2021 The Albums: Top 10

via GIPHY

2021's League of Their Own Pick
 

It is that time of the year again, our favorite time actually, as we look back on the year in music and select the 10 best albums of the year.

10) Black Midi - Cavalcade

9) One Trick Phony - V

8) BLK JKS - Abantu / Before Humans

7) Tyler, The Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost

6) Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg

5) Halsey - If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power

4) Shame - Drunk Tank Pink

3) Viagra Boys - Welfare Jazz

2) J. Cole - The Off-Season

1) Deafheaven - Infinite Granite

 See 2021's Honorable Album Mentions

10) Black Midi - Cavalcade

After shocking audiences around the world with their 2019 debut, the four English young men return with a much tighter, intricate and often times mature album of mind bending speeds, sounds, and brutality. It is a record will have indie fans looking into metal and metal fans looking into indie music. 

9) One Trick Phony - V

One Trick Phony is the best band you have not heard. Starting in 2020, One Trick Phony mastermind Dave Blanchard created five albums since the start of quarantine. All of those records were different from one another but all led up to the culmination of V, his best and most insightful work. The album is a film score set to the soundtrack of your current life. Each song is an escape to a montage of various times in your life as you try and push for a better tomorrow. 

8) BLK JKS - Abantu / Before Humans

 One of the most exciting bands to ever emerge from South Africa returns for the first time in over a decade with the long awaited Abantu / Before Humans. Their sophomore record picks up where their fantastic debut, After Robots, left off but ushers us into a new era of their musical world that combines rock, funk, jazz, traditional South African styles and even at points metal. This is more than just a record but a universal offering leaving us in hopes that it doesn't take over another decade for new music. 

7) Tyler, The Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost

Tyler comes of age in his best album since his emphatic debut a decade ago. Call Me If You Get Lost is the most candid, most open, and most powerful look inside the mind of one of the biggest creative forces in music today. With production contributions from Jamie xx, and lyrical collaborations with Pharrell, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Wayne and Domo Genesis, this album packs a serious punch and makes us look forward to what is in store next. 

 

 

6) Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg

The British quartet had one of the best videos of the decade thanks to "Scratch Card Lanyard," but their debut proved they were much more than just innovative video creators with a catchy tune. New Long Leg is a very cool, very slick talk rock record that feels like you are in the coolest London or Manchester pub listening to a band that is about to do some really interesting things. 

 

5) Halsey - If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power

Halsey is mainly known for pop hooks and chart topping tunes so when a collaboration album with Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross turned up this year, it was unexpected for everyone. The record is not only Halsey's finest hour but is a force of power that makes you wonder if this is what Trent was trying to do with How to Destroy Angels or is this where he wants to shift the focus of NIN, with powerful vocals and storylines that are not from him. What an absolute tour de force that was easily the most exciting and unexpected record of the year. 

 

4) Shame - Drunk Tank Pink

Punk in 2021 was a different thing but Shame brought out the best in it and had us bouncing in apartments, homes, and our own spaces waiting for live music to return. Drunk Tank Pink is an in your face, unforgiving, unapologetic smack in the head we all need. 

3) Viagra Boys - Welfare Jazz

The Swedish punks returned with their finest album which contained a mix of raw power, country music, and even folk mixed together to show the world that being left of center is much more than just tattoos and attitude, it is a way of life. One hell of a record that only left us exhausted but hitting the replay button again and again. 

2) J. Cole - The Off-Season

One of this generations greatest emcees returned with a powerful record that is rumored to be his last and if it is, J. Cole goes out on a high note. The Off-Season is the rare record that features other folks on tracks but also is him going full court press to the doubters that he is and was the real deal. An aggressive rap record with a lot of heart, if Rocky was an emcee, this would be the result. 

