2021 Year End Lists Chapter 5: The Top 100 Singles of 2021
The single
is the absolute heartbeat of popular music. Nothing racks up streams, builds up hype and generates social media buzz like a lead single, music video or elaborate promotional campaign. While the medium isn't exclusive to the mainstream and bands all the way down to the local level can issue singles in the streaming era, this is the list most affected by general consensus and commercial success. Based on the quality of these songs, the level of execution in their visuals and promotion, and the appeal and reception within their target fanbase this is a ranking of the top 100 singles released in 2021.
Enjoy <3
100. Bloody Future - Kilo Kish
Last Time On The List: 2019 Bite Me
With nostalgia being as potent a force as ever in music this year Kilo Kish kicks our list off with a multi-decade encompassing R&B banger. Her voice continues to be an infectious accompaniment to a bouncy hook and her impeccable attitude goes a long way to help sell the track.
99. Peaches - Justin Bieber (Feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon)
Last Time On The List: n/a
Justin Bieber has never appeared on my singles lists despite a number of viral hits over the past few years. That's more indicative of his reputation for under-writing and the tendency for his eras to lack compelling visuals to succeed in the pop sphere. Peaches delivers better quality than we're used to on both fronts and has already become one of Bieber's most acclaimed and most loved singles of his entire career.
98. Nothing Without You - Cloud Nothings
Last Time On The List: 2020 Am I Something
Cloud Nothings have more than proven that they can get on the list by rocking your ass off with pummeling riffs and high energy. On Nothing Without You they penetrate their punk style with an emotional burden and a pop hook that give it a whole new dimension and help it stick around for days after you hear it.
97. Fix Urself - Jpegmafia
Last Time On The List: 2020 Covered In Money
Jpegmafia has an ear for pop hooks that most rappers can only dream of and in recent years when he has started leaning into that side of himself musically it has made for some of his more viral singles. Fix Urself is the fuel that made his EP2 project soar and while most people have honed in on his more recent LP in the past few months that song has proven that it can stick around.
96. Locust Laced - Sleigh Bells
Last Time On The List: n/a
If you know Sleigh Bells you know that they tend to blend pop, electronica, rock and normally one or two other genres into an explosive and unhinged soup of fun. That's Locust Laced in a nutshell and with more pop hooks than ever before being sung over chugging guitars than ever before in 2021, the music world is finally catching up with the band.
95. Boilermaker - Royal Blood
Last Time On The List: 2017 Hook, Line & Sinker
There's going to be a lot of experimental, highly technical and occasionally flat out crazy rock music on this list but Royal Blood is still chugging away. While their very VERY familiar style may not work across the runtime of an entire album they are certainly capable of pulling off a hard grooving single with a soaring chorus, and that's Boilermaker.
94. Alaska - Pinegrove
Last Time On The List: 2020 The Alarmist
Pinegrove has slowly but surely become one of the most reliable providers of soft, gentle and verbose indie folk. From the fragile lead vocals to the lo-fi recording style you know what to expect from the bands sound and their melodies and Alaska is more of that. There's no reason to expect that they won't be back on the list with another song like this next year.
93. Waiting - PUP
Last Time On The List: n/a
Ah, the punk song about an unstable relationship, what a classic. PUP's wailing, snarky new single has all the attitude you'd expect as well as some pretty serious musical chops to back it up. The soaring hook is one of the bands best ever and the song does a great job of drumming up hype for their new record next year.
92. Blue Heaven - Public Service Broadcasting (Feat. Andreya Cadablanca)
Last Time On The List: 2017 People Will Always Need Coal
In 2021 Public Service Broadcasting emerged as an entirely new band and their album had an entirely new purpose, telling the history of Berlin through music. Surprisingly they had a way for that to translate into a single by recruiting a native vocalist and penning an explosive dance track. For a group that has never really been a singles band, they're not all that bad at dropping singles.
91. La Fama - Rosalia (Feat. The Weeknd)
Last Time On The List: Rosalia 2020 TKN, The Weeknd 2020 After Hours
Simply getting these two to make a song together gets you 90% of the way to a good song. While it didn't exactly set the world of fire the results are still a sensual and utterly infectious blending of their styles. Abel's vocals continue to be some of the most versatile across the span of pop music and this is even further proof, it won't be the last example of such on this list either.
90. This Side Of The Sun - Shame
Last Time On The List: n/a
We're going to be talking about post-punk a LOT over the next few days and Shame is right at the center of it all with their breakout sophomore album early this year. While it did have a few hard-hitting singles it was this surprise bonus track that was released as a single that wowed me more than anything with their heavy arrangements and snarling lead vocals.
89. Harridan - Porcupine Tree
Last Time On The List: n/a
I didn't expect to get a new Porcupine Tree single this year, or maybe ever again honestly. After Steven Wilson's most recent solo project let a lot of fans down he came roaring back by reviving the prototype for modern prog rock bands and sounding like they haven't missed a beat in the years they've been absent.
88. Up - Cardi B
Last Time On The List: 2020 WAP
After a few years of pissing off men and conservatives with her brash sexuality and uncompromising personal style Cardi actually had a pretty reserved year in 2021. She tweeted some funny things about mothering her child, hosted the AMA's and dropped a simple but very effective single in Up. It proved to be a grower on rap fans all year and a late stage viral hit, firmly cementing it among the years essential pop rap fusions.
87. Queen Sophie For President - The World Is A Beautiful Place & I'm No Longer Afraid To Die
Last Time On The List: 2017 Marine Tigers
Emo and alternative rock collective The World Is A Beautiful Place came back this year and added a progressive rock element to the fold. While this certainly wasn't their proggiest single it still shows off how versatile the sound they craft can be. The vocals, which I believe are done by Katie Dvorak are the finishing touch on top of the track instrumental flourish to really make it thrive as a single.
86. Zami - Moor Mother
Last Time On The List: n/a
For the past few years Moor Mother has been one of the most predominate voices in experimental music, which isn't often the kind of thing that spawns a great single. She had numerous tracks released individually this year that all worked collectively to build up hype for her newest album whether with high profile features or just explosive hard-hitting production and her uncompromising vocals. Zami is the very definition of bold and that may scare some off, but dutiful listeners will see exactly what makes it so good.
85. Electra Rex - Arca
Last Time On The List: 2020 Nonbinary
Arca had a ton of good singles this year and while one track could never encapsulate the grandiosity of her 4 albums, Electra Rex is perhaps the closest to showing off the versatility of what Arca is capable of alongside the splash of personality she brings. A jittery, futuristic and fantastically charming banger that 2021 honestly wasn't ready for.
