The Rest of the Best Albums of 2021: New, Reissues & Box Sets

[@sprachnroll]

Just placed my first order with Sam Records. Thanks Norman -- discovering your channel has been one of the highlights of my year. For years I have found that when I can't sleep at night perusing music magazines (what my wife refers to as "my music porn") calms whatever anxieties are keeping me up. Your channel has the same effect. Our tastes aren't the same, but they do overlap and I enjoy both the similarities and differences. Keep it up. All the best to you in 2022.

[@ChrisPropfeMusicallyObsessed]

Just picked up Omniverse. Love it! Happy Holidays!

[@dixielandfarm]

Love that blue marble vinyl on the John Hiatt.

[@BarakaPDub]

I will have to check out the Sun Ra album. I usually like the Modern Harmonic reissues of his material. Those I consider accessible and your description helps to reinforce that.

[@Localbandography]

It’s a great one Paul. I actually got an El Saturn copy from a VC member a few years back. The reissue will actually sound better more than likely. The El Saturns were never the best pressings.

[@jasonarsenault3791]

“I’m all in on Neil Young.” Yes!!!! Awesome.

[@TheGlawton]

Good one Mazzy. I'd love to see you do a spot on Firesign Theater.

[@nickvanleeuwen4207]

I was wondering about John Hiatt too. You had mentioned it would be in your list but then you didn't show it. I just didn't mention it in the comments. Glad you showed it now because it's a good one.

[@jimquinn5316]

Hi Mazzy thanks for all the great choices and fun all through the year . Christmas Greetings from Dublin ( Ireland )

[@mazzysmusic]

Cheers right back at ya🍸🥂🍻🍺🥃

[@roberthead375]

You mentioned liking organ music. Check out the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, if you don’t already know of them. I believe they are based out of Seattle. Happy Holidays

[@mazzysmusic]

Oh yeah. Have their two albums. Saw them once here in Seattle. Thank you ✌🏽

[@robwalkerletthemusicplay]

👍🎄 Tempted by those Neil young records .. you don’t seem to be showing my favourites but you’ve shown some good ones here for sure

[@wothotalro1610]

Wondered if the new Hiatt release was being dissed and Sooo glad to see you've included it here. Stay well and best for the holidays.

[@michaelgraetz8600]

Love that R.E.M. album, that reissue is definitely on my want list. Some of my picks not on your list of 2021 new releases are 1) Pink Turns Blue - Tainted, german darkwave postpunk band that has been around since the mid 1980s - absolutely beautiful album with atmospheric moody overtones, 2) TUNS - Duly Noted, Toronto based power pop trio super group of chris murphy of sloan, mike o'neill of the inbreds and matt murphy of the superfriendz, great sophmore album that draws from that mid 1990s atlantic canadian power pop scene that those bands came out of, 3) Billy Idol - the Roadside EP, Idol hasn't lost anything and comes back with a short four song record that is all solid, the new single bitter taste might be his best song ever recorded - kind of has a chris isaak feel to it, 4) Alice Cooper - Detroit Stories, this record is just fun, hits hard with that early 1970s Detroit feel and features a lot of great musicians including the guitarist from the MC5, Wayne Kramer and Mark Farmer of grand funk railroad.

[@Warp75]

2021 The Bug - Fire Aesop Rock - Spirit World Field Guide DJ Format - Devil’s Workshop Gruff Rhys - Seeking New Gods

[@therevrockinrollin]

You know I’m here for the Sun Ra

[@brkly99]

The War box set was fantastic!

[@Localbandography]

Arvanitas is great. I have a couple of Futura label records from France featuring Georges. Fantastic stuff.

[@harrysmusicroom]

Looking forward to finding one or two or your choices at Amoeba next week

[@AliDaniali]

Thank you Mas for a great year! Here are the vinyl (not boxed sets) covered in this video (copy/paste friendly)... Live From Blackalachia, Moses Sumney Omniverse, Sun Ra Breathe, Dr. Lonnie Smith Love Bug, Reuben Wilson The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Vol. 1 & 2, Herbie Nichols Live In Paris: Nathan Davis The Ortf Recordings 1966-1967, Georges Arvanitas New Adventures In Hi-Fi, REM Raise The Roof, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Leftover Feelings, John Hiatt With the Jerry Douglas Band Way Down In The Rust Bucket, Neil Young Barn, Neil Young & Crazy Horse

[@ricklanders]

These are all really great picks, suit my tastes perfectly somehow. Big Jimmy Smith/ Dr. LS fan. lol That REM release is definitely underrated, it's just as strong in its own way as many of their earlier masterpieces. New viewer and now subscriber, thanks for the recommendations and cool channel!

