It’s that time of year again! 2021 was a rough year on many fronts – a global pandemic, political discourse, supply chain disasters, and some great losses to the music world. It was, however, another great year for music, and here are my personal picks for the best.

1. Bat Fangs – Queen of My World This album was custom made for me. Deep heavy-metal riffs and solos, great melodic vocal hooks from Betsy Boots, and huge production. Read the review and interview with Ms. Boots here. A+!

2. Cheap Trick – In Another World Fantastic effort by Pencil Storm’s favorite band. My favorite record from them since 1997 and my #2 of the year. Read the Pencil Storm review here.

3. Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days A songwriting clinic for songwriters, a vocal clinic for singers. This is pure, fantastic American music. Opening track “Right on Time” gets me every time.

4. The Wild Honey Collective – Volume 1 OK, I’m biased. These guys are label-mates and friends and I got to share the stage with them out to the East Coast and back in October, playing these songs every night. It’s a fantastic album of original, acoustic-based Appalachian folk and cosmic American music via Michigan’s strongest music scene - Lansing.

5. Split Single – Amplificado This record hit me hard after seeing main guy Jason Narducy open for Bob Mould in Kalamazoo this fall. Fav song is “95 Percent” but zero filler on this. If you like powerpop, Hüsker Dü, Nick Lowe, REM, etc etc etc.

6. NP Presley and The C.E.B. - Seven & A Half Heads Tall Nate and his gang of renegades, agitators, and revolutionaries come back at you with ten new tracks about doing things the hard way; drenched in loud guitars courtesy of Tex Dynamite and sweet, sweet harmonies by Leah Connolly.

 7. Juliana Hatfield – Blood Juliana continues her strong, ongoing streak of great records with this one. It’s a little noisy and messier than her last couple, but in all the best ways.

8. Naked Raygun – Over the Overlords End of year sneak attack onto the list. Their first full-length in 30+ years and damned if it isn’t one of their best.

Lucero – When You Found Me Polarizing album from the Memphis quintet, but my favorite from them in a few years (and I really like `em all). Pushing the bounds of their genre and style, as the best bands will, into new directions and retro sounds. “Coffin Nails” and “Back in Ohio” are my two favs. Pencil Storm review HERE.

10. Liz Phair - Soberish I haven’t really latched onto a Liz Phair album since Exile in Guyville – her 1993 twist on the Stones’ Exile on Main Street. Soberish finds Liz in her sweet spot – great songs about Chicago and getting’ buzzed, and sexy AF. 

Other Cool Stuff, Honorable Mentions, ETC…

The Stick Arounds – Waiting For the Click EP Lansing, Michigan’s Stick Arounds finest release to date. Adventurous and economic new arrangements and visual, creative lyrics. If this was a full-length it’d have been in the Top Ten.

Harborcoat – Joy is Elusive Matty from The Stick Arounds side project. Depressing themes for a cloudy day played fantastically by his friends and layered in chimey overdriven guitars.

Susanna Hoffs – Bright Lights A collection of covers, and a bit ballad heavy, but really great, especially when she gets into some more up-tempo stuff. She’s a treasure, and anything she does will be a part of my collection, though I’d love a new Bangles album more than just about anything.

Morgan Wade – Reckless Alt-country’s new supergirl, rockin’ through a record of strong songs and outlaw attitude. Production is a bit polished and gets in the way of me being all-in a bit, but everything behind it is there 100%. Expect big things from her.

Aaron Lee Tasjan – Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! Super strong album from ALT. Indie-pop with smart songs, deep, deep hooks and a spacious, warm sound. He borrowed my capo once and gave it right back after his set, so I guess we’re pretty much pals now, but anyway…

Iron Maiden – Senjutsu They’re basically a prog-metal band at this point, but this is probably my fav from them since 2000’s Brave New World. The single/video “The Writing on the Wall” is fantastic.

Dan Whitaker – One More Story Told Chicago pal’s seventh (by my count) record. A true country album with all the classic themes: loss, regret, mistakes, and misfortune. Great pickin’, singin’, and storytellin’, and a nice, organic production.

Favorite Reissues/Comps

Nancy Sinatra – Start Walkin’ 1965-1976/Boots Both came out in 2021 on Light in the Attic Records. Packaging is amazing, great photos, books, and liner notes, and perfect, warm vinyl sound. Start Walkin’ was my most played album of the year. Can’t wait to see what’s next from her catalog and this label.

The Replacements – The Pleasure's All Yours: Pleased To Meet Me Outtakes & Alternates/Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash Deluxe Edition Rhino’s next installments for `mats fanatics were a hit. Pencil Storm reviews here and here.

Black Sabbath – Heaven And Hell/Mob Rules Deluxe Dio-era Sabbath gets the Rhino treatment with a bunch of awesome extras and a couple unnecessary ones. Well worth it if your 1980 vinyl needs an upgrade and you wanna hear some killer live tracks. Dio got the devil horns idea from Geezer, so the story goes.

Tammi Terrell – Irresistible Tammi Terrell Motown Record Store Day offering of this amazing reissue from the 1968 LP. Her only solo album, she’d die of a brain tumor a couple years later. Huge production, The Funk Brothers, amazing songs.

Dusty Springfield - The Complete Atlantic Singles 1968-1971 2XLP Record Store Day comp of her work from London, Philadelphia and London on pristine red wax and in glorious mono. Can’t miss with this.

What were your favorites?

Jeremy Porter lives near Detroit and fronts the rock and roll band Jeremy Porter And The Tucos. Follow them on Facebook to read his road blog about their adventures on the dive-bar circuit.
www.thetucos.com
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Twitter: @jeremyportermi | Instagram: @onetogive & @jeremyportermusic