December 11, 2021

Top ten new albums of 2021

It's the most wonderful time of the year, the time to find out who's been naughty and nice.  No, I'm not talking about the holiday season; I'm talking about when everyone's Best Of The Year lists come out.
 
I'll be rolling out my own lists over the next three weeks on Global A Go-Go.  On this week's program (Sunday December 12, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) I'll present my top ten new albums of 2021 plus ten honorable mentions.
 
Next week you'll hear my favorite singles and EPs of the year gone by, and in two weeks it will be selections from my favorite compilations, reissues and historic recordings of 2021.
 
In terms of themes for 2021's best new albums, I thought it was a great year for Latin music and in particular for music from Colombia, a country that's rapidly gaining attention for its broad and deep music scenes.  And an unusual number of my favorite new albums this year could be classified as rock 'n' roll, a genre that's widely viewed in the USA as past its sell-by date.
 
Without further ado, here are my top new albums of 2021:
 
Top Ten New Albums of 2021
1.  Nkumba System (Colombia-Cameroon) | Bailalo Duro! | Prado
2.  Money Chicha (USA-Peru) | Chicha Summit | Vampisoul
3.  Delgrès (France) | 4:00 AM | PIAS
4.  La Mambanegra (Colombia) | Los Ultimos Buses De Colores | Tambora
5.  Fat Freddy's Drop (New Zealand) | Wairunga | The Drop
6.  Frente Cumbiero (Colombia) | Cera Perdida | La Roma
7.  Hamdi Benani, Mehdi Haddab & Speed Caravan (Algeria-France) | Nuba Nova | Buda Musique
8.  Oliver Nayoka (Nigeria) | Aja Wele Wele | Odogwu Entertainment / Palenque
9.  Los Chapillacs (Peru) | Lo Bueno, Lo Malo, Lo Feo Y Los Alarcosos Chapillacs | Vampisoul 
10. Meridian Brothers & Conjunto Media Luna (Colombia) | Paz En La Tierra | Bongo Joe
 
Honorable Mention
A Espetacular Charanga do França (Brazil) | The Importance Of Being Espetacular | Mais Um
Natik Awayez (Iraq-Yemen-Egypt) | Manbarani | Sublime Frequencies
Les Filles De Illighadad (Niger) | At Pioneer Works | Sahel Sounds / Pioneer Works Press
Khöömei Beat (Tuvan Republic Russia) | Changys Baglaash | ARC
Orquesta Akokán (Cuba-USA) | 16 Rayos | Daptone 
Adrian Quesada (USA) | Look At My Soul: The Latin Shade Of Texas Soul | Nacional
Christine Salem (La Reunion France) | Mersi | Blue Fanal
Joao Selva (Brazil-France) | Navegar | Underdog 
Vaudou Game (Togo-France) | Noussin | Hot Casa
Taj Weekes (St. Lucia-USA) | Pause | Jatta
 
My top 20 new albums of 2021 are available as a Spotify playlist: open.spotify.com/playlist/2xe5m16OTfaLXfeLP2S3a2?si=ac38ba69715141cf
 


Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year
 
Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001
 
Nkumba System | Colombia-Cameroon | Bailalo Duro | Bailalo Duro! | Prado | 2020
Oliver Nayoka | Nigeria | Ogene Sound System | Aja Wele Wele | Odogwu Entertainment / Palenque | 2021
Orquesta Akokán | Cuba-USA | Mi Conga Es De Akokán | 16 Rayos | Daptone | 2021
 
Meridian Brothers & Conjunto Media Luna | Colombia | En Teusaquillo Te Pueden Partir La Cara | Paz En La Tierra | Bongo Joe | 2021
Frente Cumbiero | Colombia | Cumbia Del Asilo | Cera Perdida | La Roma | 2021
Money Chicha | USA-Peru | Pacífico | Chicha Summit | Vampisoul | 2021
Los Chapillacs | Peru | Fiesta De Mostros | Lo Bueno, Lo Malo, Lo Feo Y Los Alarcosos Chapillacs | Vampisoul | 2021
 
Natik Awayez | Iraq-Yemen-Egypt | Al Teeh (The Exodus) | Manbarani | Sublime Frequencies | 2021
Hamdi Benani, Mehdi Haddab & Speed Caravan | Algeria-France | Damai Jara, Part 1 | Nuba Nova | Buda Musique | 2021
 
Fat Freddy's Drop | New Zealand | Bones | Wairunga | The Drop | 2021
Christine Salem | La Reunion France | Tyinbo | Mersi | Blue Fanal | 2021
Delgrès | France | 4 Ed Maten | 4:00 AM | PIAS | 2021
 
A Espetacular Charanga Do França | Brazil | Nao Para (Don't Stop Til You Get Enough) | The Importance Of Being Espetacular | Mais Um | 2021
Adrian Quesada | USA | I Wanna Be Free | Look At My Soul: The Latin Shade Of Texas Soul | Nacional | 2021
La Mambanegra | Colombia | Moto Moto | Los Ultimos Buses De Colores | Tambora | 2021
Vaudou Game | Togo-France | Be My Wife | Noussin | Hot Casa | 2021
 
Taj Weekes | St. Lucia-USA | March Of The Silent | Pause | Jatta | 2021
Les Filles De Illighadad | Niger | Chakalan | At Pioneer Works | Sahel Sounds / Pioneer Works Press | 2021

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