CPRW Top Ten Albums of 2021: Part 3

COLIN

When the time came to start thinking about end of year lists, I got immediately stressed out. My first thoughts were have there been ten albums that I liked enough to include in a top ten? Then I did some research and it turned out there had absolutely been enough albums to include. I thought because of pandemics and what not that a lot of bands wouldn’t have been able to get their music recorded and released. I was wrong. 2021 has been a very strong year. As ever with these lists, I feel like it’s really important to say that this list is a favourite list and not a best list. ‘Best’ doesn’t exist in music as it’s all objective. Also, before we get started, some honourable mentions go to Big D And The Kids Table, Catbite, Shackleford, Sincere Engineer, The Last Mile, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Randells, Postage and Neckscars. Check all of their albums out. And now, without further adieu, here’s my Top Ten Favourite Albums of 2021.

10. Beginnings by The JB Conspiracy (Everything Sucks Music)

The long awaited third album by UK ska punk legends The JB Conspiracy was finally released during the summer. Following a collection of seriously good singles, I was seriously excited to check Beginnings out. On that first listen I wasn’t really sure what to make of it. For me, the album is a massive grower. There’s so much going on throughout the album’s run-time that you need to spend a lot of time with it to really appreciate the craftsmanship that’s gone into this album. If I were to re-write this list in a year or two, I imagine that Beginnings would find its way even higher up this list. I’ve been fortunate enough to see the band play these songs live a couple of times this year and it gave me an extra appreciation for how good this album is.

9. On The Brink by Mark Murphy And The Meds (Brassneck Records, Bloated Kat Records, Horn & Hoof Records, All In Vinyl, Cat’s Claw Records)

On The Brink felt like such a breath of fresh air when I first listened to it. I love some Ramonescore pop punk and it’s been some time since I’ve heard a UK act deliver it so well. Mark Murphy And The Meds are based in Liverpool and feature members of Crocodile God, The No Marks, The Pink Drifters and Hey Maxine. As you might expect from a Ramonescore album, it’s a fast paced, high energy album that is packed with catchy choruses and big hooks. On The Brink is ten songs in just twenty-six minutes but it never feels rushed and doesn’t leave you out of breath. The entire album feels a bit throwback, I don’t know if any other reviewer folk have mentioned Lookout Records when talking about the album but that’s a definite feeling I get when listening to the album and I love that. 

8. I Can’t Take It Anymore by Joystick! (Bad Time Records, Stomp Records)

Californian ska punk label Bad Time Records have had another huge year with a number of incredible releases. For me, the absolute stand out was I Can’t Take It Anymore by New Orleans ska punks Joystick!. I Can’t Take It Anymore mixes so many different ska punk styles to create such a varied album. A big criticism that a lot of folk seem to (wrongly) have about ska punk is that it all sounds the same and Joystick! brilliantly smash that assumption on this album. It’s also a deeply personal album as front person Paul “Duck” Tucker talks about his experiences getting clean from drug and alcohol abuse.

7. The Battle Of by Bong Mountain (Say-10 Records)

This was a nice surprise release at the end of the year. It would probably sit higher on my list if it had been released earlier. Michigan’s Bong Mountain return with their first new album since 2016 and it’s the best thing they’ve released to date. Lead singer Chris Lidstone is one of my favourite vocalists in punk rock and they’re on top form here. It’s emotional and has that special quality that has the listener aching to sing along with each and every song. When telling some friends of mine to listen to the album I described it as being like Spanish Love Songs with less songs about being sad about your divorce. These songs will be cathartic for a lot of people and I can’t wait to get down the front and shout along with my fist held high in the air. 

6. Fuckin’ Woo by Flangipanis (Self-Released)

Whenever Australia’s Flangipanis release anything new they seem to find a way onto my end of year lists. In previous years, Always The Bridesmaid and Community Backwash have been included and their 2021 release, Fuckin’ Woo, also finds a place here. If you’re unaware, Flangipanis are a four piece skate punk band from Brisbane who play fast, fun and often crass and crude songs. I have a huge soft spot for songs that make me smile like this. Sure, we all love a song that can move and inspire but isn’t it nice for hear something that doesn’t take itself too seriously and makes you smile? That said, Fuckin’ Woo does see Flangipanis enter the world of politics on a couple of tracks which shows the growth of the band over the years. I’d love to see them find their way to the UK at some point in the future, it’ll be a fun time!