84. Hot N Heavy - Jessie Ware
Last Time On The List: 2020 Spotlight
Much like so many of the greats, Jessie Ware and her collaborators are so talented and focused that even her B-Sides are better than most pop singles in a year. She continues her streak of excellent disco and new wave flavored electro pop with a smooth and sensual bedroom anthem delivering all the maturity we've come to expect from Jessie.
83. Run It Up - Snakehips (Feat. Earthgang)
Last Time On The List: Snakehips n/a, Earthgang 2019 Proud Of U
For years Snakehipe have only been known to the critical music community as one of the more forgettable EDM acts out there. So it was a pretty big surprise when out of nowhere they dropped a track with two of the most intriguing young talents in the rap game, and it's actually really good. Johnny and Dot deliver characteristically exciting and creative verses over a genuinely fun beat and it all comes together on a simple but effortlessly memorable hook.
82. Shelter - Vic Mensa (Feat. Wyclef Jean & Chance The Rapper)
Last Time On The List: Vic Mensa n/a, Wyclef Jean n/a, Chance The Rapper 2019 Bad Idea
Vic Mensa has had, let's call it a questionable career so far despite proving he has the talent to deliver excellent hip hop. On Shelter he teams up with fellow Chicago native Chance The Rapper and legendary Fugee Wyclef Jean for a smart and direct attack on the failures of the status quo. Wyclef's soaring hook is soaked with drama and with the exception of one pretty rough bar about Fortnite, Vic and Chance take aim and fire with high lyrical proficiency.
81. Rare Symmetry - American Football
Last Time On The List: 2019 Every Wave To Ever Rise
Releasing a completely unannounced new single in December is the buzzer beater shot of the Year End Singles List. American Football have a habit of doing this but they have an even stronger habit of making great music. The raw sincerity and fragile emotional beauty of their songwriting makes for wonderful moments throughout. It's amazing that more than 20 years into their career the band continues to sound so fresh and so revealing.
80. Peach - Future Islands
Last Time On The List: 2020 For Sure
If there's one band that you can count on for a great single every album cycle it's Future Islands, and maybe Spoon but more on that later. Regardless if you're familiar with the Future Islands formula and enjoy it you'll love this track. From the pristine pop sheen to the prominent bassline and of course Sam Herring's unmistakable vocals, this is the bands core appeal through and through.
79. Kiss Me More - Doja Cat (Feat. SZA)
Last Time On The List: Doja Cat 2020 Pussy Talk, SZA 2020 Hit Different
One of the biggest hits of the year boils down to a crossover between two artists famous for their personalities. Doja Cat's over the top eccentricity fits comfortably in alongside SZA's often brutal honesty and somehow good natured deviance. On top of all this it has an earworm hook that rivals just about anything else released this year, it's no surprise at all that this work.
78. BDE - Shygirl (Feat. Slowthai)
Last Time On The List: Shygirl n/a, Slowthai Feel Away
As unexpected of a collaboration as this felt like when it was first announced, the more I thought about it the more sense it made. Shygirl and Slowthai team up for a hard-hitting sexually charged banger about having big dick energy, yeah that actually seems awesome. The results are exactly what I hoped for even if it's a bit hard to imagine some of Slowthai's more masculine fans being able to get behind it.
77. Hot & Heavy - Lucy Dacus
Last Time On The List: n/a
Lucy Dacus had never really blown me away as a solo artist and I still came away from her album this year a bit mixed, but Hot & Heavy is her best single yet. It is charming and flirtatious in a youthful almost nostalgic way as she reflects on a younger relationship. What makes it so interesting is the subtle jabs of pain she works in and the overall message of the track turning sour when she considers how she'll never be able to repeat the feelings. It has a smart and emotional depth to it beyond simply having such a catchy and appealing sound, resulting in a great single.
76. How Not To Drown - Chvrches (Feat. Robert Smith)
Last Time On The List: Chvrches n/a, Robert Smith n/a
If you've been around long enough to remember Chvrches debut then you know how many people lofted acclaim on the band for their revitalization of electro pop and their refreshing style of songwriting. There's a good chance you also know that since then critical acclaim hasn't come hand in hand with the group. While their new album wasn't perfect it was their best in years and it spawned the best single the band have released since their debut album in a nocturnal even slightly paranoid collab with The Cure frontman Robert Smith of all people.
75. Dead Flowers - Health (Feat. Poppy)
Last Time On The List: Health n/a, Poppy 2019 Scary Mask
Health had a pretty good year when all was said and done including the chance to collaborate with Nine Inch Nails on a single. That's why it's so surprising the band delivered their best work on an entirely separate collaboration. Synth pop meets heavy metal star Poppy features on the song but the style can't really be described as either. It's a dreary, dense and almost apocalyptic song which deploys her voice as a shadowy yet commanding prescence. The whole conceptualization and execution of the song kind of blows my mind and I'm thrilled that it turned out as great as it did.
74. Future Starts Now - Kim Petras
Last Time On The List: 2020 Malibu
Kim Petras has dominated this list in recent years with a ran of fantastically catchy and memorable singles. This year wasn't quite the same level of pep but she did pin quite a decent pop song in Future Starts Now which not only had a great music video attached to it, but also had her fans filling Twitter feeds with the croissant emoji for weeks after she debuted the track during Lollapalooza.
73. Walkers Beware! We Drive Into The Sun - Sweet Trip
Last Time On The List: n/a
Sweet Trip came back this year, I didn't expect to say that in 2021. To be honest I wasn't sure when I would ever say it but I'm thrilled they're here. While a hit single was never really in the cards for the band the frenzied panic of internet music dorks went off exactly as anticipated. The song delivered on the bands long adored creative fusions of electronica with a shoegazey twist and certainly made for one of the more talked about moments of the year among the gatekept circles of musical purity in which Velocity: Design: Comfort is seen as gospel.
72. Tick Tock - Young Thug
Last Time On The List: 2020 Proud Of U
Young Thug's newest album Punk turned out to be a bit of a let down, with one of the reasons being that it abandoned the head start it had with Tick Tock. One of Thugger's smoothest bangers in recent memory sees him deploying his trademark vocal versatility without ever breaking the songs slick flow. It really is a song that only Young Thug could make and one that uses his best attributes to thrive. The explanation for leaving it off of Punk isn't likely to ever be a satisfying enough answer.
