Link to the playlist (featuring 3 songs from each of the Top 20 Albums is located at the bottom of this post.
2021 was a hell of a year for music. My Top 40 Songs of 2021 may not have been the deepest pool of songs in recent memory but, that was never the problem with long-form EPs and albums. In fact, I gave enough EPs a listen that I could come up with a top five right now...
Andy's Top 5 EPs of 2021
1. Jorja Smith - Be Right Back
2. Paris Texas - Boy Anonymous
3. Glaive - All Dogs Go To Heaven
4. Lucky Daye - Table For Two
5. JPEGMAFIA - EP2!
Please note that some of those were good enough to land spots in my top 50 albums list below and please excuse the fact that I did not have much to say about these projects as I tend to believe that the art speaks for itself. ("WHY EVEN HAVE A BLOG THEN?!") Don't yell at me. It's list season and I'm a very fragile being right now, just giving some helpful tips for those of you looking for new music in between fantasy football updates.
Honorable Mentions
Amyl and The Sniffers - Comfort To Me
Baby Keem - The Melodic Blue
Genesis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth
Halsey - If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
Injury Reserve - By The Time I Get To Ph
Julien Baker - Little OblivionsLeon Bridges - Gold-Diggers Sound
LUMP - Animal
Slowthai - Tyron
Without any more delays, I now present an annual New Year's tradition unlike any other, my top albums of 2021...
#50. Glaive - All Dogs Go To Heaven (EP)
Standout Track: "I Wanna Slam My Head Against The Wall"
It's like Post Malone, ten years younger and diving into hyperpop.
#49. Ashley Monroe - Rosegold
Standout Track: "Silk"
In a year desolate of country standouts, Ashley Monroe's fifth album (eighth if you count Pistol Annies' group projects) sees the Knoxville-born songstress turn in some well-produced country/borderline pop songs prior to her cancer diagnosis.
#48. Jade Bird - Different Kinds Of Light
Standout Track: "1994"
Underrated young Joplin-light singer turns in a very promising follow-up to 2019's self-titled debut.
#47. Death From Above 1979 - Is 4 Lovers
Standout Track: "Totally Wiped Out"
Most semi-obscure rock bands fade with age and absence, these guys get louder and still kick ass like it's their first unveiling.
#46. Ben Howard - Collections From The Whiteout
Standout Track: "Finders Keepers"
Though his best track of 2021 was his Big Red Machine feature, the 34-year old Englishman turns in his most inspired folk music since his emergence in the early 2010s.
#45. Rostam - Changephobia
Standout Track: "From The Back Of A Cab"
The experimentation with sounds actually work for me on the songwriting pro's sophomore album, featuring the #21 song of 2021.
#44. Faye Webster - I Know I'm Funny haha
Standout Track: "Better Distractions"
Quirky lyrics about Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. and sarcastic "haha" would make this album almost TOO much of a niche if it weren't for some sick riffs and the ability to make a fairly limited singer sound perfect for the material.
#43. Dltzk - Frailty
Standout Track: "Let's Go Home"
The sum of hyperpop's rise and pop-punk's re-emergence.
#42. Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under
Standout Track: "Better Of Me"
Fender digs into his U2-shaped pocket and goes for the anthemic melancholy that you'd expect from a breakout star.
#41. Pom Poko - Cheater
Standout Track: "Curly Romance"
I can't just NOT acknowledge the killer year this was in post-punk. The fact that they threw my name on 20% of the album's tracks had no bearing on this fun roller-coaster of a sophomore album from Norway.
#40. Paris Texas - Boy Anonymous (EP)
Standout Track: "Heavy Metal"
alt-hip hop duo's third Extended Play makes them sound like one of the most exciting acts of tomorrow. Keep an eye on them potentially making 2022's list.
#39. Sloppy Jane - Madison
Standout Track: "The Constable"
Recorded in a cave after the lead singer had her face slashed in a brutal assault, this is one of the more uniquely crafted and unique sounding albums in a while.
