Year-End Lists

PopMatters: The 75 Best Albums of 2021

1. Little Simz
   Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
2. Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
   Promises
3. Sam Fender
   Seventeen Going Under
4. Arlo Parks
   Collapsed in Sunbeams
5. Dawn Richard
   Second Line
6. Sleaford Mods
   Spare Ribs
7. Kacey Musgraves
   Star-Crossed
8. Dave
   We're All Alone in This Together
9. Lil Nas X
   Montero
10. Rochelle Jordan
    Play With the Changes
11. Injury Reserve
    By the Time I Get to Phoenix
12. Deafheaven
    Infinite Granite
13. Mdou Moctar
    Afrique Victime
14. Black Country, New Road
    For the First Time
15. Olivia Rodrigo
    Sour
16. St. Vincent
    Daddy's Home
17. Pepe Deluxé
    Phantom Cabinet Vol. 1
18. Brandi Carlile
    In These Silent Days
19. The Bug
    Fire
20. Magdalena Bay
    Mercurial World
21. Loraine James
    Reflection
22. Wolf Alice
    Blue Weekend
23. Lingua Ignota
    Sinner Get Ready
24. Damon Albarn
    The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows
25. Public Service Broadcasting
    Bright Magic
26. Snail Mail
    Valentine
27. Valerie June
    The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers
28. The Weather Station
    Ignorance
29. Genesis Owusu
    Smiling with No Teeth
30. Japanese Breakfast
    Jubilee
31. Elbow
    Flying Dream 1
32. Moor Mother
    Black Encyclopedia of the Air
33. Headie One
    Too Loyal for My Own Good
34. Lana Del Rey
    Chemtrails over the Country Club
35. Yasmin Williams
    Urban Driftwood
36. Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi
    They're Calling Me Home
37. Amythyst Kiah
    Wary + Strange
38. Julien Baker
    Little Oblivions
39. Helado Negro
    Far In
40. Sierra Ferrell
    Long Time Coming
41. Backxwash
    I Lie Here Buried with My Rings and My Dresses
42. Lucy Dacus
    Home Video
43. Self Esteem
    Prioritise Pleasure
44. Yola
    Stand For Myself
45. Billie Eilish
    Happier Than Ever
46. The War on Drugs
    I Don’t Live Here Anymore
47. Maisie Peters
    You Signed Up For This
48. Cassandra Jenkins
    An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
49. Godspeed You! Black Emperor
    G_d's Pee at State's End!
50. Chvrches
    Screen Violence
51. Goat Girl
    On All Fours
52. Hayes Carll
    You Get It All
53. Vince Staples
    Vince Staples
54. Hiatus Kaiyote
    Mood Valiant
55. Jungle
    Loving In Stereo
56. Turnstile
    Glow On
57. Jane Weaver
    Flock
58. Between the Buried and Me
    Colors II
59. John Grant
    Boy from Michigan
60. Courtney Barnett
    Things Take Time, Take Time
61. Anz
    All Hours
62. Mastodon
    Hushed and Grim
63. Alessia Cara
    In the Meantime
64. Bremer McCoy
    Natten
65. King Woman
    Celestial Blues
66. John Hiatt and Jerry Douglas
    Leftover Feelings
67. Jon Hopkins
    Music For Psychedelic Therapy
68. Low Cut Connie
    Tough Cookies: Best of the Quarantine Broadcasts
69. Aaron Lee Tasjan
    Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!
70. Iron Maiden
    Senjutsu
71. Halsey
    If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
72. Portico Quartet
    Terrain
73. Black Midi
    Cavalcade
74. Altın Gün
    Yol
75. Mogwai
    As the Love Continues