5. Checkers & Plaid by Left Alone (Smelvis Records) 

If you had said to me in November that Left Alone would be on my top ten of the year list I would have said “oh, Left Alone, that’s a band I haven’t thought about in years!”. But due to my extensive research for this list, not only did I discover that they had released their first new full length in seven years but it’s also superb. What a great surprise. I first discovered Left Alone around 2006 when they released a couple of albums on Tim Armstrong’s Hellcat Records. Like a lot of the bands on the label, at the time they played a mix of ska and street punk, similar in sound to Rancid. On Checkers & Plaid, Left Alone show that they have taken that sound and got better and better. The ska elements on the album in particular really caught my attention with some great organ playing. There’s also plenty of big hooks and moments to put your arm around the person next to you and sing along. 

4. Twistin’ The Knife Away by Heart & Lung (Red Scare Industries)

I first came across Heart & Lung whilst checking out bands playing The Fest this year. Heart & Lung were one that really stood out. A couple of weeks into October the Ohio based four piece released their newest full length, Twistin’ The Knife, and it turned out to be everything I wanted in a punk album. Melody, hooks, sing-alongs and – most importantly – multiple singers. I absolutely adore bands that have more than one singer and Heart & Lung have three! This gives Twistin’ The Knife a great amount of variety. They can play a blistering punk rock sing-along or slow things down for more of a, dare I say, country/Americana tinged moment. I really feel like it won’t be long until more and more people are talking about Heart & Lung, which hopefully means they’ll find their way over to the UK and Europe sooner or later. 

3. A Portal For Sprits by Rutterkin (Euclid Place Records)

Like Heart & Lung, I first discovered Rutterkin whilst listening to bands playing The Fest. As soon as I heard their raspy vocalled punk rock, I knew this was a band I was absolutely going to love and began to listen to their back catalogue a lot. In October they released their debut album, A Portal For Spirits, an album I pre-ordered the vinyl for fully expecting to be ruined by USA to UK postage shipping prices because I was so excited to hear it. Normally when I pre-order vinyl I like to wait for it to arrive before listening to it but I couldn’t wait so streamed the album and began to tell anyone who would listen to me how good this band is. I am a fan of gruff, raspy vocals that I can sing-along with and A Portal For Spirits is packed full of those moments. It also shows a band that aren’t afraid to step away from the punk rock norm of three minute songs, as they include two songs more than five minutes in length at the end of the album that adds so much to the album as a whole.

2. The First One by Andy B And The World (Pookout Records)

Has there ever been a more ambitious DIY punk project than Andy B And The World? If there is, I would love to hear about it. If you don’t know about Andy B And The World here’s a quick explanation: former Fandangle bass player Andy Baker set out to create an album featuring musicians and singers from friends he had made from touring all over the world. Originally he travelled the world to record their parts but then lockdowns hit so he had to finish the project remotely. When I first heard about the project I was quite sceptical about how it would work but when I was lucky enough to get an early listen I was absolutely amazed by what I heard. The First One is fourteen songs that all have their own distinct style but also fit together brilliantly in one album. Of course, with so many different people included on the album (130+ in total, I believe) the album has plenty of sonic variety but the messages link it all together. Themes on the album include mental health, politics and friendship. It’s an album that’s fun, thoughtful and inspiring and, most of all, is an incredible accomplishment.

1. Hearts Of Gold by Dollar Signs (Pure Noise Records)

As soon as I heard Heart Of Gold by Dollar Signs, I absolutely knew that this was going to be my favourite album of 2021. The first time I heard it, the energy that exploded out of my speakers really got me excited. Of all the things I love about songs, the number one thing that really gets me excited for the album is that it is high energy and has an element of chaos to it. Nothing is off the cards for Dollar Signs and that makes them really exciting to me. That combined with Erik Button’s incredible lyrics makes for a (dare I say it) perfect combination. Button does this great thing of making his lyrics, which are usually very sad, feel like a celebration and I love that. Their lyrics tell these great stories that are hugely relatable to the listener and kind of feel like the kind of chat you would have with a friend who is going through a tough time. All of this gives the listener such a great feeling of catharsis that I think is really important. I’ve felt like Dollar Signs have been on the verge of some big things for a few years and it’s great to see them growing as a band and picking up more and more fans. They’re coming to the UK next year and I seriously can’t wait to see them perform live. 

