2021 - Year In Review Pt.2 - Albums

Following the first part of my 2021 review, below is a breakdown of my ten favourite albums of the year as well as a quick overview of songs which I enjoyed:

Favourite 10 Albums of the Year

1. Blank & Jones - Relax Edition 13
At the forefront of the late-90s rise in trance, the German duo of Piet Blank & Jaspa Jones turned to ambient thereafter with the release of their Relax series. This is the latest, a double album of chillout, tasteful funky house and balearic beats and a much needed tonic for lockdown despondency in 2021 - my choice for best album of 2021.

2. St. Vincent - Daddy's Home

A concept album about her father's return from prison, this album's real treat though is how Annie Clark recalls the atmosphere of early seventies downtown New York, the sleaze, the dirt, the funk. A melting pot of Lou Reed, Bowie, Steely Dan even Beatles (on the psychedelic Sun King-esque Live The Dream).

3. Cleo Sol - Mother

The singer in the mysterious London based collective Sault, this was Sol's sophomore solo LP and her most recent since becoming a mother. Much like Prince's 1999, this album's single-length tracklisting (of 12 tracks) belie it's true scope as a double album, with a number of the songs stretching out beyond the 5/6 minute mark and if anything it's more impressive than Sault's 5th LP, also released last year. An album of hope and praise. The soul album of the year.

4. Black Country, New Road - For The First Time

The biggest surprise of 2021, BCNR are an English rock band from London whose eclectic tastes (klezmer, free jazz and math rock) seemlessly fit next to a foundation of British folk and grunge, all helped along by the brilliantly witty and insightful storytelling of singer Isaac Wood.


A dreamy modern post-rock classic that soundtracked my 2021 spring with it's pounding apocalyptic gothic synths and humorous titles (Ceiling Granny et al).

6. The Coral - Coral Island

A beautifully constructed and fully realised concept album about the fictional town of Coral Island and the best album of their career, that adds several classics to The Coral's back catalogue whilst managing to hang together and keep the listener interested throughout it's 24 tracks and  54 minutes. Has there been a better 10th album by a British indie band?

Never one to rest on his laurels, Albarn had originally conceived this album as an orchestral piece to celebrate his love of the Icelandic landscape but it soon became much more when he corralled musicians to his Reykjavik studio to play, record and meditate. It is a joy hearing his songs evoke the beauty and harshness of the icy terrain and the classical and jazz flourishes give his songs space to breathe.

8. Fergus McCreadie - Cairn
A former nominee for BBC Young Musician of the Year, this is McCreadie's major debut, nine tracks that draw on his love of the Scottish countryside and folk music traditions.

9. Lorraine James - Reflection
Sophomore effort from the London-based producer which develops her electronic sound whilst providing a chance as the album title suggests to reflect on her character building personal experiences of social anxiety and musical ambition.

10. PinkPantheress - To Hell With It

Debut mixtape from a new talent from London which combines UK Garage and Jungle with her bedroom pop for exciting 90 second pop nuggets. Is this what hearing The Ramones was like for the first time? Exhilarating.

Honourable mentions...
I've also enjoyed albums by Arlo Parks, Israel Nash, Sam Fender, Little Simz, slowthai, Wolf Alice, shame, Paul Weller, Bobby Gillespie & Jehnny Beth, Jungle, sault, Chicane and both releases by Fred Again.

What I've Been Listening To All Year
with tens of thousands of new songs being released every day you may have missed some the first time...
1. Build A Fire by The KLF [2021's rerelease of 1991's The White Room]
2. (Wouldn't It Be Nice To) Live Again by The Beach Boys [2021's Feel Flows box set]
3. The Divine Chord by The Avalanches feat. MGMT & Johnny Marr [2020's We Will Always Love You]
4. Arkansas by Chris Stapleton [2020's Starting Over]
5. You're the One (Pts. 1 & 2) by Little Sister [2014's I'm Just Like You: Sly's Stone Flower 1969-1970]
6. The Wild Ones [original unedited] by Suede [2011's reissue of 1994's Dog Man Star]
7. Graveyard Girl by M83 [2008's Saturdays = Youth]
8. Holy Man by Dennis Wilson & Taylor Hawkins [2008's aborted Caribou]
9. Polygon Window by Polygon Window (aka Aphex Twin) [1993's Surfing on Sine Waves]
10. Villa Rosie by Blur [1993's Modern Life is Rubbish] 
11. Spinning Away by Brian Eno & John Cale [1990's Wrong Way Up]
12. Valentine's Day by Bruce Springsteen [1987's Tunnel of Love]
13. Rave On John Donne by Van Morrison [1983's Inarticulate Speech of the Heart]
14. Arrogance Gave Him Up by The Associates [1982's Sulk]
15. Shortenin' Bread by The Beach Boys [1979's L.A. (Light Album)] 
16. Small Hours by John Martyn [1977's One World]

And finally...if you missed it don't forget to catch my favourite singles from 2021 and let me know what you think, link here.

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