Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

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Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

We already have a songs of 2021 discussion thread, so I figured it was about time we had an albums thread!

So far I've heard four 2021 albums. Here they are:

1. Weezer- OK Human

Probably the best Weezer release since 2014's Everything Will Be Alright in the End, and maybe the fourth best Weezer album overall, behind that album and their first two. On this release Weezer trim all the fat from the meat and give us a 30 minute album of chamber pop tunes. Sometimes the lyrics are a bit weak and scream "generic pop rock", but hey, that's Weezer for you. Still though, this is a real treat. Check it out even if you're a Weezer skeptic.

2. Madlib- Sound Ancestors

Madlib teams up with Four Tet to release an album of groovy, immediate instrumental hip-hop. It isn't a release that's going to redefine the genre or anything, but it's a solid addition to the Madlib discography.

3. Shame- Drunk Tank Pink

Shame come through with a followup to their 2018 debut, Songs of Praise. If you're into a whole post-punk revival-revial thing that's currently happening in the UK/Ireland, I'd say check this out. If not, this album isn't going to change your mind at all.

4. Jazmine Sullivan- Heaux Tales (EP)

A solid EP in the neo-soul genre, complete with interludes a la "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill".
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

On my radar:

Black Country, New Road- For the First Time- February 5th
Lana Del Rey- Chemtrails Over the Country Club- March 19th
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Schüttelbirne »

Here's my round-up of January.
I've been rather lazy this month checking out new releases (and there wasn't that much worth checking out). But my listening has been defined by the 1960 poll, the upcoming Miles Davis poll and my newfound fascination for Hildegard von Bingen. Seriously underrated composer.
Anyways, here's my 2021 albums so far with a few words. I'll try to keep it short. :D
Please keep in mind that this is all very preliminary and I need more time with these to actually make up my mind about them.

Russ Lossing | Metamorphism: Jazz quartet (piano, bass, drums, alto sax) with melodic, beautiful compositions. Highlights: "Metamorphism", "June Jig"

Alexander Hawkins ft. Evan Parker + Riot Ensemble | Togetherness Music for Sixteen Musicians: Hawkins made one of my favorite albums of 2020 (Shards and Constellations) which had a wonderfully warm-hearted combo of piano and cello. Warm-hearted is not what I would use to describe the sound of this: It exists in a realm between jazz and modern classical and features skilled musicians playing this rather difficult-to-grasp compositions. I also feel like I need to be in the mood for it, because the first time I loved it, the second time I found it was decent, and the third time I loved it again. Not easy, but rewarding. Highlights: "Ensemble Equals Together", "Optimism of the Will", "Indistinguishable from Magic"

Patricia Brennan | Maquishti: I never thought a vibraphone could sound like winter, but here we are. Solo work by Brennan, only occasionally supported by electronics. Incredibly talented, but the album does become one-sided rather quick. Highlight: "Point of No Return"

Deathgoat | Regurgitated Into Existence: Death metal, really out there. "Chainsaw Abortion" is a great song. Additional highlight: "Dismember the Unworthy"

LICE | WASTELAND: What Ails Our People Is Clear: Contender for "Best Lyrics of the Year". Seriously, there's so much thought and scathing satire put into the texts, the music sometimes has a hard time keeping up. Highlights: "Arbiter", "Clear"

Kharàce | Dakhalè: Black metal with muddled production. Not worth further mentioning.

Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo | El arte del bolero: Piano and saxophone playing jazz versions of boleros. Starts strong, but gets weaker over time. Highlights: "Cómo Fue", "Que Te Pedí"

Azmari | Sama'i: Ethio-jazz from Belgium, strongly inspired by African rhythms (obviously). Interesting, but not without flaws. Highlights: "Kamilari", "Azalai"

William Parker | Trencadis: A Selection from Migration of Silence In and Out of the Tone World: A best-of from his new album which lasts 10 hours. This is 70 minutes and contains a lot of interesting stuff. Far more vocal tracks than I thought, so definitely worth checking out for non-jazz-fans. There's a track of improvisation while James Baldwin is talking (fittingly called "Baldwin"), so the album doesn't shy away from politics. Varied and worth checking out further. If the entire album wouldn't be so damn expensive. :( Highlights: "The Golden Light (Hymn)", "Paintings in the Sky", "Leone"

