Our Annual Orgy of Self-Congratulation, Grandstanding & Overconsumption : Matador Artists & Staff Select Their 2021 Favorites
(congrats to the winner of the 2021 Matador Invention Of The Year Award, Sarco for their development of a 3D-printed pod. The company claims it's purpose built for assisted suicides, but with addition of bluetooth speakers, it might also be the perfect place to listen to every episode of the Matador Revisionist History podcast on an endless loop.)
(Around this time every year, your underappreciated editor attempts to coax a list of favorite recordings, books, television programs, life events, etc. out of the label’s artist roster and our show-business pals. In the past, this exercise has been a trying process, fraught with nagging, GUILTING and no shortage of hesitatnt-to-violently opposed participants, some of whom actually changed labels or places of employment to avoid the task (i believe the young people call it ghosting, I call it being totally blown off for the 11th year in a row). Even worse, we sometimes overlook persons currently recording for or working for the record label (either that or they saved their list for their own Substack).
Keep in mind, we're about to close the books on the (SECOND) WORST YEAR EVER and perhaps persons with some sense of perspective or humility have other things on their mind than shouting from the rooftops about their cultural cachet. Thankfully, we only know a few people like that.
For some historical perspective, here’s last year’s selections. Questions or comments about our crap tastes and/or laughable omissions are welcome (but not so welcome that we’re inclined to acknowledge receipt).
On behalf of everyone at Matador, here's wishing you, your families and friends a safe & happy holiday and thank you, as always, for putting up with our bullshit -you won't believe what we've got planned for 2022. And without further ado, let the coronoation of Kings Of Leon's 'When You See Yourself' commence. – Gerard Cosloy)
Hugo Burnham, Gang Of Four
HUGO’S LIST OF UNCOOL, SURPRISING, OR INAPPROPRIATE THINGS HE’S DUG IN 2021
HARRY STYLES (still, since seeing th\em/him with my daughter. Great show, great records. In early 1D, he was a mix of a young Jagger and Mickey Dolenz. She goes on her own, now. )
BLOODYWOOD (Indian Heavy Metal Band…actually from India. Steaming good)
STRAIGHT BLACK ESPRESSO…LARGE (fewer calories)
AMERICANO COFFEE (I know, it’s weaker…but still good if the beans are)
DRUM LESSONS (probably way too late to start, now - but George here at school is really good)
FEAR THE WALKING DEAD (jumped the shark and back again and cheesy…but it’s a guilty pleasure)
A REALLY QUITE SMALL BASS RIG FOR SARA LEE FOR NEXT YEAR ("What? Can’t quite hear you..”)
HAVING A BETTER DRUMMER THAN ME AS OUR STAGE TECH ()
SUPERWOLVES (Folkey stuff ain’t usually my bag…but Pajo plays with them sometimes, and my Missus did a film with Will 100 years ago. Small world)
JUDY HENSKE (OK, I dig some folk music after all…that voice! Thank you, Andrew Vachss)
DEEP PURPLE (but only ‘In Rock’. My inner 14 year-old lives)
10,000 MANIACS (The diametric opposite of Deep Purple, but the loveliest people, and the smartest onstage set-up)
JOHN LYDON ON ’THE MASKED SINGER’ (I mean, c’mon! Brilliant! Plus I knew it in about 10 seconds)
GOLF (I know…I know...)
INTERNATIONAL RUGBY ON TV (SO much better than American Football. A real men’s game - Can I say that? Women play it a lot now, too - including The Bodysnatchers/Specials’ Rhoda Dakar’s daughter, who is really good)
ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE (A fun bunch to hang out with way back when, and they’re still at it. They’re from my Manor down in Kent, where I grew up.)