There have also been some phenomenal EPs and singles released in 2021. Here’s a list of some of my favourites:

2020-2021 by Davey Dynamite

Back To Basics by HEY-SMITH

Hands Off! by The Shifty Grits and Jet8

How To Survive By Getting By by Fine And Great

Saccharine by Pinkshift

Panic Earth by Maisonette

Our Boring Lives by Dog Eared

Chick Chicken EP by SKIV

Sick Day by Rest Easy

Funny Feeling by Out Of Love

Cobwebs by Burning Nickels

Stay Colder/Complex Economics by Party Boss

Thanks for reading and for all the support on CPRW this year.

ROBYN

We did it! We made it through another difficult year living with the stress and uncertainty of COVID. There are many who didn’t, so I’m sincerely thankful for everyone who is still here and for the happy moments we’ve been able to snatch in between various waves and lockdowns (and, here in South Africa, in between riots, political tomfoolery, and scheduled blackouts). I’ve really struggled with my mental health this year, as I’m sure many others have, having been rocked by doubt and precarity. It’s been a year of soul-searching and music (as always) has been a real source of joy and comfort. I’m glad I’m here, safe and whole, and able to pay tribute to the albums that I’ve really enjoyed and to the artists who have helped carry me through this year. I’ve kept this list just to full albums, but I’ve listed my favourite EPs from the year at the end as well. 

10. Our Hell Is Right Here by Drones (Lockjaw Records, Thousand Island Records)

Drones released another awesome album in February, producing highly satisfying, rousing and powerful melodic hardcore. I really enjoy Lois’s vocals and this album showcases some fantastic song writing from the band, deftly expressing both vulnerability and resilience. The musicianship is also just top drawer. I did a lot more gushing in my full review for this album, but it is very, very good. 

9. Nice One by Catbite (Bad Time Records)

With their second full-length, Catbite have really filled out and brightened up their sound, adding in more pop-punk bounce and new wave stylings to an already fun ska-punk vibe. It’s ridiculously catchy and almost certainly the album released this year most likely to inspire a solo afternoon dance party. We needed some unabashed power-ska goodness this year and Catbite certainly delivered.

8. Alone in a Dome by The Copyrights (Fat Wreck Chords)

I absolutely love the full and vibrant pop-punk sound of The Copyrights and they really didn’t disappoint with their latest album. ‘Halos’ and ‘Stuck in Winter’ are possibly two of the best songs the band have ever produced, although that’s not to take anything away from the other tracks. The entire album is filled with infectious guitar riffs, bopping bass lines, and cheerful singalongs. High quality from start to finish.

7. Fuck Art by The Dirty Nil (Dine Alone Records)

From the first few staccato notes of ‘Doom Boy’, I was totally hooked on this album’s dirty guitar riffs, cheeky lyrics, and rampant energy. The Dirty Nil may be seen as similar to a band like Pup, both in their brash sound and their slightly niche following, but they certainly have their own unique charm. These songs will get stuck in your head and you will definitely feel awkward when you inevitably blurt out a line about no longer doing drugs or hailing Satan, but it’s a rip-roaring good time. 

6. Ordinary Life by We Are the Union (Bad Time Records)

Brett and I have been listening to We Are the Union for a long time. I still remember standing way up the front to watch them perform at Fest 10, in between No Trigger and Polar Bear Club, desperately singing along to ‘MTV Is Over, If You Want It’ and swaying with the crowd. But I think we both agree that this is their best album to date. The band have really grown, incorporating greater diversity in their music and navigating darker topics related to mental health and self-acceptance. And it feels like this growth has culminated in Ordinary Life, which is both a celebration of embracing the authentic self and a recognition of the struggles that come along with it. Lead singer Reade Walcott came out as trans a few weeks before the release and the topic of trans identity and acceptance is the heart and soul of this album. Trans people are fighting for the ‘ordinary lives’ that others find mundane and this year saw some of the worst rhetoric concerning LGBTQ+ issues and the most amount of anti-transgender bills filed in the US in all of the nation’s history. Flying in the face of all of this bigotry and fear is an album that’s fun, defiant, and sincere. It’s the best thing to blast at the next trans rights rally or at any other time on an ordinary day.