#38. Yebba - Dawn
Standout Track: "October Sky"
Mixed perfectly, the debut album from this powerhouse vocalist refuses to tail off into boredom.
#37. Parquet Courts - Sympathy For Life
Standout Track: "Marathon Of Anger"
Andrew Savage and company start sounding like Talking Heads at points on their seventh studio album.
#36. St. Vincent - Daddy's Home
Standout Track: "Live In The Dream"
Annie Clark clearly put in tons of effort to sound simultaneously like the seventies and also, nothing we've ever heard before (seriously, "Pay Your Way In Pain"... trippy but what is that song besides organized chaos? THAT WAS THE LEAD SINGLE).
#35. Jorja Smith - Be Right Back (EP)
Standout Track: "Weekend"
The best EP of 2021 has me chomping at the bit for a new Jorja Smith album as she has yet to miss.
#34. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - Carnage
Standout Track: "White Elephant"
I'm still not sure when I'm going to dive deeper on Nick Cave but, this collaboration with Bad Seed Warren Ellis might be THE starting point for a 2022 resolution.
#33. Hiatus Kayiote - Mood Valiant
Standout Track: "And We Go Gentle"
Nai Palm's vocal acrobatics weren't needed for this to be a solid neo soul record but, they did make this a very, very good neo soul record.
#32. Giveon - When It's All Said And Done... Take Time
Standout Track: "Still Your Best"
"Heartbreak Anniversary" may be the one song from this album to attract a large following but, there are far better tracks here.
#31. Common - A Beautiful Revolution (Pt 2)
Standout Track: "Saving Grace (ft. Brittany Howard)"
We've all gotten used to Common being the next Morgan Freeman voice-over god of the future... Can Morgan Freeman rap though? Didn't think so.
#30. BROCKHAMPTON - New Light, New Machine
Standout Track: "Don't Shoot Up The Party"
This is the most guest star studded album in Brockhampton's ever-growing legacy as the internet's favorite boy-band. Every guest carries their weight too.
#29. Indigo De Souza - Any Shape You Take
Standout Track: "Bad Dream"
De Souza really surprised me with this indie rock gem of a debut. Her emotional singing is just what I want but can never quite imagine appearing on the next Soccer Mommy record.
#28. Nas - King's Disease II
Standout Track: "My Bible"
One of the GOAT's on rap's Mt. Rushmore refuses to fade away with a superior conclusion to the "Rap Album of the Year" in 2020's King's Disease (according to the Grammys).
#27. Turnstile - Glow On
Standout Track: "Dance-off"
A punk album with multiple uses of the cowbell and Blood Orange? Fucking sold.
#26. Magdalena Bay - Mercurial World
Standout Track: "The Beginning"
There's plenty of instant "future classics" here in the singles. All in all, this is a grower of an album that could be on end-of-decade lists if our brains aren't completely fried by the internet by 2030.
#25. Terrace Martin - Drones
Standout Track: "Drones (ft. Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Ty Dolla $ign and James Fauntleroy)"
After forming a super-group last year with Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington and 9th Wonder, Martin returns to his solo work with one of the funkiest albums of 2021.
#24. Boldy James & The Alchemist - Bo Jackson
Standout Track: "Diamond Dallas (ft. Stove God Cooks)"
A really slimy (but in a good way?) sounding rap album that proved The Alchemist to be the best producer working in 2021 with all of the Griselda projects that dropped.
#23. Olivia Rodrigo - Sour
Standout Track: "Drivers License"
A nearly perfect debut pop album that contains one or two too many piano ballads, a song that somewhat single-handedly brought back pop-punk, two of my top 40 songs of 2021, a contender for that list and it sounds like a Greatest Hits collection on her first try... at age 17? Oh shit.
