By Cody Fitzgerald
Campus News
It’s that time of the year again! As we close in on a very eventful 2021, I (amongst many others) often choose to take just a nice half hour, forget that we are in a raging pandemic, have an active insurrectionist movement brewing and are on the brink of climate disaster to recap some of the best pieces of art that have been released for the year. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m going to be focusing on the best albums that we got in this past year, and it was a very tough time trying to decide. What was initially going to be a Top 5 eventually spiraled into Top 10, Top 20 and then finally settled on a Top 25 (with 10 honorable mentions, and 1 extended play), which just goes to show how truly strong this year was for music. I’m usually a sucker for these lists as well, and I’ve noticed that a lot of them are very long, and almost a chore to get through for some readers. Today, I want to make this as efficient as possible for everyone, so I’m going to provide my list, along with my 3 favorite songs, the most popular song (according to Apple Music), and a quick write up of what to expect when listening. Without further adieu, here is my Top 25 albums of the year,
Honorable Mentions
Sob Rock (John Mayer) – Infectious, albeit derivative 80’s jam
Comfort to Me (Amyl and The Sniffers) – Genuine fun rock album, although you may get bored or desire a little more by the end
For My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Her (McKinley Dixon) – Powerful, disjointed journey that is a little too ambitious for me sonically but definitely has an audience
Let Me Done One More (illuminati hotties) – Nothing to write home about, but altogether a really fun, bouncy pop album to throw on outside with some solid social commentary hidden inside
Valentine (Snail Mail) – Although the beginner title track will blow you away, the rest of the album is a slower, albeit very solid, step down
It’s All Smiles (No Rome) – A somewhat repetitive, but very unique and ambitious project by the up and coming “The 1975” prodigy
Donda (Kanye West) – A golden album hidden in a very cluttered, over ambitious attempted magnum opus
Death of a Cheerleader (Pom Pom Squad) – A darker take on the aforementioned “Let Me Done One More,” but still a really solid piece
Juno (Remi Wolf) – Although repetitive, Juno is an ambitious and creative spin on modern pop music from a very promising artist
Say Things That Matter (M.A.G.S.) – A very solid album with some infectious rock hooks that may leave you wanting a little bit more
Number 25 – Romantic Images by Molly Burch
Favorite Tracks – Heart of Gold, Romantic Images and Honeymoon Phase
Most Popular Track – Took a Minute
Quick Thoughts – An easy, yet incredibly fun listen, these bouncy love songs are indie pop at its finest
Number 24 – Texis by Sleigh Bells
Favorite Tracks – An Acre Lost, Locust Laced and Tennessee Tips
Most Popular Track – Locust Lased
Quick Thoughts – A perfect blend of modern and hyperpop, this infectious pop album is a relentless hit after hit
Number 23 – Other Stuff by Petey
Favorite Tracks – Haircut, More to Life than Baseball and The Same Chords
Most Popular Track – Haircut
Quick Thoughts – Other Stuff is infectious, honest and eerie in a perfect alt-pop blend that will leave you intrigued the entire time
Number 22 – La Maquina by Conway the Machine
Favorite Tracks – Scatter Brain, 6:30 Tip Off and KD
Most Popular Track – Scatter Brain
Quick Thoughts – La Maquina is a smart but still remains a very accessible, fun, and infectious rap album with some great features scattered throughout the mix
Number 21 – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator
Favorite Tracks – CORSO, MASSA and RISE!
Most Popular Track – WUSYANAME
Quick Thoughts – Never releasing a bad album, Tyler, The Creator is back with one of his best in this rap that has a classic mixtape feel to it
Number 20 – Blood Bunny by chloe moriondo
Favorite Tracks – I Eat Boys, I Want To Be With You and Favorite Band
Most Popular Track – Manta Rays
Quick Thoughts – Easy on the ears, catchy and littered with great, honest lyricism, this indie singer-songwriter album is a trip worth taking
Number 19 – interrobang by Switchfoot
Favorite Tracks – the hard way, fluorescent and i need you (to be wrong)
Most Popular Track – fluorescent
Quick Thoughts – Switchfoot has a great talent of sounding mainstream while still maintaining the humble garage band aesthetic that takes this alternative pop-rock jam to Number 17
Number 18 – I Know I’m Funny haha by Faye Webster
Favorite Tracks – A Dream With a Baseball Player, In a Good Way and Cheers
Most Popular Track – A Dream With a Baseball Player
Quick Thoughts – This singer-songwriter, indie pop is admittedly a sleeper hit, but right when you think it is getting stagnant a new element or genre is introduced to pull you right back in
Number 17 – Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan
Favorite Tracks – Pick Up Your Feelings, On It and Lost One
Most Popular Track – Pick Up Your Feelings
Quick Thoughts – This pop anthem is an honest, brutal and gripping story that will keep you intrigued for its entire runtime
Number 16 – Sling by Clairo
Favorite Tracks – Amoeba, Bambi and Blouse
Most Popular Track – Amoeba
Quick Thoughts – Clairo and Jack Antonoff team up for an easy listening, infectious alternative masterwork that takes Clairo’s previous work up numerous levels
Number 15 – I Don’t Live Here Anymore by The War on Drugs
