Sound Obsession

Usually this time of year I've got a couple dozen albums on heavy rotation.  So far in 2021, barely half that.  Despite a relatively slow first half of the year, with release dates and tour schedules only just now ramping back up after fifteen months of virtual lockdown, there are certainly a handful of bright spots on the album front. These are my favorites so far, with a few sure to make my end-of-year favorites list.   Enjoy. . . . - Will G  Bicep:   Isles   (Ninja Tune - 1/22/21) Blackberry Smoke:   You Hear Georgia   (3 Legged - 5/2/21) The Black Keys:   Delta Kream   (Nonesuch - 5/14/21) CLEOPATRICK:   BUMMER   (Nowhere Special - 6/4/21) Charley Crockett:   10 for Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand   (Son of Davy - 2/26/21) Michigan Rattlers:   That Kind of Life   (Massasauga - 5/19/21) Royal Blo...

In alphabetical order. . . . The Arcs: Yours, Dreamily, (6.5/10) Dan Auerbach, front-man of blues rock duo The Black Keys, temporarily ditched his longtime drummer pal Patrick Carney and launched a new collaborative side-project last year - The Arcs. The band's debut Yours, Dreamly, bests the Keys' recent material, exploring more soulful textures. It doesn't all work, but its lush slow jams and vintage aesthetic make the journey worthwhile. Artificial Intelligence: Timeline (7/10) North London drum & bass duo Artificial Intelligence released their second LP, Timeline , last year - their first for revered label Metalheadz. Timeline shifts easily between sunny liquid rollers and dank breakbeat workouts and though it doesn't shatter many molds stylistically, the album is superbly consistent and stirring from start to finish. Easily one of Metalheadz's best artist albums since Goldie's Timeless . The Atomic Bitchwax: Gravit...