The Needle Drop's Top 50 Albums of 2021

dltzk presents some amazing ideas on Frailty, and hopefully clearer recordings in the future will allow them to shine even more.

Sonically, Black Metal 2 tends to revisit its predecessor's A-side, with even darker and terser results.

Eternal Home is seriously impressive in its scope and eclecticism, almost overbearingly so in some pockets.

Having flirted with heartland rock on their previous album, The Killers delve much deeper into the sound on the conceptual Pressure Machine.

The conceptual EP Heaux Tales seems to be a point of personal and artistic metamorphosis for Jazmine Sullivan.

And Again Into the Light is a stunning re-consolidation of Austin Lunn's sound.

Deerhoof is in banger mode on Actually, You Can.

On their sophomore album, Viagra Boys tell a love story via punk eclecticism.

Late to the party, but yeah, this is one of the year's most adventurous pop projects.

The Alchemist helps Armand Hammer make their most surreal album yet.

The emotionally potent and timely Carnage finds Nick Cave and Warren Ellis letting loose with the aesthetic they forged on the previous Bad Seeds trilogy.

King's Disease II capitalizes on all the potential of its predecessor.

As its title suggests, GUMBO'! is a viscous and dreamy homage to various strains of southern hip hop whose charm is undeniable.

Though Tyron's introspective side slightly outshines the bangers, it's a powerful journey overall.

The one we've been waiting for.

Even while the duo’s finding a distinct sound, Mercurial World serves bop after bop.

Weezer's 2021 output is off to a great start with OK Human.

Yola’s stunning writing and performances easily make up for Stand for Myself’s general lack of novelty.

Rock debuts as daring as For the First Time are a rarity.

Black Dresses go harder than ever before on their first post-disbandment album.

Wiki shines as a solo performer and lyricist on the Navy Blue-produced Half God.

Backxwash returns with a tour-de-force of harrowing and hellish songcraft.

Turnstile's hardcore sound undergoes some dreamy renovations on Glow On.

Genesis Owusu's full-length debut is impressive, occasionally even overambitious.

Cavalcade finds black midi remaining one of the most exciting acts in modern rock while going avant-prog.

Madison is one of the year's most beautiful and enigmatic records.

Finally, the skankable version of NO DREAM we've all been waiting for.

SIMBI finds a leveled-up Simz returning to wonderland.

The strongest St. Vincent album since Strange Mercy.

Promises is a tasteful, spellbinding, and beautiful intersection of jazz, classical, and electronic music.

Arca has formed an impressive body of work with the KICK series.

Hallelujah.