Hey, you’ll never guess who’s at the door - 2022! What?! At this hour?! But we’re only half way…etc etc. Still reeling from the heavy blow to the head that was 2020 and all the symptoms that came with that concussion, we’ve barely recalibrated our thoughts into facing forwards again and the world is winding up to throw yet another year at us. Why are we even bothered to go back outside again? Oh yeah - Gigs! Gigs are back - Whoop! But now there’s a new variant. Eek. And that variant has a ‘stealth’ strain. confused.com, I want to support music, support society and community, find a way to break the shackles and not just exist but really live alongside covid. But I still want to keep myself and my loved ones alive. We still have a long way to go. Some live music has been experienced with understandable hesitancy but pleasingly fulfilling results. It will continue to be to some degree, at considered pace but there’s no hurry. I appreciate that’s possibly easy to say from someone who doesn’t rely on live music for his existence but I come from the school of thought that favours small positive steps forward rather than risk another entire shutdown and further loss of possible future talent that would be all of our loss.
There’s always new music but I’m sure it’s not just me that’s aware of the hit of destruction from the last two years. Covid has cut a violent and scathing blow to the music industry and the productivity can be felt this year. We mourn the loss of so much that could’ve been.
That said, there has been undoubted quality. And here at Tracksuite we are enormously grateful and cheered by that. Here’s our list of ten top selected albums for 2021
Sturgill Simpson - The Ballad of Dood & Juanita
Never an artist to fall shy of productivity, the outlaw Sturgill Simpson spent last year’s lockdowns entrenched once more in his own exploration of mountain music roots. The fruits of his efforts were, firstly, the so-so ‘Cuttin Grass’, released at the end of 2020. But then, in August this year, came The Ballad of Dood and Juanita. This unexpected concept album, disguised as a spaghetti western love story so straight off the page as to be almost comical, packs a punch that will send you reeling as if from the main character’s mighty fist. The story is as old as the screech of the fiddle strings and there’s a stoicism that keeps these songs on the trail, matching mood and melody perfectly. Although he’s crafted the perfect soundtrack to a classic tale, he never does succumb to an obvious temptation to croon or filler any gaps with tedious instrumental. These songs are the six gun bullet points, marking the key elements to this story, nailing the poignancy at its heart, that could be in film for real were it not for it feeling like it would be a lesser visual than Sturgill has painted it in music here.
Despite the difficulty to pick a single track, it seems obvious to select his collaborative track with the legendary Willie Nelson - ‘Jaunita’. Although Willie only plays the guitar break, this song’s very essence is infused with him.
Andrew Bird and Jimbo Mathus - These 13
Similarly immersed in American folk music, the latest collaboration between Tracksuite favourite Andrew Bird and Jimbo Mathus of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, brings a release of sublime roots influenced songs. No strangers the other’s take on the old country sound, with Bird once a touring member of the SNZ, there’s a perfect meeting place between Mathus knowledgable antique sound and Bird’s more indie boundaries.
Arguably the most talked about country music collaboration of 2021 was the recently released Raise the Roof by the recognised voices of Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, a follow up to their fantastic Raising Sand from 2007. As good as that is, it can’t touch Raising Sand, and despite a couple of stand outs - it doesn’t have the consistent depth and quality that this complete work has. This album doesn’t feel like a quick get together between these two, but more the connection between two musical souls producing a perfect sound long lost and sorely missed. The best of 50 playlist includes the painfully beautiful closer ‘Three White Horses and a Golden Chain’.
Amythyst Kiah - Wary + Strange
Tennessean singer songwriter Amethyst Kiah first came to Tracksuite’s attention through the collaborative album ‘Songs of Our Native Daughters’ from 2019, alongside the supergroup line up of Rhiannon Giddens (more from her later), Leyla McCalla and Allison Russell. Her track Black Myself, a stand out track from that album, nominated for a Grammy award, has found its way on to her third album Wary + Strange, released in June on Rounder Records. It’s not a straight lift and drop though. It’s been reworked up from the acoustic, rootsy sensibilities of the native daughters project to pack more of a pulse heavy and electrified punch befitting this statement album; a work of strongly poignant and emotional heft. This feels like a collection of songs that Kiah always wanted to make and was always destined to release but just needed that right time. Now is mostly definitely her time. This album is a sublime wander through rock, blues, folk, country, Americana and pop. Her soul lays bare in every story of her struggle, bereavement and anguish. At every point there’s a fascinating balance between tenderness and strength that’s impossible to not be immediately drawn towards. On the playlist is Hangover Blues, a breathtakingly powerful self reflection on her difficult relationship with alcohol.
Flyte - This Is Really Going To Hurt
I’m more than happy to accept that it’s just the ageing process taking it’s toll on my own ears and musical brain but a lot of this year’s best albums selection have an overall air of music that’s more interested in winding the clock backward than reaching forward. I certainly have no problem with either and I’ve heard some fascinating new sounds produced this year from artists like Little Simz, Equiknoxx, Joy Orbison, McKinley Dixon and more. For me, each album in this selection are full pieces of work from artists who understand the history of their genres and are crafting full explorations of joyous past times in music. No more so than London band Flyte’s second album, released in April. A band so thoroughly soaked in classic sounding 70’s American folk rock, the sight of them without copious and expressive facial hair, corduroy and denim flares can come as a shock. Facial hair they have, and much like the sound they produce its far more tastefully thought through and crafted. These songs are incredible, stepping up significantly from their 2017 debut The Loved Ones, to produce a selection of classic, spirited, roof down gems. Of course of you listen closely, you’ll hear the beak up heartache but its coated so heavily in that freedom sound as to present itself as the soundtrack to breaking loose and moving on.
