My favourite album of 2021

Hi Pop Pickers, it’s me again with my non-awaited album of the year selection. Despite the arrival of Covid-19, 2020 was a very good year for music, but 2021 was a step up, not just in quantity but in quality too. The albums that have missed out show to me at least what an epic year this has been. So, without further ado, let’s dish out my imaginary awards, starting from the bottom.

10. My Morning Jacket by Morning Jacket. A welcome return to form from Jim James and the boys. The album is overall excellent, albeit with the odd filler and well worthy of its place on my list. This is the stand out track, Love Love Love.

9. Vulture Prince by Arooj Aftab. A late addition to the list, Arooj Aftab hails from Pakistan and now lives in New York, where she made this great record. Enjoy this track which is called Mohabbat.

8. High Season by Poolside. Described as nu-disco and chillwave (I don’t understand it either), this is gorgeous music to wash over you. Listen here to Kinda Lovely.

7. Dalya by Ouzo Bazouka. Israeli prog rock and I just love it. Here is Monsters.

6. For Free by David Crosby. At 80, Croz is producing some of the best music of his life, assisted by the likes of Michael McDonald and this track, Rodriquez For A Night,  was co-written by Steely Dan man Donald Fagen.

5. Flat White Moon by Field Music. Another great record by the Sunderland boys David and Peter Brewis inspired by the death of their mother. No Pressure gives you a feel of what they’re about.

4. The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows by Damon Albarn. Another brilliant offering from the Blur, Gorillaz, The Good, The Bad and The Queen genius. Royal Morning Blue is a belter.

3. How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last by Big Red Machine. The National’s Aaron Dessner joins forces with Blue Iver’s Justin Vernon to make a lush album. Phoenix features Fleet Foxes.

2. Things Take Time, Take Time by Courtney Barnett. So close to being my album of the year. A staggeringly beautiful and personal record from Ms Barnett. Do listen to Rae Street. I love this record.

1.  Lindsey Buckingham by Lindsey Buckingham. As Fleetwood Mac continues to tour as a live jukebox without its most creative member, Buckingham comes up with an album as good as this, right up there with his best solo work and most of his Mac music too. It’s a great record and if you like Fleetwood Mac, you must buy it. Just listen to I Don’t Mind. My album of 2021.

Apologies to Jordan Rakei, LUMP, Jungle, Sons of Kemet, Teenage Fanclub, Self Esteem, St Vincent, Jose Gonzalez, Mild High Club, Leon Bridges, tUnE-yArDs and Arlo Parks who just missed out on this…ahem…prestigious award. Take a listen to the songs. You’ll like them.