Far Out Magazine's 50 Best Albums of 2021

Picking out the 50 finest records of the year is always difficult but 2021 bore a new challenge. Expect inclusions for Japanese Breakfast, Shame and more.

Published: December 12, 2021 12:00 Source

# 1

New Long Leg by Dry Cleaning

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Post-Punk

# 2

Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Indie Pop Chamber Pop

# 3

Bright Green Field by Squid

Album • May 07 / 2021 Art Punk Post-Punk Experimental Rock

# 4

Things Take Time, Take Time by Courtney Barnett

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 5

Sympathy for Life by Parquet Courts

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Post-Punk Indie Rock

# 6

Blue Weekend by Wolf Alice

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Alternative Rock

# 7

CRAWLER by IDLES

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Post-Punk Art Punk

# 8

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz

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

# 9

Home Video by Lucy Dacus

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 10

Valentine by Snail Mail

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 11

Promises by Floating Points + Pharoah Sanders

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Post-Minimalism Third Stream

# 12

As The Love Continues by Mogwai

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Post-Rock

# 13

Collapsed In Sunbeams by Arlo Parks

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Bedroom Pop Neo-Soul

# 14

CARNAGE by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis

Album • Feb 25 / 2021 Chamber Pop Art Pop

# 15

GLOW ON by Turnstile

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Post-Hardcore Alternative Rock

# 16

As Days Get Dark by Arab Strap

Album • Mar 05 / 2021 Indietronica

# 17

Seventeen Going Under by Sam Fender

Album • Oct 08 / 2021 Heartland Rock

# 18

The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows by Damon Albarn

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Ambient Pop Art Pop

# 19

CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop

# 20

Comfort To Me by Amyl and The Sniffers

Album • Sep 10 / 2021 Garage Punk

# 21

Prioritise Pleasure by Self Esteem

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Electropop Alt-Pop

# 22

Far In by Helado Negro

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Neo-Psychedelia Indietronica Art Pop

# 23

I Don’t Live Here Anymore by The War on Drugs

Album • Oct 29 / 2021 Heartland Rock

# 24

Isles by Bicep

Album • Jan 22 / 2021 Progressive Breaks Future Garage

# 25

Cavalcade by black midi

Album • May 26 / 2021 Avant-Prog

# 26

Black To The Future by Sons Of Kemet

Album • May 14 / 2021 Afro-Jazz

# 27

Afrique Victime by Mdou Moctar

Album • May 21 / 2021 Tishoumaren Psychedelic Rock

# 28

Little Oblivions by Julien Baker

Album • Feb 26 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 29

Drunk Tank Pink by shame

Album • Jan 15 / 2021 Post-Punk Art Punk

# 30

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

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Smooth Soul

# 31

Nine by SAULT

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Neo-Soul

# 32

Ignorance by The Weather Station

Album • Feb 05 / 2021 Sophisti-Pop Art Pop

# 33

Sling by Clairo

Album • Jul 16 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 34

For Those I Love by For Those I Love

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Progressive House Spoken Word

# 35

I Know I'm Funny haha by Faye Webster

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Alt-Country

# 36

HEY WHAT by Low

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

# 37

Any Shape You Take by Indigo De Souza

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Indie Rock

# 38

Chemtrails Over The Country Club by Lana Del Rey

Album • Mar 19 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 39

For the first time by Black Country, New Road

Album • Feb 05 / 2021 Post-Rock Experimental Rock Post-Punk

# 40

TYRON by slowthai

Album • Feb 12 / 2021 UK Hip Hop Trap

# 41

Vince Staples by Vince Staples

Album • Jul 09 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop Trap

# 42

Spare Ribs by Sleaford Mods

Album • Jan 15 / 2021 UK Hip Hop Post-Punk

# 43

Loving In Stereo by Jungle

Album • Aug 13 / 2021 Synth Funk Funk

# 44

sketchy. by Tune-Yards

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Art Pop Indie Pop

# 45

How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? by Big Red Machine

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Chamber Pop Art Pop

# 46

On All Fours by Goat Girl

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Neo-Psychedelia Art Rock

# 47

Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish

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

# 48

Projector by Geese

Album • Oct 29 / 2021 Indie Rock Art Punk

# 49

In These Silent Days by Brandi Carlile

Album • Oct 01 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 50

How Beautiful Life Can Be by The Lathums

Album • Sep 24 / 2021 Jangle Pop