MASSACHUSETTS’ REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR (A decent guy and a real music fan. MA GOP-types call him a RINO. Ergo - a better man by far than any of those assholes)
THE OXFORD COMMA (there’s no bloody argument here. Fight me)
VINYL SIDING (I swore all my life I’d never…but some of it’s damn good these days. Only on my rental place, though)
SMOKING CIGARS (Summer time only, when I mow)
BEING ON MATADOR RECORDS (OH, WAIT…WRONG LIST…)
Ryan Mahan, Algiers
Shows
Warthog, La Milagrosa, Anti Machine 31 July | AB Studios | Rockaway, NY
Blackhaine, 18 November | Peckham Audio | London, UK
Uniform, 13 November | TV Eye | Brooklyn, NY
Armand Hammer, 7 November | Knockdown Center | Brooklyn, NY
Records
Taqbir s/t
Hiro Kone Silvercoat the throng
Armand Hammer Haram
The Bug Fire
Space Afrika Honest Labour
Regional Justice Center Crime and Punishment
Canal Irreal s/t
Lee Tesche, Algiers
Top 5 staff 2021, in order
1. Aaron
2. Emma
3. Malcolm
4. Emily
5. Gerard
Honorable Mention: Jake
Steve Gunn
RIP Milford Graves
Loren Connors at Union Pool
Natural Information Society @Woodsist fest
Willie Lane & Wednesday Knudsen Duo 10 forward
Don Cherry: Organic Music Societies Book
Dylan at the Beacon
QTIP’s Abstract Radio show
La Piscine (The Swimming Pool) film forum
George Saunders : A swim in the Pond in the Rain
John Lurie : The History of Bones
RIP Greg Tate
RIP Michael Chapman
Best day off Peaks Island, Maine
Leon & Sons Wine shop Brooklyn
Laura Ortman William Tyler Duo Bell House
Arthur Russell : Another Thought Re Issue
Most daring purchase : A Purple Beret
Oren Arembarchi & Crys Cole : Les Atelier Claus
Bill Nace at Le Poisson Rouge
Dogpatch Podcast
Myriam Gendron: Ma delire Songs love,lost & found
Nabil Ayers, 4AD
L'Rain - Fatigue
Turnstile - Glow On + this Live BBC session
Georgia Ann Muldrow - VWETO III
Patricia Brennan - Maquishti
Dogpatch Podcast
Jeff Parker ‘Forfolks’
Alan Licht: Common Tones Book
US Open
Myriam Gendron: Ma delire Songs love,lost & found
Nabil Ayers, 4AD
L'Rain - Fatigue
Turnstile - Glow On + this Live BBC session
Georgia Ann Muldrow - VWETO III
Patricia Brennan - Maquishti
Succumb - XXI
Dean Blunt - Black Metal 2
Yves Tumor - The Asymptotical World EP
Black Midi - Cavalcade
Midwife - Luminol
Ruth Barlow, Beggars
And one thing only
but it’s a great thing …
Adam Bohl, Matador Direct
Madlib - Sound Ancestors (Madlib Invazion)
The Cowboy - Riddles From The Universe (Feel It Records)
Various Artists - Written On the Wall : American Soul Music 1958-1974 (Cairo Records/Mississippi Records) I highly recommend anything in this series.
Jamie Branch - Fly Or Die Live (International Anthem)
Wednesday - Twin Plagues (Orindal Records)
Ty Segall - Harmonizer (Drag City)
Endless Boogie - Admonitions (No Quarter)
Keith Hudson – The Black Breast Has Produced Her Best, Flesh Of My Skin Blood Of My Blood Reissue (VP Records)
Various Artists - Hillbillies In Hell XII (The Iron Mountain Analogue Research Facility) If you can ignore the name and album artwork this series has some great country deep cuts.
Mark Fry - Dreaming Of Alice Reissue (Now-Again)
Fatboi Sharif - Ghandi Loves Children
Grateful Dead - Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 12/10/71 (Rhino Records) All the jams of the era, really transports you back to a college dorm room.
bonus category :
Drink of the Year: Piña loca michelada from Mi Otra Casa Michelada House 2
Emma Buchanan, Matador Records
Astrid Øster Mortensen - Gro Mig En Blomst
bar italia - Bedhead
Backxwash - I LIE HERE BURRIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES
The Bug - Fire
Dean Blunt - Black Metal 2
DJ Headwound - The Day You Die Is The Day I Smile
Florry - Big Fall
GG King - Remain Intact
Hawthonn - Earth Mirror
King Woman - Celestial Blues
Lily Konigsberg - Lily We Need To Talk Now
Lost Girls - Menneskekollektivet
Low Life - From Squats to Lots
MICROCORPS - XMIT
Mountain Movers - World What World
Miho Hatori - Between Isekai and Slice of Life
NINA - Classics
Scotch Rolex - Tewari
Succumb - XXI
Water From Your Eyes - Structure
Temkins, Patty and Selma, Fast Eddie, Bush Tetras, SAW I-III, SAW VI, Gwar: Scumdogs of the Universe 30th Anniversary Tour.
