The Canadian Music Blog tracked a total of 691 Canadian artist studio albums in 2021 (79 more than last year!). We have settled upon our 21 favourites of these (representing 3.0%) and ranked them, all done regardless of genre, language, region, and popularity of the artist.
These days, best album lists from various sources have become less and less about the music and more about who the artists are, what they stand for, what brands they endorse, and how much attention they draw. At Canadian music blog, we are concerned solely with the music itself. We like music that is sophisticated and progressive with catchy melodies, pleasing vocals (unless it is instrumental), and palatable lyrics.
Unfortunately, many of the albums below are not available in high fidelity physical format (i.e. CDs) despite the fact that it is the top preference of Canadians when it comes to purchasing albums. In 2021 (to date), Canadians bought 2.4 million compact discs, 2.1 million digital albums, 975k vinyl records, and 13k cassettes.
Find below our 21 favourite Canadian artist albums of 2021 including our Album of the Year!
21
Hope for Sale
by Chiiild
At some point, Yoni Ayal of Montreal set up camp in the US city of Los Angeles to produce tracks for A-listers. He sprinkled his special formula of magic dust onto works for Jennifer Lopez and Usher. But now, with three eyes open, he has adopted stage name Chiiild to craft his own delicious tunes. His debut full-length Hope for Sale dropped this year and furthers his excursion into hypnotic R&B from previous EP Synthetic Soul. The LP contains some catchy tunes that impressed us much. It opens with “Sleepwalking” which musically honours the title – drowsy vocals, dreamy instrumentation, and driving beats. Chiiild handles funk well, particularly on the wavy “Hold On Till We Get There” and perhaps the album’s catchiest entry, “Eventually” which we named as one of our favourite songs of the year. Other standouts are the breezy “Weightless”, summery “13 Months of Sunshine”, and trippy “The Best Ain’t Happened Yet”. Emerging singers Mahalia (UK) and Jensen McRae (US) are featured on a couple of tracks.
20
Les dahlias ne meurent pas
By Claudelle
Claudelle released her third offering in 2021, Les dahlias ne meurent pas, arguably her best effort to date. It’s a singer-songwriter work that easily stands as one of the finest creations of the year. The writing is excellent, her voice soothing, and production (from fellow artist Rosie Valland) top notch. Find songs that tap sentiments of melancholia and vivacity and house detailed instrumentation that adds colour at every turn. This latter element is guaranteed given that she recruited some of best musicians in the business. Lyrically, the French poetry touches upon themes of both romance and mourning. Don’t miss out on this one!
19
Le ciel est au plancher
by Louis-Jean Cormier (JW)
JUNO award winner and platinum recording artist Louis-Jean Cormier treated us to his fourth solo album this year, Le ciel est au plancher which comes less than a year after his third. The album can boast a sensitive delivery in the allure of atmosphere. As always, the master artist tosses in some surprises, like jazzy and electronic segments making the work feel like exploring unknown terrain in an unfolding dramatic tale. Cormier furthers his knack for interspersing slow flowing currents with turbulent rapids. We wouldn’t say this album has a standout track; it is a collection of pieces, all necessary, that paint a picture as a whole. Louis-Jean’s albums have all been shoe-ins for end of year best albums lists, and The Sky Is on the Floor is no exception.
18
Horses in The Abattoir
by TRAITRS
There probably isn’t a band in the land that sounds as unique as Traitrs, an act that deserves many more write-ups by those who are supposed to be on the ball. Vocals flail over cuffing beats and spooky atmospheres in a chilling marriage of post punk and goth rock that gets under your skin and tickles your bones. Prolific output has stemmed following the act’s debut just four years ago. Horses in The Abattoir follows an EP released earlier this year. We are hard pressed to name a standout track, but “All Living Hearts Betrayed” has us drowning with satisfaction in relentless torrents of black water. What a winner!
17
Natura Sophia
by Isaac Symonds & Yaehsun
Isaac Symonds, formerly with Half Moon Run, joins Yaehsun in fashioning ambient album Natura Sophia. The work includes musical contributions from Camille Paquette-Roy. A variety of soundscapes appear on this, from icy to warm, smooth to abrasive, earthy to ethereal. Symonds describes the listening experience as “orbiting through space or deep-sea diving through the wonders of the ocean”. The imaginative and highly satisfying meditative album is like a modern era soundtrack to Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, as we contemplate the billions and billions of stars in the universe.
