Ignore this portion of the list at your peril!
12. From the Back of a Cab by Rostam.
"And in the back of a cab we sit closer
And I rest my head down on your shoulder
From the back of the cab to the airport
I am happy you and I got this hour."
Our man Rostam didn't just do covers this year, he came out with new music as well. This is my favorite from his 2021 album Changephobia -- a pretty song about a cab ride to the airport with your love. Check out, at the least, "4Runner" as well.
13. Back in Ohio by Lucero.
"Looking down the barrels
Of twenty loaded guns
All the letters written
All the fighting's been done
A man without a country
Ain't getting out alive."
My brother introduced me to both Lucero and this song earlier this year, and I feel I'm the better for both. It was clear from the video that the song is about the Cuban Revolution, but the exact reference (of which I was not aware) is here.
14. Reese by Big Red Machine.
"A little bit older now
Out in the wilderness
With some valedictorian
You had wagered up your torch
And then you lost your paraffin."
Big Red Machine is mostly Justin Vernon (a.k.a. Bon Iver) and Aaron Dressner (of The National fame), with various well-known guest artists. Yep, the name is a reference to the Cincinnati Reds of the '70's (Dressner, like the rest of the members of The National, is originally from Cincy). Sounds like Justin is not pleased with the actions of a former friend in this song.
15. Making A Fire (Mark Ronson version) by The Foo Fighters.
"This is our last time
I've made up my mind
I've waited a lifetime to live
It's time to ignite
I'm making a fire."
The Foos are still cool! Dave Grohl is definitely still cool!! They blessed us with a new album in 2021, and some re-mixes, and this is my favorite of the bunch (you can check out the original version of Making A Fire here). I also recommend giving a listen to Love Dies Young and Waiting on a War, at the least, from the excellent Medicine at Midnight LP.
16. Chinatown by Bleachers (feat. Bruce Springsteen).
"Yeah, I wanna find tomorrow
With a girl like you
My Chinatown baby
Sittin' on your front stoop
Cryin' out the crazy."
A break from protocol here as there are two Bleachers' songs on the list (and, truth be told, there could easily be four). My reasoning for the double inclusion is simple enough: only one of those songs features The Boss as well. So, one Bleachers song, one Bleachers and Bruce Springsteen song. Hope everyone's cool with that ...
17. I WANT TO DIE BUT I CAN'T ('CUZ I GOTTA KEEP LIVING) by PRONOUN.
"Wake up in another day
Have some coffee with my stupor
Add up all the time I waste
Telling myself I'm a loser."
Apparently PRONOUN (a.k.a. Alyse Velturo) has decided to forego all lowercase letters and instead use ALL CAPS. You do what you do, lady. I think she's mocking herself here, but maybe it's someone else ...
18. Write a List of Things to Look Forward To by Courtney Barnett.
"Sit beside me, watch the world burn
We'll never learn, we don't deserve nice things
And we'll scream self-righteously
We did our best, but what does that really mean?"
A song about a fractured friendship? Or a bigger picture than that (global climate change?)?
19. Stellate (The Districts Remix) by Samia.
"I wanna get you sedated
Like when it all began
I wanna play you records I like
I wanna hold your hand."
When this song was rereleased with the addition of The Districts, I was hooked. Love Samia's voice, which is enhanced (I believe) by the addition of TDs. And who doesn't love an overt reference to The Beatles?
20. Alibi (Alternate Version) by Geographer.
"Some days can be harder
But we find the way to keep
Our eyes on the forest
And forget about the trees."
It's been a while since Geographer made my list. I'm glad I found this song worthy of inclusion.
21. Far Out by Ben Howard.
"One said 'the violence has begun, we're together all as one
If we don't act now it'll be tomorrow.'
Well, I've seen this show before
So I left and closed the door
When out walking into the nearest forest clearing
There was nothing to see
Just a boy beyond the trees
Picking psilocybin."
A dark but maybe hopeful (at least for those who indulge in magic mushrooms) song about our current societal divisions.
22. Human Condition by Sjowgren.
"Whether they knew
Call it crazy it's true
Went on and on and on it goes
It's the human condition
But nobody mentioned
The eyes the eyes the eyes the eyes."
Sjowgren has at least let us put faces to their voices now -- so a little less mystery than previous incarnations on my list. And every bit worthy of its inclusion.
My favorite 11 songs of 2021 are just around the corner!
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