71. The Slow Parts On Death Metal Albums - The Mountain Goats
Last Time On The List: n/a
The Mountain Goats aren't exactly known for their world conquering singles but in recent years they have managed to draw the attention of the indie folk scene with a few songs full of unmistakable John Darnielleisms. The sentiment of sharing a moment listening to a death metal record, but only the quiet parts, is a funny and charming scene. It's the bouncy sway of the songs piano that really adds the reserved kookiness you'd expect from a Mountain Goats song and makes it one of their most memorable singles in years.
70. Force Majeure - Gaspard Augé
Last Time On The List: n/a
Gaspard Augé has been making stadium grade electronic bangers as one half of music duo Justice for almost 15 years and here on his solo album he proved fully capable of doing it alone. Pulling from similar influences he made an anthemic, flashy and world conquering piece of dance music. With very little vocal samples he still manages to deliver extremely memorable musical passages and signature moments. It may not have been the most high profile electronic single this year but it proved to be one of the best.
69. Girls & Boys - Viagra Boys
Last Time On The List: n/a
Time to talk about post punk again, this time in one of its most unique acts the unpredictable and occasionally comical Viagra Boys. Their album was a heavy, pummeling collection of songs but one where they weren't afraid to get silly here and there. As fun as Girls & Boys sounds it has a surprisingly serious core for a track where frontman Sebastian Murphy impersonates a shrimp. The band has one of the most unique yet weirdly approachable sounds in an otherwise quite insular genre and will be names to look out for for years to come.
68. Slayer Moon - Braids
Last Time On The List: 2020 Snow Angel
Braids had quite an underrated record and placement on last years singles list with Snow Angel but they changed tune this year on the Sailor Moon inspired Slayer Moon. The song is a funny piece of self-reflection that does exactly what Braids as a band promise. It's a splash of personality with a hard hitting indie pop instrumental backing and if that sounds like your kind of thing, don't miss it.
67. Get Better - alt-j
Last Time On The List: 2017 In Cold Blood
alt-j came back this year, it feels like it's been so long. Their comeback single U&ME wasn't quite the return to form anticipated from the band but the follow-up Get Better hit it out of the park. The subtle, beautiful track revives one of their best talents, deploying a song wide metaphor that's as fun to unravel as it is to listen to. The song is a great return to form and exactly what we can hope for from the band going forward.
66. The Hardest Cut - Spoon
Last Time On The List: 2017 Hot Thoughts
I've often called Spoon one of the most consistent bands in all of music. Year after year and now decade after decade they drop concise hard-hitting singles and deeply creative albums. Unsurprisingly their most recent lead single follows this trend with The Hardest Cut, a bouncy and catchy piece of straight up rock that proves just how refined and talented the band are. It seems like no group can do it this well forever, but Spoon is showing no signs of slowing down yet.
65. Flux - Poppy
Last Time On The List: 2019 Scary Mask
Poppy is continually refining, redefining and expanding her unique set of influences and altering her sound in compelling new ways. This years Flux was one of her more pop oriented albums in years generally speaking but it's epic lead single is a fusion straight out of her legendary 2018 run. She pairs an immediately winning hook with chugging metal guitars for a perfectly hard-hitting moment and the whole thing has a cute meets chaotic half animated music video. This is Poppy's formula executed to perfection.
64. Walking At A Downtown Pace - Parquet Courts
Last Time On The List: 2018 Wide Awake
Parquet Courts had the difficult challenge of following up one of the best modern rock albums and whether they did so or not is up for debate. What isn't up for debate is how good this lead single is, a raucous rock song with a tight groove and witty social commentary strung throughout. The vocals of frontman Andrew Savage are one of the most distinct you'll hear this year and the band has the musical chops to back it up.
63. mememe - 100 Gecs
Last Time On The List: 2020 Ringtone Remix
100 Gecs crashed onto the music scene in 2019 with their breakout single money machine and changed the landscape of modern experimental pop more than anyone could have predicted. When it came to the lead single from their highly anticipated follow-up they went in a more ska influenced direction a la Stupid Horse but didn't sacrifice any of the personality that put them where they are. mememe is a distorted, explosive and outright hilarious new banger from the duo that formally announces they have no intentions on being a one album wonder.
62. Climb Every Wall - Lump
Last Time On The List: n/a
Last year Laura Marling impressed critics and singer-songwriter fans alike with her fantastic album Song For Our Daughter and this year she carried on that momentum by uniting once again with Mike Lindsay for a full length Lump album. With an array of good singles to choose from we have the multi-faceted Climb Every Wall. It pairs a dark and even hostile verse with a simple but incredibly satisfying pop hook that kept me coming back to the track over and over again all year.
61. CYHSY, 2005 - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Last Time On The List: n/a
This year saw some legends of 2000's indie rock returning to their roots and none did so as satisfyingly as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. After a few singles last year that did an excellent job at drumming up excitement they delivered this helping of nostalgia soaked indie folk bliss. Given how many observations were made on the band reminiscing on their early days it was really this song which took that head on and it's made the track stick as a significant piece of 2021's indie scene.
60. Catboys - Lil Mariko
Last Time On The List: n/a
Where do I even start with this one. Lil Mariko's ode to the catboy archetype is as much a masterpiece as it is a big meme. While you may think the novelty of hearing Mariko threatening to stick a glock in a catboy's butt would wear off, the song is an absolute heavyweight banger with a killer hook that keeps you around for the long haul. As much as I can see this being a divisive song to include on the list it was just one of those tracks I couldn't tell the story of this year without mentioning.
59. Pica - Bloodslide
Last Time On The List: n/a
Hearing about a new Protomartyr meets Preoccupations side project was hype enough on its own, but hearing them debut with THIS song, incredible. The booming and expansive post-ponk cut drags you along its stable progression through gritted teeth and may not be for the most casual listener. Piercing through the heaviness I found a pleasant beauty about the lead vocals and some of the melodies which add a whole new level of intrigue to an already great song.
58. Dropout Boogie - Your Old Droog (Feat. MF DOOM)
Last Time On The List: Your Old Droog n/a, MF DOOM 2018 Bomb Thrown
Losing MF DOOM was one of the most difficult tragedies of last years musical cycle of grief and in the weird modern light of posthumous material I think everyone knew it wouldn't be the last time we heard his voice on new material. In a way it was weirdly refreshing that he sounded so casual and locked into his usual brand of focused but silly on this collaborative single with Your Old Droog about the shortcomings of the public school systems. Hearing the way both of their verses fit together and maintain the topical focus of the track only helps raise the undeniable appreciation I have for DOOM as an artist, and if you're a fan you can't miss this track.
