LB album on bunch of best of 2021 lists

[elle]

these keep popping up and i'm tired of starting a new thread every time, so starting all-encompassing thread.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidch...h=610549624638

Dec 29, 2021,09:15am EST
Japanese Breakfast, Mickey Guyton, Brandi Carlile, St. Vincent Lead Some Of 2021’s Notable Albums
David Chiu
Hollywood & Entertainment

Some of the notable albums of 2021.
CREDIT: IMAGES COURTESY OF GRANDSTAND HQ, COLUMBIA RECORDS, NASTY LITTLE MAN, NASHVILLE UMG, SACKS AND CO., AND HIGH RISE PR

As live music gradually got back into some normal rhythm in 2021 following the pandemic lockdown (although that appears to be in jeopardy again amid the surging Omicron variant), sales of recorded music still thrived. The year brought out a number of blockbuster releases from the usual A-listers like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Adele, Lorde, Olivia Rodrigo and Ed Sheeran. But amid the high-profile records by those aforementioned acts, there was also new music in 2021 that garnered critical acclaim while others may have been overlooked and deserved to be heard. And whether intentional or not, some of the music from those records encapsulated the feelings and emotions of what we are going through in the age of COVID while also providing some form of escape.

Here, in no particular order, are some of my choices for this year's notable albums.

Cover art of 'Daddy's Home' by St. Vincent.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF NASTY LITTLE MAN
St. Vincent

Daddy's Home

On her seventh studio album, singer/guitarist Annie Clark (a.k.a., St. Vincent) recreates the vibe of 1970s New York City once inhabited by Warhol superstars, Times Square porno theaters, and the punk and disco scenes. The result, Daddy's Home, could be considered Clark's version of David Bowie's 'plastic soul' period a la Young Americans: the retro-styled R&B music is slinky, gritty and funky (i.e., “Pay Your Way in Pain”), but it still carries that distinct futuristic and innovative edge that St. Vincent has been renowned for throughout her career.

Cover art of 'Soberish' by Liz Phair.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF THE ORIEL CO.
Liz Phair

Soberish

Liz Phair's first new record in 10 years, Soberish is an excellent summation of her career at this point. Musically, Soberish fires on all cylinders highlighting the different sounds and eras represented on Phair’s previous studio albums: pioneering, brash indie rock; mature, accessible pop music; and moments of musical experimentation. What hasn't changed, however, is Phair's point of view on relationships, as indicated on the track “Spanish Doors” and “The Game.” Soberish is the indie rock goddess/bedroom pop pioneer's strongest effort so far.

Cover art of 'Future Past' by Duran Duran.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF HIGH RISE PR
Duran Duran

Future Past

The legendary British rock band continues on their creative momentum that began with their brilliant 2011 return-to-form record All You Need Is Now. Released in the same year as the 40th anniversary of the band's self-titled debut LP, Future Past has all the sonic elements of classic Duran Duran: cutting-edge futurism and an irresistible dance groove. Aided by a stellar cast of collaborators (among them Errol Alkan, Giorgio Moroder, Graham Coxon, CHAI and Mike Garson), and several killer cuts (including the celebratory “Anniversary,” the driving rock stomper “Invisible,” and the sweeping title song), the band continues to display the sonic trademarks that first made them superstars while keeping their feet firmly in the present and beyond.

Cover of 'Toy' by David Bowie.
CREDIT: COURTESY OF PARLOPHONE/RHINO
David Bowie

Toy

The late British rock icon’s long-lost studio album was finally released after more than two decades on the shelf. Recorded after his triumphant performance at Glastonbury in 2000, Toy is a collection of reinterpreted Bowie songs from 1964 to 1971 (among them “Can't Help Thinking About Me,” “The London Boys,” “I Dig Everything”) previously written and recorded prior to the singer's breakthrough with “Space Oddity” and the Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust albums. Why Toy never saw the light of day is truly puzzling, as it really captures Bowie and his ace band at the peak of their powers and puts the spotlight on some of his overlooked older material.

Cover art of 'INSOLO' by Gary Kemp.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF BB GUN PRESS
Gary Kemp

INSOLO

The former Spandau Ballet guitarist and songwriter released only his second solo record album after a 25-year-hiatus since his debut Little Bruises. Beautifully arranged and produced, INSOLO is awash with gorgeously crafted pop music while its introspective lyrics that find Kemp reconciling with the past and present (the title song and “Waiting for the Band” among them)—all of which are quite fitting during the pandemic times. Meanwhile, the irresistible “Ahead of the Game,” heavily wears its radio-friendly 1970s influences on its sleeve and is one of Kemp's finest compositions in the tradition of Spandau's “True” and “Through the Barricades.”

