AUTHOR’S NOTE: 2021 was such a strange year that I had a difficult time coming up with anything worth saying about it. Fortunately, my writing partner Matthew Marsh was able to jump in and share some wisdom.
Every article, meme or social media post I see these days allude to one of three themes: how much 2020 sucked, how much 2021 has sucked and how there’s no way 2022 could suck as bad as the two previous.
The death of being together, at least on a semi-regular basis, is something most ushered in with the addition of at least one very bad habit, or if you’re lucky, two. Between cigar puffs, boxed wine slugs and Peloton rides with “save for later” tracks that you wouldn’t let your mother know you listen to, comfort in the intermittent respites was nearly always accompanied by a soundtrack to this new normal (whether welcomed or not).
This chance at evergreen beats is the worst of habits for Clarke, the final feast to years of famine.
Not that anyone needed extra reason to indulge in this list of tracks that grind all activity to a halt for weeks, but here you go: served on a silver platter, no viable reason to not be lost in the curation of the only DJ that hath need no for tables, Clarke Reader.
Have a coke ready. Or a coke.
~MM
**AUTHOR’S NOTE – Throughout the page you’ll find two Spotify links – one with all the albums (minus No. 48) and the songs I selected (minus No. 2). Happy listening**
Top 50 Albums
1. Gold-Diggers Sound – Leon Bridges
2. A Billion Little Lights – Wild Pink
3. An Evening With Silk Sonic – Silk Sonic
4. I Don’t Live Here Anymore – The War on Drugs
5. The House Is Burning – Isaiah Rashad
6. 30 – Adele
7. Changephobia – Rostam
8. Still Over It – Summer Walker
9. Pono – A Great Big Pile Of Leaves
10. A Way Forward – Nation of Language
11. gg bb xx – LANY
12. Wildest Dreams – Majid Jordan
13. star-crossed – Kacey Musgraves
14. Screen Violence – Chvrches
15. Sob Rock – John Mayer
16. Home Video – Lucy Dacus
17. Mood Ring – Kississippi
18. Simple, Sweet, and Smiling – Kacy Hill
19. Sun – Pastel Coast
20. Delta Kream – The Black Keys
21. Navy’s Reprise – Navy Blue
22. PSA – Peyton
23. Quietly Blowing It – Hiss Golden Messenger
24. LA Summers – G Perico
25. Little Oblivions – Julien Baker
26. CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST – Tyler, The Creator
27. True Sky – AKAI SOLO
28. ‘Til I Start Speaking – Morly
29. Open Door Policy – The Hold Steady
30. The Future – Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats
31. Mother – Cleo Sol
32. Letter Blue – Wet
33. LP! – JPEGMAFIA
34. Deadpan Love – Cautious Clay
35. Jubilee – Japanese Breakfast
36. Sitting Pretty On Top Of The World – Lauren Alaina
37. Far In – Helado Negro
38. Music City USA – Charley Crockett
39. Certified Lover Boy – Drake
40. Hard Up – The Bamboos
41. To See the Next Part Of The Dream – Parannoul
42. MONTERO – Lil Nas X
43. The Marfa Tapes – Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall
44. Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic – Joeboy
45. Music of the Spheres – Coldplay
46. Inside (The Songs) – Bo Burnham
47. Donda – Kanye West
48. Pool – Skee Mask
49. Infinite Granite – Deafheaven
50. Chemtrails Over the Country Club/Blue Banisters – Lana Del Rey
Missing from playlist:
48. Pool – Skee Mask
Top 100 Songs
1. “the angel of 8th ave.” – total serene – Gang of Youths
2. “Can’t Be Together” – 30 (Target Exclusive Edition) – Adele
3. “Addicted” – Be Right Back – Jorja Smith
4. “Crawling Kingsnake” – Delta Kream – The Black Keys
5. “We Win” – Space Jam: A New Legacy – Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin
6. “Our Tumultuous Times” – Ten Songs of Worship and Praise for our Tumultuous Times – St. Lenox
7. “Last Day on Earth” – Our Extended Play – beabadoobee
8. “the man himself” – single – Gang of Youths
9. “Born Again” feat. Robert Glasper – Gold-Diggers Sound – Leon Bridges
10. “Kyle (I Found You)” – Actual Life (April 14 – December 17 2020) – Fred again..
