The 20 Best Albums of 2021
by Paula
In 2021, my mission was to listen to as many new albums as possible within the genres I enjoy the most. From the vast amount of releases, I have thereafter chosen the best 20 new full-length studio albums. Although the top ended up mainly consisting of some of my favourite artists, a few surprises and newcomers made it to the end of the year list. The consideration of the ranking was rather on the concept, lyrics and production throughout the album than individual tracks. That being said, how much I enjoyed the album as a whole unquestionably played the biggest part in the ranking process.
1: Blue Weekend by Wolf Alice
Genre: alternative rock
Favourite track(s): Delicious Things, How Can I Make It OK?
2: Seventeen Going Under by Sam Fender
Genre: indie rock
Favourite track(s): The Dying Light, Getting Started, Paradigms, Seventeen Going Under
3: In These Silent Days by Brandi Carlile
Genre: folk, rock, americana
Favourite track(s): Right on Time, This Time Tomorrow
4: Home Video by Lucy Dacus
Genre: indie rock/pop
Favourite track(s): Brando, Going Going Gone, Triple Dog Dare
5: Pressure Machine by The Killers
Genre: heartland rock, folk rock, americana
Favourite track(s): Quiet Town, Runaway Horses ft. Phoebe Bridgers
6: Long Lost by Lord Huron
Genre: folk rock
Favourite track(s): Not Dead Yet, Twenty Long Years
7: Bullseye by Charli Adams
Genre: indie pop
Favourite track(s): Bother With Me, Seventeen Again ft. Novo Amor
8: Screen Violence by CHVRCHES
Genre: synth-pop
Favourite track(s): Final Girl, Good Girls, Nightmares
9: Little Oblivions by Julien Baker
Genre: indie rock
Favourite track(s): Favor, Repeat
10: A Pillar of Salt by Noah Gundersen
Genre: indie folk
Favourite track(s): Atlantis ft. Phoebe Bridgers, The Coast
11: When Facing the Things We Turn Away From by Luke Hemmings
Genre: alternative rock, pop rock
Favourite track(s): Place In Me, Slip Away, Starting Line
12: FLOWERS for VASES / descansos by Hayley Williams
Genre: folk, country folk
Favourite track(s): Trigger
13: Thirstier by TORRES
Genre: indie rock
Favourite track(s): Constant Tomorrowland, Hug From a Dinosaur
14: California Soil by London Grammar
Genre: indie pop, art pop
Favourite track(s): America, Intro
15: Ancient Dreams in A Modern Land by MARINA
Genre: pop, electropop
Favourite track(s): Flowers, Purge The Poison
16: Chemtrails Over The Country Club by Lana Del Rey
Genre: folk, country folk, americana
Favourite track(s): Yosemite
17: Any Shape You Take by Indigo De Souza
Genre: indie rock, grunge
Favourite track(s): 17, Hold U
18: Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish
Genre: downtempo pop, electropop
Favourite track(s): Happier Than Ever, Male Fantasy
19: Blood Bunny by chloe moriondo
Genre: indie pop
Favourite track(s): What If It Doesn’t End Well
20: Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night by Bleachers
Genre: Synth-pop, indie pop
Favourite track(s): Chinatown ft. Bruce Springsteen
Lastly, there are two EPs that deserve to be mentioned amongst the best releases of 2021.
- Faking My Own Death (EP) by Allison Ponthier
Genre: indie folk
Favourite track(s): Harshest Critic
- The Walls Are Way Too Thin (EP) by Holly Humberstone
Genre: indie pop
Favourite track(s): Scarlett
Happy New Year 2022!
