Once again, our top 100 songs (limit one song per artist) of 2021, along with AppleMusic and Spotify playlists.
Artist “Song Name” (** = number of appearances by artist on an ATHoM list)
1. Future Islands “Peach” (*******) 1
2. Little Simz “Point and Kill” (***)
3. Valerie June “Where the Bright Stars Glow” (***)
4. Bleachers “How Dare You Want More” (***)
3. Valerie June “Where the Bright Stars Glow” (***)
4. Bleachers “How Dare You Want More” (***)
5. Katy Kirby “Cool Dry Place” (rookie)
1 2021 and death was in season. But there was life in this tunnel too. We are almost 20 years into this list-making exercise and Future Islands becomes the first artist to get a second #1 (and, also for the second time, it is for a song that didn't make one of their albums).
6. Lord Huron “Not Dead Yet” (***)
7. Bo Burnham “All Eyes on Me (Song Only)” (rookie) 7
8. Sturgill Simpson “You Can Have the Crown” (***) 8
9. Halsey “I Am Not a Woman, I Am a God” (rookie)
9. Halsey “I Am Not a Woman, I Am a God” (rookie)
10. Wild Pink “Oversharers Anonymous” (rookie) 10
7 Picking a song from Inside wasn't an easy choice. The album/movie is full of almost malicious earworms that ran on repeat in our head throughout the year. Burnham's use of non-chorus, chanted lines at the end of songs ("we were overdue / but it'll be over soon", "my stupid friends are having stupid children", "all of it was perfectly lawful, just not very thoughtful", "can I interest you in everything / all of the time?", etc.) is a trick that works -- for us at least -- every single time.
8 This song has two strikes against it: it was technically released in mid Dec 2020 (that's basically 2021, plus The Ballad of Dood & Juanita was boring) and it is a cover of Sturgill's own 2013 song (this version is better). But hey, we're king turd here and if you want it...
10 "you're a fucking baby / but you're pain is valid too"
11. The War on Drugs “Change” (*****)
12. Lucia and the Best Boys “City of Angels” (rookie)
13. Wilderado “The Window” (**)
14. Kanye West “Jail Pt 2 ” (*********) 14
15. Rostam “From the Back of a Cab” (****)
14. Kanye West “Jail Pt 2 ” (*********) 14
15. Rostam “From the Back of a Cab” (****)
14 Very glad Pt 2 made the album since the DaBaby verse is infinitely better than the lazy Jay-Z verse on Pt 1. If we couldn't separate the man from the music we wouldn't have so many Kanye stars in the first place.
16. Angel Olsen “Forever Young (Alphaville Cover)” (**) 16
17. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah “Innocent Weight” (*********)
18. Hiss Golden Messenger “Sanctuary” (rookie)
19. Twin Shadow “Get Closer” (******)
20. Big Thief “Change” (****)
17. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah “Innocent Weight” (*********)
18. Hiss Golden Messenger “Sanctuary” (rookie)
19. Twin Shadow “Get Closer” (******)
20. Big Thief “Change” (****)
16 Official ATHoM same-title-different-song rankings for "Forever Young" are Alphaville / Bob Dylan / Rod Stewart in that order. But we're good with all three.
21. Michael Franti & Spearhead “You Will Always Hear My Echo” (**)
22. Taylor Swift “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” (**)
23. Paul McCartney & Dominic Fike “The Kiss of Venus” (** each for Sir Paul and Fike) 23
24. David Shaw “Heavy Soul” (rookie)
25. Billie Eilish “Happier Than Ever” (***)
22. Taylor Swift “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” (**)
23. Paul McCartney & Dominic Fike “The Kiss of Venus” (** each for Sir Paul and Fike) 23
24. David Shaw “Heavy Soul” (rookie)
25. Billie Eilish “Happier Than Ever” (***)
23 Dominic Fike took a dull latter day McCartney tune and flipped it into a bizarre remix/rework that is a little bit Sgt Pepper and a little bit Tally Hall. The power of production.
26. Alex Cameron “Sara Jo” (rookie) 26
27. Alex Lahey “On My Way” (**)
28. LP “Angels” (rookie)
27. Alex Lahey “On My Way” (**)
28. LP “Angels” (rookie)
29. CHVRCHES “Asking For a Friend” (*****)
30. Big Red Machine “Brycie” (**, plus a whole lot of The National & Bon Iver) 30
30. Big Red Machine “Brycie” (**, plus a whole lot of The National & Bon Iver) 30
26 "who pulled the curtains? / who broke the screen? / who told my brother than his kids are going to die from this vaccine?"