1) Deafheaven - Infinite Granite 

Deafheaven are known for their brutal screaming, black metal influence and sounds, pulse pounding drums, breakneck rhythms but what happens when they put most of that away? The result is a record that lives in the ethos of great bands like Depeche Mode, Deftones, Nine Inch Nails, Nitzer Ebb, among others. It is a cross between goth and new wave as well as industrial while giving fans a mature outlook as to what this band can do when they expand their minds, chops, and creativity. The most surprisingly and powerful record of 2021 might also be the most polarizing but that is what also makes it so damn intriguing and leaves you wanting to hear it again.

Nine Inch Nails Announce New EP

 

Nine Inch Nails will release the third part of their EP series which began in 2016 with Not The Actual Events, then followed by 2017's Add Violence, and will release Bad Witch on June 22.  

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:

01 Shit Mirror
02 Ahead of Ourselves
03 Play the Goddamned Part
04 God Break Down the Door
05 I’m Not From This World
06 Over and out

Playlist

Our 27-song December playlist is here. Take a listen to our random musical musings for the month on Spotify.

Playlist

Here is our October playlist featuring 25 random musical musings. Take a listen to it on Spotify.

QUICK SPINS

Brand New – Science Fiction

There are a select batch of artists that turn the release of a record into an event – Radiohead, Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, Jay Z, Kanye West, and Long Island emo survivors Brand New. The quartet have been cryptic with fans about the release of what is said to be their final record for years and earlier this month, they surprised everyone with Science Fiction. The record, peppered in personal and powerful undertones of surviving a scene, getting old, figuring out your life and wanting to leave a legacy behind has been rolled up into Science Fiction. Eight years after they released Daisy, Brand New have once again reinvented their sound with a less aggressive and more mature style that shows how full circle their progress has come since their 2001 debut, the essential pop-punk listening of Your Favorite Weapon. Science Fiction is a band trying to destroy the identity of the band they once were by becoming something they always wanted – an art rock band.

FINAL GRADE: A

Listen to Our Essential Brand New Playlist on Spotify 

Queens of the Stone Age  - Villains

The world’s favorite stoner rockers return with record chock-full-of groovy rhythms, slick rock and roll, and catchy tunes. With Mark Ronson behind the decks as the sole producer of Villains, the British DJ and artist helps bring the uptown funk to the California dessert as he and Queens keep their fingerprint on a whole new sound. While it isn’t a total 180, they remain true to themselves while daring to take a bold new step that works perfectly.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Nine Inch Nails – Add Violence EP

The second of three planned EPs for 2017, Trent Renzor releases what might be the more aggressive of the three and throws back a punch that has not been heard since With Teeth-era NIN.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Listen To Our Essential Nine Inch Nails Playlist on Spotify

Tyler, The Creator – Flower Boy

The former Odd Future ringleader returns with his most personal, private, and autobiographical record to date. Since the release of his outstanding Goblin, in 2011, Tyler, has been slowly revealing who he is to the world, now, with Flower Boy, it fully blossoms. He confronts himself about his sexuality, who he is as an artist, and how it is time to grow up.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Grizzly Bear – Painted Ruins

The low-fi indie rock favorites with a record that has more of a pulse than some of their previous efforts and that is thanks to part to some actual upbeat songs and not just an album filled with moody harmonies and dark undertones.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Gogol Bordello – Seekers and Finders

In the age of Donald Trump and Theresa May, where anyone who was not born in their respective countries needs to get out – here comes Gogol Bordello to once again remind us the importance of immigrants, other cultures, and creeds. The gypsy punks have just put out what could be their most important record and a weapon in the fight against ugly nationalism while still sounding as if they are having the time of their lives. Like other releases from the band, it is a party and learning experience.

FINAL GRADE: B+

EMA – Exile in the Outer Ring

On her third record, EMA, pushes herself and the sounds she has crafted on her own to find herself going into a deep, mysterious, unknown rabbit hole of creativity and curiosity.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Ghostpoet – Dark Days and Canapés

The tender and timid British electro singer releases what we like to call an “end of the night” record for the summer. After coming home from a night out, this is one that you want to put on and unwind to while having a nightcap. The soulful and blip-filled disc continues to make Ghostpoet one of the more interesting and underrated artists out there today.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Unkle – The Road

After seven years away, the mysterious and intense electronic group are back with help from Primal Scream’s Andrew Innes, Queen of the Stone Age’s Troy Van Leeuwan, Dhani Harrison, Mark Lanegan, ESKA, Keaton Henson, and the Duke Spirit’s Liela Moss. The Road is a journey through space and time and our captains are Unkle.

