Matthew McVickar's Favorite Music of 2021

Favorite Sounds

These are the tones, details, lines, and moments that caught my ear this year. There are sounds excerpted from 58 songs, loosely grouped by theme into three collections, a total of 12 minutes.

Part 1: Vocal-musical Connections

“Neighbors’ music through the concrete…” and the muted orchestral sample to match. Prophecy by Magdalena Bay
Line punctuated by synth flute. The Return by Lightning Bug
Rising strings. Hyacinth (Strings) by serpentwithfeet
Quick little guitar flourish. Montero (Call Me By Your Name) by Lil Nas X
Drum roll/guitar roil. Give Me Fifteen by Aimee Mann
The echo on “huh?” and that pissed-off synth line. Deja Vu by Olivia Rodrigo
Slowed-down, echoed vocal loop. Did We Say Goodbye by Mr. Mitch
Time-stretched outro. Back3School by Porches
Pitched vocal samples in the calm after the storm. Days Like These by Low
Syncopated descending vocal sample. Halfway by Magdalena Bay
Stretched-out “Toniiiiiiiigght!” sample. Pick ‘em Up by Eris Drew
Echo on the vocals: “do you think of me (me)” Two Face by L’Rain
Killer Mike’s “Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!” punctuated with kicks Ooh La La (Mexican Institute of Sound Remix) by Run the Jewels feat. Mexican Institute of Sound & Santa Fe Klan
Vocal vaporized. The Daisy by Ross from Friends
Vocal scrambled. Look at the Sky by Porter Robinson
Singing along with the guitar part. Where the Lightning Strikes Twice by Foxing
Brief jump into double-time kick-snare pattern. Y DON'T U by Park Hye Jin
Filtered, effected “You’ll get your chance to move your feet.” Bussifame by Dawn
“Let me, let me” layered vocal loop. Clearing by Dolphin Midwives

Part 2: Neat Sounds

Pop! …and rebuild. Poison Pudding by Parris feat. Call Super
Pitch-bent hi-hats. Never the Right Time by Andy Stott feat. Allison Skidmore
“Uh-luh” percussive vocal sample. Daybreak by Bapari
That resonant pluck bouncing around the stereo field. 5ives by Sully
Sudden drums, then again, reversed. Every Weather by Leif
Ping-ponging snare roll+rimshot. Hidden by Horizons by Lone feat. Morgane Diet
Claps pitched and echoing into space. Oulpa Tvi by Robag Wruhme
Vocoded, reverbed, clicky little vocal snippet. Soft Spot by Piri
Sudden Amen break after four minutes of ambient drift. Death Engine (The Field Remix) by I Break Horses
Sudden Amen break after two minutes of build-up. Stairzzzzzz by Machinedrum
Piano loop from the fog (perhaps a sample of Ludovico Einaudi?) Einaudi by Nadia Struiwigh
Fluttering, clopping percussion. Drin by Christina Chatfield
Wood-block-y sound on the upbeat and the synth trill spilling out. Quartz Register by Emissive
That writhing, slick synth lead. Unravel in the Designated Zone by Anz
Plinks and plonks riding the delay pedal. Prophet Idea/End Credits by Shek O
Filtered echo on the strings. Gloria by Angel Olsen
Steel drum interlude. There Must Be a Song Like You by Helado Negro
Proggy guitar+piano loop Striking Down Your Big Premiere by Ryley Walker
When the drums and guitar arpeggios drop. Up & Down by Crumb
Rapid layered strumming outro. Liberty Bell by Darkside
Sudden quiet synth outro. Sunrise/Sunset by The Dodos
Unexpected airhorn in an indie pop coda. I‘m Not Home by Another Michael
Piano denouement. I See You by Aimee Mann

Part 3: Vocal Delivery and Effects

“You went and got yourself off yourself… off.” Weird Carolina by Camp trash
Our loop. Loop by Sophia Kennedy
The “annnnnd…” held and vibrato’d. Grow by Shanique Marie
“I can see my life so cl—Burn out, burn out” Reality check. Musician by Porter Robinson
Multi-part harmony and chugging guitar. 29 by Yaeji & OHHYUK
“I guess I’ll have to fight you with a guitar.” With a Guitar by The Dodos
Lyrics spilling over the line and background harmony behind “I gotta change what is to come/My fears glowing in-between time…” I Can See You by Sophia Kennedy
Perfectly cut-off interview recording. Indigo Grit by Space Afrika
“Downatthemeninmusic BUSINESS conference!” desperately whisper-sung. White Dress by Lana Del Rey
“Science fiction apocalypse” and the accompanying background scream. Orange Tic Tac by Sophia Kennedy
“‘Excuse me.’ ‘…What.’” Chaise Longue by Wet Leg
“Wh—where—are—my—trumpet-trumpet ohhh” *makes trumpet noises.* Same Size Shoe by serpentwithfeet
Big autotuned backup vocal. Dead Right Now by Lil Nas X
High synth line, echoing and ducking the kick drum. Cat on My Tongue by Sophia Kennedy
“The blood… the stream… the blood… the stream…” rolling on and on. Aurora by Bachelor
Sudden, plaintive, lightly-phasered vocals. Flowers by Elkka