Sounds Cool 2021 (Also Cool’s Top Albums)

 

Illustration by Malaika Astorga

Once again, music has unsurprisingly gotten us through the year. Throughout the whirlwind of 2021, we here at Also Cool were lucky enough to discover a range of compelling releases across a spectrum of genres. What unites these projects is their radiance, their ability to captivate us through trials and triumphs and be a constant when seemingly nothing else was. In no particular order (except alphabetical), we’ve compiled a mix of stand-outs from our 2021 favourites. 

If you haven’t been introduced to these artists via our music section or radio shows on N10.AS and FSR, take a listen to our year in review. There’s something here for everyone, and maybe you’ll see one of your friends here, too – spread the love and send them this article to tell them that they are indeed also cool.  

We’d like to extend our gratitude to all the artists on this list for keeping us company through the last year. Our listening habits have been elevated and comforted by these selections, and we’re looking forward to what’s in store from here and beyond in 2022.

Whether experienced in-person during the brief resurgence of live music, or in solitude weathering out your headphones, here’s to music for filling the void in the best way possible. 


Sounds Cool 2021 (Also Cool’s Top Albums)

Ada Lea - one hand on the steering wheel, the other sewing a garden (Next Door Records / Saddle Creek)

Interview with Ada Lea by Malaika Astorga (October 21st, 2021) 

“The introspective folk/pop songs walk with you through the process of finding your identity and losing it again to someone who's not worth it, daydreaming about life in other cities, and wondering when to go home again.”


BACKXWASH - I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES (Ugly Hag Records)

Interview with Backxwash by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter and Rebecca L. Judd (June 20th, 2021)

“With I Lie Here, BACKXWASH claims her title as contemporary hip-hop’s greatest force to be reckoned with, and we are celebrating her reign.”


Bnny - Everything (Fire Talk)

Interview with Bnny by Malaika Astorga (August 20th, 2021)

“Written in sessions that span several years by singer Jess Viscius as she processed the death of her partner, the album is a chronicle of love at its most complex and loss at its most persistent.”


Clairo - Sling (FADER)

“On her second album, reluctant Gen Z ambassador Clairo turns back the clock, embracing classic touchstones of 1970s folk.” — Cat Zhang, Pitchfork


Das Beat - Identität (Arbutus Records)

Interview with Das Beat by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter (June 3rd, 2021) 

“In four flawless tracks outfitted with celestial atmospheres and pulsating undercurrents, Identität offers a dioramic perspective of the couple’s intimate creative dynamics, backdropped with the essence of Berlin’s esoteric nightlife.”


Dish Pit - DIPSHIT (Self-Released)

“Following the sudden closure of their record label, Montreal-based DISHPIT's long-delayed debut album is finally seeing the light of day as the band begins working on the follow-up. DIPSHIT — recorded with veteran producer Steve Albini — unleashes a devastation of post-punk and lo-fi grunge upon the world.” — Matt Owczarz, Exclaim!


Dorothea Paas - Anything Can’t Happen (Telephone Explosion)

Interview with Dorothea Pass by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter (May 7th, 2021)

“On her new LP Anything Can’t Happen, Paas illuminates how she came to define success as encountering and reconciling self-discovery through her work, all while establishing growth on her own terms.”


Ducks Ltd. - Modern Fiction (Royal Mountain)

Interview with Ducks Ltd. by Malaika Astorga (August 17th, 2021) 

“Toronto's Ducks Ltd.'s new single How Lonely Are You? is the perfect soundtrack for your mildly existential end-of-summer playlist.”


Hildegard - Hildegard (Chivi Chivi / Section1)

Interview with Hildegard by Malaika Astorga (June 8th, 2021)

“Their debut record has been described as the result of merging their identities, coupled with a complete loss of ego. The result is a beautiful and experimental eight-track experience, documenting the creative bond they share.”


Jane Inc. - Number One (Telephone Explosion)

Interview with Jane Inc. by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter 

“Building off samples, break-beats and Ableton tutorials, Jane Inc.’s debut Number One serves as a reminder that Bezic is no one-trick-pony.”


