my 21 favorite songs of 2021

wow, there was SO MUCH good music this year — i think i felt the most conflicted and overwhelmed i've ever felt in the nine years i've been making these lists because it was incredibly tough to narrow it down! i guess it shouldn't be too surprising that creative output was high, given ::gestures broadly at last year::: but still. i hope you find at least a tune or two you dig!

playlist of all songs here (minus #3, because it's only on bandcamp)

honorable mention: 

turnstile - "mystery"

wednesday - "toothache"

waterparks - "numb"

subsonic eye - "cabin fever"

doja cat f/ SZA - "kiss me more"

viji - "suck it"

21. we are scientists - "handshake agreement"

i'll never, ever write off or refuse to check out new material from a band i loved at any point — even when it's been more than a decade since they put out anything i really enjoyed — and the latest WAS album is the perfect reason why. while nothing really stuck with me after a few tracks on 2010's barbara, their most recent record, huffy, seems like they've recaptured the magic a bit. "handshake agreement" has all of the catchy, slightly post-punky elements i loved about the band in the mid-2000s, the chorus is positively soaring, and it's a total earworm. still love u, scientists!

20. olivia rodrigo - "good 4 u"

i know, i know. everyone is all about "brutal" and "driver's license," but neither do anything at all for me, personally. "good 4 u" is my jam, and it made so much sense when olivia gave paramore a writing credit because it is basically a rehashed "misery business" and my still-emo ass was all about that one, too. my  favorite part is the little riff at 2:05 before it goes into the choral vocals and the bridge. it sounds like that freeing, "hell yes!" moment when you realize you're totally over someone. or maybe that's just me.

19. erick the architect - "skinny ramen freestyle"

erick comprises one-third of my favorite hip-hop group, flatbush zombies, but he also has a pretty prolific solo career as both a producer and a rapper. i love his voice, his flow, and his lyrics, and this short-and-sweet, two-minute freestyle is the perfect tune to put on whenever you want to feel like a badass walking down the street.

18. lucy dacus - "VBS"

in addition to having a fantastic voice, lucy dacus is a hell of a storyteller. i was immediately drawn to this song for its vivid depiction of vacation bible school, which includes lyrics like "back in the cabin, snorting nutmeg in your bunk bed/you were waiting for a revelation of your own." and "sedentary secrets like peach pits in your gut/locked away like jam jars in the cellar of your heart." dang. i've never been to vacation bible school, but now i almost feel like i have. and when the guitars swell during the line about slayer? chef's kiss.

17. yoza - "pretty lies"

huuuuge mid-to-late oughts emo energy on this certified banger from new artist yoza. it just keeps up the buzzy momentum the whole way through, and i also love how he mixes it up with that little unexpected melody when he says "you wrote a love letter on my car with your key." i said it last year in reference to machine gun kelly, but i'll say it again: i am 100% here for the resurgence of the mid-2000s pop-punk sound!

16. pardoner - "donna said"

speaking of resurgences, pardoner came through this year with their album came down different, which is full of fuzzy early-90s college rock goodness a la sebadoh and archers of loaf. this song alone satisfied my near-constant need to feel like i'm still living in the grunge era. so thanks for that, pardoner.

15.  sweeping promises - "pain without a touch"

this one snuck in just in the nick of time, but once i heard it a couple weeks ago, i was all in. it's a tune that could be straight out of the '80s post-punk era, with that warm and comfy lo-fi feel and an insanely catchy hook. picking up hints of blondie, too!

14. valley maker - "no one is missing" 

south carolina's austin crane makes beautiful, yearning indie folk/americana, and his voice is so incredibly soothing and hypnotic to me. the music video for "no one is missing" is a perfect representation of how listening to this tune feels; walking through a forest or along the water by yourself and thinkin' about life. siiiigh. 

