{"id":32734,"date":"2022-01-02T00:01:02","date_gmt":"2022-01-01T22:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lauramccullagh.com\/blog\/?p=32734"},"modified":"2022-01-16T15:01:19","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T13:01:19","slug":"2021-music-in-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/lauramccullagh.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/2021-music-in-review\/","title":{"rendered":"2021 – Music in review"},"content":{"rendered":"
MUSIC<\/div>\n

So ends the second year of isolation! While it might not have been fun, the old cliche is still true: the time really did fly. Honestly I can’t even remember that much at all. I think especially with all of the monotony of constantly staying home the days just blur together.<\/p>\n

I did not listen to a whole lot of music in 2021. Looking back at my chart data it’s actually my lowest number of songs played since I joined\u00a0last.fm<\/a>\u00a015 years ago….and wow, looking at the phrase ’15 years’ is a shock in and of itself. Just under half my lifetime. Talk about time flying.<\/p>\n

Anyway, as I always do this time of year, I’m going through the data and reflecting on my listening habits from the last year; here’s a look at my favourite music from 2021.<\/p>\n

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A L B U M S<\/strong><\/p>\n

All of my most listened-to new releases came from long-standing favourites of mine which meant that while they lacked that energising spark that comes with the discovery of a new artist, they all came with lengthy nostalgic associations and feelings which I think were a great comfort during another year of constant existential dread and perpetual uncertainty.<\/p>\n

Markus Kruneg\u00e5rd released not one but 2 albums last year. I listened to both a lot and as always with him, appreciated his mix of unapologetically upbeat pop (Tutti Frutti<\/em>‘s ‘Sommartider hej!’) and darker, more melancholy and introspective numbers (Kemtv\u00e4tten<\/em>‘s fuzz-drenched closer ‘Jag g\u00f6r mitt b\u00e4sta jag lovar’). Though 2 separate albums I’m grouping them together as I feel they’re equally strong and I’ve come to kinda see them as one continued album.<\/p>\n

Speaking of 15 years ago, teenage me was a huge fan of Mogwai. I’ve drifted a bit from them since then but really enjoyed their latest album\u00a0As the love continues<\/em>. I love that after all this time they still sound the same – but like, in a good way. For me their albums are less about standout moments and more about the constant wash of mood they create. That said, I played lead single ‘Ritchie Sacramento’ on repeat a lot<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The Notwist’s\u00a0Vertigo Days<\/em> featured a few beautiful standout moments (the haunting ‘Loose Ends’ was one of my favourite tracks released last year) but much like with Mogwai I enjoyed the album more for its overall mood.<\/p>\n

Favourite albums:<\/strong><\/p>\n