Cover image of 'Gold Diggers Sound' by Leon Bridges.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF COLUMBIA RECORDS
Leon Bridges

Gold Diggers Sound

As proven by Gold Diggers Sound, singer Leon Bridges has gradually shifted from the '60s retro-soul sound of his debut breakthrough LP, 2015's Coming Home, and towards a more eclectic and contemporary sound: among the genres tackled on his most recent album are Neo-soul, jazz, hip-hop and funk—the only constant being Bridges’ smooth, romantic vocals. And just like the music, the lyrics on Gold Diggers Sound are wide ranging in its subject matter: from romance and relationships (“Why Don't You Touch Me,” “Motorbike”) through spirituality (“Born Again”), and to social protest (“Sweeter,” previously released in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd).

Cover of 'King Boy Vandals' by Slinky Vagabond.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF REYBEE PR
Slinky Vagabond

King Boy Vandals

A collaboration between British singer/songwriter Keanan Duffty and Italian musician/producer Fabio Fabbri, Slinky Vagabond's second album is a wonderful throwback to '70s glam, '80s post-punk, and ‘90s electronic-laced alt-rock with a New York-London sensibility (Duffty, who is best known as a fashion designer, lived through those eras with first-hand experience). Featuring a cast of veteran guest players such as Midge Ure, Richard Fortus and Tony Bowers, King Boy Vandals balances both retro and contemporary sounds in the form of rockers (“Prima Donna,” “Old Boy”) and ballads (“The Beauty in You”).

Cover art of 'Remember Her Name' by Mickey Guyton.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF UMG NASHVILLE
Mickey Guyton

Remember Her Name

Country singer Mickey Guyton had been signed to a major record label for 10 years, and yet her debut full-length album, Remember Her Name, was finally released this year. It reveals what we already knew about her talent and promise from a year ago when she put out the devastating protest single “Black Like Me,” which addressed racial inequality. Showcasing the artist's powerful and versatile singing, Remember Her Name deftly blends accessible country-pop-R&B with lyrics about romance and compassion (“Dancing in the Living Room,” “Lay It On Me”), social commentary (“What Are You Gonna Tell Her,” “All American”), and self-belief and empowerment (”Different,” “Better Than You Left Me”).

Cover art of 'Jubilee' by Japanese Breakfast.
CREDIT: COURTESY OF GRANDSTANDHQ
Japanese Breakfast

Jubilee

If there was an artist who had a spectacular 2021, it's Michelle Zauner, who goes under the stage name of Japanese Breakfast. In addition to her acclaimed, best-selling memoir Crying in H Mart, the indie pop musician released the breakthrough Jubilee, which explores joy after her previous two albums dealt with grief and healing following the death of her mother. Living up to its title, Zauner's third record features a number of electronic-laced pop in the form of the exuberant “Be Sweet” and “Posing in Bondage,” as well as the gorgeous Serge Gainsbourg-like ballad “Kokomo, IN” and the dramatic and epic album closer “Posing for Cars.” Like the book, Jubilee heightened Zauner’s profile (she was recently nominated for two Grammys) and endeared her to a wider audience this year.

Cover of 'Outsider' by Roger Taylor.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF HOLLYWOOD RECORDS
Roger Taylor

Outsider

The legendary Queen drummer found himself making his eighth solo album during last year’s lockdown after his band's tour was interrupted. The result, Outsider, positioned Taylor as a one-man band who played nearly all of the instruments in addition to singing, drumming, writing and producing. Somewhat reflective compared to his previous solo works, Outsider poignantly serves as a mirror for the current times (“We're All Just Trying to Get By,” “Isolation”) and touches on the theme of mortality (“Journey's End,” “Tides”). While certainly introspective and subdued at times, Outsider shows flickers of Taylor rocking out in his trademark style, particularly on the tracks “Gangsters Are Running This World” and “More Kicks.”

Cover art of 'Home Video' by Lucy Dacus.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF PITCH PERFECT PR
Lucy Dacus

Home Video

The third Lucy Dacus album may be her best so far. Sonically Home Video is more expansive and ambitious sounding since the indie singer/songwriter’s debut album No Burden, but her insightful, literary style of songwriting remains singular. Sung in her exquisite alto, Dacus' observations of the complicated nature of relationships and personal self-discovery really cut to the bone, whether in the form of aggressive indie rock or stark ballads; Home Video’s standouts include “Brando,” “Triple Dog Dare,” “Hot and Heavy” and especially “Thumbs.”

Cover of 'Blue Jay' by the Mysteries of Life.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF THE MYSTERIES OF LIFE'S BANDCAMP PAGE
The Mysteries of Life

Blue Jay

Blue Jay is the first new album in 15 years by the Mysteries of Life—led by the husband-and-wife duo of Jake Smith and Freda Love Smith. The LP was made during the pandemic lockdown, but it sounds as if no time had passed since the band’s 1996 debut release Keep a Secret. Full of the band’s melodic and familiar alt-rock, Blue Jay boasts a number of outstanding tracks—including the title cut, the uptempo “Jupiter and Saturn,” and the sublime “Wintery May”; it also features guest appearances by Juliana Hatfield (Freda's bandmate from Blake Babies) and Kenny Childers. Blue Jay marks a much belated but welcomed return by the band.