Gerard Cosloy, Matador Records
The Notwist - Vertigo Days (Morr Music)
Saint Abdullah - To Live Ala West (Important)
Madam Data - The Gospel Of The Devourer (PTP)
Gudrun Gut & Mabe Fratti - Let's Talk About The Weather (Umor Rex)
Leda - Covid "Music " I Made With My Guitar (Knotwilg)
The Bug - Fire (Ninja Tune)
Rosali - No Medium (Spinster)
GG King - Remain Intact (Total Punk)
Model Home - Both feet en th infinite (Don Giovanni)
Michael Beach - Dream Violence (Goner)
Patrick Shiroishi - Staying Human / Luke Stewart - Works For Pioneer Works (Profane Illumination)
billy woods / Moor Mother - BRASS (Backwoodz Studios)
Skogar - Paradise City Jams (Studio Barnhus)
Chris Corsano/ Bill Orcutt - Made Out Of Sound (Palilalia)
Astute Palate - s/t (Petty Bunco)
Senyawa - Alkisah (Phantom Limb)
Emily Robb- How To Moonwalk (Petty Bunco)
FACS - Present Tense (Trouble In Mind)
Powers/Rolin Duo - Strange Fortune (Astral Editions)
Soft Shoulder - Formerly On Fluorescent Paper (Gilgongo)
Patrick Shiroishi - Hidemi (American Dreams)
Container - Creamer (Drone)
Lucy Miller & The Dog Roses - s/t (Soleils Bleus)
Endless Boogie - Admonitions (No Quarter)
Various - We Live In Strange Times (Spacecase)
Derek Monypeny - The Hand As Dealt (2182)
Claire Rousay - A Softer Focus (American Dreams)
Rob Noyes - Arc Minutes (VDSQ)
The Weather Station - Intolerance (Fat Possum)
Claire Rousay - 17 Roles (All Mapped Out) (Shelter Press)
Tcheser Holmes - The T Is Silent (Black Science Fiction)
Model Home + Saint Abdullah - Invasive Inclinations (PTP)
Unda Fluxit - Stone Ringing Sorrows (ever/never)
Matthew J. Rolin - The Dreaming Bridge (Feeding Tube)
Armand Hammer / The Alchemist - Haram (Backwoodz Studioz)
Kuzu - All Your Ghosts In One Corner (Aerophonic)
CIA Debutante - Dust (Siltbreeze)
small screen 2021 : Sally Carmen, Kate Winslet, Eddie Kingston,
big screen 2021 : "Fire Music : The Story Of Free Jazz" (director, Tom Surgal)
people playing music in person list :
GG King, Railgarten, Memphis
Able Noise, Cafe Oto, London
Mourning [A} BLKStar Far Out Lounge, Austin
Chronophage, a barn, October
Malcolm Mooney & The Eleventh Planet, Union Pool, Brooklyn
Uniform, Elysium, Austin
Malcolm Donaldson, Matador Records
Some of my favorite new albums released in 2021
Ignorance - The Weather Station
Structure - Water From Your Eyes
Van Gogh’s Left Ear - Zelooperz
SHILOH: Lost For Words - John Glacier
World What World - Mountain Movers
Shade - Grouper
View No Country - Kraus
A Color of the Sky - Lightning Bug
Slitherman Activated - RXKNephew
Geotag IV - Boundary
Touch The Earth - Placid Angles
Some favorite reads (new and old) of 2021
Magic Actions - Tobi Haslett
A Little Devil in America - Hanif Abdurraqib
Oval - Elvia Wilk
Song of Solomon - Toni Morrison
Drive Your Plow Over The Bones of the Dead - Olga Tokarczuk
Stoner - John Williams
Father Goriot - Honoré de Balzac
Favorite dog acquisition of the year: Stanley
Rian Fossett, Matador Records
Music: Wau Wau Collectif Yaral Sa Doom (album),
Amen Dunes “Feel Nothing” (single)
Movie: Titane
TV: The White Lotus
Book: The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Podcast: Rancho Thatchmo
Photo of Enzo
Pam Garavano, Beggars
New:
John Andrews – Cookbook
Izzy Johnson – Earth Tones
Lingua Ignota – Sinner Get Ready
L’Rain - Fatigue
Low – Hey What
(photo : Eli Johnson)
Marisa Anderson & William Tyler – Lost Futures
Modern Nature – Island of Noise
Spellling – The Turning Wheel
Sylvie – s/t EP
Yu Su – yellow river blue
Reissues
Conny Frischauf – Die Drift
Phýõng Tâm – Magical Nights
Leslie Winer - When I Hit You - You'll Feel It
Telex – This is Telex
Screamers - Demo Hollywood 1977
Seefeel - Rupt + Flex 94 — 96
Matt Harmon, Beggars US
Albums
Seafoam Walls - XVI (Daydream Library)
Racchika Nayar - Our Hands Against the Dark (NNA Tapes)
The Notwist - Vertigo Days (Morr Music)
Sam Wilkes - ONE THEME & Subsequent Improvisations (Leaving Records)
James Brandon Lewis - Jesup Wagon (TAO Forms)
KMRU - Logue (Injazero Records)
Angel Bat Dawid and tha Brotherhood - LIVE (International Anthem)
Alex Ward - Gated (Discus Music)
Ryley Walker - Course of Fable (Husky Pants)
Myriam Gendron - Ma délire – Songs of love, lost & found (Feeding Tube Records)
Caroline Shaw & So Percussion - Let the Soil Play Its Simple Part (Nonesuch)
Perila – 7.37/2.11 (A Sunken Mall)
Irreversible Entanglements - Open the Gates (International Anthem)
Natural Information Society - descension (Out of Our Constrictions) featuring Evan Parker (Eremite Records)
Michael Grigoni, Chihei Hatakeyama & Stephen Vitiello – Earth Awhile (White Paddy Mountain)
Rat Columns - Pacific Kiss (Tough Love)
Re-issues, Boxset, live and misc…
Can - Live in Stuttgart 1975 (Spoon/Mute)
Gang of Four 77-81 Boxset (Matador Records)
John Coltrane – A Love Supreme : Live in Seattle (Impulse!)