13. del water gap - "i hope you understand"

i'm going to sound like i'm trying too hard to fit in with the youth by saying this, but the best way i can describe del water gap's self-titled album is "it's a vibe." he's a solo artist (real name s. holden jaffe) from brooklyn whose spotify bio says that he's "inspired by romantic encounters and dimly lit rooms" which is like "um, ok" until you actually listen to the record and you're like "wait, yes, this sounds very much like romantic encounters and dimly lit rooms." especially this song. the vibiest of the whole vibey bunch, like you're making out in the corner of a hip wine bar that has drippy candles all over the place. 

12. måneskin - "zitti e buoni"

the first foreign language song on the list! back in late spring, i was seeing all of this talk about eurovision and this italian rock band måneskin whose song won the competition. naturally, i had to check it out, and immediately became obsessed. i still have no clue what any of the lyrics mean (besides the title, which apparently translates to "shut up and behave"), and i honestly prefer it that way because it just sounds so darn good in italian. i'm not suuuper crazy about most of their other songs except "i wanna be your slave" because it's just undeniable, but this one gets my head banging every time i hear it. between them and greta (see below), they're making my gaudy, glammy, glittery old-school rock 'n roll dreams come true.

11. indigo de souza - "bad dream"

asheville, north carolina's indigo de souza put out one of my favorite albums this year, any shape you take. "bad dream" definitely dominated my listening time, though. between the raw, passionate, pleading vocals, and heavy, haunting instrumentation, it just sucks you in and doesn't let go. i sent it to my friend and he described it as "girl rock gen-z billy corgan"....which totally makes sense for me. 

10. bo burnham - "welcome to the internet"

it took me an embarrassingly long time (okay, maybe like 2 weeks) to finally watch bo burnham's inside; i was recommended some of his prior stuff and it just didn't really jibe with me. once i decided to give it a go, though, i sat with my mouth open, captivated the entire time. 

"brilliant" and "genius" are words that are thrown around pretty willy-nilly these days. however they're truly accurate when talking about this whole special, which burnham wrote, filmed, and edited himself during the height of the pandemic lockdown. inside is the perfect manifestation of creativity through a traumatic situation. while all of the songs are amazing in their own right, "welcome to the internet" really sums up the whole thing in a super witty, super depressing way, with burnham acting as sort of a sinister carnival barker. you just gotta watch it. and if you still haven't seen inside yet, get on it!

9. pom pom squad - "head cheerleader"

since i first heard mia berrin aka pom pom squad's "honeysuckle" back at the end of 2019, i was eagerly awaiting more music from her, and her debut album death of a cheerleader delivered in spades ("drunk voicemail" is another fave). lots of crunchy '90s goodness here, and a super interesting and unexpected chorus melody. 

8. jaywood - "some days"

pretty much every year, i have a song that can best be described as "a soundtrack for wistfully staring out of a window on a train and pretending you're the main character in a quirky indie movie" and folks, this is the one. pure, gorgeous, calming energy for daaays. i love the subtle psych and funk elements, too.

7. beabadoobee - "cologne"

if "some days" was the train ride scene, "cologne" would be playing in the background of the scene where you're finally sharing a kiss with your longtime crush in the mall. bea was on my list in 2019 with her dreamy "apple cider," and i just can't get enough of her gen-z juliana hatfield vibes. i saw her live last month, and i will admit that i was mighty disappointed to see that she was using a backing vocal track for most of the songs (which i don't think i've seen...ever?? and no one seemed to care? it was weeeird) but whatever, this song still rocks, and i especially love the noisy instrumental breakdowns throughout. it was my unofficial soundtrack to walking around philly this summer during that brief 2-week period when we thought the pandemic was over (LOL). good times, good times!

