The Top 35 Albums of 2021

“And I don’t know why but with you I’d dance, in a storm in my best dress, fearless…” (4/9/21)

To those who have been looking forward to New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day, congratulations! To those who will do anything to distract themselves from these two holidays (like me), I hope you will find some solace this evening and tomorrow. I write with mixed emotions. I am relieved (and surprised) that I finished this list just before the clock struck midnight. As I arranged these albums in the perfect order, I grinned as I remembered all of the happiness they gave me before, during, and after they were born this past year. It still feels like 2020 to me — and although I had an entire year to listen to as many new releases as my ears and schedule could handle, I’m sitting here feeling ashamed that I couldn’t knock out more. I still have dozens on my list to listen to! As you scroll through the thirty-five titles below, you might notice some glaring omissions, but please trust me when I say that if you spot a certain record missing in action, it’s only because I just didn’t listen to it yet. Sure, I could have postponed the list a little like I did last year, but I wanted to end this year on a timely note. Mission accomplished! I hope you either round out 2021 or begin 2022 by reading my list below. Cheers!

35. Foo Fighters — “Medicine At Midnight”

34. Citizen — “Life In Your Glass World”

33. Vince Staples — “Vince Staples”

32. Polo G — “Hall Of Fame”

31. Kanye West — “Donda”

30. Migos — “Culture III”

29. Justin Bieber — “Justice”

28. The Black Keys — “Delta Kream”

27. slowthai — “Tyron”

26. Arlo Parks — “Collapsed In Sunbeams”

25. Young Thug — “Punk”

24. Sturgill Simpson — “The Ballad Of Dood & Juanita”

23. girl in red — “if i could make it go quiet”

22. Dry Cleaning — “New Long Leg”

21. J. Cole — “The Off-Season”

20. Kacey Musgraves — “Star-Crossed”

19. Julien Baker — “Little Oblivions”

18. Hayley Williams — “FLOWERS for VASES / descansos”

17. Steve Earle & The Dukes — “J.T.”

16. Faye Webster — “I Know I’m Funny haha”

15. Clairo — “Sling”

14. Lil Nas X — “Montero”

13. Lorde — “Solar Power”

12. BROCKHAMPTON — “ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE”

11. Lana Del Rey — “Blue Banisters”

10. Black Country, New Road — “For the first time”

9. Jack Ingram / Miranda Lambert / Jon Randall — “The Marfa Tapes”

8. Doja Cat — “Planet Her”

7. Silk Sonic — “An Evening With Silk Sonic”

6. Billie Eilish — “Happier Than Ever”

5. Tyler, The Creator — “Call Me If You Get Lost”

4. Wolf Alice — “Blue Weekend”

3. St. Vincent — “Daddy’s Home”

2. Olivia Rodrigo — “Sour”

1. Lana Del Rey — “Chemtrails Over The Country Club”

What did you think? Which album is too high or too low? What’s missing? What have you heard of or listened to before and what is news to you? I hope you make a list, either privately or publicly, to compare and contrast to mine. The thing I love most about music (other than what Russell Hammond would say: “everything”), is that nobody is right or wrong when it comes to what they listen to. No matter the artist, band, genre, age, location, or coolness, your music taste determines you, so be proud of it! I also want to thank everyone that reads the articles I post. The last few have been my most popular yet and I’m happy so many of you enjoy it when I release something new. I love sharing these because I love talking about the things I love. I’ll end with saying that while I haven’t done much research on what 2022’s most anticipated albums are, I’m confident it will be another fun, full, and fantastic year.

Thanks for reading!

“We’re happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time…” (11/12/21)