FINAL GRADE: B

Dead Cross

The self-titled debut album from the supergroup containing Mike Patton, Dave Lombardo, and Retox’s Justin Pearson, Michael Crain, is a as straight forward as it gets for someone like the Faith No More front man. However, adding the other monsters to the mix makes the record worth listening to.

FINAL GRADE: B

Iron and Wine – Beast Epic

The singer / songwriter is back with a new collection of songs that just extends his vast and solid catalogue.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Rainer Maria

The self-titled reunion record from the indie heroes is a safe return to form and will certainly make old fans happy to hear new tracks.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Guided By Voices – How Do You Spell Heaven

The second release of 2017 from the indie rock titans at first came out as a surprise since earlier this year they put out the very good and very long double album, August by Cake. Now, the quick follow-up is How Do You Spell Heaven, which continues the legacy of this band that does not want to stop but it might just be too much music for one year.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Washed Out- Mister Mellow

The shoegaze artist is back with a record that is perfect for the last days of summer. As anxiety about school, work, and the fall, heats up, this is an album that will help you mellow out.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Big Boi – Boomiverse

The Outkast rapper returns with a new solo record that is a solid effort and a bit middle of the road. Boomiverse has decent beats and rhymes from the hip-hop icon as well as special guests Killer Mike, Gucci Maine, Adam Levine and production from Organized Noise and Scott Storch, it falls flat in the age of young guns like Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, and Vince Staples.

FINAL GRADE: C

TLC

The long-awaited new album from the R&B group has finally arrived and it is not very memorable. It contains the spirit of the band but lacks the unity without the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez and it might have been too long away from the scene for T-Boz and Chili to fully pull out their potential.

FINAL GRADE: C

Action Bronson – Blue Chips 7000

The Blue Chips series for Action Bronson has been some of his best material after Well Done and Bon Appetite.. Bitch, yet, since the Queens rapper has gone mainstream with his various Vice shows, hanging with Mario Batalli, and inking a major label deal, rap has been his backup plan. On his second record for Atlantic Records, following the abysmal Mr. Wonderful, Blue Chips 7000 doesn’t even deserve to be named after the stellar series it comes from. The record lacks focus and creativity. If Bronson wasn’t too busy with everything else in his life, including a new cook book arriving next month, and focused on his music, what he should be turning into Atlantic are classics not middle of the road and uninspiring records.

FINAL GRADE: D

Listen to Our Essential Action Bronson Playlist on Spotify

Coldplay – Kaleidoscope EP

In the past, it was always easy to take aim at Coldplay for their sensitive and tender sound but they took it on the chin and released great records like Parachutes, A Rush of Blood to the Head, Viva La Vida, and even X&Y. They were creative artists that were paving their own way, they 2011 happened and since the unlistenable Mylo Xyloto, they are just a pop band that tries really hard, a little too hard at making radio friendly pop songs. With the exception of the somber Ghost Stories, nearly everything the British band has put out in six years has been manufactured crap and their latest EP is another victim of that. Why bother at this point releasing anything? Why bother trying to please anyone if all you want to do is be on the radio and not fulfill a creative hole? If that is what the band wants, fine, do it, just don’t expect it to be good.

FINAL GRADE: D

Quck News

#GagaFiveFootTwo, a @Netflix Original Documentary, Sept 22 worldwide 🎥 Art in collaboration with @dromsjel and @inezandvinoodh

A post shared by xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) on Aug 24, 2017 at 7:00am PDT

Lady Gaga has taken to Instagram all day to tease various panels that eventually made up the poster for her upcoming Nextflix documentary, Five Foot Two, which airs on the network next month. Take a look at one of the mini trailers and details above.

