Here is my list of Top 20 Albums of 2021. I hope you will discover some cool stuff to expand your music spectrum.
I used be extremely stressed in the past, I am not able to cover every new release within a multiple genres. My older colleagues in magazines were pushing us younger journalists to study legends, while at the same keep track of the new stuff, as it was “our turn now”. After some time, I realized, it would kill me, to keep this pace. I am gladly checking tips from my friends, still checking lists of musicians/magazines and friends, whose taste I respect. But at the end of the day, the core are things I know. The rest is a bonus. In these yearly lists I place only the albums, I truly believe in. There could be a new album from my most favorite artist, but if it was not good enough, compared to the others, you will not find it here. Last year’s list btw here.
Short list of the top 20 albums of 2021:
01 – Flying Lotus – Yasuke
02 – BadBadNotGood – Talk Memory
03 – Wardruna – Kvitravn
04 – Mansur Brown – My Prayer
05 – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden’s Gate
06 – Floex – Papetura Soundtrack
07 – Tall Black Guy – Airplane Mode
08 – Mac Ayres – Magic 8ball
09 – Lonely The Brave – The Hope List
10 – Gojira – Fortitude
11 – Mastodon – Hushed and Grim
12 – Sinks – Sinks
13 – Kayo Dot – Moss Grew on the Swords and Plowshares Alike
14 – Alora Crucible – Thymiamatascension
15 – Jaf 34 – Empty
16 – Zorba že ja Buddha – Organ Chaos
17 – Amenra – De Doorn
18 – Gretchen Parlato – Flor
19 – Iron Maiden – Senjutsu
20 – Deafheaven – Infinite Granite
01 – Flying Lotus – Yasuke
To be honest, I am far from being an expert on Flying Lotus discography. I came across him through Thundercat, I follow for a couple of years now. But from the first moment I heard soundtrack for Yasuke, including Thundercat’s guest vocals in one track, I was fascinated with this collection of tracks used for Netflix anime series. That’s actually a huge paradox. I was never a fan of anime. I saw bits and pieces through my friends, but I never watched it before. After being obsessed with the soundtrack for weeks and months, I decided to watch it. Suddenly those ambient masterpieces as well as energetic rollercoasters made even more sense. “It’s not the best anime. It’s quite solid, but the soundtrack is really good. You have chosen a good thing to start with,” said one of my good friends, an expert in this genre. It didn’t convince me to check other anime series and movies, but I got a red vinyl edition for Christmas and I will gladly fully dive into Flying Lotus discography.
02 – BadBadNotGood – Talk Memory
I discovered this Canadian progressive jazz band through Spotify recommendations and a live track called Putty Boy Strut. Funny enough, it’s actually a Flying Lotus cover. Since then I gladly invested many hours checking works of this band as well as side projects of their saxophone player Leland Whitty. I especially love his guest solos on albums of Canadian singer Charlotte Day Wilson. Check mainly the track called Funeral. They studied jazz, but became extremely respected as a studio band for hip hop icons. They also continuously managed to build a strong position with their own albums, especially in 2016 with album IV. However, their latest album Talk Memory presents them as extremely mature band with breathtaking capabilities and a taste for arrangements, melodies, strong structure and minimalism at the same time. Next to phenomenal album, check also their videos, as they prepared with guest directors, video for each track. Next to Signal From The Noise, my most favorite is Talk Meaning.
Interview coming soon
One hour profile about Leland in Czech here
Extensive Spotify playlist on Leland’s works here
03 – Wardruna – Kvitravn
Another proof of matureness is the latest album by Norwegian institution Wardruna. Well, they actually don’t have to proof anything to anyone for many years, but it’s amazing to see how they are keeping their position on today’s music scene and strengthening it. I had an honor to interview band’s mastermind Einar for Czech TV Seznam in Prague, before their sold-out show in Lucerna 2019. I did another interview over Zoom early 2021 before their stream live show First Flight of the White Raven, where we spoke about not only about the stream, but about their new album Kvitravn as well as studying historical instruments, spending more time in nature because of the pandemic and tribal music of various cultures.
Interview in English here, including a link on Czech version
04 – Mansur Brown – My Prayer
If I had to mention one guitar player that fascinates me the most for the past couple of years, it would be London based guitarist Mansur Brown. His early cooperations with Yussef Dayes are simply incredible and their epic song Love is the Message which they recorded with a keyboard player Alfa Mist and a bass player Rocco Palladino is honestly my the most favorite track for a number of years. Mansur’s solo work builds on these experiences but it’s even more ambient, including electronic and gentle hip hop elements. After phenomenal debut album Shiroi from 2018 he released new album Heiwa. It shows some impressive progress within arrangements as a very mature artist. There are again bouncy/semi dancy elements but he is a master in mindful ambient tracks supported with his very specific guitar sound. Mansur is very religious and ends every social media status with “god bless”. In his music, same as in the videos, you can feel that peace and invitation for an extremely relaxing and enhancing experience. God bless you Mansur.
