Music: Best Albums of 2021

plank

Registered User
Aug 26, 2008
5,197
2,166
Long Dark Blues
Time for the annual thread to discuss what new music you're looking forward to, what you're currently digging and ultimately what are your favorite albums of '21.

"I've got a feeling twenty-one
Is going to be a good year
Especially if you and me
See it in together"
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thucydides

plank

Registered User
Aug 26, 2008
5,197
2,166
Long Dark Blues
I have pre-orders in for "Speed, Sound, Lonely" by Kurt Vile(1/15/21) and "Cuttin' Grass Vol. 2" by Sturgill Simpson(3/30/21). Both of these have been out digitally so I'm not sure if they will officially be considered 2020 or 2021 releases.
Looking forward to new albums from Heartless Bastards and Strand of Oaks. Here's a list from Stereogum:
The 101 Most Anticipated Albums Of 2021
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thucydides

Thucydides

Registered User
Dec 24, 2009
8,153
845
Had no idea Kurt Vile had a new EP out.

I think 2021 is going to be a HUGE year for music .

looking forward to the new war on drugs , kacey musgraves, deafheaven, wrens, weyes blood , and snail mail.

I love that there is always albums that come out nowhere and really surprise as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: plank

plank

Registered User
Aug 26, 2008
5,197
2,166
Long Dark Blues
With the uncertainty around when artists can start touring again I'm curious to see if the number of releases are up or down this year. I would think they would be more prolific with all the down time but do you sit on an album until late in the year or maybe even next year so you can support it's release with a tour?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thucydides

Thucydides

Registered User
Dec 24, 2009
8,153
845
Yeah good question . I was thinking the same thing . Most bands make their money from touring and a new record would definitely get more people into venues .

do you catch much live music plank ?
 

plank

Registered User
Aug 26, 2008
5,197
2,166
Long Dark Blues
Yeah good question . I was thinking the same thing . Most bands make their money from touring and a new record would definitely get more people into venues .

do you catch much live music plank ?

I don't go to many shows or concerts but I think I might like to go more once this shit runs it's course. I do buy 20-30 new releases a year plus other albums from earlier years. I like to have the physical copy(usually a CD) and I feel if someone is giving me some enjoyment and entertainment I should at least give them a few bucks in return.

How about you, get out to many shows?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thucydides

Roo Returns

Skjeikspeare No More
Mar 4, 2010
9,255
4,783
Westchester, NY
Confirmed for 2021:

Viagra Boys-Their new album comes out next Friday. A fun punk/post-punk group from Sweden

Foo Fighters-Out in February. Never been a huge Foo guy and I think Grohl is too over saturated in the media but it's cool they're doing something. It will bring many people joy.

Should be out/seen in the studio:

KEN Mode-Post punk/noise/metal from Winnipeg. If Bleach-era Nirvana were to meet Converge. They are mixing.

Hollie Cook-Reggae Singer and daughter of The Sex Pistol's Paul Cook. Three excellent albums. Number four on the way.

Crosses-A Chino Moreno side project that just released a new single.

Xenia Rubinos-New single was released a few months ago. Has been in the studio on IG.

Hiatus Kaiyote-Third album has been done for a minute they've just not released it because if they can't tour, they won't make money. A lot went on between the second album which was almost six years ago. It's done and hopefully it can be out soon. They're working on album four already.

Writing/seen in studio/given updates to the press:

Dead Cross-Mike Patton-led with members of Slayer and The Locust. After the Bungle record was released, Patton said he was working on a follow-up album with this group.

Guns N Roses-Apparently they have been working on something per Slash. Curious if it's just Axl/Slash/Duff or they get some input from Izzy and Steven.

Red Hot Chili Peppers-They've been rehearsing and writing often during the pandemic. Unless they're ready to go into a studio in Q1 I'd say the odds of it coming out next year are probably 20%. The record label is going to want to be very precise with that release.

Metallica-They're writing. Much like their former management mates RHCP I'd say the odds a new album is out next year are like 10%. They take a very long time to make an album and the label is going to want to release it most likely when people can attend shows again.
 

plank

Registered User
Aug 26, 2008
5,197
2,166
Long Dark Blues
Good info Roo!

I noticed this:
Hiatus Kaiyote-Third album has been done for a minute they've just not released it because if they can't tour, they won't make money.

What's your opinion on what I posted earlier about bands/artists not putting out albums until they know when they can get back on the road?
 

Saturated Fats

This is water
Jan 24, 2007
4,299
769
Vancouver/Edinburgh
A lot of festivals are scheduling in for the coming summer. I don't think they can afford another summer off. I'd bank on the big dogs hitting the road, even if the shows are somewhat modified. Likewise with the festivals.
 

plank

Registered User
Aug 26, 2008
5,197
2,166
Long Dark Blues
Most acts can't afford another summer off but they might not have a choice. Between the new covid strain in the UK and the problems here in the US and elsewhere I see next fall as best case scenario for even limited capacity shows.
 

Roo Returns

Skjeikspeare No More
Mar 4, 2010
9,255
4,783
Westchester, NY
Good info Roo!

