Bob Anderson: “A Little Bit Of Everything”

  • Dave Alvin: Eleven Eleven (11th Anniversary Edition) (Yep Roc)
  • Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs: External Combustion (BMG)
  • Albert Cummings: Ten (Ivy Music Company)
  • Miles Davis: That’s What Happened 1982-1985 (The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7) (Legacy)
  • Dr. John: Things Happen That Way (Rounder)
  • The Mommyheads: Genius Killer (Mommyhead Music)
  • Aoife O’Donovan: Age of Apathy (Yep Roc)
  • Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros: Joe Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years (Dark Horse/BMG)
  • Tedeschi Trucks Band: I Am The Moon Vol. 1-4 Crescent, Ascension, The Fall, Farewell (Fantasy)
  • Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway: Crooked Tree (Nonesuch)

Alec Cumming: “Snap Crackle POP!”

  • Alex G: “Runner” – God Save The Animals (Domino)
  • Barrie: “Jersey” – Barbara (Winspear)
  • The Beths: “Expert In A Dying Field” – Expert In A Dying Field (Carpark)
  • Grace Cummings: “Raglan” – Storm Queen (ATO)
  • Fonteyn: “Things to Make You Feel Better” – Trip the Light Fantastic (Born Losers)
  • Caroline Polachek: “Billions” – Welcome To My Island (Perpetual Novice)
  • Sloan: “Nice Work If You Can Get It” – Steady (Yep Roc)
  • Tchotchke: “Dizzy” – Tchotchke (Tchotchke)
  • The Tisburys: “Paulette” – Exile On Main Street (Tisbury Inc.)
  • Ward White: “Mezcal Moth” – Ice Cream Chords (Ward White)

Del “in Transition

  • The Black Keys: Dropout Boogie (Easy Eye Sound)
  • Dr. John: Things Happen That Way (Rounder)
  • Eels: Extreme Witchcraft (E Works)
  • Ben Harper: Bloodline Maintenance (Chrysalis)
  • Tami Neilson: Kingmaker (Outside)
  • Adrian Quesdao: Jaguar Sound (ATO)
  • Bonnie Raitt: Just Like That… (Redwing)
  • Amy Ray: If It All Goes South (Daemon)

Steve di Costanzo: “Radio Base Camp”

  • Alvvays: Blue Rev (Polyvinyl)
  • Bad Bunny: Un Verano Sin Ti (Rimas)
  • Beyonce: Renaissance (Parkwood/Columbia)
  • Danger Mouse, Black Thought: Cheat Codes (BMG)
  • Robert Glasper: Black History III (Loma Vista)
  • Kikagaku Moyo: Kumoyo Island (Guruguru Brain)
  • Angel Olsen: Big Time (Jagjaguar)
  • Oliver Sim: Hideous (Young)
  • Sudan Archives: Natural Brown Prom Queen (Stones Throw)
  • Vieux Farka Toure, Khruangbin: Savanne (Dead Oceans)

Kevin Gallagher: “Digging In The Dirt”

  • Black Jesus Experience: “Dark Matters” – Good Evening Black Buddha (Agogo)
  • Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs: “Dirty Job (ft. Ian Hunter)” – External Combustion (BMG)
  • Buddy Guy: “We Go Back” – The Blues Don’t Lie (Chess)
  • Janis Ian: “Better Times Will Come” – The Light At The End Of The Line (Rude Girl)
  • Lucy Kaplansky: “Ford Econoline” – Last Days Of Summer (Lucyricky)
  • The Linda Lindas: “Oh!” – Growing Up (Epitaph)
  • Rising Appalachia: “Downtown” – Live From New Orleans at Preservation Hall (Rising Appalachia)
  • Spoon: “The Hardest Cut” – Lucifer On The Moon (Matador)
  • Loudon Wainwright lll: “It Takes Two” – Lifetime Achievement (StorySound)
  • Jack White: “Love Is Selfish” – Entering Heaven Alive (Third Man)

Doc Hardy: “The Doc Hardy Show”

  1. Robert Glasper: Black Radio III (Loma Vista)
  2. PJ Morton: Watch the Sun (Morton)
  3. Blair Bryant: Red Tiger (Innervision)
  4. Isley Brothers: Make Me Say It Again, Girl (RI Top Ten)
  5. Judah Sealy: Soar (Judah Sealy)
  6. Chris Jasper: Raise The Bar (Gold City)
  7. Ezra Collective: Where I’m Meant To Be (Partisan)
  8. Beyonce: Renaissance (Parkwood Entertainment)
  9. Ragan Whiteside: Thrill Ride (Randis)
  10. Brendan Rothwell: Destiny (Brendan Rothwell)

Simon Hunter: “Another Girl, Another Planet”

