As much as we hoped it wouldn't be, 2021 was another year dominated by Covid. Music filled a lot space and time for me, and fueled another round of backyard listening during summer nights in the 'solar garden'. Similar to 2020, I often wondered if bands held off from releasing new albums since they couldn't tour to support them. And two of my top albums were directly affected by the pandemic. Below are my top 5 albums of 2021, based on my pure enjoyment.
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German prog rock band RPWL planned to mark the 20th anniversary of their God Has Failed album with a multi-week tour starting in November 2020, but Covid squelched that plan. From the band's website: "So what do you do when you have a perfectly rehearsed band, but the opportunity to perform is pulled out from under your feet? Right, you film a live studio session of the entire album". With 20 years of practice playing the songs in concert, and the addition of two female backing vocalists, this live album is polished, and the band brings more to the table than is heard on the original LP. Lead singer Yogi Lang's vocals are uncannily similar to David Gilmour, which is perhaps part of their appeal, but the songs stand on their own, and his voice sounds better than ever.
Lord Huron - Long Lost - 2021
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For their 4th album, Los Angeles-based band Lord Huron shifted some from their Indie folk-rock sound to create a concept album that evokes classic Marty Robbin-style country refracted through a slightly askew prism. Lyrics about longing, lost love and redemptive or dissolving relationships are secondary to the often audacious production and sound, which includes heavy reverb. Interspersed are audio snippets that mimic an old-school variety show, including a snappy host and audience reactions. The final track is a long, trippy instrumental that doesn't seem to fit the album, but overall this is a solid effort throughout. The duet with Allison Ponthier called I Lied is a highlight along with Mine Forever.
Silvertwin - Silvertwin - 2021
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Lead singer and songwriter Isaac Shalam's affinity for 70's smooth music is evident throughout Silvertwin's debut album, with many nods to Steely Dan among others. Their first single, Ploy, was on Spotify in early 2020, and I waited patiently as each new single arrived over the course of the year. The full album release seemed to be delayed over and over, and finally came in 2021. I presume Covid caused the delay, and ultimately dashed their hopes of touring to support it. Must be tough for up and coming bands to really get started during this time, especially ones like Silvertwin who are in more of a niche genre.
Stick Figure - World On Fire - 2019
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While enjoying modern reggae bands this year like The Green and Passafire, I started hunting for more upbeat & offbeat jams. I found Stick Figure, which is the creation of producer and multi-instrumentalist Scott Woodruff. As simple as they were, after a while I couldn't get his songs out of my head. At first I thought I had come across an obscure artist, but later read Stick Figure is consistently at the top of the reggae charts. Woodruff plays every instrument on the album, and must really know his way around a recording studio. The tracks are impressive sonically, and the more I listen the more I hear multiple layers within them. Once I soaked up World on Fire, I was equally impressed with his previous release, Set in Stone. I'm looking forward to hearing what Woodruff releases next.
Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic - 2021
An Evening With Silk Sonic is the collaboration of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, and is well-described by Sputnikmusic as "rich and authentic, existing at the irresistible intersection between 70s funk nostalgia and the luxuries of a modern day studio. As a result, An Evening With Silk Sonic lives up to its billing as a true experience: it’s sexy, ever-so-smooth, and radiates confidence and charisma". With the help of former P-Funk member Bootsy Collins and several key players like Thundercat and D'Mile as producer, Silk Sonic created an album that is simultaneously loose and precise. I've read that Mars is a perfectionist, and during the making of the album, performances in the studio were played countless times until they felt they had it right. I didn't know Anderson .Paak prior to this album, and now I'm particularly fond of his drumming style. This is likely a one-of-a-kind release, but it would be great if Silk Sonic came back with a follow-up album!
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