Cover art of 'Lindsey Buckingham' by Lindsey Buckingham.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF RHINO
Lindsey Buckingham

Lindsey Buckingham

Following his emergency heart surgery in 2019 and a period of recovery from that experience, the former Fleetwood Mac guitarist remerged this year with his self-titled solo record, his seventh overall. Like his previous records, Lindsey Buckingham showcases his wizardry as a versatile one-man-band as he played all of the instruments in addition to his ripping guitar. In addition to serving as a vehicle for Buckingham’s observations on relationships, the record throws a refreshing sonic curveball by incorporating some electronic dance elements (“Power Down,” “Swan Song”). Given the circumstances following his departure from his erstwhile band and his personal health situation, Lindsey Buckingham shows the musician hadn't lost a step when it came to creating experimental and minimalist yet ruthlessly catchy tunes (“I Don't Mind,” “On the Wrong Side”).

Cover art of 'Magic Mirror' by Pearl Charles.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF RIOT ACT MEDIA
Pearl Charles

Magic Mirror

Kicking off with the sparkling ABBA-esque “Only for Tonight,” Charles' sophisticated sophomore album Magic Mirror shines in its homage to '60s and '70s music pop with a 21st-century indie sensibility: an engaging amalgam of baroque psychedelia (“All the Way”), country (“Slipping Away,” “That's What I Need”), rhythm and blues (“Imposter,” “As Long as You're Mine”), and a bit of gospel (the sublime and introspective title ballad). Charles' sophisticated, mature-beyond-her-youth singing evokes such legends as Linda Ronstadt, Maria Muldaur and Olivia Newton-John from that ‘70s pop era. Magic Mirror casts a hypnotic and charming spell that’s hard to overcome.

Cover of 'Sling' by Clairo.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF REPUBLIC RECORDS
Clairo

Sling

Building off the success of her 2019 debut Immunity, the musician Claire Cottrill, a.k.a. Clairo, follows that up with Sling. Working with uber producer Jack Antonoff (Bleachers, St. Vincent, Lorde), Clairo turns in a collection of infectious and intimate bedroom pop-sounding songs. Despite the charming hooks, sophisticated arrangements and Clairo's whispery vocals, there's more to the gorgeous melodies on Sling: a number of its songs deal with serious subject matter, whether it's the singer's expressing some ambivalence towards her newfound popularity in the soulful “Bambi”; tackling mental health issues in the lush-sounding “Just for Today”; and addressing over-sexualization within the music industry via “Blouse” (with backing vocals from Lorde). Records don't get as divine and heavenly as Sling.

Cover art of 'Born at the Disco' by Jennifer O'Connor.
CREDIT: IMAGE COURTESY OF KIAM RECORDS
Jennifer O'Connor

Born at the Disco

Those familiar with the New York-based indie musician Jennifer O'Connor might have been surprised upon hearing her seventh album Born at the Disco. As its title hints, her latest record brings electronic elements to the fore (“Pretty Girls,” “You're Job Is Gone”), certainly a homage to 1970s and 1980s pop and dance music; the title track unabashedly echoes Giorgio Moroder’s famed works, for instance. But despite the flourishes, the singer hasn't gone entirely techno-happy as her indie folk rock and lyrics tackle introspective subject matter—the results from the album are quite poignant and emotional (among the standouts include “Crimes,” “Carrying You,” and “Lucky Life”). The use of electronics on Born at the Disco won’t alienate O'Connor's longtime fans—rather, they add a new wrinkle to her sound.

Cover of 'In These Silent Days' by Brandi Carlile.
CREDIT: IMAGE PROVIDED BY SACKS AND CO.
Brandi Carlile

In These Silent Days

To follow up an acclaimed breakthrough album like 2017's By the Way, I Forgive You may have seemed like a gargantuan task for Brandi Carlile. But as demonstrated by In These Silent Days, the singer-songwriter ably rose to that challenge and more. Conceived during lockdown, In These Silent Days is a continuation of the personal themes of its predecessor: “Right on Time” evokes the epic majesty of “The Joke”; the acoustic folk number “This Time Tomorrow” conveys a message hope, one of the predominant themes of the entire record; and “Broken Horses” (which is also the name of her recent memoir) truly electrifies. Meanwhile, the country-pop-soul love song “You and Me on the Rock” certainly conjures up the influence of her hero Joni Mitchell, while the dramatic “Sinners, Saints and Fools” partly pays homage to the early music of Elton John. As referenced in its title, In These Silent Days is a powerful snapshot of today’s uncertain times as well as personal obstacles but augmented by optimism and resilience.

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David Chiu