Year-End Lists

Clash Magazine: Albums of the Year 2021

[see also 2022 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
   Little Simz
2. We're All Alone in This Together
   Dave
3. Collapsed in Sunbeams
   Arlo Parks
4. Sensational
   Erika de Casier
5. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
6. Jubilee
   Japanese Breakfast
7. For Those I Love
   For Those I Love
8. Sling
   Clairo
9. The House Is Burning
   Isaiah Rashad
10. still slipping vol. 1
    Joy Orbison
11. The Off-Season
    J. Cole
12. Heaux Tales
    Jazmine Sullivan
13. Conflict of Interest
    Ghetts
14. Bright Green Field
    Squid
15. Promises
    Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
16. Deacon
    serpentwithfeet
17. Montero
    Lil Nas X
18. Play With the Changes
    Rochelle Jordan
19. Prioritise Pleasure
    Self Esteem
20. Happier Than Ever
    Billie Eilish
21. Skin
    Joy Crookes
22. Black Metal 2
    Dean Blunt
23. Siren Spine Sysex
    Proc Fiskal
24. Man Made
    Greentea Peng
25. Blue Weekend
    Wolf Alice
26. New Long Leg
    Dry Cleaning
27. Sour
    Olivia Rodrigo
28. Mother
    Cleo Sol
29. Honest Labour
    Space Afrika
30. Fatigue
    L'Rain
31. Provisional Licence
    M1llionz
32. Carnage
    Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
33. Nine
    Sault
34. Hushed and Grim
    Mastodon
35. Agor
    Koreless
36. Balance
    Children Of Zeus
37. Sound Ancestors
    Madlib
38. Hey What
    Low
39. Back of My Mind
    H.E.R.
40. 30
    Adele
41. Glow On
    Turnstile
42. Colourgrade
    Tirzah
43. Reflection
    Loraine James
44. Absolutely
    Dijon
45. Chemtrails over the Country Club
    Lana Del Rey
46. Ignorance
    The Weather Station
47. SHILOH: Lost For Words
    John Glacier
48. Talk Memory
    BADBADNOTGOOD
49. As The Love Continues
    Mogwai
50. Fell in Love in Brasil
    Jevon
51. Seventeen Going Under
    Sam Fender
52. An Evening with Silk Sonic
    Silk Sonic
53. Frame of a Fauna
    Ouri
54. Vince Staples
    Vince Staples
55. The Melodic Blue
    Baby Keem
56. Human Again
    Joy Anonymous
57. Still Over It
    Summer Walker
58. Quivering In Time
    Eris Drew
59. Utopian Ashes
    Bobby Gillespie and Jehnny Beth
60. Friends That Break Your Heart
    James Blake

Mikael Wood: The 10 Best Albums of 2021, as published by The Los Angeles Times

[see also 2023 • 2022]

1. Heaux Tales
   Jazmine Sullivan
2. Sour
   Olivia Rodrigo
3. Changephobia
   Rostam
4. Montero
   Lil Nas X
5. Chemtrails over the Country Club
   Lana Del Rey
6. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
7. 30
   Adele
8. Planet Her
   Doja Cat
9. The Marfa Tapes
   Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
10. Vince Staples
    Vince Staples

Plus 10 more not to be missed

• Certified Lover Boy
  Drake
• Home Video
  Lucy Dacus
• Inside (The Songs)
  Bo Burnham
• fishmonger
  underscores
• Happier Than Ever
  Billie Eilish
• Still Over It
  Summer Walker
• Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine
  BROCKHAMPTON
• Blood Bunny
  Chloe Moriondo
• Sob Rock
  John Mayer
• I Know I'm Funny haha
  Faye Webster

Bob Boilen: Top 10 Albums of 2021, as posted by NPR

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2011]

1. Home Video
   Lucy Dacus
2. Doomin' Sun
   Bachelor
3. Take The Corners Gently
   Steady Holiday
4. Sour
   Olivia Rodrigo
5. Vulture Prince
   Arooj Aftab
6. You And Me And Everything
   Tōth
7. A Beginner's Mind
   Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine
8. An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
   Cassandra Jenkins
9. Obsidian
   Jónsi
10. one hand on the steering wheel the other sewing a garden
    Ada Lea

This list contributes to:

• NPR Music: 50 Best Albums of 2021

Beats Per Minute: Top 50 Albums of 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2012]

