Year-End Lists

Ultimate Classic Rock: Top 40 Rock Albums of 2021

[see also 2022 • 2020 • 2019]

1. Raise The Roof
   Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
2. Lindsey Buckingham
   Lindsey Buckingham
3. Barn
   Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4. Delta Kream
   The Black Keys
5. For Free
   David Crosby
6. Medicine at Midnight
   Foo Fighters
7. Mammoth WVH
   Mammoth WVH
8. Senjutsu
   Iron Maiden
9. McCartney III Imagined
   Paul McCartney
10. Hardware
    Billy F Gibbons
11. Detroit Stories
    Alice Cooper
12. In Another World
    Cheap Trick
13. Future Past
    Duran Duran
14. You Hear Georgia
    Blackberry Smoke
15. Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan
    Chrissie Hynde
16. The Battle at Garden's Gate
    Greta Van Fleet
17. The Lockdown Sessions
    Elton John
18. Downhill From Everywhere
    Jackson Browne
19. Brighten
    Jerry Cantrell
20. When You See Yourself
    Kings of Leon
21. Path of Wellness
    Sleater-Kinney
22. Georgia Blue
    Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
23. Frampton Forgets the Words
    Peter Frampton
24. Typhoons
    Royal Blood
25. Dirty Honey
    Dirty Honey
26. Motorheart
    The Darkness
27. Doom Crew Inc.
    Black Label Society
28. OK Human
    Weezer
29. Sermons of the Sinner
    KK's Priest
30. Hushed and Grim
    Mastodon
31. Checkered Past
    L.A. Guns
32. I'll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground & Nico
    various artists
33. Working With God
    Melvins
34. A Better Dystopia
    Monster Magnet
35. Van Weezer
    Weezer
36. The Metallica Blacklist
    various artists
37. The Quest
    Yes
38. Tonic Immobility
    Tomahawk
39. Zoom In
    Ringo Starr
40. Spanish Model
    Elvis Costello

New Statesman: The Best Albums of 2021

• 30
  Adele
• Inside (The Songs)
  Bo Burnham
• Carnage
  Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
• Screen Violence
  Chvrches
• Blue Banisters
  Lana Del Rey
• Absolutely
  Dijon
• Sweep It Into Space
  Dinosaur Jr.
• Certified Lover Boy
  Drake
• New Long Leg
  Dry Cleaning
• Life's a Beach
  Easy Life
• Happier Than Ever
  Billie Eilish
• For Those I Love
  For Those I Love
• Montero
  Lil Nas X
• Animal
  Lump
• As The Love Continues
  Mogwai
• Star-Crossed
  Kacey Musgraves
• Collapsed in Sunbeams
  Arlo Parks
• Prioritise Pleasure
  Self Esteem
• Daddy's Home
  St. Vincent
• Red (Taylor's Version)
  Taylor Swift
• Retrograde
  Third Son
• Call Me If You Get Lost
  Tyler, The Creator
• private LIFE
  Virginia Wing
• Van Weezer
  Weezer
• Blue Weekend
  Wolf Alice

Abeni Jones: Ten of the Best Albums Released by Queer and Trans Artists in 2021, as published by Autostraddle

• Collapsed in Sunbeams
  Arlo Parks
• Sling
  Clairo
• Jubilee
  Japanese Breakfast
• in defense of my own happiness complete
  Joy Oladokun
• Valentine
  Snail Mail
• if I could make it go quiet
  girl in red
• Home Video
  Lucy Dacus
• Little Oblivions
  Julien Baker
• The Turning Wheel
  Spellling
• KICK ii
  Arca

Honorable Mentions

• Model Citizen
  Meet Me at the Altar
• im hole
  aya
• Doomin' Sun
  Bachelor
• Once Upon A Time
  Chika
• Super Monster
  Claud
• Near Life Experience Part One
  L Devine
• Near Life Experience Part Two
  L Devine
• Butch Spring
  Sara Renberg
• Who Am I?
  Pale Waves

Carl Wilson: Top 10 Albums of 2021, as published by Slate, alphabetical by artist

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013]

• Little Oblivions
  Julien Baker
• Cavalcade
  black midi
• Searching For The Disappeared Hour
  Sylvie Courvoisier & Mary Halvorson
• New Long Leg
  Dry Cleaning
• Ma délire - Songs of love, lost & found
  Myriam Gendron
• Jesup Wagon
  James Brandon Lewis / Red Lily Quintet
• Hey What
  Low
• When Smoke Rises
  Mustafa
• Soberish
  Liz Phair
• Call Me If You Get Lost
  Tyler, The Creator