05 – Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden’s Gate
I dare to assume majority of rock fans around the world already heard about those guys, who sound as a reincarnated Led Zeppelin. This was a thought associated with their first releases and especially a track called Highway Tune. But to be honest, my interest was pretty much lost with a first full length album called Anthem of the Peaceful Army released after their two EPs. I was so proud to see they managed to work more on their own sound and how much they progressed within arrangements. The Battle at Garden’s Gate is a massive album. Especially the second half with longer and melancholic tracks.
06 – Floex – Papetura Soundtrack
I have a huge respect for the works of Tomáš Dvořák aka Floex and I am happy his popularity is global. I will never forget how much a guitarist of Indian ambient metal band Skyharbor – Keshav Dhar was complimenting his works mainly for the game Machinarium. Since then he prepared numerous soundtracks for well-respected games (Machinarium, Samorost series) and his own works. One of the latest releases is a soundtrack for a handcrafted puzzle adventure game made of paper called Papetura made by Polish developer Tomasz Ostafin.
Interview with Tomasz here
07 – Tall Black Guy – Airplane Mode
The first time I heard about this artist was through a review on a platform called cream.cz which has very often similar taste as me within modern smooth jazz. Tall Black Guy’s album Airplane Mode is an ideal for fans of Robert Glasper and modern R’n’B. Actually cream.cz does a better job is describing the album. “I thought this album will be quite melancholic, as I know he was getting divorced and moving from England back to US. After a couple of rotations, I rather feel energy and hope. Next to it, Airplane Mode has a clear message. Throw your phone into an airplane mode, listen to it and go with the flow,” says a reviewer which same as me respect included inspirational quotes on the album. My most favorite track is a piece, which is also present on Japanese trumpet player Takuya Kuroda’s release. In his case it’s called: R.S.B.D (TBG Rise And Fall Remix).
Extensive Spotify playlist on Takuya’s works here
08 – Mac Ayres – Magic 8ball
American R&B singer and multi-instrumentalist Mac Ayres is one of my greatest discoveries over Spotify ever. His debut album Drive Slow from 2017 was a massive discovery and longtime addiction. It was a huge surprise as it expanded my rock/metal horizons. It clicked with my 80’s obsession and showed me that quality R&B/soul could work for me. I love all of his works, even though it sometimes takes some time. His latest Magic 8ball album is the similar case, as I love only a few tracks so far, but it grows over time. Never Let Me Go was an instant click though.
09 – Lonely The Brave – The Hope List
Lonely The Brave is one of the most talented, yet no so know, rock bands on the scene right now. I discovered them in 2014 on Rock Im Park festival in Germany. I always check the whole line-up and I must say, I fell in love with their music instantly. However not so many did they homework and there was about a dozen of us, in the really early phase of the second or third day program. I love every track on their debut album The Day’s War and I must say, I was digging every single they were releasing from their latest third album The Hope List. I was sorry to hear they parted ways with vocalist David Jakes, but Jack Bennett is doing a great job as well.
10 – Gojira – Fortitude
Masters of the genre and the top metal class.
TOP 11 – 20
11 – Mastodon – Hushed and Grim
What we would do without Mastodon? Thank you for being here with us. Another impressive phase of their unique sound.
12 – Sinks – Sinks
I fell in love with this Czech post punk, noise rock band as soon as I saw a live video for their song Professor T. Many of their earlier tracks seemed I was listening to a street punk British band. Amazing energy and F*ck You attitude. On their full length debut, they mainly showed a taste for dark atmospheric rock sound. Very psychedelic single Serotonin is an instant click.
13 – Kayo Dot – Moss Grew on the Swords and Plowshares Alike
Some of the most innovative and interesting avant-garde metal on the music scene. Nothing new for you, if you know about. I am a fan since Coffins on Io album. As usual, it’s necessary to find time for this piece of art.
14 – Alora Crucible – Thymiamatascension
After the challenging, yet useful mind trip with Kayo Dot a well-deserved break is needed. And it works perfectly. This album is so peaceful, beautiful and brings amazing level of peace after the rollercoaster. Applicable anytime. And to be honest, I am coming back to this a lot lately.
