As we swirl down the drain of 2021, slowly escaping a year that looked oddly similar to the year before, it’s time to flail helplessly through our memories in a desperate search for something solid. New favorites were few and far between. We are truly adrift in an ever-expanding ocean of content, yet authenticity remains fleeting. It’s okay, we know where to look. In light of the impending metaverse, bonus points were awarded to anything grounded in reality.

Here is a sopping wet handful of our favorite treasures from 2021.

SONGS

🥉#3 Wet Leg - Chaise Longue

Radio pop will always find a way to hurdle over your defenses and burrow deep within your brain. Wet Leg recently swam ashore from the Isle of Wight to share a few new tunes, with this hit at the forefront. Good luck looking at a chaise longue again without this chorus leaking out of your ears.

🥈#2 IDLES - The Wheel

Never stagnant, IDLES cranked out yet another album this year. My favorite track, “The Wheel,” chugs along beautifully and, like all things IDLES, is best consumed through one of the band’s passionate live performances. It’s heavy, it’s authentic, and it’s everything I’ve come to expect from these lads. Can someone please get them a hallelujah?

🏆#1 Mdou Moctar - Afrique Victime

Time to get into Tishoumaren music. While previously uninformed about North African blues rock, Mdou Moctar has opened my mind to the genre and “Afrique Victime” is the grooviest pill to swallow. Many of their songs fit seamlessly into a funk, surf, or folk playlist, but you’ll soon be able to pick out Tuareg poetry with a trained ear. I can’t believe all of you have been keeping this from me.

Honorable Mention: Shirt - We’re Still Alive

Shirt is avant garde rap’s most dedicated underground disciple and he’s been routinely interesting for the better part of a decade. This album tries a lot of things and succeeds at most of them. He’s always worth hearing.

SHOWS

🥉#3 Sidetalk

Bing bong! Love it or hate it, this fast cut vox pop series filmed live from the streets of New York City hit the big time in 2021. Neighborhood characters, and a limited stable of regulars, are given a chance to shine with a highlight reel of their best moments on the mic. It’s raw and occasionally off-putting, just like the city itself.

🥈#2 Bald and Bankrupt

We’re a little late to the party on this one, because this bald Brit has been around the world a few times at this point. He’s spent the majority of the year banging around the Ukraine and riding on Trans-Siberian trains, giving us an informal education in Soviet history. This series has been fascinating and watching him interact with locals is pure, worldly entertainment.

🏆#1 Shane Gillis Live In Austin

Funny from the first minute up until the final second, Shane Gillis’ self-produced comedy special is a no-frills instant classic. Instead of moping about getting publicly mollywhopped by the media, this big dog released a top-notch special and a ten-pack of hilarious sketches. That’s in addition to being one half of this nation’s best podcast. In less than three months, his special is about to crack three million views and it deserves every single one of them.

Honorable Mention: Post 10

Without people like Post 10, this country would simply drown. This mysterious samaritan roams the Northeastern United States, unclogging culverts and storm drains. He’s a one man road crew. Abandoned meth den? He’ll dig around. This channel isn’t really for anybody, but I find his passion strange and infectious. He also seems to know a little bit about everything. A nice potpourri of content.

GAMES

🥉#3 Age of Empires 4

Nearly 25 years since the first game, Age of Empires still rules over the real time strategy genre. Modern improvements to core gameplay was everything this civilization-building classic needed. Campaign segments now include incredibly engrossing historical breakdowns and if you’re not careful, you might learn something. May your empire grow and your monks wololo.

🥈#2 Valheim

Cast blindly into lands of ice and snow and midnight sun where hot springs flow, it’s up to you to learn the ways of the viking. Heavily focused on exploration and survival, Valheim perfects the formula with tight controls and easy building mechanics. It’s also wrapped in a peculiarly beautiful landscape. You’re encouraged to fight the horde, sing, and cry alone or with up to 10 friends. I’ll let Valhalla know you’re coming.

