Sam Fender is huge in the UK. Which immediately raises a red flag for me, he’s mainstream, a token guitar act that manages to get on Radio 1. His first album was miserable and it seemed like he was trying to be the geordie Jeff Buckley, but came out like a dark Ed Sheeran. Somehow it resonated massively and he was playing arenas at the end of it. Fast Forward to this release I think the first track that I heard was a b-side to the albums title track - Howdon Aldi Death Queue. It was loose, angry and funny. It rocked and I didn’t know he could do that. I wrote it off as a fluke, and thought nothing of it until the album came out and my friend Duncs pestered me to give him another chance. Frustratingly, he was right, it’s bloody great. Like a cross between Springsteen and War on Drugs. It wasn’t as try-hard as the first album, and it was a lot more melodic, personal and honest.

I said in the pre-amble that my mood dictated this years top 2021 heavily, well if there ever was an album that my mood needed badly, it’s this one. Just pure unadulterated fun from beginning to end. Van Weezer takes all the pomp and tongue-in-cheek guitar licks from the best of 80′s hair metal and the melodic genius of Weezers poppiest hits and puts em onto one stadium filling album. Strap on your headband and air guitar, leave your worries and stress behind and just sing along to pop-rock perfection.

There’s a definite theme emerging from this years list and that’s of bands / artists I didn’t really care much about until recently and then, bam! I play the new stuff constantly. I would say NRATNS are a slight exception to that theme, in that I got TOTALLY into them, their entire back catalog was played constantly for weeks and I saw them live for their album release show on my own cos I couldn’t find another taker. They’re the nearest thing to The Blues Brothers band we have in 2021, which if anyone knows me, knows that is huge for me. The new album doesn’t stray far from that Motown, soul, blues and rock n roll and I highly recommend it.

Another band I’ve had minimal interest in until this album came out. The single above was my most played song of the year. Funny, angry, simple tunes - it’s what I needed in 2021. They’ve even got sing-along-choruses, which I didn’t think they had in the past, they’ve always felt a bit grim and miserable from afar, but I think I got them this year, yes they are grim, but hilarious and very very catchy. NUDGE IT!

After the awfulness of the last two albums, I’m glad The Black Keys chose to hit the reset button and go back to their roots with this release. Literally so as this is an album full of Delta Blues covers that inspired their early sound. As someone who lazily claims to love blues music, it’s the perfect album for the beginner, an intro to a style of blues that feels classic, yet distinct. I love it and I want to be able to play guitar exactly like this.

The first of two Weezer albums released in 2021, this one was certainly a Rivers Cuomo solo project with a Weezer sticker on it. The “Baroque Pop” album is likely to anger the early hardcore Weezer fans even more than usual. Rivers is aging well though and is in some what of a purple streak, writing brilliant songs, no matter what style he turns his hand to. No distorted guitar in this album, but a lot of joyous pop.

I’ve never been a huge fan of Royal Blood, outside of the odd single. But this album grabbed my attention with the debut single Typhoon, they’d beefed up their production and were clearly reaching for more arena filling sounds. But rather than water things down for the masses, they went for a Daft Punk / White Stripes mash up. Which is right up my alley. It’s a brilliant driving album too, whack it on in the car and you wont stop tapping the accelerator.

Another band that won’t be for everyone but one of my most listened to albums this year. I love the singers dry monotone delivery and seemingly random, but funny lyrics “I came here to make a ceramic shoe, and I’ve come to smash what you made”. Musically the lead guitar and bass drives everything at a much faster pace than the singer, but it all works and it makes for a refreshing listen.

Squid are from Brighton and are probably the least accessible in my top 10, the album can be quite challenging for a casual listen, it veers from angular punky guitar riffs, to jazzy trumpets, to, in some cases, white noise. In truth it wouldn’t have made the top 10 if I hadn’t got to see them do it live. Their gig at the Mercury Lounge was in my top 2 gigs this year. The arrangements are astounding and there is always so much going on in each song, each member of the band changes instruments throughout and the singer / drummer is captivating. Check out the singles first, then go see them live and then listen to the album. That should do it.