Joe Held: Rebellious Jukebox writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2021: Joe Held

Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2021. Our next list is from DJ Joe Held.

If Words Were Flowers by Curtis Harding (ANTI-)

BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Far In by Helado Negro (4AD)

BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Loving in Stereo by Jungle (Caiola)

BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz (Age 101 Music)

BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Now! by Damon Locks and Black Monument Ensemble (International Anthem)

BUY: Reckless / Amazon

[Local Chicago Artist]

Afrique Victime by Mdou Moctar (Matador)

BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Collapsed in Sunbeams by Arlo Parks (Transgressive)

BUY: Reckless / Amazon

The Sticky Fingers by Albertine Sarges (Moshi Moshi)

BUY: Reckless / Amazon

NINE by SAULT (Forever Living Originals)

BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Black to the Future by Sons of Kemet (Impulse!)

BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Honorable Mentions

Amyl & The Sniffers - Comfort to Me (Rough Trade)
Black Midi - Cavalcade (Rough Trade)
Bravais Lattice - Orientation Matrix (Chicago Research) [Local]
Brijean - Feelings (Ghostly International)
The Bug - Fire (Ninja Tune)
Cleo Sol - Mother (Forever Living Originals)
Theon Cross - Intra-I (New Soil)
Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg (4AD)
Dummy - Mandatory Enjoyment (Trouble in Mind)
FACS - In a Present Tense (Trouble in Mind) [Local]
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & the London Symphony Orchestra - Promises (Luaka Bop)
Ben LaMar Gay - Open Arms to Open Us (International Anthem) [Local]
Geese - Projector (Partisan/Play It Again Sam)
Cassandra Jenkins - An Overview on Phenomenal Nature (Ba Da Bing!)
Joan As Policewoman, Tony Allen, and Dave Okumu - The Solution is Restless (PIAS)
Jupiter Okwess - Na Kozonga (Zamora Label)
Kasai All-Stars - Black Ants Always Fly Together, One Bangle Makes No Sound (Crammed Discs)
Lunar Vacation - Inside Every Fig is a Dead Wasp (Keeled Scales)
Madlib - Sound Ancestors (Madlib Invasion)
Mogwai - As the Love Continues (Rock Action)
Nubiyan Twist - Freedom Fables (Strut)
Pip Blom - Welcome Break (Heavenly)
RP Boo - Established! (Planet Mu) [Local]
Saint Etienne - I’ve Been Trying to Tell You (Heavenly/PIAS)
St Vincent - Daddy’s Home (Loma Vista)
Shungudzo - I'm Not a Mother, but I Have Children (Svikiro Records/Young Forever/BMG)
Squid - Bright Green Field (Warp)
Emma Jean Thackray - Yellow (Movementt)
Vanishing Twin - Ookii Gekkou (Fire)
Adia Victoria - A Southern Gothic (Atlantic)
The Weather Station - Ignorance (Fat Possum)
Yola - Stand for Myself (Easy Eye Sound)