Stereogum's 50 Best Albums of 2021 So Far

The best LPs from a transitional six months.

Published: June 08, 2021 13:30 Source

# 1

Between the Richness by Fiddlehead

Album • May 21 / 2021 Emo Post-Hardcore

# 2

Ignorance by The Weather Station

Album • Feb 05 / 2021 Sophisti-Pop Art Pop

# 3

DEACON by serpentwithfeet

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

# 4

Promises by Floating Points + Pharoah Sanders

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Post-Minimalism Third Stream

# 5

An Overview on Phenomenal Nature by Cassandra Jenkins

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 6

ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH by SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE

Album • Apr 09 / 2021 Neo-Psychedelia Noise Pop

# 7

Haram by Armand Hammer + The Alchemist

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

# 8

I Became Birds by Home Is Where

Album • Jul 06 / 2021 Midwest Emo Post-Hardcore

# 9

Superwolves by Matt Sweeney + Bonnie "Prince" Billy

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

# 10

ULTRAPOP by The Armed

Album • Apr 16 / 2021 Noise Rock Post-Hardcore

# 11

Little Oblivions by Julien Baker

Album • Feb 26 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 12

As Days Get Dark by Arab Strap

Album • Mar 05 / 2021 Indietronica

# 13

CARNAGE by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis

Album • Feb 25 / 2021 Chamber Pop Art Pop

# 14

Seek Shelter by Iceage

Album • May 07 / 2021 Alternative Rock Art Rock

# 15

Home Video by Lucy Dacus

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 16

Bright Green Field by Squid

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

# 17

For the first time by Black Country, New Road

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

# 18

Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Indie Pop Chamber Pop

# 19

Pray For Haiti by Mach-Hommy

Album • May 21 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop

# 20

Within One Stem by Closer

Album • Mar 12 / 2021 Screamo

# 21

Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan

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

# 22

Sound Ancestors by Madlib

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Instrumental Hip Hop

# 23

We Are Always Alone by Portrayal of Guilt

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Screamo

# 24

Cool Dry Place by Katy Kirby

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Indie Pop

# 25

Death of a Cheerleader by Pom Pom Squad

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Indie Rock

# 26

Head of Roses by Flock of Dimes

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Dream Pop

# 27

As We Pass by Storefront Church

Album • May 21 / 2021 Art Rock Indie Rock

# 28

The Turning Wheel by SPELLLING

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Art Pop Baroque Pop

# 29

Black To The Future by Sons Of Kemet

Album • May 14 / 2021 Afro-Jazz

# 30

New Long Leg by Dry Cleaning

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Post-Punk

# 31

Urban Driftwood by Yasmin Williams

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Contemporary Folk

# 32

Future Forecast by CIVIC

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Garage Punk

# 33

G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END! by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Post-Rock

# 34

Sensational by Erika de Casier

Album • May 21 / 2021 Contemporary R&B

# 35

Harlecore by Danny L Harle

Album • Feb 26 / 2021 Electronic Dance Music Trance

# 36

Rare, Forever by Leon Vynehall

Album • Apr 30 / 2021 Tech House Ambient Techno

# 37

Open Door Policy by The Hold Steady

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Indie Rock

# 38

A Billion Little Lights by Wild Pink

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Indie Rock

# 39

Do It With a Smile by Thirdface

Album • Mar 05 / 2021 Powerviolence Hardcore Punk

# 40

Made Out of Sound by Chris Corsano + Bill Orcutt

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Free Improvisation Experimental Rock

# 41

Cavalcade by black midi

Album • May 26 / 2021 Avant-Prog

# 42

a softer focus by claire rousay

Album • Apr 09 / 2021 Ambient Sound Collage Field Recordings

# 43

Second Line by Dawn Richard

Album • Apr 30 / 2021 Alternative R&B

# 44

God's Hate by God's Hate

Album • Mar 12 / 2021 Metalcore

# 45

I Know I'm Funny haha by Faye Webster

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Alt-Country

# 46

SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo

Album • May 21 / 2021 Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 47

Don't Go Tellin' Your Momma by Topaz Jones

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

# 48

Like a Stone by Remember Sports

Album • Apr 23 / 2021 Indie Rock Pop Punk Power Pop

# 49

To See the Next Part of the Dream by Parannoul

Album • Apr 19 / 2021 Shoegaze Emo

# 50

Voyage Out by Floatie

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Math Rock Indie Rock