OK, y’all. We are now entering the homestretch! This right here is the final part of the Wizrocklopedia’s Wizard Rock Six Month Report for July – December 2021! You can check out the other two parts here and here, and all the previous Six Month Reports right here!
Now: as promised in the first part, a few statistics! Over the past six months, we’ve had 61 brand-new releases*, plus 14 previously out-of-print releases made available again by the Wizrocklopedia Music Archive! That adds up to 143 brand new wizard rock songs, plus 170 old songs given new life through rerelease! That’s more than 300 wizard rock songs in total in the past six months! HURRAH!
*Although a few of the releases are very very short and there are some cover versions that are technically repeats, as you’ll see below haha!
Alright! Now that we’ve got the numbers, let’s get into listing all the rest of the amazing releases! We’ll pick up in early October….
October 8: SlytherSpouse – First album: Bandcamp
Y’all, I did not have wizard rock musique concrete on my 2021 bingo card—but that’s what we got with this incredible and hilarious sophomore release by SlytherSpouse!
October 15: Tom Riddle and Friends – Wizards Loving Wizards EP: Bandcamp
If you read the previous installment of the Six Month Report, then you know that the Wizrocklopedia rereleased Tom Riddle and Friends’ full-length album in October! Well, they also had two more EPs! This is their first release—not to be confused with Totally Knuts’ EP of the same title!
October 15: Tom Riddle and Friends – Bob Hope is a Vampire EP: Bandcamp
Quite possibly one of the most delightfully absurd wrock releases ever, this EP (originally released as part of the 2007 Wizard Rock EP of the Month Club), is a hilarious stream-of-consciousness romp from TraF!
October 17: Various artists – Hut on the Wrock 2: Shanties from the Shack album: Bandcamp
That’s right, y’all. IT HAPPENED. The first Hut on the Wrock album, released in May 2021, was a sea shanty masterpiece—and Totally Knuts immediately started organizing its sequel, with a focus on pub songs! Featuring the Faithful Sidekicks, Pottörhead (who also has a video for their song!!!), Potterwatch and many more, this is the soundtrack to a wizardly night at the pub!
November 1: Nur Peach – “(You Are My) Chosen One:” Facebook | Instagram
Nur Peach continues to bring the jams with this poppy track from the perspective of Ginny singing to Harry! I hope we get the chance to hear it with a full band at some point!
November 5: Laurent & Momo – “My Horrocrux:” YouTube
This Spanish-language song was originally released on YouTube in 2013 by Colombian pianist Laurent, but she gave it a new recording and a new sound in 2021! Incredible lyrics and piano-playing on this one, folks!
November 5: Gred & Forge – We Had Class EP: Bandcamp
Years ago, the Wizrocklopedia Music Archive rereleased all of wrock legends Gred & Forge’s releases. All, that is, except one! This super rare concept EP is classic G&F, following the twins through a typically wild school day at Hogwarts.
November 5: The Gringotts Grrls – Prime Numbers album: Bandcamp
One of the most wonderfully unique wizard rock bands ever to grace the stage, folk duo the Gringotts Grrls sing songs only from the perspective of goblins! Their one-and-only full-length album from 2008 is a true delight! And when you’re done listening to this, check out their brand-new track from May 2021!
November 6: Percy and the Prefects – “Houses Me:” Bandcamp | iTunes | Spotify | YouTube
Originally exclusively released on the WZRD Radio podcast in March 2021 and listed on the Wizard Rock Six Month Report for then, Percy and the Prefects finally gave their already-classic track “Houses Me” a wider release in its studio version! Don’t skip this jaw-dropping song!
November 7: HEAD BOY – Hufflepuff album: Soundcloud
This is the debut album by brand-new wrocker HEAD BOY is an introspective and wonderfully catchy acoustic exploration of the wizarding world from both canon and non-canon perspectives. It’s an excellent first appearance, and I can’t wait to hear more HEAD BOY!
November 19: The Silver Doe – Lily’s Last Breath album: Bandcamp
We at the Wizrocklopedia were so excited to be able to rerelease this long-lost album by the Silver Doe! Her one and only wrock record, this piano-driven album—despite its sad title!—contains many different feelings both sad and happy!
November 22: Percy and the Prefects – “Excuse Me, I’m a Prefect (Demo):” Soundcloud
Even more new Percy and the Prefects music? Yes indeedy! In November, the band made a Discord server (!!!), which you can join here and get in on all sorts of amazing behind-the-scenes discussion on the band and what they’re working on! I highly recommend it, y’all. This tune is a little ditty about first-book Percy!