Obits - Die at the Zoo (Subpop)
Songs
Shirley Collinns “The Rose and the Briar” (Domino Records)
Beak> - “Oh No” (Invada Records UK)
Oneohtrix Point Never & Elizabeth Fraser - “Tales From the Trash Stratum” (Warp)
Colloboh - “Rpm+” (Leaving Records)
Sonya Kolowrat, Beggars
RANDOM TOP 10 THINGS THAT KEPT ME SANE IN 2021
- Cemetery walks (Hollywood Forever Cemetery in particular)
- Danzig
- The Screamers
- Rock docs – too many to list, but everyone needs to watch ‘Summer Of Soul’
- Nicholas Canyon Beach
- Trazadone & Cymbalta
- Idles + Turnstile
- Osoyoos, British Columbia
- Stacy Karp
10. Gary Gulman (comedian)
Aaron Leitko, Matador Records
Model Home - both feet en th infinite (Don Giovanni Records)
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle (Impulse!)
Topdown Dialectic - Vol. 3 (Peak Oil)
Superabundance - S/T (Future Times)
Wild Up & Christopher Roundtree - Julius Eastman, Vol. 1: Femenine
Natural Information Society ft. Evan Parker - Descension (Out of Our Constrictions) (Eeremite)
Roland Kayn - Tektra (Reiger Records Reeks)
Skee Mask - Pool (Ilian Tapes)
Organic Music Societies (Blank Forms 06)
Ryley Walker - Course in Fable (Husky Pants)
Jeff Parker - Forfolks (International Anthem)
Le Ron Carson - Under the Conditions (Sound Signature)
Steve Summers - Generation Loss (L.I.E.S.)
Irreversible Entanglements - Open the Gates (International Anthem)
Black Rave Culture - S/T (Haus of ALTR)
PDP III - Pilled Up on a Couple of Doves (Shelter Press)
Pauline Anna Strom - Angel Tears in Sunlight (RVNG)
Bitchin Bajas - Switched on Ra (Drag City)
Vinnie Martini, Matador DirectTOP 5 RECORD SCORES OF 2021
5) Swell Maps - Let's Build A Car b/w Big Maz In The Country & ...Then Poland (1980, Rough Trade)
Have been after this Japanese pressing of one of my all-time favorite UK punk singles (yes, this is a PUNK record, ask Geoff Travis) so jumped at the chance when a Discogs seller in the UK had it at the nice price
4) Tours - Language School b/w Foreign Girls (1979, self-released)
John Peel played this track 50 weeks in a row which caused the TOURS, from Poole to become the next big thing, major label flirting aside nothing but 8 different color PVC sleeves were to follow, this however is the OG press on b&w cardboard sleeve.
3) Dogs - Rot 'n' Roll b/w Teen Slime (1977, Rave Up Records)
#3 on my want list going into the year, I was finally able to pull off a trade with the Noxious one. Teen Slime is one of the best American punk B sides ever
2) Chiefs- Blues b/w Tower 18 & Knocked Out (1980, Playgems Records)
LA punk Holy Grail for me and the most recent acquisition, check Popsike if you want to see the most money I have ever spent for a record
1) CRIME - Frustration b/w Murder By Guitar (1977, Crime Music)
My top want of all time, I found a cherry copy courtesy of a collector friend selling of a collection, this single instantly makes every other record in your fire box obsolete, there has never been and will never be another band like San Francisco's CRIME, and this their 2nd single being their most ferocious recording ever. A reissue or a bootleg cannot match the glory of this one.
