Best Albums + Songs of 2021 (Jon)

What a year. Not in a good way, but what a year. But the music continued on, and we did our best to keep track of new music both locally and nationally amidst the chaos. We are thankful to all the artists who continued to make new music and thankful to all of you who kept an eye on our little website. Check out Chris’s selections below for his favorite national albums, Minnesota albums and shows from the year and keep an eye out for other lists before the end of the year.

10 Best Albums

1.      Low – Hey What

2.      L’Rain – Fatigue

3.      Mach-Hommy – Balens Cho

4.      Pachyman – The Return of Pachyman

5.      Mdou Moctar – Afrique Victim

6.      The Weather Station – Ignorance

7.      Taqbir – Self Titled EP

8.      Rosali – No Medium

9.      Arooj Aftab – Vulture Prince

10.    Quantic & Nidia Góngora – Almas Conectadas

Best Minnesota Albums

1.      Dua Saleh – Crossover EP

2.      American Cream Band – Plastic Flame

3.     Dizzy Fae – Antenna

4.      Chris Bierden – So Long

5.      American Cream Band – Dark Hemisphere

6.      Magic Castles – Sun Reign

7.      Products – Pink Puma

8.      Greta Ruth – The Fawn

9.      Rra – رقص القمر (Moon Dancing)

10.    Under Violet – Threes

Best Singles

1.      Low – “Day’s Like These”

2.      Pachyman – “Destroy the Empire”

3.      LUMP – “Climb Every Wall”

4.      Cate Le Bon – “Moderation”

5.      Angel Olsen / Sharon Van Etten – “Like I Used To”

6.      DJ Nu-Mark & Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band – “Everybody Everybody”

7.      Navy – “One Shot”

8.      Mdou Moctar – “Tala Tannam”

9.      Xenia Rubinos – “Cógelo Suave”

10.    Aldous Harding – “Elation”