I noticed this:
Hiatus Kaiyote-Third album has been done for a minute they've just not released it because if they can't tour, they won't make money.

What's your opinion on what I posted earlier about bands/artists not putting out albums until they know when they can get back on the road?

It's all based on if the bands can keep an income stream or not. Bands like RHCP/Metallica/GNR are all corporations and only put out albums because they want to challenge themselves or make new music, they don't have to. And I love all those bands.

Hiatus Kaiyote had a unique situation; the band released Choose Your Weapon in 2015, toured, then the members all did side projects during the 2017-2018 period and they started working on their third album when the lead singer/guitarist was diagnosed with breast cancer and got a mastectomy in late 2018. They resumed the recording in 2019 and did a small tour and were finishing the album prepping for a tour with a few shows here and there (I saw them in late-2019) when covid hit.

They're not big enough to release an album as a single source of income but were on their way there so for them it makes sense to hold out until they can tour and promote it. They've been doing private streams and various side projects again but they haven't reached an agreement with Warner Publishing on when to release the album yet.

I hope it can come out at some point in 2020 it should. That band had so much momentum (think any of the big alternative bands circa 1989-90 about a year and change before the fall of 1991 explosion).
 
  • Like
Reactions: plank

Pranzo Oltranzista

Registered User
Oct 18, 2017
3,826
2,673
I don't go to many shows or concerts but I think I might like to go more once this shit runs it's course. I do buy 20-30 new releases a year plus other albums from earlier years. I like to have the physical copy(usually a CD) and I feel if someone is giving me some enjoyment and entertainment I should at least give them a few bucks in return.

How about you, get out to many shows?

Used to see lots of shows, seen Zorn, Patton approx a dozen times each, I've seen a little of everything, Godspeed, Dillinger, Bright Eyes... Used to buy a lot of albums too, so much that in the last few weeks I had to get rid of 300+ of them (no more space here). Now, I'm good with trying to find decent mp3s.
 

Thucydides

Registered User
Dec 24, 2009
8,153
845
I don't go to many shows or concerts but I think I might like to go more once this shit runs it's course. I do buy 20-30 new releases a year plus other albums from earlier years. I like to have the physical copy(usually a CD) and I feel if someone is giving me some enjoyment and entertainment I should at least give them a few bucks in return.

How about you, get out to many shows?

i was starting to go to a few live shows in the last few years and hope to continue once this COVID crap ends . Being on the east coast of Canada only a few odd bands come here , so it’s usually a commitment to drive to either Montreal or Portland , Maine.

I’m the same way about albums I like , but maybe buy 1-3 per year . You must have a huge collection now?
 
  • Like
Reactions: plank

beowulf

Not a nice guy.
Jan 29, 2005
59,361
8,958
Ottawa
So far anticipating the new Foo Fighters album. With the lockdowns and lack of live shows in 2020 I have a feeling 2021 will have a number if surprise albums as bands worked on new material in lieu of live shows.
 

Thucydides

Registered User
Dec 24, 2009
8,153
845
So far anticipating the new Foo Fighters album. With the lockdowns and lack of live shows in 2020 I have a feeling 2021 will have a number if surprise albums as bands worked on new material in lieu of live shows.

with the amount of time they hopefully had to work on their albums , 2021 could shape up one of the best release years in music in the last how many years ? There should be something for everyone.
 

plank

Registered User
Aug 26, 2008
5,197
2,166
Long Dark Blues
i was starting to go to a few live shows in the last few years and hope to continue once this COVID crap ends . Being on the east coast of Canada only a few odd bands come here , so it’s usually a commitment to drive to either Montreal or Portland , Maine.

I’m the same way about albums I like , but maybe buy 1-3 per year . You must have a huge collection now?

If you're ever really bored or having trouble sleeping you can browse my collection.
Check out 46plank's music collection on Discogs
 

plank

Registered User
Aug 26, 2008
5,197
2,166
Long Dark Blues
I’ll check this out. Edit - how long have you been collecting ? This is a huge collection lol

I starting buying CD's in the late 80's, mostly classic rock from the 60's and 70's. Maybe around '07 bought a computer which opened me up to a ton of new music and ways to buy it. The last couple of years I've also been collecting early(83-87) pressing CD's. Don't know if you're familiar with "target" CD's.
R-3499039-1332816013.jpeg.jpg

Keith Hirsch's CD Resource » Target CDs
 

Thucydides

Registered User
Dec 24, 2009
8,153
845


I’m not into xiu xiu anymore but this song featuring “grouper” is the best song they have put out in a long time, IMO.
 

Thucydides

Registered User
Dec 24, 2009
8,153
845


listened to their new album, painting the roses, this morning on a walk. They are on my radar now. Lots of good songs . Here’s one of them.
 

ItsFineImFine

Registered User
Aug 11, 2019
3,534
2,263
I've got two to listen to from January.....2nd album by Goat Girl (UK indie band) and 2nd album by Radio Supernova (Finnish shoegaze band). Both have good reveiws so far, seem good on first listen.

edit: Might give The Anchoress' new album a listen. Her past ones didn't have good reviews but she has some singles I like and her voice is butter smooth, I think she has a contralto range or something.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Thucydides

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

-->