25 more of note (alphabetical by artist)

• Voyage
  ABBA
• The Million Things That Never Happened
  Billy Bragg
• Spanish Model
  Elvis Costello
• Intra-I
  Theon Cross
• Home Video
  Lucy Dacus
• We're All Alone in This Together
  Dave
• Creation Never Sleeps, Creation Never Dies: The Willie Dunn Anthology
  Willie Dunn
• Remember Her Name
  Mickey Guyton
• By the Time I Get to Phoenix
  Injury Reserve
• Uneasy
  Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn Sorey
• Play With the Changes
  Rochelle Jordan
• This Spring: Songs by Veda Hille
  Nicholas Krgovich
• Queens of the Summer Hotel
  Aimee Mann
• Mayan Space Station
  William Parker
• Second Line
  Dawn Richard
• Outside Child
  Allison Russell
• The Other Shore
  Amir ElSaffar and Rivers of Sound
• Crocodile Teeth
  Skillibeng
• Black To The Future
  Sons of Kemet
• Anastenaria: Thracian Firewalking Ritual Music
  various artists
• Meu Coco
  Caetano Veloso
• Rap?
  Tierra Whack
• Pop?
  Tierra Whack
• R&B?
  Tierra Whack
• Julius Eastman Vol. 1: Femenine
  Wild Up
• When I Hit You — You'll Feel It
  Leslie Winer
• Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'
  Lainey Wilson

Albumism: The 100 Best Albums of 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017]

1. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
   Little Simz
2. Immigrants
   Nitin Sawhney
3. Blue Weekend
   Wolf Alice
4. Promises
   Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
5. No Gods No Masters
   Garbage
6. Black To The Future
   Sons of Kemet
7. Mother
   Cleo Sol
8. Ocean to Ocean
   Tori Amos
9. Collapsed in Sunbeams
   Arlo Parks
10. Mood Valiant
    Hiatus Kaiyote
11. If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
    Halsey
12. Screen Violence
    Chvrches
13. Future Past
    Duran Duran
14. I've Been Trying To Tell You
    Saint Etienne
15. Pink Noise
    Laura Mvula
16. Nine
    Sault
17. Star-Crossed
    Kacey Musgraves
18. Black Acid Soul
    Lady Blackbird
19. Soberish
    Liz Phair
20. Blackest Blue
    Morcheeba
21. Blood
    Juliana Hatfield
22. Californian Soil
    London Grammar
23. Happier Than Ever
    Billie Eilish
24. King's Disease II
    Nas
25. Subconsciously
    Black Coffee
26. We're All Alone in This Together
    Dave
27. Crooked Machine
    Róisín Murphy
28. Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land
    Marina
29. Firebird
    Natalie Imbruglia
30. Son
    Rosie Lowe & Duval Timothy
31. Flying Dream 1
    Elbow
32. Ultramarine
    Wesley Joseph
33. We Are
    Jon Batiste
34. Hi
    Texas
35. Little Oblivions
    Julien Baker
36. Aspects
    STR4TA
37. The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows
    Damon Albarn
38. Sweet Inspiration
    Kate Ceberano
39. Medicine at Midnight
    Foo Fighters
40. When Smoke Rises
    Mustafa
41. Queens of the Summer Hotel
    Aimee Mann
42. Dawn
    Yebba
43. Chemtrails over the Country Club
    Lana Del Rey
44. Sgt Culpepper
    Joel Culpepper
45. 30
    Adele
46. Bad Meditation
    Mara TK
47. Nothing Feels Like Everything
    Scrimshire
48. How Many Times
    Esther Rose
49. Sound Ancestors
    Madlib
50. Not Your Muse
    Celeste
51. Hunter and the Dog Star
    Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
52. Ignorance
    The Weather Station
53. Sour
    Olivia Rodrigo
54. If Words Were Flowers
    Curtis Harding
55. Call Me If You Get Lost
    Tyler, The Creator
56. The Ultra Vivid Lament
    Manic Street Preachers
57. Flock
    Jane Weaver
58. Bring Backs
    Alfa Mist
59. Daddy's Home
    St. Vincent
60. Pins and Needles
    Natalie Hemby
61. Somewhere Different
    Brandee Younger
62. Jubilee
    Japanese Breakfast
63. What We Call Life
    Jordan Rakei
64. The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers
    Valerie June
65. In Praise of Shadows
    Puma Blue
66. Home Video
    Lucy Dacus
67. In These Silent Days
    Brandi Carlile
68. Friends That Break Your Heart
    James Blake
69. Yellow
    Emma-Jean Thackray
70. New Long Leg
    Dry Cleaning
71. Bloom
    Rosie Frater-Taylor
72. Time Flies
    Ladyhawke
73. And Then Life Was Beautiful
    NAO
74. The Golden Casket
    Modest Mouse
75. Valentine
    Snail Mail
76. An Evening with Silk Sonic
    Silk Sonic
77. Heart-Shaped Scars
    Dot Allison
78. Pressure Machine
    The Killers
79. Stand For Myself
    Yola
80. I Have Nothing to Say to the Mayor of L.A.
    Dean Wareham
81. Back of My Mind
    H.E.R.
82. Crawler
    Idles
83. An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
    Cassandra Jenkins
84. Love Will Be Reborn
    Martha Wainwright
85. Tell Me What You Miss The Most
    Tasha
86. still slipping vol. 1
    Joy Orbison
87. Hey What
    Low
88. Path of Wellness
    Sleater-Kinney
89. Alpha
    Charlotte Day Wilson
90. As The Love Continues
    Mogwai
91. Good Woman
    The Staves
92. Pandora's Playhouse
    Sananda Maitreya
93. Laura Stevenson
    Laura Stevenson
94. Drones
    Terrace Martin
95. Coral Island
    The Coral
96. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
    The War on Drugs
97. Memories Of Love
    Myles Sanko
98. Times
    SG Lewis
99. Sob Rock
    John Mayer
100. Simple, Sweet, and Smiling
     Kacy Hill

