2021 MUSIC REVIEW

Thank you for being here, I hope you discover something new that brings joy.

PLAYLISTS

For next year i’m going to determine a more concise playlist route, I gave up on populating these past tracks from June ahah 🙁 Reminding myself that ‘done’ is better than ‘perfect’ 🙂 these playlists are ~3 hours in length so lots of discovery opportunity.

• 2021 compilation _{[released in 2021]}
• 2021 from another time compilation _{[released outside 2021]}

TOP ALBUMS

These are not in order of priority because it is hard enough to choose 10 albums that left an impact this year. I am not necessarily choosing these albums because they are of the highest production or song-writing quality but because of the impact they left at the point or time that they hit me.

• Daniel Romano – Fully Plugged In (Live) [psych rock/country]
• Snail Mail – Valentine [indie rock]
• Clairo – Sling [indie, bedroom pop]
• Turnstile – GLOW ON [hardcore punk]
• Citizen – Life In Your Glass World [emo, post hardcore]
• The Dirty Nil – Fuck Art [alt rock, punk]
• The Marías – CINEMA [indie pop, psych rock, psych soul]
• James Blake – Friends that Break Your Heart [pop, r&b]
• Haitus Kaiyote – Mood Valiant [future soul, neo-soul, funk jazz]
• Cautious Clay – Deadpan Love [pop, r&b]
• Olivia Rodrigo – SOUR [pop]
• Becky Hill – Only Honest On The Weekend [pop, house]

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

These albums were on heavy rotation! Almost as much as the top albums, maybe next year there will be one giant list instead of two.

• Charlotte Day Wilson – ALPHA [r&b]
• Tyler, the Creator – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST [rap, hip hop]
• Great Good Fine Ok – Great Good Five Ok [synth pop]
• Vince Staples – Vince Staples [rap, hip hop]
• Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee [experimental pop, indie]
• Faye Webster – I Know I’m Funny haha [folk, country]
• Remi Wolf – Juno[pop, r&b]
• Parquet Courts – Sympathy for Life [rock, side of punk]
• Rüfüs Du Sol – Surrender [dance, electronica]
• Mini Trees – Always In Motion [indie, living room pop]
• One Step Closer – This Place You Know [hardcore]
• WILLOW – lately I feel everything [nu-metal, pop rock, pop punk]
• Fiddlehead – Between the Richness [post hardcore]
• Origami Angel – GAMI GANG[emo, pop punk]
• Nils Frahm – Old Friends New Friends [electronic classical]
• Rachel Sermanni – Swallow Me [folk]
• Men I Trust – Untourable Album [indie, dream pop]
• The Staves – Good Woman [indie, folk]
• DMX – Exodus [rap, hip hop]
• Charlotte Cardin – Phoenix [pop, electronic]
• Silk Sonic – An Evening With Silk Sonic [r&b, funk, soul]
• Tom Odell – monsters [indie pop]
• Lucy Dacus – Home Video [indie rock, folk rock]
• Ovlov – Buds [indie rock, alt rock]
• Porter Robinson – Nurture [electro, house]

THAT’S ALL FOLKS. Special shout out to all the pals near and far that I connected with on music this year. I am grateful for the evolution of my library as it encapsulates pieces of you!

This year I will leave you with a challenge; set aside a time to more deeply connect with what you are listening to. Often we get caught up ‘adding’ music to other activities we are participating in, instead of letting a record stand on its own legs. There is no denying how music makes everything better but it is important to carve out time to really feel and experience what you’re listening to.

CHALLENGE: Pick an album you’ve been wanting to listen to, choose a comfy place to sit or lay down (my preference), light a candle or lower your lighting, press play and close your eyes. Let the notes wash over you and experience the story it wants to tell you.

“Music can tell you a story without using words to guide it“

Until next year! With love Cait <3