2021: The Reopening Act
2020 was the shock.
2021 was the aftershock—and the slow, stumbling return to the spotlight.
As vaccines rolled out and the world began to breathe again, artists emerged from lockdown studios and hit the road… cautiously. It wasn’t a full-scale comeback, but it was the beginning of one. And for Masters artists, it was a chance to take what they wrote in isolation and bring it to the world.
Some toured. Some stayed in. But many dropped new music—often their most personal and unfiltered work in decades.
The Icons Still Creating: New Music from Masters Artists in 2021
From rock royalty to unexpected collaborations, here’s a rundown of some of the standout releases from veteran artists in 2021:
🎸 Rockers, Still Rolling
Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground Fire
The Rage Against the Machine guitarist teamed up with Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, and more. Electrifying and genre-bending.
Styx – Crash of the Crown
Prog-rock meets pop melody in a surprisingly adventurous and timely set.
Cheap Trick – In Another World
Hook-heavy rock ’n’ roll from a band that still knows how to deliver.
Billy F Gibbons – Hardware
ZZ Top’s bearded guitar wizard got dirty and desert-psychedelic on this solo gem.
🎤 Songwriters Digging Deep
Jackson Browne – Downhill from Everywhere
A mix of reflection and activism, filled with classic craftsmanship.
Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T.
A heartbreaking tribute to his late son, Justin Townes Earle.
Rod Stewart – The Tears of Hercules
Still the charmer, still writing, still raspy in all the right ways.
🎹 Reinvention & Reinforcement
Gary Numan – Intruder
Dystopian synth-rock about climate collapse, delivered with eerie power.
Lindsey Buckingham – Lindsey Buckingham
A self-titled solo return full of layered harmonies and intricate guitar work.
Crowded House – Dreamers Are Waiting
Their first album in over a decade. Rich, emotional, and warmly melodic.
🌾 Folk, Country & Americana Legends
Willie Nelson – That’s Life
A tribute to Sinatra, done with Willie’s unmistakable phrasing and swing.
Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers – Ramble in Music City: The Lost Concert
A rediscovered 1990 show, finally released in 2021—timeless and moving.
Lucinda Williams – Lu’s Jukebox Series
Six volumes of covers, from Tom Petty to Bob Dylan, reimagined with Southern soul.
🥁 Unexpected Returns & Tributes
Duran Duran – Future Past
Slick, sleek, and surprisingly modern—with help from Giorgio Moroder and Blur’s Graham Coxon.
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga – Love for Sale
A Cole Porter tribute and a farewell of sorts. Bennett’s final bow, delivered with grace.
What 2021 Taught Us
2021 wasn’t a clean return to normal—but it was proof that Masters artists remain not only relevant but necessary. They didn’t just ride out the storm—they came back with something to say.
These weren’t phoned-in reunion records. They were bold, sincere, and, in many cases, surprisingly forward-looking.
At Masters Radio, we’ve kept our ears tuned to these voices, and our stream reflects it. Because no matter what’s happening in the world, the artists we grew up on are still growing—and they’ve still got songs worth hearing.