6. bendigo fletcher - "sugar in the creek"

indie folk group bendigo fletcher caught my attention at the beginning of this year with "evergreen," but "sugar in the creek" was such a standout for me on their really-good record fits of laughter. not only for its beauty and simplicity, but for its sneaky-hilarious lyrics that i was definitely not expecting given the sound of the song ("well, i've never owned a pistol/but if my neighbors are cookin' up the crystal/suddenly i don't feel so tough"). it's a quality that reminds me of kurt vile's lyrical approach, and one i always appreciate. elsewhere in the song, there are shrooms and bloodshot eyes and groovin' shoes, and it all works so well.

5. sydney sprague - "steve"

ok, so this song, and specifically the chorus, had me in a complete chokehold for like three whole weeks back in april. sydney is a phoenix, arizona-based singer-songwriter whose sound harkens back to liz phair, letters to cleo, all that good 'n girly '90s rock (...i know, completely shocking that i love it /s). it's hard not to think that "steve" would be at the top of the alternative rock charts if it came out '93.

4. greta van fleet - "stardust chords"

the only things i love more than this band's songs are the meltdowns they inspire in bitter men whose shitty bands didn't make it. total hissy fits. it's a joy to watch. almost as much of a joy as greta's evolution — which i've expressed excitement about here and knew would happen from the moment i got onboard with them back in 2017 about 30 seconds into hearing "edge of darkness," my favorite song that year. i decided i'd never look back after i saw them live for the first time, my soul *literally* left my body during a 10-minute guitar solo, and still has not returned. and you know how many shows i've gone to, y'all. i've now seen them three times, and they can go toe-to-toe with any of the greats (+ mop the floor with most of the indie bands that look down their noses at them — barefoot, in sparkly jumpsuits, at that). but they've come so far, so much faster than even i anticipated! i feel like a proud mom.

the battle at garden's gate is one of the best straight-up rock albums i've heard in years, with cinematic flourishes, proggy elements, and cool nuances that reveal themselves with each spin; shoutout to producer greg kurstin. and it's a damn shame that many people who would love it might not give it a chance because of elitist critics and preconceived notions (though this review is excellent). even if you've been a skeptic or detractor, i encourage you to give it one open-minded listen all the way through. you know this shit is fire when the snobby sputnikmusic gives it a 4/5 (correct), describes it as a "massive sixty-four minute experience brimming with mysterious atmospheres, complex guitar solos, and all-around exceptional musicianship" (*mystikal voice* true, true) and states that GVF has "fleshed out their atmospheres into some truly lush and breathtaking territories...and crafted something that is far better than it has any right to be. bask in it without feeling any shame."

oh, i'm shamelessly basking, bitch! what's not to love about being totally gone on an edible, headphones on, eyes closed a la mitch in the penultimate scene of dazed and confused, and listening to a nearly nine-minute song from a mainstream rock album released in this — the year of our lord, 2021 — that includes a three-minute, balls-to-the-wall shredding guitar solo? answer: NOTHING (go listen to "the weight of dreams" with or without the edible and thank me later). anyway, i had a hell of a time picking a track to highlight. "broken bells" is moody and epic, and if "heat above" doesn't make you feel like you're sitting on a cloud, eating ice cream at heaven's gate while being serenaded by a thousand angels...i feel bad for you, son. ultimately, i was torn between "stardust chords" and "the barbarians," which has a sexy af intro and loose, freewheeling feel, but "stardust" won out.

it took a couple listens to wrap my head around it, but it grew on me quickly and i was soon addicted. it's '70s prog meets '90s alt-rock, though it's hard to even provide a point of reference for influences. the operatic quality of queen? sort of. the groove of jethro tull? kinda. but i think this grandiose, sweeping sound (a la "age of man," a standout from their last album) will be GVF's hallmark someday. the intro sounds like you're marching to battle (at garden's gate?), josh's vocals and that isolated riff before the chorus give me full-body goosebumps, the actual chorus is absolutely gorgeous, and from 3:45 to the end of the song, i'm not exaggerating when i say it's the peak of how good music has ever made me feel. 

