Every year I’m excited to do a roundup of the favorite recordings that either came out, or were first heard by me, that year.
This year I’m expanding the list beyond audio music recordings to a few other categories, reflecting the nature of my listening this year.
Music
In The Heights (both Broadway and cinematic versions) I first really listened to the Broadway cast album in the spring, in the runup to the film’s release. The story is epic and intimate; the music is revolutionary and compelling. The performances are iconic.
Superblue (Kurt Elling) To start, let me say that this album hasn’t replaced The Questions as my Kurt Elling album of choice. That said, the vibe is totally different, super hip, and really fun. I was especially enamored with his version of “Sassy,” which was on one of my formative albums, The Offbeat of Avenues by The Manhattan Transfer.
Säje (Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, Erin Bentlage)
Säje was one of my highlights last year, too, with their release of Desert Song. This year they released several more amazing tracks, including the stunning Wisteria. I also had the truly incredible good fortune to hear them live this fall, thanks to the Western Michigan University School of Music. Don’t miss the chance to hear them…it will blow you away.
Dawn (Yebba) This was undoubtedly the soundtrack to our year – Yebba performed alchemy, turning her deep loss into a work of art full of beautiful songs, beautifully performed.
Movies & Shows
I didn’t see a lot of movies in 2021 (not surprisingly, perhaps, given the pandemic…) but two stood out. I’m hoping to add Encanto and West Side Story to this list soon – I expect they would have made my list if I had seen them.
In The Heights. As I said above, I was incredibly moved by the music of In The Heights but the film was also lovingly produced and directed, and is to me a standout of how to make a musical work when adapting from the stage. It’s great fun and powerful, too.
Tick, Tick…Boom. I knew nothing about this Jonathan Larson musical extravaganza before I saw it. I’m glad I saw it that way, so let me just say that I loved everything about it. I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats.
Ted Lasso. I love the show immoderately, and can’t wait for the next season to exist. Ted Lasso is maybe the best good leader I’ve ever seen on television (even better than Jed Bartlet or Leo McGarry).
Get Back. I’m not even through the first episode and I already know it’s going to be one of the best things I ever watched. Process gets me, and watching these great artists in process is a treat.
Podcasts
This is the audio media I spent the most time with this year. I’m sharing a few highlight episodes from a few highlight podcasts.
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Penguins of Madagascar and the Smallpox Vaccine. I wrote yesterday about the book; here’s the podcast that featured original versions of many of the essays from the book. Start at the first episode and binge them all.
Dare To Lead: Trust: Building, Maintaining, and Restoring It. I went and ordered Charles Feltman’s The Thin Book of Trust immediately after hearing this podcast.
Fresh Air: Remembering Stephen Sondheim. Terry Gross is widely regarded as one of the world’s best interviewers, and it was a blessing to get a three part series in tribute to the great Stephen Sondheim. She makes it worth listening.
Lightning Bugs: Conversations with Ben Folds: Sara Bareilles – Constructive Collaboration and Defining your Own Path. The amazing Ben Folds started a series of conversations about creativity. This is one of many standouts in the series. (You can watch on YouTube or listen as a podcast.)
RadioLab: Mixtape: Jack & Bing. From the description: “The story of how Bing Crosby and some stolen Nazi technology won his audience back, changed media forever and accidentally broke reality along the way.”
Unlocking Us: Love, Life, and the Pursuit of Creative Space. I love both Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman, and this conversation between them and Dr. Brené Brown is everything I hoped it would be.
Working It Out With Mike Birbiglia: John Green: The Fault in Our Birbiglias. This is a conversation between two great creators who are friends and mutual fans. A lot of wonderful reflection on the creative process.