11. “Track Mud” – A Billion Little Lights – Wild Pink
12. “Blast Off” – An Evening With Silk Sonic – Silk Sonic
13. “Twice Twilight” – True Sky – AKAI SOLO
14. “All I Want is To Be With You” – Sob Rock – John Mayer
15. “Heaven is A Place in My Head” – Single – Bad Suns
16. “Race My Mind” – Certified Lover Boy – Drake
17. “Liz” – Single – Remi Wolf
18. “I Hate U” – Single – SZA
19. “Bio18” – Changephobia – Rostam
20. “Bigger Man” with Maren Morris – in defense of my own happiness – Joy Oladokun
21. “Nomad” – Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings: The Album – Zion.T and Gen Hoshino
22. “Headshots (4r Da Locals)” – The House Is Burning – Isaiah Rashad
23. “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” – I Don’t Live Here Anymore – The War on Drugs
24. “Spinning” – Single – No Rome, Charli XCX and The 1975
25. “Peaches” feat. Daniel Caesar and GIVEON – Justice – Justin Bieber
26. “He Said She Said” – Screen Violence – Chvrches
27. “Reign of Love” – 6 Cover Songs – Wild Pink
28. “Summer Rain” – Wildest Dreams – Majid Jordan
29. “Slide Tackle” – Jubilee – Japanese Breakfast
30. “Moments in Between” – Moments in Between – Ruth B.
31. “Leave the Door Open – Live” – Single – Silk Sonic
32. “drivers license” – SOUR – Olivia Rodrigo
33. “Trying to Feel Alive” – Nurture – Porter Robinson
34. “Fast Car” – Single – Syd
35. “23” – Single – Sam Hunt
36. “Mia” – Valentine – Snail Mail
37. “I Won’t Cry” – Music City USA – Charley Crockett
38. “Motorbike” – Gold-Diggers Sound – Leon Bridges
39. “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault) – Red (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
40. “Relative Fiction” – Little Oblivions – Julien Baker
41. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – Single – Sarah Jarosz
42. “Florida” – Single – Wild Pink
43. “You Only Live Twice” feat. Lil Wayne and Rick Ross – Certified Lover Boy – Drake
44. “Shot in the Dark” – Sob Rock – John Mayer
45. “Face Down In The Moment” – The Future – Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats
46. “Chasing After You” with Maren Morris – Pelago – Ryan Hurd
47. “cherry blossom” – star-crossed – Kacey Musgraves
48. “Duper’s Delight” – Latest Record Project Volume I – Van Morrison
49. “Love Is A Game” – 30 – Adele
50. “Peach” – Single – Future Islands
51. “Beside Myself” – Single – Lights
52. “Party Again” – Single – TOPS
53. “In the Rain” – Earth Trip – Rose City Band
54. “9 TIMES OUTTA 10” – Single – Gunna and Taurus
55. “If You Ever” – Single – Kotomi
56. “Lover Girl” – Introducing… – Aaron Frazer
57. “Fight For You” (From the Original Motion Picture “Judas and the Black Messiah”) – Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album – H.E.R.
58. “Love Music” – BIRTHDAY MIX 6 – Lil Yachty
59. “Baby I Got Your Number” – The Future – Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats
60. “Sweet” – Wildest Dreams – Majid Jordan
61. “Sunset Drive” – Single – Vaance and Josh Bogert
62. “Traffic!” – Cool Dry Place – Katy Kirby
63. “Believe What I Say” – Donda – Kanye West
64. “Wasted” – ‘Til I Start Speaking – Morly
65. “Gasoline” – Women in Music Pt. III (Expanded Edition) – HAIM
66. “Long Lost” – Long Lost – Lord Huron
67. “Love When You Call My Name” – KEYS – Alicia Keys
68. “Sunset” – To Kill a Sunrise – Kota the Friend and Statik Selektah
69. “If It Comes in the Morning” – Quietly Blowing It – Hiss Golden Messenger
70. “My Window” feat. Mahalia – Table for Two – Lucky Daye
71. “This Fractured Mind” – A Way Forward – Nation of Language
72. “Show Up” – Scout – Samia
73. “Julie.” – Neptune – Gallant
74. “Future Starts Now” – Single – Kim Petras
75. “Lolo 13” – At War With The Silverfish – Laura Jane Grace
76. “Sky Love” – Single – Foxes
77. “Eternal” – Flamingo Pier – Flamingo Pier
78. “Annie” – It’s a Beautiful Day and I Love You – Jillette Johnson
79. “Lifting You” – Loving In Stereo – Jungle
80. “Essence” feat. Justin Bieber and Tems – Made in Lagos: Deluxe Edition – Wizkid
81. “All Night Parking (with Erroll Gardner) [Interlude]” – 30 – Adele
82. “Nothing Else Matters” – The Metallica Blacklist – Chris Stapleton
83. “care less” – gg bb xx – LANY
84. “Wildfire” – Deadpan Love – Cautious Clay
85. “Margiela Split Toes” feat. Mach-Hommy – Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf – Westside Gunn
86. “Wasted Days” feat. Bruce Springsteen – Single – John Mellencamp
87. “Around Your Room” – Mood Ring – Kississippi