sorry this is so long, but one more thing! my chief gripe about the mostly false narrative that's been created around GVF by the press is the notion that they "take themselves too seriously" and lack a sense of humor, which is just...not true at all? and aggressively untrue, in fact? you can watch any interview and see that they're down-to-earth and totally hilarious. like, this is a band that held an unannounced, bizarre mock press conference that was monty python meets this is spinal tap — complete with fake coke nosebleeds and impersonations of deceased british actor oliver reed — that is now one of my internet comfort watches, along with their equally funny masterclass parodies. the lemon twigs wouldn't dare! as a full-time writer and occasional journalist, i implore my peers to do just five measly minutes of research before regurgitating uninformed, misguided groupthink takes. thx so much! 

3. PHONY - "great white"

i wrote a little bit about this track back in august, and pretty much immediately knew that it would be in my top five for the year. it marks a bit of a sonic change for PHONY, the solo project of neil from donovan wolfington — a punk band who has appeared on this list twice now and who i love and miss dearly, almost as much as natural child — yet it still retains his knack for complex-yet-catchy arrangements. the chorus is like, so strangely long! but so good! 

even more than the melody, the drums are on point and really help carry the song here. as is signature for d-wolf songs, there's a section that involves screaming/yelling: i chuckled when i realized he was saying something about seeing graffiti in a bar bathroom that said "the wrong two beatles are dead." is that a common thing people have heard before? 'cause i hadn't, but food for thought. the song is supposedly about an almost-shark attack, and it really nails the sunny, surfy (not a word, i know) yet aggressive mood.

2. mannequin pussy - "control"

does mannequin pussy have the absolute worst band name in the history of band names? yes! is this still an absolute banger? also yes! i can't get enough of every single part of "control." it draws you in from the beginning, when you think it's going to be slow and quiet...then BAM! kicked in the face. singer missy leaves it all out there, and the instrumental break after the "something's in your eye" part makes me go feral every time. those drums, thoooo! 

the top youtube comment on this music video really sums it all up for me: "this song truly fucks with my feelings. It makes me way too emotional for a 33 year old dude laying in his room on a thursday." change "dude" to "woman" and "33" to "35," and pretty much!!

1. geese - "fantasies/survival"

i apologize for tweeting too soon in august when i heard geese's first single, "disco" and prematurely declared it as my favorite song of the year. i still love you, "disco," but i love your brother a little more. coincidentally, the band's debut album, projector, dropped on the day i was headed to new york city for the first time in two years (geese are from brooklyn and are extremely strokes-y and television-y) at the end of october, so the circumstances were perfect for me to fall deeply for the record.

"fantasies/survival" is just a little tighter and more cohesive than "disco" for me, and somehow shot into my spotify top songs for the year even though it only had a few weeks of play time. whoops. i'm obsessed with lead singer cameron winter's delivery of "i spent the day outsiiiiiide/i spent the night under the skyyyyy/wickedness lives in the cit-aaay/another shape, another killaaaah in disguiiiiiise." i've been walking around my apartment singing it just like that for the past month! 

in an interview about each track on the album, winter said this of the song:

"we wanted a song that we could play at an upcoming house party to get everyone hyped up, so i wrote this song, with a “drop” and everything. the house party never came to pass (thanks covid) but the song stuck, and now it’s our favorite track to play live. the lyrics are written from the POV of some sort of bohemian serial killer."

this is so perfect because before i read this, i was going to describe the vibe of it as "going to a rock show, then a dive bar, then someone's house party on a saturday night on the lower east side in 2003." aka my dream evening.

i also love how NME described it:

"'fantasies/survival’ is the biggest glimpse into why this band makes for such a thrilling force, hinged on a guitar line the strokes’ albert hammond jr. would pinch for his own band, the track flails with youthful spirit and emotion before swerving into a squall of math-rock territory. spectacular."

i love the strokes, i love youthful spirit and emotion, and i love squalls of math rock, so this totally tracks. what more could you ask for? can't wait to see where geese fly (i'm so sorry) from here.