The Underflow | Instant Opaque Evening: If I were to rank these, this would probably make number 1. AOTY so far, I guess. Cornetist Rob Mazurek, saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and guitarist David Grubbs team up for a number of tracks taken from live sessions. The fact that these were performed live is incredible because the sound quality is very good (considering that a lot of it is supposed to sound bad). Very varied, with vocal tracks, sometimes additional sound effects and sometimes just glorious noise. Very long, also but they earn this length. Highlights: "Instant Opaque Evening", "An Optimist Declines", "Gethsemani Night"

So Percussion / Dawn Upshaw / Gilbert Kalish | Caroline Shaw: Narrow Sea: Needs further listening because I feel like the quality drops significantly in the last few tracks. Overall a pretty good classical work with experimental percussion and Upshaw singing about water. Highlights: "Pt. 2", "Pt. 3"

The Notwist | Vertigo Days: Disappointing. This didn't work for me at all, sadly. Highlight: "Al Sur"
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Gillingham »

A very early and somewhat lazy list for the 2021 albums up until now.

Top 5:
1. Wardruna - Kvitravn
2. Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams
3. Madlib - Sound Ancestors
4. R.A.P. Ferreira - Bob's Son: R​.​A​.​P. Ferreira in the Garden Level Cafe of the Scallops Hotel
5. The Bread Scientists - Amidst Radiances

Not a bad start 5 weeks in.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Jackson »

Black Country, New Road's new album For the First Time was the first anticipated release of the year for me. The band released exactly one single per year for the last three years, all of them good and one of them ("Sunglasses") that has become among my favorite songs of the last decade. On first listen the album is very good, sort of an aggregation of sounds you've heard before from art-rock bands (Slint, Wire, The Fall all seem to be big influences) but with an overall effect that still feels fresh. I was disappointed that they rerecorded Sunglasses for the album; the album version is mellower, less emotionally intense, and rephrases some of the single's most interesting lyrics. I can't figure out why they did that - if you release a masterpiece single, either leave it alone for the album or keep it off entirely. I'm still sure this will end up as one of my favorites for 2021, and along with bands like Black Midi, Idles, Sludge, and others, this emerging post-punk revival scene from the UK is becoming a force.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

Jackson wrote: Mon Feb 08, 2021 10:27 pm Black Country, New Road's new album For the First Time was the first anticipated release of the year for me. The band released exactly one single per year for the last three years, all of them good and one of them ("Sunglasses") that has become among my favorite songs of the last decade. On first listen the album is very good, sort of an aggregation of sounds you've heard before from art-rock bands (Slint, Wire, The Fall all seem to be big influences) but with an overall effect that still feels fresh. I was disappointed that they rerecorded Sunglasses for the album; the album version is mellower, less emotionally intense, and rephrases some of the single's most interesting lyrics. I can't figure out why they did that - if you release a masterpiece single, either leave it alone for the album or keep it off entirely. I'm still sure this will end up as one of my favorites for 2021, and along with bands like Black Midi, Idles, Sludge, and others, this emerging post-punk revival scene from the UK is becoming a force.
The BC,NR road album is my current AOTY (not that there's much competition thus far). Probably my favorite album out of the whole "new wave of post-punk" scene that's been going on in the past 4 or 5 years.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

The three I've liked so far:

Fergus McReadie - Cairn
Yasmin Williams - Urban Driftwood
Shame - Drunk Tank Pink
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by ASmith88 »

I certainly can't wait for these:

Korpiklaani - Jylhä
Rob Zombie - The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy
Cult of Luna - The Raging River

Rob Zombie is one of my favorite music bands from my childhood and from what I can tell he's still doing great. He's got his own sound and doesn't seem to change much. A lot of fun :)
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Gillingham »

Jackson wrote: Mon Feb 08, 2021 10:27 pm Black Country, New Road's new album For the First Time was the first anticipated release of the year for me. The band released exactly one single per year for the last three years, all of them good and one of them ("Sunglasses") that has become among my favorite songs of the last decade. On first listen the album is very good, sort of an aggregation of sounds you've heard before from art-rock bands (Slint, Wire, The Fall all seem to be big influences) but with an overall effect that still feels fresh. I was disappointed that they rerecorded Sunglasses for the album; the album version is mellower, less emotionally intense, and rephrases some of the single's most interesting lyrics. I can't figure out why they did that - if you release a masterpiece single, either leave it alone for the album or keep it off entirely. I'm still sure this will end up as one of my favorites for 2021, and along with bands like Black Midi, Idles, Sludge, and others, this emerging post-punk revival scene from the UK is becoming a force.
Yes. Black Country, New Road weren't on my radar, but I'm quite impressed by their debut. Doesn't sound like debut at all, their sound seems quite fully formed and developed.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Nassim »

I expect the Weather Station album to do well over here ! For me I feel it will be like Titanic Rising or Lost in the Dream : obviously very well written and produced but I don't feel any connection
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Edre Depeche Head »

Since the rating threat isn't posted yet, here are the ones I have heard this year.