#22. Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Standout Track: "Yosemite"
Lana Del Rey's first album of 2021 could have just been a collection of B-sides from 2019's Norman Fucking Rockwell but instead, this album carries it's own weight with a new vibe in higher-pitched singing that sounds completely different from 2012 Lana Del Rey.
#21. Illuminati Hotties - Let Me Do One More
Standout Track: "Joni: LA's No.1 Health Goth"
Sarah Tudzin's third album sees her chaotic lyrical nature meet it's critical peak behind her catchiest, most fully-formed songs.
#20. Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Standout Tracks: "Introvert", "I Love You, I Hate You", "Woman (ft. Cleo Sol)"
UK rapper's fourth studio album had more than enough hits and stellar production (from Inflo) to outlast the Drake and Kanye albums that came out the same week.
#19. Shelley FKA DRAM - Shelley FKA DRAM
Standout Tracks: "'93 Acura Vigor with Erykah Badu", "The Lay Down with H.E.R. and Watt", "Exposure"
The guy behind "Broccoli" is beyond all that fuck shit on his debut album as Shelley, a soul singer that could provide the soundtrack for a couple's night in.
#18. Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic
Standout Tracks: "777", "Smokin Out The Window", "After Last Night (with Thundercat & Bootsy Collins)
The same setting as the Shelley FKA DRAM album, only way less serious.
#17. Low - HEY WHAT
Standout Tracks: "I Can Wait", "Days Like These", "White Horses"
The glitchiest, noisiest, lowest HQ album on the list showcases some fantastic vocal harmonies and has spine-chilling moments smothered all over it.
#16. Weezer - Ok Human
Standout Tracks: "Numbers", "Grapes Of Wrath" & "Here Comes The Rain"
Even though they've turned into this odd parody of themselves and other bands, this nod to Radiohead's Ok Computer is Weezer's most well thought-out and shockingly orchestral project since their white album.
#15. Alicia Keys - KEYS
Standout Tracks: "Is It Insane", "Love When You Call My Name", "Billions"
An ambitious double album that could also be seen as a companion piece to 2020's Alicia, Ms. Keys' Keys continues her universally approved ascent into iconic status.
#14. Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee
Standout Tracks: "Slide Tackle", "Posing In Bondage", "In Hell"
Michelle Zauner's peak as a songwriter almost feels too short. I'm just glad she's found happiness after her first two albums felt mournful and lovelorn.
#13. Lana Del Rey - Blue Banisters
Standout Tracks: "Beautiful", "Arcadia", "Black Bathing Suit"
The 2010s artist with the highest shooting percentage has yet to miss, going 2-for-2 on 2021 albums with this being her second entry on the list.
#12. Lucy Dacus - Home Video
Standout Tracks: "Triple Dog Dare", "VBS", "Thumbs"
Lucy Dacus should have left the autotune at home on "Partner In Crime". Otherwise, this is a nearly perfect album with superb songwriting that we've come to expect from Dacus three albums deep.
#11. Porter Robinson - Nurture
Standout Tracks: "Look At The Sky", "Dullscythe", "Something Comforting"
The album that constantly reassured the listener that everything will be okay moving forward. I hate that IDM stands for Intelligent Dance Music but, this is the best IDM album of 2021 and will be the future of EDM moving forward with inspirations from anime and a homemade feeling between the glitches that make it sound like the optimistic brother to Bo Burnham's Inside.
#10. Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever
Standout Tracks: "Happier Than Ever", "Your Power", "Oxytocin"
Expanding the subject matter of her music made Eilish's sophomore album a worthy successor to an all-timer of a debut. Happier Than Ever might be better than When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?.
#9. Spellling - The Turning Wheel
Standout Tracks: "Boys At School", "Little Deer", "Turning Wheel"
Anthony Fantano gave this a rare 10/10 and while there still were better albums this year, my introduction to Spellling was this mystical, fantastical masterpiece of a modern-day Kate Bush record.
