A.V. Club's 20 Best Albums of 2021

See how the latest from Adele, Japanese Breakfast, Billie Eilish and more rank on our countdown

Published: December 23, 2021 06:00 Source

# 1

Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Indie Pop Chamber Pop

# 2

Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan

EP • Jan 08 / 2021 Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul

# 3

Valentine by Snail Mail

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 4

CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop

# 5

Any Shape You Take by Indigo De Souza

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Indie Rock

# 6

ULTRAPOP by The Armed

Album • Apr 16 / 2021 Noise Rock Post-Hardcore

# 7

GLOW ON by Turnstile

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Post-Hardcore Alternative Rock

# 8

The House Is Burning by Isaiah Rashad

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Southern Hip Hop

# 9

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz

Album • Sep 03 / 2021 UK Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 10

Ignorance by The Weather Station

Album • Feb 05 / 2021 Sophisti-Pop Art Pop

# 11

An Evening With Silk Sonic by Bruno Mars + Anderson .Paak + Silk Sonic

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Smooth Soul

# 12

SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo

Album • May 21 / 2021 Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 13

HEY WHAT by Low

Album • Sep 10 / 2021 Post-Industrial Ambient Pop Experimental Rock

# 14

FUTURE PAST by Duran Duran

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Synthpop New Wave

# 15

30 by Adele

Album • Nov 19 / 2021 Pop Soul

# 16

Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Alt-Pop Contemporary R&B

# 17

Loving In Stereo by Jungle

Album • Aug 13 / 2021 Synth Funk Funk

# 18

Collapsed In Sunbeams by Arlo Parks

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Bedroom Pop Neo-Soul

# 19

Sound Ancestors by Madlib

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Instrumental Hip Hop

# 20

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power by Halsey

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Art Pop Alternative Rock Electronic