Pitchfork's 50 Best Albums of 2021

The albums that got us through a very strange year, featuring Tyler, the Creator, Adele, Jazmine Sullivan, Playboi Carti, and more

Published: December 07, 2021 14:00 Source

# 1

Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan

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

# 2

Fatigue by L’Rain

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Neo-Psychedelia Neo-Soul

# 3

CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop

# 4

Promises by Floating Points + Pharoah Sanders

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Post-Minimalism Third Stream

# 5

HEY WHAT by Low

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

# 6

GLOW ON by Turnstile

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Post-Hardcore Alternative Rock

# 7

Ignorance by The Weather Station

Album • Feb 05 / 2021 Sophisti-Pop Art Pop

# 8

Afrique Victime by Mdou Moctar

Album • May 21 / 2021 Tishoumaren Psychedelic Rock

# 9

Whole Lotta Red by Playboi Carti

Album • Dec 25 / 2020 Trap Rage Southern Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop

# 10

New Long Leg by Dry Cleaning

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Post-Punk

# 11

I Know I'm Funny haha by Faye Webster

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

# 12

Vulture Prince by Arooj Aftab

Album • Apr 23 / 2021 Chamber Folk Ghazal

# 13

Colourgrade by Tirzah

Album • Oct 01 / 2021 Minimal Wave Art Pop

# 14

Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Indie Pop Chamber Pop

# 15

Valentine by Snail Mail

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 16

Disco! by MIKE

Album • Jun 21 / 2021 Abstract Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop

# 17

An Overview on Phenomenal Nature by Cassandra Jenkins

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 18

Shade by Grouper

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 19

BLACK METAL 2 by Dean Blunt

Album • Jun 11 / 2021 Art Pop

# 20

Pray For Haiti by Mach-Hommy

Album • May 21 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop

# 21

SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo

Album • May 21 / 2021 Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 22

Second Line by Dawn Richard

Album • Apr 30 / 2021 Alternative R&B

# 23

Cavalcade by black midi

Album • May 26 / 2021 Avant-Prog

# 24

Space 1.8 by Nala Sinephro

Album • Sep 03 / 2021 Nu Jazz Avant-Garde Jazz

# 25

Any Shape You Take by Indigo De Souza

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Indie Rock

# 26

Haram by Armand Hammer + The Alchemist

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Abstract Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 27

Black Encyclopedia of the Air by Moor Mother

Album • Sep 17 / 2021 Abstract Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 28

ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH by SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE

Album • Apr 09 / 2021 Neo-Psychedelia Noise Pop

# 29

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz

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

# 30

a softer focus by claire rousay

Album • Apr 09 / 2021 Ambient Sound Collage Field Recordings

# 31

Half God by Wiki

Album • Oct 01 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Drumless

# 32

30 by Adele

Album • Nov 19 / 2021 Pop Soul

# 33

Una Rosa by Xenia Rubinos

Album • Oct 15 / 2021 Art Pop Glitch Pop Alternative R&B

# 34

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

Album • Oct 29 / 2021 Heartland Rock

# 35

Let Me Do One More by illuminati hotties

Album • Oct 01 / 2021 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 36

Menneskekollektivet by Lost Girls + Jenny Hval + Håvard Volden

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Electronic Art Pop

# 37

Established! by RP Boo

Album • Sep 17 / 2021 Footwork

# 38

Song of Sage: Post Panic! by Navy Blue

Album • Dec 22 / 2020 East Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop Jazz Rap

# 39

Reflection by Loraine James

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 UK Bass IDM

# 40

Sensational by Erika de Casier

Album • May 21 / 2021 Contemporary R&B

# 41

SINNER GET READY by Lingua Ignota

Album • Aug 06 / 2021 Neoclassical Darkwave Avant-Folk

# 42

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

Album • Apr 09 / 2021 Avant-Garde Jazz

# 43

Fun House by Hand Habits

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk

# 44

Fresia Magdalena by Sofia Kourtesis

EP • Mar 19 / 2021 Microhouse House

# 45

im hole by aya

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Deconstructed Club Glitch Hop

# 46

Far In by Helado Negro

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

# 47

Frailty by Jane Remover

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Indietronica Glitch Pop Noise Pop

# 48

A Martyr's Reward by KA

Album • Aug 13 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop Drumless Abstract Hip Hop

# 49

Mercurial World by Magdalena Bay

Album • Oct 08 / 2021 Synthpop Dance-Pop Alt-Pop

# 50

Urban Driftwood by Yasmin Williams

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Contemporary Folk