2021 was another crazy year for music, did we return to normalcy? Who knows maybe but with the help of music we sure felt like we did. Nothing can damper the feeling you get when hitting the play button and digging deep into a new album or artist. For me, and probably many others, some of the best music of 2021 made us feel comfortable in this new norm of the world we live in, we can always count on music to make us feel something that we may of never felt.
So with that being said, I decided to reach out to some of my friends and other local Kenoshans for their Best of 2021 albums. With these lists, I hope everyone finds some new artists and expands their musical taste. Music is all about sharing what you feel and hear. So without further ado, here are some of the best music released in 2021, according to us!
Donny Stancato
Stuff I like: Pearl Jam, Bright Eyes, Death Cab For Cutie
1. Ok Human – Weezer
2. Ska Dream – Jeff Rosenstock
3. The Pet Parade – Fruit Bats
4. In the Blossom of Their Shade – Pokey LaFarge
5. I know I’m Funny haha – Faye Webster
6. Pressure Machine – The Killers
7. My Morning Jacket – My Morning Jacket
8. Big Colors – Ryan Adams
9. Delta Kream – The Black Keys
10. The Golden Casket – Modest Mouse
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Jason Hedman
Stuff I like: Faith No More, Stevie Wonder, Bad Religion
1. At Home with… – Southern Culture on the Skids
2. Gumiho – Gumiho (EP)
3. Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole – Diablo Swing Orchestra
4. Toxic Immobility – Tomahawk
5. Confines of Life – Neighborhood Brats
6. Never a Moment Alone – Emily Davis & the Murder Police
7. Clothbound – The Sonder Bombs
8. Super What? – Czarface & MF Doom
9. Dreams Still Inspire – Abstract Mindstate
10. Delta Kream – The Black Keys
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Sarah Kovach
Stuff I like: David Bowie, Talking Heads, Otis Redding
1. An Evening with Silk Sonic – Silk Sonic
2. Blue Weekend – Wolf Alice
3. Pacific Standard Time – Poolside
4. Gold-Diggers Sound – Leon Bridges
5. Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma – Topaz Jones
6. On All Fours – Goat Girl
7. I Don’t Live Here Anymore – The War on Drugs
8. The Moon and Stars – Valerie June
9. Daddy’s Home – St Vincent
10. Any Shape You Take – Indigo De Souza
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Matt Gonya
Stuff I like: The Beatles, Velvet Underground and Radiohead
1. Hey What – Low
2. Valentine – Snail Mail
3. Candy Racer – Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
4. Jubilee – Japanese Breakfast
5. Drunk Tank Pink – Shame
6. Shade – Grouper
7. Glow On – Turnstile
8. Cavalcade – Black Midi
9. Comfort To Me – Amyl and the Sniffers
10. Space 1.8 – Nala Sinephro
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Danny Crucianelli
Stuff I like: The Beatles, David Bowie, Prince
1. Heavy Load Blues – Gov’t Mule
2. An Evening with Silk Sonic
3. Hail Satin – Dee Gees
4. Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish
5. Hushed and Grim – Mastadon
6. Wallflowers – Jinjer
7. Flux – Poppy
8. Mr. Luck – Ronnie Wood
9. Torn Arteries – Carcass
10. Dark Mark vs. Skeleton Joe “Self Titled”
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Ismael Tapia
Stuff I like: Bjork, Mike Patton, Deftones
1. Freddie Gibbs- Gang Signs (single)
2. Spirtbox- Eternal Blue
3. Goijra- Fortitude
4 Silk Sonic- An Evening with Silk Sonic
5. Tyler the Creator- Call Me if You Get Lost
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Jeff Moody
Stuff I like: Chuck Berry, Little Richard , James Brown
In no particular order…
As Days Get Dark – Arab Strap
Cavalcade – black midi
Super What? – Czarface & MF Doom
Suns Out Guns Out – The Martha’s Vineyard Ferries
Head Pain – NAW
No Brain – Negativland
Spare Ribs – Sleaford Mods
Call Me If You Get Lost – Tyler The Creator
TV Priest – Uppers
Welfare Jazz – Viagra Boys
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Britney Ginsberg
Stuff I Like: MMJ, Tina Turner without Ike, Bon Iver
1. Daddy’s Home by St.Vincent
2. If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power by Halsey
3. Chemtrails Over The Country Club by Lana Del Rey
4.In These Silent Days by Brandi Carlile
5. Van Weezer by Weezer
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Mike Mertz
Stuff I Like: Kanye West, Kacey Musgraves, Modest Mouse
1. Tyler, The Creator – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST
2. Bo Burnham – Inside (The Songs)
3. Kanye West – Donda
4. Lil Nas X – Montero
5. Halsey – If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power
6. Dave – We’re All Alone In This Together
7. Boldy James & The Alchemist – Bo Jackson
8. Snail Mail – Valentine
9. Deb Never – Where Have All The Flowers Gone?
10. Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
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Laura Tyunaitis
Stuff I Like: Barenaked Ladies, Phil Vassar, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
In no particular order…
1. 30 – Adele
2. Star-crossed – Kasey Musgraves
3. Blue Banisters – Lana Del Rey
4. Time, Tequila, & Therapy – Old Dominion
5. Justice – Justin Bieber
6. Happier than Ever – Billie Eilish
7. Sling – Clairo
8. Voyage – ABBA
9. Barn – Neil Young / Crazy Horse
10. OK Human – Weezer
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Megan Horvat Mylar
Stuff I Like: The Beatles, Prince, Lady Gaga
In no particular order…
Dreamland (+ Bonus Levels) – Glass Animals
TV – Tai Verdes
Juno – Remi Wolf
Ugly Is Beautiful: Shorter, Thicker & Uglier (Deluxe) – Oliver Tree
WE ARE – Jon Batiste
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Arne Razorfish
Radical – every time I die
Montero – lil nas x
Inside – bo burnham
The architect – eidola
Horizon / east – thrice
Evermore – Taylor swift
Nowhere generation – rise against
Colors II – btbam
Iridescent – silent planet
Still sucks – limp bizkit
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Written and assembled by Donny Stancato
Edited by Jason Hedman
What’s your top albums of 2021? Shoot me an email at donnyhappeningsmag@gmail.com
