2021 Music In Review: Best Songs

Welcome to week three of my year-in-review series! You can read about my favorite labels and EPs of the year in my last two posts and tune in for my favorite albums next week. For now, let’s dig into my favorite songs of the year!

25. “Man In Me” by Madi Diaz

This slow-burning singer-songwriter cut uses soft guitars and fiery vocals to explore the terrible realization that you don’t really understand someone you love, making for one of the most heart-wrenching ballads of the year.

24. “No One Is Coming (Daydreamer)” by Dispirited Spirits

This cosmic indie rock epic is a cathartic story about the conflict between romantic fantasy and facing reality, with some of the best rock songwriting and production of the year.

23. “Come To Life” by Kanye West

From the opening soft organs to the swell of bright pianos and warm bass that elevate the tune to spiritual catharsis, West’s confessional performance, genuinely mature lyrics and gorgeous gospel production make this his best song in years.

22. “Burbank House” by Tsubi Club

This debut single’s countless hooks and punchy production made it one of the only songs this year I found myself spinning on repeat and have me desperate for more music from Tsubi Club.

21. “1984” by glaive

This North Carolina-native emo-pop star’s passionate performance and heartbroken lyrics perfectly complement the beat’s melancholy guitar licks, snappy trap drums and thumping bass, making for one of the catchiest tunes of the year.

20. “Simple Affairs” by Fievel Is Glauque

This French collective’s magnum opus perfectly demonstrates their versatility and raw talent, switching between equally engrossing mellow passages of indie pop and frantic explosions of free jazz.

19. “Lay Wit Ya (feat. Duke Deuce)” by Isaiah Rashad

This track’s nocturnal but menacing beat is incredible on its own, but Rashad’s catchy but relaxed flows and Duke Deuce’s raw cartoonish charisma elevate it to one of the best hip-hop songs of the year.

18. “Narrator (feat. Martha Skye Murphy)” by Squid

This English post-punk band begin this thrilling and chaotic nine-minute odyssey with addictive guitar licks, driving drums and Ollie Judge’s frantic belting, then slowly build on one motif for the whole second half, building up to the band’s mind-bending fever pitch with Murphy’s unhinged shrieking tying it all together.

17. “kodak moment” by dltzk

If this can even be called a hyperpop song anymore, it’s one of the most progressive and compositionally ambitious ones yet, transitioning from Porter Robinson-esque electronic pop to a mind-melting sample breakdown before blossoming into a borderline-orchestral piece by the end, making for one of the most surprising and cathartic songs of the year.

16. “Hold U” by Indigo De Souza

Especially in a year that began with so many of us feeling isolated and alone, De Souza’s innocent and anthemic message of comfort is an absolute godsend, especially when performed with such catchy melodies over some of the best indie pop production of the year.

15. “WINDOWS (feat. SoGone SoFlexy)” by BROCKHAMPTON

The group chemistry has always been one of the most compelling parts of hip-hop boyband BROCKHAMPTON’s output and this six-minute monster is one of the best posse cuts the boys have made in years. From a hilarious career-highlight verse from Merlyn Wood to the beat switch bringing in a downtrodden closing verse from Bearface, “WINDOWS” displays everything that made BROCKHAMPTON so exciting when they broke out, proving they can still deliver bangers even in this more introspective and thoughtful run of projects.

14. “Little Q, Pt. 2” by Little Simz

UK MC Little Simz truly proves herself as an all-time great hip-hop storyteller with this heart-wrenching and deeply empathetic story of a young man’s near death experience in the streets of London. The warm pianos, boom-bap beat and children’s choir (which all remind me of classic Kanye in the best possible way) provide a gorgeous backdrop for Simz’ deeply moving performance.

13. “Spoiled little brat” by underscores

After building up an impressive catalog fusing EDM, early ’10s dubstep and various shades of pop and rap, San Francisco-based artist underscores paved the way for an entirely new artistic direction with this bonkers blend of hyperpop and pop punk. This snotty rager’s pitched vocals, hard-hitting drums and infectious melodies all build up to an insane breakdown, looping tiny slices of the chorus while piling on more distortion and louder drums for a finale just as experimental as it is catchy.

