Wo.'s best records of 2021 (2)

At the end/beginning of each year WoNoBlog looks back. For starters the best records of this year in two parts. As there, once again, were no live shows I've attended, I allow myself a longer list once again. The two shows I did have tickets for were cancelled due to a positive test in the band, respectively the new lockdown. Today I present the numbers 30 to 11. Tomorrow the rest, including a little reflection on 2021.

30. Astral Swans. Astral Swans

Canadian singer-songwriter Matthew Swann released a very varied, melodic and pleasant album that is so good to listen to. The duets work really well. The musical curve balls Swann introduces within some of the songs, totally derails the idyllic music he presents on most of the album.

29. The Dents. The Dents

A storm rages through my room each time I put on The Dents. The duo d'Angora - Paulhus really lays it on there to great punkkrock/garagerock effect. Getting the band back together seldom turned out so well.

28. Wünsch Mir Glück. Steiner & Madlainer

The Swiss duo released its second album very early in 2021 and kept being played by me. Not an easy feat with someone listening to so much new records like I do. A totally deserved position in his list. The songs on the album are very varied but all have their charms not in the least because of the voices of Steiner & Madlainer.

27. Cosmonaut. Pickle Darling

As lo-fi as lo-fi albums can come, Cosmonaut is the result of living or bedroom activities. All the little noises and instruments that adorn the songs on Cosmonaut have their role in making then come alive in surprising ways. An extremely nice album to have.

26. Glowing In The Dark. Django Django

Although I rate Glowing In The Dark a little below the two previous albums, Django Django's music remains so good to listen to. The band has a vibe that combines listening to music and partying to music in a perfect way. The surprise may have warn off, but as they say, the relationship has certainly deepened.

25. Burn So Bright. Jane Willow

Irish - Dutch Jane Willow has released her debut album after years of toiling to growing critical acclaim. She does everything right on Burn So Bright, including finding the right people to work with. It all resulted in a singer-songwriter album that brings together several worlds in very successful ways.

24. III. Milk

The posthumously released album III is Reuben Samuel Winter's fantastic farewell to this world. The singer-guitarist-dance producer took his own life in the face of a debilitating disease. He left behind a beautiful alternative rock album, one of several musical outlets he worked on. III is some goodbye.

23. Drunk Tank Pink. Shame

Flat out, Shame disappointed with its second album. A little too much of other, young alternative rockbands out there and not enough of itself. The fact that Drunk Tank Pink makes this list anyway shows how good I think Shame is, but this album can't stand in the shadow of its predecessor.

22. Why Don't We Give It A Try? Roos Meijer

The subtleness of this album is near endless. Seldom have I heard an album as quiet as this one, yet having everything in its right spot. The musical surprises are endless. At every turn of the album you will find another instrument ready for you to take you a little further down the album. Beautiful.

21. Chemtrails Over The Country Club. Lana del Rey

Speaking of good taste and coolness, Lana del Rey shares enough of it on her first album of 2021. Blue Bannister has it as well, but I haven't totally warmed to that album (yet?), the reason you do not find it here. Chemtrails is and shows the consistent level of music Lana del Rey produces. A little more wildness would be welcome next time though.

20. Charts And Graphs. Geoff Palmer

If Geoff Palmer had kept the level of music up like the a-side of Charts And Graphs shares with the world, he would have found himself contending for record of the year position. A position his mother grants him, needless to say of course. What remains is a very good record, allowing for 100% party time in alternative rock and roll for 2020s, with a perfect score on the a-side

19. Comfort to Me. Amyl and the Sniffers

Australia and punkrock? Enter Amyl and the Sniffers. As if 1977 never changed year with 1978 and beyond. This is the real thing, like a time machine released a band into 2021 to stir things up a little. Perhaps this is what Courtney Barnett should have sounded like after all the break up and lockdown blues, but does not. Comfort To Me is a raging storm of the perfect kind.

18. Kingdom Of Oblivion. Motorpsycho

I had almost not given Kingdom Of Oblivion its spot on this list. The double album tends to be a little too much of a good thing, in the light of all the work released since 2017 at this consistent level. Giving it a final try, did give it its rightful spot. The level of musicianship, enthusiasm and class is just too good to ignore.

17. Words To Live By, Suits To Die In. Queen's Pleasure

Another new alternative rock band from The Netherlands that broke recently and another with such incredibly good songs. I have started to become truly impressed what my country is producing in this segment of music in recent years. Queen's Pleasure is topping that bill this year.

16. On All Fours. Goat Girl

Another album from early 2021 that held up totally. In my mind it was so old that I thought it to be from 2020. Goat Girl manages to capture positive and negative experiences and turn them into songs that are always positive to listen to. From beginning to end this album works no little.

15. Sticky. Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes

Someone is angry here and that anger had to come out. Sticky shows it all in abundance. Frank Carter c.s. have produced their finest record to date. Punky, snotty, obnoxious, Sticky is it all but the band does not forget that music is about songs and a story to tell. Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes deliver it all and even some more. AAAAHHHH!!!!

14. The War On Peace Of Mind. Dianne Swann

The second Swann in this list, now from New Zealand. The War On Peace Of Mind is a beautifully crafted album with a relaxed vibe. The absolute antipodean album to 'Sticky'. Dianne Swann takes you on her ride thanks to her relaxing voice and melodic songs, only to come out with peace of mind, despite Dianne Swann losing her war, for us listeners.

13. Carnage. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis

Another album by a long established name that I did not want to put in here at first. (Sorry The Black Keys, there was no saving you.) Until I took a true listen once again and found Carnage to have the majesty I heard at first listening to it when released digitally. It has so much atmosphere and quality showing the level Nick Cave is active at in the past 10 years, always with Warren Ellis by his side, who now gets full credit for his contributions.

12. The Spirit Of Age. The Visual

Another new Dutch band but now more in the classic, symphonic rock circles, from Earth & Fire to Led Zeppelin and a lot in between and after. It took me a few listening sessions before it all fell into place but from that moment onwards The Spirit Of Age simply kept growing and perhaps still has some more to do.

11. Saturday Moon. Chantal Acda

Saturday Moon is an album with many faces. At times too many, a moment I can't find my way into the album, on other days I think the world of it. There are not many albums that can produce such a reaction in me. Chantal Acda does with this fairly experimental album. It contains so much quality that perhaps, on some days, it is simply too much to grasp.

Wout de Natris