BEST ARCHIVAL RELEASE OF 2021
The Subterranean Hawks - Obviously Five Believers (Seventeen Records)
Stephen Duffy quit a not yet famous Duran Duran to join up with Birmingham's punk outfit TV EYE featuring a young Dave Kusworth who would later make brilliant solo records as well as with his band The Bounty Hunters and most importantly collaborating with Nikki Sudden in Jacobites. Presented here is various recordings over the 2 years the Subterranean Hawks, later simply renamed The Hawks existed and although this LP is not supposed to be a full length record it does flow quite well with tracks like the iconic Big Store and What Can I Give showing a moody post-punk side but the B-Side starts off with a ripping pop number that displays Duffy's lyrical power, very surprised this wasn't a hit let alone a song recorded by a band that was never signed to a label! All 10 tracks are killer and this record is a must own for fans of Duffy, Kusworth and hell I think any Echo & The Bunnymen fan would enjoy it too.
TOP 5 RETROACTIVE REVELATIONS OF 2021
- The Third Generation (d. R.W.Fassbinder, 1979 - West Germany)
- Fassbinder's radical socio-political drama, media overload. Loved it. Streaming on Criterion
- It Always Rains On Sunday (d. Robert Hamer, 1947 - UK)
- East End London noir with brilliant ensemble cast, a fully loaded 91mins. Streaming on Kanopy
- Major Dundee (d. Sam Peckinpah, 1965 - USA)
- A Moby Dick Western. Peckinpah at his most Fordian, would love to see the 4.5hr cut. Steaming on Starz
- Bandits of Orgosolo (Vittorio De Seta, 1961 - Italy)
- Maybe the best Italian Neorealist film you will see, an extension of De Seta's magnificent (which are streaming on Criterion and are highly recommended) documentary shorts about Sardinian townspeople with incredible detail of their lives, work and traditions. Not streaming
- Rivals (d. Krishna Shah, 1972 - USA)
- Very bizarre family drama starring comedian Robert Klein and future Bad Ronald, Scott Jacoby as an ambitious boy with a strong affection for his mother and Klein plays a NYC tour guide who woos her to the boy's disdain. An ending that will leave your jaw on the ground! Streaming on Tubi
My 2021 Massive Hits (Old and New)
EXEK - Several Souvenirs
Lil Ugly Mane - into a life
Wipers - Stormy
He Said - A.B.C. Dicks Love
Rated Z - Whatever People Say That I Am (That’s What I’m Not)
She Devil - Scraps
800 Cherries - through
Discovery Zone - Dance II
Fabiana Palladino - Shimmer
Evil House Party - Wicked
Oliver Coates - Butoh baby
Joanne Robertson, Oliver Coates - Doubt
Grouper - Kelso (Blue Sky)
Sky H1 - Elysian Heights
The Orchids - Striving For The Lazy Perfection
The Field Mice - Sensitive
Better Day - Hard Soul Mix
Koo De Tah - Missed You All Along
Sabrina Nichols, Beggars
Big Thief- Sparrow
Beach House- Pink Funeral
Spirit of the Beehive- There’s Nothing You Cant Do
Kitchen- Shooting Star
Waveform*- Favorite Song
Baby Keem- issues
Cardi B – Up
Melaina Kol- Prison Moon
Full Body 2- ador // ation
Steve Gunn - Other You
Joyer- Cranky Boy
Circuit Des Yeux- Sculpting the Exodus
Mdou Moctar- Ya Habibti
Cammy Enaharo – Real Love
Øyvind Rones, Playground
Top 10 Norwegian Albums 2021
Vilde Tuv - Melting Songs / Absolutely stunning recorder-based new age / eurodance record
Benedikt - Balcony Dream / Amazing songs, amazing album, amazing artwork, amazing everything
Smerz - Believer / The art of making techno, trip-hop, folk and classical make beautiful sense as a whole
Electric Eye - Horizons / One of those albums where you think you know where it’s all heading, but you’ll be wrong
Misty Coast - When I Fall From The Sky / Melodic and subtle, quiet and loud - and just excellent alt pop
Orions Belte - Villa Amorini / If Khruangbin isn’t enough for you, you definitely need Orions Belte
Kenneth Ishak - Native Tongue / Forever Norway’s best kept secret, this time produced by Lars Horntveth (Jaga Jazzist)
Frøkedal - Flora / Possibly one of the best albums yet from one of Norway’s main indie names the past couple of decades
Girl In Red - If I Could Make It Go Quiet / Just super fun and catchy from the beginning to the end
Lokoy - Badminton / Remember how Norwegians made cool indie stuff in the 90s? No? It was awesome, and this was the vibe
Abby Rubin, Beggars
Wau Wau Collectif - Yaral Sa Doom
Low - HEY WHAT
Equiknoxx - Basic Tools Mixtape
Turnstile - GLOW ON
Yu Su - Yellow River Blue
Grouper - Shade
Anika - Change
Spirit Of The Beehive - ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH
Linda Smith - Till Another Time: 1988 - 1996
Nation of Language - A Way Forward
Saint Etienne - I’ve Been Trying To Tell You
For Those I Love - s/t
CHARLY, new family member.
