Best albums of 2021

[tts42572]

I know there was a thread already somewhere for this (I think maybe in the AOR forum) but didn't see it in this section so thought I'd toss one here as we approach the last quarter of the year for "final" discussions.  I always like seeing others lists to see what I might've missed.

Really feel like it's shaping up to be one of the strongest years for new music in quite some time.  Pretty clear many artists spent time creating during the pandemic which has been one positive from this whole mess.

As of now, my personal top 5 favorites currently sits as:

Midnite City

Temple Balls

Dangerous Curves

W.e.t

Maverick

Honorable mention:  Walk The Walk, Ronnie Atkins

I fully expect Eclipse, Crazy Lixx and Nestor to mess with that top 5 though and betting I'll like all 3 of those more than W.e.t and Maverick based off what I've heard so far.  We'll see.

Edited October 8, 2021 by tts42572

[Jolly Olli]

1 minute ago, tts42572 said:

I fully expect Eclipse,[...] to mess with that top 5 though and betting I'll like all 3 of those more than W.e.t and Maverick based off what I've heard so far.  We'll see.

I had the new Eclipse in the mail today and after one listen (though not paying that much attention due to being busy), I'd say it's a solid contender.

[AlphaMale]

What was wrong with the original thread???

 

[tts42572]

57 minutes ago, AlphaMale said:

What was wrong with the original thread???

 

Sorry...Was just looking for it in the "Best of lists" forum and didn't see it.  But I knew I remembered seeing one somewhere!

Maybe we can delete or merge or something.

[tts42572]

1 hour ago, Jolly Olli said:

I had the new Eclipse in the mail today and after one listen (though not paying that much attention due to being busy), I'd say it's a solid contender.

I have high expectations for that one.  I was a bit down on the last release and for me it was my least favorite of their releases since Bleed & Scream.  Not so much for the same formulatic approach....more because I just didn't find the songs all that interesting outside of a few.  

I've really dug the 3 songs so far and samples sound excellent to my ears.  Think I'm feeling like it's going to be catchier, maybe more upbeat/melodic and just easier to get into than the last one.  We'll see though. 

[lettard]

3 hours ago, Jolly Olli said:

I had the new Eclipse in the mail today and after one listen (though not paying that much attention due to being busy), I'd say it's a solid contender.

Got this one too the other day...its solid but wouldn't really put it as a contender...maybe top 10...but it may not,but repeated listens have made it sound better than my initial feeling for it after first listen.

[Doggy]

Early days at the moment.

" Wait For The Night " - Wicked Smile.

[auslander]

16 hours ago, lettard said:

Got this one too the other day...its solid but wouldn't really put it as a contender...maybe top 10...but it may not,but repeated listens have made it sound better than my initial feeling for it after first listen.

I found that out with the last 2 eclipse albums. First listen I thought they were catchy but just ok. It was after about the 3rd listen the songs had wormed their way into my brain and I realised they were better than I originally thought.

[Glen]

30 minutes ago, auslander said:

I found that out with the last 2 eclipse albums. First listen I thought they were catchy but just ok. It was after about the 3rd listen the songs had wormed their way into my brain and I realised they were better than I originally thought.

I liked 3 songs on the last album : Mary Leigh, Delirious & 38 or 44... and no amount of repeat listens has changed that. 

I loved the album before that except for Downfall of Eden

[tts42572]

As we approach the end of the year, not aware of anything else coming out that will be changing my final list...

As of now for me...

1)  Midnite City - Itch You Can't Scratch

2)  Eclipse - Wired

3)  Temple Balls - Pyromide

4)  Crazy Lixx - Street Lethal

5)  Dangerous Curves - Summertime Highs

6)  Nestor - Kids In A Ghost Town

7)  Wet - Retransmission

8)  Maverick - Ethereality

9)  Wicked Smile - Wait For The Night

10) Walk the Walk - S/T

Honorable mention:  Ronnie Atkins - One Shot

Really strong year overall for me as it's been awhile since I've even been able to do a legit top 10.  

[Glen]

2 hours ago, tts42572 said:

As we approach the end of the year, not aware of anything else coming out that will be changing my final list...

As of now for me...

1)  Midnite City - Itch You Can't Scratch

2)  Eclipse - Wired

3)  Temple Balls - Pyromide

4)  Crazy Lixx - Street Lethal

5)  Dangerous Curves - Summertime Highs

6)  Nestor - Kids In A Ghost Town

7)  Wet - Retransmission

8)  Maverick - Ethereality

9)  Wicked Smile - Wait For The Night

10) Walk the Walk - S/T

Honorable mention:  Ronnie Atkins - One Shot

Really strong year overall for me as it's been awhile since I've even been able to do a legit top 10.  

yr honourable mention destroys most of that top 10 imo.

