Best overlooked albums of 2021

I’m sure I listened to more than 1,000 albums in 2021 — nothing unusual there.

But that still left probably 10 times that number of releases that I passed over. So I don’t suggest that this year’s Best Overlooked Albums column represents any definitive ranking of 2021 albums that deserved far more attention than they received.

This column simply ranks my favorite 20 albums released in 2021 that went largely unnoticed. The list reflects my tastes — power pop, indie rock, blues, Americana, soul and plain old rock ’n’ roll are in my wheelhouse, while I’m not big on hip-hop/rap/R&B, electronic/techno, jazz and what passes for Top 40 pop these days. And I didn’t get around to checking out many of the metal, acoustic folk, reggae or world beat albums either. I’m sure I missed out on some gems.

In any event, there are lots of stellar albums on this list. And while they were largely ignored by radio and the major media outlets, they’ll be on my playlist for years to come.

1. Oscar Lang, “Chew The Scenery.” This debut full-length album is pretty remarkable, first and foremost for the way Lang frequently combines what should be opposing forces — elegant melodies and truly edgy pop-rock. Standout songs “I Could Swear,” “21st Century Hobby” and “Quarter Past Nine” (the latter’s sublime string parts play beautifully against the song’s shimmery-shivering guitars) provide prime examples of this synergy.

But “Chew The Scenery” is nothing if not diverse. The ballad “Final Call” pairs piano and strings to lovely effect. At the other end of the spectrum is “Stuck,” a tart, potent and super-catchy rocker. Another up-tempo track, “Take Time Out,” uses layers of vocal harmonies, guitars and synths elevate the song into an energetic gem. Then there’s a real change-up in “Yeah!,” a song that uses blippy video game notes to give this peppy tune a playful futuristic element.

Put it all together and “Chew The Scenery” stands up to any album I heard in 2021, including the higher profile Grammy-bound albums from Jon Batiste and Adele. Not bad for a debut album.

2. Made Violent, “Wannabe.” Drawing on Brit-pop, glam, Strokes-ish alt-rock and punk, Made Violent unleash a dozen tracks on “Wannabe,” almost all of which come up aces. “Touch,” “Baby Gold,” “Don’t Wanna Know” and “Mess Me Around” are slam-bang rockers with big hooks and equally big guitar riffs. “Two Tone Hair” and “Wasted Days” add a bit of jangle to the equation. “Jealous King” is the closest Made Violent comes to a ballad, but it’s edgy and has a fairly flush sound as well.

Forget the album title, Made Violent are in no way, shape or form wannabes. They’re the real deal.

3. Gaelle Buswel, “Your Journey.” Buswel is only getting started in trying to make an impact in the states, and if things were fair, she’d be making big waves with “Your Journey.” The album shows Buswel is a bluesy rock powerhouse (think Beth Hart, Samantha Fish or Melissa Etheridge) with a potent voice and guitar chops to spare. More importantly, she’s also developed into a strong songwriter, equally capable of rocking out or settling into effective balladry. It’s still early in Buswel’s journey, but she sounds like she’s going places.

4. Reigning Sound, “A Little More Time With Reigning Sound.” Frontman Greg Cartwright reunited with the early lineup of Reigning Sound from the early 2000s for this album. It’s a smashing return, as organ-laced rockers like “Make It Up,” “Let’s Do It Again” and the title track blend the best of garage rock and pop (with bits of country and soul), while this edition of Reigning Sound also proves adept at crafting more relaxed fare such as “On and On,” “Oh Christine” and “I’ll Be Your Man.” You’ll want to spend plenty of time with this album.

5. Mothboxer, “On the Flipside.” Mothboxer’s 2020 album “Accelerator” topped my best overlooked albums list last year. “On the Flipside” is nearly as good. This latest outing rocks a bit harder on tracks like “Living It Up,” “Lost and Found” and the title song, while poppier tunes (“Tip of My Tongue,” “Be Out Here Forever” and “On Repeat”) really spotlight songwriter Dave Ody’s talent for creating some of the most disarming melodies and chord changes you’ll hear from any pop act.

6. Latvian Radio, “Phooey.” Patric Westoo (he is Latvian Radio) favors crisp and catchy guitar pop songs — a style shared by no small number of power pop bands. But most other bands don’t write songs as tuneful as “Make Believe,” “Sliding Down a Ladder” and “Bloody Mary Me Marie,” or nearly all of the other eight songs on “Phooey.” And as a bonus, several songs (“Waiting on a Letter” and “Genie in a Bottle Alright”) have tasty guitar solos that sweeten what are already strong songs.

7. The John Sally Ride, “Now Is Not A Great Time.” Band members John Dunbar, Sal Nunziato and Sal Maida demonstrate once again that they possess a wide power pop vocabulary. They’re equally effective with lighter tunes that feature acoustic instrumentation (“You Let Her Break Your Heart Again” and the title song), crunchy rockers (“Far From Eaten Out” and “Putting It Off”) and songs that fall in between (the jangly feels of “Is It Over Already?” and “She Doesn’t Do Nostalgia”). The songs come with big hooks and smart instrumental touches.

Forget the title. This album marks a great time to get to know the John Sally Ride.

8. Randolph’s Leap, “Spirit Level.” Adam Ross and his band project, Randolph’s Leap, bring a breezy pop sound to “Spirit Level.” But this isn’t disposable pop. The songs are varied, have hooks aplenty and many creative instrumental touches (often supplied by horns or keyboards) that elevate the songs. And don’t let the musical personality of “Spirit Level” cause you to miss the smart lyrics, either. There’s a lot more than what first meets the ear happening on this highly enjoyable album.

9. Livingmore, “Take Me.” The group’s second album finds Livingmore deftly walking a fine line between classic and modern alt-rock/pop, consistently delivering effervescent hooks (as well as some ear-catching guitar solos and licks) throughout the album. Remember the name. Livingmore has the goods to enjoy a long career and more than a few hits along the way.

10. The Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness, “Songs From Another Life.” On their second album, the duo of Gonzalo Marcos and Andrew Taylor have picked up the tempos, punched up the guitars — just a bit — without losing any of the impeccable pop melody or jangle that characterized their 2019 debut, “Dead Calm.”

Honorable Mention: Lydia Luce: “Dark River” (lush and lovely pop); Kiwi Jr.: “Cooler Returns” (kinetic, brainy rock-pop); Quivers: “Golden Doubt” (highly melodic, easy-going pop); Radio Days: “Rave On!” (tuneful, crisp rocking pop); Jessie Lee & The Alchemists: “Let It Shine” (bluesy rock with grit and big vocals); The Suitcase Junket: “The End is New” (Americana with appealing grit and variety); Ryan Allen: “What A Rip” (catchy pop with a garage rock accent); Nova Hawks: “Redemption” (potent blues-accented rock); Beth Lee: “Waiting On You Tonight” (solid set of rootsy rock, country and pop with vintage charm); Waltzer: “Time Traveler” (garage rock, pop with touches of soul)