Favorite Records of 2021
Every year, I attempt to put together a list of my favorite albums from the year. And with each year it’s become more and more of a struggle. 2021 has been especially challenging because although I’ve listened to as much new music as ever, I’ve often needed the comfort of more familiar records to get me through the depressing slog that has been the second year of the pandemic. More often than not, all I wanted to listen to was old records by the Innocence Mission, Beach House, and The Amazing. That being said, there’s a load of albums that were released this year that sunk their hooks into me, resulting in countless plays—none more than Low’s HEY WHAT. In typical fashion, year end lists from friends, The Quietus, Aquarium Drunkard, and Bandcamp loaded my queue, and I’ve been trying to cram in a bunch of listening over the past few weeks. I’ve had to resign myself to the fact that there’s no way I’ll get through it all anytime soon, so I’m just gonna get it over with and share this random number of records that left a sizable impression on my in the past year.
Invisible Cities
by A Winged Victory for the Sullen
Yol
by Altin Gün
Wilds
by Andy Shauf
Change
by Anika
As Days Get Dark
by Arab Strap
Vulture Prince
by Arooj Aftab
Djouro
by Ballaké Sissoko
Open Arms to Open Us
by Ben LaMar Gay
Cicada Waves
by Ben Seretan
The Besnard Lakes Are the Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings
by The Besnard Lakes
For the First Time
by Black Country, New Road
Cavalcade
by black midi
The Color Blu(e)
by Blu
An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
by Cassandra Jenkins
-io
by Circuit des Yeux
Forgiving It All
by Christopher Paul Stelling
The Tunnel and the Clearing
by Colleen
Won’t You Take Me With You
by Daniel Knox
New Long Leg
by Dry Cleaning
Modern Fiction
by Ducks Ltd
Lunar Tredd
by Fimber Bravo
Fun House
by Hand Habits
Seek Shelter
by Iceage
Open the Gates
by Irreversible Entanglements
All The Colours of You
by James
Jubilee
by Japanese Breakfast
a song is way above the lawn
by Karen Peris
M’berra
by Khalab & M’berra Ensemble
Landlady
by Landlady
The Apple Drop
by Liars
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
by Little Simz
A Lantern and a Bell
by Loney Dear
HEY WHAT
by Low
Animal
by Lump
Sound Ancestors
by Madlib
Live from Blackalachia
by Moses Sumney
Kanawa
by Nahawa Doumbia
Gatherings
by Near Northeast
CARNAGE
by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
All Day Gentle Hold!
by Porches
In-Between
by Rainwater
bob’s son: R.A.P. Ferreira in the garden level cafe of the scallops hotel
by R.A.P. Ferreira
Earth Bow
by Sarah Louise
Nine
by Sault
Deacon
by Serpentwithfeet
Year of the Spider
by Shannon & The Clams
TYRON
by Slow Thai
Tomorrows III
by Son Lux
Black to the Future
by Sons of Kemet
Good Woman
by The Staves
Wondering
by Stevie Weinstein-Foner
The Witness
by Suuns
Deep States
by Tropical Fuck Storm
When the Day Leaves
by Valley Maker
Ignorance
by The Weather Station
Great Spans of Muddy Time
by William Doyle
Here and There Fading and Riding
by Zoos of Berlin
Compilations
Cameroonian Garage Funk
by Various Artists
Ebo Funk Explosion vol. 1
by Various Artists
Habibi Funk 015: An eclectic selection from the Arab world, part 2
by Various Artists
Somewhere Between: Mutant Pop, Electronic Minimalism & Shadow Sounds of Japan 1980-1988
by Various Artists