16
In Era
by Vallens
Sad skies of grey animated by distant lightning hover over In Era, the second album from Vallens. Dreamy and haunting, it sits nicely in the vast blue velvet field of alternative music. The well-written and catchy songs are made all the more enticing by their careful presentation, and they are carried thoughtfully by Robyn Phillips’s vocal effort. The album is smart in not suffocating the listener with too much ambient noise; it takes a balanced approach, and could serve as soundtrack to the next David Lynch production. Highlights include “While You Are Still Waiting” and its hooky bassline. “Ingrid” is a tribute to arguably the most beautiful of the classic Hollywood actresses, Ingrid Bergman. Heavy chills slash in the energetic “Difference Repeating”. And when it comes to the final entry, “Sin So Vain”, the delights are in the details.
15
You Can Be You, I Can Be Me
by Errunhrd
Errunhrd is Niagara Falls’ Shirin Ghoujalou, a specialist in dream pop, multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer, and songwriter. You Can Be You, I Can Be Me, her first long play, flirts with EDM in places, new wave in others, but is largely a soft, aloof reverie of misty melancholia. Her vocals are both intimate and detached. The enticing, exciting moves of “Ruminate” and electronic growls of “Reflection” lead into an intricate web of grief in the spinning spiral of “I Want to Feel Better”. This is an album that presents pleasant haunts (“The Answers”) navigating through the thick fog of “Synthro” and waving strands of glistening tinsel in “Eternal Consciousness” and then pans over to the flickering blue flame of “I Want Someone” in gratifying conclusion.
14
Taïga
by Mathieu Bourret
Perhaps due to the success of now certified platinum album Inscape from Alexandra Stréliski, a number of musicians are releasing piano albums. The piano is one of the few acoustic instruments that sounds sophisticated enough to stand on its own. Mathieu Bourret released a few discs this year in an unfolding plan to dedicate an album for each season. Taïga, inspired by winter, impressed us most of all. Mathieu was involved in group Oktopus that landed a JUNO nomination in 2018. The tracks are delicately played, as we envision thick flakes of slowly falling snow. To achieve a softer sound, he experimented with his instrument, wrapping the piano strings with blankets or masking tape! Lucie Martel adds her beautiful voice to track “Humani”. Also check out Bourret’s two-disc compilation set Le Climatologue which is available on compact disc. It contains most of his recent tracks.
13
Moments In Between
by Ruth B. (JW)
Edmonton singer and songwriter Ruth B. recently dropped her second full-length album, Moments In Between that notches another mark of excellence along her fairly new career path. Ruth won the JUNO award for Breakthrough Artist of the year in 2017. Two tracks on her new album should grab you right away. Opener “Princess Peach” was written in New York while she was enjoying the independent adventurous life, and it centers around the concept of wanting to make it on one’s own rather than being a damsel in distress. Musically, the song is a heart-rending and soaring piano ballad. “Situation” is a smart R&B number that repeats addictive refrains and dunks in the cool beats. We named it one of the best songs of the year. The rest of the album is solid, making it one of the year’s finest works.
12
Tomorrow We’ll Be Here
by Yehno
Yehno delivered six track long play record Tomorrow We’ll Be Here in 2021. It’s big, bold, and bright with addictive beats and gripping grooves. The airy, pulsating title-track sets things up nicely taking us to another world. “We Can” lays down a path of glitter where we “Walk Alone” in vibrant fields of kaleidoscopic grandeur. Prepare to get lost in an ambient world of ethereal chimes via “Fog Rolling”. “Lullaby” booms with drama, and closing track “Our Best Selves”, with whipping percussion and laser light, caps off the disc perfectly. Fans of electronic music will not want to miss this one.
11
Saturn Return
by Stacey
Stacey dropped her debut full-length album Saturn Return in 2021, and it’s pretty amazing. The press is hitting up word menus to try to find adequate adjectives to describe the style. We’ll call it a vintage-cosmic trip into dreams of hallucinogenic haze. The album title is a reference to leaving one’s home planet to find oneself. In her weird and wonderful music video for “Strange (But I Like It)”, which borrows elements from Barbarella and The 10th Victim, it appears that Stacey found an extra-terrestrial friend as well. The writing on the album is very strong, and Stacey infuses the music with enough details to keep things fascinating throughout.
