Just finished one of the busiest weeks in listening yet! I continued the process of getting reacquainted with those albums I reviewed this year to determine the Top 10 Best of 2021 but the big push came with the long Thanksgiving road trip that began today.

My wife chose 80s music for the drive thus the reason for the two of bands with similar members. Usually, she doesn’t like what I bring but this time she asks, after we’re already underway, where is Metallica? Motley Crue? Styx? REO Speedwagon? I didn’t bring any of those because she only likes a song or two. Usually anyway. So we made do with what we had.

1. Weezer – Van Weezer

Weezer released two albums this year, this was the second on. Read my review here.

2. Switchfoot – Interrobang

A somewhat solemn new album from Switchfoot that takes a pretty big departure from the previous 20 years but sounded more like Switchfoot than I remembered. Read my review here.

3. Athey Music – Goodness & Mercy

After their album release concert, I had to review this local band’s new album to get the setlist correct as they switched it up a bit for the show. This also led to me listening to…

4. Bon Jovi – Learn to Love (song)

…the final song of Bon Jovi’s The Circle. One of the songs off Goodness and Mercy reminded me of this underrated song from Bon Jovi I listened to quite a bit in 2009.

5. The War on Drugs – I Don’t Live Here Anymore (album)

A new album from the SEO challenged band called The War on Drugs. I saw them a few years ago. The new album was pretty good but I didn’t write a review for several reasons, one being I’ve done so many this year I’ve shut it down for the remainder of the year.

6. Foo Fighters – Medicine at Midnight (album)

Seems so long ago since this one came out. Read my review here.

7. Thrice – Horizons/East (album)

This was gloomier than I remembered. Read my review here.

8. Duran Duran – Debut, Live from London (albums)

We, of course, had Duran Duran for the trip and their debut album played first and though Live from London was not live from the 80s, it counted. And honestly, we had little from the 80s to listen to.

9. The Power Station – The Power Station (album)

The band John and Andy Taylor moonlighted or fled to, depending on your preference, within or outside the confines of Duran Duran, depending on your preference. We didn’t get through it all but the few singles helped pass the time.