2021 in music

[rone]

Hello?  Is this thing on?

I did one of these for 2020 elsewhere.  More or less in order of acquisition:

• Rodrigo y Gabriela, Jazz: a 3-track EP of covers.  The "Lingus" cover in particular is a marvel.
• Mogwai, As the Love Continues: i knew of them but this is their first listen for me.  Solid post-rock.
• Ben Babbitt, Kentucky Route Zero- Memory Overflow: odds and sods from the KRZ soundtrack.  I must insist again that you give the game a shot.
• St. Vincent, Daddy's Home: a pitch-perfect pastiche of `70s rock that somehow feels flabby.
• Mdou Moctar, Afrique Victime: more Tuareg rock guitar wizardry.
• Jean-Michel Jarre, Amazonia: at the intersection of Zoolook's sampling of folk melodies and Waiting for Cousteau's ambient drone.
• Garbage, No Gods No Masters: my album of the year.  They're so good.
• James, All the Colours of You: more of their bright pop with the occasional unexpectedly sharp lyrics.
• The Joy Formidable, Into the Blue: a bit of a disappointment; a lot of their music club singles and demos were really good but they didn't make it into the album.
• Venus Hum, Kindness Rages On: they collect their five previous singles and more than satisfactorily flesh out the album.
• Takénobu. Always Leave a Note: Nick and Kathryn are married now and the new direction shows throughout the album.  Lovely melodies and lyrics.
• José González, Local Valley: González finally adds Spanish and Swedish to the lyrical repertoire of his acoustic guitar tracks.
• Maybeshewill, No Feeling Is Final: optimistic post-rock.  They came back after a long hiatus and i believe this is their best album, easily.
• Adele, 30: not fond of some of the backing vocal arrangements, but it's Adele.  More mature, more polished, all the quality you're used to.
• Dead Engine, Mantis: a San José band!  Old school power trio rock.