Best Of 2021: Songs In Alphabetical Order by Artist Through September 30th

Monthly overview at the end, along with Spotify Playlist

Casa – 22Gz Emperor Machine – ACR vs The Emperor Machine – A Certain Ratio, The Emperor Machine Where Have You Gone – Alan Jackson Still Got It – Alex Frankel Rock & Roll – Alice Cooper Feel The Heat – AmyElle Verse 23 – Amy Helm Black Myself – Amythyst Kiah Africa, One Of A Kind – Angelique Kidjo, Mr Eazi, Salif Keita Choose Love – Angelique Kidjo, Shungudzo Dignity – Angelique Kidjo Tears To Diamonds – Apollo LTD Do You? – April Rose Gabrielli Superstar – Anthony Hamilton, Jennifer Hudson Bad Dream – Azure Ray Weights – Bartees Strange Distorted Light Beam – Bastille Lost (with DJ Angelo feat. Jinadu) – Black Coffee, DJ Angelo, Jinadu How Dare You Want More – Bleachers Too Late (Band Version) – Infidels Outtake – Bob Dylan Snowbird – Brando’s Lair Stuck in Time – Brando’s Lair BUZZCUT (feat. Danny Brown) – BROCKHAMPTON, Danny Brown Permission To Dance – BTS Question – Burna Boy The Ghost Of Jesus – Caged Animals KESI – Camilo KESI – Remix- Camilo, Shawn Mendes Colder Than You – Canaan Smith Up – Cardi B Song of Trouble (feat. Sufjan Stevens) – CARM, Sufjan Stevens Baby Don’t You Go Go – CeeLo Green, Rare Essence 2009 – Charly Efe, Pablo Hasél, Valtonyc FWB – CHIKA Go Crazy (Remix) (feat. Young Thug, Future, Lil Durk & Mulatto) – Chris Brown, Future, Mulatto, Young Thug Not Usually Like This – Cian Ducrot The Spirit Of – Cloud Nothings Good Things – Dan + Shay Clash (feat. Stormzy) – Dave Tryin’ To Get To Heaven – David Bowie Riding on the Tide of Love – Deacon Blue In Blur – Deafheaven  Take_it_Back_v2 – Charlie Heat Version – Denzel Curry, Kenny Beats, Charlie Heat Bluuwuu – Digga D LET IT GO – DJ Khaled, 21 Savage, Justin Bieber Levitating (feat. DaBaby) – Dua Lipa, DaBaby Save the Last Dance for Me – Live – Emmylou Harris, The Nash Ramblers La Chica De Hoy (This Year’s Girl) – Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Cami Pump It Up – Elvis Costello, Juanes Rock & Roll Found Me -Eric Church Russian Roulette – Eric Church Formwela 4 [Feat. Corey King] – Esperanza Spalding How Many Times – Esther Rose Roaring 20s – Flo Milli Sapling – Foy Vance Gang Signs (feat. ScHoolboy Q) – Freddie Gibbs, ScHoolboy Q The Summer I Got Good At Guitar – Fresh Provide (feat. Chris Brown & Mark Morrison) – G-Eazy, Chris Brown, Mark Morrison Dream Weapon – Genghis Tron Girl K Is For The People – Girl K cloak n dagger – glaive, ericdoa Pestilence – Hazing Over Fillin’ My Cup (feat. Little Big Town) – Hailey Whitters, Little Big Town The Tradition – Halsey  Please Don’t Leave Just Yet – Holly Humberstone Score (feat. SZA & 6LACK) – Isaiah Rashad Paprika – Japanese Breakfast All I Do Is Drive – Jason Isbell Girl Like Me (feat. H.E.R.) – Jazmine Sullivan, H.E.R. Ma’ G – J Balvin In Da Getto – J Balvin, Skrillex this is how you fall in love – Jeremy Zucker, Chelsea Cutler Natty Dread – Jesse Royal You Are Lord Of All – JJ Hairston, Phillip Bryant, Pocket Of Hope Junco Partner – Acoustic – Joe Strummer God – Home Demo – John Lennon Mouthful of Blood – Juliana Hatfield Hardline – Julien Baker Peaches (feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon) – Justin Bieber, Daniel Caesar, Giveon Do I Ever Cross Your Mind – Justin Townes Earle, Dawn Landes drivers license – jxdn Jesus Lord, Pt 2 – Kanye West Jonah – Kanye T.A.Y.L.O.R – Kaonashi SIERRA NIGHTS (feat. Ryan Beatty)  – Kevin Abstract SLUGGER (feat. $NOT & slowthai) – Kevin Abstract The Bandit – Kings of Leon Janie Bleu – Kip Moore Hate – Kota the Friend, Statik Selektah Agatha All Along – Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Kathryn