The best records of 2021 (1)

2021 is over, we have stepped into 2022. Looking back on 2021, of course the Covid pandemic looms large over everything else. Although we may have pretended things were normal at some point in the year. Nothing was of course. Our lives are captured and taken as a hostage by a virus.

For musicians having to live of live performances a second Covid year was nothing but a disaster. The other side of the coin is that music was released that we would never had heard had the world not been in some form of lockdown. A musician does what he of she likes doing best: create new music. Not being on tour and distracted by all things coming with that, there's all the time in the world to create. A mildly positive angle to an otherwise bleak year for them.

Musically 2021 certainly had its moments, but an extremely good year? No. Most records I've heard were more of a good thing. Additions to what I already have. From an artist, Chris Eckman, Nick Cave or Motorpsycho or in a genre, punk(rock), garagerock, etc. At this point in time, things can change of course over time, only my number 1 record truly surprised me and may grow out to become one of my true classic albums.

Something Erwin Zijleman, regular contributor to this blog, mentioned, also caught my attention. There are hardly any big names on my list. Lana del Rey and Nick Cave (and Warren Ellis) will be the biggest names you'll find. Of course Motorpsycho is around for decades, as is Chris Eckman, but to a certain extend they are musicians within a niche. Of course Foo Fighters are in the top league of music, but you will never have found them in my lists before. But what about your numbers 3 and 4?, you might ask, as soon as you arrive there. Yes, you are right but their position may be telling more about the year 2021 as a whole. Two new releases of old work, this high? It could also be telling more about me in 2021, granted.

What also is slowly beginning to dawn on me, is that the heroes of my youth have said all they had to say or no longer able to do so. They are slowly leaving this world or have already turned the final corner, like Charlie Watts, e.g. There may not be that much new work coming from them. A sad conclusion but that is life too.

Musically I surprised myself. I have become a much better guitar player during Covid than I was before. More miles covered, also through all the garden sessions in 2020 and playing regularly at home with a mini version of the band during lockdowns, practising more complex songs together endlessly and tirelessly and then take them back to the band together making huge strides. Until Covid struck again of course.

There are ten more albums to go, so let's go.

10. Palais d'Argile. Feu! Chatterton

A French band I had never heard from until from all sides people started tipping me. Success in my ears was near instant. The combination of classic chanson style singing with softer versions of rock and electronic (dance) music works really well and opened a new musical world for me. A nice surprise in 2021 Feu! Chatterton was.

9. Iris. Reb Fountain

For the second year in a row Reb Fountain finds herself in my top 10 list. The New Zealand singer totally makes true on her promise from her self-titled album of 2020. A little lighter mood here and there but Iris lies in line with expectation, while shifting the musical palet more than enough to not be a repetition of moves. Iris deepens the Reb Fountain experience no little.

8. Medicine At Midnight. Foo Fighters

Another big name on this list. A novelty as well, as Foo Fighters never made it even close to my end of year list. I can't help liking this album. Medicine A Midnight is full of energy, songs to sing along to and overall fun to listen to. So far, I liked several of the (hit)singles of the band, never a full album. This time I do, with the number 8 position as a result.

7. In The Light Of Day. Freddie Dilevi

The voice, the voice, the voice, the voice. That would have sufficed had not the rock played such an important role as well. There's nothing new to be found on this album but the combination works so well. To top it all off there's a great cover version of 'Blue Hotel' to be found here as well. The charming English accent, just like that Italian The Beatles vocal parts instructor on You Tube, from Spanish singer Pablo Velazquez, tops it all off.

6. Glasscherven. The Avonden

An EP made it to my end of year list, finally. Usually it is an excuse I use to get to the required number faster. Not this time. Glasscherven is so good it deserves this spot. It's not that musically the EP is so much different from the two albums that came before, there seems to be so much more focus, underlining all the great points in The Avonden's music so much more. I'm inclined to write listening to Glasscherven is an experience, of the most pleasant kind.

5. Shady Rock & Rollers. Watts

Another band that is re-enacting what came before. With so much class and style that it is my favourite, new rock album of 2021. Watts is good at writing and recording perfect (garage)rock songs for the 20s, a niche market at best, but one that makes me feel so good when listening to Shady Rock & Rollers. It comes with a tongue-in-cheek appreciation of knowing that making this kind of music is not for the many, while still wanting to be the best at it. In 2021 Watts certainly is in my book.

4. Tattoo You. 40th Anniversary Edition. The Rolling Stones

Tattoo You was a the best of the rest album, because the band wanted a new album before going on tour in the U.S. in 1981 and did not have the time to record a full album. The result was, in my book, one of the best Stones albums ever and here come all the leftovers from the leftovers. Lo and behold, the second album coming with the umptieth remix of the great original contains great songs. Several covers, songs with Mick Taylor obviously on guitar and a few great rockers. To finish off the reggae/rock version of 'Start me Up'. If anything, Tattoo You album 2 shows how good the Stones were in the 1970s. Most bands would have died for a few songs like this.

3. Zappa '88 The Last U.S. Show. Frank Zappa

I did not go to what turned out to be Frank Zappa's final tour in 1988. This album shows how wrong I was. A combination of a lot of his best work and outrageous covers, from Led Zeppelin to The Beatles with Zappa lyrics, it's all there and more. Chad Wackerman, the final of a host of young, very talented drummers, writes in the liner notes that this was his best band ever. Although I love the live recording from the Fillmore East with Flo & Eddie in the lead, Wackerman is right. The level of musicianship here is phenomenal. This was not intended to be a goodbye but in hindsight it was going out with a huge bang.

2. Where The Spirit Rests. Chris Eckman

As a solo artist Chris Eckman had been silent for seven years, working in the music industry instead. In 2021 he returned with an album filled with delicacy. The rocker within him has laid himself down for the dark balladeer to fully expose himself. The result is an album that is not always easy to listen to but of formidable quality. Eckman delved deep within himself and found the best he has to offer.

From circa 1993 to 1996 The Walkabouts was my favourite band, something that did not change live. From a studio perspective this had ebbed considerably as the band moved to softer music by the album, as if it wanted to disappear in silence. No matter how soft Where The Spirit Rests is, it has the internal energy and intensity of the rocking years, making the softer years shine in the right perspective. As if Eckman was finally able to combine his two sides successfully. Where The Spirit Rests is one of the few true great albums of 2021.

1. Blue Weekend. Wolf Alice

From the first listening session until today, I knew that this was going to be the album. A lot can change after those initial sessions of course, but nothing replaced Wolf Alice from this spot. The giant leap forward Blue Weekend is. Live the band impressed me so much after the release of album number two. With Blue Weekend for the first time the band totally impresses me on record as well. All the different voices of Ellie Rowsell providing Blue Weekend with as many moods, the atmosphere of the songs, the shock of a "simple" punkrock song in between this all, it is what spells a great album. If there's one album that can make it into my list of all-time favourites from this year, it's Blue Weekend.

Wout de Natris