ILM’s Top 77 Albums of 2021

Also those lyrics are so corny, why do people keep posting them???

― emil.y, Wednesday, February 9, 2022 11:19 AM (thirty-five minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

bc we have a different opinion than you?

A country song with corny lyrics? Whaaa?

To be fair, I could see them working in a song and being effective. A lot of lyrics that work in a song context are terrible when written down. My reaction more was that people were C&Ping them multiple times as examples of greatness, when they're really just bog-standard lines.

fwiw, I missed that imago had already quote-pasted them, so apologies if the repetition was annoying. you should listen to the song, though! (if you haven't)

https://i.imgur.com/1uV6OHt.jpg
36. The Weather Station - Ignorance
209 points / 8 votes
Video from the album: “Robber”
The Weather Station (Tamara Lindeman)

there was a great album released last year for those that dislike lyrics
https://willandthehumbugs.bandcamp.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-one-hum-wonders

weather station album had some moments but left me cold overall

Ignorance is a really lush whirling thing overall; not sure anything tops Robber but it's all good stuff. I think I still love her previous album the most though.

really like the first two songs on this but the rest of it to me is just tasteful but dull canada rock

https://i.imgur.com/IZ6zzoD.jpg
35. Wau Wau Collectif - Yaral Sa Doom
212 points / 6 votes / 1 #1 vote
Video from the album: “Mouhamodou Lo and His Children”

Very interested in the Ran Cap Duoi record, new to me as well.

Voted for a Jane Weaver track rather than the album, but I like the album. And did vote for the Weather Station, tuneful bunch of songs. (I like them best when they remind me of Christine McVie.)

weather station album had some moments but left me cold overall

― roflrofl fight (voodoo chili), Wednesday, February 9, 2022 1:26 PM (three minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

hey now don't shoot the messenger

lol dull Canada rock. CBCcore

enjoyed the wau wau

yessss I voted for Yaral Sa Doom, love it

awesome to see this so high! It was my #2 but I kind of regret that, it really was the album I enjoyed the most from 2021

I wanted to like that Wau Wau Collectif album more than I did. There's some really cool parts to it but the whole thing just didn't connect with me that much. Perfectly happy to see it here, though.

lol evan i was trying to find a weather related pun but was too lazy, thank you for your service

this preview track is a genuinely lovely vibe at least

I adore that track, but the whole album has a lot more range than that one might suggest

https://i.imgur.com/nSVYP1a.jpg
34. The Bug - Fire
216 points / 7 votes
Song from the album: “Demon”
The Bug - Pressure

https://i.imgur.com/HcEh9vW.jpg
33. Richard Dawson & Circle - Henki
218 points / 9 votes
Video from the album: “Lily”
Richard Dawson (raucous experimental UK folk racket w/ intense picaresque realness vox)

loved henki, especially ivy

Low on my ballot but yes obv I voted for this, Dawson never misses. Circle was perhaps the junior partner in terms of the songwriting share, but the closing track Pitcher is where they shine brightest. Generally quite a backloaded album; Methusaleh and Lily are also standouts imo

Ah yes, this was one of the ones I *was* expecting to place. Was nervous about the project sounding great on paper but being disappointing, but I was not disappointed. Really fucking good stuff.

I wasn't mad keen when Dawson started moving towards band projects in general, and there are some things he's done where I have felt like it adds nothing to his older & more raw solo work, but when he gets proggy and epic it's wonderful.

Would have voted it higher but for the first track basically retreading the Civil Servant verse without the banger chorus; I'd probably recommend starting at Lily

No wait I mean Ivy lol

might be my fav rd record since nothing important
do love the stuff in between too

https://i.imgur.com/ub2JhS7.jpg
32. Halsey - If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
225 points / 8 votes
Video from the album: “Easier than Lying”
Halsey

I like the idea of the Halsey record but don't actually like it, and yet I'm surprised it wasn't higher.

Was getting worried that Wau Wau wasn't going to make it. I was the #1 voter on that.