8/10

Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales
Martin Gore - The Third Chimpanzee
Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams

7/10

Rhye - Home
Shame - Drunk Tank Pink

6/10

Portrayal Of Guilt - We Are Always Alone
Hayley Williams - Flowers For Vases
Arca - Madre EP
Odette - Hearld

5/10

Lil Skies - Unbothered
Weezer - OK Human
Passenger - Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted

4/10

Foo Fighters - Medicine At Midnight

3/10

Playboi Carti - Whole Lotta Red (2020)
Ashnikko - Demidevil
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by spiritualized »

I'm will be using AOTY to listen to the most acclaimed albums this year again
Here are my picks :

8/10 :
Viagra Boys - Welfare Jazz
Sleaford Mods - Spare Ribs
Shame - Drunk Tank Pink (but must listen again, I think I rated it a bit high)
Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams (nice surprise this one)
LICE - WASTELAND : What Ails Our People Is Clear

7/10
Aaron Lee Tasjan - Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!
Daniel Knox - Won't You Take Me With You
Steve Earle - J.T.

3/10
Anna B Savage - A Common Turn

And what I would like to hear soon :

Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound
The Weather Station - Ignorance
Django Django - Glowing in the Dark
Virginia Wing - private LIFE
Black Country, New Road - For the first time
Still Corners - The Last Exit
Claud - Super Monster
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

I use AOTY but don’t go by average. I look for albums that received the top possible rating from a good publication, even if other publications rated down their average.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Maschine_Man »

The new Django Django album is a pleasant listen, really nailing their particular sound aesthetic. I haven't had much on my radar to be honest, but have noticed a new La Femme album is on the way.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

New Django Django is good but a bit overlong.

Enjoying Wardruna - Kvitravn a lot. Norwegian folk.

I kind of like Sleaford Mods but have one issues with some of the vulgar imagery.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by BleuPanda »

Nick Cave surprise released a new album today with Warren Ellis titled Carnage.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

So far:

1. Yasmin Williams - Urban Driftwood
2. Wardruna - Kvitravn
3. Shame - Drunk Tank Pink
4. Fergus McCreadie - Cairn

Urban Driftwood is a very technical guitar piece, reminding me of Kaki King.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by spiritualized »

New ratings in red and two AOTY contenders already

9/10
Here Lies Man - Ritual Divination
Black Country, New Road - For the First Time


8/10 :
Viagra Boys - Welfare Jazz
Sleaford Mods - Spare Ribs
Shame - Drunk Tank Pink (but must listen again, I think I rated it a bit high)
Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams (nice surprise this one)
LICE - WASTELAND : What Ails Our People Is Clear
Crowded House - Live 92-94, Pt. 2

7/10
Aaron Lee Tasjan - Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!
Daniel Knox - Won't You Take Me With You
Steve Earle - J.T.
Muslimgauze vs Celtarabia - Muslimgauze vs Celtarabia
Daniel Avery B2B HAAi - Junction 2: Connections, Millennium Mills, London
Buckethead - Pike 288 - Liminal Monorail


6/10
Funki Porcini - Drift to This
Jim O'Rourke - Steamroom 53
Ennio Morricone - I Due Evasi di Sing Sing


5/10
Jim O'Rourke - Steamroom 52
Howard Shore - Pieces of a Woman
Osees - Improv at Zebulon 2​/​6​/​21


4/10
Virginia Wing - Private Life

3/10
Anna B Savage - A Common Turn

And what I would like to hear soon :

