PopMatters' 75 Best Albums of 2021
Despite a global pandemic, musicians were far more active in 2021 and had time to create their finest work. It resulted in some of the best albums in years.
Source
| Rank | Album | Artist | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Sometimes I Might Be Introvert | Little Simz | Sep-03-2021, UK Hip Hop |
| #2 | Promises | Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders | Mar-26-2021, Post-Minimalism |
| #3 | Seventeen Going Under | Sam Fender | Oct-08-2021, Heartland Rock |
| #4 | Collapsed In Sunbeams | Arlo Parks | Jan-29-2021, Bedroom Pop |
| #5 | Second Line | Dawn Richard | Apr-30-2021, Alternative R&B |
| #6 | Spare Ribs | Sleaford Mods | Jan-15-2021, UK Hip Hop |
| #7 | star-crossed | Kacey Musgraves | Sep-10-2021, Folk Pop |
| #8 | We're All Alone In This Together | Dave | Jul-23-2021, UK Hip Hop |
| #9 | MONTERO | Lil Nas X | Sep-17-2021, Pop Rap |
| #10 | Play With The Changes | Rochelle Jordan | Apr-30-2021, Alternative R&B |
| #11 | By the Time I Get to Phoenix | Injury Reserve | Sep-15-2021, Experimental Hip Hop |
| #12 | Infinite Granite | Deafheaven | Aug-20-2021, Shoegaze |
| #13 | Afrique Victime | Mdou Moctar | May-21-2021, Tishoumaren |
| #14 | For the first time | Black Country, New Road | Feb-05-2021, Post-Rock |
| #15 | SOUR | Olivia Rodrigo | May-21-2021, Pop |
| #16 | Daddy's Home | St. Vincent | May-14-2021, Psychedelic Soul |
| #17 | Phantom Cabinet Vol. 1 | Pepe Deluxé | Oct-22-2021, Neo-Psychedelia |
| #18 | In These Silent Days | Brandi Carlile | Oct-01-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #19 | Fire | The Bug | Aug-27-2021, Grime |
| #20 | Mercurial World | Magdalena Bay | Oct-08-2021, Synthpop |
| #21 | Reflection | Loraine James | Jun-04-2021, UK Bass |
| #22 | Blue Weekend | Wolf Alice | Jun-04-2021, Alternative Rock |
| #23 | SINNER GET READY | Lingua Ignota | Aug-06-2021, Neoclassical Darkwave |
| #24 | The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows | Damon Albarn | Nov-12-2021, Ambient Pop |
| #25 | Bright Magic | Public Service Broadcasting | Sep-24-2021, Indietronica |
| #26 | Valentine | Snail Mail | Nov-05-2021, Indie Rock |
| #27 | The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers | Valerie June | Mar-12-2021, Country Soul |
| #28 | Ignorance | The Weather Station | Feb-05-2021, Sophisti-Pop |
| #29 | Smiling with No Teeth | Genesis Owusu | Mar-15-2021, Neo-Soul |
| #30 | Jubilee | Japanese Breakfast | Jun-04-2021, Indie Pop |
| #31 | Flying Dream 1 | Elbow | Nov-19-2021, Art Pop |
| #32 | Black Encyclopedia of the Air | Moor Mother | Sep-17-2021, Abstract Hip Hop |
| #33 | Too Loyal for My Own Good | Headie One | Oct-01-2021, UK Hip Hop |
| #34 | Chemtrails Over The Country Club | Lana Del Rey | Mar-19-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #35 | Urban Driftwood | Yasmin Williams | Jan-29-2021, Contemporary Folk |
| #36 | They're Calling Me Home | Rhiannon Giddens | Apr-09-2021, Contemporary Folk |
| #37 | Wary + Strange | Amythyst Kiah | Jun-18-2021, Country Soul |
| #38 | Little Oblivions | Julien Baker | Feb-26-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #39 | Far In | Helado Negro | Oct-22-2021, Neo-Psychedelia |
| #40 | Long Time Coming | Sierra Ferrell | Aug-20-2021, Americana |
| #41 | I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES | Backxwash | Jun-20-2021, Industrial Hip Hop |
| #42 | Home Video | Lucy Dacus | Jun-25-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #43 | Prioritise Pleasure | Self Esteem | Oct-22-2021, Electropop |
| #44 | Stand For Myself | Yola | Jul-30-2021, Country Soul |
| #45 | Happier Than Ever | Billie Eilish | Jul-30-2021, Alt-Pop |
| #46 | I Don’t Live Here Anymore | The War on Drugs | Oct-29-2021, Heartland Rock |
| #47 | You Signed Up For This | Maisie Peters | Aug-27-2021, Pop |
| #48 | An Overview on Phenomenal Nature | Cassandra Jenkins | Feb-19-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #49 | G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END! | Godspeed You! Black Emperor | Apr-02-2021, Post-Rock |
| #50 | Screen Violence | CHVRCHES | Aug-27-2021, Synthpop |
Markdown
