THE BEST OF 2021

The Big Names are Back

This last year we have had a lot of our favourite artists come out of the woodwork to release new albums. Was this perhaps triggered by a year of solitary confinement? Who knows, but there is no doubt that we are happy to have them back. At the tail end of 2020 we had a roaring comeback from Aussie rockers AC/DC, releasing their first new album, Power Up, since 2014. Rap artist Kid Cudi released his first solo album (Man On The Moon III) since 2016, and Francophone pop wizards Stereolab released their first taste of new music since 2008 with Eletrically Possessed. The Foo Fighters returned with Medicine at Midnight, and then returned again? Under the moniker The Dee Gees with a cover album of funk classics (Hail Satin)...

Jazz artist Gretchen Parlato returned after ten years with Flor and New Zealand icon Lorde finally released her latest album Solar Power. It seems the South Pacific has been busy over the last year as Australian/Kiwi rockers Crowded House got back together to release Dreamers are Waiting, shortly after the kiwi hard-rock band The Datsuns got back to recording after seven years to bless us with Eye to Eye. Elsewhere in the world as the year went on, the artists just kept on cropping up. We had Ed Sheeran with =, Adele with 30 and we can't forget ABBA's fierce return with Voyage. The classical world also saw a triumphant return recital from Anna Netrebko, as well as a new non-collaborative album from the Attacca Quartet.

The Fresh Faces

Although we were all allowed a bit more freedom this year, this didn't stop us from sitting down and finding the best up and coming artists, and when we think of 2021 stardom, no one compares to the Princess of Pop herself, Olivia Rodrigo. From a High School Musical reboot to nearly 46 million monthly listeners after just a single album (SOUR), this instant pop stardom is something we haven't seen since the likes of Billie Eilish.

We don't mean to toot our own horn here at Qobuz, but we did manage to pick some standout artists who have gone on to do big things in 2021, take for example some of our Qobuzissime winners... 박혜진 park hye jin and her album Before I Die, which took the Korean artist to new heights. Even our January Qobuzissime Arlo Parks ended up winning the 2021 Mercury Prize with her album Collapsed in Sunbeams. A lot of other powerful female and non-binary identifying artists have taken the international stage by storm this year such as Tash Sultana (Terra Firma), Joy Crookes (Skin), Erika de Casier (Sensational), Snail Mail (Valentine), Linda Fredriksson (Juniper) and Isata Kanneh-Mason with Summertime and Muse. Other honourable mentions go to left-field post-punk rockers black midi with Cavalcade, queer pop icon Lil Nas X with his highly anticipated debut MONTERO, British pop newcomer Griff with One Foot In Front Of The Other, The Snuts with W.L. and electronic wizard Ross from Friends with Tread.

Qobuz's Left Field Favourites

If there is one thing we love more than anything at Qobuz, it is discovering new music. With all the huge releases that came out this year, it is easy to get bogged down in the big names, that's why our team of music experts are here to broaden your horizons.

Promises, a collaboration between Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra, is one of our top left-field picks. This work brings together ethereal synths, piercing solos and the strings of the London Symphony to create a completely unique work in itself. On the other side of the spectrum, we have Black Country, New Road and their album For the First Time. This eclectic seven piece are considered one of the pioneers of the post-punk scene in London and were also nominated for a Mercury Prize in 2021.

If you're looking for something completely different, try our selection of world music-esque albums like Dal:um with similar & different, Arooj Aftab with Vulture Prince or Alice Coltrane with Kirtan: Turiya Sings. However if alternative or rock is more your style, check out Liars (The Apple Drop), Geese (Projector), Xiu Xiu (OH NO), Dry Cleaning (New Long Leg) or Gustaf with Audio Drag for Ego Slobs.

As we enter the final lap of 2021, all we can think is "Wow, where has the year gone?" This year has been a rush and it is due time we all took a well deserved break. So take some time to yourself and visit our Best of 2021 playlists.

Find the crème de la crème in our definitive Best of 2021 playlist. Otherwise you can narrow your journey by genre with the Best of 2021 Classical, Pop/Rock, Soul, Funk and RnB, Electronic, Jazz and so many more. Just search for 'Best of 2021' in the app or player and enjoy this little trip down memory lane.