12. “Talk Down” by Dijon

In a debut album full of catchy tunes and passionate performances, “Talk Down” stands out with Dijon’s heartbroken croons, the sampled drum breaks and the melancholy backdrop of bass and strings. As he sings about arguing with his partner in the car and brings little details into focus, this bittersweet bedroom pop bop becomes such a perfect representation of what makes Dijon so special: his ability to complement emotive performances with inventive production and earworms to spare.

11. “Musician” by Porter Robinson

Porter Robinson was already beloved for his theatrical EDM bangers from “Worlds,” but his new album completely switches up his songwriting approach, placing his voice front and center. “Musician” is the triumph that proves just how much that change paid off. Over the joyous backdrop of sampled Kero Kero Bonito vocals, bright synths and propulsive drum breaks, Robinson sings from the heart about the power of music and just how much personal fulfillment can be found in expressing oneself, despite facing the disapproval of others. This tune is absolutely euphoric.

10. “DITTO” by Aries

This bittersweet acoustic emo-trap ballad sounds pretty far removed from the darker sound YouTuber turned pop rap sensation Aries broke out with, but it’s a welcome change when the production is this engrossing and the melodies are this catchy. From the quiet intro with backing harmonies and acoustic strumming to the huge chorus with densely layered synth bass, electric guitar and organs, Aries delivers pop bliss without ever sacrificing his personality.

9. “All I Need (feat. Earl Sweatshirt)” by Wiki

Over the most hypnotic and luxurious beat of Navy Blue’s career, New Yorker MC Wiki and underground legend Earl Sweatshirt both deliver nonstop introspection and wisdom through smooth flows. As the beat cycles between loose melodies and tight grooves that create an endlessly satisfying rhythmic push and pull, both rappers speak from places of satisfaction and confidence balanced with humility and self-awareness, pushing a message of self care and authenticity.

8. “Venus In Heat” by Jennah Barry

Canadian singer-songwriter Jennah Barry crafts a gorgeous, smooth and lush ballad with “Venus In Heat,” elevating her confessional lyrics and soft vocals with dynamic indie pop production. From the quiet clarinets and acoustic strumming to the climactic swell of strings, flutes and extra percussion, Barry’s mellow musings on heartbreak are always front and center, with all the beautiful instrumentation highlighting the emotion of this beautiful song.

7. “Top Picks For You” by Injury Reserve

Over an abstract bed of producer Parker Corey’s swelling synths, psychedelic effects and warm bass, Injury Reserve’s frontman Ritchie with a T raps a tender and forlorn meditation on death and seeing the modern world move on after losing someone beloved. Although the verse was recorded before the death of Injury Reserve rapper Stepa J. Groggs, his loss gives this intimate performance even more power and weight, making “Top Picks For You” one of the most emotional and potent songs of the year. RIP Groggs.

6. “Put On A Smile” by Silk Sonic

Although both Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak may be best known for their energetic bangers rooted in seemingly limitless suave and confidence, their collaborative album’s crown jewel is a melancholy and lushly produced expression of heartbreak. With .Paak pouring his heart out on the verses, Mars delivering his soaring vocals on the chorus and a key change tying the tune together in a heart-wrenching climax, “Put On A Smile” can stand with the absolute best of classic soul’s downtrodden ballads.

5. “HAZARD DUTY PAY!” by JPEGMAFIA

Experimental hip-hop provocateur JPEGMAFIA has more than proven himself when it comes to spitting over strange, loud and abstract beats, which he produces for his mystifying and aggressive albums. But no Peggy song has been so approachable, compelling and distinct all at once as “HAZARD DUTY PAY!” The prominent sample from The Winans and Anita Baker makes for an instant earworm as Peggy delivers flows that jump between relaxed monotone to aggressive screaming, finding countless clever ways to assert his dominance over every other MC in the game. If JPEGMAFIA’s music has always seemed too abrasive to let you appreciate his skills as a performer and lyricist, listen to “HAZARD DUTY PAY!” and get ready to see what you’ve been missing.