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - CARNAGE
Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound
Ghetts - Conflict Of Interest
The Weather Station - Ignorance
Cassandra Jenkins - An Overview On Phenomenal Nature
Altın Gün - Yol
Jane Weaver - Flock
Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
Pauline Anna Strom - Angel Tears in Sunlight
Arab Strap - As Days Get Dark
Mogwai - As The Love Continues
Mouse on Mars - AAI
Still Corners - The Last Exit
Claud - Super Monster
Katy Kirby - Cool Dry Place
Architects - For Those That Wish To Exist
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

New St Vincent album announced for May 14.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Gillingham »

Current top 10:

1. Cassandra Jenkins - An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
2. Wardruna - Kvitravn
3. Black Country, New Road - For the First Time
4. Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams
5. The Weather Station - Ignorance
6. Julian Baker - Oblivions
7. Madlib - Sound Ancestors
8. Otay:onii - 冥冥 Míng Míng
9. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - Carnage
10. Sangre de Muérdago - Xuntas
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Edre Depeche Head »

Current ones higher than a 7.5

1. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions (9.0)
2. Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams (8.6)
3. Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales (8.3)
4. Martin Gore - The Third Chimpanzee EP (8.2)
5. JPEGMAFIA - EP2! (7.8)
6. Shame - Drunk Tank Pink (7.7)
7. Black Country, New Road - For the First Time (7.6)

(Bubbling Under)
7.0 - 7.4

- Rhye - Home
- The Weather Station - Ignorance
- Claud - Super Monster
- Nothing Nowhere - Trauma Factory
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Schüttelbirne »

A week to late for February round-up, but it doesn't really matter.

Here's the stuff I really liked since my last post in this thread (I got in more listening, which is good):

Black Country, New Road | For the First Time
Cara Neir | Phase Out
Dell Lillinger Westergaard | Beats
Fire! | Defeat
Cameron Graves | Seven
Susie Ibarra | Talking Gong
Lorem Ipsum | Vivre encore
Niels Munk | Fantasilaboratoriet
Brandon Seabrook & Simon Nabatov | Voluptuaries
Steve Swell | The Center Will Hold
Cecil Taylor Quintet | Lifting the Bandstand [archival]
Connie Trieder Trio | Brot & Salz
Nick Walters & The Paradox Ensemble | Implicate Order
Work, Money, Death | The Space in Which the Uncontrollable Unknown Resides, Can Be the Place from Which Creation Arises

The red ones are not necessarily the ones I like best, but rather the ones that I want to recommend. Especially the Lorem Ipsum should be worth a look; RYM tags its genres as Chamber Music, Avant-Folk and Screamo (yes, it is indeed amazing).
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Chambord »

My Top 5 so far:

1 Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
2 Black Country, New Road - For the First Time
3 Shame - Drunk Tank Pink
4 The Weather Station - Ignorance
5 Cassandra Jenkins - An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by mileswide »

Genesis Owusu's Smiling with No Teeth is the first album in a while where I feel every track has the potential to be a future favourite. Excuse the comparisons but I see the album as 2 parts Prince, 1 part Death Grips, 1 part Moses Sumney, 1 part Young Fathers (Owusu might not even be familiar with YF yet he operates in the same kind of stylistic grey areas as they do).

Closely following is Alkisah by Senyawa, a feedback-drenched take on Indonesian folk, and Alexander Hawkins' Togetherness Music, courtesy of Schüttelbirne, showing the way forward for creativity within a big band set-up.

I also have more DNB, dubstep and neurofunk releases gravitating around the higher reaches of my rankings than at any time for the last decade- does this mean a revival of those genres, a slow start to the year or an indication of my regression into middle youth? Regardless, they may well be eclipsed by post-rock this year with Godspeed! due to release a new project next month (which has allegedly leaked) and maybe a new Ciśnienie?
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

I’m liking the new Arab Strap a lot. It’s got a mellow National meets Leonard Cohen vibe.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by spiritualized »

Jirin wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 8:21 pm I’m liking the new Arab Strap a lot. It’s got a mellow National meets Leonard Cohen vibe.
I also listened to it yesterday.
Definitely a keeper.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Romain »

mileswide wrote: Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:46 pm Genesis Owusu's Smiling with No Teeth[/i] is the first album in a while where I feel every track has the potential to be a future favourite. Excuse the comparisons but I see the album as 2 parts Prince, 1 part Death Grips, 1 part Moses Sumney, 1 part Young Fathers (Owusu might not even be familiar with YF yet he operates in the same kind of stylistic grey areas as they do).