88. “Bunny Is A Rider” – Single – Caroline Polachek
89. “Ride or Die” – Private Space – Durand Jones and The Indications
90. “Sprite” – Rainbow Mixtape – COIN
91. “Free” feat. Big K.R.I.T., Snoop Dogg and DJ Premier – CHOMP 2 – Russ
92. “LOST IN THE CITADEL” – MONTERO – Lil Nas X
93. “Pretty” – Single – Astrid S and Dagny
94. “Free Kelly Rowland” feat. Armand Hammer – Live Forever (Deluxe Edition) – Bartees Strange
95. “Brando” – Home Video – Lucy Dacus
96. “Holy Smokes” feat. Lil Uzi Vert – Single – Trippie Redd
97. “Stop Making This Hurt” – Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night – Bleachers
98. “Coloratura” – Music of the Spheres – Coldplay
99. “family ties” – The Melodic Blue – Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar
100. “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” – Playing the Piano 12122020 – Ryuichi Sakamoto
Missing from playlist:
2. “Can’t Be Together” – 30 (Target Exclusive Edition) – Adele
EPs
1. total serene – Gang of Youths
2. 6 Cover Songs/3 Songs – Wild Pink
3. At War With The Silverfish – Laura Jane Grace
4. suburban indie rock star – snow ellet
5. Moonshine – Nightlands
6. If Orange Was A Place – Tems
7. our extended play – beabadoobee
8. The Walls Are Way Too Thin – Holly Humberstone
9. Downtiming – Camp Trash
10. Butter Miracle Suite One – Counting Crows
Reissues
1. Pinata (Deluxe Edition) – Freddie Gibbs and Madlib
2. Fearless (Taylor’s Version)/Red (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
3. Almost Famous (20th Anniversary) (Super Deluxe) – Various Artists
4. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Expanded Edition) – Various Artists
5. The Photo Album (Deluxe Edition) – Death Cab for Cutie
6. 1970/Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16 / 1980-1985 (Deluxe Edition) – Bob Dylan
7. Careless Love (Deluxe Edition) – Madeleine Peyroux
8. Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses) [50th Anniversary Expanded Edition] – Grateful Dead
9. At Dawn: 20th Anniversary Edition – My Morning Jacket
10. Stage Fright (50th Anniversary Edition)/ Cahoots (50th Anniversary Edition) – The Band
Live Albums
1. A Very Lonely Solstice – Fleet Foxes
2. Live at Sydney Opera House – Glen Hansard
3. A Billion Little Lights (Live) – Wild Pink
4. Knebworth 1996 (Live) – Oasis
5. In Harmony (Live) – Roy Hargrove and Mulgrew Miller
6. Live at The Showbox – Death Cab for Cutie
7. Auckland, New Zealand, 2020 (Live) – The Beths
8. … ‘Til We Meet Again – Norah Jones
9. The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts – Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band
10. Open Door Policy (Live) – The Hold Steady
Music Films
1. Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
2. The Beatles: Get Back
3. Bo Burnham: Inside
4. Woodstock 99: Peace, Love and Rage
5. The Velvet Underground
6. Knebworth 1996 (Live) – Oasis
7. The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts – Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band
8. Listening to Kenny G
9. Tina
10. Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry
Soundtracks
1. Flag Day – Eddie Vedder, Glen Hansard and Cat Power
2. Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album – Various Artists
3. Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings: The Album – Various Artists
4. Yasuke – Flying Lotus
5. Bo Burnham: Inside (The Songs) – Bo Burnham
6. Space Jam: A New Legacy – Various Artists
7. Sable (Original Video Game Soundtrack) – Japanese Breakfast
8. Almost Famous (20th Anniversary) (Super Deluxe) – Various Artists
9. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Expanded Edition) – Various Artists
10. The Sonic Ranch – Midland
Box sets
1. Almost Famous (20th Anniversary) (Super Deluxe) – Various Artists
2. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Expanded Edition) – Various Artists
3. The Photo Album (Deluxe Edition) – Death Cab for Cutie
4. Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16 / 1980-1985 (Deluxe Edition)
5. El Camino (10th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) – The Black Keys
6. Let It Be (Super Deluxe) – The Beatles
7. The Who Sell Out (Super Deluxe) – The Who
8. All Things Must Pass (50th Anniversary) [Super Deluxe] – George Harrison
9. Déjà vu (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) – Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
10. The Reprise Albums (1968-1971) – Joni Mitchell