Hahn, Eric Bradley, Greg Whipple Really Love (feat. Craig David & Digital Farm Animals) – KSI Blue Vein – Lael Neale Every Star Shivers in the Dark – Lael Neale Let Me Love You Like A Woman – Lana Del Rey Mighty Soul – Langhorne Slim Haunted – Laura Les After Those Who Mean It – Laura Stevenson Break Up – Leanne Betasamosake Simpson Toosie – Lil Gotit INDUSTRY BABY (feat. Jack Harlow) – Lil Nas X MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X never eat, never sleep – Lil Peep, Lil Tracy Calling My Phone – Lil Tjay, 6LACK Scream – Lindsey Buckingham Frida Kahlo – Lion Babe Rumors (feat. Cardi B) – Lizzo Introvert – Little Simz Intro – Logic Solar Power – Lorde Not Dead Yet – Lord Huron Coal Miner’s Daughter (Recitation) – Loretta Lynn Love Intervention – Lou Barlow Goodbye – LP Take My Hand – LP Giobbi Hot & Heavy – Lucy Dacus Roots – Lucy Spraggan Let Them Know – Mabel As A child – Madeline The Person Psycho -Maisie Peters 8:30 – Marla Mase Got a Lot O’ Livin to Do – Live – Marshall Crenshaw Better – Michigander Different Drum – Micky Dolenz Porn Star – Mod Sun More Than My Hometown – Morgan Wallen Eracist Live – Mr. Bungle Love For You – Mr Eazi Free Ride – Mykki Blanco Wellerman – Sea Shanty – Nathan Evans What I’m Here For – NEEDTOBREATHE Country Home – Live – Neil Young, Crazy Horse Girl in Amber – Nell Smith. The Flaming Lips Middle Child – Nervous Dater Earthlings – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Albuquerque – Nick Cave, Warren Ellis Different Kind of Blue – Nick Lowe Rainforest – Noname brutal – Olivia Rodrigo deja vu – Olivia Rodrigo drivers license – Olivia Rodrigo My Father’s Daughter – Olivia Vedder, Eddie Vedder, Glen Hansard You’re Not Special, Babe – Orla Gartland Born This Way – The Country Road Version -Orville Peck This Mess We’re In – Demo – PJ Harvey Snow Globe – Pistol Annies Head Cheerleader – Pom Pom Squad Blue Heaven – Public Service Broadcasting, Andreya Casablanca Comin’ out the other side – Randy Edelman Friday (Remix) – Rebecca Black, 3OH!3, Big Freedia, Dorian Electra Oh Christine – Reigning Sound Friday (feat. Mufasa & Hypeman) – Dopamine Re-Edit – Riton, Nightcrawlers, Mufasa & Hypeman, Dopamin Oh Christine – Reigning Sound The Ballad of Sleazy Rider – Rob Zombie Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater, Pt. 1 – RZA, DJ Scratch Seventeen Going Under – Sam Fender I’d Rather Be – Sam Huber, Amp Fiddler These Kids we Knew – Rostam Nothing To Say – Savage Gary, Georgia Fellowship – serpentwithfeet Hyacinth – serpentwithfeet Same Size Shoe – serpentwithfeet 999 (with Camilo) – Selena Gomez De Una Vez – Selena Gomez Recluse in the Making – Sincere Engineer Nirvana – Skepta,J Balvin Glimpses – Sleaford Mods NIGGA DON’T UPLIFT ME – Soul Glo So May We Start (feat. Simon Helberg) – From “Annette” – Sparks, Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard Little Deer – Spellling My Baby Wants A Baby – St. Vincent Everything I Had – Sun June Cimmerian Shade – Sufjan Stevens, Angelo De Augustine Missing You – Syd rubberband – Tate McRae Home – Teenage Fanclub Yellowbelly – Teenage Wrist Watering The Well – The Bronx Jazz on the Autobahn – The Felice Brothers STAY (with Justin Bieber) – The Kid LAROI Action Replay – The Fratellis Sun Blisters – The Natvral Why Don’t You Come Out Anymore? – The Natvral Don’t Ever Pray in the Church on My Street – The Reds, Pinks and Purples Not Necessary – The Tragically Hip Back In Love City – The Vaccines Save Your Tears – The Weeknd, Ariana Grande 21st Century Love Songs – The Wildhearts SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE (feat. Brent Faiyaz & Fana Hues) – Tyler, The