Just Mason’s Favorite Albums of 2021
2021.12.11 by Just Mason
Just Mason’s Favorite Albums of 2021:
The Best Records Released This Year, According to a 40-Year-Old Millennial
This year saw some absolutely amazing releases…so many, in fact, that I had a hard time narrowing my list down to 50 outstanding albums. This is easily my most deep, diverse, and dynamic annual playlist yet. For those who don’t have the time to sit down and listen to each album individually, I recommend sampling it on shuffle until you find a record you want to dig into all the way. Kick back, relax your mind, breathe out all the stress and frustration of 2021, and groove your way into 2022. Cheers, y’all…
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Aesop Rock & Blockhead — Garbology
Artful, anti-concept album from abstract hip-hop super-duo
Tony Allen — There Is No End
Posthumous, collaborative hip-hop album from legendary Afrobeat drummer (RIP)
Babe Rainbow — Changing Colours
Mellow and melodic surf-psych set from the blonde boys down under
Bachelor — Doomin’ Sun
The tasty debut joint venture by artists Jay Som & Palehound
Courtney Barnett — Things Take Time, Take Time
Brilliant songwriting as usual on this introspective release
Matt Berry — The Blue Elephant
Concept album about Joseph Merrick by the comedian/musician…of course
Cochemea — Vol. II: Baca Sewa
Stellar soundscape of global grooves from The Dap-Kings’ saxophonist
Death from Above 1979 — Is 4 Lovers
Canadian duo return with a heavy-hitting aural assault
Dinosaur Jr. — Sweep Into Space
This zoned-out, fuzz-filled effort is the alt-rockers’ best in years
Dumpstaphunk — Where Do We Go From Here
New Orleans’ funk-fusion outfit led by Neville bros. Ivan and Ian
Steve Earle — J.T.
A great country blues record dedicated to his late son, Justin Townes Earle
Emancipator & Asher Fulero — Dab Record, Vol. 1
At times loose, at others tight, this dreamy set is outta sight
The Felice Brothers — From Dreams to Dust
A varied and evocative record by NYC’s foremost folk outfit
Robert Finley — Sharecropper’s Son
Heartfelt & soulful venture from the bluesman, produced by Dan Auerbach
Béla Fleck — My Bluegrass Heart
Hot bluegrass set featuring many of the genre’s greatest ever
Aaron Frazer — Introducing…Aaron Frazer
Crooner’s silky smooth falsetto glides over tasty, soulful arrangements
The Heritage Orchestra, Jules Buckley & Ghost Note — The Breaks
A fire-roasted, groove-filled, funk-infused collaboration
Joan As Police Woman, Tony Allen & Dave Okumu — The Solution is Restless
This singular, afrobeat/cabaret jazz project was among Allen’s last (RIP)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard — L.W.
A tasty set by the perennially weird experimental Aussie psych-punk septet
Femi Kuti — Stop the Hate
Eldest son of afrobeat legend Fela Kuti drops social justice record
La Femme — Paradigmes
A tour de force of nostalgic Americana from France’s preeminent psych-rockers
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio — I Told You So
Seattle-based trio featuring Jimmy James conjures funky spirit of The Meters
The Limiñanas & Laurent Garnier — De Película
Psych-rock duo & French DJ create the “acid house” your folks warned you about
Madlib – Sound Ancestors
Produced by Four Tet, the beats flow on a spiritual set
Menahan Street Band – The Exciting Sounds of Menahan Street Band
Another delicious, funky set from the celebrated sextet
Mild High Club — Going Going Gone
Smooth synth & soulful beats suggest 1980s public television meets yacht rock
Mogwai — As the Love Continues
Scottish post-rockers put up a deep and wide-ranging sonic endeavor
The Mountain Goats — Dark In Here
Darnielle & co. with a set of typically mellifluous and moody songs
Napoleon Da Legend & Amerigo Gazaway — The World Changed
Hip-hop collaboration hits with lyrics and beats both fresh & fabulous
Nightmares on Wax — Shout Out! To Freedom…
An evocative, sometimes provocative set by the vinyl visionary DJ
Otis McDonald — Beats, Volumes 1-4
Soulful & smooth, Shuggie Otis meets Michael McDonald on quad album by Joe Bagale
ØZWALD — young suburban minds
Beatlesesque melodies over dreamy retro pop by the dulcet duo
Painted Shrines — Heaven and Holy
Jeremy Earl of Woods + Glenn Donaldson of the Jewelled Antler collective
Ryan Prewitt — Funk Aesthetics
Funk, soul, rhythm & groove by the excellent Nashville producer
Silk Sonic — An Evening with Silk Sonic
Bruno Mars + Anderson .Paak + Special Guest Host Bootsy Collins = ‘Nuff Said
Kira Skov — Spirit Tree
Danish singer-songwriter joined by an array of guests on haunting album of duets
Sons of Kemet — Black to the Future
Pain & passion pour from this set about racial injustice by British jazz supergroup
Stone Giants — West Coast Love Stories
Amon Tobin’s new project explores spatial ambience in a technological dystopia
Matt Sweeney & Bonnie Prince Billy — Superwolves
A beautifully (and creepily) crafted record from the dark, dynamic duo
True Loves — Sunday Afternoon
Seattle’s Jimmy James’ funk & soul octet evokes The JBs
Viagra Boys — Welfare Jazz
Psychobilly post-punk band satirizes the absurdities of the modern male psyche
Witch Egg — Witch Egg
Osees’ John Dwyer & guests launch avant-garde, garage rock psychojazz project
Cory Wong — The Paisley Park Sessions
Maybe the best of many sets the insanely prolific funkster dropped this year
Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad — Jazz Is Dead, Volumes 6-9
Super-duo collaborates with various artists on 4 new “Jazz is Dead” records