Best Southern Albums of 2021

December 7, 2021

Home: Charleston, South Carolina

Oh, how we’ve missed you, Susto. 2019’s “Ever Since I Lost My Mind” was a great record, and we played the hell out of it. But we were ready for more, and Susto’s late-2021 release, “Time in the Sun,” is filling our hearts with joy. This is a rock album in which elements of California-inspired pop and Americana shine brightly. Depth in the lyrics (“Get Down” deals with themes of mental health and the power of friendship), combined with a freewheeling breeziness to the album as a whole, is a combo that really works here. Put this record on the turntable, y’all. Time with Susto’s “Time in the Sun” could be the medicine we all need.

Favorite Track: Get Down

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Home: Chattanooga, Tennessee

Amythyst Kiah’s sophomore record is purposeful — each note and word placed with care and intention. The Tennessee native and Our Native Daughters member recorded it twice in full before scrapping it all and starting again for the final cut. In today’s fast-paced, singles-oriented industry, that level of attention and patience is rare. For Kiah, the third time was, indeed, the charm, and “Wary + Strange” is a testament to the worth of the process. Kiah’s distinctive voice strings together songs with ease. The album glides between genres, from fuzzy, bluesy alt-rock to twangy country ballads. Amythyst Kiah does it all — and she does it all damn well.

Favorite Track: Black Myself

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Home: Chattanooga, Tennessee

To say that Isaiah Rashad’s career has been a rollercoaster would be an understatement. Lucky for us, his undeniable talent as a rapper seems to keep tugging him back to the mic. Don’t call it a comeback — it’s more like a constant reinvention. That said, the Southern swagger of Rashad’s lyrical style has always been at home in the midst of Top Dawg Entertainment’s undeniable Los Angeles vibe, and that remains true on “The House Is Burning [homies begged].”

Favorite Track: Headshots (4r Da Locals)

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Home: Nashville

Plenty of artists set out to create a timeless record; very few of them succeed. With “Stand for Myself,” Yola not only succeeded but exceeded all expectations. The British-born Nashvillian has created something rare — an album so groovy and nostalgic that it sounds like you should’ve been dancing to it for decades by now. The Grammy-nominated, unofficial Highwomen member has been making a mark with her powerful voice for years — but in “Stand for Myself,” she’s established herself as an artist we’ll all know and love for years to come.

Favorite Track: Stand for Myself

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Home: Golden, Texas

We were all so ready for Kacey Musgraves’ follow-up to “Golden Hour.” (Waiting, there’s that theme again.) Finally, in 2021, she gave us “star-crossed.” Musgraves’ latest release is told in three parts — a rock opera. Or shall we say, a soft-pop-alt-country-rock-opera. Inspired by her break with Ruston Kelly, “star-crossed” is next-level divorce-core that has been promoted to within an inch of its life. That said, once we pushed past all the mini-movies and billboards to sit with the music, we liked what we heard. Out of the 15 tracks, “justified” is a favorite, and “breadwinner” has become an anthem for women everywhere. In the very danceable “there is a light,” we hear Madonna’s influence along with the lyrics “there is a light at the end of the tunnel.” It’s exactly what the world needs now. Thank you, Kacey Musgraves.

Favorite Track: justified

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Home: Atlanta

If you’ve followed our year-end lists over the years, you know we love Atlanta-based Curtis Harding. While there is no mistaking his influences (another soul singer named Curtis certainly comes to mind), he continually manages to deliver his own riff on the sound in a manner that’s impossible to ignore. “If Words Were Flowers” packs punch after punch of soulful anthems. In a year that often had us feeling like tired patients in a never-ending waiting room, we’re happy to join Curtis in his relentless chorus of remaining “Hopeful.”

Favorite Track: Hopeful

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Home: Atlanta

Whether you’re talking about her early days with Awful Records or the swooning presence of Matt “Pistol” Stoessel’s pedal steel, Faye Webster has always brought a welcome and unexpected mix of influences to her songs. Not content to sit squarely in the indie-folk genre of her contemporaries, Webster's latest album is a little bit country and a little bit R&B, without ever trying to be either at all. Pitchfork said Webster “sounds like the saddest person you follow on social media.” There is a droll truth in that statement that feels just right in describing her sound. Don’t let that suggest that there isn’t real depth to her songs. Webster is an intricate lyricist as well as a songwriter truly dedicated to the craft of it all. But she’d never want you to know that she takes it all so seriously.