57. Signal From The Noise - Badbadnotgood
Last Time On The List: 2016 Time Moves Slowly
I will start with a comment that is unfair to BBNG, they've always been jazz music for people that weren't really jazz heads. Their covers of video game soundtracks and hip hop songs plus their tendency to invite featured vocalists made their songs palatable to people who otherwise wouldn't be as engaged with the music underneath. This year they released their most classical jazz inspired album to date and kicked off the cycle proving just how talented they are with this epic and expansive piece. While it may not be something to put on at the party it was a smasher of preconceived notions about the band that announced they were back and ready to impress.
56. Slumber Party - Ashnikko (Feat. Princess Nokia)
Last Time On The List: Ashnikko n/a, Princess Nokia n/a
Ashnikko has been dropping attention grabbing singles for a few years now but I've always made the argument that they were attention grabbing for all the wrong reasons. That changes with Slumber Party, far and away her best song to date. The track is a lesbian themed bedroom anthem that perfectly pairs Nikko's silly and blunt vision of sexuality with Princess Nokia's sleek and direct sensuality. It's a horny but very self-aware pop rap fusion that also just happens to be one of the catchiest songs of the year.
55. Gold Chains - Genesis Owusu
Last Time On The List: n/a
If there is one thing Australian new comer Genesis Owusu can do, it's write a catchy hook. The best of the bunch on his new record is Gold Chains a track which sports earworm refrains throughout but also serves as a pointed critique of materialism. While not every one of these fusion attempts landed with me on his debut album, he showed enormous promise with songs like this.
54. The Beachland Ballroom - Idles
Last Time On The List: 2020 Model Village
Idles just don't ever slow down. They just released an album last year where they leaned into their pub rock roots more than ever before and less than a year later they're back with a song that sounds like it's about to kick off their on Tranquility Base era. Even though they came back with Car Crash and an album that felt much more Idles like this is a bold and outside the box choice for a lead single and one of their most anguished and vulnerable songs to date.
53. I Can See The Future - Tinashe
Last Time On The List: n/a
It's good to know that no matter what happens in the world there is still room for an old fashioned smooth R&B jam. Future sports a lot of conventional pop and R&B elements in its instrumental and refrains but they are done with an attention to detail that makes the whole thing just glide. It's such a smooth listen with such a memorable hook that I couldn't avoid wanting to hear it over and over. In a year where Tinashe seemed to finally live up to all her potential this was one of the highlights.
52. Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land - Marina
Last Time On The List: 2020 Man's World
Some people are quick to burden a good ambitious single with the ultimate failings of it's following album. While Ancient Dreams the album never lived up to the scope of its title track, as a single the song promises big things and there was no reason to think Marina wouldn't deliver. From the dazzling music video to the grand lyrical concept it was an exciting time to be a fan when this song came out and it made a strong enough impression on people to last throughout the year and probably well into the future.
51. Blood Moon - Converge (Feat. Chelsea Wolfe)
Last Time On The List: Converge n/a, Chelsea Wolfe n/a
Converge and Chelsea Wolfe coming together on a studio album isn't THAT surprising when you really think about it, but coming together with a lead single this dense and uncompromising certainly helped sell the idea. While it featured elements of both artists styles it ultimately hit its stride as a compositionally unsettling doom metal rager with surprisingly catchy refrains and musical passages that set up blistering highlights.
50. Law Of Averages - Vince Staples
Last Time On The List: 2017 Big Fish
Vince Staples made one of the most anticipated returns of any rapper in 2021 and he did so with this single, the announcement of a new album, and the announcement that it would be entirely produced by Kenny Beats. That alone gets you most of the way there in terms of making a good single but the song itself also happened to be pretty damn good. It is a minimalistic side of Vince we haven't seen much of since the Summertime 06 days but one that fans still responded positively to resulting in one of the most talked about rap albums of the year.
49. Twerkulator - City Girls
Last Time On The List: 2020 Pussy Talk
This City Girls song is built around a sample of an Africa Bambaataa song which is in turn built around samples of a few Kraftwerk songs, most notably Trans Europe Express. I just wanted to let that sink in for everyone. As silly as it sounds in concept to hear Yung Miami and JT rapping in between interpolations of that classic Express synth line, this song fucking rules. The beat is otherworldly, both verses are exciting and hard-hitting and even Lil Yachty's whispered introduction to the song fits in perfectly. It is all surprising, but a very pleasant surprise.
48. Prester John - Animal Collective
Last Time On The List: 2016 Golden Gal
Animal Collective is BACK with the next new proper studio album from the beloved indie pop/folktronica group. It feels very good to say that. The four of them assemble a cyclical psychedelic anthem in two parts that features some signature Avey and Deakin soundplay with a few refrains that feel right out of Panda Bear's best work. It's a welcome return and sets up for one of the most anticipated albums of 2021.
47. Hold Yourself - Tune-Yards
Last Time On The List: 2020 nowhere, man
For being one of the most creative and outside the box acts out there in the world of indie rock right now I'm consistently surprised that Tune-Yards aren't a bigger draw. For the second year in a row they are forcing a single onto this list with the sheer willpower of it being a really good song. In fact it seems like they've done that for most of their career and all I can do is hope that next album cycle they will break out for real and finally collect some of the praise they clearly deserve.
46. Jupiter - Jenny Hval
Last Time On The List: 2019 Ashes To Ashes
Jenny Hval's music really is larger than life in every sense. While she wowed with the full length debut of Lost Girls early in the year it was this grand, expansive piece of first person astronomical self discovery that I haven't been able to get enough of. Even with the experimental tint she often infuses her songs with there is so much intrigue in her entrancing songwriting and mystical musical passages that I can't help but tune in every time.
45. Rae Street - Courtney Barnett
Last Time On The List: 2018 City Looks Pretty
After a departure for a much more upbeat style of rock on her last album Courtney formally announced that she was back to her jangly, narratively rambling indie folk ways with this excellent lead single. Even when she is focusing in on her own struggling mental health she delivers these lyrics with a poise and attitude that comes off genuinely funny and heartfelt. With detailed stories and well thought out song structures and lyrical dynamics she is slowly becoming a songwriter's songwriter and this single is the proof.
44. All My Favorite Songs - Weezer
Last Time On The List: 2016 California Kids
For any band to be delivering after 25 years is impressive, for Weezer to be doing it is surprising and perhaps even more impressive. If you're somehow new to Weezer I can't catch you up, not even close. But the last few years the band haven't exactly been critical darlings despite scoring their biggest hit in years, a cover of Toto's Africa inspired by a Tweet. On All My Favorite Songs they channeled their goofy dad rock energy into a verbose baroque pop cut with one quotable line after another. It seems almost impossible that the band could have released this and their 70's hard rock inspired Van Weezer just a few months apart, but that's just Weezer for you.