Thirty years after it was filmed, Showtime will air the rare Prince concert film / documentary Sign O' The Times, which was shot on the tour of that record of the same name. It will air on the network next month.

In an interview with MTV News, Kendrick Lamar said his new album, DAMN., is intended to be played backwards and tells the same story of his life but at a different temp and rhythm. “I don’t think the story necessarily changes, I think the feel changes. The initial vibe listening from the top all the way to the bottom is...this aggression and this attitude. You know, ‘DNA,’ and exposing who I really am. You listen from the back end, and it’s almost the duality and the contrast of the intricate Kendrick Lamar. Both of these pieces are who I am," he said.

The xx are already planning their new record after the release of their third LP, I See You, earlier this year. Singer Romy Melody Croft told The Courier: "We’ve got plans to release our techno tunes,” she said. "We’ve loved having more upbeat music in our set. We’ve remixed ourselves, there’s some older songs that we now play at 120 bpm.”

Nine Inch Nails collaborator and former member Alessandro Cortini will release his new album, Avanti, next month. "Delving back into his youth brought out some mixed emotions for Cortini. “There’s this melancholia that comes with memories of bygone days, whether they were great or not, they're gone and you can't go back to them,” he said in a press release. “That’s why I named the record AVANTI, it means ‘forward’ in Italian and that’s the only direction you can go.” Take a look at the tracklisting, below:

1.Iniziare

2. Perdonare

3. Aspettare

4. Nonfare

5. Vincere

6. Perdere

7. Finire

Watch Nine Inch Nails FULL Panorama Set

On Sunday, Nine Inch Nails closed out the second annual Panorama Festival in New York City. Thanks to YouTube user NvikIngsN, you can now watch the full performance.

View Live Pix of Panorama Sunday featuring NIN, A Tribe Called Quest, Justice!

Live Pix: Panorama Sunday

The second annual Panorama Festival hit Randall's Island in New York City this weekend and on the final day our very own RICH D SMOOV went to see headliners Nine Inch Nails, A Tribe Called Quest, and Justice. 

Listen To Our Essential NIN Playlist  on Spotify

Q-Tip of Tribe said that the show at Randall's will most likely be the influential hip-hop group's last in New York City. However, he famously said that in 2013 when the group opened for Kanye West at Madison Square Garden, they would return a few years later with 2016's best album, We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service, which featured late member Phife Dawg, who died earlier in the year on the record.  

Listen to Our Essential Tribe Called Quest Playlist on Spotify

Take a look! 

A Tribe Called Quest

 

Justice 

Nine Inch Nails 

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Nine Inch Nails Announce New EP

Nine Inch Nails announced they will release a new EP called Add Violence, it is the second in three EPs the band plans on releasing through the year.

Listen to Our Essential NIN Playlist on Spotify

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the new single, "Less Than."

1.  LESS THAN

2.  THE LOVERS

3.  THIS ISN'T THE PLACE

4.  NOT ANYMORE

5.  THE BACKGROUND WORLD

Nine Inch Nails on 'Twin Peaks'

During Sunday's episode of Twin Peaks, fans noticed that Nine Inch Nails were the latest band to perform at the Bang Bar on the show. Take a look at the band in action performing "She's Gone Away," on the David Lynch series.

Quick News

Gogol Bordello will release their new album, Seekers and Finders, in August. Take a look at the cover above.

In an interview with The Guardian, Liam Gallagher opened up about the split of Beady Eye for the first time since the band broke up in 2014. "The last album we put out, that was the first album I’ve ever put out in America when we only did one gig for it. That got under my skin. We got asked to do Coachella, but apparently we couldn’t afford to go out there. I was like: ‘I’ll pay for us to go out there and once we’re out there we’ll do some gigs,' he said. “Gem had hurt his head and I’d had my divorce, but the best place to be is on the road… Anyway, there were no gigs going down. So I thought to myself: ‘Maybe it’s just not happening, maybe it’s just not connecting.’ And then Andy got a call that he was gonna do his Ride thing, which was fine, but I thought: ‘You know what, I’m not sitting around.’ So I went: ‘Tell you what, go and do Ride and I think we should just call it a day.'”

