2021 Best of | Best albums | Best songs | Irish albums | Irish songs | Podcast episodes | Guest selections
40.
CHAI
Action
The Japanese foursome CHAI’s third album Wink on Sub Pop in May was a switch-up from the Kawaii-pop-punk of their previous material. This electro-spun track was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement last summer.
39.
Magdalena Bay
Secrets (Your Fire)
LA duo Magdelena Bay’s debut album Mercurial World was filled with synth pop bops, reminscent of an American take on Chvrches sound, it was the infectious melodic fun of ‘Secrets (Your Fire)’ that I kept coming back to.
38.
El Michels Affair
Masterclass
A classy jazzy hip-hop instrumental by the always edifying El Michels Affair. The song was used in Louis Vuitton’s Spring / Summer collection by Virgil Abloh (RIP).
37.
Caroline Polachek
Bunny Is A Rider
Caroline Polachek has been growing in stature and artistry since becoming a solo artist. After ‘So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings’, ‘Bunny Is A Rider’, made with producer Danny L Harle, is a standalone pop song with weird undertones that sound like someone described a bunch of pop, electronic and reggaeton through the ages to them, and they came out with this restless summer jam “about being unavailable.”
36.
Charli XCX
Good Ones
Charli XCX and electro-pop bangers are a match made in heaven. On ‘Good Ones’ (produced by Oscar Holter), it sounds like Charli has kept that song she wrote for Gaga for herself. I’d like more of this in 2022 on the album Crash please.
35.
Ghetts, Giggs
Crud
Getts album Conflict Of Interest was one of the best rap releases out of the UK this year and this team up with Giggs has the devastating simplicity of a freestyle with two MCs operating at the top.
34.
Fred Again.., Baxter Dury
These Are My Friends
Fred Again and Baxter Dury concoct a friends-in-arms song about telling your nearest and dearest they matter that channels The Streets’ ‘Weak Become Heroes’ . It’s a late-night 5am song with a Disney string twist.
33.
The War On Drugs, Lucius
I Don’t Live Here Anymore
Adam Granduciel and The War On Drugs can continue making this kind of stadium dad-rock IMHO if it’s going to be as pleasing as this. ‘I Don’t Live Here Anymore’ is the title track from the recent record, and it’s anthemically pitched with the singers of Lucius providing sumptuous backing vocals. Blissful rock.
32.
Wiki, Earl Sweatshirt
All I Need
New York rapper Wiki’s Half God is a fine return to form, and enlisting one of the world’s best rappers on a track isn’t a bad look either. ‘All I Need’ sounds like an all-timer.
31.
Olivia Rodrigo
Good 4 U
Who knew when we talked about the potential one-hit wonder viral nature of ‘Driver’s License’ that Olivia Rodrigo would be not only a going pop concern but all over the critics end of year lists for her debut Sour?
Sour was a perfectly pitched debut of breakup ballads and earworm pop punk music channelling Paramore and Gwen Stefani, and none were more successful than ‘Good 4 U’ not even the original viral hit that started it all.
See all best of 2021 coverage.
