Favorite Music of 2021

_{by Jessie Lynn McMains}

My 12 Favorite Albums and EPs Released in 2021

Anna B Savage – A Common Turn
Soaring vocals, music that is somehow both sparse and expansive, achingly beautiful lyrics. Favorite track: Corncrakes.

Arab Strap – As Days Get Dark
Take the existential dread of some of Nick Cave’s work and mix it with a wry and decidedly Scottish sense of humor. Favorite track: Fable of the Urban Fox.

Bam Bam – Villains (Also Wear White) EP
The best proto-grunge you’ve never heard. Tina Bell was one of the best front women ever, and I’m so glad she’s finally getting her due. Favorite track: Stress.

Bridge City Sinners – Unholy Hymns
Dark folk punk with a jazzy shuffle? Satanic punkgrass? All of the above, and more. Devilish fierceness and dancing while your world burns. Favorite track: Pick Your Poison.

Buffalo Nichols – Buffalo Nichols
Classic blues from a Milwaukee-born artist. Vocals and guitar and sweet sad lyrics, with the occasional percussion or fiddle (and in one case, a full band) to round it out. Favorite track: How to Love.

GG King – Remain Intact
Very reminiscent of a lot of old school punk, without being at all derivative. There are elements of garage rock, mid-tempo hardcore, even rap. Favorite track: Cul De Sac.

Ghost Machines – Time Enough At Last EP
The new EP from Kenosha’s own hip-hop duo Ghost Machines. The words are poignant, the rhymes are clever, the beats and samples are perfect, all of it has a hard edge. Favorite track: Henry Bemis. (Pssst, they put on a great live show too, so once this CoViD nonsense abates a bit, go check ‘em out in person.)

King Woman – Celestial Blues
Beautiful doom. A distorted, heavy, theatrical story of fallen angels and feminine revenge. Favorite track: Coil.

Nancy – 7 Foot Tall Post-Suicidal Feel Good Blues
Psychedelic glam? Bizarro pop? T. Rex on hallucinogens? However you describe it, this so-called mini-LP is fucking rad. Favorite track: 7 Foot Tall Post-Suicidal Feel Good Blues.

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis – CARNAGE
Nick Cave sings poetic 21st-century prayers in search of God and love amidst the horror; Warren Ellis builds the atmosphere. These songs are dark moonbeams and rainy tears falling on a balcony at the end of the world. No easy answers, but a bit of hope despite everything. Favorite tracks: Old Time and White Elephant.

Nuha Ruby Ra – How to Move
Experimental post-punk, nearly operatic at moments. Favorite track: Run Run.

Viagra Boys – Welfare Jazz
Swedish post-punk with a distinct bent toward dirty garage rock. Favorite track: Ain’t Nice.