Creator People Have the Power – Tomás Doncker & The True Groove All-Stars No Hole In My Head – Tom Jones One More Cup Of Coffee – Tom Jones shop (feat. DaBaby) – Toosii Don’t Go Puttin wishes In My Head – Torres And This is Just The Intro – Tory Lanez I Like Dat (feat. BIA & Kehlani) – T-Pain Rebel Love – UB40, Inner Circle Queen Majesty / Chalice In The Palace (feat. Robbie Shakespeare) – U-Roy Up County Down – Van Morrison SHELTER (ft. Wyclef Jean, Chance The Rapper) – VIC MENSA, Wyclef Jean, Chance the Rapper Fancy Like (feat. Kesha) – Walker Hayes 23 – Wallice Light of a Clear Blue Morning – Waxahatchee Make It Easy – We Are The Union How Will I Know – Whitney Houston, Clean Bandit Fallin’ (Adrenaline) – Why Don’t We Public Execution – Worn TNT – Wye Oak Vibe With You (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)- YG, Mozzy Nice to Me – You Me At Six Off The Yak – Young M.A January: The month belonged to Olivia Rodriguez excellent Taylor Swift influenced “driver’s license,” with a sensational 2.3 BILLION  streams on Spotify alone. The other shocker here is that after two years or so of finding sadgirl-boy -sadteens if you prefer,  bedroom electronics underwhelming,  the genre came into its own with jxdn, Olivia, Tate McRae, and, although clearly not text book, the indie pop band Sun June. Nothing that great for hip hop… which is usually my go to genre… February: another killer month for pop music, between EDM and bedroom pop even hip hop has taken a back seat for a month. with albums on the quiet side,  that one song came into its own, whether it is Tom Jones dance cover of a folk pop classic or Cardi B with another ear candy gonna roll up the charts.  And the biggest song of the month by far, Olivia Rodiguez’s “Drivers License” given the ultimate accolade, a sketch on SNL. March: A middling month (actually five weeks because I got to writing it up late), highlighted by the great power pop man former Let’s Talk About Girls, current Brando’s Lair leader Barry Holdship. Brando’s Lair promise to drop a song a month for a year, and if any of the other’s can pierce your armor like the instant classic “Stuck In Time” we are in for a treat. That harp will always be something I return to. April – The return of the album took over from the singles all year (so far), Eric Church got two mentions and probably deserved more, and two guys I’ve never been crazy about -Lion Babe and DJ Khaled- make a surprise appearance… Patti Smith told Tomas Doncker he had made the song his own… May- Mid June – welcome to the Spring Awakening, headed by Marla Mase and the change of the weather, the finishing line of the pandemic, and a future we are still aiming for. A better month (well six weeks) for albums but singles, and yet there are some memorable moments… noticeably from Sparks, YG and Wye Oak. Mid June – July 4th – It feels like a surprise but really shouldn’t be, however the three artists with three songs on this list are from among the three best albums of the year – Angelique Kidjo, Olivia Rodrigo, and serpentwithfeet. In theory, this list should be mostly singers and since artists have spent years now releasing songs that aren’t necessarily singles, the lines have seriously blurred. Randy Edelman welcome here July – added over 20 songs to the month, including first rate pop from April Rose Gabrielli and Tomas Doncker’s blues cover August – The Marshall Crenshaw live album, the Kanye West new album, and 20 more. September – No, Drake doesn’t make an appearance but bands whose albums I didn’t care for, The Vaccines for instance, show up for a song. It was a busy month without being a 2021 defining week