2021
My favorite song of 2021:
“Like I Used To”– Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen
Confidence Man
Confidence Man hail from Brisbane and put us in the mood for the Holiday.
(From their forthcoming album Tilt)
“Holiday”
Blood Cultures
Blood Cultures is an anonymous band.
They keep their identities a secret to keep the emphasis solely on their music.
“Set It On Fire” from their latest album LUNO is one of the best songs of the year.
Beach House
The forthcoming Beach House album Once Twice Melody will be released in its entirety in February.
Expect an 18 track record in 4 distinct chapters.
Chapter 1 includes the exquisite title track.
Chapter 2 the new song “Runaway”.
(Use SEARCH for more Beach House postings.)
“Once Twice Melody”
“Runaway”
Aimee Mann
It is so difficult to select a song to feature from Aimee Mann’s new album, Queens of the Summer Hotel, as each is stunning.
Here are the first and the last songs on the record from this incredible woman.
“You Fall”
“I See You”
Mitski
The wonderful independent musician Mitski has charted her 6th album Laurel Hell for early 2022.
In her new song she is “The Only Heartbreaker”.
Shilpa Ray
Punk provocateur Shilpa Ray, formerly of Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers and backup singer for Nick Cave, performs solo these days.
She rages on her new single “Bootlickers of the Patriarchy”. In her own words “it’s about women who succeed from undermining the success of other women or choose to gain success from exploiting the oppression of other women.”
“Bootlickers of the Patriarchy”
BLACKSTARKIDS
BLACKSTARKIDS are a young indie trio from Kansas City.
Their debut album is the fabulously titled Puppies Forever.
Here are 2 from the recording:
“Fight Club” and “All Cops Are Bastards”.
“Fight Club”
“All Cops Are Bastards”
Bad With Phones
How could we not love an artist named Bad With Phones.
This London-based musician, known as Manny to his friends, gets some additional vocal help from Carina on his latest song “Ghost”.
Indigo De Souza
Indigo De Souza, an indie rock singer-songwriter from Asheville, North Carolina, recently released her 2nd album Any Shape You Take.
“Hold U” stands out.
Snail Mail
Snail Mail’s sophomore album, Valentine, is expected in November.
The title track is a passionate song of unrequited love.
“Valentine”
The War on Drugs
The War on Drugs continue to write some of the best indie rock songs extant.
“I Don’t Love Here Anymore” from their new album of the same name is just another example.
“I Don’t Live Here Anymore (feat. Lucius)”
Orla Gartland
Orla Gartland debuts with the album Women on the Internet.
This Irish singer-songwriter charmingly shares with us “Things That I’ve Learned”.
Adia Victoria
Adia Victoria’s music is sometimes referred to as “gothic blues”.
Her 3rd album A Southern Gothic will be available next month.
Listen here to the pre-release song “Magnolia Blues”.