Favorite Tracks – I Don’t Live Here Anymore, Harmonia’s Dream and Occasional Rain
Most Popular Track – I Don’t Live Here Anymore
Quick Thoughts – Yet again, The War on Drugs has pulled an infectious alternative pop album straight from the 80s and you won’t be able to get enough
Number 14 – Mood Valiant by Hiatus Kaiyote
Favorite Tracks – Chivalry Is Not Dead, Red Room and And We Go Gentle
Most Popular Track – Red Room
Quick Thoughts – This experimental alternative acid trip will be your new addiction for a long time
Number 13 – Mercurial World by Magdalena Bay
Favorite Tracks – Hysterical Us, You Lose! and Secrets (Your Fire)
Most Popular Track – Secrets (Your Fire)
Quick Thoughts – This colorful, electronic bubblegum pop album will leave you dancing and have your head spinning in circles (in the best way possible)
Number 12 – The Million Masks of God by Manchester Orchestra
Favorite Tracks – Angel of Death, Bed Head and Let It Storm
Most Popular Track – Bed Head
Quick Thoughts – This gritty, dark alt-pop album is a great look into the darker side of the indie pop we’ve explored so far
Number 11 – Blue Weekend by Wolf Alice
Favorite Tracks – Delicious Things, Smile and Lipstick on the Glass
Most Popular Track – Smile
Quick Thoughts – This pop and rock fused album is drenched in smart lyricism and is an overwhelming masterclass in alternative music
Number 10.5 – Our Extended Play by Beabadoobee
Favorite Tracks – Cologne, Animal Noises and He Gets Me So High
Most Popular Track – Cologne
Quick Thoughts – Not technically an album, but this beabadoobee x The 1975 EP is infectious as all hell and will leave you vying for more as she dabbles in bubblegum pop, country and metal
Number 10 – Take The Sadness Out of Saturday Night by Bleachers
Favorite Tracks – Stop Making This Hurt, Don’t Go Dark and How Dare You Want More
Most Popular Track – Stop Making This Hurt
Quick Thoughts – Bleachers’ third studio album is arguably their best, taking their 80s Springsteen (who is featured) sound, riding it all the way home and having a blast the whole time
Number 9 – Inside by Bo Burnham
Favorite Tracks – All Eyes on Me, Comedy and That Funny Feeling
Most Popular Track – All Eyes on Me
Quick Thoughts – Bo Burnham’s genre-hopping, nihilistic quarantine hit is hilarious, smart and terrifying in the best way possible, but you should watch the Netflix special along with it to get the full effect
Number 8 – Vince Staples’ self titled
Favorite Tracks – ARE YOU WITH THAT?, MHM and LIL FADE
Most Popular Track – ARE YOU WITH THAT?
Quick Thoughts – Vince Staples’ self titled rap album is as fun and catchy as you’ll ever see and what is probably Staples’ most honest lyricism yet
Number 7 – Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast
Favorite Tracks – In Hell, Be Sweet and Kokoma, IN
Most Popular Track – Be Sweet
Quick Thoughts – Easy listening, smart lyrics and emotion drape over this alternative triumph
Number 6 – Home Video by Lucy Dacus
Favorite Tracks – Hot & Heavy, Going Going Gone and Brando
Most Popular Track – Brando
Quick Thoughts – This album has high school singer-songwriter written all over it, but in the best way possible and turned up to level 10
Number 5 – An Evening With Silk Sonic by Silk Sonic
Favorite Tracks – Smoking Out the Window, 777 and Blast Off
Most Popular Track – Leave The Door Open
Quick Thoughts – Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak remind us that they are the two most fun guys in the industry right now with their throwback, groovy and short but sweet masterpiece
Number 4 – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz
Favorite Tracks – Point and Kill, Protect My Energy and Speed
Most Popular Track – Woman
Quick Thoughts – This brilliant rap album by Little Simz is a genius, albeit very fun album that can be appreciated in every aspect as she tackles very important social and structural issues
Number 3 – Smiling With No Teeth by Genesis Owusu
Favorite Tracks – Waitin’ On Ya, Don’t Need You and Easy
Most Popular Track – Gold Chains
Quick Thoughts – With so many different genre homages (based in hip-hop), charisma through the roof and important messages hidden throughout, Genesis Owusu has a very promising career ahead of himself
Number 2 – Stand for Myself by Yola
Favorite Tracks – Dancing Away in Tears, Whatever You Want and Diamond Studded Shoes
Most Popular Track – Diamond Studded Shoes
Quick Thoughts – Ticking off as many genres as possible, Yola gives us one of the catchiest, boisterous, most honest and heartfelt pieces in a soulful, country-pop fused jam
Number 1 – I’m not a mother, but I have children by Shungudzo
Favorite Tracks – Good thing I’m not god, There’s only so much a soul can take and ‘Merican dream
Most Popular Tracks – It’s a good day (to fight the system)
Quick Thoughts – Shungudzo manages to balance a much needed political and social commentary on police brutality and racism in America and genuinely sounding amazing as it is done. This pop powerhouse did not get nearly enough recognition and is my undisputed top album of 2021
Well, there you have it, my top 25 albums of 2021. I hope that, in a year of that Applebee’s song going viral, you can still find some reason to enjoy music and hopefully take a few recommendations from me, as well.
Cody Fitzgerald now attends Siena College and hopes to share this outlook/coping mechanism with future generations.
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