sadness Out Of Saturday Night
Oh, just more Jack Antonoff crafting perfect pop songs. This time it was just for himself, instead of Taylor Swift, Lorde, etc.
A Great Big Pile Of Leaves – Pono
An unexpected release by a great indie band. Fun, angular, riffly, melodic jams. It’s short and sweet. Love it.
John Mayer – Sob Rock
John Mayer at the top of his pop song game. I feel like this is a nice blend of his serious songwriting, while infusing his sense of humor, and insane playing.
Foxing – Draw Down The Moon
More incredible, massive, emotive songs from this powerhouse. This is a beautiful follow to up Nearer My God.
MAYJAY – Settle
Chicago engineer / producer / multi instrumentalist Matt Jordan ventures out from behind the computer to in front of it for this stunning batch of indie rock tunes. Dog may win for the most devastating song I heard this year. You’ve been warned.
Local Loves
Since they are local, you should DEFINITELY listen, and go purchase their wares.
Lightleak – Tender Fits
I don’t have enough storage on my server to write about how insanely proud I am of what this record is. Dustin Currier wrote this in quarantine, recorded it himself, recorded other musicians, got great collaborators, and partnered with a musical hero to get it mixed. A unique brand of indie with killer riffs, brass, keys, and infectious hooks.
Ands – Trust
Supergroup alert! This riffy/mathy/melodic band is comprised of members from 4 other great Chicago bands. They thread the needle of showcasing their insane musicianship while always making sure the song comes first. Really strong alternative rock.
Sunjacket – More Lifelike
It’s been 5 years since they released Mantra, a record still in regular rotation here. More Lifelike is an incredible followup. Just gorgeous vocals sit above ethereal layers of strings, keys, & electronics. It’s a wonderful, moody record. The only negative is it was released during covid, and we haven’t been able to see it live!
Mike Lust – Demented Wings
Lust Chicago staple. From engineering countless records for Chicago bands, to his feel good rock’n’roll outfit Tight Phantomz, he’s already had his imprint on the scene. But his new record shows a different side. A collection of songs far more upbeat, pop driven, with great instrumentation, and hooky melodies. It isn’t what I expected from him, and that is meant as a high compliment. He’s got raaaaaange.
Starless – Hope Is Leaving You
This record just absolutely rips. Imagine a slower, down-tuned Alice In Chains. Massive layers of guitars, haunting vocal harmonies, some of the most insane bass tones ever captured, and crushing drums. Primarily recorded at Electrical, you can really feel the big room, and the naturalness of 4 humans playing in a room together….and killing it.
Songs Of The Year
Click Here for a playlist with WAY more songs!
My favorite record NOT from 2021 this year:
The Films – Don’t Dance Rattlesnake
This was in constant rotation this year. Just a perfect rock n roll record with a fun attitude. Bodybag is a perfect song.
Other Records I Really Enjoyed!
Wild Pink – A Billion Little Lights
Julien Baker – Little Oblivions
Flock Of Dimes – Head Of Roses
Chad VanGaalen – Worlds Most Stressed Out Gardener
Ryley Walker – Course In Fable
Leon Bridges – Gold Diggers Sound
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
The Joy Formidable – Into The Blue
Kacey Musgraves – star crossed
Illumunati Hotties – Let Me Do One More
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Georgia Blue
Silk Sonic – An Evening With Silk Sonic
Having Kittens – Human Scratching Post
