Today I would like to have a look back on music in 2021. Sadly for the first time ever in my life I wasn't able to see an international artist. Hopefully that will be remedied in 2022. But thankfully there was still plenty of great music released to keep me going. Without doubt my favourite album released last year was by the Montreal collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor. There is truly no other act like them on earth. Their singular focus on making music that is monumental and important is only matched by their commitment to social justice. Last year we received new music by veteran acts like The Hold Steady, Modest Mouse and Low, proving they are as vital as ever. My favourite new 'discovery' was Current Joys and my favourite debut album was from The Natvral. Both acts did what I love. Hooky, guitar driven songs with great melodies. And my late edition to my Top 40 was December debut release from Aeon Station. This is truly a great album that I have had on constant rotation. My last thought is that in the last two years music has been hit hardest as any industry. So if you can, please buy some music by an artist you love rather than just stream it.

1. God's Pee at State's End!-Godspeed You! Black Emperor
2. I Don't Live Here Anymore-The War on Drugs
3. Voyager-Current Joys
4. Observatory-Aeon Station
5. Open Door Policy-The Hold Steady
6. Harmonizer-Ty Segall
7. Home Video-Lucy Dacus
8. From Dreams to Dust-The Felice Brothers
9. Carnage-Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
10. Tethers-The Natvral
11. Planet (i)-Squirrel Flower
12. Two Saviors-Buck Meek
13. Fading Graffiti-Spencer Krug
14. Thirstier-Torres
15. Hey What-Low
16. I Want the Door to Open-Lala Lala
17. A Beginner's Mind-Sufjan Stevens & Angelo de Augustine
18. Fun House-Hand Habits
19. New Fragility-Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
20. Superwolves-Matt Sweeney & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
21. Cool Dry Place-Katy Kirby
22. The Golden Casket-Modest Mouse
23. Changephobia-Rostam
24. Public Storage-Hana Vu
25. Little Oblivions-Julien Baker
26. World's Most Stressed Out Gardener-Chad VanGaalen
27. Heaven and Holy-Painted Shrines
28. Doomin' Sun-Bachelor
29. New Long Leg-Dry Cleaning
30. The Apple Drop-Liars
31. How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last-Big Red Machine
32. The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania-Damien Jurado
33. In Heaven-Strand of Oaks
34. Grizzly Peak-The Dodos
35. Vince Staples-Vince Staples
36. Bloodless-Claire Cronin
37. Valentine-Snail Mail
38. As the Love Continues-Mogwai
39. On All Fours-Goat Girl
40. Sweep It Into Space-Dinosaur Jr.
41. Influences-K.D.A.P.
42. Pale Horse Rider-Cory Hanson
43. Pohorylle-Margo Cilker
44. Detritus-Sarah Neufeld
45. Green to Gold-The Antlers
46. Path of Wellness-Sleater-Kinney
47. Long Lost-Lord Huron
48. The Shadow I Remember-Cloud Nothings
49. The Besnard Lakes are the Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings-The Besnard Lakes
50. For the First Time- Black Country, New Road