Top 25 Albums of 2021

Starting the year I still had my head in the covid clouds and nursed myself with Louis Armstrong and Bach–pure comfort music. At some point, though, the obsession returned and I began listening to new music constantly. This year I didn’t find myself dwelling on any particular album. It’s probably more to do with the way music is delivered and the way I consume it, but it was more of a song year for me. So the top albums represent less the albums I listened to again and again and more the albums that supplied my listening with fresh music and inspiration. Though I didn’t listen to a ton of Jazz, a couple of heavily listened albums are left off here because I classify them more as Jazz: Sons of Kemet and Ben Lamar Gay.

  1. Low–Hey What

2. Japanese Breakfast—Jubilee

3.  Hand Habits—Fun House

4.  The Armed—Ultrapop

5.  HTRK—Rhinestones

6.  Juçara Marçal—Delta Estácio Blues

7.  The Notwist—Vertigo Days

8.  Flock of Dimes—Head of Roses

9.  Moor Mother—Black Encyclopedia of the Air

10.  Circuits des Yeux— -io

11.  Maria Elena Silva—Eros

12.  Snail Mail—Valentine

13.  Tropical Fuck Storm—Deep States

14. Shame—Drunk Tank Pink

15.  Squid—Bright Green Field

16.  Cassandra Jenkins—An Overview on Phenomenal Nature

17.  Low Hummer—Modern Tricks for Living

18.  Illuminati Hotties—Let Me Do One More

19.  Adia Victoria—A Southern Gothic

20.  Idles—Crawler

21.  Sylvan Esso—Free Love

22.  Torres—Thirstier

23.  Geese—Projector

24.  Parquet Courts—Sympathy for Life

25.  Hildegard–Hildegard