Top 10 Albums of 2021
PRIYA RAGU - DAMNSHESTAMIL
damnshestamil is a tour de force of a debut album from Tamil-Swiss singer-songwriter Priya Ragu. She effortlessly moves between R&B, soul, pop and Tamil music, creating a world of infinite sonic possibilities. For me, the standout song unfortunately is listed as the bonus track at the end of the album. ‘Santhosam,’ which was written by her parents and features them as backing vocals is a beautiful blend of classic Tamil influences with modern soundscapes creating a stunning exploration of her heritage. Personally, it takes me right back to me as a child, sitting in the backseat of my parent’s minivan listening to classic hindi songs, and I can’t think of any higher praise for an album than that.
Listen to: Santhosam
DAYGLOW - HARMONY HOUSE
While Dayglow’s Sloane Struble wrote his first album in 2019 in his bedroom at the tail end of highschool, this second album is all about another stage of his life. Written pre-pandemic, Harmony House draws inspiration from listening to soft rock from the ‘70s and ‘80s and binging classic sitcoms like Cheers. And while each track on the album is able to stand out on its own, they’re tied together in a cohesive package of vintage influences and upbeat vibes, signalling a maturation in Struble’s songwriting and production chops.
Listen to: Crying on the Dancefloor
DANTE ELEPHANTE - MID-CENTURY MODERN ROMANCE
While being his third album, 2021 was the first time I had come across Dante and it quickly became an album that I kept coming back to, especially during the summer months. This album is loaded to the brim with absolutely infection riffs and rich textures that evoke in me the breezy feeling of cruising around the coast with your windows down on a clear sunny day. A standout album from top to bottom with legitimately no bad tracks.
Listen To: Find Somebody to Love
ANGELS & AIRWAVES - LIFEFORMS
The songwriting on this album is simply too good to ignore. Whether you enjoy the slower ballads of We Don’t Need to Whisper, the upbeat tempos of I-Empire, or the more methodical blend of the two on LOVE, long-time fans will find something to sink their teeth into on this album. In each song, I can clearly feel the influence of what they’ve done before mixed beautifully with a lot of new and fresh sounds. So, if you’re looking for a well-made rock album with all of the pop, punk, and new-wave trimmings, look no further than Lifeforms.
Listen to: Automatic
THE GREETING COMMITTEE - DANDELION
Dandelion is a marked departure from their 2018 debut album, leaving behind jangly indie chamber pop to something a bit more nostalgic with fuzzed-out soundscapes. This only makes sense when you realize that this album is a raw, heartbreaking, and at times beautiful portrayal of life post-breakup. This is album that will make you go through a wide spectrum of emotions, and I’m here for it.
Listen to: Ada
JUNGLE - LOVING IN STEREO
Unlike their previous three albums in which the singles significantly outshone the non-single tracks, leading to a sometimes-unbalanced listening, Loving in Stereo seems to have found that balance that Jungle was looking for. No track seems to misfit the next. It’s absolutely the kind of album that can be played legitimately anywhere and everywhere, from dancing in your underwear in your room, in a party with friends, or walking alone down the street. It’s a masterful attempt at creating an atmosphere that somehow fits every mood and environment that you find yourself in.
Listen to: What D’You Know About Me?
LIONLION - PERSPECTIVE
From Nuremberg, LIONLION’s second album is a bit a departure from their 2018 sound. Reminiscent of bands from the early to mid-aughts like Massive Attack and Alt-J, Perspective is an album that’s inspired by interior design and architecture (how very German of them). That being said, the album is by no means as heady or meticulously constructed as the source of inspiration would imply, as they blend poppy catchiness with prog stylings, creating a surprisingly lively and playful album.
Listen to: Much Ado About Nothing
THE WAR ON DRUGS - I DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
Though the The War on Drugs may have taken a slightly more straightforward approach on I Don’t Live Here Anymore than in the past, they’ve found interesting new ways to engage their fans with beautifully complex arrangements. The end result is an album that retains all the good about the band, with songwriting that is as good as ever with a slightly more focused approach. The War on Drugs have delicately balanced accessible pop-rock anthems (like the Springsteen-esque title track) and experimental soundscapes.
Listen to: I Don’t Live Here Anymore
SPIRITBOX - ETERNAL BLUE
Hailing from Vancouver, BC, Spiritbox first blew everyone’s collective minds in July 2020 with their first single, Holy Roller. The quartet have found a way to meld unyielding heaviness with intricate (at times atmospheric) soundscapes to carve out a truly unique sound. Each song is there for a reason, and arguably, Eternal Blue saves it’s best for last with the one-two punch that is Circle With Me (my personal favourite track along with Secret Garden) and Constance (a song that never fails to make me deeply emotional). There is no other band that sounds like this, and I’m okay with that.
Spiritbox is the face of metal in 2021.
Listen to: Circle With Me
ONE MORNING LEFT - HYPERACTIVE
One Morning Left have always sat somewhere between early Asking Alexandria and modern Eskimo Callboy, at least in terms of sound and general playfulness. If you know the metalcore scene, you know what to expect here: plenty of chugs, a healthy mix of screams and sung choruses, heavy breakdowns and all of the synth melodies you could ever want.
With this album, One Morning Left has given them self an 80s inspired paintjob, seemingly influenced from Dragonforce, The Galvatrons, and Blessed By a Broken Heart all in the same breath. Shifting from hair metal to videogame influenced songs, the Finnish outfit have found a way to inject fun into an otherwise hyper serious and dreary scene (i.e. every other band in the genre talking about drowning). And after the last year, I think we could use a bit of fun in our lives.
Listen to: Ruby Dragon
