The Independent's 40 Best Albums of 2021

From pop-punk that captured Gen-Z anxiety to otherworldly hip-hop, 2021’s greatest albums felt designed to help us process – or escape – what we were faced with over the past 12 months. The Independent’s music team count down their favourites

Published: December 22, 2021 11:48 Source

# 1

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz

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

# 2

Blue Weekend by Wolf Alice

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Alternative Rock

# 3

We're All Alone In This Together by Dave

Album • Jul 23 / 2021 UK Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 4

Prioritise Pleasure by Self Esteem

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Electropop Alt-Pop

# 5

CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop

# 6

MONTERO by Lil Nas X

Album • Sep 17 / 2021 Pop Rap Pop Trap

# 7

For Those I Love by For Those I Love

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Progressive House Spoken Word

# 8

Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Indie Pop Chamber Pop

# 9

Seventeen Going Under by Sam Fender

Album • Oct 08 / 2021 Heartland Rock

# 10

This Is Really Going To Hurt by Flyte

Album • Apr 09 / 2021 Indie Folk Pop Rock

# 11

Conflict Of Interest by Ghetts

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 UK Hip Hop

# 12

Vince Staples by Vince Staples

Album • Jul 09 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop Trap

# 13

Already, Always by Bess Atwell

Album • Sep 24 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 14

Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish

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

# 15

CARNAGE by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis

Album • Feb 25 / 2021 Chamber Pop Art Pop

# 16

King's Disease II by Nas

Album • Aug 06 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop

# 17

Chemtrails Over The Country Club by Lana Del Rey

Album • Mar 19 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 18

Boy from Michigan by John Grant

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Synthpop Singer-Songwriter

# 19

Flora Fauna by Billie Marten

Album • May 21 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 20

Snoop Dogg Presents Algorithm by Snoop Dogg

Album • Nov 19 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop Contemporary R&B

# 21

Long Lost by Lord Huron

Album • May 21 / 2021 Indie Folk Americana

# 22

Collapsed In Sunbeams by Arlo Parks

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Bedroom Pop Neo-Soul

# 23

Daddy's Home by St. Vincent

Album • May 14 / 2021 Psychedelic Soul Art Rock

# 24

Planet Her by Doja Cat

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

# 25

Things Take Time, Take Time by Courtney Barnett

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 26

Not Your Muse by Celeste

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Neo-Soul

# 27

Path of Wellness by Sleater-Kinney

Album • Jun 11 / 2021 Indie Rock

# 28

Pink Noise by Laura Mvula

Album • Jul 02 / 2021 Synthpop Contemporary R&B Dance-Pop

# 29

Friends That Break Your Heart by James Blake

Album • Oct 08 / 2021 Alternative R&B

# 30

SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo

Album • May 21 / 2021 Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 31

Californian Soil by London Grammar

Album • Apr 16 / 2021 Art Pop Alt-Pop

# 32

to hell with it by PinkPantheress

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

# 33

Love Will Be Reborn by Martha Wainwright

Album • Aug 20 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Folk Rock

# 34

Voyage by ABBA

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Europop Adult Contemporary

# 35

Flu Game by AJ Tracey

Album • Apr 16 / 2021 Trap UK Hip Hop

# 36

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

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Smooth Soul

# 37

30 by Adele

Album • Nov 19 / 2021 Pop Soul

# 38

TAPE 2/FOMALHAUT by BERWYN

Album • Jun 18 / 2021 UK Hip Hop Alternative R&B

# 39

lately I feel EVERYTHING by WILLOW

Album • Jul 16 / 2021 Alternative Rock

# 40

Great Spans of Muddy Time by William Doyle

Album • Mar 19 / 2021 Art Pop Progressive Pop Electronic