43. Thirster - Torres
Last Time On The List: 2020 Good Scare
Through drastic changes in the dynamic of indie and singer-songwriter music's sound as well as dramatic rises and falls for some of it's key names, Torres has emerged as a consistency. Not only is she carving out a unique lane for her sound but getting better and better as time goes by. Thirstier launched this year after three great singles which honestly made it hard to choose which one belonged on this list. Ultimately I went with the albums title track, a burning wail of grief for a significant other that Mackenzie simply can't get enough of. The themes are universal and so is the triumphant anguished and unforgettable hook.
42. Shelter Song - Iceage
Last Time On The List: 2020 Lockdown Blues
Iceage have an incredible knack for making fantastic songwriting seem so easy. Even when they really break it down to basics they come out the other side with songs like this, a slow burning but immensely satisfying rallying cry. Before the track was ever a core element of their record Seek Shelter is was a heavy but easy to digest single which proved the band had just as much creative potential to lead you through a grand rise as they did to blow your speakers out in the opening seconds.
41. I Know I'm Funny Haha - Faye Webster
Last Time On The List: n/a
AT the beginning of 2021 I wouldn't have anticipated really liking a Faye Webster album this year, but I was pleasantly surprised by I Know I'm Funny. As it turns out the writing was on the walls with a handful of great singles, none better than what would ultimately be the title track. Her girlish and undeniably charming take on the burgeoning young wave of singer-songwriters helped her craft a unique sound and personality. In a year where so many painfully soundalike artist were propped up as visionaries, Faye deserves a second look.
40. 2010 - Earl Sweatshirt
Last Time On The List: 2020 Whole World
On a random friday late in the year Earl Sweatshirt dropped an unannounced new single that came with a new album announcement for early next year. As surprising as that is the even bigger surprise came from the fact that this was one of the most upbeat songs he's released in years. The beat is dense and detailed but with a much more conventional hip hop execution than fans have been accustomed to recently. Despite that his stark lyricism and brooding personality shine through in the track and it ends up great for the same kinds of reasons he's always been great.
39. Lawmaker - Darkside
Last Time On The List: n/a
One of the best songs released by anyone in 2021 happened to also be released as a single. A new Darkside album would have been hyped up regardless but with one great single after another, hype was through the fucking roof by the time Spiral finally released. The best of the bunch is Lawmaker, a dense and expansive sound piece with the thickest and most memorable bass you'll hear anywhere this year. the grooves combined with the refrains are extremely catchy despite the tracks obtuse instrumentation and the results are a genre fusing and strangely accessible masterwork.
38. Cowboys - Slayyyter
Last Time On The List: 2020 Self Destruct
Slayyyter had a pretty good year when all is said and done and while her two most recent singles haven't necessarily caught on, she did a lot of the heavy lifting early on in the year. Her debut album had like a million singles on it, and Cowboys emerged as a fitting follow up to last years incredible Self Destruct. The track deploys a punchy instrumental with some silly sound effects and a huge chorus. Slayyyter is fully playing the part of the man-eater complete with some of her funnier penis themed double entendres. It is really all the various elements of her music assembled together into one of the best pop singles of the year.
37. Reach Out - Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine
Last Time On The List: Sufjan Stevens 2020 America, Angelo De Augustine n/a
People are going to listen to anything Sufjan does at this point, but a collaborative album with label mate Angelo De Augustine with songs based on movies they watched together backed by classic Sufjan folk instrumentation. That was always going to grab peoples attention. Reach Out is the records opening track which is inspired by Wings Of Desire of all things. While it isn't necessarily one of the thematically strongest track of Sufjan's acclaimed career it may be one of the most subtly beautiful and it has a verbose bliss that isn't easy to shake.
36. Thot Shit - Megan Thee Stallion
Last Time On The List: 2020 Savage Remix
While Thot Shit wasn't immediately a world conquering hit like some of Megan's other tracks, it slowly but surely became one of the most endearing and viral songs of the year. Megan's unashamed flirtatious personality fits perfectly with the rapid fire beat and her uncompromising lyrics. She has all the talent and charisma you need to pull off the type of song that would seem vapid, or even obnoxious in the hands of a lesser artist.
35. Mazza - Slowthai (Feat. A$AP Rocky)
Last Time On The List: Slowthai 2020 Feel Away, A$AP Rocky 2018 A$AP Forever
There isn't a whole ton of pop cultural influence I can point to in order to justify this songs place on the list. Honestly all you really need to do is listen to it and find that it's one of the smoothest, catchiest and most infectious songs I've heard in years. Slowthai's over the top personality is a fantastic pairing with Rocky's undeniable coolness. Add in some killer refrains including one of Slowthai's best hooks to date and you have a formula that couldn't possibly have failed.
34. I Lie Here Buried With My Rings And My Dresses - Backxwash (Feat. Ada Rook)
Last Time On The List: Backxwash n/a, Ada Rook n/a
If you know Backxwash, or Ada Rook's recent breakout project Black Dresses, you might be surprised to see them on a list like this. Backxwash's lyrics are often a combination of hellish imagery and emotional depravity and the delivery on this song is as maximal as it comes. She shouts out tortured rap verses over a chugging metal instrumental and sounds like she fits right in the whole time. Part of this seamlessness comes from Ada's hook which features her shrill screamed vocals delivering a hook that is memorable for both its melody and it's lyrical content. The song is dark, loud and intense but has an immeasurable charm to it that kept me coming back over and over again.
33. Change - The War On Drugs
Last Time On The List: 2018 Thinking Of A Place
On their new album The War On Drugs lean into their Springsteen worshipping heartland rock more than ever before and while some people have complained about it's derivative nature, when I hear a song like Change I can't help but agree with their call. The music here has a driving, rustic and life affirming sound that I continue to find absolutely infectious. There were few songs this year that I got lost in easier than this whimsical piece of indie rock.
32. Pennsylvania Furnace - Lingua Ignota
Last Time On The List: 2020 O Ruthless Great Divine Director
Only Lingua Ignota can make a neo-classical piano ballad rich with biblical imagery such an enjoyable listen. The grandiosity of the song made it the perfect lead single for showing off how remarkably talented Kristin is as a performer and songwriter. As the song works its way into a surprisingly dense instrumental palette and surprisingly harrowing lead vocal performance it never looses its poise and serves as a concise yet brilliant example of her unmatched ability to convey difficult emotions through music.
