BEST ALBUMS OF 2021

Hello darkness my old friend…

It’s that time again that I release my favorite albums of the year. I haven’t posted at all in 2021 but I like this Tunes & Oats yearly routine. 👍🏽

To make up for me being MIA, I’ll do my top 15 albums of the year plus a bunch of extras on this post and on Tunes & Oats. You good, man? You need some shroom? I got some. I got a can of these baked beans too. So feel free to snoop around.

Maybe I’ll post more in 2022 but no promithes.

According to Apple Music Replay, my top artists of 2021 include Turnover, The Drums, Slater, Future Islands, The Cure, The Avalanches, The Garden, Bent, and Blood Orange in that order. 👀

Spotify, which I don’t use as often, had my top artists as The Garden, Enjoy, Bent, Slater, and Turnover. This is me trying not to #gatekeep.

My favorite lyric of the year came from LPB Poody’s “Batman”: “my life a movie it’s sad you gotta watch it!”

Have a great 2022 and best of luck on your journey.

Here we go!

Some honorable mentions:

• The Marías – CINEMA: Spotify, Apple Music
• girl in red – if i could make it go quiet: Spotify, Apple Music
• Here’s a playlist of singles of 2021 and songs on albums that haven’t been fully released yet: Spotify, Apple Music

15. Duran Duran – FUTURE PAST

Not many Gen Zers or Millennials realize the extent to which Duran Duran dominated pop music for decades starting in the year 1980! These Brits have been known to blend genres to make bops for the dance floor. You can definitely hear their signature synthpop style in their newest record. They also feature unexpected collaborations from CHAI and Ivorian Doll. Check out the music video for “INVISIBLE” below created by AI technology.

14. Molly Burch – Romantic Images

I first heard about Molly Burch through my friend Starry who showed me the song “Emotion” featuring Wild Nothing. The song is linked below and it’s a straight funky bopper! If you like indie pop I’m sure you’ll dig her. My favorite song on the album is titled “Games.”

13. E.Vax – E.Vax

I was hella excited to hear that E.Vax would be coming out w/ a new album. Evan Mast is one half of Ratatat and he has collaborated with Kid Cudi and Kanye West. Check out E.Vax and watch his youtube videos for trippy visuals and beats from this abum. Get E.VAXXED!

• PS E.Vax wrote the original score to the new HBO Series Chillin Island which stars Lil Yachty, Young Thug, Ezra Koenig, and many more.

12. Kanye West – Donda

I’m definitely not a Mr. West aficionado but I did enjoy Donda quite a bit. Most of the tracks I loved were actually produced by E.Vax who is mentioned above in our #13 slot! The songs E.Vax produced include “Jail,” “God Breathed,” “Moon,” and “Lord I Need You.” I thought this album was a bit unnecessarily long but I did like Ye’s rapping. My favorite song is “Believe What I Say” which samples The Fugees’s Lauryn Hill’s song “Doo Wop.”

11. The Red Pears – You Thought We Left Because The Door Was Open But We Were Waiting Outside

Don’t sleep on The Red Pears. You might know them already or you might not. Well if not then now you do. They sold out most of their shows on their recent tour. They’re good. I actually just met a dude who went to high school with them.

10. Slater – Esi

Slater contributed to most of my top listened to songs of the year on Apple Music. Sure, it’s white boy rap under the Vada Vada scene but his music is dope af. He’s from SoCal who lived in San Francisco for 3 years and he’s heavily influenced by G-Funk. Check out his other stuff and I’ll put it on metal that you’ll approve. #minion #mfspy

9. Inner Wave – Apoptosis

Inner Wave is definitely a vibe. Their sound is very chill and they really up the grooviness on Apoptosis. My favorite tracks are “Take 3” and “O.”

8. PinkPantheress – to hell with it

PinkPantheress is probably the biggest breakout star in indie music in 2021 and it was definitely thanks to Tik Tok. Btw her entire discography is not even 30 minutes long.