  • Black Country, New Road: Ants From Up There (Ninja Tune)
  • Black Midi: Hellfire (Rough Trade)
  • Can: Live in Cuxhaven 1976 (Spoon / Mute)
  • The Cat’s Miaow: Songs ’94-’98 (World of Echo)
  • Alabaster De Plume: Gold-Go Forward In The Courage Of Your Love (International Anthem)
  • The House of Love: A State of Grace (Cherry Red)
  • Jockstrap: I Love You Jennifer B (Rough Trade)
  • Kelly Lee Owen: LP.8 (Smalltown Supersound)
  • Spiritualized: Everything Was Beautiful (Bella Union)
  • Wet Leg: Wet Leg (Domino)

Rich Kaminsky: “Off-Beat”

  1. Glamper: “Fried Baloney” – Rat Race (Sons of Old Town Collective)
  2. Shintaro Sakamoto: “Sad Errand” – Like a Fable (Zelone)
  3. King Stingray: “Raypirri” – King Stingray (Cooking Vinyl Australia)
  4. Bodega: “After Jane” – Broken Equipment (What’s Yr Rupture?)
  5. Alex Lahey: “Shit Talkin’” – single (Liberation)
  6. The Interrupters: “Anything Was Better” – In The Wild (Hellcat)
  7. Oh Boland: “Blood” – Cheap Things (Volar)
  8. Sekunderna: “Hjärtat” – Här Har Du Ditt Liv (Bloated Kat)
  9. Willie Nile: “Wake Up America (feat. Steve Earle)” – single (River House)
  10. Magenta Pilgrim: “Old Fashioned” – Demos (Magenta Pilgrim)

Martha Willette Lewis: “The Flux Capacitor”

  1. Akiko & Kazuya Nagaya: “Magic Number” – Magic Number Single (Ability Muse)
  2. Beton: “Kyiv Calling” – single (Free Ukraine)
  3. Branko Mataja: “Zapletnicki Cacak” – Over Fields And Mountains (Numero Group)
  4. Elbow: “What Am I Without You” – Flying Dream 1 (Polydor)
  5. Ibibio Sound Machine: “Protection From Evil” – Electricity (Merge)
  6. Death Cab For Cutie: “Here To Forever” – Asphalt Meadows (Atlantic)
  7. Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul: “Haha” – Topical Dancer (Deewee/Because)
  8. Little Miss Higgins: “Flock In My Head” – The Fire Waltz (Little Miss Higgins)
  9. Martha Wainwright: “Justice” – Love Will Be Reborn (Deluxe) (Cooking Vinyl)
  10. Poppy Ajudha: “Mothers Sisters Girlfriends” – The Power In Us (Poppy Adjudha)

Mark Mushin: “One Step Ahead Of The Blues”

  • Markey Blue Ric Latina Project: Jumpin’ The Broom (SoulOsound)
  • Bywater Call: Remain (Gypsy Soul)
  • Kirk Fletcher: Heartache By The Pound (Ogierea)
  • Tomislav Goluban: 20 Years On The Road (Blue Heart)
  • Buddy Guy: The Blues Don’t Lie (RCA)
  • Will Jacobs: Goldfish Blues (RUF)
  • Dave Keyes: Rhythm, Blues & Boogie (Blue Heart)
  • The Lucky Losers: Standin’ Pat (Vizztone)
  • Yates McKendree: Buchanan Lane (Qualified)
  • Jon Spear Band: B-Side Of My Life (Jonathan Spear)

Martha Nachman: “The Music Never Stopped”

  • The Black Keys: Dropout Boogie (Nonesuch)
  • Goose: Dripfield (No Coincidence)
  • Goose: Undecided (No Coincidence)
  • Anais Mitchell: Anais Mitchell (BMG)
  • Plains: I Walked With You A Ways (Anti-)
  • Spoon: Lucifer On The Sofa (Matador)
  • Billy Strings: Me & Dad (Rounder)
  • Tedeschi Trucks Band: I Am The Moon Vol. 1-4 Crescent, Ascension, The Fall, Farewell (Fantasy)
  • Kurt Vile: (watch my moves) (Verve)
  • Wilco: Cruel Country (dBpm)

Rick Petrone: “The Jazz Sound”

  1. Steve Davis: Bluesthetic (Smoke Sessions)
  2. Bobby Watson: Back Home in Kansas City (Smoke Sessions)
  3. Yellowjackets: Parallel Motion (Mack Avenue)
  4. Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez, Ronnie Cuber WDR Big Band: Center Stage (Leopard)
  5. The Ostara Project: The Ostara Project (Cellar Live)
  6. Joey Alexander: Origin (Mack Avenue)
  7. Duduka Da Fonseca Quarteto Universal: “Yes!!!” (Sunnyside Communications)
  8. Samara Joy: Linger Awhile (Verve)
  9. Emmet Cohen: Uptown in Orbit (Mack Avenue)
  10. Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes (In+Out)

