Five 2021 Releases to Get You Through the Winter
As the weather gets colder, we start to crave the coziness and comfort of the familiar. It’s easy to fall back on the same albums we listened to the winter before (and maybe even the one before that) – hunting for new content can get exhausting, especially as the days get shorter and our assignments get longer. From folksy ballads to mellow synth beats, these five new releases will keep you warm on even the coldest days, while still providing enough variety to keep you on your toes.
1. Men I Trust, Untourable Album
Men I Trust has long been a favorite of mine for their dreamlike, psychedelic sound and hushed vocals, and their newest album does not disappoint. Released in August 2021, Untourable Album is a synth-heavy view into the band’s experimentation during early quarantine. The name is apt – the album’s lo-fi sensuality and hazy, synth-driven beats are more evocative of a dimly-lit room than of a concert venue. Their new sound and quarantine-induced experimentation are definitely worth a listen.
2. Big Thief, “Little Things” / “Sparrow”
Big Thief, a Brooklyn-born indie rock band led by Adrianne Lenker, is famous for their simple yet intimate lyrics and folksy sound, and their 2021 split single is no different. “Little Things” turns fleeting moments into beautiful narratives of infatuation. With lyrics like “Maybe I'm a little obsessed / Maybe you do use me,” jangly guitars, and tinny tones throughout, “Little Things” captures all the bad and good that comes with falling in love. In “Sparrow”, the energy lulls into rhythmic repetition with a retelling of the biblically-influenced story of Paradise lost from Lenker’s point of view. “Sparrow” is raw and provocative, challenging the listener to consider whether the story we’ve been told is a true one.
3. Hand Habits, Fun House
Hand Habits’ latest album is bold and multifaceted, a decisive plunge into new sonic territory. Singer-songwriter Meg Duffy twists feelings of anxiety, heartbreak, and melancholy into new shapes with their stark, introspective lyrics and unique blend of synthesizers and folk-pop; on Fun House, Duffy approaches a sense of resolution and acceptance. A deeply personal album with beautifully varied sound and intimate lyrics, as well as collaborations with artists like Perfume Genius and Big Thief’s James Krivchenia, Fun House will be an experience you won’t forget. Highlights include “Aquamarine”, “No Difference”, and “The Answer”.
4. Runnner, Always Repeating
Always Repeating, Runnner’s debut album, is a carefully-executed amalgamation of LA-based songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Noah Weinman’s talents as displayed on past EPs and singles. It chronicles looking back and moving forward, heartbreak and alienation turned into reconciliation – a cycle that, as the name suggests, is always repeating. Perfectly intimate, honest, and rough around the edges, listening to Always Repeating feels like the kind of musical heart-to-heart you could expect from the bedroom concert of a good friend, a feeling of being in the room where it all gets made. Runnner’s melancholy, handcrafted folk sound will captivate you immediately – one highlight is “Ur Name on a Grain of Rice”.
5. Bedouine, Waysides
Bedouine, a spin on bedouin – the nomad, the wanderer. Syrian-born singer/songwriter Azniv Korkejian’s unique sixties-folk-meets-bossa-nova sound and hypnotic voice and lyricism embody this stage name like no other. Waysides, released in October 2021, is the newest addition to Bedouine’s dreamy repertoire, and it does not disappoint. The otherworldly harmonies, agile guitar picking, and beautiful lyrics that are equal parts lonely and longing translate love and loss into a collection that feels as warm and slow as honey. When she sings “I cannot contain the way I feel for you / Or anything / I ride the wave” in “The Wave”, Bedouine is gentle and powerful, delivering her words without fanfare, a beautifully quiet truth. Notable mentions also include “Forever Everette” and “Easy”.
Edited by Tobias Abelmann, editor of Lists
Cover art by Miriam Sills