30 Highlighting how personal music tastes are, this is the track from How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? with the least Spotify plays.
31. Elliphant “Notorious” (**) 31
32. Morray “Can't Use Me” (rookie)
33. G Flip “Boys & Girls” (**)
34. Low “Days Like These” (rookie)
32. Morray “Can't Use Me” (rookie)
33. G Flip “Boys & Girls” (**)
34. Low “Days Like These” (rookie)
35. Margo Price “Sweet Revenge (John Prine cover)” (rookie)
31 Has any song ever been made better by the inclusion of a spoken word interlude? Perhaps "Are You Lonesome Tonight" due mostly to the comedic value? Certainly this one isn't.
36. girl in red “Serotonin” (rookie)
37. Tune-Yards “hold yourself.” (***)
37. Tune-Yards “hold yourself.” (***)
38. Bruiser Wolf “I'm a Instrument (feat. Danny Brown)” (rookie) 38
39. Bad Boy Chiller Crew “Don't You Worry About Me” (**)
40. Lucy Dacus “Hot & Heavy” (***)
39. Bad Boy Chiller Crew “Don't You Worry About Me” (**)
40. Lucy Dacus “Hot & Heavy” (***)
38 Bruiser Wolf and Danny Brown could easily be an unlistenable combo but this one works because their notable delivery styles are precisely the point (they've got their own sound x 2).
41. Caroline Polachek “Bunny is a Rider” (rookie)
42. FLETCHER & Hayley Kiyoko “Cherry” (rookies)
43. Noname “Rainforest” (rookie)
44. Mother Mother “Forgotten Souls” (***)
45. Lily Konigsberg “Proud Home” (rookie) 45
42. FLETCHER & Hayley Kiyoko “Cherry” (rookies)
43. Noname “Rainforest” (rookie)
44. Mother Mother “Forgotten Souls” (***)
45. Lily Konigsberg “Proud Home” (rookie) 45
45 As good a first 30 seconds as any track this year, especially when the very 1990's guitar kicks in at the 0:13 mark.
46. Baby Queen “These Drugs” (rookie)
47. Wet Leg “Wet Dreams” (rookie) 47
47. Wet Leg “Wet Dreams” (rookie) 47
48. Brett Dennen “Kumbaya, Life Rolls On” (rookie)
49. Beach Bunny “Blame Game” (**)
50. Fast Talking, Slow Walking “The Rolling Stones” (**) 50
49. Beach Bunny “Blame Game” (**)
50. Fast Talking, Slow Walking “The Rolling Stones” (**) 50
47 "baby do you want to come with me? / I've got Buffalo 66 on DVD"
50 RIP Charlie Watts
51. Liz Phair “Spanish Doors” (**)
52. Kacey Musgraves “breadwinner” (**)
53. Liz Stringer “Dangerous” (rookie)
54. Latto “Big Energy” (rookie)
55. Natalie Bergman “Talk to the Lord” (rookie) 55
53. Liz Stringer “Dangerous” (rookie)
54. Latto “Big Energy” (rookie)
55. Natalie Bergman “Talk to the Lord” (rookie) 55
55 Good chance ours is the only 2021 music list with "Big Energy" and "Talk to the Lord" back to back.
56. Ruen Brothers “The Storm in You” (rookie) 56
57. ROSALÍA “LA FAMA (feat. The Weeknd)” (**)
58. MUNA “Silk Chiffon (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)” (**)
59. MØ “Kindness” (*****)
60. Baio “What Do You Say When I'm Not There?” (****)
58. MUNA “Silk Chiffon (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)” (**)
59. MØ “Kindness” (*****)
60. Baio “What Do You Say When I'm Not There?” (****)
56 "You sure this song is from 2021 and not 1921" said beloved daughter #1
61. Trace Mountains “EYES ON THE ROAD” (rookie)
62. Glass Animals “I Don't Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)” (**)
63. Morgan Wade “Wilder Days” (rookie)
64. Islands “Islomania” (******)
62. Glass Animals “I Don't Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)” (**)
63. Morgan Wade “Wilder Days” (rookie)
64. Islands “Islomania” (******)
65. Tierra Whack “Millions” (***)
65 "Fancy restaurant / we eating zucchini" is about as Tierra Whack as it gets.