31. The Last Man on The Earth - Wolf Alice
Last Time On The List: 2018 Beautifully Unconventional
Wolf Alice are no strangers to big singles, particularly in the UK. This track and the album it landed on didn't need that caveat, they were some of the biggest talking points in indie music this year worldwide. From the charming lead vocals to the wonderful way the instrumental develops and expands throughout the track can be summed up in one word, satisfying.
30. Narrator - Squid (Feat. Martha Skye Murphy)
Last Time On The List: n/a
It was no fault of their own that Squid came into the year being seen by many as a little brother in the blossoming UK post-punk scene. That reputation didn't last long after they dropped one of the most rousing songs of 2021 with this ripping and multi-faceted rager. In equal parts the band delivers one of the most uncompromising choruses but fully throws any hints of digestibility out the window when guest vocalist Marth Skye Murphy delivers her blood curdling screams on the back end. It's an experimental odyssey that is both triumphant and occasionally tortured and one that anyone who loves experimental rock absolutely must hear.
29. Queens - Aeon Station
Last Time On The List: n/a
I can't say that this is how I expected The Wrens to ultimately follow-up their 2003 classic The Meadowlands. Maybe calling this a follow-up isn't even fair but given the involvement of multiple members it seems safe to say. What I also didn't expect is that they would drop a song catchy and beloved enough to crack the singles list. Despite how compositionally expansive the track is it uses some classic sounds of emo and indie rock to create soaring high points. The song is sometimes intimate, sometimes huge, sometimes quiet, sometimes busy but intriguing throughout and set up one of the most interesting and unlikely comebacks in 2021.
28. Bunny Is A Rider - Caroline Polachek
Last Time On The List: n/a
Like a number of artists on this list Caroline Polachek has never clicked with me before this year either with Chairlift or as a solo artist, but Bunny Is A Rider, that works. The song is impossibly smooth with a slick beat, short catchy refrains and a personal style that I can best describe as Charli XCX meets Totally Spies. Her lead vocals are reserved and casual on the verses before turning to soaring highs on the hook and really shows off her capability to play both sides as an artist. Even without this becoming one of the most blogged about and memed pop songs of the year it would still belong here.
27. Take My Breath - The Weeknd
Last Time On The List: 2020 After Hours
It certainly seems like the only reason Take My Breath isn't a mega-hit is overexposure. If not for the fact that Blinding Lights was so recently called one of the greatest performing chart songs in history I have to imagine that this song was Abel's next hit in waiting. I'm confident in saying that because it does everything that the best songs on After Hours did and more. Implementing a compelling metaphor at the center of it's lyrical content and topping it off with another absolute classic hook, he is starting to execute these things with scientific precision. Look for Abel to be back on the list again next year and probably every year for a long time coming.
26. Great Mass Of Color - Deafheaven
Last Time On The List: 2018 Honeycomb
If you're surprised to see this song so high on the list given that Deafheaven's new album this year was perceived by many to be their worst ever, I know. The decision to lean away from their black metal roots and into a more shoegaze and alternative rock style wasn't a popular one but even through the lens of that disappointment, Great Mass Of Color is truly one of their best singles ever. The dreamy, heavy layers of sonic haze that give the song its distinct sound come straight out of the classics and while the hook didn't grab me at first it has slowly become one of my favorite musical passages on any song this year.
25. The Princess And The Clock - Kero Kero Bonito
Last Time On The List: 2019 When The Fires Come
Another one of the best songs of the year shows up on the singles list due in large part to both its spectacular quality and wonderful music video accompaniment. The ability of the song to blend catchy refrains with a fairy tale like story is perfectly represented in the cute but surreal animated video. The track may be a bit too thinky to be a hit the caliber of Flamingo but in terms of quality it hardly gets any better than this.
24. Solar Power - Lorde
Last Time On The List: 2017 Liability
Touching on another disappointment, Lorde's long awaited Solar Power album failed to live up to the hype. But for a brief moment when she released the title track and lead single it felt like she hadn't missed a beat. The acoustic jam is a well written and even better performed song that had us all wanting to join Lorde's Midsommar like cult as we tried to figure out which ecological events were predicting the release of her new album. AKA, happier times.
23. Industry Baby - Lil Nas X (Feat. Jack Harlow)
Last Time On The List: Lil Nas X n/a, Jack Harlow n/a
Saying that Industry Baby is Lil Nas X's best single to date may turn some heads given Old Town Road's dominant chart run. Where that song felt like an accidental hit in the early tik tok era that was propelled more by a silly genre fusion and earworm hook than actual good songwriting. Industry Baby remedies that entirely with a far superior hook, song, feature and vocal performance. Lil Nas X really outdid himself topping his own debut EP and many of his hip hop contemporaries with this world conquering hit.
22. I Hate U - SZA
Last Time On The List: 2020 Hit Different
Not many artists in the commercial R&B space have the hold on their fans that SZA does. In case the time has flown by for you, her last album CTRL came out in 2017, FOUR years ago. And yet every internet breaking mirror selfie and Instagram live snippet set the music world on fire. While this hasn't always translated to great songs, I Hate U is one of SZA's best tracks in years reviving the hostile relationship sentiment that she made her name on and capturing the relatable girl next door aesthetic that only she truly can. If you've been hesitant about the song or nervous that it might never land on a follow-up studio album, give in to temptation, this song fucking rules.
21. Chaos Space Marine - Black Country, New Road
Last Time On The List: 2020 Science Fair
Black Country, New Road's debut album early in the year ended up running laps around any other debut this year but given that most of it's best singles came near the top of lists past, it felt like they'd be absent here. Turns out the creativity hasn't slowed down a bit and late in the year they announced a new record and dropped not just one single worthy of being one of the best this year, but three. Chaos Space Marine came first and got in early with fans starting with the most sentimental and youthful hook in the bands discography thus far. Their unpredictable and textured instrumentals never fail to breathe life into a track and the creativity the band writes with is nearly unmatched.
20. Chemtrails Over The Country Club - Lana Del Rey
Last Time On The List: 2020 Let Me Love You Like A Woman
Is this a Music Corner list? Yes, so that means Lana was bound to show up here. As usual there were plenty of good choices for her best single this year but the most endearing of the bunch has been the title track and mission statement for her album Chemtrails. She has matured her sound quite a bit over the last decade but the single and accompanying visuals still feel so purely Lana, like a synthesis of all her most notable attributes done the way only she can.
19. Buzzcut - Brockhampton (Feat. Danny Brown)
Last Time On The List: Brockhampton 2019 Boy Bye, Danny Brown 2019 Best Life
I've talked about this song a LOT this year. Both Danny Brown and Brockhampton are among the most loved voice in the largely internet dominated experimental rap and pop rap genres they inhabit and it felt for years like the eccentricity of both artists put them on a collision course to collaborate. When Brockhampton geared up to kick off their new era earlier this year the team up did not disappoint. Buzzcut is an insane futuristic banger with unpredictable percussion and even more unpredictable performances from everyone involved. It's the mark of some of the genres most creative voices operating at peak efficiency.