very very very glad you mentioned it. I had never heard of him and the few songs I have heard are beautiful. The great discovery of the year. Thank you. :music-rockon:
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Post by mileswide »

Romain wrote: Tue Mar 23, 2021 7:17 am very very very glad you mentioned it. I had never heard of him and the few songs I have heard are beautiful. The great discovery of the year. Thank you. :music-rockon:
I can imagine the Prince comparisons led you to check him out ;-) I'm made up you've got into him as much as I have, I know you sometimes despair at the state of modern music, so anything that gives you hope deserves extra praise!
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

I’ve seen Arlo Parks in a couple lists above but no one has gone in depth. Haven’t listened to many yet, but aside from maybe the Nick Cave album it might be my favorite so far! Such a solid pop album, maybe better than any last year, and I really liked Dua Lipa’s album. Arlo Parks’s vocals are amazing! The lyrics might be my only complaint, sometimes a bit surface level and simple, but the instrumentals are great as well! I have yet to hear a 10/10 (last year I only got two-Shore and Every Bad) but this is surely the closest so far!
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Romain »

mileswide wrote: Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:57 am
Romain wrote: Tue Mar 23, 2021 7:17 am very very very glad you mentioned it. I had never heard of him and the few songs I have heard are beautiful. The great discovery of the year. Thank you. :music-rockon:
I can imagine the Prince comparisons led you to check him out ;-) I'm made up you've got into him as much as I have, I know you sometimes despair at the state of modern music, so anything that gives you hope deserves extra praise!
For Prince, you are right... it was the name that caught my eye. :mrgreen:
And no, I'm not at all despairing about the state of music today, it's amazing, with a diverse offering and some totally incredible talent. I find great albums every year.
It is what is put forward that makes me despair more! :D

But to be honest, I wonder if this site will even have a reason to exist for years to come. The way we consume, sell and promote music has changed so much that I don't think the EOY lists make much sense anymore. It remains a bible for the past, up to the 2010s, but I think for the future it will be more complicated.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by mileswide »

Romain wrote: Thu Mar 25, 2021 6:58 am
But to be honest, I wonder if this site will even have a reason to exist for years to come.
! I hope it still does- I think, if anything, both the forum and the main site have more reason to exist for recent years than the 'classic' decades.

In a way, it's harder than ever to find worthwhile music these days, not due to a decrease in quality and especially not due to a decrease in availability, but just deciding what to seek out faced with the inexhaustible breadth of choice at our disposal.

And we all could benefit with guidance with what to clutch to our hearts before the consensus calcifies, which can sometimes be a feature of retrospective lists. Vivez AM & AMF !
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Dan »

Hey everyone. :greetings-waveyellow:

1 | Nick Cave & Warren Ellis | Carnage | Favourite track: White Elephant
2 | Christine Salem | Mersi | Favourite track: Tyinbo

This is my favourite “world music” album so far this year. Christine Salem is one of few female singers of maloya, a music genre of Réunion. Traditional maloya uses only percussion and the musical bow, but the maloya here is both acoustic and electric, with elements of rock, blues, sega (the other major Réunionese genre) and even a bit of classical, courtesy of virtuoso violinist Frédéric Norel. There are occasional bursts of energy, but the music mostly has a mellow vibe, and Salem’s rich, deep voice envelops every song. Maloya is music with a sense of spirituality that is rooted in suffering – lyrics tend to reflect on the history of the island’s slaves. But Salem doesn’t resign herself to the suffering; instead, she’s determined to innovate the genre and look to a brighter future.

3 | Steve Earle & The Dukes | J.T. | Favourite track: Harlem River Blues
4 | Arlo Parks | Collapsed in Sunbeams | Favourite track: Caroline
5 | Celeste | Not Your Muse | Favourite track: Stop This Flame
6 | serpentwithfeet | Deacon | Favourite track: Same Size Shoe
7 | For Those I Love | For Those I Love | Favourite track: I Have a Love
8 | Daniel Knox | Won’t You Take Me With You | Favourite track: Fool in the Heart
...will keep us together.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

Listening to Femi Kuti - Legacy+. I thought it was one album, but it’s really a compilation of two, Femi’s new album Stop the Hate and his son Made Kuti’s debut album Forward. Both are great but I think I like the Made half better.

From a pedantic tracking standpoint, not sure whether to track this as one album or two. Maybe treat it as a split LP like Speakerboxx/Love Below?
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Schüttelbirne »

Still have a lot on my to-listen-list, but it's the end of the fifth quarter of 2020, so here's my Top 30 albums so far (I hope the comments help)

1 | Lorem Ipsum | Vivre encore [Classical instrumentals with metal vocals = sheer genius]
2 | The Underflow | Instant Opaque Evening [Gustafsson, Mazurek and Grubbs in a live setting with vocal tracks and noisy jazz]
3 | Alexander Hawkins | Togetherness Music [rather complex, but ultimately rewarding]
4 | Cecil Taylor Quintet | Lifting the Bandstand [archival] [caution, only for fans of very free jazz]
5 | Punkt.Vrt.Plastik | Somit [piano trio with Christian Lillinger and Kaja Draksler]

6 | Fire! | Defeat [Mats Gustafsson only with group, without orchestra but still very strong]
7 | Cameron Graves | Seven [Jazz fusion with heavy guitars; something for rock fans]
8 | Kìzis | Tidibàbide / Turn [very long (over 3 hours) and runs out of steam towards the end, but very ambitious electronic pop]
9 | Cara Neir | Phase Out [concept album about being pulled into a '90s RPG; metal combined with chiptune]
10 | Niels Munk | Fantasilaboratoriet [debut by trumpeter Munk, very promising]

11 | William Parker | Trencadis [compilation of his 10-album box set released this year, infinite variety]
12 | Black Country, New Road | For the First Time
13 | Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & London Symphony Orchestra | Promises [minimalist in style, beautiful in nature]
14 | Steve Swell | The Center Will Hold [unusual instruments like the harmonica give this an interesting edge]
15 | Five the Hierophant | Through Aureate Void [I'm all for more metal with wind instruments]

16 | Work, Money, Death | The Space in Which the Uncontrollable Unknown Resides, Can Be the Place from Which Creation Arises [spiritual jazz, very warm-hearted and inspiring]
17 | Empyrium | Über den Sternen [Folk Metal, might be something for fans of Agalloch]
18 | Dell Lillinger Westergaard | Beats [Lillinger again, Bass-Drums-Vibraphone, very rhythmic compositions]
19 | LICE | WASTELAND: What Ails Our People Is Clear [incredibly well-written lyrics and good rock music]
20 | Bell Orchestre | House Music [Post-Rock, very near to classical and jazz styles]

21 | George Lewis | The Recombinant Trilogy [Three classical pieces for underused instruments + electronics]
22 | Caroline Shaw / Sô Percussion / Dawn Upshaw / Gilbert Kalish | Narrow Sea [classical song with innovative percussion, the water effects are very (!) unfortunate]
23 | Fikir Amlak & Brizion | Higher Level [beautiful reggae with included dub remixes for every track; the track order is horrible, though]
24 | Susie Ibarra | Talking Gong [Chamber music compositions by percussionist Ibarra]
25 | Show Me the Body | Survive [very short Noise Rock EP with three great songs]

26 | Conni Trieder Trio | Brot & Salz [new nWog release by flutist Trieder, with spoken word interludes]
27 | Russ Lossing | Metamorphism [pianist Lossing with Quartet including saxophone]
28 | Brandon Seabrook & Simon Nabatov | Voluptuaries [piano + guitar, shifts dynamics all the time]
29 | Nick Walters & The Paradox Ensemble | Implicate Order [joyful big band]
30 | Genesis Owusu | Smiling with No Teeth
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Jackson »

My Bloody Valentine are returning with two new albums. This sounds more real than previous announcements to the same effect. Here's an interview that Kevin Shields did with the New York Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/31/arts ... Position=1

I was amused by the anecdote that Kevin Shields decided to return their music to streaming services in part because his nieces and nephews bugged him after they had trouble finding it to show their friends. Could you imagine? "Oh yeah, my uncle Kevin used to be in a band, he put out some interesting stuff in the 90s..."
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by acroamor »

Very small list, here's my top 5 so far:

1. Black Country, New Road - For the First Time
2. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
3. Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra - Promises
4. Mogwai - As the Love Continues
5. Weezer - OK Human
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

1/4th of the way through the year. Here's what I've heard:

Great Tier:

1. Black Country, New Road- For the First Time

Very Good Tier:

2. The Weather Station- Ignorance
3. Weezer- OK Human

Good Tier:

4. Lana Del Rey- Chemtrails Over the Country Club
5. Viagra Boys- Welfare Jazz
6. Floating Points/ Pharoah Sanders/ The London Symphony Orchestra- Promises
7. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis- Carnage
8. Arlo Parks- Collapsed in Sunbeams
9. Madlib- Sound Ancestors
10. Shame- Drunk Tank Pink

Decent Tier:


11. Jazmine Sullivan- Heaux Tales (EP)
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

And here's what's on my radar:

Kero Kero Bonito- Civilisation II- April 21st
Iceage- Seek Shelter- May 7th
St. Vincent- Daddy’s Home- May 14th
Lana Del Rey- Rock Candy Sweet- June 1st
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

Nick wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:03 am
Great Tier:

1. Black Country, New Road- For the First Time
Have a feeling this is going to place highly come the end of the year AMF polls.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

Holden wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:28 am
Nick wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:03 am
Great Tier:

1. Black Country, New Road- For the First Time
Have a feeling this is going to place highly come the end of the year AMF polls.
Agreed. It's early, but I think this album is the favorite for the first quarter of the year. Let's see how the other 3 quarters shake out.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Gillingham »

What do we have after three months:

1. Cassandra Jenkins - An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
2. Wardruna - Kvitravn
3. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d’s Pee AT STATE'S END!
(Will be released tomorrow, but live streamed last week. Yes, that title, I know...)
4. Otay:onii - 冥冥 Míng Míng
(Another 'difficult' title, but one of the biggest surprises of this year so far.)
5. Black Country, New Road - For the First Time

6. Arab Strap - As Days Get Dark
(In great form after a 16 year gap.)
7. Lana del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club
8. Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams
9. Genesis Owusu - Smiling with No Teeth
10. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions

11. The Weather Station - Ignorance
12. Sangre de Muérdago - Xuntas
13. N. Hardem - Verdor
(Old school-ish hip-hop from Colombia.)
14. Madlib - Sound Ancestors
15. Lost Girls - Menneskekollektivet

16. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - Carnage
17. R.A.P. Ferreira - Bob's Son: R.A.P. Ferreira in the Garden Level Cafe of the Scallops Hotel
18. Yu Su - Yellow River Blue
(Chinese musicians are doing great this year so far!)
19. The Antlers - Green to Gold
20. Dax Pierson - Nerve Bumps (A Queer Divine Dissatisfaction)

21. The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu - Come Down Dawn
(More or less a re-release of KLF's classic Chill Out)
22. The Bread Scientists - Amidst Radiances
23. Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & London Symphony Orchestra - Promises
24. Feu! Chatterton - Palais d'argile
25. Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by mileswide »

Jirin wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 5:15 pm Listening to Femi Kuti - Legacy+. I thought it was one album, but it’s really a compilation of two, Femi’s new album Stop the Hate and his son Made Kuti’s debut album Forward. Both are great but I think I like the Made half better.

From a pedantic tracking standpoint, not sure whether to track this as one album or two. Maybe treat it as a split LP like Speakerboxx/Love Below?
Legacy+, For(e)ward & Stop the Hate were more or less released simultaneously (the last of the 3 was released a day later than the other 2 on Spotify to split hairs), so I'd leave it down to personal choice. I'll be treating them as 2 distinct albums considering they're both album-length, even though they could easily be by the same artist. Femi's LP edges it for me but Made's Different Streets creates a mood his dad can't capture on his disc.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Harold »

Nick wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:11 am
Holden wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:28 am
Nick wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:03 am
Great Tier:

1. Black Country, New Road- For the First Time
Have a feeling this is going to place highly come the end of the year AMF polls.
Agreed. It's early, but I think this album is the favorite for the first quarter of the year. Let's see how the other 3 quarters shake out.
Terrific album (I'm finally catching up with some of this year's releases). They come from the same scene as 2019's indie darlings black midi (and have very close ties with that band), but I think this is a better record than Schlagenheim. That record, to quote Peter Griffin, insists upon itself ("Ooh! Look how daring and experimental and WEIRD we are!"). This one doesn't, at least not to the same extent.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by TheLastEnemy »

This is my top 20 albums of the first quarter of 2021:

1 Nick Cave & Warren Ellis: Carnage
2 Grandbrothers: All The Unknown
3 Mogwai: As the Love Continues
4 Daniel Knox: Won't You Take Me With You
5 Casper Clausen: Better Way
6 Jakob Hellman: Äntligen borta
7 Lana Del Rey: Chemtrails Over the Country Club
8 The Anchoress: Fear of Losing
9 Edre: P2
10 For Those I Love: For Those I Love

11 Arab Strap: As Days Get Dark
12 William Doyle: Great Spans of Muddy Time
13 Still Corners: The Last Exit
14 The Weather Station: Ignorance
15 Julien Baker: Little Oblivions
16 Nacthreich: Alles Still
17 Black Country, New Road: For the first time
18 The Hold Steady: Open Door Policy
19 Black Honey: Written and Directed
20 Steady Holiday: Take the Corners Gently

There are a few in there I'm surprised by, and a few I would have predicted to be there that didn't make it, but also a few that don't surprise me. I suspect Black Country, New Road would have been ranked higher if I hadn't heard most of it before the album came out.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Nick »

...and just like that I have a new AOTY. The new GY!BE album is mind blowing. And it didn’t even make my “on my radar” list because I was so skeptical of it (I thought their last two albums were nothing special). I’m glad to be proven wrong!
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

mileswide wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 5:50 pm
Jirin wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 5:15 pm Listening to Femi Kuti - Legacy+. I thought it was one album, but it’s really a compilation of two, Femi’s new album Stop the Hate and his son Made Kuti’s debut album Forward. Both are great but I think I like the Made half better.

From a pedantic tracking standpoint, not sure whether to track this as one album or two. Maybe treat it as a split LP like Speakerboxx/Love Below?
Legacy+, For(e)ward & Stop the Hate were more or less released simultaneously (the last of the 3 was released a day later than the other 2 on Spotify to split hairs), so I'd leave it down to personal choice. I'll be treating them as 2 distinct albums considering they're both album-length, even though they could easily be by the same artist. Femi's LP edges it for me but Made's Different Streets creates a mood his dad can't capture on his disc.
I'm treating it as one album, but I'm wondering when it comes EOY voting time what we're going to do.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Jirin »

So far:

1. Anna B Savage - A Common Trn
2. Kizis - Turn
3. Wardruna - Kvitravn
4. Yasmin Williams - Driftwood
5. Django Django - Glowing in the Dark
6. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - CARNAGE

Not listened to enough to list yet but probably will be high:
Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
Arab Strap - As Days Get Dark
Matthew E White & lonnie Holley - Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection
Femi Kuti & Made Kuti - Legacy+

So far I'm not sure I've heard anything that would make my top 20 last year.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Holden »

I've been going down the MegaCritic list, listening to one per day. Here is my ratings of all of the albums I've heard so far.

Anna B Savage | A Common Turn - 6
Arab Strap | As Days Get Dark - 6
Arlo Parks | Collapsed In Sunbeams - 9
Black Country, New Road | For the First Time - 7
Django Django | Glowing in the Dark - 8
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & London Symphony Orchestra | Promises - 7
For Those I Love | For Those I Love - 6
Julien Baker | Little Oblivions - 7
Lana Del Rey | Chemtrails Over the Country Club - 7
Mogwai | As the Love Continues - 8
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis | Carnage - 9
Shame | Drunk Tank Pink - 6
Steve Earle & The Dukes | J.T. - 6
The Weather Station | Ignorance - 8
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Rocky Raccoon »

Haven't had the chance to listen to too many albums this year, but nothing's really appealing that strongly. The two most talked about albums (Black Country, New Road and Lana Del Rey) Are okay, but neither blows me away. Listening to LDR sing about the White Stripes just reminds me I could be listening to much better music.
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Re: Albums of 2021 Discussion Thread

Post by Edre Depeche Head »

As of right now these are all my albums higher than a 75

1. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions (88)
2. Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams (87)
3. Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales (82)
4. Martin Gore - The Thrid Chimpanse (82)
5. Quadeca - From Me To You (80)
6. JPEGMAFIA - EP2! (78)
7. Death From Above 1979 - Is 4 Lovers (77)
8. Do Nothing - Glueland (77)
9. Shame - Drunk Tank Pink (76)

(Bubbling Under 70-74)

- Rhye - Home (74)
- Benny The Butcher - The Plugs I Met 2 (73)
- Black Country, New Road - For The First Time (73)
- The Weather Station - Ignorance (73)
- Claud - Super Monster (72)
- Nothing Nowhere - Trauma Factory (70)
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