I tried with this one, but just couldn't connect with it

Surprised this is this high. Three or four bangers do not an album make

Yay, Henki! My #5. It is still growing on me with every listen - an album that unfolds. Silphium is a joy.

https://i.imgur.com/uro7OKy.jpg
31. Snail Mail - Valentine
235 points / 7 votes / 1 #1 vote
Video from the album: “Ben Franklin”
Snail Mail

Here’s our results so far!

31. Snail Mail - Valentine
32. Halsey - If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
33. Richard Dawson & Circle - Henki
34. The Bug - Fire
35. Wau Wau Collectif - Yaral Sa Doom
36. The Weather Station - Ignorance
37. Jane Weaver - Flock
38. HTRK - Rhinestones
39.(TIE) Lingua Ignota - SINNER GET READY
39.(TIE) Wild Up - Julius Eastman Vol.1: Femenine
41. Rochelle Jordan - Play With the Changes
42. Tyler, the Creator - CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST
43. Deafheaven - Infinite Granite
44. Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert & Jon Randall - Marfa Tapes
45. Rắn Cạp Đuôi Collective - Ngủ Ngày Ngay Ngày Tận Thế
46. Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales
47. aya - im hole
48. Insides - Soft Bonds
49. Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club
50. Flock of Dimes - Head of Roses
51. Nite Jewel - No Sun
52. Bicep - Isles
53. Yu Su - Yellow River Blue
55. Joy Orbison - still slipping, vol 1
55. Mogwai - As The Love Continues
56. Loraine James - Reflection
57. Arab Strap - As Days Get Dark
58. Natural Information Society & Evan Parker - descension (Out of Our Constrictions)
59. Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble - NOW
60. Saint Etienne - I've Been Trying To Tell You
61. Mach-Hommy - Pray for Haiti
62. Sarah Davachi - Antiphonals
63. Howie Lee - Birdy Island
64. Black Midi - Cavalcade
65. Vijay Iyer Trio - Uneasy
66. Altın Gün - Yol
67. Kabza de Small, DJ Maphorisa & Tresor - Rumble in the Jungle
68. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d’s Pee AT STATE’S END!
69. Can - Live in Stuttgart 1975
70. Vanishing Twin - Ookii Gekkou
71. Eris Drew - Quivering in Time
72. Emeka Ogboh - Beyond the Yellow Haze
73. Spellling - The Turning Wheel
74. Hayley Williams - Flowers for Vases / Descansos
75. Doja Cat - Planet Her
76. Manchester Orchestra - The Million Masks of God
77. Various Artists ‎ - Heisei No Oto- Japanese Left-Field Pop From The CD Age, 1989-1996

interesting day full of stuff i haven't heard.

wau wau collectif was one of my favs of the pre-voting process

I didn't save my actual ballot but I'm pretty sure only three things I voted for have shown up so far. I'd be shocked if more than three others make it into the top 30. Is it hopeless to think that maybe Colleen's The Tunnel and the Clearing still has a chance??

Moka, was the image in that recap intentional or do you want me to take it out for you?

Also, yeah, I feel like today was interesting. More of a variety in styles and approaches. Good day.

im wondering if Lingua Ignota, Deafheaven and Circle will be the closest we get to metal on here. still have hope for Rhododendron but also not really metal.

New to Ran Cap - sounds great here now. Voted for Wau Wau and HTRK. This is a handsome list but so few voters are making stuff place. That's a little sad.

there's a metal album that was my #1, but I have no idea if anyone else is voting for it

i'm excited that chvrches haven't placed yet :)

This Deafheaven record is confusing. I think I like it a lot but by turn it reminds me of different bands. There's a big Morrissey / Marr sounds in some songs. Bits sound like Mogwai. There's also some twee sounds. Is it The Posies. Odd. I'll need to spend more time with this.

I'm guessing that's top 10

xp

Moka, was the image in that recap intentional or do you want me to take it out for you?

― emil.y

An accident! Yes please remove em

Lol the way the Deafheaven album has been described so far is hyping me up.