Lucinda and Cade’s 10 Underrated Albums of the Year

Lucinda Batstone (she/her) and Cade Pinkerson (they/he)

Following 2020, 2021 has certainly been a year with social issues, constant impending political doom, and a myriad of other issues. This year wasn’t some grand record year for music but it certainly had some great albums. A number of them that we feel did not get the same recognition as albums by larger or more traditionally pop-based artists. We will be discussing a selection of albums from many different genres from Destroy Boys (riot grrrl/queercore) to Middle Kids (indie rock) to Clairo (bedroom pop/indie pop), to Ashnikko (feminist rap). We’d like to hope no matter your taste there will be at least one song or album from our list that you’ll find intriguing enough to give a listen to. Thank you readers and enjoy!        - Cade Pinkerson & Lucinda Batstone

10. Open Mouth, Open Heart by Destroy Boys - Cade’s Pick

Favorite Song: “Locker Room Bully” -  A perfect example of what Destroy Boys do best, riot grrrl inspired queercore rage with a new sprinkle of distaste for mob mentality. I have yet to see a song so critical of cancel culture which was definitely a breath of fresh air

Least Favorite Song: “Cherry Garcia” - Probably more of a personal taste bias against slower songs however if you’re a general fan of punk or punk adjacent to this band this might be considered a skip for you. 

9. It Won’t Always Be Like This by Inhaler - Luci’s Pick

Favorite Song: “It Won’t Always Be Like This” - This title track was a perfect opener and one of the most popular songs on the album, for good reason. The first 30 seconds alone are enough to make it my #1 pick; the buildup created by the drums and electric guitar make it the perfect summer soundtrack (which is fitting for its July 9th release date). If you like the kind of music that plays while the credits roll in a coming-of-age movie, you’ll love this album.

Least Favorite Song: “Who’s your money on? (Plastic House)” - I don’t hate this song, but I normally find it difficult to listen to songs that are on the longer side. That’s my only criticism though; it’s definitely not a bad song.

8. Demidevil by Ashnikko - Cade’s Pick

Favorite Song: “Deal With It” - The mixing of all the background noises in production is what truly makes this song special coupled with the sea-like aesthetic you think of every time you listen once you have watched the music video. Additionally, it is an excellent song to watch performed live.

Least Favorite Song: “Little Boy” - Not necessarily a bad song however by comparison she has so many that are more catchy and lyrically intelligent, it just doesn’t stand out as anything special in their discography. 

7. Today We’re the Greatest by Middle Kids - Luci’s Pick

Favorite Song: “Run With You” - This song is a great example of what I think Middle Kids does best; short, sweet, and infectiously catchy. The closing song, “Today We’re the Greatest” is also one I have to mention. It perfectly summarizes the album, talking about savoring the small moments in our impermanent lives (one of my personal favorite themes).

Least Favorite Song: “I Don’t Care” - As much as I like the fast-paced production of the song, the lyrics were too repetitive for me to listen to it more than once.

6. if i could make it go quiet by girl in red - Cade’s Pick

Favorite Song: “You Stupid Bitch” - In an album that feels very much like it’s catering more to the mainstream taste rather than individualistic style, this song keeps true to what we know and love from Marie. 

Least Favorite Song: “Rue” - A beautiful song but feels a bit like listening to an Instagram edit crossed with a Nature Valley commercial, not the best combination of things when you are familiar and comfortable with chill indie bedroom pop.

5. The Last Exit by Still Corners - Luci’s Pick

Favorite Song: “The Last Exit” - A mix of acoustic and electric guitar combined with smooth, velvety vocals create a dreamy atmosphere that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album.

Least Favorite Song: “Shifting Dunes” - There’s nothing wrong with this song, but I have a short attention span, and the lack of vocals made it hard for me to stay focused on it.

4. Come Down by Pretty Sick - Cade’s Pick

Favorite Song: “Bet My Blood” - A definite favorite for those with a preference for mid-tempo/faster songs as this is the only one of that nature on the album, the distorted bass, and deep vocal delivery provide a very early L7 crossed with Starcrawler vibe.

Least Favorite Song: “Pillbug” - I chalk my criticism of this song up more to poor production rather than bad writing or singing, I understand the flowy nature intended but the background sounds and layers overpower the actual singing to the point where it’s not very enjoyable anymore.

3. Sling by Clairo - Luci’s Pick

Favorite Song: “Reaper” - I’m a sucker for soft acoustic guitar in songs, so this one naturally captured my attention. As much as I love this song, though, I feel like “Amoeba” is more representative of the album as a whole. The soft drums, mesmerizing vocals, and occasional piano make it sound like it would be played in a small cafe, which is exactly what the album is to me.

Least Favorite Song: “Just For Today” - While I don’t necessarily dislike any songs on this album, some can get a little repetitive. This song just didn’t really stand out to me as much as some others did, which isn’t a problem if you’re looking for some background music, but I didn’t find myself coming back to it.

2. Medicine at Midnight by Foo Fighters - Cade’s Pick

Favorite Song: “No Son of Mine” - All the songs on this album were great but something about this one gives me “Jesus of Suburbia” nostalgia and I’m a sucker for anything Greenday so that immediately drew me in. From the semi-biblical imagery to some familial wistful lyrics this song feels like it could be political, religious, and sentimental all at the same time. 

Least Favorite Song: “Waiting on a War” - Because of the overall success of every song it's hard to pick out a least favorite, however, I would say this song plays it too safe and is a bit too bland when it comes to lyrics, tone, and guitar riffs.

1. A Beginner’s Mind by Sufjan Stevens & Angelo de Augustine - Luci’s Pick

Favorite Song: “Lacrimae” - This song has quickly become one of my all-time favorites. I liked it immediately because of the mellow acoustic guitar (as I mentioned earlier, it’s one of my biggest weaknesses). As the song progressed, however, I was blown away by a countless number of things. Sufjan Stevens’ soft vocals, as always, were full of tender emotion. The switch to a vehement orchestral production while still maintaining the soft tone of the first half of the song was incredibly impressive. Overall, this song is genuinely a work of art that I strongly recommend everyone go listen to.

Least Favorite Song: “(This Is) The Thing” - It was a little slow, just not my favorite because of how good some other songs were.