2021 was a fantastic year for new music. So much so that I became a bit overwhelmed. This definitely caused some paralysis by analysis when it became time to start ranking my favorites. I trudged through this for my readers, as only a few can…
Best of the Rest
Due to the sheer amount of music released in 2021, there were bound to be a couple of head-scratchers. MMJ was on a great run for the last couple of albums. This one was bland and uneventful to me. I enjoyed Pinegrove’s Cardinal & Skylight albums. Amperland just didn't get my juices flowing. I think I’ve had my fill. That brings us to artists 18 - 16. This year took me in other musical directions. Normally, each of these would have easily been in my top 10.
20) My Morning Jacket - self-titled
19) Pinegrove - Amperland, NY
18) Sam Evian - Time to Melt
17) Silver Synthetic - self-titled
16) Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - Future
15) IDK - USEEE4YOURSELF
Hip Hop really was at the forefront for me in 2021. I wrote off the genre for the most part and sadly am now revisiting the recent years that I missed. Not all new rap is Trap garbage. A special someone in my life re-sparked my love for Hip Hop. Now to get to this review. I shouldn't like this artist or album, but for some reason, I do. I just mentioned that I wasn’t a fan of the new Trap style nonsense, but this has a hint of it… I guess it’s his rhyming skills that do enough for me to look past. If I did this list six months from now, would he still make it? Maybe.
Highpoints: "Santa Monica Blvd", "Shoot My Shot", "Red", and "1995"
Low points: The rest of the album. Some real duds on here.
14) Adele - 30
This was the first album of Adele’s that I really took the time to listen to from beginning to end. Prior experiences have been with radio hits only. I knew the voice, but my interest ended there. So, my review will be limited to the now, rather than its place in her musical career. This album is a great mix of upbeat empowerment tunes and soul-bearing ballads. The album is quite open and honest about mental health and one’s definition of self.
Highpoints: "My Little Love", "Cry Your Heart Out", "I Drink Wine", and "To Be Loved"
Low points: Some songs are just too wordy for my liking. At the expense of the groove. Call me superficial. Less oftentimes is more.
13) The Sheepdogs - No Simple Thing
I'll reiterate the fact that this is an EP and not a full-length album. What can be said about the Sheepdogs that hasn't already been said? It’s straightforward rock and roll with the occasional spicy note. Much to the contrary of this EP title, it is a simple thing. Simple and great.
Highpoints: "Rock and Roll" and "Talk it Over"
Low points: It follows the exact same Sheepdogs recipe (not a big low point, but still).
12) Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic
I must admit that I fawned over the song "Leave The Door Open" like a pubescent teenager. Before it blew up to the masses, I texted more than a few people to drop what they were doing and listen. I’m a sucker for 70’s soul, and this album did it for me as a whole. It was annoying that the group took so long to release the album after this track was released. Instead, they trickled songs to the public like a 60-year-old man at the urinal.
Highpoints: "Leave The Door Open", "Smokin' Out The Window", and "Skate"
Low points: Pretty much the rest of the tracks. Not that they are all bad, because they are not. But the 70’s nostalgic cheese starts to grate on me. Songs like "777" and "Blast Off" are just corny and too much. I love the musicianship, energy, and concept overall though.
11) Nas - King’s Disease II
Not many things feel as good to a music fan as when one of your favorite artists' ages and puts out great albums. The midpoint of Nas’ career left a lot to be desired. The skill never lacked, but the beats and substance took a backseat in a major way. Kings Disease perked my ears to the return of Nas to my music rotation. KDII confirmed to me that Nas has a renewed zest. Maybe it’s him getting older and wiser, mixed with stellar production from Hit Boy that brought the focus back. Nas and Hit Boy have this Guru and Premier quality that I just love. So much so that they also landed at number 6 on this review.
Highpoints: "The Pressure", "Rare", "Store Run", "Moments", and "Nobody"
Low points: I might be in the minority here but I’m not an Eminem fan. I was for a hot minute when I was 17. So, the track with him as well as the one with some new aged trap rappers missed the mark for me. Two or three duds on a rap album of fifteen tracks is pretty impressive.
10) The War On Drugs - I Don’t Live Here Anymore
A Deeper Understanding was my number one in 2017. The quality from then to now didn’t fade. So why do I have this ranked at number ten? It’s partly based on the volume of good music released in 2021. It’s also partly based on it being the same recipe musically. It’s a fine recipe, don't get me wrong. But I’ve always viewed War on Drugs albums as one continuous great piece of music. We are actually seeing them in Philly this month. Really looking forward to that.
Highpoints: Change, I Don’t Wanna Wait", and "I Don’t Live Here Anymore"
Low points: No real low points other than what I described above. More like a few dull points than low.
9) Strand of Oaks - In Heaven
Singer, Tim Showalter has a very similar sound to Israel Nash. Reverb emotional midtempo vocals with a country-rock feel. This album is pretty even for the most part. Besides the first track "Galacticana", this is a solid 7/10 from there on out. Nothing else really stands out, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If the same means pretty smooth and sexy, then that’s fine with me.
Highpoints: "Galacticana", "Jimi & Stan", and "Carbon"
Low points: Like I said above, this album can get monotonous after a bit.
