2021 has ended up being something more similar to 2020 than we would have liked, but at least all those great albums that many artists had saved for months began to come out. While venues and festivals regain their activity cautiously, we continue to live music, especially indoors or selfishly in our headphones. These ten albums made us feel less alone and more at peace with the world in another year of uncertainties.
‘Heaux tales’, de Jazmine Sullivan
One of the best singers of modern R&B returns, five years later, with an album loaded with heartbreak and murky desire and without a happy ending. His voice does mesmerizing pirouettes over a great retro sound. It lasts like a mini album, but it will last forever.
‘Spare ribs’, de Sleaford Mods
Far from being exhausted, the simple formula of Sleaford Mods (skeletal and hypnotic bases plus the speeches of the most successful street preacher) continues to give good results. More than good: here it reaches perhaps its highest level of excellence.
‘Cooler returns’, by Kiwi jr.
The spirit of the nineties is alive in Toronto, if we are guided by the classically indie rock flavors of Kiwi jr’s second album. But these guys also seem to be fond of The Clash’s punk and The Kinks’ pop genius. Great little catalog of hits.
‘Sometimes I might be introvert’, de Little Simz
If ‘GRAY area’ (2019) was already a complete album, its continuation is double: reflections on the intimate and the political launched from a vibrant platform of hip hop, neosoul and Afrobeat. The umpteenth confirmation of a rapper who deserves glory.
‘Happier than ever’, de Billie Eilish
Is there something more dangerous and almost always boring than fame records? In a new taste of her precocious mastery, Eilish has managed to record an enormously entertaining, surprising and intelligent one. We have ambitious pop artist for a while.
‘An overview on phenomenal nature’, de Cassandra Jenkins
The New York songwriter and singer reacted to the suicide of her friend and collaborator David Berman (aka Silver Jews) with this meditation on life and mortality in the form of evanescent but always dynamic ambient-folk-jazz. Brief wonder.
‘Promises’, de Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra
This collaboration between electronic producer Sam Shepherd, jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra was mostly recorded in the face of the pandemic, but it seems like an enveloping and therapeutic response to global pain.
‘Call me if you get lost’, de Tyler, The Creator
Tyler Gregory Okonma’s most purely hip hop record in quite some time is a display of powerful flow, but also a reminder that in rap today, being vulnerable is not frowned upon. It is, at the same time, the punch and the wound.
‘Ignorance’, de The Weather Station
Tamara Lindeman has surprised locals and strangers with this elegant cross between art-pop, folk and jazz around the climatic urgency. Songs like ‘Tried to tell you’ (very Tom Betty) and ‘Atlantic’ are instant classics. Well, ten o’clock is.
Or how to be consistent with your own style (the same slowness, the same mysticism) and, at the same time, break all expectations. The voices of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker sound purer than ever against a controlled chaos of overwhelming distortion.
Related news
The list of the best international albums of the year has been drawn up with the votes of Jordi Bianciotto, Ignasi Fortuny, Juan Manuel Freire, Julián García and Rafael Tapounet
Reference-www.elperiodico.com