Death From Above 1979 are now Death From Above. The band removed the latter year from their name after 13 years using it.

Guns N Roses guitarist Richard Fortus said that the band are planning on making an album with Slash and Duff McKagen after they rejoined the band last year. He told StageLeft podcast: "We haven’t started recording anything, when I say that, as far as in the studio doing an album. We’ve been recording a lot of stuff, just ideas, assembling ideas, but not going into a studio and actually tracking a new record," he said. "It’s sort of too good not to happen at this point, that’s how I feel about it. This band is really a force right now, and I definitely hope that we do, and I think we’re all sort of counting on it, and we’re also planning on it.”

In an email to fans, Trent Reznor said that last year's Nine Inch Nails EP, Not The Actual Events, is part of a triology of EP's with the other two coming this year. The next is allegedly coming in July and the third will arrive in December. He said: "Did you know Not the Actual Events was the first part of a trilogy of related EPs that will be released about 6-8 months apart? Now you do."

This Friday, SZA will release her long awaited debut, CTRL and has unleashed the tracklisting which features fellow TDE member Kendrick Lamar. Take a look, below:
1. Supermodel
2. Love Galore ft. Travis Scott
3. Doves In The Wind ft. Kendrick Lamar
4. Drew Barrymore
5. Prom
6. The Weekend
7. Go Gina
8. Garden (Say It Like Dat)
9. Broken Clocks
10. Anything
11. Wavy (Interlude ft. James Fauntleroy
12. Normal Girl
13. Pretty Little Birds ft. Isaiah Rashad
14. 20 Something 

Playlist

Our April Playlist is Here! Take a Look at Our 28-Song List of Random Musical Musings For The Month!

Great Soundtracks: 'Natural Born Killers'

1994 was a memorable year for movies as flicks like Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump, The Crow, True Lies, The Lion King, Quiz Show, Shawshank Redemption, and countless others. One film, written by Quentin Tarantino busted down the door and had heads turning that summer and it was the Oliver Stone-helmed Natural Born Killers. The violent film about killers on the run in America had audiences gasping. One of the catalysts that drove the suspense of the story was the music.

Stone tapped Trent Reznor to produce the soundtrack and the Nine Inch Nails creator saw a different take as to how the music should be put out. Instead of just throwing songs together on a playlist and having his Nothing label put it out, he gathered tunes from the music of the era, his friends, and even crafted original songs and spliced them together with dialogue and scenes from the film. By doing this, the listener was able to experience the suspense and thrill ride of what the movie put out on screen.

With a soundtrack that featured NIN, Dr. Dre, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, L7, Peter Gabriel, Cowboy Junkies, The Dogg Pound, Leonard Cohen, and more, the violence on screen was brought into the listeners ears for a full on experience that still resonates today.

QUICK SPINS

Run the Jewels – RTJ 3

 

After surprising fans on Christmas Eve with the release of RTJ 3, it took supporters of hip-hops most dynamic duo in years to digest the heaviness of what the third part of their album trilogy featured. RTJ 3 does not hit you in the face the way its predecessor did but instead, it makes you feel the weight of the dense content even more than anything Killer Mike and El-P have done before. With contributions from Zach de la Rocha, Danny Brown, Kamasi Washington, Tunde Adebimpe and others, this record is a samurai slicing up the word of music, politics, and social issues.

FINAL GRADE: A+

The xx – I See You

The third record from the British electronic and ambient trio hears them getting funky. I See You is the most fun-sounding xx record and an album that makes them change direction while sticking to their original ethos.

FINAL GRADE: A

Nine Inch Nails – Not The Actual Events EP

An EP of brand new NIN material came as 2016 was coming to an end but with it, it helped bring a touch of aggression and passion into the new year.

FINAL GRADE: A

David Bowie – No Plans EP

On what would have been his 70^th birthday, David Bowie’s estate released the final three songs he ever recorded along with his song “Lazarus” in an EP. The music was featured in the Lazarus musical he penned and is his final parting gift to fans.

