Albums of The Year 2021 (new and reissued)

It is becoming increasingly difficult to come up with end of year lists. Although it is really easy to locate and play new recordings, it is harder and harder to identify the ones one might enjoy. By necessity – my list, below, includes albums by artists I already like – and very few new ones. No I am not including the new albums by Adele, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay or ABBA – this is purely a representation of my personal taste. It has not been a vintage year – but those days are over. Noteworthy albums by Wolf Alice, Biffy Clyro, Villagers and the Felice Brothers show how these are surely some of the best bands of the past decade. In addition, David Crosby’s late career renaissance continues to roll on. No distinct jazz offerings this year – there were just not enough to pique my interest, but the Floating Points/Pharoah Sanders recording is fabulous – best listened to in the background. I also discovered Evan Parker (how did I miss him?) – surely one of the greatest living avant garde saxophone musicians. Best new artist – no question Arlo Parks. Best compilation – “The Highlights” by the Weeknd (now available on vinyl).

I’m sure that there are tons of records that I have missed due to disinterest/hubris/distraction – no doubt I will excavate a few once the various magazines publish their end of year lists [I’m sure these will include St. Vincent, Paul Weller, Jean Weaver, Low (loved them until they went all experimental), War on Drugs, Nick Cave etc. but – well – meh). Suggestions always welcome.

BEST NEW ALBUMS 2021

Wolf Alice – Blue Weekend

The Felice Brothers – From Dreams to Dust

Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra – Promises

Israel Nash – Topaz

Villagers – Fever Dreams

Charles Lloyd & The Marvels – Tone Poem

Biffy Clyro – The Myth Of The Happily Ever After

Arlo Parks – Collapsed In Sunbeams

David Crosby – For Free (NOVY – not out on vinyl yet)

The Killers – Pressure Machine

Tedeschi Trucks Band Featuring Trey Anastasio – Layla Revisited (Live At Lockn’)

Natural Information Society with Evan Parker – Descension (Out Of Our Constrictions)

Howlin Rain – The Dharma Wheel

Sturgill Simpson – The Ballad Of Dood & Juanita (NOVY)

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raise The Roof

Stephen Fretwell – Busy Guy

The Weather Station – Ignorance

Sault – Nine

I really enjoyed, but was not overwhelmed by the recordings below –

Jazz

Evan Parker – Saxophone Solos (jazz)

Pat Metheny – Road To The Sun (jazz)

Stefano Di Battista – Morricone Stories (jazz)

Emma-Jean Thakray – Yellow (jazz)

Sons Of Kemet – Black To The Future (jazz)

Dougie Stu – Familiar Future (jazz)

Joe Lovano, Trio Tapestry, Marilyn Crispell, Carmen Castaldi – Garden Of Expression (jazz)

Original Albums

Elbow – Flying Dream

Gary Louris – Jump For Joy

Modest Mouse – The Golden Chest

Royal Blood – Typhoons

The Black Keys – Delta Kream

Steven Wilson – The Future Bites

Parquet Courts – Sympathy For Life

Gruff Rhys – Seeking New Gods

The Chills – Scatterbrain

Molly Burch – Romantic Images

Matthew E. White – K Bay

Field Music – Flat White Moon

Teenage Fanclub – Endless Arcade

Lana Del Rey – Chemtrails Over The Country Club

Matthew Sweet – Catspaw

The Vaccines – Back In Love City

Daniel Wylie’s Cosmic Rough Riders – Atoms And Energy

John Grant – Boy From Michigan

Lindsey Buckingham – Lindsey Buckingham

Lord Huron – Long Lost

Darkside – Psychic

Black Country, New Road – For The First Time

Novelty / Retromania

Jason Isbell & The 400 unit – Georgia Blue (Tribute to Georgia)

Lucinda Williams – Runnin’ Down A Dream (A Tribute To Tom Petty)

Steely Dan – Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live!

Donald Fagen – Donald Fagen’s The Nightfly Live

Joe Penice – It Could Be Magic (Barry Manilow tribute album)

BEST REISSUES 20212

It has been an unbelievable year for reissues (obviously 1971 and 1991 were landmark years for recordings), box sets and audiophile vinyl. There has been an abundance of Blue Note reissues (Tone Poet and Blue Note 80) – all of which have been worthwhile. In addition, Analogue Productions have continued their Acoustic Sounds Impulse/Verve series. I subscribed to Vinyl Me Please for a year or so and seem to be knee deep in audiophile pressings of mediocre records that I would not have ordinarily have bought. But there have been some great recordings in there (some of which are on the list). There were colossal box sets from the Beatles (Let it Be) and George Harrison (All Things Must Pass), and the inevitable anniversary reissues of Nevermind and Achtung Baby. In any case, here is my list of the best reissues of the year – some single albums, some box sets etc.

VINYL BOX SETS

Laura Nyro – American Dreamer

Mark Knopfler – The Studio Albums 1996-2007

Lee Morgan – The Complete Live At The Lighthouse (Hermosa Beach, California)

Sun Ra – Lanquidity

Tubby Hayes – The Complete Fontana Albums (1961-1969)

Keith Jarrett – Sun Bear Concerts

Primal Scream – The Screamadelica 12″ Singles

VINYL with / or CD + BluRay surround BOX sets

The Beatles – Let It Be

George Harrison – All Things Must Pass (50^th)

The Beach Boys – Feel Flows: The Sunflower & Surfs Up Sessions 1969-’71