fish picks 2021 </div></div></div><div class="fe-block fe-block-636956d0264c95f0a2e9df66"><div class="sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html" data-blend-mode="NORMAL" data-block-type="2" data-border-radii="{"topLeft":{"unit":"px","value":0.0},"topRight":{"unit":"px","value":0.0},"bottomLeft":{"unit":"px","value":0.0},"bottomRight":{"unit":"px","value":0.0}}" id="block-636956d0264c95f0a2e9df66"><div class="sqs-block-content"> <div class="sqs-html-content"> <p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">In 2006 I created my first ‘best of’ list — my favourite 20 albums of the year. It is crazy to think this marks the 16th iteration of this compilation: From 2006’s <em>the fishes’ delicious mix o’six</em> to today’s Fish Picks 2021 (after a year I realized I couldn’t keep coming up with such clever titles year after year). Despite this year’s creative theme, while I’ve made many mix tapes over the years, this foray started in iTunes and converting those lists to CDs. They’d be available for friends at holiday parties or for others by mail. In recent years it has simply become far easier to keep everything in Spotify. The great thing is, even if you don’t have a paid account, you can still listen to <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2QcnJnOs9FJ4bZBqDGhc1H"><strong>Fish Picks 2021</strong></a>!</p><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Before I introduce this year’s list, here’s a bit of the work and effort I’ve mostly created and put on myself to produce this potpourri of sound euphoria. From the beginning I put rules on the process that probably seem ridiculous, but I think have been vital to keep me on track and to make sure listeners knew. Oh, were there ever some rules. All of which, with some executive decisions made wisely here and there, rest assured, I continue to follow to this day. Essentially, no soundtracks, no live albums, no cover albums, and it must be a full LP (no EPs nor singles). Additionally, the cover art must be clean and on point.</p><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I think I may feel this way every year, but this year, in spite of what we’ve all endured in 2020, or maybe because of what we’ve endured, I believe these are some of the best records in a long while. Of course, many were written and recorded back before the chaos of 2020. Regardless, I am indebted to these artists for helping me get through this year.</p><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I hope you find some similar connection to the music. I hope you discover some new artists. I hope you discover some new songs. And above all else, I hope these words and sounds bring you peace and provide a deep sigh of relief, if just for a moment, as we mark the end of a year that has brought us life experience we never expected nor could have imagined. </p><p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">While 2021 won’t suddenly bring an end to the journey we’re on, if not through these songs, in your own way I hope you find a moment of peace where you may reflect on the year for what it is — on those glimmers of hope and joy — and know that the emotions you felt and feel and will feel, they will pass, and time will pass, and the world will continue to change. It will continue to bring insurmountable joy, and unfathomable heartache and pain. And YOU will abide. Thank you for reading and thank you for listening.</p> </div> </div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div> </section> </article> </main> <footer class="sections" id="footer-sections" data-footer-sections> <section data-test="page-section" data-section-theme="dark" class='page-section layout-engine-section background-width--full-bleed content-width--wide horizontal-alignment--center vertical-alignment--middle dark' data-section-id="5fb6ec7f219163737e3655d0" data-controller="SectionWrapperController" data-current-styles="{ "imageOverlayOpacity": 0.15, "backgroundWidth": "background-width--full-bleed", "sectionHeight": "section-height--custom", "customSectionHeight": 20, "horizontalAlignment": "horizontal-alignment--center", "verticalAlignment": "vertical-alignment--middle", "contentWidth": "content-width--wide", "customContentWidth": 100, "sectionTheme": "dark", "sectionAnimation": "none", "backgroundMode": "image" }" data-current-context="{ "video": { "playbackSpeed": 0.5, "filter": 1, 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