FINAL GRADE: A

The Flaming Lips – Oczy Mlody

The most inspiring psychedelic band America has ever-exported returns with a record that makes listeners feel as if they are touching the furthest layers of the sun. It is lush, cinematic , and their best record in years. The fearless freaks are back and it seems as if they are charting new territory.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Childish Gambino – Awaken, My Love

Take everything you know of Childish Gambino and throw it out the window. The Atlanta rapper is back but this time takes more inspiration from Prince and George Clinton than he does the dirty south and indie rock. This is without a doubt his musical masterpiece and proves to the doubters he is serious about what he is doing

FINAL GRADE: A-

J. Cole – 4 Your Eyes Only

People ragged on Cole for once again putting out an album of no features – but the Queens via North Carolina rapper is out to prove he doesn’t give a fuck what you think. Producing, writing, and rapping his own pen, Cole tells the story of what it is like for black youth in America in the age of Donald Trump as president. It is impactful, powerful, and should be celebrated.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Pete Rock / Smoke DZA – Don’t Smoke Rock

If today’s generation wants to know if the old school have still got it – send them the collab album of Pete Rock and Smoke DZA. The 90s glory days feel is one that will have you playing this over and over again.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Priests – Nothing Feels Natural

The Washington, D.C. indie rockers are leaving their mark with their brilliant debut. The punks give the feel of the Pixies, Sonic Youth, and Breeders all in one as their female empowerment songs resonate more than ever in this day and age as the orange one will become president.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Bonobo – Migration

After years of becoming a club and crowd favorite, Bonobo releases his more realized record to date. Migration is a focused and appeals to his hardcore fans, casual listeners, and new audience.

FINAL GRADE: B+

The Lox – Filthy America… It’s Beautiful

The Lox return after a 16 year hiatus and pick up where they left off. Their latest is a throwback to late 90s gangsta rap that helped launch the Ruff Ryders, The Firm, and early RocaFella.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Kid Cudi – Passion, Pain and Demon Slayin

After the tumultuous year that Cudi had in 2016, checking into a mental health facility, a public battle with Kanye West, and trying to help himself – Cudi came back with his finest album. His latest features a slew of artists including Andre 3000, Pharrell, Willow Smith, and others but it is his personal stories and accounts that make the record shine.

FINAL GRADE: B

Austra – Future Politics

The third album from the Canadian indie rockers hears them sticking to their roots. As nothing new comes out of this, in terms of style, longtime fans will eat it up.

FINAL GRADE: B

Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes – Modern Ruin

The former Gallows frontman returns with his second sophomore album and Modern Ruin is a straight up, rip-roaring rock and roll record in an era when we need them the most.

FINAL GRADE: B

Cloud Nothings – Life Without Sound

The Ohio indie rock outfit returns with their third record and still brings the noise as there garage sound adds more fuzz, fuss, and funk.

FINAL GRADE: B

Bash and Pop – Anything Can Happen

Over 20 years since Tommy Stinson has brought Bash and Pop out of the back door of his mind and into the forefront, he and the band return with a record of catchy rock riffs and singalong songs – would you expect anything else?

FINAL GRADE: B-

Foxygen – Hang

The California indie rock stars return with their biggest sounding record to date. Trading the slacker sound they have been accustomed to, they went for big and powerful. With the help of Flaming Lips' Steven Drozd, Matthew E. White, the Lemon Twigs, a 40-plus-piece symphony orchestra, Foxygen are making a statement.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Major Lazer – Music is the Weapon

Diplo and his team of Caribbean counterparts get the party started again with a slew of more radio ready tracks and good vibes.

FINAL GRADE: B- 

AFI – (The Blood Album)

AFI are still going strong and still creating fantastic live performances. As they need an excuse to hit the road, they released (The Blood Album), which like almost all of their records since Crash Love, takes itself too serious and doesn’t live up to the full potential that they are capable of cranking out. That being said, it is still a decent record but longtime fans of the band are going to be disappointed, as the new wave of listeners will be impressed.

FINAL GRADE: C+