2021 top 9

Here are, in no particular order, and for no other reason than image aesthetic, the top 9 albums I bought/received this year:

History Of A Feeling Madi Diaz

I could listen to this on repeat forever, I love it so much. The music itself is quite simple, but paired with Madi’s lyrics, every song becomes a perfect balance of anger, release and perspective. The simple production also creates a very intimate experience, something I’m especially grateful for during times like these. 

My favorite track: “New Person, Old Place”

Head of Roses Flock of Dimes

I’ll be honest, a lot of these songs are lost on me lyrically but I enjoy listening to them regardless. “Two” is likely one of my favorite songs of all time–I get chills every time I listen to it. It’s such a simple concept: “Can I be one? Can we be two? Can I be for myself, still be still with you?” An inherent connection created by two completely independent entities, like of course, duh yes! 

My favorite track: “Two” 

Star Crossed Kacey Musgraves 

Looking back I feel like this was released at a weird time, but art doesn’t wear a watch! Nevertheless, I do quite love this album. I love how it’s incredibly eclectic yet still somehow completely linear. Plus a VISUAL EXPERIENCE? I love that shit. More of that in 2022 please. 

My favorite track: “easier said”

Comfort To Me Amyl and The Sniffers 

If you don’t like loud, thrash your head around music, lighten up! This is so fun to listen to and a really great way to sonically let your frustrations out. I love hearing about frustrating female issues from an unabashedly loud and aggressive woman, versus the tame, prim and proper manner we usually have to take when airing our grievances. This is definitely one of the most badass albums of 2021. 

My favorite track: “Knifey” 

Valentine Snail Mail 

I was super bummed when I found out this concert was postponed due to lead singer Lindsey Jordan needing to get POLYPS removed from her VOCAL CORDS. Isn't that crazy?! However, this means more time to listen and absorb. I’m noticing a lot of female rage and angst in the indie pop/rock faction and I am here for it. Like a lot of (really) good albums, Valentine takes a little while to grow on you but when it does, it’s a completely different experience. 

My favorite track: “Headlock” 

Collapsed In Sunbeams Arlo Parks 

Arlo Parks is literally made up of sunshine and sunflowers and love and you cannot tell me otherwise. This album is one of the most beautiful things to ever exist and if you haven’t listened to it, I deeply envy the sheer love and warmth you’re about to experience for the first time. 

My Favorite Track: “Too Good”

evermore Taylor Swift 

Ok yes evermore was released in 2020 but it is consistently put on the back burner as some kind of folklore afterthought and that’s bullshit. (Personally, I think album ranking for any artist is an elitist waste of time, especially for someone with a catalogue like Taylor Swift.) I also really love evermore for the kind of pivotal shift it signaled for Taylor’s career—and I think often about where we’d be culturally in regards to Taylor Swift had it not been for the whole catalog sale monstrosity. 

My favorite track*: “cowboy like me”

*The evermore bonus tracks are my favorite of Taylor bonus tracks by far, including vault tracks. 

Sling Clairo 

This was quite a departure from her first few releases, but one that beautifully suits Clairo as an artist. I love the way that this album feels mature in a very vulnerable way. Naivete or ignorance is so often looked at as a weakness, even though no human on this earth is exempt from it. This album is about growth and learning how to care for something other than yourself; it’s comforting to hear someone else’s struggles with figuring that out. 

My favorite track: three way tie “Harbor”, “Management”, “Little Changes”

Notes from the Archive: Recording 2011-2016 Maggie Rogers

There’s nothing Maggie can put out that I won’t enjoy. I think she’s made a significant impact on the swift shift in interest from mainstream pop to indie pop, which I guess is a contradictory statement. But still, popularity doesn’t reduce or denote quality. Notes from the Archive does not have the same angelic level production masterpieces of Heard It In A Past Life. But the songs are warm, and they’re Maggie in a way we haven’t really experienced. I like to know what Maggie was doing in her past lives, you know?