Here are 10 albums that I rather enjoyed from 2021, ranked in reverse order for faux-dramatic effect.
10) BADBADNOTGOOD, Talk Memory – This Canadian outfit exists somewhere in the nether-region of jazz, soul, and neo-psychedelia, crafting songs that are brimming with spontaneous and unpredictable energy. Each track offers a rick palette of sounds, and their approach to writing and improvising is equally nuanced and efficient.
9) Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee – Combining elements of dream pop, post-punk, and funk, Jubilee strikes a fascinating balance of being warmly introspective and subversively danceable in equal measures. Its use of melodic bass lines is a fitting complement to the restrained vocal melodies and straight-ahead grooves, and the production offers lots of pleasantly surprising timbres to reward careful listening.
8) Jon Batiste, WE ARE – 2021 was pretty good for young Mr. Batiste, wasn’t it? The Late Show bandleader won an Oscar, received more Grammy nominations than anyone else, and continued to be a vocal supporter of vital social causes. WE ARE is an outstanding showcase for the stylistic diversity, infectious energy, and virtuosic chops that has led him to superstardom, and tracks veer between styles of straight-ahead R&B, New Orleans-infused jazz, hip-hop, and rock (among others) with playful zest.
7) ST4TA, Aspects – Sounding like Weather Report if they went through a hardcore disco phase (and was also somehow aware of Daft Punk), STR4TA pair edgy and catchy grooves with jazz phrasing and harmonic progressions to create music that is like a dance party for your brain.
6) Brandee Younger, Somewhere Different – Jazz harp is not a sound you hear everyday, but Younger’s outstanding major label debut is much more than just an instrument in a place you wouldn’t expect it. Granted, she uses the unique colors and techniques specific to the harp quite effectively, but her music presents an organic fusion of classical, jazz, R&B, and rock music that does, in fact, take listeners somewhere very different.
5) The War on Drugs, I Don’t Live Here Anymore – Not many bands release records as consistently excellent as The War on Drugs. Their latest features their signature blend of sprawling, anthemic Americana, but there’s also an added 80’s sheen in several tracks that distinguishes Anymore from previous TWOD records.
4) Masego, Studying Abroad: Extended Stay – The Latin-pop hooks and grooves by Jamaican-American artist Masego are undeniably catchy, but what elevates Studying Abroad is its nuanced approach to production and layering textures. Tracks are often built around the barest, most efficient sound possible and then seamlessly weave textures in and out to build and evolve the groove. There’s also some stellar instrumental chops on display with slick guitar and bass playing, and there’s plenty of tasty horn licks to boot.
3) The Royal Krunk Orkestra, The Sirius Mystery opus 4 no. 1 – I did not know that I needed a fusion of krunk and jazz big band music in my life until I discovered The Royal Krunk Orkestra. The melding of these seemingly disparate styles works better than I would have ever imagined, and it helps that the music is clearly lovingly indebted to both genres. Incredibly fresh and wildly inventive, you’re not likely to find a band that grooves harder than RKO.
2) Damon Albarn, The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows – Musical chameleon Damon Albarn ditches the side projects for what may be the most experimental album in his illustrious career to date. With strong shades of Bowie’s timeless swan song Blackstar, Albarn pits digital melancholy against free jazz and elements of avant garde to stunning effect.
1) Makaya McCraven, Deciphering The Message – On his major label debut, jazz drummer/bandleader (and Chicago’s own) Makaya McCraven crafted an album that is not just a jazz album; it is an embodiment of the experience of jazz. Deftly juxtaposing frantic, pointillist grooves and counterpoint with serene melodies, and melding vivacious playing with samples and a rich array of sound worlds, Deciphering The Message is an exquisite postmodern rumination on not only modern jazz music but also the thrill of producing, performing, and hearing it. Despite using shorter track lengths and more inventive approaches to form, the virtuosic playing shines throughout the record, and the listening experience benefits as a result.