🏆#1 Inscryption

An incredibly unique single-player story-based deck builder that only gets weirder and weirder. There are clever mechanics at every turn and the story manages to stay engaging the whole way through, without overstaying its welcome. You start playing cards in a spooky cabin against a mysterious stranger, then the cards start talking to you, then, I promise, it only gets weirder and weirder. I just wanted to play a game.

Honorable Mention: Psychonauts 2

The long-awaited sequel to this cult-favorite platformer delivered on multiple levels. Every aspect of the original game was improved upon and the series managed to keep their quirky style and voice intact. Imaginative design and gameplay, even if it’s not totally up my alley. If I was a tween, I’d be enthralled.

FIGHTS

🥉#3 Max Holloway x Yair Rodriguez

A vicious whirlwind of fist, feet, knees, and elbows from all directions with a few submission attempts mixed into the fray. This fight had it all. Momentum shifted every few minutes, forcing this pair to dig deep into their bag of tricks. When the dust settled, 389 significant strikes had landed – the third highest in UFC history. That’s no surprise, as Holloway is also attached to the first, second, and fourth highest totals on the same record board. Neither man has ever been in a boring fight and this was no exception.

🥈#2 Justin Gaethje x Michael Chandler

Rarely does a fight live up to the surrounding hype. This one did. Every fan in Madison Square Garden was on their feet for the duration of this 15-minute war. Both men stood toe-to-toe and traded power shots in front of a roaring crowd until the final bell, as advertised. Sure, matchups like Yan/Sandhagen were better technical performances of high-level mixed martial arts, but it’s not often you see such raw aggression. It was the kind of display that is unique to the sport and vibrates the soul. Competitive violence, distilled.

🏆#1 Tyson Fury x Deontay Wilder 3

Speaking of fights that lived up to the hype, this trilogy is among the greatest in combat sports history. The third bout was obviously no exception. Wilder looked sluggish in the opening rounds, with Fury’s speed and footwork making the difference. When Fury scored a knockdown in round three, I was sure it was over. Then Wilder scored a knockdown in round four. Just seconds later, he scored another. Being the showman that he is, The Gypsy King battled back over the next six rounds before closing out the trilogy in dramatic fashion.

Honorable Mention: Alexander Volkanovski x Brian Ortega

While it feels wrong to leave this off the official list, it was a mostly one-sided display dotted with drama. Volkanovski showed off his phenomenal high-volume kickboxing against a more-than-game Ortega for 25 very dangerous minutes. In the third round, Ortega was able to snatch the champ’s neck and had him gasping for air on more than one occasion. Somehow Alexander was able to escape the vice-like grip of Ortega and absolutely batter him en route to a career-defining decision win.

KEEPING UP

It felt redundant to list past favorites above and it also felt rude to stop talking about them.

🥉#3 Rick Glassman

If you like him when he takes his shoes off, wait until you see him take London. Rick Glassman proves he’s funny no matter where you put him. This travel short carries the same spirit and quality production as his podcast, but it’s shot overseas so it seems new and exciting. A jolly good romp.

🥈#2 Amyl & The Sniffers - Comfort to Me

Amyl and the gang continue to impress with their latest record Comfort to Me. It’s packed with grimy rock and roll gems like “Guided by Angels”, “Security”, “Hertz” – just about everything on the track list. It’s a stellar album that builds on an already legendary library. This is the best band in Australia, quite possibly the Southern Hemisphere, quite possibly the world.

🏆#1 How To with John Wilson Season 2

It’s safe to assume that nobody will ever shoot a more compelling series using film snippets and voice overs. Every episode oozes with creativity, ushering you through the mundane with unexpected twists that lead to a somehow profound and often poignant ending. I try not to blink when watching, fearful of missing a single moment. Painfully funny and real. There’s nothing like it.

Honorable Mention: Joe List

There’s a lot of funny in the tiny mouth of Joe List. He’s been slinging zingers all year long and it’s about time someone noticed. Punchline after punchline, Joe’s quick wit absolutely glows on comedy podcasts. With a feature-length movie and a new special on the horizon, the future seems bright for this clever curmudgeon.