Inhailer Radio's Top Albums & Songs of 2021

Nils The Music Director
Dec 14, 2021
4 min read

It's been another incredible year for music, but if we're being honest, when isn't it? If you're here listening to Inhailer Radio, then you know there's no shortage of great new music. Every single week we get bombarded with new albums, singles, EP's, remixes, as well as the endless backlog of albums and songs from years and decades past. There's a lot to be excited about from 2021, and early 2022 is looking no different. We'd also love to hear your favorite albums of 2021 so head over to our poll and select your top 10! Make sure to follow our Spotify playlist of all our favorite songs as well. Without further ado, here's some of your favorite DJ's sharing their top albums and songs of 2021!

Nils Illokken - Music Director & Midday DJ Wednesday - Friday 11 AM - 3 PM

Albums:

1. Remi Wolf - Juno

Pop music's most exciting new artist on her debut record. Juno is a kaleidoscope of infectious sounds, and all of them incredibly danceable. Also, some of the most absurd NSFW lyrics I've heard all year, feel free to seek them out on your own!

2. Gilligan Moss - Gilligan Moss

A Brooklyn duo making sun-kissed dance music taking influence from Lemon Jelly, Caribou, Parcels & more. It's impossible not to be in a good mood listening to their long awaited debut.

3. Ora The Molecule - Human Safari

2021 was a strong year for debut albums and Norway's Nora Schjelderup aka Ora The Molecule is no different. Her avant-pop sound takes influence from Bjork, Cibo Matto, Suzanne Vega & more.

4. TORRES - Thirstier

Anthemic and euphoric rock from Mackenzie Scott aka TORRES on her 5th and IMO best album. It doesn't hurt that Portishead member Adrian Utley is part of her backing band this time around.

5. Superbloom - Pollen

Who says grunge is dead? Definitely not Brooklyn's Superbloom. They pay homage to the greats of the genre all while making it their own and making it sound fresh.

6. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Butterfly 3000

Melbourne's King Gizz are all about reinventing themselves and take their biggest leap yet on their 18th studio album Butterfly 3000. This time around they trade their fuzzed out psych-rock for synths and midi programming taking influence from krautrock, dream pop and neo-psychedelia.

7. Angel Du$t - YAK: A Collection of Truck Songs

A Baltimore supergroup consisting of members of Turnstile (Another one of 2021's best albums) and Trapped Under Ice, Angel Du$t blend 90's college rock with heavier punk sounds.

8. Sylmar - Glass Ladders

One of Cincinnati's best live bands to see, mainly due to lead singer Brian McCullough's explosive stage presence. On their sophomore album they take their stoner jazz sound and blend it with gritty punk, dreamy indie pop & more.

9. Squid - Bright Green Field

The past few years has seen an influx of chaotic, angular post-punk, and with a lot of it coming from the UK. Brighton's Squid blend post-punk, jazz, krautrock, punk and more for a weirdly danceable sound that also leaves you with a sense of dread.

10. Foxing - Draw Down The Moon

St. Louis emo trio Foxing went above and beyond on their 4th studio album. This time around taking on a sound that's perfect for Summer festivals, all while still having some bite. Also, they get points for featuring Cincinnati's Yoni Wolf/Why? on the closing track Speak With The Dead.

Songs:

Quivers - You're Not Always On My Mind
Wet Leg - Chaise Lounge
Ora The Molecule - Creator
Gilligan Moss - Slow Down
Beach House - Superstar
TORRES - Hug From A Dinosaur
Methyl Ethyl - Neon Cheap
Yves Tumor - Jackie
Hovvdy - Junior Day League
Cold Cave - Night Light
Remi Wolf - Guerilla
Dry Cleaning - Scratchcard Lanyard
Denzel Curry - So.Incredible.pkg [Robert Glasper Version Feat. Smino]
Turnstile - MYSTERY
RUFUS DU SOL - Alive
Big Thief - Little Things
Cassandra Jenkins - Hard Drive
Superbloom - Mary on a Chain
Amyl & The Sniffers - Hertz
Alice Phoebe Lou - Dirty Mouth

Your Girl Clara Stryker - Afternoon Host Wednesdays 3-7 PM

Albums:

1. Turnstile - Glow On

2. Foxing - Draw Down The Moon

3. Nation of Language - A Way Forward

4. Sleigh Bells - Texis

5. Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee

6. SAULT - Nine

7. St. Vincent - Daddy's Home

8. Rüfüs Du Sol - Surrender

9. Snail Mail - Valentine

10. illuminati hotties - Let Me Do One More

Songs:

1. Turnstile - BLACKOUT

2. Dolly Valentine - Do It All For You

3. Sleigh Bells - Locust Laced

4. Foxing - 737

5. girl in red - Serotonin

6. Beach House - Superstar

7. The War On Drugs - I Don't Live Here Anymore

8. Manchester Orchestra - Bed Head

9. Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen - Like I Used To

10. Torres - Don't Go Puttin Wishes in My Head

11. Multimagic - Life Like Art

12. Districts - I Want To Feel It All

13. James Blake - Say What You will

14. Yves Tumor - Jackie

15. illuminati hotties - u v v p (feat. Buck Meek)

16. Bleachers - How Dare You Want More

17. Parquet Courts - Black Widow Spider

18. Bodega - Doers

19. My Morning Jacket - Love Love Love

20. Big Red Machine - Ghost Of Cincinnati

Noah Ludke - Tuesday Midday Host 11 AM - 3 PM & Friday Evening Host 7 - 9 PM

Albums:

1. Mega Bog - Life, and Another

2. Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee

3. Tonstartbandht - Petunia

4. Cassandra Jenkins - An Overview on Phenomenal Nature

5. Good Morning - Barnyard

6. Faye Webster - I Know I'm Funny Haha

7. Fake Fruit - Fake Fruit

8. Bachelor - Doomin' Sun

9. Porches - All Day Gentle Hold !

10. Pardoner - Came Down Different

Songs:

1. Good Morning - Country

2. Tonstartsbandht - Pass Away

3. Beach House - Runaway

4. Japanese Breakfast - Savage Good Boy

5. Clairo - Ameoba

6. Jodi - Go Slowly

7. Nation of Language - This Fractured Mind

8. Dry Cleaning - Strong Feelings

9. Mitski - Working for the Knife

10. Midnight Sister - Foxes

11. Boy Scouts - That's Life Honey

12. Hand Habits - Motherless

13. Black Country New Road - Chaos Space Marine

14. Caution - Buy My Life

15. Fake Fruit - I Am the Car

16. Bachelor - Sick of Spiraling

17. Faye Webster - Better Distractions

18. Justus Proffit - There Goes the Fun

19. Dumbo Gets Mad - Congratulations

20. Born at Midnite - Pop Charts

Pete Riddle - Tuesday Afternoon Host 3 - 7 PM

Albums:

1. The Reds, Pinks and Purples - Uncommon Weather

2. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions

3. KUNZITE - VISUALS

4. James - All The Colours Of You

5. The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - Dance Songs for Hard Times

6. Toad The Wet Sprocket - Starting Now

7. Mute Swan - Only Ever

8. Mdou Moctar - Afrique Victime

9. Middle Kids - Today We're The Greatest

10. Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic

Songs:

1. Toad The Wet Sprocket - Transient Whales

2. Taylor Swift- All Too Well (Sad Girl Autumn Version)

3. Julien Baker - Hardline

4. The Reds, Pinks & Purples - A Kick in the Face (That’s Life)

5. James - Getting Myself Into

6. Cloud Nothings - Nothing Without You

7. Middle Kids - Cellophane (Brain)

8. Big Red Machine - The Ghost of Cincinnati

9. KUNZITE - SATURN

10. girl in red - Serotonin

11. Miss Grit - Grow Up To

12. Mdou Moctar - Afrique Victime

13. Split Single - Mangled Tusk

14. Silk Sonic - Fly As Me

15. James McMurtry - Canola Fields

16. Mute Swan - Burnt Almonds

17. Rostam - 4Runner

18. The Antlers - Solstice

19. Emily Scott Robinson - If Trouble Comes A Lookin’

20. Juliana Hatfield - Mouthful Of Blood

Ryan Henges - Thursday Afternoon 3 - 7 PM

Albums:

1. A Great Big Pile of Leaves - Pono

2. Bo Burnham - Inside (The Songs)

3. Men I Trust - Untourable Album

4. Clairo - Sling

5. Lunar Vacation - Inside Every Fig is a Wasp

6. Baby Keem - The Melodic Blue

7. Coma Therapy - This House Was Built on Terror

8. Turnstile - Glow On

9. Twenty One Pilots - Scaled and Icy

10. Courtney Barnett - Things Take Time, Take Time

Songs:

The Moondrops - Bell Boy
Spacey Jane - Lots of Nothing
John Moods - So Sweet So Nice
Clover - Summer Salt
A Great Big Pile of Leaves - Swimmer
A Great Big Pile of Leaves - Waiting for you Love
Men I Trust - Sugar
Family Ties - Baby Keem ft Kendrick Lamar
Johnny Dynamite and the Bloodsuckers - Bats in the Woods
Wild Pink & Samia - Ohio
Lunar Vacation - Making Lunch (not right now)
Twenty One Pilots - Mulberry Street
Turnstile- Underwater Boii
Coma Therapy - Delirium
Clario - Amoeba
Bo Burnham - Welcome to the Internet
Bo Burnham - Look Whose Inside Again
Jazmine Sullivan - Put It Down
Jail Socks - Caving In
Spacey Jane - Lunchtime

Miss Kitty - Sunday Midday 11 AM - 3 PM

Albums:

1. Veik - Surrounding Structures

You may hear equal parts Suicide and Suuns on Veik’s debut album “Surrounding Structures.” It’s an album that feels simultaneously classic and contemporary, thanks to the French trio’s use of vintage analogue synthesizers and abrasive instrumentation, which harkens back to the experimental post-punk sound of 70s-era Krautrock/No Wave, but with a vibe that is decidedly fresh. Veik wrote “Surrounding Structures” while on tour prior to the pandemic, and their fascination with – and appreciation of – modernist and brutalist architecture can be found throughout the album’s overall sound.

2. Cold Cave - Fate In Seven Lessons EP

3. Landowner - Impressive Almanac

4. Kiwi jr. - Cooler Returns

5. Squid - Bright Green Field

6. Lowpines - Sun Down Over the East River Shore

7. 10,000 Russos - Superinertia

8. Nation of Language - A Way Forward

9. Bnny - Everything

10. Parquet Courts - Sympathy for Life

Songs:

1.Veik – Political Apathy

2. Spirit Award – Someday 3. Hydrone - Toadlicker 4. JJ & the Mood – How Many Times 5. Darkside – Lawmaker 6. Woods – Waiting Around for a New Me 7. Goat Girl – Badibaba 8. Pond – Pink Lunettes 9. The Felice Brothers – Jazz on the Autobahn 10. Nice Biscuit – Candle 11. Yard Act – Fixer Upper 12. The Almost Infinite – Get Out 13. Bachelor – Stay in the Car 14. Matt Berry – Summer Sun 15. Webbed Wing – Make a Dime 16. Max Kuehn - Preset 17. Wet Leg – Chaise Longue 18. Big Red Machine – Ghost of Cincinnati 19. Sungaze – Storm Chaser 20. The Shivas – My Baby Don’t