10
Amelia
by Vincent Roy
Homage paid to family and one’s hometown, Vincent Roy, who released a couple of discs this year, dazzles in electropop album Amelia. Find well-written songs embedded in a melodic atmosphere, as Vincent takes an emotional journey into his roots, like returning to the water’s edge from the big city. His vocals are mysterious and sincere. Pleasing details, at times stunning, introduce themselves to us along the album’s rewarding leisurely pathway. Named after his sister, Amelia also chronicles the social anxiety that Vincent feels his generation experiences. As a sound designer, he colours the contemplative work to the point of it being cinematic while still retaining the satisfaction of pop. Very, very well done.
9
44° North, 63° West
by Dezza
Dezza is a Canadian DJ/producer and crafter of electronic music. In his 2021 album 44° North, 63° West, he tips his toque to his home province of Nova Scotia (the coordinates of the album title are New Scotland’s). As Atlantic Canada is better known for its retrogressive folk music, it is fascinating to see progressive stuff oozing out of its finely crafted circuit boards. Dezza allowed the natural beauty of his surroundings on the east coast to inspire the moods and textures of the work, in the same way that artists like Loscil (Sea Island) have done with the west coast. About half of the 19 tracks, which are mostly upbeat creations, include vocal accompaniment, with Dezza ensuring the globe was represented in selecting them. Enjoy the seafaring adventure around the province’s coast with this slice of nice.
8
Dream Baby
by Gold & Youth
New wave quartet Gold & Youth treated us to its second offering entitled Dream Baby which follows its debut effort released several years ago. The band formed when established singer-songwriter and producer Louise Burns joined Matthew Lyall, Murray Mckenzie and Jeff Mitchelmore’s old project The Racoons. On Dream Baby, the group explores visions of a new world borne from one fraught with troubles. A question posed is whether the future will be worse or better: “A dustbowl or the moon? Well, it’s all beachfront soon. When they said ‘us’, did you think that that meant you?” (opening track “The Worse the Better”). Lyall and Burns take turns and combos at the mic through the tracks, and both are solid singers. Enjoy some shimmering keyboards in “Dying in LA” and simmering cool in “Maudlin Days (Robocop)”. The disc’s strongest track is perhaps the swaggering “Blush”. Gold & Youth’s Dream Baby sticks it to oppressive systems, dreams of renewal, and carries us on a satisfying musical odyssey. Can we ask for anything else?
7
Tyler Shaw
by Tyler Shaw (JN)
Tyler Shaw is a multiplatinum JUNO award nominated pop artist from the Metro Vancouver city of Coquitlam. He has been scoring radio hits since 2013. Known initially for his acoustic guitar ditties and warm, raspy vocals, he has embraced the complete gamut under the pop-rock umbrella on his third album, an eponymous affair. Infused with stirring emotions, thoughtful lyrics, soaring choruses, and a sea of hooks, this is his finest achievement to date, establishing him as one of the country’s top songwriters. The disc opens with Billboard Hot 100 charting track, “Remember”, his first excursion into EDM territory, thanks to the influence of Frank Walker. On “Heaven,” Tyler reflects on beauties the world has to offer amidst much chaos. Heart-massaging ballad “I See You” and the summertime funk of “Sex on the Beach” follow. The simply irresistible “North Star” is an exciting venture into pop-rock territory and “Worse for Me” into ace tissue-soaking piano balladry. The ease with which Tyler taps into various flavours while maintaining the emotional depth for which he is known elevates this album far above the plains of the usual. Consider the injection of retro vibes into romantic anthem “When You’re Home” and then thumping into the exhilaration of banger “Drifting”.
6
Untourable Album
by Men I Trust
Exquisite Canadian dreampop trio Men I Trust dropped Untourable Album, a followup to 2019’s Oncle Jazz. Iced with silky vocals, moody synth textures, and percolating bass lines, the disc is set to satisfy the appetites of indie pop lovers everywhere. The sweep and swoon of “Oh Dove” leads us into nocturnal chambers where the burbled funk of “Sugar” pleases so easily. Other standouts include the melancholy harmonies of “Tree Among Shrubs” and bluesy keys of “Serenade of Water,” a soft-flowing excursion into a drowsy dreamland of breathtaking wonder. Be sure to give Men I Trust‘s Untourable Album a spin.