Favorite Track: In a Good Way

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Home: Fort Worth, Texas

“Gold-Diggers Sound” is so good in our ears, and “Steam” is definitely our dance-in-the-kitchen song of 2021. The R&B grooves are smooth and addictive and, at times, make our hearts ache. Pitchfork mentioned that Bridges, while making “Gold-Diggers,” was working, living, and, for some time, trapped, at the Gold-Diggers studio in Los Angeles. Makes sense. Themes of time, waiting, and yearning permeate the 11 tracks. And “Sweeter,” Bridges’ duet with Terrace Martin, might be the perfect track for these times — “Hoping for a life more sweeter / Instead I’m just a story repeating.” Is “Gold-Diggers” a breakthrough record for our beloved Leon Bridges? Maybe not, but it is as finely produced an album as they come, and we’ve listened to it about 55 million times.

Favorite Track: Steam

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Home: Nashville

In September 2021, Billy Strings shared the story of his hard childhood with The New York Times. Music almost killed him, and then, it seems, music saved his life. Slowly, slowly, we were lured in and are now blissfully happy inside the Billy Strings tent. A masterful musician playing a renegade kind of bluegrass, Strings is a lovable dude who aims to spread positivity and joy. If you’ve strayed from bluegrass (like we had), spend some time with the 16 tracks on “Renewal.” Billy Strings’ mesmerizing new record might bring you back into the fold.

Favorite Track: Heartbeat of America

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Home: Nashville

The daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Delaware-born and Arizona-raised Joy Oladokun has made a home in Nashville. We couldn’t be happier to have her as a Southerner. You might’ve heard her earlier work on “This Is Us,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Good Trouble,” or a handful of other hit TV shows. It’s no wonder she became a quick favorite for prime-time placements — her bright, clear voice delivers songs that span genres, each one filled to the brim with emotion. In her major-label debut, “in defense of my own happiness (complete),” Oladokun’s smooth vocals pair perfectly with her vulnerable, heart-wrenching songwriting. The 24-track album is, among other things, focused on Oladokun’s journey with religious deconstruction. “I got to a point where I was like, ‘If God exists, he does not care that I’m gay. With all of the things happening, he cannot give a shit,’” Oladokun said on her website, recalling the period of time after she left the church and came out. “I feel like it’s not an accident I’m a queer Black woman writing and making music.”

Favorite Track: look up

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Home:  Memphis, Tennessee

We had the chance to speak with Memphis-based singer-songwriter Valerie June earlier this year about her upbringing, mindfulness practices, and the belief that each of us holds magic within. In her third album, “The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers,” it’s clear that June has harnessed the power of her own magic. She’s created a collection of songs that highlight the range of her talent — culminating in a record with a level of depth and cohesion we haven’t heard from her before. Give this one a spin and let her distinctive, longing voice draw you in — an alchemist with Appalachian roots, casting a spell upon us all.

Favorite Track: You and I

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Home: Lithia Springs, Georgia

What is there left to say about Lil Nas X? There are few artists who have been more streamed, more loved, more hated, and more debated than Montero Lamar Hill. In fact, it feels like he’s been the subject of more cultural memes and discussion than the entire rest of the internet combined. When your every move is under that much scrutiny before you have a chance to fully find yourself as an artist, the process can appear contrived or disingenuous from the outside. He’s walking a tightrope, but pop stardom at his level demands it. Despite the fact that the 15-times platinum single “Old Town Road” was released three years ago, we’re just now finally getting a look at Nas’ first full-length album, and, well, it’s a lot of fun. Alright — we’re gonna shut up and dance now!

Favorite Track: THAT’S WHAT I WANT

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Home: Macon, Georgia, and Nashville 

On her latest album, “Thirstier,” Mackenzie Scott, known as Torres, delivers anthem upon anthem in the grandest fashion. The tracks are BIG in the way that’s impossible not to rock out to, with the ’90s-inspired sound that’s permeating much of the indie world these days. Throughout “Thirstier,” Scott unmistakably pays homage to the fuzzed-out grunge sounds that came before her in a way that doesn’t feel too contrived. Comparisons to ’90s indie rock aside, the confidence of an artist in the throes of love is on full display here. Turn this one up loud.

Favorite Track: Don’t Go Puttin Wishes in My Head

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Home: Nashville

“I wanted you to get that ethereal feel of the South,” adia victoria told Holler. “The humidity of it, the heat. I wanted this record to encapsulate the extremes of the South.” In her third studio album, “A Southern Gothic,” she does just that. Victoria has captured the nuances and complexities of the region — all through her distinctive style of Southern gothic blues we’ve come to know and love. It’s a collection of Southern stories, always tense and often heavy, that is evidence of growth from the Nashville-based, South Carolina-raised songwriter. Her masterful writing and soulful, delicate voice are on full display, lyrics as poetic and evocative as ever, as she climbs from a whisper to a wail without a flinch. She also packed in some brilliant collaborations on this one, including Kyshona Armstrong, Margo Price, Jason Isbell, and Matt Berninger.

