Top Albums of 2021

It's rare when you listen to an album you had high expectations for, exceed those expectations and completely blow you away.

Every single aspect of this album is perfectly thought out, and it puts simz in among the best rappers of all time. Even after the fantastic Grey Area she improved on her unique and versatile sound.

This is the best Inflo produced project ever.

Easy AOTY

Black midi is simply the most forward thinking band of our time. Their album will be discussed for decades. I'm glad to be a part of the start of that Era. TBE.

A dark thrillride through a uniquely shaped world. An emotional listen that will shape how I look at death and loss.

An amazing display of unique song structure, it shapes it's disfigured instrumentation in a beautiful way.

Igloo creates a fully realized world, with amazing fluxuating beats and dynamic ambientwork.

Terrifying, and extremely interesting

Squid is an amazing band, such a unique record.

This album convinces me that this band is one of the most creative and varied bands in experimental hip hop. This album reaches a more emotional core in comparison to breaking up. and with a twist into a new production style & feel.

A must listen. Tension.


Edit: after many listens I can safely say this is even better than breaking up. Every listen this thing gets better and better

This is WA's least varied but most cohesive project yet. And i love it.

The dissonance on this record is absolutely staggering, it feels like a lost transmission floating through space.

Many Bent Knee fans are severely disappointed by this release, but in my opinion, this is just as excellent as they have always been. Bent Knee are striving to be innovative in a new genre, a new field. They semi perfected their prog metal/rock sound, so they moved on to this:

A beautifully unique take on hyperpop, i would even coin it as a new sub genre; prog-hyperpop

The production is very heavy handed on points, which favors and detracts from the album at points. I think it mostly works really well, but at times the autotune is a bit... much.

I've got to see them live man.

Genesis is a menace

A unique dissonant artpiece

The best Synthpop record since Let's Eat Grandma's I'm All Ears

God damn this album is satisfying as hell, nicolas is the best in the game

Just a great rock album for the masses.

I am very excited to see what Audrey does next, hopefully she continues her unique flows and dope production on her next project. Because this bangs.

Frankly one of the most exciting experimental hip hop records of the year.

A fantastic banger filled journey

Consistently entertaining.

A very honest and introspective release by Vince, and a great one at that.

One of the best mixing in an album the whole year.

Yeah this is really great, although I think the album could've ended better.

The best citizen album

Holy shit this album is great. I expected them to return to the stuff they were making on the debut EP, but I'm glad they chose to go in this direction. This sound is somewhere in-between squid and tropical fuck storm, at least, that's what it reminds me most of. Rock has been amazing this year.

God damn the potential here is phenomenal. Yeah 2021 is not complete without a record like this.

God damn this album is great, it's a bit long.

A very emotional and varied album

An introspective look to one of the most wholesome (personality wise) rappers on the planet.

My least favorite TFS record, but seeing by the score I'm giving it I still love it.

Another great RB album, although they still stay in their bubble.

I was not familiar with porters work before this outside of shelter, and this just shows that he deserves all the fame he has.

My god this album is so much fun to listen to, and there is enough variety to not make you bored along the way.

Bone chilling instrumentation, and beautiful at times. It's a bit minimal and repetitious though.

A frantic and crazy journey, and I love every second of this. But I hope that in the future they evolve their sound more to align with Bread and Butter.

Probably their best record yet, the production on this is fantastic.

Such a special record, fantastically arranged, if a little long.

Such a fun ride, and quite a bit better than KG.

The sound of this record is extremely infectious, and it's consistently funny and bangin'. Struggles to end itself in a proper way though.

The best st vincent project in a long time, although the album doesn't really have a conclusion.

Ben Howard is a fantastic musician with amazing songwriting skills, even though the album doesnt reach the heights of noonday dreams or the fantastic guitarwork on IFWWW, this is still a solid album in his discography

Complex, with awesome vocals and lyrics. Mixing is not always the best though.

A terrifying display of talent, i am very excited to see what backxwash does next.

A really good record with awesome moments, wish it reached the heights that beyondless did though

Very consistenly mesmerising song topics and fluid lyricism merged together with alchemists fantastic producing work makes this record a must hear for 2021

A majority of the remixes add a lot to the originals, and really shaped them out to be something else. But the variety of quality was very disappointing to be honest. The Carter Fools and Kareem Ali remixes leave something to be desired.

The non remix tracks are amazing, i would love for them to continue on that type of sound.

Stripped back, emotional rollercoaster. An amazing show of personal songwriting that is unique and creative. The album does overstay it's welcome though, it could've been shorter.

A deliciously disgusting and odd record with many left turns to keep you guessing along the way.

A fantastic show of songwriting prowess, tight knit stripped down instrumentation. It just works. But i feel like that is my main gripe with the album, it's a bit too minimal at times.

Rhythmic bangers with fantastic hooks, i just keep coming back to this.

Awesome release, Moor Mothers astounds me how she varies her flows and lyricism per project. While this isn't my favorite project of hers, i think it succeeds in many ways.