We’ve had steady growth with both daily readers and associated ‘followers’ over the last few years which has been very flattering; but 2021 has been an oddity, but while our profile appears to have risen, judging by the amount of new albums we get offered and from ‘where (!!!!) but our overall readership has actually dropped back to 2017 levels, which has been worrying …. but while we’ve reviewed another wonderful and eclectic selection of albums; there’s hardly been any individual ‘big hitters,’ which might account for the drop.
Who knows; but with the edition of Tom and Bill to the existing writing team of myself, Nick, Roy and Bill it’s a case of Carry On Regardless whether you like it or not! (PS we are always on the lookout for new and aspiring writer/reviewers of any age, creed or colour …. editing done as a matter of course)
Anyway after a few false starts I’ve finally collated my very own Top 20 Albums of 2021 ….. as eclectic as you’d expect, with some great Blues and Soul releases mixing in with Folk and every shade of Country known to man; which is how I like it; and probably baring nothing in common with No Depression, Rolling Stone or Americana UK ….. which I think is a good thing.
There are albums from new artists to us and old friends too; with the criteria being that the individual albums had to surprise and please me in equal measures ….. which these all did (and a dozen more!)
20 Carolyn Wonderland TEMPTING FATE (October)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/10/08/carolyn-wonderland-tempting-fate/
19 Bobbo Byrnes SO MANY BARS, SO MANY SATURDAY NIGHTS (May)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/08/18/bobbo-byrnes-so-many-bars-so-many-saturday-nights/
18 Vincent Neil Emerson VINCENT NEIL EMERSON (May)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/05/27/vincent-neil-emerson-self-titled/
17 Matt Hill aka Quiet Loner RETURN OF THE IDLE DRONES (Greedy Magicians Vol II ) October)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/09/28/matt-hill-return-of-the-idle-drones-greedy-magicians-ii/
16 Brandi Vezina #DONTSETTLE (December)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/12/06/brandi-vezina-dontsettle/
15 Shipcote POP PICKERS (August)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/08/30/shipcote-friends-pop-pickers/
14 Nathan Bell RED, WHITE and AMERICAN BLUES (It Couldn’t Happen Here) (October)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/10/01/nathan-bell-red-white-and-american-blues-it-couldnt-happen-here/
13 James Holvay SWEET SOUL SONG E.P (April)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/04/12/james-holvay-sweet-soul-song/
12 Jason Ringenberg RHINESTONED (January and March)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/01/04/jason-ringenberg-rhinestoned/
11 Joanne Shaw Taylor THE BLUES ALBUM (September)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/09/27/joanne-shaw-taylor-the-blues-album/
10 Robbin Kapsalis and Vintage #18 SOUL SHAKERS (October)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/10/14/robbin-kapsalis-vintage18-soul-shaker/
09 Curse of Lono PEOPLE IN CARS (December)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/11/22/curse-of-lono-people-in-cars/
08 Heath Cullen SPRINGTIME IN THE HEART (April)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/04/19/heath-cullen-sprngtime-in-the-heart/
07 Tito Jackson UNDER YOUR SPELL (August)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/08/06/tito-jackson-under-your-spell/
06 Tommy Atkins TOMMY ATKINS (August)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/09/29/tommy-atkins-truth-be-told/
05 Steve Earle JT (January)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/01/01/steve-earle-and-the-dukes-jt/
04 Mary Hott DEVIL IN THE HILLS (May)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/05/31/mary-hott-devil-in-the-hills/
03 Ward Hayden and the Outliers FREE COUNTRY (August)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/08/17/ward-hayden-and-the-outliers-free-country/
02 Malcolm Holcombe TRICKS OF THE TRADE (August)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/08/09/malcolm-holcombe-tricks-of-the-trade/
01 Garrison Starr GIRL I USED TO BE (March)
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2021/03/05/garrison-starr-girl-i-used-to-be/
The Rocking Magpie 