It’s been 4 years since I last made one of these. No time to waste.
This is not necessarily limited to music that came out last year, far from it; it’s some of the songs that stuck with me the most during 2021.
This year I (re)discovered the true wonder of The Beatles and what’s become my favorite album of theirs, Abbey Road. It’s no accident that the Medley on Side B is baby Stavros favorite song to fall asleep to. I’m sure I’ve listened to most of this piece hundreds of times by now and I think I can listen to it hundreds of times still. The version above is the one with Her Majesty placed between Mean Mr. Mustard and Polythene Pam, the way it was originally recorded, instead of as a hidden track.
Before the Abbey Road medley came Stin Amfiali from the Greek movie Rembetiko. I loved it (as well as the rest of the soundtrack) from when I watched the movie, and one evening last April, a sudden burst of inspiration, I tried putting Stavros to sleep by playing it. Worked wonders and for a time it served as a mini-party trick – “look, our baby is a real rembetis!” Still as catchy as ever.
More old music. Good Times Bad Times is one of my favorite Led Zeppelin songs. Will Stavros keep liking it growing up as much as he likes falling asleep to it now?
A Spotify discovery. Very earwormy prog metal but also with a very powerful message for everyone who loves nature and mourns its rapid destruction.
After I listened to Wasteland a couple of times, memories of Not For Want of Trying came rushing back. An audiovisual punch in the stomach. In the good sense. EDIT: Apparently, there’s some age restriction in place. Go ahead and watch it on Youtube. I’ll wait.
More Beatles – won’t be the last for today. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and With a Little Help From My Friends. Together they put my mind and heart at ease.
2021 was the year Porcupine Tree announced their new album and tour. This was probably my biggest surprise of the year, and for a few days, it felt like I was in a dream. I won’t be missing one of their concerts somewhere in Europe if I can help it.
When I first watched and listened to this scene in the second episode of Babylon Berlin, I just knew I wouldn’t be let down. 20 episodes later, this is one of the high points and it’s still going strong. Criminally underrated series.
Another Spotify discovery. Deliciously sad music. No wonder Spotify labeled me “melancholy” and “considerate” based on my tastes.
Recommendation by my father, and what a great earworm it is! Apparently, some of these guys were in the “wannabe Beatles band” Twilights, who performed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in Melbourne in 1967 where my father saw them live. Useless but fascinating information.
Yet another Spotify recommendation. Excuse me – how have I not known Carpenter Brut all this time??? It’s like dark, horny synthwave Justice and it’s even better than it sounds!
And finally, Lady Madonna. How can you not get up and dance to this song?