Year-End Lists

PopMatters: The 75 Best Albums of 2021

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

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

Loud And Quiet: Albums of the Year 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022]

1. For the First Time
   Black Country, New Road
2. SHILOH: Lost For Words
   John Glacier
3. Prioritise Pleasure
   Self Esteem
4. An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
   Cassandra Jenkins
5. Astro Tough
   Audiobooks
6. Promises
   Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
7. A Common Turn
   Anna B Savage
8. Intra-I
   Theon Cross
9. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
   Little Simz
10. New Long Leg
    Dry Cleaning
11. Spare Ribs
    Sleaford Mods
12. Great Spans of Muddy Time
    William Doyle
13. Bright Green Field
    Squid
14. Colourgrade
    Tirzah
15. Black Metal 2
    Dean Blunt
16. For Those I Love
    For Those I Love
17. private LIFE
    Virginia Wing
18. Lei Line Eon
    Iglooghost
19. Space 1.8
    Nala Sinephro
20. Hey What
    Low
21. Conflict of Interest
    Ghetts
22. Honest Labour
    Space Afrika
23. Fire
    The Bug
24. The Changing Account
    G.S. Schray
25. Heart Ego
    Sassy 009
26. Cavalcade
    black midi
27. Deacon
    serpentwithfeet
28. Jubilee
    Japanese Breakfast
29. Gas Lit
    Divide and Dissolve
30. Call Me If You Get Lost
    Tyler, The Creator
31. Harlecore
    Danny L Harle
32. We're All Alone in This Together
    Dave
33. Painful Enlightenment
    Jana Rush
34. Boy Anonymous
    Paris Texas
35. WINK
    CHAI
36. Será que ahora podremos entendernos
    Mabe Fratti
37. Terrain
    Portico Quartet
38. Shade
    Grouper
39. MiiRROR
    BABii
40. Lee "Scratch" Perry's Guide to the Universe
    New Age Doom & Lee "Scratch" Perry

Entertainment Weekly: The 10 Best Albums of 2021

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

1. Heaux Tales
   Jazmine Sullivan
2. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
   The War on Drugs
3. Jubilee
   Japanese Breakfast
4. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
5. 30
   Adele
6. Valentine
   Snail Mail
7. Lindsey Buckingham
   Lindsey Buckingham
8. Montero
   Lil Nas X
9. Weight of the World
   Maxo Kream
10. Sour
    Olivia Rodrigo

Slant Magazine: The 50 Best Albums of 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Jubilee
   Japanese Breakfast
2. Daddy's Home
   St. Vincent
3. Blue Banisters
   Lana Del Rey
4. Chemtrails over the Country Club
   Lana Del Rey
5. Hey What
   Low
6. Happier Than Ever
   Billie Eilish
7. Carnage
   Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
8. Deacon
   serpentwithfeet
9. to hell with it
   PinkPantheress
10. Things Take Time, Take Time
    Courtney Barnett
11. Yard Sale
    Suzanne Santo
12. Red (Taylor's Version)
    Taylor Swift
13. Home Video
    Lucy Dacus
14. Call Me If You Get Lost
    Tyler, The Creator
15. An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
    Cassandra Jenkins
16. Menneskekollektivet
    Lost Girls
17. Thirstier
    Torres
18. Sensational
    Erika de Casier
19. The Turning Wheel
    Spellling
20. If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
    Halsey
21. Reflection
    Loraine James
22. Afrique Victime
    Mdou Moctar
23. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
    Little Simz
24. Valentine
    Snail Mail
25. Pressure Machine
    The Killers
26. A Beginner's Mind
    Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine
27. The Horses and the Hounds
    James McMurtry
28. Mood Valiant
    Hiatus Kaiyote
29. Planet Her
    Doja Cat
30. Nurture
    Porter Robinson
31. Donda
    Kanye West
32. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
    The War on Drugs
33. Mirrors
    DJ Seinfeld
34. Far In
    Helado Negro
35. 333
    Tinashe
36. Dedicated 2 Disrespect
    LSDXOXO
37. For Those I Love
    For Those I Love
38. New Long Leg
    Dry Cleaning
39. Sinner Get Ready
    Lingua Ignota
40. The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers
    Valerie June
41. Little Oblivions
    Julien Baker
42. Sour
    Olivia Rodrigo
43. Bright Green Field
    Squid
44. Slime Language 2 (Deluxe)
    Young Stoner Life, Young Thug & Gunna
45. Vince Staples
    Vince Staples
46. A Color of the Sky
    Lightning Bug
47. Haram
    Armand Hammer & The Alchemist
48. For the First Time
    Black Country, New Road
49. Heaux Tales
    Jazmine Sullivan
50. Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land
    Marina

Chris Richards: Best Music of 2021, as published by The Washington Post

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

1. Whole Lotta Red
   Playboi Carti
2. Shade
   Grouper
3. Meu Coco
   Caetano Veloso
4. Glow On
   Turnstile
5. Promises
   Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
6. descension (Out of Our Constrictions)
   Natural Information Society with Evan Parker
7. Chemtrails over the Country Club
   Lana Del Rey
8. Urban Driftwood
   Yasmin Williams
9. Up 2 Më
   Yeat
10. Star-Crossed
    Kacey Musgraves

