In 2021, concerts returned, musicians started dropping projects they’d been working on pre- or mid-pandemic, and over here at The Current, Diane started hosting The Local Show! We started with a list of 10 notable Minnesota albums we’d like to feature, which grew to 20, which grew to 25. Truly, every single one of these projects is worth checking out. Enjoy our picks — and listen along on The Local Show or on Spotify!

Low – Hey What

On the thirteenth Low album, Al Sparhawk and Mimi Parker pad farther down their own dark path, their hands resting on each other’s shoulders. Hey What wedges guitar through distortion effects and lofts the couple’s voices to the sky. BJ Burton’s production is up for the “Best Engineered, Non-Classical" Grammy. - Cecilia Johnson 

Humbird – Still Life

Siri Undlin and her housemate, Addie Strei, planned to be on tour for much of 2020. Instead, they stayed at home in their matching yellow bedrooms and made Still Life, a tender meditation on domestic living and societal uprising. Undlin sings and Strei produces. - Cecilia Johnson 

Dua Saleh – CROSSOVER

Dua Saleh’s CROSSOVER EP belongs in a class of its own. It balances mainstream pop songwriting with erotic queer listening pleasure that can seduce any underground hip-hop and R&B music lover. Dua flexes their voice like a gymnast: from a remixed falsetto to a whispery chest voice balancing on fanciful wordplay. Their music belongs everywhere from nightclubs to private spaces to NBA halftime shows. - Diane 

Dizzy Fae – Antenna

Many of the year’s best releases captured the itchy energy of 2021, of buoyant reconnection amid enduring uncertainty. In her addictive EP Antenna, Dizzy Fae went about the serious business of bop-making with confident wit and a refusal to let anyone else dictate the terms on which she lets her “Body Move.” - Jay Gabler 

FPA – Princess Wiko

Listening to FPA’s record Princess Wiko is almost like overhearing a conversation that you weren’t meant to hear. It’s the private diary of a noblewoman who’s struggling in her relationship with a man she was forced to marry. While many artists write about personal subjects in real time, FPA’s exploration of fictional storytelling to the tune of modern pop/folk/hip-hop is both ahead of its time and back in time. - Diane 

PaviElle French – Sovereign

PaviElle French has had a tremendous year. The McKnight and Jerome Artist Fellow will perform with the Minnesota Orchestra on Dec. 16-19, flying off the success of her powerful record Sovereign. The full-length neo-soul record is a celebration of Black Arts in the midst of struggle and growth. A virtuosic singer, PaviElle effortlessly glides in and out of notes with jazz experimentation and lyrical prowess. Truly, it’s PaviElle’s intellectual wisdom brought to life through art and soulful experimentation that makes each and every song on “Sovereign” a gift to any listener. - Diane 

Bad Bad Hats – Walkman

There are no sure bets in love or basketball, but you can place an Exacta on Bad Bad Hats’ breezy songwriting and consummate craftsmanship. Their third full-length packed a little extra guitar crunch for their cross-country travels supporting Walkman. - Jay Gabler 

King Pari – Mary 

Listening to Mary gives me the same feeling as watching a grainy, sunbleached video of the last day of high school in the 1970s. It's nostalgic, breezy, good mood music that will leave you with the same kind of smile shown on their beautifully illustrated album cover. - Julian 

Kiss The Tiger – Vicious Kid

Kiss The Tiger’s Vicious Kid gives the gift of song. Each track is catchy, relatable and downright fun. From the heart-pumping rock number “Motel Room'' to the coming-of-age ballad “Grown Ass Woman,” Kiss The Tiger writes songs that are meant to make you sing and feel wonderfully entertained. With charismatic actress-turned-rocker Meghan Kreidler at the front, it’s no wonder why Kiss The Tiger is one of most popular live acts in the Twin Cities. - Diane

Mike Kota – Rift

The first thing you hear on Rift is Mike Kota’s resonant, emotive voice. Listen closer and you’ll be able to appreciate deeply personal lyrics that show Kota’s skills as a songwriter. All of this is buttressed by ethereal, dense layers of music. Kota has had a big year and has done so by reaching into that “limitless, abundant feeling.” We can’t wait to see where it takes her next. - Julian 

VIAL – Loudmouth 

After a period when it seemed young artists were abandoning axes in favor of Abletons, the electric guitar is having a 2020s comeback at approximately the volume of Doc Brown’s amplifier. VIAL exemplify the energy of this moment; with song titles like “Mr. F—k You,” “Piss Punk,” and “Vodka Lemonade,” you have some idea of the vibe this album manifests. Then you hit play, and...whoa. - Jay Gabler 

MMYYKK – Science

What MMYYKK has down to a “Science” is the ability to produce ultra-smooth music with a strong message. Certainly, there’s a sweet spot his mind and body know how to effortlessly carve out. His EP Science is art with pure intentions, whether it be rallying for proactivity, love or truth. With MMYYKK’s guiding warm voice at the center, Science is a record worth having on tireless repeat. - Diane 

papa mbye – MANG FI

It seems like every song on MANG FI is a different genre, and within those songs are at least three distinct movements. Like an onion, MANG FI has layers. The care put into the intricacies of this EP are apparent upon first listen and even clearer upon further analysis. With MANG FI, papa mbye has proven himself to be one of the most exciting experimental artists in the Twin Cities. - Julian

Rachel Lime – A.U. 

