Year-End Wrap Up: Our 2021 Favourites - 95.7 ELMNT FM

2021 was another year of staying home and keeping ourselves busy. Thankfully it was also a year of a lot of exciting releases for us to enjoy. We asked the ELMNT FM team to share their 2021 favourites and here is what they had to say.

Matthew Bisson

What were some albums you loved this year?

St. Vincent – Daddy’s Home
Bachelor – Doomin’ Sun
The Halluci Nation – One More Saturday Night
Lucy Dacus – Home Video
Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams

What about songs?

Kaeley Jade – Painless
Lucy Dacus – Going Going Gone
Samantha Crain – Bloomsday
The Halluci Nation – Stay
Phoebe Bridgers – That Funny Feeling

Were there any movies you loved this year?

Black Widow
A Quiet Place Part Two
No Time To Die
Dune
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

What shows were you binging?

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Last Week Tonight
Ted Lasso
Reservation Dogs

Jill Kennedy

What were your most listened to albums in 2021?

This is a tough one! I’m going to have to pick three: Arlo Park’s poetic and saddening “Collapsed in Sunbeams”, Andy Shauf’s musical narrative “Wilds”, and Japanese Breakfast’s indie pop dreamscape “Jubilee”.

What about songs?

I absolutely adored SZA’s “Good Days” which is my pick for the year. But, it’s hard to choose just one because Mitski’s “Working for the Knife”, Ruby Waters’ “Blood Thinner”, Phoebe Bridgers and MUNA’s “Silk Chiffon”, and Fleece’s “Do U Mind? (Leave the Light On) are bridging on perfection.

What movies did you love this year?

How do I possibly choose? My absolute favourite was Bo Burnham’s masterpiece “Inside”. Check out my thoughts on it here.
I was fortunate to check out the Kingston Canadian Film Festival which screened one of my other favourites of this year “Shiva Baby”. You can check out my other picks from the Festival here.
I also loved The Green Knight, Dune, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and The French Dispatch.

Were there any shows you couldn’t get enough of?

This year’s lineup of shows was incredible. I enjoyed Reservation Dogs from Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, which brought humour and drama to the screen and raised up a cast of talented Indigenous actors.
Some other incredible shows from this year were The White Lotus, Mare of Easttown, Workin’ Moms, and Sex Education.

What about books you couldn’t put down?

I regrettably didn’t read any 2021 releases this year. That said, I read a lot of books from 2020. My favourites were Rumaan Alam’s frightening and funny “Leave the World Behind”, Jesse Thistle’s gritty and honest memoir “From the Ashes”, and Souvankham Thammavongsa’s emotional and eye-opening “How to Pronounce Knife.”
Other books I loved from years past were “Johnny Applessed” from Joshua Whitehead, “Sweetbitter” from Stephanie Danler and “Conversations with Friends” from Sally Rooney.

What are your video game picks for 2021?

Mario Party Superstars, hands down! The new DLC release for Animal Crossing New Horizons has renewed my love for the game, too. I’ve also spent way more time than I’d like to admit playing Pokémon GO.

Were there any viral trends that stood out to you this year?

My favourite trend was the “Evil ____ Be Like” Twitter trend where a band or artist’s lyrics would reflect the opposite sentiments. For example, “Evil Adele be like, ‘Goodbye.'”

Jay Herrington

What album did you have on repeat this year?

Lil Nas X – MONTERO

What about song?

Lil Nas X – That’s What I Want

What was the best movie you watched this year?

Nobody

Did you binge any shows?

Yellowstone

Were there any video games you couldn’t put down?

Whatever my kids made me play with them.

Did any viral trends stand out to you this year?

The Milk Crate Challenge

Aiden Wolf

What’s your pick for top album of 2021?

Lil Nas X – MONTERO

What songs could you be caught listening to this year?

Lil Nas X – Industry Baby
The Pretty Reckless – Only Love Can Save Me Now

Were there any shows you couldn’t stop watching?

Yellowstone

What about books you couldn’t put down?

The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie

What video games did you love this year?

Forza Horizon 5

What was your favourite viral trend?

Khaby Lame, hands down!

Cody Coyote

What songs did you have on repeat this year?

Shake by PJ Vegas
It’s Over by The Halluci Nation ft. Chippewa Travellers
100 Years by Amanda Rheaume

Were there any movies that stood out to you?

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Venom: Let There Be Carnage

What shows did you binge?

Reservation Dogs

Did you read any good books?

The Mishomis Book

What about video games? What did you love?

Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Mario Party Superstars

What was your favourite viral trend in 2021?

The #ShakeChallenge

Abigail Laframboise

What were the best albums of 2021?

400LB Backsquat – Bilmuri
You’re Welcome – A Day to Remember

What songs did you have on repeat?

Hate Me (Sometimes) – Stand Atlantic
Coffee Talk – Broadside
DiE4u – Bring Me the Horizon
Alkaline – Sleep Token
LORDFARQUADZILLA – Bilmuri ft. Jonathan Young

Were there any movies you loved?

The Suicide Squad (2021)
Detective Pikachu
Boss Level
Army of Thieves

What shows did you binge watch?

New Girl
How I Met Your Mother
Big Mouth
Jane The Virgin
Animal Kingdom

Did you play any video games?

Mario Party Superstars
House Flipper
Super Paper Mario Origami King
Pokémon GO

What viral trends stood out to you this year?

Sidetalk New York (BING BONG)

Jonathan Shaw

What albums stood out to you this year?

Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa
Certified Lover Boy – Drake
Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon – Pop Smoke
Planet Her – Doja Cat

What songs could we catch you listening to?

Essence – Tems and Whizkid
Peaches – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar and Giveon

What movies did you love in 2021?

Judas and the Black Messiah
Summer of Soul
King Richard