The Wire: Top 50 Albums of 2021

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

1. Fatigue
   L'Rain
2. Black Encyclopedia of the Air
   Moor Mother
3. Promises
   Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
4. Hey What
   Low
5. Axacan
   Daniel Bachman
6. Number Pieces
   John Cage
7. Some Good News
   Hamid Drake / Elaine Mitchener / William Parker / Orphy Robinson / Pat Thomas
8. Painful Enlightenment
   Jana Rush
9. -io
   Circuit Des Yeux
10. New Decade
    Phew
11. New Long Leg
    Dry Cleaning
12. Hush Harbor Mixtape Vol. 1 Doxology
    Angel Bat Dawid
13. Jesup Wagon
    James Brandon Lewis / Red Lily Quintet
14. Made Out Of Sound
    Chris Corsano & Bill Orcutt
15. At Pioneer Works
    Les Filles de Illighadad
16. Intimate Immensity
    Tomaga
17. 12 Comp (ZIM) 2017
    Anthony Braxton
18. Fire
    The Bug
19. Black To The Future
    Sons of Kemet
20. Creative Contradiction: Poetry, Story, Song & Sound
    Maggie Nicols
21. Minds in Flux
    George Lewis with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
22. Kamil Manqus
    Muqata'a
23. Chuckle
    Alpha Maid
24. Migration of Silence Into and Out of the Tone World
    William Parker
25. Lucy & Aaron
    Aaron Dilloway & Lucrecia Dalt
26. Honest Labour
    Space Afrika
27. The Voyager
    Clarissa Connelly
28. How much time it is between you and me?
    perila
29. Shade
    Grouper
30. De Mòrt Viva
    sourdure
31. Sound Ancestors
    Madlib
32. BRASS
    Moor Mother & billy woods
33. Gas Lit
    Divide and Dissolve
34. Established!
    RP Boo
35. Occam Ocean 3
    Eliane Radigue
36. Al Azraqayn
    Karkhana
37. Angel Tears in Sunlight
    Pauline Anna Strom
38. A Secret Code
    Pamela Z
39. Maquishti
    Patricia Brennan
40. parallel systems
    Rambutan
41. Afrique Victime
    Mdou Moctar
42. Glen Echo
    Azita
43. Archeophony
    Raed Yassin
44. NOW
    Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble
45. Mayan Space Station
    William Parker
46. Neon Genesis: Soul Into Matter²
    Meemo Comma
47. Hidemi
    Patrick Shiroishi
48. Nights on Saturn (communication)
    [Ahmed]
49. Open Arms to Open Us
    Ben LaMar Gay
50. Drop by Old Heaven Books
    IZ Band

Consequence: Top 50 Albums of 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
2. Jubilee
   Japanese Breakfast
3. Collapsed in Sunbeams
   Arlo Parks
4. Glow On
   Turnstile
5. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
   Little Simz
6. Home Video
   Lucy Dacus
7. Screen Violence
   Chvrches
8. Montero
   Lil Nas X
9. Haram
   Armand Hammer & The Alchemist
10. Let Me Do One More
    illuminati hotties
11. Deacon
    serpentwithfeet
12. Valentine
    Snail Mail
13. Planet Her
    Doja Cat
14. The Million Masks Of God
    Manchester Orchestra
15. Little Oblivions
    Julien Baker
16. Crawler
    Idles
17. New Long Leg
    Dry Cleaning
18. Bo Jackson
    Boldy James & The Alchemist
19. Projector
    Geese
20. 30
    Adele
21. Death of a Cheerleader
    Pom Pom Squad
22. Sour
    Olivia Rodrigo
23. For My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Her
    McKinley Dixon
24. Carnage
    Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
25. True Love
    Hovvdy
26. Happier Than Ever
    Billie Eilish
27. Nine
    Sault
28. Any Shape You Take
    Indigo De Souza
29. Juno
    Remi Wolf
30. Inside (The Songs)
    Bo Burnham
31. Red (Taylor's Version)
    Taylor Swift
32. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
    The War on Drugs
33. The House Is Burning
    Isaiah Rashad
34. We Are
    Jon Batiste
35. Afrique Victime
    Mdou Moctar
36. Pray For Haiti
    Mach-Hommy
37. For the First Time
    Black Country, New Road
38. Ultrapop
    The Armed
39. Born Against
    Amigo the Devil
40. If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
    Halsey
41. By the Time I Get to Phoenix
    Injury Reserve
42. Ignorance
    The Weather Station
43. Bright Green Field
    Squid
44. Stock Exchange
    Haviah Mighty
45. Things Take Time, Take Time
    Courtney Barnett
46. Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine
    BROCKHAMPTON
47. Stand For Myself
    Yola
48. Comfort To Me
    Amyl and The Sniffers
49. Cool Dry Place
    Katy Kirby
50. Daddy's Home
    St. Vincent

