PopMatters' 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2021

Synthpop, traditional Korean music, pop-rock, and experimental production marked the music of the best K-pop releases of 2021.

Source

1.
Album • May 31 / 2021 • 90%
K-Pop Dance-Pop
Popular Highly Rated

The boy band shift between alt-rock angst and synth-pop dreams.

2.
by 
KEY
EP • Sep 27 / 2021 • 83%
K-Pop Dance-Pop
Noteable Highly Rated
3.
by 
EP • Jun 16 / 2021 • 65%
Pop Rock K-Pop
4.
by 
EP • Jul 26 / 2021 • 80%
K-Pop
Noteable Highly Rated
5.
by 
Album • Nov 12 / 2021 • 96%
K-Pop Dance-Pop
Popular Highly Rated

The group drop a pure K-pop potion in shimmering Spatial Audio.

6.
by 
IU
Album • Mar 25 / 2021 • 93%
K-Pop Contemporary R&B
Popular
7.
by 
EP • May 10 / 2021 • 85%
K-Pop Contemporary R&B
Noteable
8.
by 
EP • Jan 11 / 2021 • 90%
K-Pop Contemporary R&B
Popular
9.
by 
EP • May 26 / 2021 • 87%
K-Pop Electropop
Noteable
10.
by 
EP • Nov 09 / 2021 • 73%
K-Pop Contemporary R&B Dance-Pop
11.
by 
EP • Feb 02 / 2021 • 80%
Alternative R&B
Noteable
12.
by 
Album • Sep 09 / 2021 • 80%
Contemporary R&B K-Pop
Noteable Highly Rated
13.
EP • Mar 15 / 2021 • 81%
K-Pop Contemporary R&B
Noteable
14.
by 
EP • Aug 16 / 2021 • 95%
K-Pop Contemporary R&B
Popular

The fab five reign supreme with this collection of K-pop riches.

15.
by 
EP • Oct 05 / 2021 • 97%
K-Pop Pop Rap Trap [EDM]
Popular
16.
by 
EP • Apr 26 / 2021 • 85%
Dance-Pop K-Pop
Noteable

The boy band craft a psychedelic fusion of K-pop and punk rock.

17.
by 
Album • Nov 16 / 2021 • 74%
K-Pop
19.
by 
Song Heejin
Album • Jun 11 / 2021 • 62%
K-Pop Dance-Pop