Musoscribe’s Best of 2021: New Releases
Picking my favorite new releases for 2021 has been exceedingly difficult. I have no way of knowing to what degree (if any) the infernal and tragic pandemic had the silver-lining effect of inspiring so many of these artists to create superb works, but whatever the reason, I stumbled across a bounty of great new music this year.
My first-draft “short” list had 20 titles on it; I’ve whittled that down to a mere ten, but it’s worth emphasizing that the others are nearly as great (and as my mood might strike me on some given random day, as good or better). Nevertheless, without further ado, in no particular order, my ten favorite new releases of 2021 (with links to further reading) are below.
- Wesley Stace – Late Style – a departure from form that really works
- Richie Mayer – The Inn of Temporary Happiness – a collection of superb ear-candy pop songs
- Mushroom – Songs of Dissent – Weird, wonderful, free-form and unclassifiable
- Mark & the Clouds — Waves – Psych-flavored melodic rock that’ll take you back
- The Bablers — Psychadilly Circus – How to channel Beatles influences into originality
- Trees Speak — PostHuman – Krautrock from Arizona; they get better with each release
- Rick Hromadka — Better Days – Superb solo outing from Maple Mars’ main man
- Douglas Lee – Themes for Falling Down Stairs – Eclectic, original and highly compelling
- Rachel Flowers – Bigger on the Inside – Prog that’s equal parts adventurous, accessible and moving
…and the hands-down winner as my Favorite Release of 2021: The Orange Peels — Celebrate the Moments of Your Life
Highly honorable mentions go to these as well:
- Brandee Younger – Somewhere Different
- Sorrows – Love Too Late…the real album
- LMNOP – whatNOP
- Wanderlust — All a View
- The Eyebrows – Fight/Flight
- Your Academy – s/t
- The Tummies – 9:30 Girl
- Ed Palermo Big Band – Great Un-American Songbook Vol. III
- Gretchen’s Wheel — Such Open Sky
- Louis Philippe & the Night Mail – Thunderclouds
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.