Jimmy Edgar

Catching Up: Overlooked Albums and Songs of 2021 (so far)

Marianne-Faithfull-with-Warren-Ellis-She-Walks-In-Beauty.jpg

Rather than compiling a conventional mid-year best-of ranking, I’m acknowledging albums and songs I initially overlooked or previously underappreciated in the first six months of 2021.  Many of the selections are obscure, but millions of people were tuned into songs and albums like “No More Parties” and En Contra De Mi Voluntad long before I caught up.

Top Ten Overlooked and Underappreciated Albums of 2021 (So Far)

1. Marianne Faithfull and Warren Ellis- She Walks in Beauty

Pure poetry.

2. Jaimie Branch- Fly or Die Live

Angry improv.

3. Lambchop- Showtunes

My review.

4. Susan Alcorn, Ingrid Laubrock and Leila Bordeuil- Bird Meets Wire

Hung up.

5. Jimmy Edgar- Cheetah Bend

My review. 

6. La Arrolladora Banda el Limón- En Contra De Mi Voluntad

Stupendous big band.

7. Silicone Prairie- My Life On the Silicone Prairie

Space junk.

8. Michael Wollny- XXXX

Progressive Euro-jazz.

9. Birds of Maya- Valdez

Unfiltered scuzz.

10. Elizabeth Chang- Transformations

Kirchner, Sessions and Schoenberg.


Top Ten Overlooked and Underappreciated Songs of 2021 (So Far)

1. Coi Leray- “No More Parties”

Curfew.

2. Moby, Mark Lanegan and Kris Kristofferson- "The Lonely Night"

Hurt.

3. Celeste- "Tonight Tonight"

Undeniable pop.

4. Karol G and Nathy Peluso- “Gato Malo”

Discussion on the In My Headache podcast.

5. Armand Hammer, the Alchemist and Earl Sweatshirt- "Falling Out of the Sky"

Crash.

6. Roman Alexander and Ashley Cooke- “Between You & Me”

Closing in.

7. Anitta- "Loco"

Crazy-good.

8. Ana Lélia- "Meu Cantinho"

Gentle breeze.

9. Cuee and Joel Leoj- “Ain’t Going Back”

Amen.

10. Sir the Baptist and Anthony Hamilton- "Jesus in the Ghetto"

Can’t tell Him nothing.


My previous monthly rankings of albums, songs, concerts and films are here.

Album Review: Jimmy Edgar- Cheetah Bend

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

The leaky filter allowing foolish thoughts to flow unimpeded from my lizard brain to my scratchy vocal chords regularly gets me into trouble. I inexplicably felt obliged to validate pop music in the first episode of my new podcast In My Headache. Pop doesn’t need me to defend it, particularly when innovative artists like Jimmy Edgar continue to keep the form vital. Cheetah Bend, the sound scientist’s latest full-length release, features winning appearances by like-minded collaborators including Danny Brown, Rochelle Jordan and the late Sophie. The album contains more interesting tones, textures and rhythms than the plugged-in jazz group and the extreme noise band I praise in my initial endeavor for In My Headache.