5. South Loop Summer by Hospital Bracelet (Counter Intuitive Records)

Hospital Bracelet unfortunately came under fire earlier this year when two of the band’s members, Manae and Arya, spoke out against the project lead, Eric Christopher, for cutting them out of shows and royalties and for general mistreatment. It’s really sad, especially when you think about what could have been, and I’m very sorry to hear about the bad experience that Manae and Arya had working with Eric. This news does somewhat taint my enjoyment of this album, but I still think it’s an amazing piece of art to come out of a short (and evidently fraught) grouping of musicians. Raw, emotional, captivating, with cutting lyrics and powerful vocals; I lost myself in the sublime fingerpicking on ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘Feral Rat Anthem’ and found myself crying before I even finished the first listen. A definite mood and cathartic experience.

4. Ollie Ollie Oxen Free by Authority Zero (Concrete Jungle Records)

Authority Zero’s latest album is (unsurprisingly) brimming with fun melodies, clever lines, and phenomenal vocals, making it really enjoyable to sing along to. This is the album of an older and more experienced band reflecting upon the process of aging and maintaining an optimistic outlook despite all the missteps, trials, and dark times that they’ve endured. These songs remind us to “hold on and be strong” because we “belong in good company”, to pick our heads up because “the best is yet to come”; that “nothing good in life comes easy” and that “that’s just life on the back nine”. I love the big choruses and the ska/reggae digressions. And, the bridge on ‘Fire Off Another’ gives me chills every. Single. Time.

3. Manageable Scratchings by Former Member (Memory Music)

This ‘shock drop’ from Jason Shevchuk (of Kid Dynamite, None More Black, and Lagrecia) and producer extraordinaire Will Yip was my best surprise this year. My undying thanks to Jason for managing (hehe) to record this album at home in the rare moments when his 1-year-old son wasn’t around and to Will for lending his compositional and percussion talents. Jason’s familiar honey-rich, raspy vocals are layered over a bluesy hard rock sound, with lots of fun and danceable hooks, and the production is just *chef’s kiss*. Although I enjoyed Former Member’s first release, they absolutely smashed it with this album. Please keep these happy surprises coming. 

2. I’ll Be Honest by Catapults (Uncle M)

Part of what makes CPRW so great is the diverse collection of people who contribute to the site and the wide range of musical tastes that are represented (I know this sounds braggy, but I feel such an affection for everyone who writes for this blog). This year saw some new faces joining the team, including podcast regular Lara. She added a track from Catapults to one of the CPRW playlists earlier this year and I was hooked straight away. This is an amazing first full-length from the German band, whose style of melodic punk is emotional and uplifting. The band aren’t afraid to open up, both lyrically and sonically, with big melodies, honest confessions, and anthemic choruses. A little reminiscent of Spanish Love Songs and there’s a hint of The Swellers, but certainly not derivative in any way. Excited to see how they progress and, with any luck, to catch them live in Europe sometime in the future.

1. Glow On by Turnstile (Roadrunner Records)

In all of the 15+ years we’ve been together, I don’t think there has been a single time that Brett has said “I don’t think you’ll enjoy this but…” that I haven’t immediately fallen in love with whatever he’s (not) recommended. This time, it was Glow On by Turnstile. Glow On works incredibly well as a full album, taking you on a journey of deep grooves, dreamy synths, syncopated beats, and powerful riffs. But you can also dip in and enjoy listening to any one of the songs on its own. There’s some kind of alchemy happening to make the different hardcore and crossover elements all work together and I just could not get enough of it. It seems that Turnstile have not only elevated their own sound but have also altered the landscape of hardcore. A truly extraordinary album that I think we’ll be talking about for many years to come. 