The UK-based musician put most of her soundcloud released songs on to hell with it with the support of Parlophone Records. Her sound reminds me of the Powerpuff Girls theme song with her use of dnb. Really hoping she maintains her unique style of garage music since I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the filler songs on the album.

• PS do you remember her song “Just a Waste?” Well it’s no longer on any streaming sites so you can listen to it on youtube here.
• PSS If you’re embarrassed to discover music on the clock app then you’re from 63rd! (RIP King Von)

7. Tyler, The Creator – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST

Ngl Tyler did it again. It’s really a beautiful thing to see how he has grown musically and as a person over the years. I mean, I remember listening to him back when Goblin had just come out. I think my favorite album is still gonna have to be CHERRY BOMB 💅🏽 My favorite track on CMIYGL is “RUNITUP.”

6. Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee

Boy has it been a year for Michelle Zauner. She released her 3rd studio album Jubilee. She dropped an original game soundtrack for Sable. And she published her memoir Crying in H Mart. Jubilee shows Zauner’s yearning for experimentation and it really showcases her potential as an evolving artist.

• PS did you catch her performance of “Jimmy Fallon Big!” on Jimmy Fallon?
• PSS my friend Starry (s/o to them again) told me that Zauner majored in film in college which explains her theatric music videos.

5. Porches – All Day Gentle Hold!

I hopped on the Porches bandwagon a bit late but I’m so glad I finally got on. All Day Gentle Hold ! has certified boppers with Aaron Maine’s ability to pour his heart into lyrics and sound waves. His music is intense indie electronic rock and he has in the past collaborated w/ Mitski, Dev Hynes, and Alex G.

4. Dean Blunt – BLACK METAL 2

I’m still learning about the enigma that is Dean Blunt. But his follow up to the 1st BLACK METAL speaks volumes to me. The strings that he incorporates are executed beautifully and the backup vocals by Joanne Robertson on these tracks are angelic. The whole album is worth checking out.

3. Zack Fox – shut the f**k up talking to me

Comedian Zack Fox has dropped first album and it’s such a fun project. I appreciate that I understand a bunch of the references he makes. This album is hilarious and it hella slaps too. My favorite track is “Menace.” 😈

2. Black Dresses – Forever in Your Heart

Well well well if it isn’t Black Dresses. I thought they were done for good? I guess not and I’m so glad that they’re not done! How do I even begin to describe their glitchy yet metal sound… Trust me on this: this duo rocks.

1. Turnstile – GLOW ON

Who knew hardcore pop punk could be dreamy? Well Turnstile really did that. This record is so amazing and it also features Blood Orange (Dev Hynes) a couple times. What a banging album to succeed Time & Space and their collab with Mall Grab. My favorite song is “UNDERWATER BOI.” I hope to be in the pit at one of their shows one day :’)

My EP Picks of 2021

Yves Tumor – The Asymptotical World – EP

Seeing them at Outside Lands was the highlight of my year. Incredible music.

Metronomy – Posse, Volume. 1 – EP

I really dig the song “Monday.” Check out their whole catalog if you’re not too familiar w/ them. They have a new album on the way.

Adonai Mahoungou, Nick Wilkins, & Ricky Mendez – ¡Vamos, Amigos! – EP

I discovered Adonai on Tik Tok and I really dig his vibe. I don’t know if he speaks Spanish but he’s got the talent and skills to blend corridos and indie rock!

The Drums – MOMMY DON’T SPANK ME

Jonny Pierce throwing a compilation album at us out of nowhere. All my homies love Jonny Pierce. He’s got indie pop under his thumb. “Blue Stripes” really speaks to me.

TV Girl & Jordana – Summer’s Over

I thoroughly enjoy TV Girl and the Summer’s Over EP was a nice collaboration with Jordana.

If you made it this far then you’re a trooper. Hope you got something out of this post. See you next year?

Into the future that is Aku (and singing doorbells) we go. Stay blessed. ~ David 12/27/2021