The songs that helped us get up in the morning, fall asleep (or stay awake) at night, or that we simply played on repeat, because you never need a reason.
From iconoclast jazz to astral punk, minimal psychedelia to raw soul, knockout debuts to long-anticipated returns, these are the albums that defined the triumphs, defiance, and surreality of 2021.
The Best Songs of 2021 (So Far) kcrw.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kcrw.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Written by Andrea Domanick and KCRW Staff
Jul. 03, 2021
When listening to the remarkable debut full length from Genesis Owusu, “Smiling With No Teeth, one can t help but be struck by the sheer number of different genres between which the Ghana-born, Australia-based artist bounces at a head-snapping pace. There’s sludgy techno ( On the Move! ), synthy New Wave ( The Other Black Dog ), modern electronic R&B ( Centerfold ), retro soul ( Waitin On Ya & “Smiling With No Teeth”), political-leaning hip-hop ( I Don t See Colour ), and even punk rock ( Black Dogs ).
It’s an incredible feat, considering it took genre-bending artists like Bowie, Talking Heads, Grace Jones, or, more recently, Anderson .Paak, entire careers to cover this much musical ground. Yet Owusu who just delivered a powerhouse live set on Morning Becomes Eclectic keeps things cohesive with the common denominator that is his undeniable voice, presence, and lyrical prowess, making for one