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The CHIRP Blog
Eric Wiersema writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2021: Eric Wiersema
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2021. Our next list is from DJ and Assistant Music Director Eric Wiersema.
2021 was far from a perfect year, but I will take it any day over the dumpster fire that was 2020.
Thanks to modern science (and begrudgingly Big Pharma), we were able to get vaccinated and sort of resume our normal lives. Despite the initial social awkwardness resulting from spending nearly a year and a half in isolation, it was great to reconnect with the people that we love in person.
An equally awesome benefit of getting vaccinated was being able to see live music again! The first show I attended since March 2020 was Archers of Loaf and Smoking Popes at Wicker Park fest on July 25tth. While I am only a casual fan of both bands and not a particularly emotional person, I couldn’t hold back the tears of joy and I vowed to never again take live music for granted.
This year was also my first full year as a regular DJ and an Assistant Music Director for the station. I was exposed to an even larger amount of fantastic new music than ever before. Please take these rankings with a grain of salt since I will likely change my mind as soon as this is published. However, each and every one of these albums is well worth your time!
#1 For the First Time by Black Country, New Road (Ninja Tune)
This is the debut album from the London seven piece and is unlike anything I have ever heard before! This album takes influence from post-rock, post-punk, and free jazz resulting in a truly original sound that takes several listens to fully appreciate.
I have been listening to this album since it was released back in February and still discover something new with each and every listen! RIYL: American Football, Black Midi, Slint, Tortoise. Favorite Track: Sunglasses
Steven Grady writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2021: Steven Grady
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2021. Our next list is from DJ Steven Grady.
#1 Power Trio by Danko Jones (Sonic Unyon)
Hard rock Canadian bands are best when they come in threes. Power Trio is as good as any album this Toronto high-volume combo has put out in recent memory and is light years better than any record released in the past twelve months.
Eleven concise get-in, get-out gems, each better than the previous, with plenty of gorgeous hedonistic riffs by ringleader Jones and no shortage of lyrical content that smacks of bravado and sexual innuendo. Danko Jones celebrates its 25th year of existence proving they’ve still got it, and they still flaunt it.
CHIRP Radio writesCHIRP Radio Weekly Voyages (Dec 20 - Dec 27)
Upcoming Events:
- All December: CHIRP Radio's volunteers share their favorite albums of 2021!
- January 19-23, 2022: The Tomorrrow Never Knows music festival kicks off at select venues in Chicago
Top of the CHIRP Charts for the week of 12/20/21:
Jordanna – The Full Story (Self-Released)
algabor writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2021: Al Gabor
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2021. Our next list is from Volunteer Al Gabor.
#1 Home Video by Lucy Dacus (Matador)
Lucy Dacus looks back at her adolescence and early adulthood, evoking people and places with deft concision: a friend’s deadbeat dad, vacation bible school, crushes, boyfriends and girlfriends. Dacus’s most immediate and moving album yet.
Mike Bennett writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2021: Mike Bennett
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2021. Our next list is from DJ and Board Member Emeritus Mike Bennett.
You know how sometimes a bad movie will get a sequel because it did well in the international market? And that sequel will be as bad or even worse? Well in 2020 was marred by the international pandemic, and 2021, despite glimmers of hope, came off more like an uninspired sequel.
All was not lost, as at least going to concerts became viable. And, yet again, so many musicians came through with inspired tunes that moved us in different ways and made cutting through the confusion, ennui, and depression, a little bit easier.
Being stuck at home meant I listened to over 150 albums in full (at least once, some many times). I guess I consider these the best, if "best" and "favorite" are totally interchangeable. That being said, there were many more fine albums I enjoyed not on this list.
#1 Wink by CHAI (Sub Pop)
It was CHAI’s distinctive approach to post-punk that drew me into their debut album. But as the band evolved, poppier influences steered their music. The pandemic forced the quartet to change how it made music, and they fell into songs that featured more electronics (since they weren’t playing together in one room) and were often more R & B-influenced.
And yet again, CHAI shows a great ability to meld styles and influences into something familiar yet distinct, infused with their personality, reflected in their sweet, positive lyrics. I knew I liked it when I first heard it, and then found myself listening to it all the time.