The Last Ever Zeitgeist post. The site will just sit here until the hosts go bust or the roaches rise up and destroy us.
Another not great year. Was it as shite as 2020. Probably not. I found a great stick up in the woods. I encountered emotion again after a long break. Don’t worry, it won’t work out. And although I told folks back in April that Zeitgeist was closed, people are still sending me stuff. So I’ve still listened to actual hunnerds of records. So here’s the best of what was heard in the Year 2021 in the world of Zeitgeist. And I say heard because some of them may have come out in 2020. I don’t know. Don’t care either.
I must admit that I am mildly astonished that I only managed to come up with a list of nine records. A Top 9! That’s not much in the way of great. But I suppose a little gr8 is still gr8. I was almost tempted to look through the records I actually paid for but that way lies madness and ruination.*
In case you’re wondering, the song of the year is Kind Hearted Woman by Robert J Hunter. You’re all absolute fools for not buying his record. Fools.
*I had to do this to get a Top 10, or a Top 11, if I’d included “Barroom Mirrors by Erin Enderlin, which I should have really. But I’m drunk and maudlin and the fact that you eejits don’t seem to have bought any of her other records just makes you bigger fools than I thought possible. I told you about “Whiskeytown Crier” back in 2017. So it’s yer ain fault.
In reverse order.
2021
- SOMBRIA
Chirographon Dei
Inverse Records
https://sombria.bandcamp.com/releases
Oooh! A new goth metal band. I liked it best when things got really, really bleak as opposed to just really bleak.
- THE CHANT OF TREES
The Chant of Trees
Shaman Voice Production
I like my metal, I like my folk metal, I like my mad as a madhouse full of mad folk and this satisfies all the criteria.
- THE FELLOWSHIP OF HALLUCINATORY VOYAGERS
The Imaginary Gallery
independent
https://sendelica.bandcamp.com/album/the-imaginary-gallery
As befits a member of Sendelica it’s still psychy and spacy but with some post rock drone allied to moments of gentleness.
- LAKE OF TEARS
Ominous
AFM
https://www.facebook.com/thelakeoftears/
If you fall into the “I am a lonely man, sorrow is my friend” category then this will either be your worst nightmare or a dark companion.
- FERAL GHOST
Speed of Light
Yellow Rhinestone Records
I’m thinking psychedelic stoner doom or bittersweet goth. I’m not thinking seventies melodic rock vibes. But that’s what I got. Good vibes, mind. Not the vibes where your soul is crushed like a star collapsing in on itself.
- WARD DAVIS
Black Cats And Crows
independent
Ward Davis Music
Gosh, darn, it, but I had to cheat and sneak in an actual paid for record, just to make it up to 10. This would have been battling it for No 1 if it had actually been a reviewed item. Country record of the year by an actual mile.
- THE HOLY ROAD
An Unshakable Demon
independent
https://theholyroad.bandcamp.com/music
It’s dark, melancholy, downbeat and depressing. But in a good way.
- ROBERT JON & THE WRECK
Shine A Light On Me Brother
independent
https://robertjonandthewreck.com/
Fans of Whiskey Myers, Blackberry Smoke and the great Capricorn releases of the mid seventies should be forming an orderly queue right now. So good I bought the vinyl.
- ROBERT J. HUNTER
Nothing But Rust
independent
https://robertjhunter.bandcamp.com/music
I have a strong feeling that this is destined to be one of my ten o’clock at night, whisky drinking favourites* as there isn’t a single song here that won’t end up being a close, personal friend. – *it is. So good I bought the vinyl, secundum.
- SARAH McQUAID
The St Buryan Sessions
independent
https://sarahmcquaid.bandcamp.com/music
There isn’t a moment here that isn’t beautifully executed. You’ll be hard pushed to hear a better acoustic record this year. In fact, you won’t which is why you really need to head off and order a copy now. So good I bought the vinyl, tertius .
Thank you and goodnight.
St Columba’s Hospice Tribute Fund for Linda Hamilton
http://linda.hamilton.muchloved.com/
The Rocker 