8) Goose - Shenanigans Night Club
Another recommendation from my music chat. The bands Goose and Geese were brought up at the same time by two different people in the same music chat. Although Geese wasn’t for me, Goose definitely was. Ironfish hit it on the head with the better version of Phish comparison. Many jam bands place vocal quality under musicianship. This band keeps them pretty even. Most of the songs are long and funky with many peaks and valleys. I also enjoy just a badass instrumental.
Highpoints: "So Ready" might be my favorite track of the year on any album! "Satellite", "SOS", and "Dawn" are pretty good as well.
Low points: Maybe it’s my attention span, but the back end of this album fades as well.
7) Aaron Frazer - Introducing
This was another Apple recommendation. They picked up on my love of R&B and recent Black Keys listening history. If this sounds a bit Dan Auerbach’ish, it’s because he produced it. The groove and falsetto vocals really put the listener in a mood. A mood that doesn't require clothing. This is a great first album. It will be interesting to see if Auerbach produces the second. The one knock on Frazer is I could see him being producer-dependent.
Highpoints: The first six tracks.
Low points: This album definitely trails off on the back end. The front and middle are more than enough to get you through.
6) Nas - Magic
This is a shorter and tighter follow-up to Kings Disease II. There are no bloated tracks or interludes. I feel that beats and vocals are a bit more aggressive as well. KDII had a bit of a lighter feel to it. I’ll reiterate the strength of this MC and producer combo. You can tell Nas is feeling it too. KDIII is planned for 2022. I’m looking forward to it!
Highpoints: "Speechless", "Meet Joe Black", and "Wave Gods"
Low points: Maybe one track out of 9 that I skip. The other small knock is that it’s only nine tracks.
5) Bros - Vol. 2
I mentioned above that the Sheepdogs have a consistent straightforward rock and roll sound. Although I dig them, there is just something extra special about their spin-off group called BROS. The music and vocals are more layered. The musical influences are broader. The songs just have more feeling and funk to them. I look forward to any little nugget they put out. Even their holiday tunes are funky.
Highpoints: "It’s Killing Me", "Garbanzo Man", "It Won't Be Long", "Clams Casino"
Low points: Not many. Some songs sound like fillers, but that's just nitpicking.
4) The Marias - Cinema
Mix Latin R&B with Billie Eilish and you have The Marias. I’m no stranger to breathy female vocals, and Maria Zardoya projects her voice just enough for me to for the Eilish comparisons to fade away. This group has a sound that is pretty distinct. I stumbled upon them off of an Apple music recommendation. The algorithms know me well. Mid-tempo bassy R&B/Rock/Jazz mashup with a delicate female voice. Sign me up.
Highpoints: "Calling You Back", "Hush", "Little by Little", "Spin Me Around"
Low points: The album trails off a bit at the end. I find myself stopping at track ten most of the time.
3) Israel Nash - Topaz
This artist was new to me for 2021. He was recommended by one of my music chat buddies. This immediately blew my mind. Nash’s voice alone would have him in my top five. The feel of this album is so heavy. The vocals are so emotional. It’s a dense and sometimes dark piece of music. As heavy as the music can get, his vocals dance around and fit perfectly with the mood. I really love this whole album.
Highpoints: "Dividing Lines", "Closer", "Down in the Country", "Stay". and "Indiana"
Low points: I don’t believe there are any. That’s why it’s ranked at number 3.
2) Remi Wolf - Juno
No artist on this list got my juices flowing more than Remi. She creates this hyper pop and R&B mix that walks the line of silly and brutally honest. I played both of her albums more than Sob Rock. I even struggled with ranking John at number two… I think I dig her so much because besides being talented, she just has a sound that I haven't quite heard before. It’s funky and odd but not at all done in a gimmicky way.
Highpoints: "Anthony Kiedis", "wyd", "Front Tooth", "Sexy Villain", and "Buzz Me In"
Low points: I don’t believe there are any. That’s why it’s ranked at number 2.
2b) Remi Wolf - We Love Dogs!
Great mainly electronic remixes of songs that didn’t make it on Juno. Are they less quality B sides? Not at all. This album should have a standalone ranking, but this will do.
Highpoints: "Photo ID", "Rufufus", "Disco Man", and "Guy"
Low points: Maybe one or two remixes that are just OK.
1) John Mayer - Sob Rock
I don't think this is a big surprise. I have been, and always will be a Mayer supporter and apologist. How can someone with so much fame and accolades still feel underappreciated in my eyes? All this guy does is continually write and play great music. This 80’s inspired concept album should have been the epitome of cheese. It should have been seen as a desperate attempt to stay relative. It was, however, the complete opposite. It was the opposite because John doesn’t half-ass anything. He knew going into this record that he had to walk the line on the cheese factor. He can play with The Dead. He can write ballads. He can guest appear on R&B hits. He does it all very well.
Highpoints: Really the whole thing from beginning to end. Even the track "Why You No Love Me". Here, he pushes the envelope of cringe for some, but I still really dig it.
Low points: I don’t believe there are any. That’s why it’s ranked at number 1.