My favourite EPs from this year include: 

Sick Day by Rest Easy – Short and oh so sweet; featuring members from Shook Ones and Daggermouth. 

Model Citizen by Meet Me @ the Altar – The next generation of pop-punk on Fueled by Ramen; high energy jams from start to finish. 

You’re So Cool by Family Dinner – Grungy pop-punk loveliness. Another great recommendation from Lara.

Hey Tori by Cherym – Full of fun and catchy hooks. 

The Summer I Got Good At Guitar by Fresh – Bright and beguiling.

Blame Game by Beach Bunny – Perfection. A definite future classic. 

2021 is also the year I fell down an internet hole and became a card-carrying member of the BTS ARMY. Blame it on procrastination or the need for distraction, but BTS and K-pop became the second research project I didn’t know I needed. I appreciate that there is a popular group who are openly reflecting on the difficulties of depression and of loving oneself (a topic they partnered with UNICEF on and discussed at the UN General Assembly). They also raised money for BLM, spoke out against (and became an important counterpoint to) Asian hate, and K-pop fans hilariously trolled right-wing Twitter this year (hijacking racist hashtags and inflating the projected numbers for a Trump rally). The K-pop industry (like others) has its problems, but I was struck by the strength and coordination of the fandom in rallying around social justice issues. BTS are also just endearingly joyful and dorky, not to mention the layered themes and imagery they have woven through their music relating to Jungian psychology, class/privilege, and personal success, so don’t @ me.  

I want to end off this year’s list by giving a shout out to everyone at the blog and especially to Colin. Supporting artists and sharing a love for music is a wonderful thing and this blog gives a platform to both. I hope to get out to a lot more shows next year and to give out a lot more hugs, but until then I’m wishing everyone a safe and happy end to 2021 and the absolute best for next year. 

CPRW Top Ten Albums of 2021: Part 1

CHRIS

2021. A year like no other (apart from 2020, maybe). It's certainly the year that I've listened to the least amount of new music for a long time. The combination of the pandemic hampering bands from recording and months of delays to vinyl production mean that my new music consumption is way down. With that background, I thought I was going to struggle to find ten releases that I wanted to include in this list. Obviously, I was seriously wrong. 

Going back through what's come out this year, I've found that whilst quantity might be down, quality certainly isn't. What's more, I found it particularly pleasing that my list is a nice mix of releases from bands that have been around for decades, bands that are fairly established and bands putting out their debut albums. 

With that in mind, I think I need to give some honourable mentions… Antagonizers, Charteux, Debt Neglector, Harker, Heart & Lung, Lost Love, Needles//Pins, Pass Away and Zoanoids all put out great records this year that I've had on constant rotation. There's also a whole bunch of others, but I've resisted the temptation to name them all otherwise you'd simply be reading a long list of all the new music I've brought this year. 

Right, on with the top ten and, as clichéd as it sounds, I could have listed these records in multiple different orders and still been pretty happy with the list. Certainly, if you asked me to put the list together again next week, there's a good chance there'd be others in the line up and a 100 per cent chance the order of the top ten would be different. What I'm loving at any moment changes all the time, so lists always tend to be fluid things, but when complying a top 10, you have to be disciplined and like it or not create an order from 10–1. So here's mine as of this day, writing in early December…

10. Over The Overlords by Naked Raygun (Wax Trax! Records)

There was no way I was ever not going to have Naked Raygun on this list. Having loved the band – along with their Chicago peers Pegboy – when I was a teen, a first album in 30 years meant it was always going to represent something special to me. However, as we all know, "representing" and actually truly becoming something special don't always match up. And whilst even I'm not old enough to remember them releasing records in their pomp, like when so many bands release new stuff, let alone after a gap of 30 years, I was nervous this would tarnish those teenage memories. Of course, there was no need to worry. There's a bit of post-punk and plenty of fizzing "poppy" stuff, drawing inevitable comparisons to the Buzzcocks and it's definitely more aligned to their later stuff rather than the earlier releases, but that's no bad thing for me. A truly seminal band, I'm so glad they're back. 

