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