Dan Wilmer Poop 2021


12 Albums for 2021
Dan Wilmer, Jersey City, NJ

Buy Langhorne Slim – Strawberry Mansion New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
1. Langhorne Slim – Strawberry Mansion. My number one album by far this year was Strawberry Mansion. From opening track “Mighty Soul” to “Dreams” to “Blood on Yer Lips” and “Sing My Song,” it’s a beautiful Americana album at a time that any art contemplating our troubled nation could be divisive, pedantic, or worst. “Panic Attack” could be the quintessential pandemic song and is damn funny. And “Strawberry Mansion” is a beautiful bluegrass-inflected instrumental.

Buy Various Artists – I’ll Be Your Mirror: Songs of The Velvet Underground New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
2. Various Artists – I’ll Be Your Mirror: Songs of The Velvet Underground. I love a good compilation album and this is a great one. “Run Run Run” by Kurt Vile is a propulsive jam. The National’s Matt Beringer does a really nice version of “Waiting for the Man” too, among other highlights.

Buy Weezer – Van Weezer New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
3. Weezer – Van Weezer. In these challenging times, you have to find your fun and guilty pleasures. The first four tracks are super and conjure up the best of shout-along 80’s guitar rock.

Buy Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
4. Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee. The talented Michelle Zauner had a big 2021. She wrote, composed, and performed this exuberant indie pop album, directed her music videos, and wrote a best-selling book, “Crying in H Mart.”

Buy Hiss Golden Messenger – Quietly Blowing It New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
5. Hiss Golden Messenger – Quietly Blowing It. “Sanctuary” is the standout single. HGM continues to grow on me as the folk singer-songwriter of the moment.

Buy Lucy Dacus – Home Video New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
6. Lucy Dacus – Home Video. Another wonderful album from Lucy Dacus that picks up where “Historian” left off.

Buy Chvrches – Screen Violence New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
7. Chvrches – Screen Violence. This synth-pop indie band out of Glasgow has an effervescent energy that masks darker themes.

Buy Modest Mouse – The Golden Casket New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
8. Modest Mouse – The Golden Casket. Issac Brock, the mastermind behind Modest Mouse, hasn’t lost his step or his edge. This album is really solid and includes a sweet ballad “Lace Your Shoes” among rockers like “We are Between.”

Buy Felice Brothers – From Dreams to Dust New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
9. Felice Brothers – From Dreams to Dust. Another Americana album that got a lot of spins this year. “Jazz on the AutoBahn” is witty fun, while the somber “Be at Rest” is a spoken word homage to a deceased friend.

Buy James – All the Colours of You New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
10. James – All the Colours of You. What a welcome album for the Manchester alternative band. Highlights include the title track and “Beautiful Beaches” both featuring their trademark upbeat cheer.

Buy The Flatlanders – Treasure of Love New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
11. The Flatlanders – Treasure of Love. After originally founding The Flatlanders in 1972 and disbanding in 1973, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale, and Butch Hancock reunite every few years to dash off some old-timey folk songs.

Buy Dinosaur Jr. – Sweep It Into Space New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
12. Dinosaur Jr. – Sweep It Into Space. Jay Mascis continues a string of good-to-great albums that began with “Beyond” in 2009. “I Bet on Sky” is my favorite of the four, but there’s some nice guitar wizardry and well-written songs here too.