Scene Alba top 20 albums of the year 2021
Scene Alba top 20 albums of the year 2021
20. Paul Weller - Fat Pop
Weller re-connected with his pop sensibilities and brought us his most enjoyable album in years, Unashamed giant pop tunes but never without that trademark sardonic viewpoint, we needed it badly.
19. Saint Etienne - I’ve Been Trying To Tell You
Indie’s pop champions returned with an ambient affair, coldly cool and sunburn hot. It was a soothing journey through loops and samples all presided over by the thrilling vocals of Dame Sarah Cracknell. Still perfect after all these years.
18. Low - Hey What
Low were in the mood to fuck about and find out. An album of sonically challenging songs ‘Hey What’ showed that that three decades in they’re still up to rip up the rule book and re-write everything at a moment’s notice.
17. Admiral Fallow - Tiny Rewards
Another band ripping up the rule books, Admiral Fallow took everything that is great about them and reshaped it into this fantastic, bold album. ‘Tiny Rewards’ is a misnomer, it could easily be called ‘Huge Amazing Reward’
16. Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend
Continuing their journey to being one of the UK’s best bands, Wolf Alice created a spectacular album that is gloriously schizophrenic. Part pop, part shoegaze, part whatever they wanted. This was the band’s strongest set of songs to date and a joy to listen to.
15. Wojtek the Bear - Heaven By The Back Door
Chiming, cheerful and charming ‘Heaven By The Back Door’ was a massive step forward for Wojtek the Bear, brimming with gorgeous melodies and a huge dose of wit. It was an absolute joy to listen to and buzzed nicely with fabulous Scottish vocals.
14. Mogwai - As The Love Continues
There’s no escaping Mogwai this year, they were absolutely everywhere! Number one album, Scottish album of the year, there was no stopping them and its easy to see why.
‘As The Love Continues’ is one of their very best albums. Richly complex and deeply rewarding this deserved all the accolades it got.
13. John Grant - Boy From Michigan
Even more biographical than previous albums Grant delved into his past to create a beautifully intimate portrait of life in the US. Musically influenced by Iceland and the early eighties it has a cold feel but at its heart it is an exceptionally warm, human record.
12. Pearl Charles - Magic Mirror
So authentically disco was ‘Magic Mirror’ that music fans everywhere had to double check the date on the record but yes this was made recently! Irresistible 70’s pop joy in abundance, Pearl Charles managed to bottle that care-free smooth, disco vibe and we absolutely adored it.
11. Elbow - Flying Dream 1
As usual Elbow take the ordinary and spin gold from it. A deceptively sparse sounding album, it reveals myriad layers with each play. Welcoming and warm, it feels like an old friend telling you all new stories about your life that you didn’t know about. Working class beauty, world class talent.
10. Community Swimming Pool - Gloom/Bloom
A gorgeous Dream-Pop album of uter joy, Community Swimming Pool is the moniker of Brett McCann and Gloom/Bloom is a fabulous debut.
Swishy and jangly, this is indie pop at its finest. Upbeat and inviting ‘Gloom/Bloom’ is an embarrassment of riches, each track feels like you’ve loved it for years, even on first listen. Wonderful, we can’t wait to see what’s coming next.
9. Man on Man - Man on Man
This one was just made for us gay alternatives. Roddy Bottum and Joey Holman joined together to make a queer-indie-synth hybrid album that was a fucking blast! From debut single ‘Daddy’ they set out stall and were not going to be anything but unashamably gay and proud. It's a deeply fun blast of queer pop flaunting it's dick proudly in your face.
8. Adult Mom - Driver
Adult Mom gave us the best of Americana this year. A scathing look at the USA but with great vocals ‘Driver’ is the child of bands like Throwing Muses, Belly and Pixies, but more straight edged. That seems an insult but it's not. What I mean is that Adult Mom tell stories that are relatable without having to venture into the surreal. It's a beautiful record with a voice completely of it's own.
7. For Those I Love - For Those I Love
A memorium for a friend, there’s no better salutation than this album. Written in grief but bursting with affection and love, this Irish rap album fits in with The Murder Capital and Fontanes DC and carries the contemporary voice of Ireland. Absolutely resounding with love for a friend and this flows directly to you the listener. Beautiful and haunting.
6. Bobby Gillespie and Jehnny Beth - Utopian Ashes
This came from nowhere and blew our minds. Both artists are well established but who would’ve thought that their collaboration would be so potent. Drawing inspiration from sixties icons like Scott Walker, Serge Gainsbourg and (of course) The Rolling Stones paid off in spades. Another album that feels like it's been with us forever, it arrived fully formed and flawless.
5. Damon Albarn - The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows
Composed in Iceland, the beautiful cold has seeped into the bones of each of these songs, glacial embraces, sure footed but still tender, this is the most mature music Albarn has ever recorded. It's a sumptuous collection of songs that absolutely needed to be released as a solo album. A piece unto itself, it should be listened to as one whole work of art, and art it most certainly is.
4. Arab Strap - As Days Get Dark
It wasn’t enough for Malcolm and Aiden to get back together again, they had to record a totally fucking amazing album.
Do not be fooled by other bands getting back together for a paycheck this is the real thing, easily one of the best records of their career. It is musically and lyrically one of the most magnificent things you’ll hear all year. It has been an utter pleasure to have them back, thank fuck.
3. Teenage Fanclub - Endless Arcade
They never stop making great records. Just as regular as the minute hand on a watch there’s another fantastic album by Bellshill’s finest. I know we miss Gerry and we were scared to see if the boys could produce the goods, but by fuck they have.
Once again, timeless melodies, but this time bolstered by the arrival of Euros Lynn into the band. They have given us an album to soothe and heal our weary psyches.
2. Broken Chanter - Catastrophe Hits
He’s a clever bugger this David MacGregor, his second album under this name is a scathing look at life in the 21st century.
Unlike the first album this has a galloping pace and is less introspective, more of a comment on everything happening right now.
The tunes are, as always, magnificent. One of the best songwriters in Scotland, or the UK, or indeed the planet.
1. Man of the Minch - The Tide Is At The Turning
Man of the Minch aka Pedro Cameron is almost custom made for Scene Alba, everything about this record is perfect. Folky, dancy, indie, it's absolutely everything you need of modern Scottish music; highly sophisticated, but also totally accessible for those just wanting a great tune.
‘The Tide Is At The Turning’ is beautiful and shows the best of 21st century Scotland.
It's our absolute best album this year.