Due to COVID, I only saw one show this year, Modest Mouse. It is amazing how great it felt being out seeing a show. It seems we took this sort of stuff for granted. If anything this pandemic helps us to put things in perspective. It was a phenomenal show, but I think I may have felt that way just seeing anyone up on the stage playing tunes. We were an easy crowd. It was a beautiful summer night the Essex Fairgrounds here in Northeastern VT. I had just bought their new album. I hadn't seen them before. They played "Float On," one of my favorites, in the encore. It was nice have some normalcy back. The only show of the year was, obviously, my pick for the best show of the years. Lets hope that 2022 has a lot of shows to choose from.
I bought 12 full length albums in 2021 and one EP. I listed them below in order of favorites, most favorite to the least, but I have to say, it was a good year because I liked all of them. This was difficult to do and I will probably change the order many times before I hit publish. There are some great new discoveries this year that I am very pleased with as well, like Bob Schneider, The Weather Station, Iceage and White Horse.
Bob Schneider - In a Roomful of Blood with a Sleeping Tiger
I never heard of this guy until this year. I don't remember how I discovered him. Perhaps he just appeared on one of my Spotify lists. When you listen to online services like Spotify and Pandora, the artist doesn't get a lot of money per play (like pennies), so I like to buy the songs I like.
Bob is an Austin, Texas based musician from Michigan. He used to be the lead singer of a band called Ugly Americans. His latest album has some real gems on it, like "Thor," "Lord of the Flies," "I Love Life" and "The Sun's Coming." His lyrics are very tender and poignant without being trite. "Thor" instead of being a Norse god, he is a suburban white guy who has anger issues and a very touching song.
I'm looking forward to checking out his back catalogue.
Aimee Mann - Queens of the Summer Hotel
I usually buy Aimee's new albums when they come out. Few song writers alive can turn a phrase or an image like her. What I love about this new album is that it mostly piano based. My favorite songs on it are "Burn It Out," "Suicide is Murder" and "At the Frick Museum."
The Hold Steady - Open Door Policy
The Hold Steady is one of the better rock bands around these day. They are from Minneapolis but seems to have a New York City sound reminiscent of The Velvet Underground or The Feelies. This is their eighth album. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Craig Finn writes all the songs in collaboration with the other members of the band. Their lyrics just take me away. Here are the opening lines of "Feelers":
It was an early morning meet-up at the mansion up the mountain
The Maestro still had glitter on his face
They led us to the office and once my eyes adjusted
I took a little look around the place
On the mantle was a portrait of his father and the fortune
He'd amassed from being ruthless but polite
And a bottle with a model, a specific British clipper ship
On his desk there was a pistol and a pipe
This is an album full of stories and atmosphere.
The Weather Station - Ignorance
The Weather Station is a Canadian folk rock band from Toronto. They are very jazzy and remind me a little of Steely Dan if they had a female singer. You may be familiar with the single "Robber" if you listen to a rock station rock station.
The War on Drugs- I Don’t Live Here Anymore
This Phillie band is so hot. Everything they do is so good, they are almost an automatic buy for me these days. The title track is probably my favorite song on the album. References to Dylan in any song goes far with me.
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raise the Roof
This is their third album together and they seem to be getting better. It seems like an odd combination of the Led Zepplin lead singer with a blue grass musician, but they make it work. I am not sure how. "Can't Let Go" is my favorite song on this album.
James McMurtry - The Horses and the Hounds
James is the son of novelist Larry McMurtry and I think of him as a leftist cowboy. His politics are always clear in his songs and they are usually biting and direct.
Foo Fighters - Medicine At Midnight
I think I might like the Foo Figthers more than Nirvana. I don't listen to much music that is this hard these days, but this one is quite good. I love the song, "Waiting on the War."
Modest Mouse - The Golden Casket
I've had two of their songs on my hard drive that I have been loving for years, "Missed the Boat" and "Float On." I've wanted more from this band for a while so I finally just bought their latest album in preparation of their live show. I like it, but don't love it. It is a bit uneven. "Back to the Middle" is a great song.
White Horse - Modern Love
Another new discovery for me. This band is from Hamilton, Ontario. Canadian rockers just seem to have their act together. "Relic in a New Age" is a beautiful song.
Peter Frampton - Peter Frampton Forgets The Words
Peter Frampton is not a great song writer but he is an amazing guitarist. So when this classic rocker puts out an instrumental covers album, my ears perk up. On this album he covers Roxy Music, Bowie, George Harrison, Sly Stone, Radio Head, Lenny Kravitz among others. My favorite is a song called "Maybe" originally by some country musicians I never heard of.
Ezra Furman - Sex Education: Songs from Season 3 - EP
Season 2 of the Netflix show "Sex Education" wasn't as good as season 1. One of the contributing factors is it didn't have an Ezra Furman soundtrack. Season 3, he is back and so is the show. It is too bad it is only an EP ... not enough Furman.
Iceage - Seek Shelter
This band reminds me of The Hold Steady, the Danish version.
Other Favorites:
Here are my favorite songs of the year that aren't on any of the albums I bought:
"There You Go Again" and "Take Me Back to Tulsa" by Asleep at the Wheel
"Time and Trouble" by Bob Weir, Jay Lane & Dave Schools
"Wake Up Romeo" by Caro Emerald
"Jazz On the Autobahn" by The Felice Brothers
"Miami Sun" by Iguana Death Cult
"Rock Paper Scissors" by Jah Sun & The Rising Tide
"Laurie Rolled Me a J" by John Craigie
"Medicine Man" by Keb' Mo'
"In There" by Liz Phair
"Squid Tattoo" by Sean Rowe
"Chaise Lounge" by Wet Leg
"Genuine Hesitation" by Matthew E. White
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