Music Suitcase: Favorite Albums of October 2021
October was a crowded month. I try to limit myself to about 16 entries per month, and this time around found at least 25 albums every music nerd should hear, so I had to leave out some gems. So it goes. This month’s batch centers on indie rock, folk, and soul music, with some art-pop on the side.
Along with the blog, here’s a playlist of some of my favorite songs from October!
Parquet Courts, Sympathy For Life
Springboarding from 2018's funky, danceable Wide Awake!, the Brooklyn post-punk band continues to broaden its horizons on a freewheeling, yet still existentially inquisitive 7th album. In this case, the presence of more electronics — and a more spacious atmosphere— feels like the natural expansion of a band that grows more fully into itself with each project. Highlights: “Walking at a Downtown Pace,” “Black Widow Spider,” “Just Shadows”
Dar Williams, I’ll Meet You Here
Since I was a teenager in the early 90s, Dar Williams has been a voice of wisdom, of maturity, and of hopeful reassurance. That aspect of her songwriting reaches a new zenith on her 10th album, a warm and uplifting folk album centered on aging, change, and the passage of time. Music to open your heart to! Highlights: “Sullivan Lane,” “Today and Every Day,” “Little Town”
Illuminati Hotties, Let Me Do One More
Seriously leveling up on her third album, audio engineer turned indie rockstar Sarah Tudzin harnesses an unstoppable punk energy with sonic artistry and studio wizardry on her most cohesive and compelling record to date. Highlights: “MMMOOOAAAYAYA,” “Knead,” “Kickflip”
Bedouine, Waysides
Sweeter and more soothing than ever, Azniv Korkejian’s third album recommits to the kind of warm, intimate, gently strummed folk music with which she debuted, but retains the breeziness of 2019’s Bird Songs of a Kill Joy. Highlights: “The Solitude,” “Easy,” “You Never Leave Me”
James Blake, Friends That Break Your Heart
An enchanting, lush modern R&B record that cloaks its heartbreak in warm, soothing vocals and in innovative sonics, James Blake’s 5th album delights in collaboration with talented guests, but his songwriting,voice and production chops are the stars of the show. Highlights: “Foot Forward,” “Friends That Break Your Heart,” “Frozen”
Joy Crookes, Skin
A long-awaited and powerful debut from a young Bangladeshi/Irish singer/songwriter from London, Skin is a supple blend of vocal jazz, pop and soul with engaging lyrics that somehow recalls Nina Simone and Amy Winehouse in equal measure. Highlights: “Trouble,” “When You Were Mine,” “Kingdom”
Deerhoof, Actually, You Can
Continuing to blend every kind of experimental rock music into one colorful, realtively approachable stew, the San Francisco band’s 18th album is an optimistic manifesto for a new and different world, with remarkable guitar work on every single song. Highlights: “Ancient Mysteries, Described,” “Plant Thief,” “Epic Love Poem”
Tori Amos, Ocean To Ocean
Written during lockdown in Cornwall, England, following the death of her mother, the singer/songwriter’s 16th is as personal and as politically relevant as ever, and an excellent travelogue through a tumultuous time. Highlights: “Speaking With Trees,” “Spies,” “Ocean To Ocean”
Shannon Lay, Geist
A calm but colorful 5th album from a California punk who plays psychedelic British and Celtic-influenced psychedelic indie folk, with a couple of fun guest performances. Highlights: “Rare to Wake,” “Awaken and Allow,” “Last Night”
Birdtalker, Birdtalker
Opening up their indie folk sound for an infusion of roots rock, Zack and Dani Green and their Nashville-based band’s second album is looser, livelier and more adventurous. Highlights: “I Know,” “Old Sob Story,” “Dawn”
Tirzah, Colourgrade
Switching gears from alt-R&B toward experimental trip-hop, Tirzah’s new album enshrouds intimate songs about love and motherhood among mysterious avant-garde electronics. Highlights: “Hive Mind,” “Send Me,” “Sink In”
Atmosphere, Word?
The veteran Minneapolis underground rap duo’s twelfth studio album is solid all the way through. Guest stars occasionally outshine Atmosphere’s own emcee Slug, but it’s all put to good use. Highlights: “Woes,” “Pressed,” “Barcade”
Vanishing Twin, Ookii Gekkou
A kaleidoschopic managerie of jazz, art pop, funk and electronic sounds, Cathy Lucas and her international band of musical freethinkers’ 4th album is as elegant as it is strange. Highlights: “Big Moonlight (Ookii Gekkou),” “The Lift,” “Zuum”
Mastodon, Hushed and Grim
Regular readers aren’t used to seeing much metal in my highlights reel, but the Atlanta icons’ progged out guitar theatrics are irresistable, and their grief-stricken double album strikes deep emotional chords. Highlights: “The Crux,” “Peace and Tranquility,” “Sickle and Peace”
Helado Negro, Far In
Optimistic by design, Roberto Carlos Lange’s 7th long player is a lavishly rendered art pop album with an easy-going sound, with asprawling array of funk, soul, electronica, and Latin influences. Highlights: “Gemini and Leo,” “Aureole,” “Wind Conversations”
The War on Drugs, I Don’t Live Here Anymore
A credible indie tribute to the muscular guitar-driven, synth-decorated, blue collar heartland pop-rock of the 80s, Adam Granduciel and company’s 5th record is still meticulous and layered, but warmer and more approachable. Highlights: “Victim,” “Wasted,” “Harmonia’s Dream”
If you’d like to hear just the best of the best, here’s a playlist with 45 of my favorite songs from October, which includes one or two songs from each album above, and some great songs from albums that didn’t make onto my list too — Playlist: Highlights of October 2021
While we’re here…
Did you enjoy this article? Awesome! It was written by a white guy privileged enough to have time listen to like 40 albums every month and write a blog as a passion project, for free.
If you are white and you are also are privileged enough to have some time on your hands, or some money to donate, please check out some anti-racism resources and help fight the good fight.
Nerding out over music is fun, but let’s not forget that we live in a burning world that needs our help! Black Lives Matter.
Music Suitcase Archives
Highlights from September 2021
100 Favorite New Albums of 2020
100 Favorite New Albums of 2019
100 Favorite New Albums of 2018
100 Favorite New Albums of 2017
Spotify Playlists
Favorite songs from October 2021
Favorite songs from September 2021
Favorite songs from August 2021
Favorite songs from April 2021
Favorite songs from March 2021
Favorite songs from February 2021