[@davidevans3175]

Many artists I've never heard of - you've turned me on to a lot of music Mazzy. Suggestion: Pharaoh Sanders and/or Alice Coltrane. Thanks so much!!

[@mazzysmusic]

Thank you. Love Alice 🎶

[@davidevans3175]

@@mazzysmusic She was my neighbor for 15 years in Woodland Hills, CA.

[@reidarsamuelsen6318]

Hey, nice list, but Neil Young? Barn is his second Crazy Horse issue since Colorado (2016), and I must say, sadly, that I am all out on Neil Young these days. I have given Barn one-and-a-half spins on my turntable and I can't see how I will pull it forth for more rounds. It's lame and turgid, but I seem to be the only one thinking this. (I liked the archival issue of his Carnegie Hall concert from 1970 - or was it '71?) My greatest hits of 2021 was tracing down and finding and purchasing The Birth of the Cool (the wonderful double reissue on Capitol which you have showcased more than once,), Live in Seatlle by Coltrane (and also finding the gorgeous reissue of A Love Supreme - an audiophile issue) as well as Palo Alto (Thelonious Monk) - the live LP you showed some times a go. Thank you - and happy crimbol. Ray d'Ahr.

[@johnryan3913]

"Turgid". At last someone said what I was thinking. Barn, the title, says it all too. barns don't swing.

[@marktrickett5081]

Thanks for entertaining me throughout 2021. Have a great Christmas Mazzy.

[@billspencer4761]

Mazzy…how about ranking the best uses of texture ? (Album cover)

[@mazzysmusic]

That’s pretty obtuse 😬🤔😎

[@mistery-ed7900]

If I were to choose a "best decade" for Sun Ra albums I'd choose the 70's. The far out material is excellent and same for more traditional straight ahead styles.

[@keithwalker8090]

I heard a lot of good jazz music at the Lighthouse, and I've been puzzled, why John Hiatt has never gotten the love he deserves?

[@mazzysmusic]

Yeah John Hiatt. I absolutely love him. But he makes a great living through others covering his songs. Some huge sellers. This one is very good 🌟

[@seamuscolgan7654]

A lovely selection of records 👌

[@charlesdrake3125]

I've been trying to get my hands on that Lee Morgan box for months

[@skewiff11]

$61.00 on Amazon right now

[@christopherkibler511]

Lou Reed was vicious!

[@TokyoBalletReprise]

This was a fantastic year for music, but out of all of the albums the one that came out that I liked the most was definitely JPEGMAFIA’s LP!. From what I’ve seen you don’t seem to be into rap and I’d be curious to know where you stand on that genre. Lots of the most critically acclaimed albums of the last decade were all rap albums such as “To Pimp A Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar which is now considered one of her best albums ever if not the best album ever by many people. JPEGMAFIA who’s an US Army Veteran/producer/rapper/singer/sound engineer/songwriter etc. is a musician’s musician. He completely produces, writes, mix & masters all of his stuff. Rarely does he get anyone to help him out on songs. A few exceptions I can think of are a few features by people (he doesn’t have much features on his albums) or that time when he had a friend play flute on a song where he played acoustic guitar. He’s an experimental artist. He’s pushing the genre of rap further with his crazy production ideas & techniques. His music is intense at times, but also beautiful at other times. It’s very satirical, funny & all around crazy too. I also know you’re big into audiophile music and his stuff (especially his more recent stuff) is very well mix & mastered and he did it all by himself. If you’re interested in trying his stuff out, I suggest these songs: -WHAT KIND OF RAPPIN IS THIS? -Grimy Waifu -THE GHOST OF RANKING DREAD! -Rainbow Six -Free the Frail -Thot Tactics -HAZARD DUTY PAY!

[@pierremartin9048]

You and 45 RPM deserve 100k subs, let’s go folks…..best 2022

[@vinyllover6737]

Love the Dr. Lonnie Smith with Iggy Pop. Just got my LP from Amazon. Happy Healthy New Year Maz

[@wilson7596]

Great list, but you gotta include the Lindsey Buckingham S/T. Killer album by one of the best all around musicians still going.

[@mazzysmusic]

Still need to hear that one 🎸

[@tinostabile3256]

Hi mazzy marvelous additions wishing you and your family all the best and wishing you more musical goodies from the jolly man in red

[@lumpygravy52]

Happy Holidays Mazzy! Are you a fan of Jamie Saft?