Favorite Track: South for the Winter (feat. Matt Berninger)

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Home: Memphis, Tennessee 

Memphis-based rap music has long been known for its raw, dark, gritty underground sound. On “Why Look Up, God’s in the Mirror,” Lukah takes that aesthetic and turns it up to 11. In an era of hip-hop that can often leave you wondering if lyrics still matter, Lukah demolishes that notion and raps so hard and so intently that there’s no doubt he means every single syllable. There is hardly a hook or chorus on the whole album — just really great rapping from start to finish. “Why Look Up, God’s in the Mirror” paints a picture that leaves you both in awe of Lukah’s wordplay and perhaps even a little terrified of the world he’s placed you in. It’s the epitome of Southern gothic, but it’s not all dark. The album, Lukah said in a Bandcamp interview, is “conceptually … designed to offer a path out of despair.” This album exemplifies rap music’s ability to transport us into lives and neighborhoods not our own. Lukah is in fact a “street reporter” of the highest caliber.

Favorite Track: GLASSHOUSES

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Home: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Devout bluegrass fans have adored this husband-and-wife duo (formerly Mandolin Orange) for years. At The Bitter Southerner, we’ve fallen head over heels in love with them as Watchhouse. A desire to broaden their creative scope has come with a new name, and Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin’s debut record as Watchhouse is maybe the most beautiful on our list. Waiting. Time. There are those themes again. In “New Star,” they sing, “Someday we’ll be older / Our eyes may cry / Look what’s become of me and my former / Steal away, steal away, remember / At least we’re all here together.” We were lucky enough to see Watchhouse live a few weeks ago at The Georgia Theatre. The audience stood dead still, reverent. Watchhouse is pure magic.

Favorite Track: New Star

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Home: Atlanta

The first thing that hits you on “AZEB” is the infectious groove. But beneath that is a beautifully complex expression of love in the face of a painful world. In a digital era where we often see artists cram as many tracks onto an album as humanly possible, there is a thoughtful touch to the process that resulted in the arrangement of Mereba’s seven songs. “Aye” is the pregame rally — laid-back, smoke-filled, but with a declaration that, despite the chill vibe, there is a reality to this world we’re rolling through. (“Aye, aye, it’s a war like every day / Keep my gold up in my safe / They won’t bring me to my knees / I’m fucked up / Got my bucks up / With my Chucks on / And my blunt tucked.”) From there, “Rider” hits full stride on the tightly curated selection of songs. An EP perhaps, but perfect in its presentation.

Favorite Track: Rider

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Home: Athens, Georgia

Spotify Wrapped recently let us know which records we listened to most in 2021. Across the board, Lo Talker’s “A Comedy of Errors” was at the top of our lists at The Bitter Southerner. Yes, with a sunshiny, psychedelic-tinged sound that we love, Athens-based Lo Talker has come to life. The band, led by former Roadkill Ghost Choir frontman Andrew Shepard, is hella charming. Think goofy videos and Instagram posts where Shepard’s young nieces and nephews give the record terrible reviews. Lyrics sometimes dark but presented with a wink, “A Comedy of Errors” is great fun. Get on the Lo Talker train, y’all. You won’t be sorry.

Favorite Track: Silvery - Shade Or Shadow

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Home: Florida / North Carolina

Under his stage name, Helado Negro, Roberto Carlos Lange has delivered an album full of breezy grooves, complex beats, and thoughtful (occasionally multilingual) lyrics that all come together like the soundtrack to a beautiful hazy dream. Sometimes quiet and meditative, sometimes full-on dance party, “Far In” features an array of drummers that would make Questlove swoon. While the album covers a lot of ground, it’s also held together with a comfortable consistency. Lange, originally from south Florida, spent much of his musical and artistic career in Brooklyn before returning to North Carolina after the pandemic. We’re happy to have him back, and even more grateful for this album.

Favorite Track: Hometown Dream

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Home: Nashville

Formerly part of Our Native Daughters (on our 2019 list) and many other groups, Allison Russell’s “Outside Child” is her first solo record. On that note, The Bitter Southerner has three words to describe the album: worth the wait. We are proud to declare “Outside Child” our top album of 2021. The subject matter here is grave, but there is poetry, joy and hope in the music. If you’ve read about Russell’s unimaginable and abusive childhood, these very personal songs could rip your heart out. But know this: Earlier this year in an NPR interview with Jewly Hight, Russell said, “This is not a record about trauma. It’s a record about art and community and chosen family.” We want to be part of that family, Allison Russell. “Outside Child” recently received three Grammy nominations for Best American Roots Performance, Best American Roots Song, and Best Americana Album. There are other folks on our list going up against Russell in all three categories, so we’ll be pulling for them all. In the meantime, we’re pulling for Russell’s solo career to keep going and going and going.

Favorite Track: Nightflyer

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