From Adele’s heroic comeback, to Rauw Alejandro’s thrilling and unpredictable breakout, to Lil Nas X’s pop rap victory lap, and more, here are the records that have propelled music forward this year
2021 saw a lot of big things happen in the music world: Superstars like Adele, Billie Eilish, and Lil Nas X all released albums that deepened their stories and cemented their great achievements.But while these blockbusters have lived up to the industry’s inflating hype, this year tends to be more about welcome surprises — like the dynamic rap visionary Tyler, the creator of the world with the most dedicated performance of his career. Meet, or Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast from lo-fi bedroom dreamer to futuristic new wave minimalist.The biggest curveball is an unstoppable chart phenomenon that few saw a year ago: Olivia Rodrigo popped up (or at least the Disney Channel) to rewrite the former with her instant classic debut, Sour. Rule of 40.
It’s wonderful for those indie storytellers (Lucy Dacus, Snail Mail) and pop synthesizers from across the Spanish-speaking world (from Afro-Cuban hip-hop fusion Cimafunk to full-scale reggae performers) Year Lau Alejandro).Perhaps most exciting of all, truth-speaking women from the ever-changing global hip-hop/R&B/grime/afrobeats diaspora keep putting out great records (great releases from Jazmine Sullivan, Pinkpantheress, Dawn Richard, Little Simz and Tems, only to name a few).Jewel-throwing by veterans like the Foo Fighters, 59-year-old literary country rock artist James McMurtry, and (Get Yours, Eighties Metal Kid) Iron Maiden, the weekly clips of must-hear content are plentiful ever.
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Post time: Jan-16-2022