November 23: Percy and the Prefects – “Dream World (Demo):” Soundcloud
This song has a fascinating lyrical conceit—what if the wizarding world were all a dream and a “trauma-induced fantasy” in Harry’s mind? Simultaneously sad and profoundly heartfelt, this song is captivating even in a rough demo form! PatP’s Discord server has more details about the story behind the song!
November 23: Tom Smith – “Dead Potters:” Bandcamp
Recorded live 16 years ago and released as part of the album Homecoming: MarCon 2005, this short-and-silly parody might just get stuck in your head!
December 1: Dots and Lines – “Magical Railways of the World™ Theme Song (Cover):” Wizrocklopedia post
Dots and Lines did a cover version of my demo “Magical Railways of the World™ Theme Song”—and I am so happy about it! I loved hearing their take on the song!
December 1: Percy and the Prefects – “Kill the Spare (Demo):” Soundcloud
PatP’s second song from Cedric Diggory’s perspective, “Kill the Spare” is an absolutely devastating recounting of Cedric’s last moments. Absolutely beautiful! As always, join their Discord for more trivia about this song…
December 5: Totally Knuts – “Odo the Hero (cover):” Bandcamp
Aaaaand another cover! Totally Knuts unexpectedly dropped this cover of Dots and Lines’ song from Hut on the Wrock 2: Shanties from the Shack! The lyrics really come through nicely in this version, and it’s great to hear the folk process continuing to happen with this age-old ballad. 😉
December 10: Various artists – Wizrocklopedia Compilation Club #4: A Tribute to Lauren Fairweather album: Not publicly available—sign up to get all four 2021 albums here and all four 2022 albums here!
The final Wizrocklopedia Compilation Club album for 2021 was a tribute to true wizard rock legend Lauren Fairweather! Featuring exclusive covers by the likes of Draco and the Malfoys, Tonks and the Aurors, the Lovegoods, the Mudbloods and more, this is an unbelievably sweet and brilliant album that is destined to become a classic. Also! Check out Lauren’s reaction video to the album!!!
December 17: The Whomping Willows – Punk Rock Christmas: Live @ the Yule Ball 2008 album: Bandcamp
In 2018, the Whomping Willows rereleased all of their music as part of an extensive digital box set! All of their music, that is, except one live bootleg! The Wizrocklopedia was truly honored to have the opportunity to rerelease it in December! What an awesome time capsule and a great concert recording, y’all.
December 19: Various artists – Jingle Spells 6 album: Bandcamp
As if I wasn’t busy enough already, I put together this incredible compilation benefitting the Transgender Law Center with the help of Melissa Anelli! It features festive new songs by Percy and the Prefects, the Swedish Shortsnouts, Dream Quaffle and so many more amazing wrockers! I’m so glad the album exists, and it’s truly a proper welcome back for the Jingle Spells series!
December 30: Candle Wix – “Ridiculous Bag Thingie:” Wizrocklopedia post
OK y’all, I don’t know if this really counts but I figured, what the heck; I’ll include it. ¯\_(?)_/¯ Ludo Bagman and the Trash tried to do a Bagmas livestream on December 30th and were hampered by technical difficulties. Out of frustration, I goofed around and made this tiny ditty (and a meme) inspired by the situation and December’s Bertie Botts Every Flavor Jam prompt of “quick creations” because why the heck not!
December 31: Dots and Lines – “Aren’t You the Tree Who Hit Me in the Knee:” YouTube
And on the 31st, Dots and Lines themself dropped this mini parody of one part of They Might Be Giants’ “Fingertips” suite! What a charmingly silly way to end the year—and, I’d like to make a petition for a wizard rock parody of the full “Fingertips” pleeeeeaaaaaseeee!!!!
Folks, what a year for wizard rock. All the superb, breathtaking, astonishing, phantastic, marvelous, and magnificent releases over the past year are sure to be remembered and listened to fondly for many, many years to come. I am filled with so much love for the wizard rock community, and all the amazing art and friendship that we have created together. I’m looking forward to another year! Thank you all so, so much.
Aaaaaand finally, if you read all the way to the end, we’ve got a surprise for you! To celebrate the amazing creations of the wrock community in the past 6 months, we’re hosting a Bandcamp gift card giveaway! Just comment on any one of these 6-month round up posts and tell us one of your favorite releases or songs of the past 6 months. (One comment per person, please!) We’ve already gotten several comments from folks telling us their favorite songs! The winner will be announced on January 23, 2022! Happy listening and wrocking out!
Leave a Reply