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Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2021. Our next list is from Reviewer Stephen Perkins.
Menneskekollektivet by Lost Girls (Smalltown Supersound)
Evolving transitions containing club beats, guitar, spoken word, synth lines and vocals give this album a seductive feel to it with this duo from Norway, Jenny Hval and Håvard Volden, doing their thing as only they can do.
For The First Time by Black Country New Road (Ninja Tune)
Oh yeah! I'm feelin it. Compares favorably to The Viagra Boys and Nick Cave if that's your thing.
Smiling with No Teeth by Genesis Owusu (Ourness)
This dude embraces a range of different styles and has put together one of 2021's best albums full of magic.
A Southern Gothic by Adia Victoria (Atlantic Records)
Damn this album hooked me right from the beginning. I love the ways in which it unfolded laying bare the historical realities of life in the South with a steadfast determination and quiet defiance.
Collapsed in Sunbeams by Arlo Parks (Trangressive)
Beautiful! Arlo has such a sweet, soothing voice. I could listen to this on plenty a late night or on a rainy day.
Carnage by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis (Goliath)
Fantabulous! Nick Cave is that kind of musician who lays bare his heart and soul on everything he makes regardless of what it sounds like.
Welfare Jazz by Viagra Boys (Year 0001)
A throwback album to the 21st century full of decadence and debauchery, a sign of the times. You can hear influences here which include Tom Waits and Nick Cave.
New Long Leg by Dry Cleaning (4AD)
There's something about the way Florence Shaw delivers her musings in these post punk songs in her deadpan voice that captured my fancy. I suspect that I am not the only one who feels this way.
LANDBACK by Various Artists (Nataanii Means, Antoine Edwards, Gunner Jules, Tufawon, Rollie Raps, Ekichetu, Lady Midnight, Liv the Artist, Jibiri Bell & Tufawo) (NDN Collective)
A stunning indictment of white supremacy and racism in the U.S. against indigenous, black and brown people, and the most overtly political statement of anything I have heard this year.
Fire by The Bug (Ninja Tune)
A stare down into the arrival of the dystopian future that predicts the descent of humanity into the abyss.
Honorable Mentions
Jyroscope & Montana Macks -- Happy Medium
Amyl & the Sniffers -- Comfort to Me
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizards -- Butterfly 3000
Spirit of the Beehive -- Entertainment, Death
black midi -- calvalcade
Yves Tumor --The Asymptotical World Warp
BassKase -- A Fist Full of Dubs & The Good, Bad and the Dubby
Mouse on Mars -- AAI
Leon Vynehall -- Rare, Forever
Cassandra Jenkins -- An Overview on Phenomenal Nature- Ba Da Bing
Arab Strap -- As Days Get Dark
Pauline Anna Strom -- Angel Tears in Sunlight
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra -- Promises
tUnE-yArDs -- Sketchy
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