The Allergies - Promised Land
Another nostalgic work is the new album from Bristolian producers Rackabeat and DJ Moneyshot, aka The Allergies, released in October on Jalapeño. For nearly a decade this pair have been producing a steady stream of highest quality funky bangers to rock any party. Their knowledge of the roots of the funk, hip-hop and breakbeat that feeds in to their 90s feel big beat sound is so clear in every intro, baseline, sample and drop. They are truly masters of this flavour and one which perfectly pushes the buttons of this former big beat junkie. Granted, every track safely embeds itself quickly in a place anyone who knows the genre will pick up immediately and be comfortable in, and this serves to speed the process of boots on the dancefloor. We know the message, it’s full on and funky and purely designed to move your feet. That works for me. Especially with a savvy selection of featured voices like Ugly Duckling’s Andy Cooper, Dynamite MC, Marietta Smith and Lyrics Born to sprinkle their own magic on top.
In the Top 50 track playlist is the album’s first single ‘Lean On You’ featuring the legendary Dynamite MC. An absolute destroyer that sums up exactly what these guys are all about.
Nancy - The Seven Foot Tall Post Suicidal Feel Good Blues
The first album that had me sitting up and taking notice this year came along fresh and prompt in late January from Brighton’s ubiquitous psyche rock king, Jamie Hall, under his Nancy monicker. It’s a full length celebratory confessional grab bag of glorious treats, where this giant of a singer songwriter (in every way) explores his brutal life as an individual who’s tastes and style have brought scorn from the prejudiced around him. It’s a fairground ride through the peaks and troughs of an often suicidal existence to the joyous release from a character who has found a way to break through and shine from his stage, shaking off societal judgement and rejoicing in himself alongside those who are enjoying his incredible music. There’s stunning inventiveness throughout this album, crashing scuzz rock ditties drop down to warped psychotic ballads and back again.
The Top 50 tracks playlist includes the title track but check our the spiralling Clic Clac and late Beatles sounding Don’t Pass Me By for more flavours of this impressive work.
Tony Allen - There Is No End
The posthumous album from a legendary pioneer of Afrobeat. The former Fela Kuti collaborator spent an incredibly prolific 60 year career shaping funk, soul and jazz through a genre that has become more and more prevalent in contemporary production, so it’s a perfectly fitting end to Allen’s journey that this final album brings a collaborative collection of songs with a highly impressive array of fresh emerging voices and veteran talent. Never confuse this with being one of those albums where an ageing performer seeks to prop themselves up on the zeitgeist or fill the emerging gaps in their abilities with that of those coming through and fighting for space. This is cool meets cool. It is a veritable feast of raw and established names like Danny Brown, Jeremiah Jae, Sampa the Great and Lava La Rue. The Top 50 track playlist choosing the first album release ‘Cosmosis’, an intense and insistent tune that brings together grime artist Skepta with Nigerian poet Ben Okri. It’s a perfect encapsulation of an album that proves the fact that Tony Allen’s great legacy is in safe hands.
Squid - Bright Green Field
Probably Tracksuite’s most anticipated album of 2021 after more than a few fantastic teaser releases like ‘Houseplants’ and ‘Match Bet’. This debut album of all new material released in May, on Warp, certainly did not disappoint. The Brighton post punk 5 piece apparently lost out on a European tour from Covid lockdowns in 2020 and instead spent their time putting together this incredible album. We have surely to thank Covid for some things. Its one of two albums in this year’s ‘Best of’ list most easily labelled Post Punk and Squid prove themselves capable of much more by flexing their musicianship muscles throughout this work. These epic sprawls swagger with deft jazz touches, dub style, krautrock throb and punk edge. There’s also more depth to their music now in comparison to those early, more playful singles. A serious, angrier and more politically motivated aspect only adds to what was already a fantastic listen.
The awesome and vitriolic ‘Pamphlets' is the pick for the Top 50 track playlist.
Geese - Projector
Another band surfing this year’s post punk wave is another five piece, this time a bunch of very talented teenage high school grads from Brooklyn who play as Geese. Their debut album dropped just last month on Partisan Records. Much like Squid, post punk is a bit of first impression sticker. The most obvious influence in this sound is the noughties indie rock cool of The Strokes, impossible to believe the vocals aren’t Casablancas at times. There are echos of lots of rock royalty in these tunes, from the spit of early Arctic Monkeys and Idles to new wave greats that were around way before these kids. One thing you can’t do is judge these guys on their age, because nowhere is it evident other than the conviction in its sound. They have been playing together for the near majority of their young years and this comes through in the quality of the product. The perfect match of youthful enthusiasm and talent, coupled with the skills of go-to producer Dan Carey at the helm, makes for a mighty heft of a record that demands your attention.
Selected for the Top 50 track playlist is ‘Opportunity is Knocking’.
Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi - They’re Calling Me Home
Released in April is Rhiannon Giddens new album They’re Calling Me Home. Once again she returns to the core elements of folk music, made with her partner in music and in life, multi instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi. Possibly inspired by their lockdown together in their new place in Ireland, you can feel them exploring the timeless but certainly topical themes of home and death, it features covers of well known staples like I Shall Not Be Moved, O Death and Amazing Grace. The latter, a stunning reinvention of the work, with just drum and wordless voice, gives it a cinematic expansiveness beyond it’s relatively simple production. Giddens’ voice is so near to perfection that it always, for me, seems to initially be unfitting in folk music, where a singer’s voice seemingly broken by the ravages of hard living appears to settle quicker. In her case, however, she always crafts her music with such delicacy and poise that when she sings the opera of Monteverdi on ‘Si Dolce è’l Tormento’ and echoes that on songs like ‘When I Was In My Prime’ it feels almost like no other voice can exist.
Listen to Amazing Grace in the Top 50 track playlist coming right here to the blog very soon…