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
| Rank | Album | Artist | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Collapsed In Sunbeams | Arlo Parks | Jan-29-2021, Bedroom Pop |
| #2 | Sometimes I Might Be Introvert | Little Simz | Sep-03-2021, UK Hip Hop |
| #3 | Mother | Cleo Sol | Aug-20-2021, Neo-Soul |
| #4 | Far In | Helado Negro | Oct-22-2021, Neo-Psychedelia |
| #5 | Jaime Reimagined | Brittany Howard | Jul-23-2021, Electronic |
| #6 | CINEMA | The Marías | Jun-25-2021, Alt-Pop |
| #7 | CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST | Tyler, The Creator | Jun-25-2021, West Coast Hip Hop |
| #8 | Daddy's Home | St. Vincent | May-14-2021, Psychedelic Soul |
| #9 | For the first time | Black Country, New Road | Feb-05-2021, Post-Rock |
| #10 | New Long Leg | Dry Cleaning | Apr-02-2021, Post-Punk |
| #11 | A Way Forward | Nation of Language | Nov-05-2021, Synthpop |
| #12 | Paradigmes | La Femme | Apr-02-2021, Synthpop |
| #13 | Promises | Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders | Mar-26-2021, Post-Minimalism |
| #14 | Spiral | DARKSIDE | Jul-23-2021, Neo-Psychedelia |
| #15 | Uneasy | Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn Sorey | Apr-09-2021, Avant-Garde Jazz |
| #16 | Vulture Prince | Arooj Aftab | Apr-23-2021, Chamber Folk |
| #17 | Black To The Future | Sons Of Kemet | May-14-2021, Afro-Jazz |
| #18 | Smiling with No Teeth | Genesis Owusu | Mar-15-2021, Neo-Soul |
| #19 | Julius | Meskerem Mees | Nov-12-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #20 | Sling | Clairo | Jul-16-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #21 | CRAWLER | IDLES | Nov-12-2021, Post-Punk |
Markdown
| Rank | Album | Artist | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Collapsed In Sunbeams | Arlo Parks | Album, Jan-29-2021, Bedroom Pop |
| #2 | Sometimes I Might Be Introvert | Little Simz | Album, Sep-03-2021, UK Hip Hop |
| #3 | Mother | Cleo Sol | Album, Aug-20-2021, Neo-Soul |
| #4 | Far In | Helado Negro | Album, Oct-22-2021, Neo-Psychedelia |
| #5 | Jaime Reimagined | Brittany Howard | Album, Jul-23-2021, Electronic |
| #6 | CINEMA | The Marías | Album, Jun-25-2021, Alt-Pop |
| #7 | CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST | Tyler, The Creator | Album, Jun-25-2021, West Coast Hip Hop |
| #8 | Daddy's Home | St. Vincent | Album, May-14-2021, Psychedelic Soul |
| #9 | For the first time | Black Country, New Road | Album, Feb-05-2021, Post-Rock |
| #10 | New Long Leg | Dry Cleaning | Album, Apr-02-2021, Post-Punk |
| #11 | A Way Forward | Nation of Language | Album, Nov-05-2021, Synthpop |
| #12 | Paradigmes | La Femme | Album, Apr-02-2021, Synthpop |
| #13 | Promises | Floating PointsPharoah Sanders | Album, Mar-26-2021, Post-Minimalism |
| #14 | Spiral | DARKSIDE | Album, Jul-23-2021, Neo-Psychedelia |
| #15 | Uneasy | Vijay IyerLinda May Han OhTyshawn Sorey | Album, Apr-09-2021, Avant-Garde Jazz |
| #16 | Vulture Prince | Arooj Aftab | Album, Apr-23-2021, Chamber Folk |
| #17 | Black To The Future | Sons Of Kemet | Album, May-14-2021, Afro-Jazz |
| #18 | Smiling with No Teeth | Genesis Owusu | Album, Mar-15-2021, Neo-Soul |
| #19 | Julius | Meskerem Mees | Album, Nov-12-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #20 | Sling | Clairo | Album, Jul-16-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #21 | CRAWLER | IDLES | Album, Nov-12-2021, Post-Punk |