Kekko - Dreaming Life (Spirit Goth Records) 
Interview with Kekko by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter

“If not already evident by the band’s namesake —which combines the last names of the husband and wife duo, Tim Kek and Cherie Ko— Kek’s lush atmospherics intertwined with Ko’s ethereal vocals manifest a radiance unique to a soulmate connection.”


kolenżanka - Place Is (Bar/None)

Interview with kolenżanka by Malaika Astorga (June 16th, 2021)

“To leave an old life behind and begin a new one is an anxiety-inducing and transformative process that Phoenix-born and NYC-based singer kolenżanka has mastered.”


L’Impératrice - Tako Tsubo (microqlima)

Interview with L’Impératrice by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter (May 22nd, 2021)

“L’Impératrice’s latest venture is a shimmering think-piece on life’s ever-perplexing phenomenon of broken-heart syndrome, which derived from the name Tako Tsubo (meaning “octopus trap” in Japanese).”


Magi Merlin - Drug Music (Self-Released)

Magi Merlin “Mock Meat” review by Malaika Astorga (February 23rd, 2021) 

“A little spooky, a little bit sultry, Magi Merlin's "Mock Meat" draws you in with textured sounds and silky vocals.”

Magi Merlin Drug Music premiere by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter (March 5th, 2021) 

“Throughout Drug Music, Magi Merlin owns her truth between entrancing beats and smokey basslines, while getting hot and heavy with lush vocal harmonies and a playful raspiness.”


May Rio - Easy Bammer (Dots Per Inch)

Interview with May Rio by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter (June 22nd, 2021) 

“Much like its origin story, May Rio’s Easy Bammer documents and celebrates the romantic unexpectedness of everyday life.”


Motorists - Surrounded (Bobo Integral / We Are Time / Debt Offensive)

Interview with Motorists by Malaika Astorga (September 16th, 2021) 

“Comparable to various eras of punk, jangle rock, and mid-2000s Canadian indie rock, Motorists express their struggles with isolation by pairing a post-punk vocal tone with optimistic and upbeat melodies.”


New Chance - Real Time (We Are Time) 
Interview with New Chance by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter (July 28th, 2021) 

“On her latest offering Real Time, Cheong brings her reflections on nature’s abstract cycles to the forefront, between spellbinding textures and an eclectic sampling of everything from Calypso percussion to a sunrise rooster crow.”


Ouri - Frame of a Fauna (Born Twice / Lighter Than Air) 
Interview with Ouri by Rebecca L. Judd (October 30th, 2021) 

“Marking the latest notch in Ouri’s belt, Frame of a Fauna carefully wields experimental and classical curiosities to seek deeper truths between the bars.”


Oxford Drama - What’s The Deal With Time? (Self-Released)

Interview with Oxford Drama by Rebecca L. Judd (July 7th, 2021)

“Inspired by the never-ending mazes of modern technology and society, the duo – consisting of Małgorzata Dryjanska and Marcin Mrówka – transforms crushing emotions and uncertainties into a musical experience that transcends the turmoil.”

Oxford Drama “Too Busy” video premiere by Malaika Astorga (December 9th, 2021)

“Although it may seem like everyone else has their lives together, they're probably just good at keeping a curated online presence. Our Polish pals Oxford Drama encapsulate this chaos energy perfectly in their music video for “Too Busy”, a single off their recent album What's The Deal With Time?”


PACKS - Take The Cake (Royal Mountain / Fire Talk) 

Interview with PACKS by Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter (May 17th, 2021) 

“Toronto’s PACKS are filling an indie-rock void with their sound that is equal parts laid-back and jangly, while also sophisticatedly pensive and bright.”


PinkPantheress - to hell with it (Parlophone) 

“The 20-year-old UK producer broke out on TikTok with snippet-sized songs that ache with nostalgia for the recent past. Her intimate, lived-in music succeeds where cheaper imitations fail.” — Arielle Gordon, Pitchfork


Yves Tumor - The Asymptotical World (Warp Records) 

“Even on a brief EP, Yves Tumor’s prismatic world seems to get bigger as it mutates into certain conventions of goth rock, dream pop, and shoegaze.” — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork


Listen to our year in review below!