#8. Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams
Standout Tracks: "Black Dog", "For Violet", "Caroline"
An understated vocalist nails her debut as a stellar songwriter that touches on mental illness, past crushes and leads the new generation of poets turned musicians.
#7. For Those I Love - For Those I Love
Standout Tracks: "Birthday/The Pain", "To Have You", "I Have A Love"
On a list full of fantastic debuts and acquired tastes, David Balfe's thick Irish accent and spoken-word delivery over what sounds like Pet Shop Boys instrumentals blew me away upon first listen. Every listen since is now an instant rush of almost unearned nostalgia (what exactly was worth remembering positively in 2021?) and I'm glad I was able to buy this one.
#6. James Blake - Friends That Break Your Heart
Standout Tracks: "If I'm Insecure", "Say What You Will", "Funeral"
I'm not sure how involved girlfriend (and former The Good Place actress) Jameela Jamil was on the experimental electronic producer's fifth studio album but, she appears in the credits a surprising amount of times on Blake's most fully-formed project to date. He's settled into his own solo lane and sounds more than okay with that now.
#5. Tyler, The Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost
Standout Tracks: "Manifesto (ft. Domo Genesis)", "Wusyaname (ft. YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Ty Dolla $ign)", "Hot Wind Blows (ft. Lil Wayne)"
Tyler's sixth album sees the creator return to "rap rapping" and honors the days where mixtapes dominated the streets by dusting off DJ Drama and bringing on some of his friends for another stylistic left turn.
#4. Origami Angel - Gami Gang
Standout Tracks: "Kno U", "Self-Destruct", "Noah Fence"
Pop-punk was never my favorite genre unless it went 75% pop, 25% punk. On Gami Gang, Origami Angel goes much heavier on the punk side and it passes with flying colors. I had never heard of this band prior to their 2021 sophomore album and now, to hear a punk record in 2021 that thrives and doesn't involve Travis Barker at all? I'm a fan, believing this DC-duo is capable of miracles.
#3. The Killers - Pressure Machine
Standout Tracks: "In Another Life", "Pressure Machine", "Quiet Town"
The Killers have lived many lives as they have started off their third decade with back-to-back killer albums (pun 100% intended). Pressure Machine is the greatest Killers album, full stop. A concept album based on the small town of Nephi, Utah (lead singer Brandon Flowers' hometown), this project must have taken years to craft despite the quick turnaround from 2020's awesome Imploding The Mirage. The most inspired project of 2021 sees them ascend into Rock and Roll Hall of Famers whenever they are first eligible (around 2030?).
#2. Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend
Standout Tracks: "How Can I Make It OK?", "Delicious Things", "The Last Man On Earth"
Total stadium anthem-ry (I want this to be a word, just let it be) as Ellie Rowsell's improved vocals shine along with the rest of Wolf Alice's most finely tuned music to date on their third album.
The #1 Album of 2021
Dave - We're All Alone In This Together
Standout Tracks: "Heart Attack", "In The Fire", "Both Sides Of A Smile (ft. James Blake)"
I'm shocked by how few lists during this #ListSZN have mentioned UK rapper Dave's second album. We're All Alone In This Together makes no effort to sound all that different from his award-winning (Mercury Prize winner) 2019 debut Psychodrama but he continues to absolutely nail the slow-build storytelling and muted instrumental (nothing revolutionary going on here besides the James Blake track) sound that he has gained some notoriety across the pond over. There are some truly stunning 7-minutes and up songs here along with a dip into afrobeats ("System (ft. Wizkid)"), knockout features ("Clash (ft. Stormzy)") and Santan Dave's catchiest track to date ("Twenty To One"). None of those are even the three best songs on this album. His flow is unmatched, his thought process while he's rapping is the stuff legends are made out of and in a year where the plight of the "essential worker" was highlighted, the line about his mom on "Heart Attack" was the most visceral reaction I had to any bar while at work myself in 2021. Shout out to Dave on a truly slept-on top-tier rap album.
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