I sure hope we get some more music from Ronnie 🙏

[KarpetRydOFunk]

1 hour ago, Glen said:

yr honourable mention destroys most of that top 10 imo.

I sure hope we get some more music from Ronnie 🙏

Yarp! Exactly what I was thinking. But you already knew that. ;}

[Geoff]

3 hours ago, KarpetRydOFunk said:

Yarp! Exactly what I was thinking. But you already knew that. ;}

Gotta say, I actually tend to agree with you two creeps too. 

[KarpetRydOFunk]

21 minutes ago, Geoff said:

Gotta say, I actually tend to agree with you two creeps too. 

One of us!

One of us!

[auslander]

9 hours ago, tts42572 said:

As we approach the end of the year, not aware of anything else coming out that will be changing my final list...

As of now for me...

1)  Midnite City - Itch You Can't Scratch

2)  Eclipse - Wired

3)  Temple Balls - Pyromide

4)  Crazy Lixx - Street Lethal

5)  Dangerous Curves - Summertime Highs

6)  Nestor - Kids In A Ghost Town

7)  Wet - Retransmission

8)  Maverick - Ethereality

9)  Wicked Smile - Wait For The Night

10) Walk the Walk - S/T

Honorable mention:  Ronnie Atkins - One Shot

Really strong year overall for me as it's been awhile since I've even been able to do a legit top 10.  

This is a great list. I'd only add/replace a few with L.A. Maybe and Chez Kane.

[lettard]

I usually put everything that I think is good from the releases for the year onto my ipod for the month of December and just listen to them one after the other repeatedly...then create a final top 10 from that...so next Weds starts that process  

[tts42572]

17 hours ago, Glen said:

yr honourable mention destroys most of that top 10 imo.

I sure hope we get some more music from Ronnie 🙏

I liked it but didn't love it for whatever reason.  I guess I just wish it was a bit heavier/edgier but I know the point was to do something a bit different .  I'd say I Prophesize is among my favorite tunes this year though.

Think I saw another solo album is expected in the spring of 2022.

[lettard]

Not a list...but probably the guts of what is under consideration for me...

W.E.T-Retransmission

Chez Kane-s/t

Levara-s/t

Roxville-Fallen From Grace

Midnite City-Itch You Can't Scratch

LeBrock-Fuse

Spektra-Overload

Vega-Anarchy & Unity

Nestor-Kids In A Ghost Town

Wicked Smile-Wait For The Night

Groundbreaker-Soul To Soul

Crazy Lixx-Street Lethal

Eclipse-Wired

Ronnie Atkins-One Shot

Enjoyed some others also like Dangerous Curves,Voodoo Circle,Alpha Souls,Kent Hilli,Dirty Honey,Walk The Walk,NFO & Jakob Samuel,and even though no-one else seemed to like it I loved the new Night Ranger disc...just maybe not not enough...maybe  

So when I do my listen through again they may make it and others fall out...

Some that let me down after the big build up were...Temple Balls,Maverick,Smash Into Pieces(after the awesome Arcadia)Nitrate,Strykenine,Crowne & Madhouse...but a few listens more and you never know 

 

 

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by lettard

[Doggy]

Not in particular order

Eclipse - Wired

Wicked Smile - Wait For The Night

Midnite City - Itch You Cant Scratch

Kent Hilli Rumble

Robin Mcauley Stand On The Edge

W.E.T. Transmission

Spektra Overload

 FarCry - Balance

Frozen Tears - Brazen Whisper

Nitrate - Renegade

[nyoilers]

As usual I don't have most of the CD's that are on everyone's list.

But I do have the FarCry CD and should be getting the Wicked Smile CD soon.

[auslander]

I have a new best cd for 2021. It is Mastodon "Hushed and Grim". I know it is more metal than hard rock, but, it stands above other releases in my opinion. Amazing album.

[KarpetRydOFunk]

2 hours ago, auslander said:

I have a new best cd for 2021. It is Mastodon "Hushed and Grim". I know it is more metal than hard rock, but, it stands above other releases in my opinion. Amazing album.

I've never cared for them, but I guess a listen wouldn't hurt. 

[AlphaMale]

On 12/22/2021 at 8:22 PM, KarpetRydOFunk said:

I've never cared for them, but I guess a listen wouldn't hurt. 

+1

[AlphaMale]

On 12/2/2021 at 12:26 PM, nyoilers said:

As usual I don't have most of the CD's that are on everyone's list.

But I do have the FarCry CD and should be getting the Wicked Smile CD soon.

We know your favorite CD of 2021.......  

Edited December 25, 2021 by AlphaMale

[nyoilers]

2 minutes ago, AlphaMale said:

We know you're favorite CD of 2021.......  

It goes without saying but since you brought it up....