ALBUMS
LIVE
BOOKS
- SING BACKWARDS AND WEEP: A MEMOIR (Mark Lanegan)
- FRANK ZAPPA. La Musica Se Resiste A Morir (Manuel de la Fuente)
TV SHOWS
- THE OFFICE (revisited for the umpteenth time)
- ATYPICAL
- SEX EDUCATION
- LOST (another one revisited)
MOVIES / DOCS
Dominik Schmidt, Beggars
Albums:
- Lucy Dacus - Home Video
- Big Red Machine - How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?
- Villagers - Fever Dreams
- The Notwist - Vertigo Days
- Grandbrothers - All the Unknown
- Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
- Snail Mail - Valentine
- Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under
- The War On Drugs - I Don't Live Here Anymore
- Durand Jones & The Indications - Private Space
- London Grammar - Californian Soil
- Celeste - Not Your Muse
- Easy Life - Life's A Beach
- Joy Crookes - Skin
- Mini Trees - Always In Motion
- Torres - Thirstier
- BADBADNOTGOOD - Talk Memory
- Middle Kids - Today We're The Greatest
- James Blake - Friends That Break Your Heart
- Helado Negro - Far In
- Ben Howard - Collections From The Whiteout
- Mustafa - When Smoke Rises
- Parquet Courts - Sympathy For Life
- Sam Evian - Time To Melt
- Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee
- Geese - Projector
- Thala - Adolescence
- Modest Mouse - The Golden Casket
- Efterklang - Windflowers
- Courtney Barnett - Things Take Time, Take Time
Songs:
- Pinegrove - Alaska
- Durand Jones & The Indications - Witchoo
- Villagers - The First Day
- Julian Baker - Hardline
- Lucy Dacus - Brando
- Easy Life - Ocean View
- Ada Lea - damn
- Snail Mail - Ben Franklin
- Clairo - Amoeba
- Bayuk - Head Under Waves
- Torres - Don´t Go Puttin Wishes in My Head
- Big Red Machine - Phoenix (feat. Fleet Foxes & Anaïs Mitchell)
- Parquet Courts - Walking at a Downtown Pace
- Helado Negro - Gemini & Leo
- Sam Evian - Time to Melt
- London Grammar - Lose Your Head
- We Were Promised Jetpacks - Fat Chance
- James Vincent McMorrow - Poison to You
- Holly Humberstone - The Walls Are Way Too Thin
- Berwyn – Mia
Films:
1. Dune
- Free Guy
- Nomadland
- Cruella
- Coda
- James Bond
- Luca
- Nobody
- The Suicide Squad
- Black Widow
Series:
- Loki
- Foundation
- WandaVision
- Squid Game
- Your Honor
- Sex Education – series 3
- Mare Of Easttown
- Only Murders In the Building
- Lupin
10. The White LotusMelanie Sheehan, Rough Trade
Welcome to my Comedy Favorites of 2021
(and yes maybe some 2020 in there as well, because we all know it’s just been one long stupid year anyway)
Pen15 Season 2 Part 2
No one has ever blown the door of cringe traumedy this far off its hinges, and as I hear this new batch of episodes that just dropped may be the last, I wanna take a moment to salute thee. Even setting aside thehuge meaning this show has had for me personally in nailing biracial Asian American adolescent angst, the value of this show to anyone and everyone who has ever been 13 is immeasurable. Set aside some time this holiday break to cry, laugh, feel queasy, then cry and laugh some more.
Curb Your Enthusiasm – Season 11
I’m sorry, but I will never get tired of this show. EVER. If, however, for some reason YOU are worried that you may not have it in you for yet another season of social assassinations, Leon-isms, and Susie insults then please may I inform you that this year Tracy Ullman joins the cast as City Councilwoman Irma Kostroski and steals every goddamn scene she enters.
Prettt-y Prettt-y Prettt-y irresistible, if you ask me.
Beth Stelling
I’ve been a fan ever since her “meat coat” bit from 2017 and recently caught her “Girl Daddy” special from last year.
It’s fantastic and I promise you’ll never look at a Koala Care changing station the same ever again.