1. Hey What
   Low
2. Cavalcade
   black midi
3. Sinner Get Ready
   Lingua Ignota
4. Promises
   Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
5. Jade
   Pan Daijing
6. For the First Time
   Black Country, New Road
7. Entertainment, Death
   The Spirit Of The Beehive
8. Haram
   Armand Hammer & The Alchemist
9. Prioritise Pleasure
   Self Esteem
10. Call Me If You Get Lost
    Tyler, The Creator
11. A Martyr’s Reward
    Ka
12. -io
    Circuit Des Yeux
13. New Long Leg
    Dry Cleaning
14. Far In
    Helado Negro
15. An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
    Cassandra Jenkins
16. Deacon
    serpentwithfeet
17. We Are Always Alone
    portrayal of guilt
17. CHRISTFUCKER
    portrayal of guilt
18. GUMBO'!
    Pink Siifu
19. Waking the Dreaming Body
    Karima Walker
20. Celestial Blues
    King Woman
21. Bright Green Field
    Squid
22. Candy Racer
    Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
23. I Lie Here Buried with My Rings and My Dresses
    Backxwash
24. Vince Staples
    Vince Staples
25. Jubilee
    Japanese Breakfast
26. Menneskekollektivet
    Lost Girls
27. Public Storage
    Hana Vu
28. Seek Shelter
    Iceage
29. Carnage
    Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
30. The Turning Wheel
    Spellling
31. Reflection
    Loraine James
32. Valentine
    Snail Mail
33. Man Made
    Greentea Peng
34. a softer focus
    claire rousay
35. A Common Turn
    Anna B Savage
36. Second Line
    Dawn Richard
37. Mother
    Cleo Sol
38. Vulture Prince
    Arooj Aftab
39. By the Time I Get to Phoenix
    Injury Reserve
40. Orca
    NTsKi
41. Infinite Granite
    Deafheaven
42. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
    The War on Drugs
43. Any Shape You Take
    Indigo De Souza
44. Monsters
    Sophia Kennedy
45. Navy’s Reprise
    Navy Blue
46. Portas
    Marisa Monte
47. Gas Lit
    Divide and Dissolve
48. Formula of Love: O+T=<3
    Twice
49. Black Encyclopedia of the Air
    Moor Mother
50. Shade
    Grouper

Ann Powers: Top 10 Albums of 2021, as posted by NPR

[see also 2022 • 2020 • 2019 • 2017 • 2016 • 2011]

1. The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers
   Valerie June
2. Meu Coco
   Caetano Veloso
3. You, Yeah, You
   Tré Burt
4. Y'all Don't Really Care About Black Women
   Melanie Charles
5. Skin
   Joy Crookes
6. Glasshouse Children
   Sam Williams
7. For My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Her
   McKinley Dixon
8. Long Time Coming
   Sierra Ferrell
9. Creation Never Sleeps, Creation Never Dies: The Willie Dunn Anthology
   Willie Dunn
10. They're Calling Me Home
    Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi

This list contributes to:

• NPR Music: 50 Best Albums of 2021

Flood Magazine: The Best Albums of 2021

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

1. Glow On
   Turnstile
2. Jubilee
   Japanese Breakfast
3. Heaux Tales
   Jazmine Sullivan
4. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
5. Any Shape You Take
   Indigo De Souza
6. Hey What
   Low
7. Valentine
   Snail Mail
8. Ignorance
   The Weather Station
9. Home Video
   Lucy Dacus
10. Star-Crossed
    Kacey Musgraves
11. Let Me Do One More
    illuminati hotties
12. if I could make it go quiet
    girl in red
13. Carnage
    Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
14. Fatigue
    L'Rain
15. Sour
    Olivia Rodrigo
16. The Million Masks Of God
    Manchester Orchestra
17. I Know I'm Funny haha
    Faye Webster
18. Promises
    Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
19. Death of a Cheerleader
    Pom Pom Squad
20. Happier Than Ever
    Billie Eilish
21. The House Is Burning
    Isaiah Rashad
22. Modern Fiction
    Ducks Ltd.
23. Stand For Myself
    Yola
24. Illusory Walls
    The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die
25. Thirstier
    Torres

BBC Culture: 10 Best Albums of 2021, compiled by Arwa Haider and Nick Levine

• Pink Noise
  Laura Mvula
• Montero
  Lil Nas X
• Planet Her
  Doja Cat
• Skin
  Joy Crookes
• 30
  Adele
• If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
  Halsey
• Promises
  Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
• Prioritise Pleasure
  Self Esteem
• Glow On
  Turnstile
• Collapsed in Sunbeams
  Arlo Parks

Jennifer Lucy Allan: The Best Music of 2021, as published by The Quietus

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2019]

