Campbell's Top 5 of 2021 So Far
1
Home Is Where
I Became Birds (Knifepunch Records)
We've come across a slew of young bands who effortlessly channel the vibes of emo bands and sounds that they don’t even draw from, or sometimes haven’t even heard of (see: Dogleg). Enter the gorgeously layered sound of Home Is Where, whose EP I Became Birds feels grounded in 90s Midwest emo, led by acoustic melancholy but expanded with harmonicas and horns that cover a myriad of substyles. It feels good to move past the more emulated elements of twinklecore, as Home Is Where swerves into countless “oh this sounds just like X” moments. Someone described this record broadly as just “good rock,” which is overtly reductive, but still speaks to its broader appeal.
2
Bachelor
Doomin' Sun (Polyvinyl)
Bachelor is the multi-instrumentalist duo of artists Jay Som and Palehound, but saying that they sport elements of Dinosaur Jr. and The Pixies drastically undersells their depth. Their debut album Doomin’ Son is dreamy but weighty, an often subdued sound with genuine power pop sensibilities and an eclectic palate. “Moon” is beautifully minimal like they isolated the most essential pieces of Built to Spill’s There’s Nothing Wrong With Love. I’m woefully uninformed, but this album has been a true highlight of my year.
3
Bruiser Wolf
Dope Game $tupid (Bruiser Brigade)
Danny Brown’s Detroit collective Bruiser Brigade has always been an acquired taste, eccentric personalities and matching vocal deliveries paired with out-on-a-limb production. Despite years of quiet releases from the crew, Bruiser Wolf appeared nearly out of thin air; in his own words, “I’m tryna go from dope dealer to Coachella.” His delivery is high-pitched with a quick, weaving flow that’s reminiscent of E-40, over producer Raphy’s perfectly stripped-down beats. This album is one of the most distinctive and powerful of the year, also bringing attention to the Bruiser compilation TV62 and Fat Ray’s phenomenally bleak Santa Barbara, as we await the potential of Danny Brown’s sequel to XXX.
4
Buggin
Brainfreeze (Flatspot Records)
As many of you readers and SPB staff writers are, I’m a sucker for very specific styles of hardcore, and the bouncy youth crew of Buggin is one of the best encapsulations of the fun I remember from the mid-aughts. While Brainfreeze is technically only a single, it’s the most complete version of their sound so far, and I can’t wait to see what the return to live hardcore does for the quartet. The flexi disc release is a really nice touch.
5
Chill Children
Tokyo Nights (Self-Released)
Chill Children is a mysterious collective of hip hop producers (another soft spot for me) led by two New Zealand beat makers who craft lush, robust instrumental beats. This eight-song EP isn’t from your lofi YouTube channel -- it’s deep, humid, bedroom trap led by heavy 808s and accented with a hefty dose of obscure references and Memphis samples. They remind me of the nascent unfettered energy of early Divine Council, but more subdued in a midnight drive soundtrack kind of way. If you’re into SoundCloud deep dives, you’re in for a real treat with the branches you could explore from here.
