ILM’s Top 77 Albums of 2021

I feel the same as Alfred about Jazmine. It's really great to see her have such a good year with all the acclaim, but it's weird to see her get it for this album when she already put out three classics. I was expecting her to continue that winning streak based on Lost One and Pick Up Your Feelings. It wasn't just about there being too many interludes, I just found the other new songs fairly forgettable. She's capable of better. Hopefully people who have discovered her through this era will go back and check out Reality Show and Fearless.

Flock Of Dimes album sure squanders its promising Big Thiefy opening two tracks eh

― imago, Wednesday, February 9, 2022 9:09 AM (thirty-six minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

...no?

― roflrofl fight (voodoo chili), Wednesday, February 9, 2022 8:46 AM (forty minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Hm, "Infinite" is pretty interesting.

Jazmine Sullivan album is fine but maybe doesn't feel like a full-length

like i care about that

― Reader, I buried him (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, February 9, 2022 9:15 AM (twelve minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Isn't it technically an EP?

This is sound collage on the walls of a derelict amusement arcade in the middle of a rainforest.

dk country

Speaking of country

https://i.imgur.com/OLOFr4d.jpg
44. Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert & Jon Randall - Marfa Tapes
Video from the album: “Geraldene”
Rolling Country 2021

188 points / 6 votes

Very nice album. Didn't vote for it or go back to it a lot, except for "In His Arms," but I love the vibe of it.

i think this record is one of the rare instances i'll glowingly associate an album with the pandemic. felt like being invited into someone's home

followed by cigarettes and sangria in the backyard

45. Rắn Cạp Đuôi Collective - Ngủ Ngày Ngay Ngày Tận Thế

Well, fuck me sideways, I didn't expect this one to place! Thanks to table for introducing it to me.

Between the album cover and the music, I cannot believe this Ran Cap Duoi DIDN'T come out on Hausu Mountain

YES RAN CAP.
― we need outrage! we need dicks!! (the table is the table), Wednesday, February 9, 2022 4:19 PM (twenty-five minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

I read this as YES CAN RAP and thought it was Vietnamese progressive rock with alto tenor rap vocals.

i think this record is one of the rare instances i'll glowingly associate an album with the pandemic. felt like being invited into someone's home

― STOCK FIST-PUMPER BRAD (BradNelson), Wednesday, February 9, 2022 9:39 AM (fifty-five seconds ago) bookmarkflaglink

This was top 5 for me (but I'm a Lambert super fan). Seemed like a mere curiosity when it first came out; a nice side project and an opportunity for Lambert to spotlight another duo of underappreciated songwriters.

But the more I listened to it the more I came to respect what they had achieved. Incredibly intimate recording that transports me each time I hear it to the Texas desert. On good speakers or headphones it really feels like you're fireside with friends. And as you mentioned, that was especially moving to me given the circumstances of the pandemic.

I would also be into that, tbh.

xp

https://i.imgur.com/d3AuWP5.jpg
43. Deafheaven - Infinite Granite
189 points / 7 votes / 1 #1 vote
Video from the album: “In Blur”
Deafheaven

Okay OKAY I'll listen to this. But they'd best have...changed

There are some great lyrics on The Marfa Tapes, too. Not what you might expect from an album fronted by a superstar.

e.g. "Anchor": When the moonlight hits the water/ The reflection hits your eyes/ I can't take it any longer/ And this rope is pulling tight/ Be my anchor, pull me under/ In this river here tonight/ 'Cause I can't breathe when I'm with you/ When I'm with you, I can fly

Musically diverse day, a little bit of everything for everyone.

Haha, what? I haven't listened to this so I can't pass judgement, but as a band who were much maligned a decade ago I'm surprised to see ilxors being fond of them in 2022. Is this actually very good or something?

this record was surprisingly good

Where they maligned? I thought Sunbather did very good with fans and critics

*well

Lol true. Maybe they were just maligned by me.

Deafheaven are still going? Welp.

the best deafheaven album, can't talk about this record objectively bc it aligned with a period of late summer depression

There are some great lyrics on The Marfa Tapes, too. Not what you might expect from an album fronted by a superstar.

e.g. "Anchor": When the moonlight hits the water/ The reflection hits your eyes/ I can't take it any longer/ And this rope is pulling tight/ Be my anchor, pull me under/ In this river here tonight/ 'Cause I can't breathe when I'm with you/ When I'm with you, I can fly

― Indexed, Wednesday, 9 February 2022 15:54 (six minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

this is some prime Tayloritis lmao

sadly forced to stop listening by some work, but this Ran Cap Duoi was ofc sounding awesome

I voted for Deafheaven but didn't think it would make it. This is the first record of theirs I've been into.

It sounds like Suede a bit

^oh don't taunt me haha

Haha oh it really does though - listen to In Blur. This is pretty great.

https://i.imgur.com/Jj2bQe7.jpg
42. Tyler, the Creator - CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST
196 points / 7 votes
Video from the album: “CORSO”
Tyler the Creator

never thought the best thing about tyler was his rappin-ass rapping, so i enjoyed this one without going gaga over it

Flower Boy remains my favourite of his by some stretch, but this had its moments (JUGGERNAUT).

God why is the Deafheaven so good? The songs build and break so satisfyingly, which is the opposite of my experience with them before.

exactly!!!! re: deafheaven

they weirdly got so much more dynamic when they deemphasized the metal

It's beautiful, haha. Like if Mesarthim made a straight shoegaze album.

Rắn Cạp Đuôi Collective sounding great this morning, thanks again, never heard it before

https://i.imgur.com/IyMtdif.jpg
41. Rochelle Jordan - Play With the Changes
199 points / 6 votes / 1 #1 vote
Video from the album: “Already”
rolling r&b 2021

hell yeaeh

really good album, effortlessly cool

i didn't vote, only have myself to blame, but way too low

fwiw, emil.y and others, it was user uptown churl who brought the Ran Cap to the weird/unclassifiable thread— I just nominated it.

Deafheaven was my #1. Came out at the right time and hit me like a wave. Finally went all in on their shoegaze/post-rock side and they nailed it imo. Also lots of beautiful personal memories associated with this one.

Great to see the Rochelle, glorious fun throughout. Was my #5 and I now think I underrated it; have totally hammered it since I voted

Deafheaven album was a joy, and made me reevaluate the band. I even like Sunbather now.

I had liked Sunbather and Ordinary Corrupt Human Love a lot and didn't quite click with this, though I thought "Great Mass of Colour" was a really good single. I should probably go back to it.