15 – Jaf 34 – Empty
Very unique phenomenon on Czech music scene. This musician, painter and a graphic designer is hiding under a mask and name Jaf 34. He provides with incredible lightness great ambient sound, inspirational messages through lyrics & videos and very natural connection on the personal level. He approached me some time ago and his music and philosophy clicked with me instantly. Next to it, he even provided a video message for the participants of my music presentations. This message, supported by an impressive video for a track called Light, helped him to win the first place in the final voting in Pilsen and great score in other locations. I said he is “hiding” at the beginning, but to make this project even more mysterious and cool, he organized a single live show in October and ended this project. Good luck on your journey my friend.
16 – Zorba že ja Buddha – Organ Chaos
Late 2020 I joined the team of Český Rozhlas jazz radio, where I am doing my best to catch up with the legends of the genre and follow the young generation at the same time. Just recently, I was offered to check the second album of an alternative jazz project Zorba že ja Buddha. It’s a band including a big number of very talented young musicians lead by a Czech bass player Ondřej Hauser (Prago Union) and a Slovakian singer Ashley Sarah Abrman (The High Corporation). It’s fascinating how the modern jazz can sound. These guys can offer even a very melodic/even pop melody but extremely strong and honest, and mainly supported by very busy jazz instrumental base.
Our interview in Czech here
17 – Amenra – De Doorn
Since I discovered Cult Of Luna’s Mariner album, they became one of the most important bands for my mind wellness. It’s sometimes very hard to explain it to the general public, but that darkness and intensity is having incredibly positive effect on my mind. Same compliments go to Amenra, which I also heard for the first time a couple of years ago, but just lately I fully understood their power, after my system was prepared by Cult Of Luna. It’s hard to explain, but fascinating and beautiful, if you are able to connect to that level of intensity and darkness. But I don’t consider it scary or related to some lame horror movies. I feel an absolute honesty and emotions expressed to the core. I always remember a quote from Interstellar: “Cooper: You don’t think nature can be evil? Brand: No. Formidable, frightening, but… no, not evil.” With this sort of music I imagine the power of physics and nature. Mainly the energy in the black hole or the powers of our planet (conditions in the core, strength of roots or a power of elements). Next to it, I went recently to see their acoustic live show. Local promoter Obscure Promotion wrote a FB status: “This might be the last show of the fall season. Please come to support us.” I didn’t hesitate for a second. It’s was pure beauty and so much needed by the local fans. All of us in Amenra, Cult Of Luna, Tool t-shirts and afraid to clap, not to ruin the mood. So powerful.
18 – Gretchen Parlato – Flor
Gretchen Parlato was another jazz icon I had an honor to interview and prepare one hour Jazz Profile about. She is probably the most respected female jazz singer on the music scene. Next to numerous solo albums, she participated on nearly a hundred albums. Additionally, her husband is a drummer Mark Guiliana, who was cooperating with David Bowie. Therefore I have chosen a track from her latest album Flor, where Gretchen and her band, including Mark, covered a track from David Bowie’s EP No Plan. A new version of the title track includes a breathtaking cello solo by Artyom Manukyan from Armenia.
One our profile about Gretchen in Czech here
19 – Iron Maiden – Senjutsu
Since Brave New World album, nothing can beat that benchmark, but it’s always great to check their albums and rely on their expertise, level and class. At first, I always feel little bit disappointed that I am getting a slightly different version from the earlier tracks, but they are still great and I appreciate each new album with more listens.
20 – Deafheaven – Infinite Granite
Sound progress of Deafheaven is fascinating. I always had a huge respect for them as they fitted for me into the “power of physics” category I mentioned with Cult Of Luna or Amenra. I will never forget the power of their sound live in Hellfest 2017. Therefore I was very positively surprised when I heard on their latest album bigger than even portion of shoegaze sound, which was to some extend partially always present in their music. As I appreciate this genre due to The Sundays, Whirr, DIIV and many other bands, it was a very natural click, not only because of their great arrangements taste.
More albums to check from: Emma Ruth Rundle – Engine Of Hell, Mathias Eick – When We Leave, Alexis Marshall – House of Lull . House of When, Tom Misch – Quarantine Sessions, R+R=Now – Live, Cult Of Luna – The Raging River EP, Tremonti – Marching In Time, David Stypka – Dýchej, Ewa Farna – Umami, Moonstone – 1904 EP, Low – Hey What, Jon Batiste – We Are, There’s a Light – For What May I Hope? For What Must We Hope?
All the best in 2022!
