Chorus.fm’s Top 30 Albums of 2021 • Page 2

As I said, very happy to see Thrice, Manchester and Noah on there. Personally, really happy to see Brian Fallon’s record on yours.

I think the fandom has changed more and more each year on the end of year lists. Maybe that has to do with changing staff and pop culture.

Edit: Also happy to see Shad on there.

 

I’m struggling to understand what the “fandom changing” means and why that would be a bad thing, but I’m going off of what I assume it means.

Is it a bad thing that lists have changed over the years? The fact that lists like these aren’t just filled with white pop punk/emo/etc. dudes is good and shows the variety of music that the contributors on here enjoy. The fact that Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo can land on a list with Thrice shows that peoples music tastes aren’t narrow and this website enjoys music not just limited to one genre or a few genres.

 

I try. Some of Jason’s list and my taste are similar so I give his lists a more detailed look over. Through the year I’m always looking for new music too (like committing to giving The Dirty Nil a proper listen was a good decision and randomly listening to a Middle Kids video made me get their record after never hearing of them. One contributor posted YouTube links which I think was a great idea for any futures “bands to watch” or “year end list”.

My top 5 is very fluid this year which is delightful.

 

Also shoutout @Craig Manning for the January Flower love. I finally got around to listening to it recently and it was great.

 

Was going to say the same thing... especially Lucy Dacus. Should be right up the alley for a lot here.

 

PSA: Every single album on this list is linked to a page with all streaming services and YouTube embeds if available.

 

While I totally get spending more time with a list from someone whose tastes you already trust, I would also encourage you to push outside your comfort zone a bit with lists that look a little less familiar. I definitely used to be very "I like what I like and I'm fine with that," but some of my favorite albums of this year were recs from people or publications/outlets whose tastes don't usually align with mine. It can be really exciting to find albums that way.

I used to include a Spotify playlist with mine, but it just seemed like one other step in an already lengthy process. I figure people can engage with the music any way that they want if they're really interested in listening to something. It's not that much harder to open a second window and do a search on Spotify or YouTube to sample something.

Shocked I loved that album even a quarter as much as I did. I'd written him off.

 

I’m always adding. In lots of different directions. Searching the threads and popular word of mouth praise seems the best. Publications just don’t do as much as I’d hope.

 

The Poppy album? Mine too!

 

Glad to see Chvrches on multiple lists. Glad to see AVA made it.
Very glad to see someone got it right and have both Silent Planet and ‘68 on their list.

Bummer that no one had Starflyer 59, The Joy Formidable, Andrew WK, Sleigh Bells or Five Iron Frenzy. All amazing albums. And Ethan Luck put out an amazing instrumental record too.
Still trying to wrap my head around The Armed. Reminds of The Chariot at times but then it goes off the rails. But not in the way I like, how The Chariot does…
Surprised (but not) that Turnstile is everywhere. It’s a good album and I enjoy it but don’t quite understand the hype. Doesn’t seem quit as groundbreaking as folks want to make it seem. It’s good, but it’s no Shape Of Punk To Come. But it’s cool a band like that is doing so well…

 

Great list

 

Also my list is perfect per usual

 

Needs more Chevelle.

 

AbsoluteHardcore for Jason this year and I like it

 

Fully agree. It's a gem of an album. I think an all time great within the genre

 

An amazing list overall! I'm slightly surprised at the lack of Fiddlehead and seeyouspacecowboy, though I did see them pop up on some of the individual lists. Also pretty bummed not to see the You, Me, and Everyone We Know album on anyone's list, but that just goes to show how much truly great music was released this year; I really think this was one of the best in recent memory in my opinion!

Here's my list:

1. *You, Me, and Everyone We Know – Something Heavy
2. *Turnstile – Glow On
3. *Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
4. *Manchester Orchestra – The Million Masks of God
5. Every Time I Die – Radical
6. *Fiddlehead – Between the Richness
7. *Cassandra Jenkins – An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
8. *Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee
9. *Noah Gundersen – A Pillar of Salt
10. The World Is… – Illusory Walls
11. Halsey – If I Can't Have Love…
12. *Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
13. Taylor Swift – Red (Taylor's Version)
14. *Olivia Rodrigo – Sour
15. SeeYouSpaceCowboy – The Romance of Affliction
16. *Glaswing – I'm in the Checkout Line of My Life
17. KennyHoopla – SURVIVOR'S GUILT
18. Serpentwithfeet – Deacon
19. *Julien Baker – Little Oblivions
20. Faye Webster – I Know I'm Funny Haha
21. Snail Mail – Valentine
22. *DIM – From Dark to Light We'll See
23. *The Maine – XOXO
24. IDLES – Crawler
25. *Tigers Jaw – I Won't Care How You Remember Me
26. *Godspeed You! Black Emperor
27. Jon Batiste – WE ARE
28. *Vince Staples – Vince Staples
29. Low – HEY WHAT
30. *Lucy Dacus – Home Video

EPs:

1. *Knocked Loose – A Tear in the Fabric of Life
2. Meet Me @ the Altar – Model Citizen
3. *Camp Trash – Downtiming
4. Mannequin Pussy – Perfect
5. Home Is Where – I Became Birds

 

I sensed a theme with your list. Definitely gonna check all these out, at least the ones I haven't!

 

New Thrice album is SOOO good. I'm also surprised Slothrust isn't on more lists, that album is insane. Also where is Silk Sonic???

 

I straight up mentioned that I got back into heavier music this year, haha. Can't deny that Solid State circa 2004-2007 was extremely influential on me.

 

1. Turnstile- Glow On
2. Citizen - Life in Your Glass World
3. Foxing - Draw Down the Moon
4. Vince Staples - S/T
5. Teenage Wrist - Earth is a Black Hole
6. Militarie Gun - All Roads Lead to the Gun II
7. Angel Du$t - Yak
8. Shannon Lay - Geist
9. Al Harper - Promises I Kept
10. Storefront Church - As We Pass
11. Deafheaven- Infinity Granite

 

Favorites of 21

 

You know I'm absolutely here for it!

I'm definitely intrigued by the Silent Planet pick. I've heard a lot about them over the past few years but have never really listened to them much so I'll definitely check that one out

 

This is the first album of theirs I've listened to and it blew me away.

 

Love to see Kississippi that high on your list @Craig Manning. That album seems like it could have been created in a lab for you, haha.

 

Completely an out-of-nowhere surprise for me. I think I'd heard of her, but never listened until Mood Ring came out. It hooked me immediately. Feels like the midway point between 1989-era Taylor Swift and Futures-era Jimmy Eat World.