MUSIC
The Best Music of 2021
A look back at the year’s best albums, eps, and singles
BY STEVE ERICKSON
As we transition to a new
year, it’s time to look
back at the top albums
and eps and singles
from 2021.
ALBUMS & EPS:
Julien Baker-“Little Oblivions”
(Matador)
Baker recorded “Little Oblivions,”
playing almost all the instruments
herself, over a period of
several years where she took time
off from music and returned to college.
She also had a relapse into
alcohol misuse. That’s the subject
of this uncomfortably intense album.
Although her earlier music
didn’t use drums and was often
based around solo piano or guitar,
“Little Oblivions” makes a case for
Baker as a rocker, turning towards
arena-ready arrangements.
Chvrches-“Screen Violence”
(Glassnote)
The experience of existing as a
woman online and facing constant
threats translated into synth-pop
via ideas drawn from horror movies:
“Final Girls,” “Violent Delights.”
It’s queasy but tuneful, channeling
Depeche Mode via John Carpenter
midnight shows.
Circuit des Yeux-“io” (Matador)
Inspired by the death of a friend
and given the ability to work with
a 23-piece orchestra, Haley Fohr,
aka Circuit des Yeux, channeled
her grief and ambition into “-io.”
Singing with a baritone voice which
sounds androgynous, she draws on
late Scott Walker, creating densely
baroque art-pop that draws on opera
and classical music.
Theon Cross-“Infra I” (New Soil)
Sons of Kemet member Cross is
one of the few artists putting tuba
in the lead, with a distorted tone
resembling an 808 more than an
acoustic instrument. Associated
with the British jazz resurgence,
“Infra I” transcends genre labels,
bringing a rhythmic sophistication
to everything it touches.
Dave-“We’re All In This Together”
(Neighbourhood)
One of the most popular rappers
in the U.K., Dave’s music takes a
Julien Baker played almost all the instruments herself in “Little Oblivions.”
personal turn, glancing towards
‘70s singer-songwriters. It’s not felt
in the sonics, which rely on stark,
stripped-down beats (the music
cuts out for a while during the
10-minute “Heart Attack,” but while
this isn’t party music, Dave’s combination
of introspection and political
concern retains its intensity,
avoiding conscious rap platitudes.
Japanese Breakfast-“Jubilee”
(Dead Oceans)
Bi singer/songwriter Michelle
Zauner’s pop breakthrough does
not avoid negative emotions entirely
— one song looks back to her
period as a caretaker for her late
mother — but it fi nds excitement
and, yes, jubilation even in scenarios
like being trapped in a bunker
after the apocalypse.
Lotic-“Water” (Houndsbreath)
Using both “beautiful” (soprano
vocals, piano, harp) and “ugly”
(electronic noise, drumming on
metal) sounds, trans producer Lotic
makes us question such snap
judgments. She has emerged from
the water with her most innovative
music, suggesting resilience under
pressure and creating new forms.
serpentwithfeet-“Hyacinth”
(Secretly Canadian)
When serpentwithfeet debuted,
the gay singer sported a pentagram
face tattoo and sang in a gospel-infl
uenced style over classical music
samples. “Hyacinth” is a triumph
in a far different direction. Instead
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/REBECCA SOWELL
of trying to look mysterious, serpentwithfeet
sounds friendly and
down-to-earth, singing about everyday
life with his partner and
sticking closer to R&B.
Tems-“If Orange Was a Place” (RCA)
The Nigerian singer’s second
project and major label debut
reached a wider American audience
thanks to “Essence,” her hit
duet with Wizkid. Her voice fl ows
gracefully over sunny beats, bringing
jazz and R&B infl uences into
Afropop — “If Orange Was a Place”
could have been the soundtrack for
our hot vaxx summer.
Yves Tumor-“The Asymptotic
World” (Warp)
A glam star with a cult audience
— check out the queer, non-binary
singer’s recent live performances in
torn Slipknot T-shirt, leather skirt
and fi shnet stockings — Yves Tumor
has made the unfashionable
choice to move further and further
into rock music in an increasingly
post-genre world. “Jackie”
and “Crushed Velvet” could have
been alt-rock radio hits in the ‘90s,
but the most memorable song is
“Tuck,” featuring the menacingly
monotone vocals of NAKED.
See the list of runners-up
at gaycitynews.com.
Singles (excluding songs included
on the above albums):
Ado-“Odo” (Universal Music Japan)
*Arca-“Rabatka” (XL)
*Backxwash-“Rosemary’s Revenge”
(Ugly Hag)
BIA-“Whole Lotta Money” (Epic)
*Big Thief-“Little Things” and
“Sparrow” (4AD)
*Brockhampton featuring Danny
Brown-“Buzzcut” (RCA)
Eric Church-“Hell of a View”
(EMI Nashville)
Lana del Rey-“Blue Banisters”
(Interscope)
DJ Eastwood-“u ain’t ready (ama
mix)” (self-released)
DJ Maphorisa, Tyler ICU, Visca
featuring Madhumane, Mpura and
Daliwong-“Izolo” (New Money Gang)
Nicole Dollanganger-
“Whispering Glades” (self-released)
Read the complete list
at gaycitynews.com
Sam Fender-“Seventeen Going
Under” (Interscope)
G-IDLE-“Hwaa” (G Cube)
Giveon-“Heartbreak Anniversary”
(Epic)
*Gloria Groove-“Bonekinha”
(SB)
*Kaytranada featuring H.E.R.-
“Intimidated” and Kaytranada
featuring Mach-Hommy-
“$payforhaiti” (RCA)
Lil Durk featuring King Von-
“Still Trappin” (Alamo)
*Lil Nas X-“That’s What I Want”
and Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow“
Industry Baby” (Columbia)
Magdalena Bay-“Chaeri” (Luminelle)
Megan Thee Stallion-“Thot Shit”
(300)
*MUNA featuring Phoebe Bridgers“
Silk Chiffon” (Saddest Factory)
NCT 127-“Sticker” (SM Entertainment)
*OMB Bloodbath-“Don’t Do It”
(Interscope)
Playboi Carti-“Sky” (Interscope)
Polo G-“Rapstar” (Columbia)
*Pom Pom Squad-“Head Cheerleader”
(City Slang)
Carly Pearce-“Next Girl” (Big
Machine)
Olivia Rodrigo-“Brutal” and
“good 4 you” (Alamo)
*Serpentwithfeet-“Down Nuh
River” (Secretly Canadian)
Read more at gaycitynews.com
December 30, 2021 - January 12, 2 12 022 | GayCityNews.com
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