Dave Attell @ Caroline’s
I’m reticent to share this with the world but – every year, between Christmas and New Year’s, Comedy Legend Dave Attell does a string of shows at Caroline’s on Broadway. Attending these is one of my most cherished of holiday traditions. Even though I DON’T want you there grabbing up all MY tickets, it would be irresponsible to not mention it as a favorite. And since it didn’t get to happen last year, it feels extra special to get to experience this again.
Josh Johnson has a lot of jokes about being lazy, but don’t let him fool ya. My favorite baloney hater dropped TWO specials this year, Elusive and #(Hashtag) and they are both wonderful. He also started a top notch night at The Stand called Flex Comedy that my freshly vaccinated ass ran to the second it felt safe to watch standup indoors (where it belongs!) again. He is a true gem.
Gary Gulman’s
Yeah yeah, I know his fantastic Great Depresh special came out in 2019, but I saw Gary multiple times this year and he kills it, reliably, every time. He recently played Carnegie Hall but you can still catch him literally anywhere in NY, as I did on the patio of a café in Woodside, doing a captivating hour and a half that included skillfully eviscerating a brother & sister who made the mistake/bold choice of sitting up front.
Sam Jay not only put out a fiercely funny special last year but also nabbed a show on HBO this year called Pause that finally officially freed the nipple, as well as made you wish you could be invited to every party Sam Jay is at forever.
Maria Bamford is the perfect pandemic comedian. While others struggled to perform on Zoom during lockdown, this Dynamite Lady (Netflix heads know what I’m talking about) thrived. Maria has been performing in undesirable, challenging (i.e. outdoor) locations with minimal audiences for years. Her specials have her marvelously maneuvering bus stops, bookstores, bowling alleys, as well as a private concert for her parents and pugs in her actual house. One of my favorite examples of Maria’s abilities is her improvised set to absolutely no one in 7 Minutes in Purgatory. Bow down, bitches. She deserves it.
Bowen Yang is my everything. I haven’t been this excited about a SNL cast member since Kate McKinnon, and the fact that I willingly listen to his pop culture podcast Las Culturistas when I can’t stand 99.9% of the format really speaks volumes. He is absolutely delightful on Nora From Queens as well (a show I would give bigger props to if she would stop going by Awkwafina completely. Girl, I love you, but pull a Dwayne Johnson already and move on!)
NORM.
And finally we reach the best chunk o’ coal to be on constant rotation in my comedy collection.
I am lucky enough to have seen the genius of Norm MacDonald live in my lifetime, and this year had tickets to see him again. Sadly, I was relegated to dressing up as Turd Ferguson for Halloween instead. I hope I did him proud. (EDITOR'S NOTE : this is one occasion where we could've used a photo)
Honorable Mentions because apparently this isn’t long enough already:
-Jared Goldstein is a completely brand-new comedy crush for me and should be everyone else’s too.
-Shout out to me finally watching the episode Joe Pera Discovers The Who and then starting it over and watching it again. And again.
-Excited to binge watch MacGruber: the series and How To with John Wilson Season 2 over the holidays while my mom yells at me to turn the tv off.
Quanie Thornton, Beggars
ALBUMS
Aaliyah – Aaliyah (Reissue)
BADBADNOTGOOD – Talk Memory
Cleo Soul – Mother
Heaux Tales – Jazmine Sullivan
Mustafa – When Smoke Rises
Nala Sinephro – Space 1.8SONGS
Amethyst Rays (Extended) – Epifania
BADBADNOTGOOD – Love Proceeding (feat. Arthur Verocai)
Billie Eilish – Your Power
Chandler – Joyce Wrice
Dynamite – Gallant & Brandy
m y . l i f e – J. Cole, 21 Savage & Morray
My Little Love – Adele
NEON PEACH – Snoh Aalegra ft. Tyler, The Creator
Nobody – Nas feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill
Stay Alive – Mustafa
Emma Toney, Beggars
Olivia Rodrgio , Sour
Wednesday, Twin Plague
Lucy Dacus, Home Video
Bachelor, Doomin’ Sun
Wet Leg, Chaise Lounge
Search Party
The Other Two
The Reporter of the Week Review Brah
Frank Watkinson Youtube Covers
The Strokes, Irving Plaza
The New York City Ferry
Sumo Oranges
Beggars Coney Island trip
Josh Turner, Matador Records
Releases (open competition)- Yu Su – ‘Yellow River Blue’
- PinkPantheress – ‘to hell with it’
- Asian Glow – ‘Cull Ficle’
- Lana Del Rey – ‘Chemtrails Over The Country Club’
- Zachary McClellan – The Gyres
- Richard Dawson & Circle – Henki
- John Carroll Kirby – Cryptozoo
- Jackson Reid Briggs & The Heaters – Waiting In A Corner
- Ánnámáret – ‘Nieguid duovdagat’
- DJ Manny – ‘Signals In My Head’
Releases (hardcore & metal)
- Final Gasp – ‘Haunting Whisper’
- Ekulu – ‘Unscrew My Head’
- Angel Du$t – ‘YAK: A Collection Of Truck Songs’
- Big Cheese – ‘Anymore for Anymore?’
