The best albums of 2021
I like music. I listen to it all of the time.
It soundtracks my day as I beaver away which is why this is one of my favourite blog posts each year. I enjoy being reminded of my listening habits during the last 12 months.
Perennial favourites Nick Cave, William Doyle, Elbow and Public Service Broadcasting return with yet another new release worthy of inclusion. Twice in Nick Cave’s case.
Exciting new band Black Country, New Road are here for the first time. Saint Etienne haven’t troubled me with a good new album for perhaps 25 years, but this year they have returned. As does Tricky in the form of Lonely Guest.
Gigs have made a welcome return. Each and everyone have given me a natural high. The attitude of Fontaines D.C, the inventive Public Service Broadcasting, the energy of Jon Hopkins, the brilliance of William Doyle and the haunting beauty of the Paraorchestra playing Gorecki’s Symphony No.3 in Bath Abbey.
Public Service Broadcasting at the O2 Academy, Bristol. October 2021.
In no particular order…
… here are my favourite albums of 2021.
‘Carnage’ by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
‘Great Spans of Muddy Time’ by William Doyle
‘Immigrants’ by Nitin Sawhney
‘For the First Time’ by Black Country, New Road
‘Bright Magic’ by Public Service Broadcasting
‘Flying Dream 1’ by Elbow
‘I've Been Trying to Tell You’ by Saint Etienne
‘Lonely Guest’ by Lonely Guest & Tricky
‘Monument’ by Portico Quartet
‘In Quiet Moments’ by Lost Horizons
‘B-sides & Rarities’ by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
‘The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows’ by Damon Albarn