18. Say What You Will - James Blake
Last Time On The List: 2020 You're Too Precious
At this point in his career we understand what makes James Blake songs great. His fragile, beautiful vocals, the sparse electronic atmospheres and the poetry of his often spare lyrics. On Say What You Will he dives as deeply as ever before into a lyrical concept and it's one of the most beautifully personal and touching of his entire career. Of course that's not the only thing great about the song as his minimalist beauty still works it's way into nearly every sound, but it's remarkable how he has maintained his incredible level of quality as his career develops.
17. Pay Your Way In Pain - St. Vincent
Last Time On The List: 2018 Los Ageless
Judging how much St. Vincent fans like a new album is pretty difficult. Occasionally you have people who are mostly lying about being ride or die's since Actor and constantly wish that she would return to a sound more akin to her early days, verses the predominately more feminine group who have watched Anne grow as a musical personality before our very eyes every since her 2014 self-titled album. You likely know that I belong to the latter group and have been consistently impressed by her output over the past few years, but Pay Your Way In Pain might be a whole new caliber of highlight. The sleek style that drips off of her intimate verses is impressive but nowhere near as impressive as the instrumental rush that leads into the songs excellent hook. As a single it's hard for me to imagine anything that would make me more excited for a new St. Vincent record.
16. Blackout - Turnstile
Last Time On The List: n/a
If you were making a list and trying to predict artists who were going to break out in 2021 I don't think it's likely that you would have included Turnstile. Against all odds the formerly strictly hardcore band turned into a hardcore meets dream rock act and won over an entirely new fanbase with their hard hitting creativity. Blackout is an absolutely ripping single and the one that I remember grabbing me from the very first moment I heard it. The dynamic composition allows for one great refrain and killer riff after another culminating in a short but extremely sweet song and one of the years best rock singles.
15. Leave The Door Open - Silk Sonic
Last Time On The List: Anderson .Paak 2020 Lockdown, Bruno Mars n/a
One of the most appropriate collaborations of the year came when two of the music worlds most charming personalities came together to make a smooth and sexy R&B record. Long before that record was even conceptualized by the collective consciousness, Silk Sonic's debut single Leave The Door Open was already well on the way to being one of the years biggest hits. To the surprise of absolutely nobody the song is an effortlessly slick and sensual cut that pretty much nobody could get enough of this year,
14. Syrup - Tkay Maidza
Last Time On The List: n/a
Another newcomer to the list is one who has only narrowly missed it before. Tkay is a versatile and talented singer and rapper but in terms of single potential, she reached a whole new height this year. The viral Kim probably could have showed up on this list but she topped herself with this sexually charged hard-hitting banger. Syrup is a direct, confrontational song with an undeniable beat and as confident a performance as you'll hear from pretty much any rapper this year. Tkay has always had superstar potential but this year it came through more than ever before and Syrup is only part of the proof.
13. Drivers License - Olivia Rodrigo
Last Time On The List: n/a
It's been a long time since we heard a debut single like this. Olivia Rodrigo parlayed a Disney show head start into what was probably the biggest hit of 2021. Not only did it power this track onto the top of the charts but it kept the momentum going for two more singles and a couple of album cuts, not to mention the album itself being a massive hit. With youthful, romantic songwriting and versatile vocal talents Olivia announced herself as a pop star to pay attention to while also achieving a level of success that can match any of her contemporaries, now THAT is a good single.
12. John L - Black Midi
Last Time On The List: n/a
From a song so accessible that nobody could stop streaming it to a track that you might need a PHD in music theory to fully understand. Black Midi infused their brash post-punk sound with a dash of hyper creative prog to make for one of the most unique sonic palettes and mission statements of 2021. John L formally announced that transition with it's jittery stop and start blend of acid jazz and hard rock. Not to mention the surreal and heavily obscured lyrical themes, this song is as challenging to digest and understand as anything I've ever included on a singles list. That really is a testament to the bands talent and their fascinating sound because this was another song that ever left the minds of indie fans this year. Their debut album fully established them as one of the most intense in the new wave of post-punk acts, but the follow up, with tracks like John L showed that they have a musicality far beyond many of their peers, and know how to use it.
11. Little Deer - Spellling
Last Time On The List: n/a
Wondorous, that really is the word to describe Little Deer. I guess you could also use whimsical, blissful, majestic or fantastical. Her fairy tale like approach to narrative deploys magical sounding nature metaphors to get at real world issues and while that may not be a new formula for songwriters, Spellling has it down to a science. The track is running me low on adjectives to describe just how larger than life it all sounds and if you hear the track and love it I have good news for you, the whole album is that way too.
10. Days Like These - Low
Last Time On The List: n/a
Entering the top 10 we have slowcore legends Low who had a late career revitalization a few years ago when their album Double Negative became a surprise critical darling. It probably would have surprised even the band themselves if you told them the next record would be even more acclaimed while leading off with one of their most dense and experimental songs ever. That speaks to the power of Days Like These one of the most singularly acclaimed songs of 2021. Most bands would stick with the tight group refrains and soaring harmonies of the song once they had that locked down, but in search of endless creativity Low decided to layer one of the most dense and bleak sonic atmospheres I've ever heard behind it. Rarely does a song have the harrowing high points alongside the brash challenging walls of sound that Days Like These brings together and the results are an almost unbelievable sonic experience.
9. The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows - Damon Albarn
Last Time On The List: 2018 Gun To The Head
Damon Albarn has achieved quite a bit between Blur, Gorillaz, The Good The Bad & The Queen and the many other projects he's has his hand in over the years. It's surprisingly rare to see him dial up a true solo album but this one felt special from day one. His sonic tour through the beautiful natural landscapes of Iceland was handled with all the nuance necessary and you need to look no further than its title track and lead single. The spare atmospheres he crafts really do give an expansive natural sensation highlighted by the glistening instrumentation he works in. The intriguing poetry of the lyricism which is occasionally borrows from actual poetry becomes the icing on this beautiful, and vivid cake.
