There’s a 1000 ft asteroid hurtling towards Earth, so I thought maybe this is the best time for AWers to share some of their favourite songs from this year. I propose limiting yourself to a maximum of three choices and, with deference to LoW’s definitive greatest albums poll and because it’s likely to throw up a more interesting spread, they should be from artists whose albums haven’t a hope of featuring in your picks for the AOTY poll.
Like this:
Alborosie – Never Let Me Down
Trampolene – No Love No Kisses
and..
A Selection Of Choooons From 2021, Perhaps?
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Aaron Frazer – If I Got It (Your Love Brought It)
Pretty good – touch of Curtis going on there.
Not intrigued enough to dig deeper though
Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen – Like I Used To
There has been music in 2021?
Just cos you’ve spent the last week 69ing, Sam Tyler..
Me and Sam Tyler are just good friends I tell you.
That a chap’s reputation should hang upon a comma..
Punctuation is a minefield. My rep was left in tatters after I misused a screamer.
Aha – my sort of thread!
It will delight the entire community to learn that my Best of 2021 playlist is pretty firmly locked down, thereby allowing me to imminently turn my attentions, as is only proper, to Christmas music. I will post it on here for everyone’s delectation whenever I get a minute to scribble down some accompanying thoughts.
In the mean-time, I have a ton of other music from my 2021 longlist that didn’t quite make the cut, and which I will now post here.
Body Remix – Tion Wayne, Russ Millions
Probably the single biggest tune of 2021, the Body remix bestrode the nation through Spring and Summer, popping up in all sorts of surprising places. Having closely followed the progress of Tion Wayne for a little while (see: Bingo’s Best of 2020), I wasn’t stunned to see him cross into the mainstream, but holy crap what a way to do it. Featured the year’s most horrendously memorable and eyebrow raising lyric: have you seen the state of her body/if I beat it, I ain’t wearing a johnny. Quite.
Sons of Gotham – Sons of Gotham
Courtesy of the immortal Talib Kweli and Diamond D, a whole album of extremely late 90s sounding hip hop, in the best possible way. The whole thing is great, this is the pick.
Diamond Studded Shoes – Yola
The year’s great Afterword/Jools Holland-friendly treat. Following up on the superb I Don’t Wanna Lie, this didn’t hit quite the same heights, but it’s still a great tune. Probably has medieval chord structures or something like that.
youtube.com/watch?v=-voZou1JllY
Bedhead – Manchester Orchestra
I could probably have posted two or three from this album (Telepath is also great), but I’ll go for this one because the video is fab and the bit circa 2’30 where they stick rocket boosters under the chorus is one of the great adrenaline rush moments of 2021.
The Wheel – Idles
Big, dumb and bouncy. Reminds me of Monk Chant by The Monks, and that has to be a good thing.
Anecdote – Rahul
Only came out a few weeks ago and has missed the final shortlist by a hair’s breadth. Shades of Frank Ocean, but with a lovely upbeat summery vibe.
Bottle Episode – Mandy Indiana
A pal turned me on to this. I have no idea what it is, how it works or why it works, but it does things for me.
Day After Tomorrow – Phoebe Bridgers
Only came out yesterday, and I have another Bridgers track on the final list (no prizes for guessing which one). Ruled out largely on the basis that it’s simply too new to know how I’ll feel about it in a few weeks, but I’ve listened to it a dozen times in the last 24 hours, and I think it’s wonderful. The bit where (SPOILER) it suddenly morphs into Silent Night is one of the biggest and best musical WTF moments of the year. She’s so great.
Payday – Doja Cat feat Young Thug.
Tune.
2021 has given us a bit of variety. Woozy, swooshy, ambientish:
Titanic Risen – Weyes Blood
Quirky, autotuney but very chooony:
Just for Me – Pink Pantheress
Cray-cray steampunk pop from the ‘kraine
Dreadful video apart, I am thinking the new single from Niteworks is what the youngsters might call a banger.
St Vincent – Down and out downtown. It’s kind of both old and new sounding, a rather beautiful tune. Daddy’s Home is a pretty good album all round.
The Guardian got this right. Track of the year.
Self Esteem – I Do This All The Time
This one for me. Taylor Swift meets Kate Bush. On my 2021 albums list.
Well I knew no-one was going to pay a blind bit of attention to my suggested rules (in fact my man Bingo stomped his big boots all over them) but if you’re confident Ms Taylor’s difficult second album won’t make your Lodey list, Mr Citroen.
In my excitement to post I totally overlooked the 3 songs thing! Realised afterwards: apologies!
As ever, a surfeit of enthusiasm, locked in struggle with a dearth of manners.
Relax, Bingster. We regard you as the family’s big goofy labrador. When you trail filth into the house and chew on the cushions we just smile indulgently, while secretly pining for the next time we can tie one of those lampshade thingies around your neck.
Also: you drew my attention to the Gotham LP which I had missed..
Excellent! That’s precisely the perception, and indeed the level of behavioural leeway, I always like to cultivate in any relationship.
That is fantastic Mr Moles. As is the following auto-play youtube track.
E2A: Apologies Mr Robot, the whole thing is the same bunch isn’t it? Is it my bedtime yet?
Don’t mind me. Just joshing. Sweet dreams!
They probably aren’t going to be the world-conquering bangermongers they deserve to be but this is pretty damn fine. I’m a sucker for a great held-back arrangement and what they do at 2:21 is awesome.
Goood song.
Most of my favourite tracks are on albums that might make my year end list so I won’t post them here. But one of the first tracks out in 2021, my most played (according to Spotify) and one which gave hope there might be a new album to follow (except there wasn’t) was John Fogerty’s post Trump, post George Floyd, mid pandemic single – up there with his best Creedence protest songs
Love these “song” threads because I lack the patience to sit through 40 minutes of most new LP’s and most of my new music comes from listening to 6Music so I mainly tend to just buy songs.
Let’s go with this certified classic:
I have a couple here for your delectation (or derision).
One that was released earlier this year.
Stacey Kent & Art Hirahara – I Wish I Could Go Travelling Again
.
One from a band I discovered this year. From a concert that was filmed 10 years ago.
Fred Pallem & Le Sacre Du Tympan – Plurabella’s Walk
My current favourite track of the year is “Give Me Fifteen” from the latest Aimee Mann album, Queens Of The Summer Hotel” (which will likely rank high in my albums if the year chart)……
I’ve only found time to listen to the album all the way through a few times but I really like it.
It’s just occurred to me – why am I obeying my rules? It’s Friday Avo.
Time to KFD this mother.
(BLACKSTARKIDS – I Hate Being In Love)
That’s lovely. If you like your vocals in a different key to the music.
And this, one of many ..ahem.. “bangers” from the Quietus’ album of the year:
(The Bug feat Moor Mother – Vexed)
Here’s a couple of longer ones….
Joan as Policewoman, Tony Allen & Dave Okumu
and
Tindersticks
Well Spotify says this is the track I’ve played most despite the fact that many of the times I’ve played it haven’t been on Spotify. For some bizarre reason the album doesn’t seem to be troubling the best of the year lists yet.
It’s on mine!
Talking of choons…… the latest preview from the new Tears For Fears album is an absolute cracker……
Just listening to this ballbreakingly good song (and album) now…..
Jings! The new to me Jack O’Rourke