I don't watch TV shows or movies, but I fall in love easily with songs that have a good story and 2021 was a year full of gripping tales by some brilliant storytellers.
took us back to her high school and vacation bible school days on her album Home Video. Her song "Thumbs" was a painful story about revenge that was often difficult to hear, but so skillfully executed. I needed humor in 2021 too, and thankfully there was plenty to be found in songs like "Back of My Hand," a tale of over-the-top fandom by (a collaboration between and ) 's "Turn Around (Cocaine Song)" is the story of trumpeter Alex 罢艒迟丑 being asked to play Ave Maria at his aunt Mary's funeral but instead having his addictions overtaking him and passing out in pew. 's "Chaise Longue" was the funniest rock song about sex in decades.
Wet Leg, a duo from the Isle of Wight who have put out just four songs 鈥� all this year 鈥� were amongst a number of new artists I fell passionately for in 2021. , , , , , , , , , (our 2021 Tiny Desk Contest winner), , and are some of the others that made my 2021 listening so fulfilling.
So take the songs on this playlist for a spin. There's so much to discover and share. And in a year that was so tough for artists to make a living, I urge you to support the ones you love.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
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TOP 10 SONGS
1. Wet Leg, "Chaise Longue"
2. Lucy Dacus, "Thumbs"
3. Cassandra Jenkins, "Hard Drive"
4. Bachelor (Jay Som & Palehound), "Back of My Hand"
5. Olivia Rodrigo, "Brutal"
6. 罢艒迟丑, "Turnaround (Cocaine Song)"
7. Arooj Aftab, "Suroor"
8. Saint Sister, "Manchester Air"
9. Aisha Badru, "Rebirth"
10. Charlie Hickey, "Ten Feet Tall"
* One song missing from streaming services is by our 2021 . Here's "Wait Up."
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