Rod Richardson: “Radio Nothing”

  • Acid Arab: Remixed (Crammed)
  • Ak’chamel: A Mournful Kingdom of Sand (Akuphone)
  • Al-Qasar: Who Are We? (Glitterbeat)
  • Avalanche Kaito: Avalanche Kaito (Glitterbeat)
  • Cioz: Supermassive Whole (Stil Vor Talent)
  • Etceteral: Rhizome (Glitterbeat)
  • Florent Ghys: Mosaïques (Cantaloupe)
  • Jacob Garchik: Assembly (Yestereve)
  • Miriodor: Elements (Cuneiform)
  • My Jazzy Child: Innéisme (Remix) (Akuphone)

Valerie Richardson: “Radio Something”

  • Big Thief: Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You (4AD)
  • Jake Blount: The New Faith (Smithsonian Folkways)
  • Bill Callahan: YTI⅃AƎЯ (Drag City)
  • Mabe Fratti: Se Ve Desde Aqui! (Unheard of Hope)
  • Gogol Bordello: Solidaritine (Cooking Vinyl)
  • Janis Joplin & Jorma Kaukonen: The Legendary Typewriter Tape: 6/25/64 Jorma’s House (Omnivore)
  • Lisa LeBlanc: Chiac Disco (Bonsound)
  • Leyla McCalla: Breaking the Thermometer (Anti)
  • Julie Odell: Autumn Eve (Frenchkiss Records)
  • Oumou Sangaré: Timbuktu (World Circuit Limited)

Rob Silber: “Rock Therapy”

  • Skunk Baxter: Speed Of Heat (Renew)
  • Stephen Clair: To The Trees (Rock City)
  • The Cowsills: Rhythm Of The World (Omnivore)
  • Buddy Guy: The Blues Don’t Lie (RCA)
  • Jethro Tull: The Zealot Gene (Inside Out)
  • Michelle Malone: 1977 (SBS)
  • Similar Kind: Commercial Break (Factory Underground)
  • The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams: A Very Unusual Head (Talking Elephant)
  • Bruce Springsteen: Only The Strong Survive (Columbia)
  • Sunflower Bean: Headful Of Sugar (Mom + Pop)

howard thompson: “PURE

  1. Morningface: Outta Space (Morningface)
  2. Ashley McBryde: Lindeville (Warner Nashville)
  3. The Judex: Cult of Judex (Hyperloop)
  4. Aaron Raitiere: Single Wide Dreamer (Dinner Time)
  5. Devil Devil Love: Devil Devil Love (M.O.P.)
  6. Robyn Hitchcock: Shufflemania (Tiny Ghost)
  7. Delbert McClinton: Outdated Emotion (Hot Shot)
  8. Mark Bingham: Goo Seneck (Nouveau Electric)
  9. Loudon Wainwright III: Lifetime Achievement (StorySound)
  10. Various Artists: For The Birds: The Birdsong Project (Search Party)

Amy Wachtel: “Rockers Arena with the Night Nurse”

  1. Kabaka Pyramid: The Kalling (Bebble Music/Ghetto Youth International)
  2. Vieux Farke Toure and Khrungbin: Ali (Dead Oceans)
  3. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Live at the Fillmore, 1997 (Warner)
  4. Protoje: Third Time’s A Charm ( RCA)
  5. Burna Boy: Love, Damini (Atlantic)
  6. The Linda Lindas: Growing Up (Epitaph)
  7. Horace Andy: Midnight Rocker (On-U Sound)
  8. Tedeschi Trucks Band: I Am The Moon (Fantasy)
  9. Koffee: Gifted (Columbia, UK)
  10. Hollie Cook: Happy Hour (Merge)

Mike Zito: “Zito On the Radio”

  1. Anais Mitchell: Anais Mitchell (BMG Rights Management)
  2. Rising Appalachia: Live From New Orleans At Preservation Hall (Rising Appalachia)
  3. Lowest Pair and Small Town Therapy: Horse Camp (Delicata)
  4. Ray Wylie Hubbard: Co-Starring Too (Big Machine)
  5. Mavis Staples/Levon Helm: Carry Me Home (ANTI-)
  6. Richard Thompson: Live From Honolulu (Beeswing)
  7. Aoife O’Donovan: Live from The Hi-Fi (Yep Roc)
  8. Emily Barker & Lukas Drinkwater: Room 822 (Cooking Vinyl, Australia)
  9. Plains: I Walk With You A Ways (ANTI-)
  10. Larkin Poe: Blood Harmony (Tricki-Woo)

WPKN’s Favourite Picks of the Year, 2021