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Summing up the year (away) from Music, after the break...
2024 Update:
Part of me will always regret not keeping up with That Buzzing Sound after my second blog burnout ever as 2021 began. Retrospectively, the changes I made post-pandemic to heal my body & mind allowed me to start to find peace within myself for the first time since Pa passed. Setting me down a new career path that continues to put things in perspective each week. Sure I got VID three times. Which sucks. But still... haven't regretted my decision despite the constant health issues. Jaw pain (looks down) continues.
Now I get to share music once more. Still, the nearly untouched words will live forever of that time when I stopped by to say hi to the empty void after a nice long break. Enjoy!
Original Words (from January 2022):
(It's Been Awhile...)
Hi! Happy 2022! Started the year by injuring my jaw. Fun stuff (lol). Anyway! Pardon the typos. Will correct it in the days to come.
You know I believe we can’t truly begin a new journey without acknowledging the past. So… 2021 can best be described as my sabbatical away from Music. Felt exhausted by the early TBS grind. Especially after not feeling respected by artists I truly was trying to shine a spotlight on. That always hurt. It wasn’t everyone, but I began to feel like some of the PR teams I dealt with got complacent despite trying to keep their heads above water during a dangerous time for arts & media. Everything felt bad… or maybe it was just me. The man behind the scenes who hands were being drained per daily barrage of posts & editing Podcast episodes alongside self-imposed stress. By Winter 2020, I just didn’t care anymore. Lost my smile. Etc. So I walked away upon posting my favorite albums of 2020 podcast episode. Wanted to not care about anything.
(That episode got over 100 listens so far. Appreciate that BTW.)
Literally did not listen to ANYTHING in February 2021. Felt weird for someone who finds passion in music. Didn’t last long as I slowly got called back. Started with some JPOP singles then grew from there. Left the year behind reconnecting with the art form that soundtracks my life. Gladly we’re better then ever. Hope to share more as we navigate the year ahead. The 30K inbox has been ARCHIVED. Completely. Fresh start. If you want to be shared, hit me up & I’ll find a small space.
Below you’ll read some of my quick thoughts on some of my favorite albums of 2021.There was 30-ish picks overall. All featured too. Plenty connected with me recently and made the list. Like Bo Burnham’s ‘Inside (The Songs)’ & Justin Bieber’s ‘JUSTICE’. Sadly I’m retiring the numerically rankings… instead just gonna list them. Going from top to bottom can be considered Most “Most Favorite” in the top 5 correct as the first post below will forever be my FAVORITE ALBUM OF 2021. Officially. The rest switches each and every day. Especially in the middle portion.
Thanks for taking the time to read me rant once more. Here’s all my 2021 favs presented just for you dear reader! More words very soon…
My Favorite Albums of 2021
‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’
by Silk Sonic
A near perfect soul project from two of my favorite artists. Doesn’t overstay its welcome either. Once you wrap it up… probably sure you’ll need another fix of Silk Sonic. So damn silky smooth. “Smokin Out The Window” & “777” are so damn good for a world gone nuts.
Pity everything sucks now. Would’ve loved to live my past Hollywood life with it bumping on the adventures. Maybe one day in the future. The only downside is we’ll probably have to wait centuries for a sequel.
This album always brings me joy the second I hit play. That’s how I want to feel each and every day. Don’t you? Happy to make ‘An Evening with Silk Sonic’ my favorite album of 2021.
‘Screen Violence’by CHVRCHES
Really loving mature CHVRCHES.
Didn’t think their third project, ‘Love Is Dead’, would be topped in my book but ‘Screen Violence’ really surprised me after plenty of listens. Which I needed. Wasn’t a big fan after playthrough #1. Had to bloom into something magical while I sat upon a rock in the Arizona desert. Quiet. Lonely. Haven’t stopped listening to it since then. Motivation for the steps forward.
“Asking For A Friend”, “California”, “How Not To Drown”, “Violent Delights”, & “Final Girl” are all cinematic music masterpieces in my book that turned the page on a new chapter in CHVRCHES’ musicology. Brings out my introspective darkside each time it touches my eardrums. Phuck… so damn good.
2024 Edit: 'Screen Violence' should've been crowned Favorite Album of 2021.
‘The Melodic Blue’by Baby Keem
New HOT FIRE from Kendrick Lamar drew me into Baby Keen’s fantastic hip hop journey quite quickly. “Range Brothers” & “Family Ties” allowed me to experience this fresh new sound that stayed with me as I took on the second half of 2021. 8 tracks remain on my phone even now… “trademark usa”, “scapegoats”, “range bros”, “family ties”, “cocoa”, “durag activity”, “vent”, & “16”.
The hip pop production on the later captures such innocence. If I was in high school… this album probably would’ve been #1 in my book.
‘Ain’t It Tragic’
by Dead Sara
What can be said of my Top 5 in my sabbatical year is it really brought in my comfort artists. Dead Sara has always killed it since Picksysticks hooked me up with their debut & free show at the Troubadour. Have watched Emily & the rotating group of music friends evolve into their current form with a big smile on my face.