0. Fire
   The Bug
1. No Live ’Til Leather '98
   Leather Rats
2. Vol. 2
   My Bloody Sex Party
3. Vol. 3
   My Bloody Sex Party
4. Alkisah
   Senyawa
5. Keiji Haino & The Hardy Rocks
   Keiji Haino & The Hardy Rocks
6. Paradise of Delusion
   Shizuka
7. Vocal Sketches from Oaxaca
   Antonina Nowacka
8. Reducer
   Reducer
9. Non G.M.O. Rain Dance
   Moon Reflecting

AOB (Any Other Business)

• Mien (Yao) Canon Singing in China, Vietnam, Laos
  Kink Gong
• Roy Montgomery 40th Anniversary 2021 LP Series
  Roy Montgomery
• Ma délire - Songs of love, lost & found
  Myriam Gendron
• Bubbling Inside
  De Schuurman

Magnet Magazine: Top 25 Albums of 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. In Heaven
   Strand of Oaks
2. Hey What
   Low
3. Collapsed in Sunbeams
   Arlo Parks
4. Ignorance
   The Weather Station
5. Observatory
   Aeon Station
6. Stand For Myself
   Yola
7. Green to Gold
   The Antlers
8. As The Love Continues
   Mogwai
9. Afrique Victime
   Mdou Moctar
10. It's Not Them. It Couldn't Be Them. It Is Them!
    Guided By Voices
10. Earth Man Blues
    Guided By Voices
10. Clang Clang Ho
    Cub Scout Bowling Pins
11. The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers
    Valerie June
12. Glow On
    Turnstile
13. -io
    Circuit Des Yeux
14. The Million Masks Of God
    Manchester Orchestra
15. Black Encyclopedia of the Air
    Moor Mother
16. Since Grazed
    Eleventh Dream Day
17. Nine
    Sault
18. Serpentine Prison
    Matt Berninger
19. Cool
    Colleen Green
20. The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows
    Damon Albarn
21. Jubilee
    Japanese Breakfast
22. Crawler
    Idles
23. Peace Meter
    Marissa Paternoster
24. Endless Arcade
    Teenage Fanclub
25. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
    The War on Drugs

The Fader: The 50 Best Albums of 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022]

1. Nurture
   Porter Robinson
2. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
3. Absolutely
   Dijon
4. Heaux Tales
   Jazmine Sullivan
5. Vice Versa
   Rauw Alejandro
6. Pray For Haiti
   Mach-Hommy
7. Planet Her
   Doja Cat
8. When Smoke Rises
   Mustafa
9. Sounds of My World
   Juls Baby
10. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
    Little Simz
11. The Fool
    Bladee
12. Solitario
    Blue Rojo
13. Inbred
    Ethel Cain
14. Glow On
    Turnstile
15. Haram
    Armand Hammer & The Alchemist
16. Promises
    Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
17. Love is War
    Prettyboy D-O
18. Montero
    Lil Nas X
19. Chemtrails over the Country Club
    Lana Del Rey
19. Blue Banisters
    Lana Del Rey
20. fragments
    Rachika Nayar
21. Vince Staples
    Vince Staples
22. Cavalcade
    black midi
23. drive-by lullabies
    osquinn
24. Blue Weekend
    Wolf Alice
25. The House Is Burning
    Isaiah Rashad
26. If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
    Halsey
27. Rhinestones
    HTRK
28. KG0516
    Karol G
29. Bo Jackson
    Boldy James & The Alchemist
30. Setsubun
    Fuubutsushi
31. Entertainment, Death
    The Spirit Of The Beehive
32. Navy’s Reprise
    Navy Blue
33. Adolescence
    Unknown T
34. Urban Driftwood
    Yasmin Williams
35. Menneskekollektivet
    Lost Girls
36. Fresh Bread
    Sam Gendel
37. Sour
    Olivia Rodrigo
38. At The Moonbase
    Slaughter Beach, Dog
39. Fatigue
    L'Rain
40. dariacore
    leroy
41. We Will Always Love You
    The Avalanches
42. Showtunes
    Lambchop
43. to hell with it
    PinkPantheress
44. Infinite Granite
    Deafheaven
45. Whole Lotta Red
    Playboi Carti
46. LV N ATTN
    Lojay & Sarz
47. Shade
    Grouper
48. Colourgrade
    Tirzah
49. Lucy & Aaron
    Aaron Dilloway & Lucrecia Dalt
50. Dope Game Stupid
    Bruiser Wolf