Pitchfork: The 50 Best Albums of 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Heaux Tales
   Jazmine Sullivan
2. Fatigue
   L'Rain
3. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
4. Promises
   Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / London Symphony Orchestra
5. Hey What
   Low
6. Glow On
   Turnstile
7. Ignorance
   The Weather Station
8. Afrique Victime
   Mdou Moctar
9. Whole Lotta Red
   Playboi Carti
10. New Long Leg
    Dry Cleaning
11. I Know I'm Funny haha
    Faye Webster
12. Vulture Prince
    Arooj Aftab
13. Colourgrade
    Tirzah
14. Jubilee
    Japanese Breakfast
15. Valentine
    Snail Mail
16. Disco!
    MIKE
17. An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
    Cassandra Jenkins
18. Shade
    Grouper
19. Black Metal 2
    Dean Blunt
20. Pray For Haiti
    Mach-Hommy
21. Sour
    Olivia Rodrigo
22. Second Line
    Dawn Richard
23. Cavalcade
    black midi
24. Space 1.8
    Nala Sinephro
25. Any Shape You Take
    Indigo De Souza
26. Haram
    Armand Hammer & The Alchemist
27. Black Encyclopedia of the Air
    Moor Mother
28. Entertainment, Death
    The Spirit Of The Beehive
29. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
    Little Simz
30. a softer focus
    claire rousay
31. Half God
    Wiki
32. 30
    Adele
33. Una Rosa
    Xenia Rubinos
34. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
    The War on Drugs
35. Let Me Do One More
    illuminati hotties
36. Menneskekollektivet
    Lost Girls
37. Established!
    RP Boo
38. Song of Sage: Post Panic!
    Navy Blue
38. Navy’s Reprise
    Navy Blue
39. Reflection
    Loraine James
40. Sensational
    Erika de Casier
41. Sinner Get Ready
    Lingua Ignota
42. Uneasy
    Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn Sorey
43. Fun House
    Hand Habits
44. Fresia Magdalena
    Sofia Kourtesis
45. im hole
    aya
46. Far In
    Helado Negro
47. Frailty
    dltzk
48. A Martyr’s Reward
    Ka
49. Mercurial World
    Magdalena Bay
50. Urban Driftwood
    Yasmin Williams

The Ringer: The Best Albums of 2021

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

1. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
2. Heaux Tales
   Jazmine Sullivan
3. Glow On
   Turnstile
4. Sour
   Olivia Rodrigo
5. Weight of the World
   Maxo Kream
6. Donda
   Kanye West
7. Mood Valiant
   Hiatus Kaiyote
8. New Long Leg
   Dry Cleaning
9. Pray For Haiti
   Mach-Hommy
10. to hell with it
    PinkPantheress

Billboard: The 50 Best Albums of 2021

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Sour
   Olivia Rodrigo
2. Call Me If You Get Lost
   Tyler, The Creator
3. Montero
   Lil Nas X
4. 30
   Adele
5. Planet Her
   Doja Cat
6. If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
   Halsey
7. An Evening with Silk Sonic
   Silk Sonic
8. Happier Than Ever
   Billie Eilish
9. Heaux Tales
   Jazmine Sullivan
10. El Madrileño
    C. Tangana
11. The Melodic Blue
    Baby Keem
12. Inside (The Songs)
    Bo Burnham
13. Star-Crossed
    Kacey Musgraves
14. to hell with it
    PinkPantheress
15. Collapsed in Sunbeams
    Arlo Parks
16. Jubilee
    Japanese Breakfast
17. Still Over It
    Summer Walker
18. Certified Lover Boy
    Drake
19. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
    Little Simz
20. Valentine
    Snail Mail
21. The House Is Burning
    Isaiah Rashad
22. When It's All Said And Done... Take Time
    Giveon
23. In These Silent Days
    Brandi Carlile
24. KG0516
    Karol G
25. Red (Taylor's Version)
    Taylor Swift
26. if I could make it go quiet
    girl in red
27. Glow On
    Turnstile
28. Table For Two
    Lucky Daye
29. The Lockdown Sessions
    Elton John
30. Nurture
    Porter Robinson
31. Inédito
    Carin Leon
32. The Off-Season
    J. Cole
33. Seis
    Mon Laferte
34. Vince Staples
    Vince Staples
35. 29: Written In Stone
    Carly Pearce
36. Justice
    Justin Bieber
37. Vice Versa
    Rauw Alejandro
38. in defense of my own happiness complete
    Joy Oladokun
39. Donda
    Kanye West
40. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
    The War on Drugs
41. Lately I Feel Everything
    Willow
42. If Orange Was a Place
    Tems
43. Life of a Don
    Don Toliver
44. Actual Life (April 14 - December 17 2020)
    Fred again..
45. Lyke Mike
    Myke Towers
46. Little Oblivions
    Julien Baker
47. Times
    SG Lewis
48. Dum and Dummer 2
    Young Dolph & Key Glock
49. The Marfa Tapes
    Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
50. Sling
    Clairo