Favorite Music of 2021

For me, 2021 belonged to Lake Street Dive, despite the departure of guitarist/trumpeter/songwriter Mike “McDuck” Olson. Not only did they come up with their best album yet, they also put on quite a show at Wolf Trap a few months ago.

 

Songs

 

1.      Same Old News – Lake Street Dive (album cut)

2.      Hypotheticals – Lake Street Dive (#28, WTMD Top 89)

3.      Sanctuary – Hiss Golden Messenger

4.      Leave The Door Open – Bruno Mars/Anderson .Paak/Silk Sonic

5.      justified – Kacey Musgraves (#38)

6.      Skate – Bruno Mars/Anderson .Paak/Silk Sonic

7.      Never Leave You – The Record Company (#48)

8.      Girl From Rio – Anitta

9.      Levitating – Dua Lipa

10.   Quiet Town – The Killers

11.   Call Me A Fool – Valerie June (#8)

12.   We Are Between – Modest Mouse (#33)

13.   Know That I Know – Lake Street Dive (#67)

14.   How High – The Record Company

15.   Kiss Me More – Doja Cat ft. SZA

16.   Easy On Me – Adele (#6)

17.   Take My Breath – The Weeknd

18.   Go Crazy – Chris Brown X Young Thug

19.   662 – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

20.   Golden – Harry Styles

 

Albums

 

1.      Obviously – Lake Street Dive (an obvious choice) (#2, mvyradio Top 25)

2.      Fatal Mistakes – Del Amitri

3.      star-crossed – Kacey Musgraves

4.      30 – Adele (#6)

5.      Play Loud – The Record Company

6.      Endless Arcade – Teenage Fanclub

 

Favorite Best-Of Albums: Bruce Cockburn – Waiting For A Miracle

Folk-rocker Bruce Cockburn (COH-burn) is not particularly well-known in the U.S., although “Wondering Where The Lions Are” was a modest hit in 1980, and a couple other tracks got some FM radio airplay. He’s a much bigger figure north of the border, where he’s a member of the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame and has won numerous Juno awards (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammies). While many of his self-written songs address political, environmental, and social justice issues, many of his best efforts are more personal in nature.

 

While this 18-track compilation only includes the beginning of Cockburn’s still-active career – its full title is Waiting for a Miracle: Singles 1970-1987 – it does nicely cover the period of his greatest success, especially in this country. (“If A Tree Falls”, from 1989, is the only later song of his that I’m familiar with.)

 

Favorite Tracks:

If I Had A Rocket Launcher

Wondering Where The Lions Are

Lovers In A Dangerous Time

Mama Wants To Barrelhouse All Night Long

The Coldest Night Of The Year

 

You Pay Your Money And You Take Your Chance

Burn

Silver Wheels

The Trouble With Normal

Waiting For A Miracle