Posted on Tuesday 21st December 2021 at 15:00
As we wave goodbye to 2021 and look forward to 2022 and all the great shows on offer, we thought it would be the perfect time to bring you our favourite albums of the year!
Here at alt. tickets we keep our fingers on the pulse, with weekly updates of all our favourite releases, but when it came to recapping a whole year of excellent music it was hard to narrow it down to just over 30 of our team's top picks! We've made some tough decisions and we have such a great list, so without further ado here is part two.
Desperate Journalist - Maximum Sorrow!
For fans of: LIINES, Snapped Ankles, LoneLady
Released: 2nd July
What the critics say: "With its smart lyrics, energetic performances and heavy pop hooks the album is definitely worth it" - Loud and Quiet
Stand out track: Armageddon
See Desperate Journalist in London, Nottingham and Bristol next year. TICKETS HERE.
Turnstile - Glow On
For fans of: Citizen, Turnover, The Story So Far
Released: 27th August
What the critics say: "I can sail with no direction,” Yates repeats over and over on ‘Holiday’, a highlight of an album that goes wherever it damn pleases, scorching a new path for others in their wake." - NME
Stand out track: HOLIDAY
See Turnstile live in Nottingham next year. TICKETS HERE.
Penelope Isles - Which Way To Happy
For fans of: Pom Poko, Julia Bardo, Pip Blom
Released: 5th November
What the critics say: "Despite its heavier moments, ‘Which Way to Happy’ is a genuinely healing listen; an album to get cosy with while its music lovingly soaks your wounds." - DIY
Stand out track: Terrified
See Penelope Isles live in London and Nottingham next year. TICKETS HERE.
Cleopatrick - BUMMER
For fans of: Palaye Royale, Tigercub, Demob Happy
Released: 4th June
What the critics say: “‘BUMMER’ is a record made to be played hard and loud, heard blaring out of car windows and making cavalcades in faceless crowds. I’ve heard rumours of their live performances. In those crowds, boys are made into men. No one leaves without a black eye, a bruised knuckle, or stinking of a brewery (or all three, if you’re really lucky)." - Clash
Stand out track: Family Van
See Cleopatrick live in Nottingham and Newcastle next year. TICKETS HERE.
The KVB - Unity
For fans of: Black Marble, A Place to Bury Strangers, The Soft Moon
Released: 26th November
What the critics say: "Breathy, sometimes barely there vocals colliding with synthisized electronics with slashes of post-punk guitar." - The Line Of Best Fit
Stand out track: Unité
See The KVB live in Nottingham, Bristol and Brighton next year. TICKETS HERE.
Jane Weaver - Flock
For fans of: Field Music, BC Camplight, John Grant
Released: 5th March 2021
What the critics say: "After a series of bold conceptual works, Weaver has decided to cut loose on Flock, which also ditches some of her space-rock otherness for a sound that sidles closer to the dancefloor." - Uncut
Stand out track: Heartlow
See Jane Weaver live in Nottingham and Bristol next year. TICKETS HERE.
Pip Blom - Welcome Break
For fans of: Du Blonde, The Orielles, Sports Team
Released: 12th November
What the critics say: "It’s a record that will become like a familiar friend over repeated listens, and shows how the band have built elegantly on the foundations of their debut, fizzing with self-belief at every turn."- NME
Stand out track: You Don't Want This
See Pip Blom live in Nottingham next year. TICKETS HERE.
Puma Blue - In Praise of Shadows
For fans of: Gus Dapperton, Men I Trust, King Krule
Released: 5th February
What the critics say: "These tracks are wondrous, brittle things, ready to fall apart when you stop believing in them, and perfectly straddle the line between feeling unfinished and feeling never-ending, combing the ambiguity of night with the confidence of day." - Loud and Quiet
Stand out track: Velvet Leaves
See Puma Blue live in Nottingham, Bristol and Brighton next year. TICKETS HERE.
