Year two of Covid ups and downs and a quiet year for us here. Following the songs list here comes the favorite albums and EP list for the first time together. If not for more, than certainly a great Duran Duran return and anniversary celebrating 40 years in the music business.
Time to roll back and motor through some of the great single releases from 2021. Musical highlights are certainly the albums by London Grammar, Wolf Alice, Big red Machine and the Duran Duran come back. More about this in the album selection.
The early 1990s, particularly 1991, marked the peak of Grunge music's popularity, epitomized by Nirvana's groundbreaking release of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and their second album, Nevermind. This success paved the way for other influential grunge bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and even the early works of Radiohead.
Simultaneously, in 1991, Metallica and Guns N'Roses achieved their greatest commercial triumphs with their respective albums. Metallica's self-titled "black album" sold over 30 million copies worldwide, while Guns N'Roses' Use Your Illusion I & II collectively sold over 15 million copies.
However, amidst the musical milestones, tragedy struck on November 24 when Queen's frontman Freddie Mercury passed away at his home in London due to complications from AIDS. Queen's iconic song "Bohemian Rhapsody," released as a double A-side with "These Are the Days of Our Lives," reached number one on the UK charts for the second time, further solidifying Mercury's legacy.
01. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
02. REM - Losing My Religion
03. Guns 'n' Roses - November Rain
04. Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
05. Queen - The Show Must Go On
06. Pearl Jam - Alive
07. Metallica - Enter Sandman
08. Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman
09. The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored
10. Simply Red - Stars
11. Guns'n' Roses - Don't Cry
12. Metallica - The Unforgiven
13. My Bloody Valentine - When You Sleep
14. U2 - The Fly
15. Lenny Kravitz - It Ain't Over Till It's Over
16. Erasure - Love to Hate You
17. Prince and the New Power Generation - Cream
18. Prince the New Power Generation - Get Off
19. The KLF - 3 AM Eternal
20. Enya - Caribbean Blue
The early 1990s, particularly 1991, marked the peak of Grunge music's popularity, epitomized by Nirvana's groundbreaking release of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and their second album, Nevermind. This success paved the way for other influential grunge bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and even the early works of Radiohead.
Simultaneously, in 1991, Metallica and Guns N' Roses achieved their greatest commercial triumphs with their respective albums. Metallica's self-titled "black album" sold over 30 million copies worldwide, while Guns N' Roses' Use Your Illusion I & II collectively sold over 15 million copies.
However, amidst the musical milestones, tragedy struck on November 24 when Queen's front man Freddie Mercury passed away at his home in London due to complications from AIDS. Queen's iconic song "Bohemian Rhapsody," released as a double A-side with "These Are the Days of Our Lives," reached number one on the UK charts for the second time, further solidifying Mercury's legacy.
01. Niravana -
Nevermind
02. Metallica - The Black Album
03. Prince and The New Power
Generation - Diamonds and Pearls
04. My Bloody Valentine -
Loveless
05. U2 - Achtung Baby
06. REM - Out of Time
07. The KLF - The White
Room
08. Massive Attack - Blue Lines
09. Primal Scream -
Screamadelica
10. Roxette - Joyride
11. Simply Red - Stars
12. Swans - White Light From
The Mouth
13. Talk Tak - Laughing Stock
14. Erasure - Chorus
15. Pearl Jam - Ten
16. Slowdive - Just for a Day
17. Army of Lovers - Massive Luxury Overdose
18. OMD - Sugar Tax
19. Mercury Rev - Yerslef is Steam
20. The Orb - The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld
The year 2020 has been different in many ways and could not be compared to any of the recent years. The world stopped for a certain period of time, paralyzed by the global COVID-19 pandemic where the virus spread to all corners of the world leaving difficult consequences for the population everywhere.
It certainly did affect the music world in the sense that all major music events, festivals and concerts were cancelled until further notice. Only one global event was organised to support the World Health Organisation -One World: Together at Home- a benefit concert, organised by Global Citizen and curated by singer Lady Gaga whose objective was to promote the practice of social distancing while staying together during the COVID-19 pandemic and also support the medical staff all over the world.
On the quantity level of album and singles releases, it might have been less in offer this year but certainly not on its quality level. Every year has its own charm, no matter what is going on and the events that occurred this year events certainly influenced the artists and some of them have already integrated them in their music.
Our Top 50 songs list, is as always a festival of styles and genres and while this year's saw some interesting newcomers emerging on the music market, it also meant some happy returns and comebacks. Hope you enjoy the Songs list!
"Melody" was one of the two single releases for the Canadian New Wave band Boys Brigade. It was released in 1983 and it was also featured on the band's debut and only album which was never reissued.
Workings Men's Club is one of the finest new comer bands to emerge this year. Hailing from Todmorden in West Yorkshire, England, the band were formed in mid-2018 by vocalist/guitarist Sydney Minsky-Sargeant, guitarist Giulia Bonometti, and drummer Jake Bogacki. The band is known for their very unique turbulent post punk sound which draws influences from both the 80's and early 90's. After releasing a single "Bad Blood" heavily influenced by guitar-based post-punk, Working Men's Club signed to Heavenly Records under which they released their self titled debut album. Their lead single "Valley" is where you will certainly feel the 90's influence both in sound and video production.