| Rank | Album | Artist | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Sometimes I Might Be Introvert | Little Simz | Album, Sep-03-2021, UK Hip Hop |
| #2 | Promises | Floating PointsPharoah Sanders | Album, Mar-26-2021, Post-Minimalism |
| #3 | Seventeen Going Under | Sam Fender | Album, Oct-08-2021, Heartland Rock |
| #4 | Collapsed In Sunbeams | Arlo Parks | Album, Jan-29-2021, Bedroom Pop |
| #5 | Second Line | Dawn Richard | Album, Apr-30-2021, Alternative R&B |
| #6 | Spare Ribs | Sleaford Mods | Album, Jan-15-2021, UK Hip Hop |
| #7 | star-crossed | Kacey Musgraves | Album, Sep-10-2021, Folk Pop |
| #8 | We're All Alone In This Together | Dave | Album, Jul-23-2021, UK Hip Hop |
| #9 | MONTERO | Lil Nas X | Album, Sep-17-2021, Pop Rap |
| #10 | Play With The Changes | Rochelle Jordan | Album, Apr-30-2021, Alternative R&B |
| #11 | By the Time I Get to Phoenix | Injury Reserve | Album, Sep-15-2021, Experimental Hip Hop |
| #12 | Infinite Granite | Deafheaven | Album, Aug-20-2021, Shoegaze |
| #13 | Afrique Victime | Mdou Moctar | Album, May-21-2021, Tishoumaren |
| #14 | For the first time | Black Country, New Road | Album, Feb-05-2021, Post-Rock |
| #15 | SOUR | Olivia Rodrigo | Album, May-21-2021, Pop |
| #16 | Daddy's Home | St. Vincent | Album, May-14-2021, Psychedelic Soul |
| #17 | Phantom Cabinet Vol. 1 | Pepe Deluxé | Album, Oct-22-2021, Neo-Psychedelia |
| #18 | In These Silent Days | Brandi Carlile | Album, Oct-01-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #19 | Fire | The Bug | Album, Aug-27-2021, Grime |
| #20 | Mercurial World | Magdalena Bay | Album, Oct-08-2021, Synthpop |
| #21 | Reflection | Loraine James | Album, Jun-04-2021, UK Bass |
| #22 | Blue Weekend | Wolf Alice | Album, Jun-04-2021, Alternative Rock |
| #23 | SINNER GET READY | Lingua Ignota | Album, Aug-06-2021, Neoclassical Darkwave |
| #24 | The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows | Damon Albarn | Album, Nov-12-2021, Ambient Pop |
| #25 | Bright Magic | Public Service Broadcasting | Album, Sep-24-2021, Indietronica |
| #26 | Valentine | Snail Mail | Album, Nov-05-2021, Indie Rock |
| #27 | The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers | Valerie June | Album, Mar-12-2021, Country Soul |
| #28 | Ignorance | The Weather Station | Album, Feb-05-2021, Sophisti-Pop |
| #29 | Smiling with No Teeth | Genesis Owusu | Album, Mar-15-2021, Neo-Soul |
| #30 | Jubilee | Japanese Breakfast | Album, Jun-04-2021, Indie Pop |
| #31 | Flying Dream 1 | Elbow | Album, Nov-19-2021, Art Pop |
| #32 | Black Encyclopedia of the Air | Moor Mother | Album, Sep-17-2021, Abstract Hip Hop |
| #33 | Too Loyal for My Own Good | Headie One | Album, Oct-01-2021, UK Hip Hop |
| #34 | Chemtrails Over The Country Club | Lana Del Rey | Album, Mar-19-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #35 | Urban Driftwood | Yasmin Williams | Album, Jan-29-2021, Contemporary Folk |
| #36 | They're Calling Me Home | Rhiannon Giddens | Album, Apr-09-2021, Contemporary Folk |
| #37 | Wary + Strange | Amythyst Kiah | Album, Jun-18-2021, Country Soul |
| #38 | Little Oblivions | Julien Baker | Album, Feb-26-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #39 | Far In | Helado Negro | Album, Oct-22-2021, Neo-Psychedelia |
| #40 | Long Time Coming | Sierra Ferrell | Album, Aug-20-2021, Americana |
| #41 | I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES | Backxwash | Album, Jun-20-2021, Industrial Hip Hop |
| #42 | Home Video | Lucy Dacus | Album, Jun-25-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #43 | Prioritise Pleasure | Self Esteem | Album, Oct-22-2021, Electropop |
| #44 | Stand For Myself | Yola | Album, Jul-30-2021, Country Soul |
| #45 | Happier Than Ever | Billie Eilish | Album, Jul-30-2021, Alt-Pop |
| #46 | I Don’t Live Here Anymore | The War on Drugs | Album, Oct-29-2021, Heartland Rock |
| #47 | You Signed Up For This | Maisie Peters | Album, Aug-27-2021, Pop |
| #48 | An Overview on Phenomenal Nature | Cassandra Jenkins | Album, Feb-19-2021, Singer-Songwriter |
| #49 | G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END! | Godspeed You! Black Emperor | Album, Apr-02-2021, Post-Rock |
| #50 | Screen Violence | CHVRCHES | Album, Aug-27-2021, Synthpop |