Rachel Lime didn’t rush this one. She started making music at age 13, so by the time she dropped her debut release well into her 20s, an entire aesthetic emerged fully formed: a mixture of chamber pop and robo-soul. From the opening track, “Voyager 3,” this is music that sends you to the stars. - Jay Gabler 

26 Bats! – Portal Party 

One thing I love about 26 Bats! Is the exclamation point in their name. It’s completely necessary and reflected in their maximalist sound. Portal Party, the latest refinement of that sound, blends elements of electronic music, indie rock, and baroque rock to create an aural collage, with “helicopter” being the best example of this. Also, can we please take a moment to appreciate how good vocalist Bailey Cogan sounds auto-tuned? - Julian 

Brianna Koçka – Let It Stay

Over the last several years, Brianna Koçka lost a marriage, a boyfriend, and her faith. But during the pandemic, the solo artist and Zoo Animal guitarist says she has been “learning how to put it all back together again.” Koçka’s EP Let It Stay is a warm, crisp collection of jazz-influenced folk songs. - Cecilia Johnson

Charlie Parr – Last of The Better Days Ahead

Few artists can tap the profound feeling that’s innate to Charlie Parr’s weathered voice and vaulting guitar-picking, and his powerful performances continue to gain national attention — including with this, his first release on Smithsonian Folkways. - Jay Gabler 

Gully Boys – Favorite Son

Nadirah McGill, Natalie Klemond, Kathy Callahan, and new guitarist Mariah Mercedes have had a big old year, emerging from quarantine as leaders of the latest wave of Minneapolis DIY. While most of Favorite Son’s songs have incredible hooks and guitar power, “Russian Doll” is a particularly brilliant capture of late-capitalism malaise. - Cecilia Johnson

Lanue – Lanue

Sarah Krueger’s new musical identity didn’t just take off this year: it soared above the shores of Lake Superior, her lauded songwriting gaining added resonance in a rich new context. The sound of her self-titled album is so smooth, you might put it on for easy listening...only to find yourself overcome by emotion. - Jay Gabler 

I Self Devine – Rituals of Resilience

Rituals of Resilience is an experience: literally and figuratively. Along with his fellow executive producers Orko Eloheim and Medium Zach, I Self Devine designed the album to pair with a Mia exhibition of the same name. Both the visual art and the album commemorate “the act of survival under intense pressure and heat.” The exhibition is still open, by the way — bring earbuds. - Cecilia Johnson

Hippo Campus – Good Dog, Bad Dream

Hippo Campus are in an experimental phase — and I don’t just say that because of their “Deepfake” lyric “Do as many drugs as you can.” The wholesome indie rockers flirt with hyperpop (“Mojo Jojo”) and stream-of-consciousness lyrics (“Bad Dream Baby”) on Good Dog, Bad Dream, an EP that should tide fans over until LP3 drops on Feb. 4, 2022. - Cecilia Johnson

Annie Mack – Testify

Annie Mack’s powerful voice is the driving force behind Testify. Inspiring tracks like “Walking Around” and “Testify” are standouts on the EP. Annie Mack’s music has a classic feel to it, Testify bringing motivational anthems to all who need them. - Julian 

Chris Bierden – So Long 

Chris Bierden has spent much of his career as a singer backing uniquely gorgeous female voices, including Channy Leaneagh (Poliça), Adriana Rimpel (Lady Midnight), and Sara Bischoff (Under Violet). As a solo artist, he is front and center, and exposure to this quiet, humble being is a delight. His LP So Long provides a melodic, peculiarly beautiful soundtrack of dreamy, psychedelic indie music. - Diane 

Mayyadda – Try&Remember

Mayyadda has a voice for anyone to find comfort in. It’s gentle, silky, and uncannily reminiscent of the R&B-pop artists many of us grew up on, like Monica, Michelle Williams or Ashanti. Try&Remember, the artist’s third record, is chill, poppy and soulful. The instrumentals provide the perfect backdrop to Mayyadda’s touching voice singing in a language of self-healing and empowerment through honest reflection and raw talent. - Diane

XINA – PULL & PUSH

Back in October, Xina told me that making music is a spiritual experience for her. With Pull/Push, Xina has taken her music to new heights, thanks to excellent production and a strong concept connecting the two projects. Xina’s multidisciplinary nature lends itself to the creation of music, videos, and dance pieces that form a cohesive vision. - Julian