Uproxx Music Critics Poll: Best Albums of 2021, a survey of "more than 200 music critics from across the industry"

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018]

1. Jubilee
   Japanese Breakfast
2. Sour
   Olivia Rodrigo
3. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
4. Glow On
   Turnstile
5. Heaux Tales
   Jazmine Sullivan
6. Home Video
   Lucy Dacus
7. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
   The War on Drugs
8. Promises
   Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
9. Hey What
   Low
10. New Long Leg
    Dry Cleaning
11. If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
    Halsey
12. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
    Little Simz
13. Happier Than Ever
    Billie Eilish
14. Valentine
    Snail Mail
15. Ignorance
    The Weather Station
16. An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
    Cassandra Jenkins
17. Donda
    Kanye West
18. I Know I'm Funny haha
    Faye Webster
19. An Evening with Silk Sonic
    Silk Sonic
20. Little Oblivions
    Julien Baker
21. Planet Her
    Doja Cat
22. 30
    Adele
23. Collapsed in Sunbeams
    Arlo Parks
24. A Billion Little Lights
    Wild Pink
25. Evermore
    Taylor Swift
26. The House Is Burning
    Isaiah Rashad
27. Nine
    Sault
28. Draw Down The Moon
    Foxing
29. Montero
    Lil Nas X
30. Nurture
    Porter Robinson
31. Screen Violence
    Chvrches
32. Death of a Cheerleader
    Pom Pom Squad
33. Any Shape You Take
    Indigo De Souza
34. Entertainment, Death
    The Spirit Of The Beehive
35. Chemtrails over the Country Club
    Lana Del Rey
36. Stand For Myself
    Yola
37. Vince Staples
    Vince Staples
38. Red (Taylor's Version)
    Taylor Swift
39. Daddy's Home
    St. Vincent
40. Haram
    Armand Hammer & The Alchemist
41. Certified Lover Boy
    Drake
42. Pray For Haiti
    Mach-Hommy
43. For the First Time
    Black Country, New Road
44. Things Take Time, Take Time
    Courtney Barnett
45. Outside Child
    Allison Russell
46. memoryland
    CFCF
47. Star-Crossed
    Kacey Musgraves
48. Fatigue
    L'Rain
49. Sound Ancestors
    Madlib
50. Afrique Victime
    Mdou Moctar

Dazed: The Best Albums of 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022]

