KCRW's 21 Best Albums of 2021

From iconoclast jazz to astral punk, minimal psychedelia to raw soul, knockout debuts to long-anticipated returns, these are the albums that defined the triumphs, defiance, and surreality of 2021.

Published: December 22, 2021 04:00 Source

# 1

Collapsed In Sunbeams by Arlo Parks

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Bedroom Pop Neo-Soul

# 2

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz

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

# 3

Mother by Cleo Sol

Album • Aug 20 / 2021 Neo-Soul Smooth Soul

# 4

Far In by Helado Negro

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

# 5

Jaime Reimagined by Brittany Howard

Album • Jul 23 / 2021 Electronic Soul

# 6

CINEMA by The Marías

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Alt-Pop Synthpop Alternative R&B

# 7

CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop

# 8

Daddy's Home by St. Vincent

Album • May 14 / 2021 Psychedelic Soul Art Rock

# 9

For the first time by Black Country, New Road

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

# 10

New Long Leg by Dry Cleaning

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Post-Punk

# 11

A Way Forward by Nation of Language

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Synthpop

# 12

Paradigmes by La Femme

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Synthpop French Pop

# 13

Promises by Floating Points + Pharoah Sanders

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Post-Minimalism Third Stream

# 14

Spiral by DARKSIDE

Album • Jul 23 / 2021 Neo-Psychedelia Art Rock

# 15

Uneasy by Vijay Iyer + Linda May Han Oh + Tyshawn Sorey

Album • Apr 09 / 2021 Avant-Garde Jazz

# 16

Vulture Prince by Arooj Aftab

Album • Apr 23 / 2021 Chamber Folk Ghazal

# 17

Black To The Future by Sons Of Kemet

Album • May 14 / 2021 Afro-Jazz

# 18

Smiling with No Teeth by Genesis Owusu

Album • Mar 15 / 2021 Neo-Soul

# 19

Julius by Meskerem Mees

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 20

Sling by Clairo

Album • Jul 16 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 21

CRAWLER by IDLES

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Post-Punk Art Punk