Treble's 50 Best Albums of 2021

Our list of the 50 best albums of 2021 is a cross section of gems from a strange year, from haunted gospel to orchestral rap maximalism.

Published: December 07, 2021 04:01 Source

# 1

HEY WHAT by Low

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

# 2

Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Indie Pop Chamber Pop

# 3

ULTRAPOP by The Armed

Album • Apr 16 / 2021 Noise Rock Post-Hardcore

# 4

Haram by Armand Hammer + The Alchemist

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

# 5

Promises by Floating Points + Pharoah Sanders

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Post-Minimalism Third Stream

# 6

For the first time by Black Country, New Road

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

# 7

Black To The Future by Sons Of Kemet

Album • May 14 / 2021 Afro-Jazz

# 8

Cavalcade by black midi

Album • May 26 / 2021 Avant-Prog

# 9

The Turning Wheel by SPELLLING

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Art Pop Baroque Pop

# 10

GLOW ON by Turnstile

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Post-Hardcore Alternative Rock

# 11

Infinite Granite by Deafheaven

Album • Aug 20 / 2021 Shoegaze

# 12

An Overview on Phenomenal Nature by Cassandra Jenkins

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 13

Afrique Victime by Mdou Moctar

Album • May 21 / 2021 Tishoumaren Psychedelic Rock

# 14

We Are Always Alone by Portrayal of Guilt

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Screamo

# 15

Ignorance by The Weather Station

Album • Feb 05 / 2021 Sophisti-Pop Art Pop

# 16

Shade by Grouper

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 17

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz

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

# 18

-io by Circuit des Yeux

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Neoclassical Darkwave Art Pop

# 19

SINNER GET READY by Lingua Ignota

Album • Aug 06 / 2021 Neoclassical Darkwave Avant-Folk

# 20

Notes With Attachments by Pino Palladino + Blake Mills

Album • Mar 12 / 2021 Jazz Fusion

# 21

Leaving None But Small Birds by The Body + Big Brave

Album • Oct 01 / 2021 Psychedelic Rock Psychedelic Folk

# 22

Vince Staples by Vince Staples

Album • Jul 09 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop Trap

# 23

Little Oblivions by Julien Baker

Album • Feb 26 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 24

Valentine by Snail Mail

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 25

Bo Jackson by Boldy James + The Alchemist

Album • Aug 13 / 2021 Gangsta Rap

# 26

I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES by Backxwash

Album • Jun 20 / 2021 Industrial Hip Hop Horrorcore

# 27

Black Encyclopedia of the Air by Moor Mother

Album • Sep 17 / 2021 Abstract Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 28

Fire by The Bug

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Grime UK Bass Dubstep

# 29

CARNAGE by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis

Album • Feb 25 / 2021 Chamber Pop Art Pop

# 30

LP! by JPEGMAFIA

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Experimental Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 31

City of Mirrors by Dos Santos

Album • Oct 15 / 2021 Latin Alternative Psychedelic Pop Latin Rock

# 32

I Know I'm Funny haha by Faye Webster

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

# 33

Let Me Do One More by illuminati hotties

Album • Oct 01 / 2021 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 34

Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan

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

# 35

Mythopoetics by Half Waif

Album • Jul 09 / 2021 Art Pop

# 36

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

Album • Oct 29 / 2021 Heartland Rock

# 37

Seek Shelter by Iceage

Album • May 07 / 2021 Alternative Rock Art Rock

# 38

Pool by Skee Mask

Album • May 07 / 2021 IDM Techno Breakbeat

# 39

Far In by Helado Negro

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

# 40

Hanazono by Satomimagae

Album • Apr 23 / 2021 Indie Folk Psychedelic Folk Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 41

Burn In Many Mirrors by Wode

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Black Metal

# 42

Reflection by Loraine James

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 UK Bass IDM

# 43

Bloodmoon: I by Converge + Chelsea Wolfe

Album • Nov 19 / 2021 Atmospheric Sludge Metal Gothic Metal

# 44

Celestial Blues by King Woman

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Atmospheric Sludge Metal Doom Metal

# 45

Year of the Horse (Act Three) by Fucked Up

Album • May 28 / 2021 Post-Hardcore Rock Opera Art Rock

# 46

Fatigue by L’Rain

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Neo-Psychedelia Neo-Soul

# 47

Open the Gates by Irreversible Entanglements

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Jazz Poetry Avant-Garde Jazz

# 48

New Long Leg by Dry Cleaning

Album • Apr 02 / 2021 Post-Punk

# 49

Holoceno by Papangu

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Avant-Garde Metal Zeuhl Progressive Metal

# 50

Illusory Walls by The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die

Album • Oct 08 / 2021 Post-Rock Midwest Emo