Slant Magazine's 50 Best Albums of 2021

The 50 best albums of 2021 prove that, despite all the chaos in the world, music’s pulse is stronger than ever.

Published: December 07, 2021 19:48 Source

# 1

Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Indie Pop Chamber Pop

# 2

Daddy's Home by St. Vincent

Album • May 14 / 2021 Psychedelic Soul Art Rock

# 3

Blue Banisters by Lana Del Rey

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 4

Chemtrails Over The Country Club by Lana Del Rey

Album • Mar 19 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 5

HEY WHAT by Low

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

# 6

Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish

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

# 7

CARNAGE by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis

Album • Feb 25 / 2021 Chamber Pop Art Pop

# 8

DEACON by serpentwithfeet

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

# 9

to hell with it by PinkPantheress

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

# 10

Things Take Time, Take Time by Courtney Barnett

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 11

Yard Sale by Suzanne Santo

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Alt-Pop

# 12

Red (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Pop Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 13

Home Video by Lucy Dacus

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 14

CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop

# 15

An Overview on Phenomenal Nature by Cassandra Jenkins

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 16

Menneskekollektivet by Lost Girls + Jenny Hval + Håvard Volden

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Electronic Art Pop

# 17

Thirstier by TORRES

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Alternative Rock Indie Rock

# 18

Sensational by Erika de Casier

Album • May 21 / 2021 Contemporary R&B

# 19

The Turning Wheel by SPELLLING

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Art Pop Baroque Pop

# 20

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

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Art Pop Alternative Rock Electronic

# 21

Reflection by Loraine James

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 UK Bass IDM

# 22

Afrique Victime by Mdou Moctar

Album • May 21 / 2021 Tishoumaren Psychedelic Rock

# 23

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz

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

# 24

Valentine by Snail Mail

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 25

Pressure Machine by The Killers

Album • Aug 13 / 2021 Heartland Rock

# 26

A Beginner's Mind by Sufjan Stevens + Angelo De Augustine

Album • Sep 24 / 2021 Indie Folk

# 27

The Horses and the Hounds by James McMurtry

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

# 28

Mood Valiant by Hiatus Kaiyote

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Neo-Soul

# 29

Planet Her by Doja Cat

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

# 30

Nurture by Porter Robinson

Album • Apr 23 / 2021 Electropop Synthpop

# 31

Donda by Kanye West

Album • Aug 29 / 2021 Christian Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop

# 32

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

Album • Oct 29 / 2021 Heartland Rock

# 33

Mirrors by DJ Seinfeld

Album • Sep 03 / 2021 House

# 34

Far In by Helado Negro

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

# 35

333 by Tinashe

Album • Aug 06 / 2021 Alternative R&B

# 36

Dedicated 2 Disrespect by LSDXOXO

EP • May 14 / 2021 Hip House Ghetto House

# 37

For Those I Love by For Those I Love

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Progressive House Spoken Word

# 38

New Long Leg by Dry Cleaning

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Post-Punk

# 39

SINNER GET READY by Lingua Ignota

Album • Aug 06 / 2021 Neoclassical Darkwave Avant-Folk

# 40

The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers by Valerie June

Album • Mar 12 / 2021 Country Soul Americana

# 41

Little Oblivions by Julien Baker

Album • Feb 26 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 42

SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo

Album • May 21 / 2021 Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 43

Bright Green Field by Squid

Album • May 07 / 2021 Art Punk Post-Punk Experimental Rock

# 44

Slime Language 2 (Deluxe) by Young Stoner Life + Young Thug + Gunna

Album • Apr 16 / 2021

# 45

Vince Staples by Vince Staples

Album • Jul 09 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop Trap

# 46

A Color of the Sky by Lightning Bug

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Dream Pop

# 47

Haram by Armand Hammer + The Alchemist

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

# 48

For the first time by Black Country, New Road

Album • Feb 05 / 2021 Post-Rock Experimental Rock Post-Punk

# 49

Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan

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

# 50

Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land by MARINA

Album • Jun 11 / 2021 Pop