9.  No Way Out But Through by Face To Face (Fat Wreck Chords)

Another band that I've loved for years, although apart from when they were on a brief hiatus in the mid-noughties, unlike Naked Raygun, Face To Face have never stopped putting out great albums. They're probably the band I consider to be the most consistent over many years. That fast, catchy, SoCal punk that defines them and that which has become so recognisable is here again throughout this album. There's nothing new sound wise, but this album doesn't in anyway feel like the band is going through the motions, and again that familiarity is no bad thing for me as I love the Face To Face sound and I just want to hear more of it.

8.  Disappear. Reappear. by Rough Dreams (59 X Records)

Whilst they've released a number of tracks online, this is the debut album from Rough Dreams. It's emo-tinged punk with a bit of grungy shoegaze in there as well. It does remind me of a similar sound that you'd get from the 90s/00s but at the same time it doesn't feel dated or stale. There's plenty to get your blood pumping with fast guitars and passionate sing-a-long choruses – this album is a banger.

7. Irruption by Ship Thieves (Chunksaah Records)

Chris Wollard is punk rock royalty and it's very hard not to like at least some of his back catalogue with the likes of Hot Water Music, The Draft et al. Ship Thieves are his one of his side projects, but this is the first release from the band for five years. You can hear the HWM and The Draft influence in here – raspy and melodic – but it also draws from Chad Darby's other band, Samiam. It's the best of the four albums the band have put out to date and none of the first three were duds, which should make you want to give it a spin. It's a Midwestern meets Gainesville punk sounding record, which is a pretty great combo.

6. The Drovers Inn by Captain Kaiser (Bearded Punk Records, White Russian Records)

Considering how much great European punk there is around at the moment, it was a bit of a surprise that Captain Kaiser's release was the only Euro record to make my list. But, as the only inclusion from Europe this year, Belgium's Captain Kaiser is a superb representative for the continent. Fast and aggressive with super catchy gang vocals, their sophomore album has elements of pop and skate punk, but above all is melodic and tuneful. I know the release of this album was delayed because of the pandemic, so I really hope the band will be able to get back on the road again soon in order to promote it whilst it's still relatively new.

5. Respect The Frequency by The Last Mile (Rad Girlfriend Records)

This band, and consequently this album, came out of nowhere for me. Tipped off about them thanks to a review by friend of CPRW Matt Speer and the blog Ear Nutrition, Canada's TLM went from not even being on my radar one minute to being on constant rotation the next. Released on the always brilliant Rad Girlfriend Records, it's melodic and angsty with loads of influences from hardcore to skate, from the Midwest to Gainesville, via way of Montreal. If you listen really, really hard enough there's even a little bit of ska punk in there, although at its core fans of Hüsker Dü and those early Lawrence Arms records need to check this out.

4. Better Than Me by Articles (Self-released)

When does an EP become an album? When it's at least seven songs long, right? That's good, because these seven songs from Gainesville's Articles are too good to miss out on being included in a best of list. The embodiment of great DIY punk and that particular city's sound, this album was released towards the end of the year and I just haven't stopped playing it. As you'd expect from a recommendation from me, it's catchy and hook filled, No Idea Records type stuff which could have finished even higher up my list had there been a few more songs on here.

3. A Portal For Spirits by Rutterkin (Euclid Place Records)

Without a doubt my favourite discovery of a band through CPRW this year. Textbook melodic punk, gruff gang vocals, and super catchy harmonic anthems – this band and this album has my jam written all over it. Hailing from Florida, they'll be regulars at The Fest for as long as they want, and with plenty of great Floridian orgcore influences in here, the album gives us twelve blistering, punchy hook-laden songs that make this a brilliant debut. 

2. Waste My Heart by The Raging Nathans (Brassneck Records, Dead Broke Rekerds, Rad Girlfriend Records)

The Raging Nathans are as prolific as they are infectious. At a time when everyone else seems to be struggling to get together and record, the Raging Nathans have not only put out a second banger in consecutive years, but they also continue to put out seven inch singles as well. Waste My Heart picks up where last year's Oppositional Defiance left off in the sense that this is more killer melodic midwestern punk, but the sound is a little different. It's more considered, less flustered and more refined, but I still find it rowdy and catchier than last year's album. It's another step up for a band that's able to do both quality and quantity. 