5
Panorama
by Michaela Slinger
Indie pop up and comer Michaela Slinger of Vancouver took us into a Panorama in 2021. She adorned track “Masquerade” with a nifty music video. That song is about the childhood moment of being yanked out of innocence to realize that the world actually lies on shaky ground and your heroes are just ordinary people. The MV highlights this concept by juxtaposing bright arcade lights in a theme park with dark nighttime surroundings. Slinger’s silky but sturdy voice is one of the most important elements of the album and may remind some of Kacey Musgraves’. Another splendid entry is clap-along ditty “Too Good to Be Great”. The upbeat numbers are fabulously complemented by some slick chillout pieces as well. The best examples of these are the hazy “You Are the City” and dreamy “Make You Sad”. Overall, this is another outstanding release from 604 Records.
4
Play with the Changes
by Rochelle Jordan
Canadian progressive R&B specialist Rochelle Jordan contributed Play with the Changes to the pool of 2021 music. Prepare to be charmed by it. There is much to admire on this exquisite work. It’s dreamy and cool with dazzling beats and fits right in with late night ambiance awash in neon lights. Standout tracks for us include “Next 2 You” with its deep house synth pokes and devious percussion. “Already” has smooth waves flowing over percolating beats. And the shimmering “Dancing Elephants” is bright and bouncy, an effectively energizing track. Holding it all together are Rochelle’s crooning honeyed vocals and some tight, rich production. Well done.
3
Printemps
by Loig Morin
Vancouver based recording artist Loig Morin unveiled his 7th album, Printemps, dedicated as you guessed it to spring. He plans on honouring the remaining three seasons in upcoming works. The album is a splendid progressive pop-rock effort, and the seductive female vocals of Maude G.I.’s accompany Loig’s on several tracks. Sweeping opener “Printemps, tu m’avais dit”, with electronic swirls and ominous atmospheres, should draw you in immediately. Morin then parties things up with the bouncy “La bête”. “Le fauve’s” chopping beats continue the fun. The sultry rasps of multiple JUNO nominee Jill Barber join Loig in “Romance à l’italienne”. The remainder of the tracks are just as solid. Loig Morin relocated with his family from his home in Brittany, France to Vancouver in 2010 with next to nothing and not being able to speak a word of English. He built a home studio which he calls Le Loig’s Music Lab. Printemps was recorded, produced, and mixed there. It’s easily one of the best albums of the year.
2
Sun-Drenched
by Millimetrik
Millimetrik has been exploring the pastures of electronic music for over a decade and this year dropped his finest work to date, Sun-Drenched. On this, the award winner welds together everything from ambient to EDM, disco to house, and soul to trip hop. Instrumentals are interspersed with vocal pieces featuring some fine singers. Things open in a dizzying bang via the stunning “Apoca-lips En El Desierto” with the vocals of Liana. Other highlights include “Sunlight at Bay of Plenty” featuring New Bleach, a gutsy ride of addictive beats. Rays of Caribbean splendour fill the atmosphere in “Pozé” handled nicely by Valérie Clio. From there, we swing south to the “Tropique du Capricorne”, one of the finer instrumental numbers. Playful house anthem “Kyle Lowry’s Demolition Derby” featuring Little Miss Roy will put a smile on your face. The album closes with the magical “L’enfant du feu I/II/III” featuring Marie LS which offers popping bongos, funky bass grooves, and so much more. This is an amazing album.
Canadian Music Blog’s
Album of the Year 2021
With her debut album, this new to the scene Canadian recording artist wants to redefine elevator music, switching things from a strings’ orchestra playing Burt Bacharach to dreamily sculpted pop with R&B trimmings. Working with acclaimed producer Louise Burns adds enough iridescent style to give the songs a unique edge ensuring they remain far more interesting than the tokens of generic mediocrity emerging from current factories of convention. You’ll have fun just listening to the unpredictable ways the singer trills out the lyrics in a voice the must have descended straight from heaven. The 14-track disc follows the release of a few singles. Standouts include the fluttering “All In”, the hazy “How Was Your Day”, bubbly “Bobbie”, thickly grooved “Natural”, irresistible “Sunday”, and playful plus magical “Garden at Home”. 2021’s best album, authored by a teen prodigy, has a universal appeal that folks of all ages can enjoy. Released through Vancouver record label 604 Records, it is a work that has stunned those who’ve heard it. It certainly has stunned us. Canadian Music Blog declares Elevator Music by Molly Annelle as 2021’s Album of the Year.
1
Elevator Music
by Molly Annelle
Canadian Music Blog 
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