At the end of each year, we are bombarded by “best of” lists wrapping up every possible category of consumption: movies, songs, concerts, TV shows, tech gadgets, Amazon lists, and so on. While many people like seeing how their own choices compare to the public at large, I don’t normally do that. You see, I am a bit odd. (Pause while the OC Music News staff chuckles and says, “A ‘bit’ odd?”)
I openly admit to not being a “normal” music consumer. I tend to stick to my own music library or a few channels on Sirius/XM. I do not listen to terrestrial radio in the car (one of the many things I miss about CA!), so getting new music to my ears is a challenge. I did make some purchases of new releases in 2021, although they are pretty much artists I already love: Dave Gahan and Soulsavers, “Imposter;” Foo Fighters, “Medicine at Midnight;” Information Society, “ODDfellows;” Martin Gore, “The Third Chimpanzee;” and yes, Taylor Swift, “Red – Taylor’s Version.”
In an effort to expand our libraries, let’s take a glance at some of the popular “best of charts” for 2021 and make sure we (ok, me) didn’t miss anything.
Rolling Stone
1. Olivia Rodrigo “Sour”
2. Adele “30”
3. Rauw Alejandro “Vice Versa”
4. Tyler, the Creator “Call Me If You Get Lost”
5. Lucy Dacus “Home Video”
6. Lil Nas X “Montero”
7. Jazmine Sullivan “Heaux Tales”
8. Turnstile “Glow On”
9. C. Tangana “El Madrileño”
10. Japanese Breakfast “Jubilee”
Billboard
1. Morgan Wallen “Dangerous: The Double Album”
2. Olivia Rodrigo “Sour”
3. Pop Smoke “Shoot For the Stars Aim for the Moon”
4. Taylor Swift “Evermore”
5. Drake “Certified Lover Boy”
6. The Kid LAROI “F*ck Love”
7. Luke Combs “What You See Is What You Get”
8. Ariana Grande “Positions”
9. Dua Lipa “Future Nostalgia”
10. Lil Baby “My Turn”
Loudwire
1. Spiritbox “Eternal Blue”
2. Every Time I Die “Radical”
3. Turnstile “Glow On”
4. Limp Bizkit “Still Sucks”
5. Iron Maiden”Senjutsu”
6. The Pretty Reckless “Death by Rock and Roll”
7. Holding Absence “The Greatest Mistake of My Life”
8. Helloween “Helloween”
9. Architects “For Those That Wish to Exist”
10. Gojira “Fortitude”
Pitchfork
1. Jazmine Sullivan “Heaux Tales”
2. L’Rain “Fatigue”
3. Tyler, the Creator “Call Me If You Get Lost”
4. Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / The London Symphony Orchestra “Promises”
5. Low “HEY WHAT”
6. Turnstile “Glow On”
7. The Weather Station “Ignorance”
8. Mdou Moctar “Afrique Victime”
9. Playboi Carti “Whole Lotta Red”
10. Dry Cleaning “New Long Leg”
Album of the Year.Org
1. Radiohead “KID A MNESIA”
2. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis “CARNAGE”
3. Taylor Swift “Red (Taylor’s Version)”
4. Bob Dylan “The Bootleg Series Vol. 16: Springtime in New York (1980-1985)”
5. Wolf Alice “Blue Weekend”
6. Biffy Clyro “The Myth of the Happily Ever After”
7. Waterparks “Greatest Hits”
8. Squid “Bright Green Field”
9. Can “Live in Stuttgart 1975”
10. Genghis Tron “Dream Weapon”
While there are some repeats, it does appear that 2021 offered a whole helluva lot of new music. While we wait for the newest drops of 2022, work your way through these options and perhaps you’ll find something new to love!