1. Don't Panic by Neckscars (Engineer Records, Sell The Heart Records)

The brand of punk that Neckscars play is my very favourite and this album was always going to feature at the top end of this list. Fans of Dillinger Four should consider this album a must and for fans missing Gameday Regulars you equally need this, as a number of Neckscars were in the latter. It's straight up, gravelly voiced, fist in the air, anthemic, you name it, catchy punk. You might think there's no distinguishing between this and a considerable number of the other records on this list… perhaps… but that doesn't mean it's not great and totally worthy of the top spot.

MARCUS

How was your 2021? I can’t really complain about mine. It wasn’t easy to carve out a ton of time for scouring the internet for new releases between selling our old house and moving into a new one and starting a new job in a new school district, but even with a (thankfully) shorter commute, I still listened to a ton of music this year. Perhaps just as importantly, live music returned to the stage this year (hooray for vaccines and science!), and after not seeing a band in person since January of 2020, I broke my fast by seeing Descendents and Sincere Engineer for the first time, and The Menzingers and Bully for the second time.

Even if your year wasn’t great, there was still great music worth checking out, so let’s get to it. From the looks of the CPRW monthly Spotify playlist, I don’t know if there will be a much overlap between my list and the other writers, so hopefully you find something new and great and different here. If not, I’m sure my colleagues will have something more up your alley.

10. Needles//Pins by Needles//Pins (Dirt Cult Records, Mint Records)

I made it to 2021 without ever having heard of Needles//Pins, but after hearing the gruff-singalong chorus of “A Rather Strained Apologetic”, I knew I had to check these guys out. I dug into their catalogue a bit, and while I’m on the fence about whether I prefer this one or the also excellent Good Night, Tomorrow, the stand out tracks, uh…, stand out more in this one, and it’s a straight up banger. Definitely a group of tunes that seem to be begging to be heard live, so if they ever make it down to Texas from the Great White North, I’ll have to push my way to the front.

9. Existential Risks and Returns by Vacation (Salinas Records)

My biggest musical discovery this year was finding out how much I love so many records that Salinas Records has put out, and Existential Risks and Returns is another hidden, underrated gem. Vacation’s previous release was gloriously lo-fi, and while the production here is a little shinier, it’s far from what you would call “polished”. “Luminary Jerry” and “Liberty Tax Statue Man” are throwback rock jams that would sound like they were written in a few minutes in a garage (in the best way) if not for the well-thought out lyrics and added parts that are only detectable on repeat listenings. 

8. Stuntman by Liquid Mike (Lost Dog Records)

A lot of these tunes would fit right in on Fountains of Wayne’s debut record (and possibly other FoW records, but I’m not as familiar with those), and coming from me, that is very high praise. Poppy with just enough of an edge, it’s almost a throwback to some of the lighter alternative of the 90s that hits my ears very well. Of all the ones on my list, this album is the most fun. I can’t just listen to one song from these guys, I always end up listening to the whole album, but “Couch Potato” is a good place to start if you’re pressed for time. 

7. Mid-Century Modern by Talk Show Host (Disconnect Disconnect Records, Wiretap Records)

Sometimes, I wonder what teenage Marcus would think about current day-Marcus’ music taste, but I know that any version of myself would like Mid-Century Modern. It’s a no-skips record of catchy pop-punk that has great lyrics about a wide a variety of topics. Where they really stand out from their peers is that there’s enough variance between each song to keep it from getting stale. Tracks 2, 3, and 4 (“Blood in the Sand”, “Crisis Actors”, and “Warmest Condolences”) are the best back-to-back-to-back songs that I’ve heard this year, and while not everybody has to love pop-punk, this is done so well that it’s a shame it hasn’t gotten more attention this year. You should dig this.

6. Mikey Erg by Mikey Erg (Brassneck Records, Rad Girlfriend Records)

I’ve tried getting into some of Mikey Erg’s stuff before, but none of it really grabbed me… until this one. Mikey Erg starts off with eight un-skippable pop-punk bangers, including tunes paying homage to his favorite artists and influences (a song about Seattle punk band Sicko, along with some covers of Green Day and Pearl Jam), and I personally guarantee you that “Rumblestrip” is the best song that clocks in at less than 90 seconds that was recorded in 2021. The last two songs – an acoustic number that was recorded in a bathroom and a six minute finale (that Erg himself said is an “overly long noisy dirge track”) might not be for everyone, but even if they’re not your thing, the juice from the first eight songs alone is worth the squeeze.

