RIFF's 108 Best Albums of 2021

The best albums of 2021 include Billie Eilish, Brandi Carlile, Tyler, The Creator, Little Simz, Olivia Rodrigo, Wolf Alice, Gojira,…

Published: December 10, 2021 08:01 Source

# 51

Smiling with No Teeth by Genesis Owusu

Album • Mar 15 / 2021 Neo-Soul

# 52

Blue Banisters by Lana Del Rey

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 53

By the Time I Get to Phoenix by Injury Reserve

Album • Sep 15 / 2021 Experimental Hip Hop Glitch Hop Experimental

# 54

ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE by BROCKHAMPTON

Album • Apr 09 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop Pop Rap

# 55

Red (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Pop Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 56

The House Is Burning by Isaiah Rashad

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Southern Hip Hop

# 57

Dark in Here by The Mountain Goats

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Indie Folk Folk Rock

# 58

Loving In Stereo by Jungle

Album • Aug 13 / 2021 Synth Funk Funk

# 59

Native Sons by Los Lobos

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Roots Rock

# 60

Exodus by DMX

Album • May 28 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 61

Afrique Victime by Mdou Moctar

Album • May 21 / 2021 Tishoumaren Psychedelic Rock

# 62

Big Mess by Danny Elfman

Album • Jun 11 / 2021 Art Rock Industrial Rock Symphonic Rock Experimental Rock

# 63

Utopian Ashes by Bobby Gillespie + Jehnny Beth

Album • Jul 02 / 2021 Chamber Pop Art Pop

# 64

DEACON by serpentwithfeet

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Alternative R&B Art Pop

# 65

Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Indie Pop Chamber Pop

# 66

Thirstier by TORRES

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Alternative Rock Indie Rock

# 67

Folarin II by Wale

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Pop Rap East Coast Hip Hop

# 68

Heart by Eric Church

Album • Apr 16 / 2021 Country Rock Contemporary Country

# 69

Hushed and Grim by Mastodon

Album • Oct 29 / 2021 Progressive Metal

# 70

The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers by Valerie June

Album • Mar 12 / 2021 Country Soul Americana

# 71

WE ARE by Jon Batiste

Album • Mar 19 / 2021 Soul

# 72

Fat Pop (Deluxe) by Paul Weller

Album • May 14 / 2021 Pop Rock

# 73

CRAWLER by IDLES

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Post-Punk Art Punk

# 74

Downhill From Everywhere by Jackson Browne

Album • Jul 23 / 2021 Pop Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 75

Ocean to Ocean by Tori Amos

Album • Oct 29 / 2021 Pop Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 76

Friends That Break Your Heart by James Blake

Album • Oct 08 / 2021 Alternative R&B

# 77

Pressure Machine by The Killers

Album • Aug 13 / 2021 Heartland Rock

# 78

JOSE by J Balvin

Album • Sep 10 / 2021 Reggaetón Latin Pop

# 79

Emphatically No. by Cheekface

Album • Jan 11 / 2021 Indie Rock

# 80

Hardware by Billy F Gibbons

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Southern Rock

# 81

Colors II by Between the Buried and Me

Album • Aug 20 / 2021 Progressive Metal Metalcore

# 82

Changephobia by Rostam

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Indie Pop Art Pop

# 83

A Beautiful Life by Heartless Bastards

Album • Sep 10 / 2021 Indie Rock

# 84

American Silence by Chris Pierce

Album • Feb 26 / 2021

# 85

My Morning Jacket by My Morning Jacket

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Indie Rock Neo-Psychedelia

# 86

OK Human by Weezer

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Chamber Pop Pop Rock

# 87

Dreamland 2021 by ZHU

Album • Apr 30 / 2021 Alternative R&B House

# 88

Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night by Bleachers

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Pop Rock Indie Pop

# 89

Cry Forever by Amy Shark

Album • Apr 30 / 2021 Electropop

# 90

Outside Child by Allison Russell

Album • May 21 / 2021 Contemporary Folk Americana

# 91

Course In Fable by Ryley Walker

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Progressive Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 92

Legacy + by Femi Kuti + Mádé Kuti

Album • Feb 05 / 2021 Afrobeat

# 93

Thank You by Diana Ross

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Adult Contemporary Dance-Pop

# 94

Fun House by Hand Habits

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk

# 95

Superwolves by Matt Sweeney + Bonnie "Prince" Billy

Album • Apr 30 / 2021 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 96

God Is Partying by Andrew W.K.

Album • Sep 10 / 2021 Heavy Metal

# 97

Nature Always Wins by Maxïmo Park

Album • Feb 26 / 2021 Indie Rock

# 98

The Nightmare Of Being by At The Gates

Album • Jul 02 / 2021 Melodic Death Metal

# 99

CINEMA by The Marías

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

# 100

Welcome 2 America by Prince

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Funk Neo-Soul