Related Articles

 

Bnny Reflects on Grief, Death & Moving On in Debut LP Everything (Fire Talk Records)

 
via Bnny

via Bnny

Drawing on the breathy charm of the Velvet Underground and Mazzy-Star, Chicago-based quartet Bnny gently guide us into the lone country of grief with their debut album Everything. Written in sessions that span several years by singer Jess Viscius as she processed the death of her partner, the album is a chronicle of love at its most complex and loss at its most persistent. 

Viscius mulls over her responsibilities, bites back at broken promises, and occasionally finds herself adrift. Standout tracks include "Sure," where she circles around the titular word, testing its meanings and applications as a positive affirmation, a guarantee, and as an exhausted acquiescence—and finding a weakness at the core of each meaning. "I'll change," she sings in a disassociated loop in "August," as if she's trying to enchant herself into doing so. But my favourite track by far is "Time Walk," a bouncy reflection into the past that feels like flipping through memories while still moving on with your life.

We caught up with Jess to chat about how she got her start in music, the Chicago scene, and more.

via Bnny

via Bnny

Malaika Astorga for Also Cool: Hi Jess! Let's start with a quick intro, where are you from, and what was the music/art scene like when you were growing up?

Jess for Bnny: I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. In high school, it was a lot of dudes in emo bands playing shows in their parent's garages. At that point, it hadn't even occurred to me that I could play music myself; I was always just a listener. At 16, I got my driver's license and a forest green Toyota Camry that my sister and I named Rebecca. After that, I spent my weekends going to shows and trying to make friends in the city.


Also Cool: I read that you got your start in Bnny after picking up a guitar that a friend left behind. How do you think you've grown as an artist since then, and how has music re-shaped your life?

J: So much has changed since then. Back when I was just starting to hang out in the Chicago music scene, I was making lots of friends, and everything felt so exciting. I also remember feeling very intimidated. Today, I'm much more self-assured and feel a certain purpose within how I relate to music. The Chicago music scene has become such an integral part of my life; it's an incredible community to be a part of. 


AC: What have you learned about friendship through music? Whether it be negotiating with bandmates or documenting friendships and experiences through sound? 

J: I'm so grateful to my friends who make these songs come to life. My bandmates are all so funny; sometimes, we spend more time laughing and messing around than actually practicing at practice. Something I realized about myself through music is that I'm sort of a control freak. I typically associate myself with being a type B personality, so this was a surprising discovery. I've learned the importance of letting everyone explore their own ideas and trusting in the process. Allowing that space helps us grow and learn from one another. 

via Bnny

via Bnny

AC: I love the concept of clarity in motion. I find that I'm able to process whatever I feel when I'm in motion as well. Can you speak more to the concept of continuing to move forward while still honouring and acknowledging the past?

J: I think accepting your past allows you to be present in your future. Cherishing the journey that led you here, flaws and all. Learning from mistakes and just setting out to be the better version of yourself. 

AC: Switching gears a bit here, who are some creatives in your life who you think deserve more recognition?

J: My friend Alyx is an amazing artist/ fashion designer: ig: @_harch 

My friend Mina runs the best eCommerce store: ig: @maimoun

My friend Nicole makes the best visuals: ig: @nicole.ginelli

My bandmate adam just released his beautiful solo debut record: @ulnaband

AC: Lastly, what is your most optimistic vision of the future right now? 

J: Everything is so overwhelming right now, but checking in on your friends, finding different ways to get involved in the community, helps everyone feel less lonely. Whenever I get stressed, I remind myself to take things day by day or hour by hour (minute by minute if I'm feeling especially unhinged). I'm definitely looking forward to permanently retiring my mask... one day : )

Bnny

Website I Instagram I Twitter

Spotify I Fire Talk

Malaika Astorga is the co-founder of Also Cool. She is a Mexican-Canadian visual artist, writer, and social media strategist currently based in Montreal.


Related Articles