-

Black Country, New Road
Ants From Up There
alternative
Cate Le Bon – Pompeii
-

Cate Le Bon
Pompeii
alternative
Animal Collective – Time Skiffs
-

Animal Collective
Time Skiffs
alternative
Mitski – Laurel Hell
-

Mitski
Laurel Hell
alternative
Amber Mark – Three Dimensions Deep
-

Amber Mark
Three Dimensions Deep
R&B/soul
Top 25 Albums 2021, 5-1
2021 was the first time in many years where I didn’t feel I could keep up with all the music that came out. For this reason I feel most confident describing this as ‘best music (that I listened to) of the 2021’. Perhaps there are album that I would have included had I heard them. Still, there were many great albums release this year and I hope that this list will help guide discovery.
As with the lists from the previous years, the criteria are an unscientific combination of groundbreaking new musical direction, memorable, captivating, and fun. In short, albums that I think are worth continued listening.
-

5.
Marianne Faithfull
She Walks in Beauty
spoken-word
-

4.
Rogér Fakhr
Fine Anyway
folk
-

3.
Dry Cleaning
New Long Leg
alternative
-

2.
Jon Baptiste
We Are
r&b/soul
-

1.
La Luz
La Luz
alternative
Top 25 Albums 2021, 10-5
2021 was the first time in many years where I didn’t feel I could keep up with all the music that came out. For this reason I feel most confident describing this as ‘best music (that I listened to) of the 2021’. Perhaps there are album that I would have included had I heard them. Still, there were many great albums release this year and I hope that this list will help guide discovery.
As with the lists from the previous years, the criteria are an unscientific combination of groundbreaking new musical direction, memorable, captivating, and fun. In short, albums that I think are worth continued listening.
-

10.
The War on Drugs
I don’t Live Here Anymore
alternative
-

9.
Half Waif
Mythopoetics
alternative
-

8.
Blue Cactus
Strager Again
alternative
-

7.
A Winged Victory for the Sullen
Invisible Cities
ambient
-

6.
Black Mountain
Echoes
alternative
Top 25 Albums 2021, 15-11
2021 was the first time in many years where I didn’t feel I could keep up with all the music that came out. For this reason I feel most confident describing this as ‘best music (that I listened to) of the 2021’. Perhaps there are album that I would have included had I heard them. Still, there were many great albums release this year and I hope that this list will help guide discovery.
As with the lists from the previous years, the criteria are an unscientific combination of groundbreaking new musical direction, memorable, captivating, and fun. In short, albums that I think are worth continued listening.
-

15.
Islands
Islomania
alternative
-

14.
IDELS
CRAWLER
alternative
-

13.
The Goon Sax
Mirror II
alternative
-

12.
Black Country, New Road
For the First Time
alternative
-

11.
Sleigh Belss
Texis
alternative
Top 25 Albums 2021, 20-16
2021 was the first time in many years where I didn’t feel I could keep up with all the music that came out. For this reason I feel most confident describing this as ‘best music (that I listened to) of the 2021’. Perhaps there are album that I would have included had I heard them. Still, there were many great albums release this year and I hope that this list will help guide discovery.
As with the lists from the previous years, the criteria are an unscientific combination of groundbreaking new musical direction, memorable, captivating, and fun. In short, albums that I think are worth continued listening.
-

20.
Kacy & Clayton and Marlon Williams
Plastic Bouquet
folk
-

19.
DannyLux
Las Dos Caras Del Amor
música mexicana
-

18.
Kiwi Jr.
Cooler Returns
alternative
-

17.
Marissa Nadler
The Path of the Clouds
alternative
-

16.
John Carpenter
Lost Themes III: Alive After Death
alternative
Top 25 Albums 2021, 25-21
2021 was the first time in many years where I didn’t feel I could keep up with all the music that came out. For this reason I feel most confident describing this as ‘best music (that I listened to) of the 2021’. Perhaps there are album that I would have included had I heard them. Still, there were many great albums release this year and I hope that this list will help guide discovery.
As with the lists from the previous years, the criteria are an unscientific combination of groundbreaking new musical direction, memorable, captivating, and fun. In short, albums that I think are worth continued listening.
-

25.
Parquet Courts
Sympathy for Life
alternative
-

24.
Squid
Bright Green Field
alternative
-

23.
Elori Saxl
The Blue of Distance
anbient
-

22.
Death From Above 1979
Is 4 Lovers
alternative
-

21.
Snail Mail
Valentine
alternative