- The Chisel – ‘Retaliation’
- Turnstile – ‘Glow On’
- Portrayal of Guilt – ‘Christfucker’
- Suffering Hour – ‘The Cyclic Reckoning’
- Gulch / Sunami – Split
- C4 – ‘Chaos Streaks’
Reissues- David Horridge & Kevin McCormick – ‘Light Patterns’
- Female Species – ‘Tale Of My Lost Love’
- Karate – ‘Karate’
- Al-Dos Band – ‘Doing Our Thing With Pride’
- Static – ‘Toothpaste & Pills: Demos and Live 1978 – 1980
Whiskey- Angels Envy Rye - the rum barrel finish makes it special
- Glenfarclas 25 - affordable for a 25yr
- Michters Rye - currently the best US distillery
- Whistlepig 10 – tough but sweet. typical New Englander
- Nikka Coffee Grain – yet to test this against the coffee malt
- Playlists
- Pure Enough
- Midnight Marauder
- Mystic Valley Sailing & Regatta Club
- Glimpses Thro’ the Rift
- 2021 - Selects
Jake Whitener, Matador Records
21 for 2021
L’Rain Fatigue (Mexican Summer)
Low Hey What (Sub Pop)
Civic Future Forecast (Flightless / ATO)
Arooj Aftab Vulture Prince (New Amsterdam)
Floating Points & Pharoah Sanders Promises (Luaka Bop)
Rosali No Medium (SPINSTER)
Yu Su Yellow River Blue (Self Released)
Maria BC Devil's Rain EP (fear of missing out)
Mabe Fratti Sera Que Ahora Podremos Entendernos (Unheard of Hope)
Tarta Relena Fiat Lux (Self Released)
Taqbir S/T EP (Self Released)
Writhing Squares Chart for the Solution (Trouble in Mind)
Nana Yamato Before Sunrise (Dull Tones)
Sally Decker In the Tender Dream EP (NNA Tapes)
Painted Shrines Heaven and Holy (Woodsist)
Irreversible Entanglements Open the Gates (International Anthem)
Nala Sinephro Space 1.8 (Warp)
Space Afrika Honest Labour (Dais Records)
The Reds Pinks and Purples Uncommon Weather (Slumberland Records)
Yasmine Williams Urband Driftwood (SPINSTER)
Ekulu Unscrew My Head (Cash Only Records)
Favorite Songs of the year :
For further listening - Pure Enough
Top 5 Moments of 2021
Angel Bat Dawid and Jaimie Branch’s “Alters and Tabernacles” at IRL
Steve Gunn’s jaw dropping encore at The Bell House
Jaimie Branch’s entire opening set for Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah
Yo La Tengo’s moving performance of “Ohm” at the Kaatsbaan Festival
Mary Lattimore’s sunset performance at Greenwood Cemetery
Emily Zaremba, Matador Records
Favorite albums/EPs:
Skee Mask - Pool
bar italia - bedhead
Hildegard - Hildegard
Siete Catorce - Temperatura
Slow Crush - Hush
Dean Blunt - Black Metal 2
Tristan Arp - Sculpturegardening
Doss - 4 New Hit Songs
Water From Your Eyes - Structure
HTRK - Rhinestones
Sassy 009 - Heart Ego
Vivian Koch - Beyond Contact
Placid Angles - Touch The Earth
James K - 036
Lawrence Le Doux - Compassion Lake
Yves Tumor - The Asymptotical World
Yu Su - Yellow River Blue
Vegyn - Like A Good Old Friend
Mica Levi - Blue Alibi
Ekulu - Unscrew My Head
Samuel Organ - A Safe Place in Cyberspace
Flock of Dimes - Head of Roses
CFCF - Memoryland
They Are Gutting A Body Of Water/Full Body 2 - EPCOT
Grouper - Shade
Favorite movies seen in theaters:
Titane
Red Rocket
Another Round
Fallen Angels 4k restoration
Out of the Blue 4k restoration
Possession 4k restoration
Cure 4k restoration
La Piscine 4k restoration
Mulholland Drive 4k restoration