[@mazzysmusic]

Don’t think I know him. I’ll check him out 🎶

[@lumpygravy52]

@@mazzysmusic May I recommend the album "You Don't Know The Life"

[@jeffwhitehead6268]

Thank you for this addendum, Mazzy! I now have a bunch of new titles to stream while wrapping gifts (and eventually purchase many I’m sure)! My favorite new music of the year was your recommendation of Kjetil Mulelid’s “Piano”. Simply amazing. Thank you. If you haven’t heard it, my favorite surprise reissue of the year was the recent Chris Bellman cut of Donald Fagen’s “Nightfly” pressed at Optimal. I do not have the MoFi one step to compare to, but have a really nice RL pressing, which to me always sounding like what it was, a nice pressing of one of the earliest digital recordings. The 2021 Bellman cut made my jaw drop, induced goosebumps, and raised hair on the arms. It has the magic many of us vinyl fans long for, and has this title back in heavy rotation for me for the first time in a long time. Happy holidays and new year!

[@mazzysmusic]

That Piano album is special. Thanks for making me order the Bellman Nightfly 🤠I do have an OG so looking forward to hearing how it compares ✌🏽.

[@jerrysnead2842]

Craft recordings lover also I just found Brenton Wood OOGUM BOOGUM which is out of print. I have most of the jazz titles

[@markspooner1224]

That was worth watching, thanks.

[@gr328]

Two of mine Mazzy, Buena Vista Social Club 25th anniversary remastered by Bernie Grundman and Consenting Adults Brad Mahldau et al on Criss Cross Jazz. Keep it up 🙂

[@mazzysmusic]

Yeah Buena Vista was on my original best list this year too ✌🏽

[@gr328]

@@mazzysmusic Thanks for the tip about Standing in the Doorway. What a stunning record - Ican't stop listening, don't Fall Apart On Me Tonight.

[@djvinylvertigo]

You to totally left out Jon Batiste's 'We Are' & Noga Erez's 'Kids'. And Chris Stapleton's 'Starting Over' & Amethyst Kiah's 'Wary-Strange'.

[@mazzysmusic]

Don’t have them ✨

[@djvinylvertigo]

@@mazzysmusic You should check them out!! Merry Christmas, Mazzy!!!

[@bdfitzg]

I’m new to your engaging music features that a friend shared with me. Love the 2021 “Best Of” segments and have been turned on to music previously unknown to me (Jazz Sue La Seine and the Balmorhea records have really drawn me in). Don’t know your varied tastes too well yet- don’t know if you are an ambient fan- but one of my favourites this year was the Devendra Banhart/Noah Georgeson double record, Refuge. Exquisite rainy day music. Keep ‘em coming!

[@rafaterradillos]

Great jazz choose for beginners like me. I acquired the taste of jazz music because of you Mazzy. I love Herbie Nichols'cover too. REM naohifi I tried again but I don't get the point. Neil Young is one of the greatest but I'm a little bit tired of so many releases from the 70s. Merry Christmas and take care. I hope next year would be covid free at last. While we keep listening excellent music as you recommend. Thanks for sharing

[@vinylshawn4757]

Great as always post. Good to see R.E.M. made it to the list. I agree with you 100%. I think Courtney Barnett is a top release also in 2021. I also enjoyed Pete Yorn sings the classics record store day release.

[@zenvagabond]

Nice selection homes ...

[@TRamone01]

Neil Young Barn did not disappoint. Looks a little drafty. I think his best work is with the Horse.

[@abiliovieira9644]

You turned me onto Moses Sumney, when Grae made your 2020 Year End List, fantastic visual artist, musician. I’ve already picked up Live in Blackalachia. The video is great, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

[@scrumpy7907]

Hey mazzy, be great to see your views on Tim & Jeff Buckleys' music. Grace is so special to me

[@mazzysmusic]

Yeah both were great. Left us way too soon ✌🏽

[@scrumpy7907]

@@mazzysmusic for sure, Jeff was a one of a kind. I've been obsessed with the 'Paris,Texas' soundtrack lately. Ry cooder's slide guitar sound is just great

[@twofromthetrunk9932]

As usual the video is well done. I think what intrigued me the most of your list is Neil young. He just keeps making great music. Thank you for the videos of the past two years that I’ve been watching. Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas.

[@rocky-o]

more good stuff to end the year....rocky loves you...peace...me

[@martinbench3657]

Nancy was great , because of my love for the Animals i bought Eric Burdon declares War , great stuff

[@makimakipapura7543]

Why do Americans celebrate Christmas 25th???

[@DavysFlicks]

You and others ave inspired me to start my own channel, Mazzy. I did a review of Barn, the deluxe box set one, and its been easily the most popular vid of the handful I've made. If you want a look: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4aniaB5Ztppp80 Like you I prefer just talking, not bein scripted. Mistakes? Dont care, its the feeling I try to capture. Also done one on another show you were at, The Last Waltz - but a rare boxset no-one else on YT seems to have done one on.