Best of 2021: Songs

A sample platter of sounds from the year we got used to everything. Fit into twenty tracks out of respect for your time, these are the best songs of the year.

 

20 – 11


20. Knees / Injury Reserve

19. Jackie / Yves Tumor

17. Orange Blossoms / Half Waif

16. 80 Days of Rain / Lande Hekt

15. Superstar / Beach House

14. Kill Me / Indigo De Souza

14. Time Escaping / Big Thief

13. TIRED, NERVOUS & BROKE! / JPEGMAFIA

12. Boys At School / Spellling

11. Baby Grand / Anna B Savage

10

 

Smiling With No Teeth
Genesis Owusu

is

a stinging refutation of pain as a product. 

09

 

Days Like These
Low

is

turning the volume up on the emptiness.

08

 

Introvert
Little Simz

is

a stunningly grand manifesto.

07

 

Tried to Tell You
The Weather Station

is

a gentle and comforting hand on your shoulder.

06

 

Control
Mannequin Pussy

is

fed up with every illusion.

05

 

Triple Dog Dare
Lucy Dacus

is

tracing the marks left by nostalgia and regret.

04

 

Hard Drive
Cassandra Jenkins

is

a breathing exercise and a life raft.

03

 

Posing In Bondage
Japanese Breakfast

is

a shameless, heartbreaking need.

02

 

Mmmoooaaaayaya
illuminati hotties

is

your brain on the verge of collapse.

01

 

Like I Used To
Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen

is

the best song of the year.

Now Listen

The best songs of the year, in one playlist for you.