Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums of 2021

From Adele's heroic return to Rauw Alejandro's thrillingly unpredictable breakthrough and much more, here are the best albums of 2021.

Published: December 03, 2021 14:15 Source

# 1

SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo

Album • May 21 / 2021 Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 2

30 by Adele

Album • Nov 19 / 2021 Pop Soul

# 3

VICE VERSA by Rauw Alejandro

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Latin Pop

# 4

CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop

# 5

Home Video by Lucy Dacus

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 6

MONTERO by Lil Nas X

Album • Sep 17 / 2021 Pop Rap Pop Trap

# 7

Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan

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

# 8

GLOW ON by Turnstile

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Post-Hardcore Alternative Rock

# 9

El Madrileño by C. Tangana

Album • Feb 26 / 2021 Latin Pop Alternative R&B Flamenco Pop

# 10

Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Indie Pop Chamber Pop

# 11

Whole Lotta Red by Playboi Carti

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

# 12

to hell with it by PinkPantheress

Album • Oct 15 / 2021 Atmospheric Drum and Bass Contemporary R&B Alt-Pop Downtempo

# 13

Reckless by Morgan Wade

Album • Mar 19 / 2021 Contemporary Country

# 14

Hall of Fame by Polo G

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Trap Pop Rap

# 15

Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Alt-Pop Contemporary R&B

# 16

HEY WHAT by Low

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

# 17

If Orange Was A Place by Tems

EP • Sep 14 / 2021 Neo-Soul Afrobeats Alternative R&B

# 18

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power by Halsey

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Art Pop Alternative Rock Electronic

# 19

Collapsed In Sunbeams by Arlo Parks

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Bedroom Pop Neo-Soul

# 20

Gold-Diggers Sound by Leon Bridges

Album • Jul 23 / 2021 Contemporary R&B Pop Soul Neo-Soul

# 21

Planet Her by Doja Cat

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Pop Rap Contemporary R&B

# 22

Second Line by Dawn Richard

Album • Apr 30 / 2021 Alternative R&B

# 23

El Alimento by Cimafunk

Album • Oct 08 / 2021 Latin Funk

# 24

New Long Leg by Dry Cleaning

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Post-Punk

# 25

29 by Carly Pearce

EP • Feb 19 / 2021 Contemporary Country Country Pop

# 26

Afrique Victime by Mdou Moctar

Album • May 21 / 2021 Tishoumaren Psychedelic Rock

# 27

Ignorance by The Weather Station

Album • Feb 05 / 2021 Sophisti-Pop Art Pop

# 28

NIÑXS ROTXS by Mabiland

Album • Jun 30 / 2021 Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul

# 29

Punk by Young Thug

Album • Oct 15 / 2021 Pop Rap Southern Hip Hop

# 30

When Smoke Rises by Mustafa

Album • May 28 / 2021 Neo-Soul Singer-Songwriter

# 31

Sound Ancestors by Madlib

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Instrumental Hip Hop

# 32

Valentine by Snail Mail

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 33

Still Over It by Summer Walker

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Contemporary R&B

# 34

Driver by Adult Mom

Album • Mar 05 / 2021 Indie Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 35

An Evening With Silk Sonic by Bruno Mars + Anderson .Paak + Silk Sonic

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Smooth Soul

# 36

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz

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

# 37

Shiesty Season by Pooh Shiesty

Album • Feb 05 / 2021 Trap Southern Hip Hop Gangsta Rap

# 38

Stand For Myself by Yola

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Country Soul Pop Soul

# 39

Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma by Topaz Jones

Album • Apr 23 / 2021 Pop Rap East Coast Hip Hop

# 40

Medicine At Midnight by Foo Fighters

Album • Feb 05 / 2021 Alternative Rock

# 41

Remember Her Name by Mickey Guyton

Album • Sep 24 / 2021 Adult Contemporary Country Pop

# 42

Let Me Do One More by illuminati hotties

Album • Oct 01 / 2021 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 43

LYKE MIKE by Myke Towers

Album • Apr 23 / 2021 Trap

# 44

Senjutsu by Iron Maiden

Album • Sep 03 / 2021 Heavy Metal

# 45

Bo Jackson by Boldy James + The Alchemist

Album • Aug 13 / 2021 Gangsta Rap

# 46

The Chaos Chapter: FIGHT OR ESCAPE by TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Album • Aug 17 / 2021

# 47

Timelezz by Jhayco

Album • Sep 03 / 2021 Reggaetón

# 48

Certified Lover Boy by Drake

Album • Sep 03 / 2021 Pop Rap Trap

# 49

The Horses and the Hounds by James McMurtry

Album • Aug 20 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Americana Roots Rock

# 50

Daddy's Home by St. Vincent

Album • May 14 / 2021 Psychedelic Soul Art Rock