Episode 45: Best Songs and Albums of 2021

It's the first annual Michael's Record Collection awards! For this episode, you're stuck with just me (no guests) as I walk through the songs and albums that stood out to me over the 2021 calendar year. Play along at home and tell me what I got right and wrong. I have a list of albums and songs below in case you want to check out any you're not familiar with, so if you don't want to be spoiled about the podcast, stop reading after the next two paragraphs. Reminder: You can support independent podcasting by becoming a Michael's Record Collection Patreon subscriber starting at only $2 per month (50 cents an episode...or less!) at the MRC Patreon page. Supporter benefits escalate at each level, providing more value the more you support the show. For example, you will know about interviews in advance and some levels can submit questions for the artists, come on the show to co-host, enter prize drawings, and more. Please hit the like button and leave a rating/review on Apple Music or the Goodpods app if you consume this podcast on those platforms. You can read my Michael's Record Collection newsletter for free by signing up at michaelsrecordcollection.substack.com. Follow MRC on Twitter (@MikesRecords), like us on Facebook, and check us out on Instagram. Have questions or comments or want to suggest a topic? Hit me up at [email protected]. Albums discussed in this episode: Plush - Plush Mason Hill - Against the Wall Wildstreet - III CHVRCHES - Screen Violence Inglorious - Heroine Chantel McGregor - Shed Sessions Volume One and Volume Two Laura Meade - The Most Dangerous Woman in America Leslie Hunt - Ascend (EP) / Descend (EP) Lindsey Buckingham - Lindsey Buckingham John Mayer - Sob Rock Dennis DeYoung - 26 East Vol. 2 Night Ranger - ATBPO ABBA - Voyage Foo Fighters - Medicine at Midnight Dee Snider - Leave a Scar Iron Maiden - Senjutsu Lifesigns - Altitude  Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe The Neal Morse Band - Innocence & Danger Mammoth WVH - Mammoth WVH The Connells - Steadman's Wake Apollo Junction — All In Black Diamonds — No-Tell Hotel Blackberry Smoke — You Hear Georgia Chrissie Hynde — Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan David Crosby — For Free Dec Burke — Life in Two Dimensions Dirty Honey — Dirty Honey (EP) Duran Duran — Future Past The Dust Coda — Mojo Skyline Garbage — No Gods No Masters Gary Kemp — INSOLO Gary Numan — Intruder Greta Van Fleet — The Battle at Garden’s Gate Halsey — If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power Inglorious — We Will Ride Jackson Browne — Downhill from Everywhere Land of Gypsies — Land of Gypsies The Livesays — Not What I Bargained For Micky Dolenz — Dolenz Sings Nesmith Olivia Rodrigo — Sour Rachel Flowers — Bigger on the Inside Samantha Fish — Faster Secret Sphere — Lifeblood Steve Hackett — Surrender of Silence Steven Wilson — The Future Bites Styx — Crash of the Crown Toad the Wet Sprocket — Starting Now Velvet Insane — Rock ‘n’ Roll Glitter Suit VOLA — Witness Walter Egan — Fascination Individual tracks discussed in this episode: Billy Idol - "Bitter Taste" Tears for Fears - "The Tipping Point" Men Without Hats - "No Friends of Mine" D'Virgilio, Morse & Jennings - "Julia" Steven Wilson - "12 Things I Forgot"