Great 2021 Albums That Havenโt Been Talked to Death Elsewhere
by Mimi Kenny
The Ophelias – Crocus
Did you know there are bands from Cincinnati other than The National??? (no, theyโre not from Brooklyn, fuck you) This is the BUAOTY (breakup album of the year) and it has references to places Iโve been, which I like.
Shame – Drunk Tank Pink
I donโt know if Shame exhausted their hype reserves with Songs of Praise but their sophomore effort is such a leap forward. Wish I could relive hearing โSnow Dayโ for the first time again. (Oh look, I accidentally namedropped another Windmillcore album title).
Lukah – Why Look Up, Godโs In The Mirror
Startlingly vivid stories of struggle from this Memphis rapper. It also ends with a 9-minute song thatโs not dull for even a second.
Deafheaven – Infinite Granite
Iโve mostly found Deafheavenโs approach to metal to be trite and self-important, and maybe theyโre not reinventing the wheel with this heavier shoegaze sound, but when it hits those crescendos, itโs just pure bliss.
Casper Clausen – Better Way
Didnโt know a thing about Clausen or his band Efterklang before hearing this album, a weird introspective and cosmic joy.
Spread Joy – Spread Joy
10 perfect and punchy post-punk songs in just under 14 minutes. Talk about an accurate band name.
Songs That Got Me Through This Year
Anna B Savage – โCorncrakesโ
This whole album, really. But special mention to the first song proper and its refrain of โI donโt know if this is even real. I donโt feel things as keenly as I used to.โ
Roger Miller – โWhistle Stopโ
A.K.A. the song that opens Disneyโs Robin Hood and which was bowdlerized for โThe Hamster Dance.โ Also, Robin Hood rules.
Alex G – โGretelโ
As if โGood people gotta fight to existโ didnโt already ring so painfully true.
Cassandra Jenkins – โHard Driveโ
Every song from now on is required to have a mindful breathing section.
Modest Mouse – โ3rd Planetโ
Yes, my favorite Modest Mouse song is the one thatโs arguably more basic of a choice at this point than โFloat On.โ What of it?
The Antlers – โSolsticeโ
Nobody talked about The Antlers’ best album since Hospice because it just made them too at peace.
The Microphones – โI Want Wind to Blowโ
The ultimate cold-and-cloudy day song.
Vyva Melinkolya – โUGLY IRLโ
Some of the most-baskable dream pop Iโve heard. Yes, thatโs a word now.
Flatsound – โOld Luminaโ
โAll I want to do is fall asleep until the sun explodes and everyoneโs forced to start overโ same tbh.
Aphex Twin – โ#3โ
Read the YouTube comments for this song if you want to regain faith in humanity.