5. I Won’t Care How You Remember Me by Tigers Jaw (Hopeless Records)

I’m a bit of a late comer to Tigers Jaw, so it may be my recency bias, but I think this is their best work since 2008’s Tigers Jaw (their second album). I really started getting into them when I went to see The Menzingers a few years ago in Dallas and Tigers Jaw opened for them, so this is the first “new” TJ for me. It took a while to grow on me as a full record, but I loved the urgency of “Hesitation” and “Can’t Wait Forever” right from the start, and the title track is the best album opener that I’ve heard in a long while. There are some much slower places on I Won’t Care How You Remember Me that it took a while to really appreciate (so if you weren’t into it on first listen, I’d go back and give it another spin), but, as some of the kids say these days, this whole record “is a mood”. 

4. The First Pandemic by Cluttered (Broken Frames Music)

I made the comment online that if Cluttered’s first two EPs (released at the very end of December 2019 and in June 2020) were combined into one record, it’d be one of my favorites of the year. Ask and ye shall receive! Joining Needles//Pins and Talk Show Host, Cluttered is the third Canadian band with a top ten release on my list, and they are the newest of the bunch. Singer Matty Grace’s intimate lyrics on mental health are relatable to anyone that has lived through the past few years, and the ability to deliver such personal and angst-filled lyrics in a way that makes you want to sing along happily is truly impressive. I can’t wait to see what the future brings now that they’ve got a few shows under their belts. The more songs like “Don’t Hold Your Breath” there are in the world, the better.

3. Confines of Life by Neighborhood Brats (Dirt Cult Records, Taken By Surprise Records)

Neighborhood Brats is another band that I had heard before but, for whatever reason, I kept scrolling past. I wasn’t able to make that same mistake again, because Confines of Life is the kind of record that grabs you by the collar and knocks the ice cream cone out of your hand (though I’m sure the people behind the music would never do anything like that). Equal parts fierce and catchy, it delivers 12 tunes that blend fast street punk with a sound you’d hear from the staunchest ’77 punkers, and delivers it with the political heat you’d expect to hear from today’s climate. “Transitional Housing” is my personal favorite, but don’t sleep on the instrumental “All Nazis Must Die” and the topical “Harvey Weinstein (Is a Symptom)”.

2. Bless My Psyche by Sincere Engineer (Hopeless Records)

It’s really hard not putting this one at the very top of the list, because it feels like all these songs were written just for me at just this time. Although there are a few times when the differences between this one and Rhombithian may ruffle a few feathers, the honesty in the lyrics punches you in the gut the same, and the delivery by Deanna Belos still as unique and, for lack of a better word, sincere. Bless My Psyche is here to make you feel better about wherever you’re at. Whether you’re feeling exhausted (“Out Of Reach”, “Dragged Across the Finish Line”), anti-social (“Recluse in the Making”), or just having a bad day (“Hurricane of Misery”), this record is there to give you a couch to crash on and a friend to commiserate with. It’s at least cheaper than therapy.

1. Like A Stone by Remember Sports (Big Scary Monsters, Father/Daughter Records)

This is an incredible record. When I first heard the lead single, “Pinky Ring”, it didn’t really hook me, but after listening to the whole record all the way through, I’m not sure that any one particular song was really written to “stand out”. While Remember Sports jumps around from up-tempo indie-pop to contemplative alt-country, it’s the snapshot of these incredibly well-written jams all coming from the same group is what makes it remarkable. Don’t look at this cool tree, check out this incredible forest! It’s a decent departure from (or progression of) their previous sound, so you’d be forgiven if you thought this was a completely different band, but in my opinion, it should appeal to fans of many sub-genres. My Last.FM account tells me that this was my most listened to album this year (not even counting the number of times I spun the vinyl), and for my money, it was the best record I found this year.