8. That Life - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Last Time On The List: 2018 Huneybee
The word "vibe" gets thrown around so much these days that it is effectively meaningless. If there is one band who has truly made their name sake on capturing a vibe it's Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and they've been doing it for years. On That Life they take on tropicalia with an absolutely blissful sheen over it all. One of the catchiest songs of the year also has the benefit of a swaying instrumental that is absolutely irresistible and a music video too weird and cute not to love. Everything about the song is so utterly enjoyable and irresistible that you may get the impression it's simplistic. But like many of the bands best tracks, breaking down the details can be just as enjoyable as what's on the surface. That versatility and attention to detail is exactly what has always made the band one to look out for and will likely continue into a hopefully bountiful 2021.
7. Introvert - Little Simz
Last Time On The List: n/a
Introvert is an extremely impressive single, not only is it a instrumentally expansive rap song making use of a string section, but it's also a confident and inspired lyrical portrayal of Little Simz the artist and Simbi the person. It was an ambitious undertaking as a single before we even knew that it would serve as the thesis statement for the most ambitious rap album since To Pimp A Butterfly just a few months later. I have nothing but praise for the track and a lot of it will come tomorrow on the songs list but in case you never get around to reading that just know, this song is amazing.
6. Knees - Injury Reserve
Last Time On The List: 2019 Jailbreak The Tesla
Last year Injury Reserve member Groggs tragically passed away leaving many fans curious about the future and potential direction of the band. A few months later they were featured on a tragically reflective Amine song that seemed to forecast a turn for the mournful. What we actually got, starting with Knees and transitioning into their newest album, was a darkness that centered on depravity more than depression. This song is a wildly experimental and genuinely transcendental interpretation of hip hop that feels like it couldn't have possibly come from anyone else. Parker Corey flexes his remarkable musicality with a murky, trudging beat that accentuates every single moment of vocal anguish. The song defies convention and expectation but despite its reserved nature it triumphantly states that the band is capable of absolutely anything.
5. Hard Drive - Cassandra Jenkins
Last Time On The List: n/a
Cassandra Jenkins music is far more therapeutic than any generic wellness CD made to help you relax. Hard Drive became the breakout song of indie music's breakout artist this year and it is really easy to see why. Cassandra's gentle spoken word poetry and soft sung hook shows a vulnerability in absolutely every breath. She presents her observations as the gentle notes of a curious onlooker, taking in her surroundings and expelling poetry, finding herself and helping us all find ourselves along the way. The swaying instrumentation is the perfect accompaniment to her prophesizing, giving it a solid core over which to live but never stepping over the line and becoming a distraction. Minimalism requires so much restraint but Cassandra pulls it off so well here, making a song that sounds like a conversation with an old friend.
4. Like I Used To - Angel Olsen & Sharon Van Etten
Last Time On The List: Angel Olsen 2019 All Mirrors, Sharon Van Etten 2019 Seventeen
I have no idea where this collaboration came from or what the future of it might be, but jesus is this song incredible. This circular, dramatic indie rock cut sees two of the genres most talents voices coming together and displaying some enormous chemistry. They manage to spin a song that sounds so new but so nostalgic, so gentle but so exciting. I really can't think of all that much to say about the song, it doesn't demand to be broken down and studied because everything that makes it so good is right there for all to see. This track has a brilliant sense of songwriting at its core and two wonderful battle tested performers delivering it. It's indie excellence in the way I don't think any other single truly has been in years.
3. Be Sweet - Japanese Breakfast
Last Time On The List: 2017 Boyish
Even though SOME of us have been in the know on Michelle Zauner for years, this year she had a breakout. Still from the very first bassline of Be Sweet I knew we were in for a moment unlike anything she'd ever had before as an artist. This instrumental is indie pop boiled down to its purest essentials, deploying instrumentation purely for the purpose of locking you into the songs dramatic rises. If you've read this entire list god bless you but I really do think this may be the best hook I've heard anywhere this year as Michelle simply soars over this rousing instrumental with her arena sized harmonies. She has the vocal chops for as intimate or extravagant a performance as required and she shows off all of that versatility as a vocalist and talent as a songwriter on one of her best songs to date, and her breakout single Be Sweet.
2. Unisil - SOPHIE
Last Time On The List: 2018 Faceshopping
If you're sick of me talking about SOPHIE, three things. Firstly take it up with any of the people I routinely talk about music with in real life, they've had it worse. Secondly, she didn't release any full length projects this year so this is the last time on list week I will be bringing her up. Finally, her greatness is astounding. Like many SOPHIE songs Unisil has been bouncing around the internet in one form or another for years before its official release earlier this year. Despite it being part of her bygone Product era the song fits remarkably well in 2021. It's proof that she was so far ahead of her contemporaries that her music will sound futuristic for years, if not decades to come. The outpouring of respect, admiration and sheer love for SOPHIE when she passed away only a few days after the release of this song proved to the world that she was not only one of the bonified geniuses of modern music, but also the subject of unequivocal admiration. Her music will be influencing artists in all forms for a very, very long time and if Unisil is the final curtain call on her unforgettable career, it's one that will truly live with us all forever. Thanks SOPHIE.
1. Rainforest - Noname
Last Time On The List: 2019 Haagen Dazs
Rainforest IS the idea of a single in 2021. In the era of mass media, social consciousness and Twitter, we cast more lofty expectations onto the artists whose music we adore than ever before. They suffer from an expectation to remain perfect, or perhaps worse, legions of fans willing to justify any behavior no matter how disgusting. To navigate this world of constant controversy, ridicule and inflation all at the same time while also putting out incredible music that reflects both you as an artist and tells difficult truths about the world around you is impossible. Or at least it would be if not for Noname. Hip hop fans know her for her remarkable talent. A lyrical ability that is truly a one of a kind gift compared with the ability to conceptualize songs thematically and identify the exact right talent to join her to create a compelling vision. If you're not from the rap world you may know her as either your favorite or least favorite Twitter account. Her public prescence is nuanced, unflinching and most importantly, genuine. Yet unlike so many artists who resist including their messages into their music Noname refuses to turn the other cheek. Her music is utterly her, every splash of once in a generation talent combined with her deep and thoughtful observations, funneled down into a few minutes of genuinely transcendent hip hop. The most amazing thing about it all, she's so good at blending these enormous concepts into music that the song is near brilliant even if you don't listen to a single word. Her unbreakable flows, the simple but perfectly placed instrumental and the wordy but still infectious hook all come together for a song that could be dissected down to its individual parts, but you don't have to. Its incredible individual pieces assemble something greater than the sum of their parts, and there is really, truly, only one artist who is capable of pulling it off. Noname is one of a kind, and in 2021 she released a single that nobody could hope to match.
Listen to all 100 of these songs on a Spotify playlist here <3
This was the first of the BIG lists and if you made it to the end, go off. If you somehow want more listing check out the last four days of lists below:
