Favorite Albums of 2021!

Every year I think, "Well, I'll make my compilation of favorite albums, but I don't think there were that many..." WRONG AGAIN! Every. Damn. Year. Going back through my 2021 acquisitions, there were a lot of albums to enjoy on repeated listen, and in addition to the 15 highlighted here, there were plenty "honorable mentions" - albums I liked, and am keeping but only played once or twice, but plan on revisiting again. Here you go. If you find one or two here you like, my work will be worth it. (I still enjoy the exercise, even if you don't.)

VENUS HUM
Kindness Rages On
After releasing their debut, the enchanting Big Beautiful Sky, in 2003, they kind of fell off the commercial radar, releasing music sporadically since then. But this year they gifted us with Kindness Rages On (a title I love), and the tunefulness, bouncy electronics, and soothing vocals were all still there.

TUNS
Duly Noted
A Canadian supergroup of sorts, TUNS is Mike O'Neill of The Inbreds, Chris Murphy of Sloan and Matt Murphy of The Super Friendz. All great groups worth checking out...Sloan in particular (and again, NOT because we share the same name! (although that IS how I found out about them in the first place)). I assume TUNS stands for Technical University of Nova Scotia. Maybe they all attended it? Or lived near there? If anyone knows, please tell me! Anyway, this stuff is super catchy, friendly, good rockin'.

STEVEN WILSON
The Future Bites
Steven ventures further into what I call "dance prog" with very cool results. I love the double (or more?) entendre of the album title, and this video is impossible to stop watching once you start. Wait for the last face...woah heavy man.

NOVELTY ISLAND
How Are You Coping With This Century?
Novelty Island is basically singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer Tom McConnell, from Liverpool. The music is reminiscent of fun and studio-enhanced 1967-era Beatles, but also some of the more recent Sean Lennon songs. He's also a very creative visual artist, as you can see. I'm looking forward to more brilliance from this guy.



MAXIMO PARK
Nature Always Wins
A welcome return by these Newcastle lads, now 20 years into their career. This is a band with things to say, and they say them with heart and beauty.

JULIANA HATFIELD
Blood
After a couple of wonderful and welcome covers albums (...Sings Olivia Newton-John and ...Sings The Police) this is another great set of originals from Ms. Hatfield. The lyrics are always worth tuning into as well. But dammit Juliana, why did you have to pick this image for the album cover?

THE JOY FORMIDABLE
Into The Blue
Probably my favorite band of the last 10 years, this Welsh dream-power trio soldiers on, even though two of them have been living in the American southwest while the drummer has stayed in the UK. But in spite of challenges, they released this majestic album, with this fantastic title track. They've had to reschedule their Portland visit a couple of times now, but I remain hopeful for a 2022 live concert.

HERE LIES MAN
Ritual Divination
These guys are badass cool, and are getting better and more intriguing with each release. And I LOVE their band name. This track says it all.

GUIDED BY VOICES
It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them!
Bob Pollard and gang rock ahead, on what is approximately their 8,453rd album. But this one's really good! Even Paul McCartney can't keep up with this guy's song production (and quality). As one commenter on YouTube said, he has "2,400 songs registered with BMI." Majestic rocking here. And a great image, to be "high in the rain." When the strings come in it reaches another level, and then the horns...

GARY NUMAN
Intruder
Talk about soldiering on! Gary's been at it since the late 70's, and is still producing some great music. He continues in his (very catchy) power-goth mode here, with sumptuous sonic results:

AIMEE MANN
Queens Of The Summer Hotel
One of my favorites of hers. Another artist who is getting better with age. (Even though her career "high point" remains as the only non-band member to sing on a Rush album LOL.) She's been through the wringer (from Wikipedia "In 2020, Mann developed a nervous system disorder that gave her tinnitus, migraines, nausea and dizziness and prevented her from listening to music for a year. She believed the disorder was triggered by a combination of childhood trauma and the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic."), but somehow pulls through, bless her. So, in other hands, a song with this title and theme might be heavy handed or out of touch, but from her it's a testament to survival and compassion.

BILLY F GIBBONS
Hardware
And talk about guys who just don't quit! Despite the death of ZZ Top's bassist Dusty Hill (R.I.P. ya legend), Billy Tex-rocks his way forward with this winning album. Fits right into the ZZ disc-Top-ography just fine.

THE CORAL
Coral Island
Another English band about 20 years into their very catchy career, this group from Merseyside, near Liverpool, are just great. Their music always lifts me up. They have a unique sound, but which also harkens back to the 60s. Love their keyboard sounds as well.

CROWDED HOUSE
Dreamers Are Waiting
Neil Finn still has that melodic magic touch. This music is just amazing. Here, there's a strong Burt Bacharach vibe. I love it, and am so happy he has persevered through the years (especially after the loss of their charming original drummer, Paul Hester. Play with fire and jam on, gents!

GARY KEMP
In Solo
I've been listening to the podcast Rockonteurs, with Gary Kemp (best known as founding member of Spandau Ballet) and Guy Pratt (touring bassist for Pink Floyd since 1988) for a while now, and love it - lots of fun conversations with musicians I know and love - and one day Gary mentioned that he had a new album out. He didn't push it on the podcast, which made me want to check it out even more. And it is a very good, smooth, proggy but catchy album, with wistful, thoughtful lyrics. Definitely a surprise highlight of the year.

HONORABLE MENTIONS (In reverse alphabetical order)

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS, Book

SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS, At Home With Southern Culture On The Skids

SLEATER-KINNEY, Path Of Wellness

PIROSHKA (led by Miki Berenyi of Lush), Love Drips And Gathers

PARQUET COURTS, Sympathy For Life

KASIM SULTON (of Utopia), Kasim 2021

GRUFF RHYS (of Super Furry Animals), Seeking New Gods

GARBAGE, No Gods No Masters

FOO FIGHTERS, Medicine At Midnight

FLYYING COLOURS, Fantasy Country

THE FLAMING SIDEBURNS, Silver Flames

FIELD MUSIC, Flat White Moon

DUG PINNICK (of King's X), Joy Bomb

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS, Liberte

DENNIS DEYOUNG (of Styx), 26 East, Vol. 2

DEAN WAREHAM (of Luna), I Have Nothing To Say To The Mayor Of L.A.

THE DEAD DAISIES (w/Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple), Holy Ground

THE DARKNESS, Motorheart

ALICE COOPER, Detroit Stories

ABBA, Voyage