1. Montero
   Lil Nas X
2. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
   Little Simz
3. im hole
   aya
4. Planet Her
   Doja Cat
5. Still Over It
   Summer Walker
6. When Smoke Rises
   Mustafa
7. Harlecore
   Danny L Harle
8. Quivering In Time
   Eris Drew
9. Heaux Tales
   Jazmine Sullivan
10. Afrique Victime
    Mdou Moctar
11. KICK ii
    Arca
12. Sour
    Olivia Rodrigo
13. Lately I Feel Everything
    Willow
14. The Fool
    Bladee
15. We're All Alone in This Together
    Dave
16. El Madrileño
    C. Tangana
17. Happier Than Ever
    Billie Eilish
18. drive-by lullabies
    osquinn
19. Sensational
    Erika de Casier
20. Black Metal 2
    Dean Blunt

DIY Magazine: Best Albums of 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2016 • 2011]

1. Blue Weekend
   Wolf Alice
2. Prioritise Pleasure
   Self Esteem
3. New Long Leg
   Dry Cleaning
4. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
   Little Simz
5. For the First Time
   Black Country, New Road
6. Collapsed in Sunbeams
   Arlo Parks
7. Glow On
   Turnstile
8. Sour
   Olivia Rodrigo
9. For Those I Love
   For Those I Love
10. Bright Green Field
    Squid
11. Solar Power
    Lorde
12. Jubilee
    Japanese Breakfast
13. Smiling with No Teeth
    Genesis Owusu
14. Flowers for Vases / Descansos
    Hayley Williams
15. Seventeen Going Under
    Sam Fender
16. Valentine
    Snail Mail
17. If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
    Halsey
18. Juno
    Remi Wolf
19. Daddy's Home
    St. Vincent
20. Montero
    Lil Nas X

The Guardian: The 50 Best Albums of 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Prioritise Pleasure
   Self Esteem
2. Blue Weekend
   Wolf Alice
3. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
   Little Simz
4. Ignorance
   The Weather Station
5. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
6. Nine
   Sault
7. New Long Leg
   Dry Cleaning
8. Sour
   Olivia Rodrigo
9. Collapsed in Sunbeams
   Arlo Parks
10. Afrique Victime
    Mdou Moctar
11. Seventeen Going Under
    Sam Fender
12. Heaux Tales
    Jazmine Sullivan
13. Jubilee
    Japanese Breakfast
14. Montero
    Lil Nas X
15. Carnage
    Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
16. Infinite Granite
    Deafheaven
17. Colourgrade
    Tirzah
18. Glow On
    Turnstile
19. We're All Alone in This Together
    Dave
20. Vulture Prince
    Arooj Aftab
21. Coral Island
    The Coral
22. Pink Noise
    Laura Mvula
23. Promises
    Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
24. Happier Than Ever
    Billie Eilish
25. Sound Ancestors
    Madlib
26. As The Love Continues
    Mogwai
27. Daddy's Home
    St. Vincent
28. Star-Crossed
    Kacey Musgraves
29. Sling
    Clairo
30. Man Made
    Greentea Peng
31. Hey What
    Low
32. An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
    Cassandra Jenkins
33. to hell with it
    PinkPantheress
34. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
    The War on Drugs
35. a touch of the beat gets you up on your feet gets you out and then into the sun
    Aly & AJ
36. im hole
    aya
37. Sensational
    Erika de Casier
38. On All Fours
    Goat Girl
39. Flowers for Vases / Descansos
    Hayley Williams
40. Chemtrails over the Country Club
    Lana Del Rey
41. Quivering In Time
    Eris Drew
42. Fortitude
    Gojira
43. Made Out Of Sound
    Chris Corsano & Bill Orcutt
44. For the First Time
    Black Country, New Road
45. For Those I Love
    For Those I Love
46. Busy Guy
    Stephen Fretwell
47. WINK
    CHAI
48. Home Video
    Lucy Dacus
49. Diorama
    MØL
50. Magic Still Exists
    Agnes

Spencer Kornhaber: The 10 Best Albums of 2021, as published by The Atlantic

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2017]

1. New Long Leg
   Dry Cleaning
2. KicK iii
   Arca
3. Outside Child
   Allison Russell
4. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
5. fishmonger
   underscores
6. Solar Power
   Lorde
7. SoulFly
   Rod Wave
8. True North (Deluxe)
   Ninajirachi & Kota Banks
9. Heaux Tales
   Jazmine Sullivan
10. My Parade
    ​iLoveMakonnen