66. Remi Wolf “Grumpy Old Man” (**)
67. Weezer “Grapes of Wrath” (**) 67
67. Weezer “Grapes of Wrath” (**) 67
68. Indigo De Souza “Hold U” (rookie)
69. Tkay Maidza “Where is My Mind (Pixies cover)” (rookie)
70. MARINA “Venus Fly Trap” (***)
69. Tkay Maidza “Where is My Mind (Pixies cover)” (rookie)
70. MARINA “Venus Fly Trap” (***)
67 If anyone was going to write a song about listening to audiobook versions of literary classics....
71. Matt Berninger “Let It Be” (************, including The National and EL VY) 71
72. Mdou Moctar “Afrique Victime (edit)” (rookie) 72
73. SUSTO “Summertime” (**) 73
74. Charli XCX “Good Ones” (**)
75. Strand of Oaks “Somewhere in Chicago” (***)
74. Charli XCX “Good Ones” (**)
75. Strand of Oaks “Somewhere in Chicago” (***)
71 Not a Beatles cover (fortunately)
72 Edit version is necessary. Love the central melody but the original version has a brutally indulgent instrumental that runs the last four minutes
73 Not a DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince cover (unfortunately)
76. KC Lights “Cold Light (feat. Leo Stannard)” (rookie)
77. Big Piig “Lavender” (rookie)
78. Pa Salieu “Glidin’ (feat. slowthai)” (rookie)
79. Noah Kahan “Godlight” (***)
80. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats “Face Down in the Moment” (***)
77. Big Piig “Lavender” (rookie)
78. Pa Salieu “Glidin’ (feat. slowthai)” (rookie)
79. Noah Kahan “Godlight” (***)
80. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats “Face Down in the Moment” (***)
81. Adele “Easy on Me” (***) 81
82. Quinn XCII “My Wife & 2 Dogs” (***)
83. Japanese Breakfast “Be Sweet” (rookie)
84. TK & The Holy Know-Nothings “Serenity Prayer” (rookie) 84
85. Young Thug “Love You More (with Nate Ruess, Gunna & Jeff Bhasker)” (****)
81 Adele rounds out the superstar female singers on the list singing breakup songs, and she is the only one that doesn't brand her ex as a gold digger (Musgraves), internet troll (Eilish) or a scarf fetishist (Swift).
84 "we're on a twelve step program / one two step at a time"
86. A. G. Cook, Sarah Bonito & Hannah Diamond “The Darkness (remix)” (** for Hannah)
87. Satsang “From and I Go” (rookie)
88. Mariah the Scientist “2 You” (rookie)
89. Fruit Bats “As I Rise” (rookie)
90. mazie “dumb dumb” (rookie)
87. Satsang “From and I Go” (rookie)
88. Mariah the Scientist “2 You” (rookie)
89. Fruit Bats “As I Rise” (rookie)
90. mazie “dumb dumb” (rookie)
91. The Weather Station “Tried to Tell You” (rookie)
92. Courtney Barnett “Write a List of Things to Look Forward To” (****)
93. Turnstile “MYSTERY” (rookie)
94. Generationals “Tryin' to Reach Ya (feat. Sarah Jaffe)” (****)
95. Selena Gomez & Camilo “999” (** for Selena)
92. Courtney Barnett “Write a List of Things to Look Forward To” (****)
93. Turnstile “MYSTERY” (rookie)
94. Generationals “Tryin' to Reach Ya (feat. Sarah Jaffe)” (****)
95. Selena Gomez & Camilo “999” (** for Selena)
96. chloe moriondo “Favorite Band” (rookie)
97. Jessie Ware “Please (Single Edit)” (*****)
98. Fred Again.. “Tate (How I Feel)” (rookie)
99. Judah & The Lion “Find Another Reason Why” (**)
100.Joe Strummer “Junco Partner (Acoustic)” (**)
97. Jessie Ware “Please (Single Edit)” (*****)
98. Fred Again.. “Tate (How I Feel)” (rookie)
99. Judah & The Lion “Find Another Reason Why” (**)
100.Joe Strummer “Junco Partner (Acoustic)” (**)