4. “Chondromalacia Patella” by black midi

British post punk band black midi distills everything great about their last album into this one five-minute journey. After the chunky guitars and angular basslines of the propulsive opening, the band settles into a spacier and jazzier passage, providing room for frontman Geordie Greep’s more subdued and tuneful vocals. But of course, the chaos black midi is known for takes hold again, leading to an insane outro with steadily ascending guitars and bass, making for one of the noisiest and wildest performances the band has ever recorded. The contrast between this song’s quietest moments and most unhinged ones make it captivating from beginning to end, one of the best rock songs of the century so far and a perfect example of what makes black midi’s progressive post punk so special.

3. “WILSHIRE” by Tyler, The Creator

Although the past few years have marked a more personal and intimate stage of Tyler, The Creator’s musical career, he has almost always hid details of his personal life behind the context of fictional characters, whether in the involved drama of concept albums like “Wolf” or in the more focused breakup narrative of “Igor.” Tyler has made personal songs before, but nothing quite like “WILSHIRE.” After a whole album of globetrotting luxury hinting at emotional pain underneath, this nearly nine-minute epic is where the curtain comes down. Tyler tells one giant story over a repetitive lo-fi beat, detailing falling in love with a friend’s partner, meeting in secret and painfully parting ways after both the friendship and relationship fell apart. Tyler approaches this personal story with courageous detail and mature self-reflection, balancing every expression of heartbreak and anger by acknowledging his responsibility and admitting his wrongs. This is the best song Tyler has ever written and its power comes from its simple honesty. If you’ve been through something similar or just want to hear a beautifully told story, get lost in “WILSHIRE.”

2. “Jaywalker” by Andy Shauf

Canadian singer-songwriter Andy Shauf is another artist who loves to hide personal stories in fictional contexts. His latest record, “Wilds,” expands the story of his concept album, “The Neon Skyline,” which follows our narrator as he drinks with his friends, runs into his ex and learns to move on from the past. But out of all the songs “Wilds” uses to give more context to that story, “Jaywalker” feels like it blurs the lines between Shauf and his characters the most. The simply produced indie pop tune is technically still about our narrator and his relationship with his beloved Judy, but the lyrics focus mainly on depression and hopelessness. Shauf describes a man looking down at his shoes as he’s trudging through life, waiting (and maybe even hoping) to get hit. Shauf doesn’t unfold an involved story through the song; he just invites us to sit in this dark moment. Although many of Shauf’s other songs tell much more dramatic stories, very few are as powerful as this quiet and grounded tune about someone crossing the street. If you’ve been going through a tough time and just need to feel seen, in a small way, “Jaywalker” might help.

1. “Birthday / The Pain” by For Those I Love

Dublin-based producer David Balfe created his project For Those I Love in memory of his best friend and fellow-musician Paul Curran, who killed himself in 2018. The project’s self-titled debut is almost entirely focused on this loss, how it has shaped Balfe and how he chooses to live on and find love. But although the loss of Curran still informs “Birthday / The Pain,” Balfe’s focus turns to his childhood and on how seeing a man die in the arms of his school coach pushed him toward becoming emotionally distant. Using this traumatic experience as a starting point, Balfe challenges the idea he was told as a child, “you need to grow cold to grow old.” Over the soulful samples and driving dance beat, Balfe’s spoken word stands as a reminder to find comfort in the love of our friends, no matter how dark the world gets. And despite the darkness of the song’s subject matter, the bright horn and string samples over dance beats are absolutely joyous, giving an active example of the kind of life and light Balfe encourages us all to pursue, despite the tragedy and pain of life. “Birthday / The Pain” stands not only as the best song of 2021, but as one of the most emotionally compelling and meaningful songs I’ve ever heard.

Thank you, David, for reminding us to hold on a little tighter.

Here’s a playlist of my 50 favorite songs from this year if you want to listen along (although unfortunately, I can’t include “HAZARD DUTY PAY!” because JPEGMAFIA couldn’t get the sample cleared):

You can follow John on Twitter at @JohnMichaelBr15.