Vinyl Revolution Best of 2021 - TOP 20


 

CLICK ON TRACK TITLES OR ALBUM COVERS TO LISTEN TO OR WATCH EACH TRACK

FIND A FULL SPOTIFY PLAYLIST OF OUR TOP 60 TRACKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG

  1. BEACHY HEAD – WARNING BELL

Taken from the excellent ‘Beachy Head’ album, ‘Warning Bell’ is a premier introspective gem. Lo-fi fuzz rock at it’s best! Nice artwork too…

  1. KENNETH ISHAK – NATIVE TONGUE

Eagle-eyed viewers will already know that Kenneth is a member of the Norwegian rockers Beezewax who release their ‘Oh Tahoe’ album on Vinyl Revolution’s NAKED eco label in 2022. ‘Native Tongue’ is a bright, wistful pop tune taken from the 2021 solo album of the same name.

 

  1. BEACH HOUSE – SUPERSTAR

Taken from the double EP ‘Once Twice Melody’ Beach House return with more beautiful lysergic pop music. Synth-laden and sad, like all the best Beach House songs are, this is a timely reminder of the bands effortless majesty.

  1. THE BESNARD LAKES – FEUDS WITH GUNS

One of many brilliant moments from the ‘The Besnard Lakes Are The Last of the Great Thunderstorms’, this is another album that reveals more with each listen. Just gorgeous!

  1. LO TALKER – HEAVEN IN DRAG

Lo Talker were one of the finds of 2021 and ‘Heaven In Drag’ a sublime pop moment. Check out the accompanying album ‘A Comedy of Errors’ for more lo-fi boss tuneage.

  1. SLEAFORD MODS – MORK n MINDY

Like a grubby little secret that you keep coming back to, Sleaford Mods remain the UK’s best re-tellers of everyday life in benefits Britain. Mork n Mindy features the vocal talents of Billy No Mates who also makes sparse but captivating agit pop.

  1. DRY CLEANING – SCRATCHCARD LANYARD

Who could resist the lyric ‘why don’t you want oven chips?’, one of many great lines on the standout track of 2021’s ‘New Long Leg’. In fact there are loads of beguiling lyrics all over this dry, deadpan indie triumph.

 

  1. CHVRCHES – HOW NOT TO DROWN

OK, so it features a guest vocal performance from my hero Robert Smith so it was bound to feature. But this is a real stormer of a single which introduces the new Chvrches album in a very impressive manner.

  1. MASSAGE – I’M A CRUSADER

Massage’s fantastic 2021 album ‘Still Life’ is like a dictionary of the indie genre. Part Mary Chain crawl part Orange Juice jingle jangle, this record proves the band are real talents in their own right. LOVE IT!

  1. WOLF ALICE – HOW CAN I MAKE IT OK?

I could have chosen any of half a dozen tracks from the bands excellent ‘Blue Weekend’ album, but this one currently edges it. Assured and mannered indie rock fed through a modern production filter, Wolf Alice are one of the UK’s best bands.

  1. JAPANESE BREAKFAST – PAPRIKA

Taken from the parent album ‘Jubilee’ ‘Paprika’ was a real highlight of 2021. Japanese Breakfast blend many musical styles but still end up sounding like nobody as much as their chief creator Michelle Zauner.

  1. NICK CAVE and WARREN ELLIS – CARNAGE

Emotive and redemptive title track from the album of the same name, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ symbiotic musical partnership shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. How strange that Nick Cave has become the elder statesman of modern rock. From those earliest of Birthday Party days this was never on the cards, was it..?

  1. BLANKENBERGE – NO SENSE

Hailing from St’ Petersburg in the Russian Federation, Blankenberge make perfect dream pop records. Third album ‘Everything’ upped the songwriting ante and has opened the door for wider acclaim. Impressive, to say the least.

  1. THE WEATHER STATION – ATLANTIC

Tamara Lindeman has one of the best voices in modern music and 2021’s ‘Ignorance’ album is a joy from start to finish. Think Beth Gibbons of Portishead but guided by the spirit of pop music. Great band too…

 

  1. LO MOON – DREAM NEVER DIES

More ethereal melodies from LA’s best dream pop band who are soon to be out on tour with The War on Drugs. ‘Dream Never Dies’ sneaks up on you like a mugger but the results are infinitely better for you. Bodes well for a new album in 2022.

  1. GRUFF RHYS – CAN’T CARRY ON

The Super Furries frontman returns with his umpteenth lovely album. ‘Seeking New Gods’ is yet another example of Gruff’s laid back, laconic way with a tune and ‘Cant Carry On’ should have been a chart-topping single.

  1. LOW – WHITE HORSES

Another track that stopped me dead in my tracks when I first heard it (in a record store in Leeuwarden, Holland to be precise). Low have made it their mission to surprise and disturb in equal measures. 2021 album ‘HEY WHAT’ continues the uncompromising production values coupled to beautiful melodies.

  1. MODEST MOUSE – WE ARE BETWEEN

Winners of ‘most impressive comeback album 2021’, Modest Mouse go from strength to strength with this caustic modern rock album. ‘We Are Between’ is one of a number of superior songs on the bands ‘The Golden Casket’ record.

  1. FLYTE – TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART

Flyte’s ‘This Is Really Going To Hurt’ was number one in Vinyl Revolution’s summer round up and remains our most played record of 2021. Melancholy yet dazzling, the band have gone from strength to strength on their flawless second album.

 

  1. TEENAGE DADS – PIANO GIRL

Aussie indie sensations Teenage Dads nab Vinyl Revolution’s top spot in this years 2021 round up of great music. ‘Piano Girl’ is a fantastic slice of melodic pie, pitched somewhere between the bushy sideburns of Supergrass and the primetime video slapstick of a teenage Madness. Check out ‘Club Echo’ for an extended EP of future greatness too.

Now if only we can convince the boys to let us NAKED up their mini album we can all die happy!

For more listening pleasure on Spotify:

VINYL REVOLUTION BEST OF 2021 (60-31)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2PgYt5d56kv21e7Aqpjuvy?si=073c1ca294fe4807

VINYL REVOLUTION BEST OF 2021 (30-1)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4vr9OM5oIQg9Dn3Bk2gJM8?si=6f1d424567c64c83


Leave a comment


Please note, comments must be approved before they are published