Never in modern times has it been cooler to be a young poet. Amanda Gorman’s stunning The Hill We Climb at Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021 was the catalyst for this, and she’s deservedly reaped the rewards – her poetry books sold out and she had to get an agent and manager to handle her appearances.
The Gorman Effect has flung opened the doors for young activist poets. Credit as well to Kae Tempest’s spellbinding Glastonbury sets and the phenomenal reception for the rapping and singing in Hamilton. Do a thing well and ….
This year poets billy woods (NYC), Jamila Woods (Chicago), Kara Jackson (Chicago), Camae Ayewa aka Irreversible Entanglements (Philly), Aja Monet (LA), noname (Chicago), Lana Del Rey (NYC), Dessa (Minn), and Baxter Dury (London) all dropped wonderful albums styled around hip hop, jazz, soul, pop, rock, country and even blues. Gil Scott-Heron is probably genuflecting in his grave.
Here’s my albums of the year:
Killer Mike – Michael
A Kendrick-level autobiography.
Aja Monet – When The Poems Do What They Want
The butterfly in the battlefield, a swing set in a gunfight, hopscotch…. joy is righteous.
Iris DeMent – Workin’ On A World
Pete Seeger would be proud.
Colter Wall – Little Songs
Warms the cockles
boygenius – The Record
Songwriters extraordinaire Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers & Lucy Dacus
Noname – Sundial
Slam poetry; no holds barred.
Burna Boy – I Told Them
Dynamic Afropop-hip hop.
Kara Jackson – Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love?
Think Nina Simone.
Dinner Party – Enigmatic Society
Modern jazz gods Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin, and 9th Wonder.
Grace Potter – Mother Road
Road trip!
There was a Hold Steady album this year????!
Alison Russell & boygenius both high in my rankings too. Saw both in Halifax this summer (at separate shows).
Hope all is well with you, tinny.
Rich C.
DsD
Your Halifax, I presume.
Cheers & Merry Christmas