On my many 2021 trips, this album was always included on the car trips. Just me, Dead Sara, and the bumping road. Just by closing your eyes while listening to “Starry Eyed”, “Hands Up”, “Good Times”, “All I Know…”, etc. can you transport you to my driver’s seat freedom. Passion blaring from the speakers. That’s what you get here.
‘Maybe We Never Die’by Anderson East
This was definitely the album that got my musical spark back when we went to visit my family, for the first time in years, More music that I drove to that ran me wild. Full of spirit & a bit of nostalgia. The title track is just beautiful, especially for someone still holding on to grief.
Anderson’s last album, ‘Encore’, made it on my Favs list before as I love his soulful tone of voice. But there’s os much feeling that just connected with me here. “This Too Shall Last”, “Madelyn”, “Hood of my Car”, among others paints pure feelings that left me vibing at my core. Enough to get me blogging again. Thank Anderson for these words.
Finishing Off The Top 20
Not your typical list so far? Maybe the following albums would appeal to your likings too? Can’t really rank these albums because it’s all so close. So 15-way tie for sixth place?
Doja Cat – ‘Planet HER’
Doja Cat is a powerhouse. Probably the best R&B artists going into 2022. Loved pretty much everything about ‘Planet HER’. Some tracks too awhile to connect, but now… down with the sexiness.
Power Music Workout – ‘Best of 2021’
A good chunk of my phone are full of these cheap, EDM, copycat tracks. Some are near perfect to the original… others not so much. But played on my road trips plenty.
Guilty Gear Strive Soundtrack
My #3 game of 2021. Its soundtrack is crazy, weird, full of bad English that will get you PUMPED! Makes for a fantastic fight.
Ada Lea – ‘One Hand on the Steering Wheel’
Such a beautiful album. Felt like Regina Spektor, Jenny Lewis, & Anna Nalick all fused together in this melodic, rageful, indie pop goodness. It’s damn. good, promise.
Kanye West – ‘DONDA’
Boy was this an adventure to follow. Multiple listening parties later we got the completed version and I didn’t hate it. Soundtracked a good portion of my FFXIV adventures too. Considered it my #1 album for awhile in the Fall. But only really loved the features. Too long. And I won’t even listen to the Deluxe version. Studio version is perfect by me. Can’t wait for the sequel.
Asking Alexandria – ‘See What’s On the Inside’
This was in the top 5 for I played this album heaps when it first dropped, then I grew tired of it. Just a change of mood on this listener. That’s on me. Still one of the best metal albums of 2021.
Ed Sheehan – ‘=’
Love Ed and this album. Especially more then Divide. Glad he’s back.
Drake – ‘CLB’
Drake is such an easy listen. Great features on CLB is proof that 9 tracks still remain on my phone.
Allen Stone – ‘Apart’
Allen Stone Unplugged, playing all my favorite songs!? It’s peak Allen Stone that needs to be played more.
Lana Del Rey – ‘Blue Banisters’
A late addition, but this probably my favorite Lana album to date. So easy to absorb.
Moneybagg Yo – ‘A Gangsta’s Pain’
“Time Today” was my anthem in 2021. Wasn’t expecting to love the whole project but I did.
Olivia Rodrigo – ‘Sour’
FOR HOW MUCH WE HEARD “DRIVER’S LICENSE”, “GOOD 4 U”, & “DEJA VU” REPEATED IN THE CAR ON MAINSTREAM RADIO DURING OUR TRIPS AROUND THE WEST COAST… ‘Sour’ deserved a spot. It’s fine. My younger self would probably love it more. He’s a sucker for this kind of pop.
Bo Burnham – ‘Inside (The Songs)’
Super new addition. Funny, crazy, but true. Most importantly beyond brilliant.
Vince Staples – ‘Vince Staples’
Love Vince. He continues to kill. Didn’t spend enough time with it.
Tyler, The Creator – ‘Call Me If You Get Lost’
Same can be said here, but I loved Tyler playing towards his love for The Neptunes. Such an impress project.
Honorable Mentions (or the other 10-ish contenders)
Stuff I liked, mostly, but didn’t connect on listen number two or kinda fresh to the ears. Currently listening to Justin Bieber’s ‘JUSTICE’ almost everyday over the past few weeks. Might rank higher at the end of the decade? And count Taylor’s Versions of Red/Fearless as one. Her upgraded version ‘Red’ is better then ‘Fearless’ IMO.
- Taylor Swift – “RED (TV)’ & ‘Fearless (TV)’
- Justin Bieber – ‘JUSTICE’
- Michael Giacchino – ‘No Way Home Soundtrack’
- John Mayer – ‘Sob Rock’
- Madlib – ‘Sound Ancestors’
- Flying Lotus – ‘Yasuke’
- Drakeo The Ruler – ‘The Truth Hurts’
- Wolf Alice – ‘Blue Weekend’
- J. Cole – ‘T H E O F F S E A S O N’
- Migos – ‘Culture III’