December 30, 2021

My Totally Biased 21 Best Albums of 2021


Welcome back. It's year nine. One more of these and I get a free Tidal subscription. Maybe by then Beyoncé and Rihanna will drop new albums.


2021 was yet another shitshow, but let's focus on what's important: the music. For me, 2021 was more so a year of phenomenal singles and vibes. This year's albums - I don't want to discredit them - but having to follow years like 2019 and 2020 that showed up and showed out, it was only a matter of time before a year gave us some medium grade material. That said, this year still has quality albums that you should give a chance. The collection this time around may be more eclectic than any other year I've reviewed. 


Like the year before it, 2021 saw a resurgence of genres thought long-forgotten like Pop-Punk and Grunge. Even in my search to find a worthy Rock album this cycle, I stumbled upon multiple Funk projects. It was a year of surprises. Of course, this being my biased list, you'll see old favorites as well.


Ever dutiful, I tried my best to listen to every new album as they dropped this year. I even started a quasi music blog via Instagram @djprophylactic (follow me, you won't!). However, albums slipped through the cracks as I listened to over 130 albums. Eventually I shortened my shortlist of 57 to a final 21. As always, I did so with the help of my handy criteria:

  1. Does the album have a thesis and support it? 
  2. How much does the album knock? 
  3. Does this album speak to me/the masses?  
  4. How many tracks standout vs fade into the background? 
  5. How does the album stack up against its genre peers?
  6. Does it help me forget about COVID/the state of the world?
Without further adieu, here's my opinion on this year's best albums. If I missed any great albums or you disagree, please let me know. This is always intended to start a conversation. As always, we start with those that nearly missed my full love but still desire attention.

Honorable Mentions

31) Olivia Rodrigo's SOUR (Pop/Pop-Punk)

30) Magdelena Bay's Mercurial World (Synth-Pop)

29) Audrey Nuna's a liquid breakfast (Rap/R&B)

28) Parcels' Day/Night (Funk)

27) Snoh Aalegra's Temporary High in the Violet Skies (R&B)

26) Vanjess' Homegrown (R&B)

25) St Vincent's Daddy's Home (Lounge Pop/Psychedelic)

24) BROCKHAMPTON'S ROADRUNNER (Hip-Hop)

23) SG Lewis' times (Dance-Pop/House)

22) Brijean's Feelings (Chill Jazz/House)



*~if a song has a hyperlink, it leads to a music video~*




21) Doja Cat's Planet Her
Release Date: June 25
Runtime: 44:06
Tracks: 14
Genre: Pop/R&B/Rap

Can I tell you all a secret? As much as I love Doja Cat, Planet Her isn't actually my 21st favorite album of 2021. However, as the months waged on, it earned my respect. You see, even from my first listen, I knew this album did not measure up to the greatness that was Hot Pink. Which is a shame; with a title like Planet Her, you'd think the thesis is so clear and the message would be so coherent. Instead we're treated to an album of half filler, songs to quickly be tossed up on TikTok or a fast play on the radio. Yet... Doja is a clever marketer and song maker, because the songs that do slap - that will stand the test of time - fuckin slap! She starts the album off with "Woman" and "Naked" which are undeniable Dance records. Add a little "toot toot" in there, and even Donna Summer would be jealous. The tracks worth your time become apparent as Doja raps/sings her "my pussy cums first" manifesto: what I truly expected from this project. Despite the albums hiccups, it wraps perfectly with the song of the year.

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
Ain't Shit



20) Men I Trust' Untourable Album
Release Date: August 25
Runtime: 36:38
Tracks: 13
Genre: Indie/Dreampop

Men I Trust is a Montreal band I can't remember how I found. Perhaps they found me. This being their fifth album, the trio - with fun names like Jessy, Dracos, and Emmanuelle - opens with an ethereal track that sounds like a call to arms from a lady of the lake. From there, you're drawn in to delightfully two-step to lyrics and smooth beats that can only be described as dream-like yet not completely sleep inducing: a difficult task to fulfill. Emmanuelle's soft vocals lead you through a land of softboys and reliable lads she trusts to bare her soul. Through the album, she expresses doubts like not "know[ing] about your past" and "Do you miss me too?" The musicality of Untourable Album is truly what earned it a spot on this list. It reminds me of the days I would listen to Imogen Heap or Regina Spektor's early work, yet slightly more upbeat? From start to finish, this album is truly a vibe, though admittedly not for everyone. Listen to this while you have a free night to enjoy an edible and your feelings.


Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
Sugar



19) Spellling's The Turning Wheel
Release Date: June 25
Runtime: 57:32
Tracks: 12
Genre: Pop/Alternative

And now for the first bonus award of 2021! Earning the "Friend Recommendation of the Year" award, Spellling comes to us by way of an ally and fellow music lover. Though he heard it first from Anthony Fantino, I pushed my jealousy aside and gave her work an earnest listen. What I found was a world of musical whimsy and touching lyrics. With her third studio album, Spellling is becoming less and less overlooked. Her voice is angelic with a touch of raspiness to ground it in reality. Calling this album Pop almost feels to cheapen the messages Spellling is trying to deliver, yet her lyrics drop with such relatability, it's hard not to. Accompanied by what can only be described as a small synth-orchestra, the California native transports us to a late-80s/early-90s landscape with Falkor flying above. Like I said, it whimsical. Besides, who else could make a song about a penguin as enjoyable as Morgan Freeman did? 

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
Emperor with an Egg
Queen of Wands



18) Sleigh Bells' Texis
Release Date: September 10
Runtime: 35:19
Tracks: 11
Genre: Noise Pop/Industrial Rock

I've been a phony Sleigh Bells fan since "Infinity Guitar" and "Rill Rill," but for some reason I never bothered to give their 2010 debut a listen. In fairness, I was terrible at seeking out indie albums in college. Then over the next decade, they seemed to disappear from the "mainstream" indie conversation. Now, in 2021, back with their fifth turn around the track, Alexis and Derek are back and louder than ever. Their trademark 808s shrills and grinding guitar riffs litter Texis but never become overdone. It's as if they hid in plain sight and perfected their craft. Alexis' vocals have evolved past the chants I knew her for while still utilizing the old skill. Some of the lyrics leave a little something to be desired, but the vibes are strong. And hey, simple lyrics make for easier sing-a-longs. Play this album anytime you need to hype yourself up or do chores around the house. 

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
Rosary



17) Cautious Clay's Deadpan Love
Release Date: June 25
Runtime: 33:09
Tracks: 14
Genre: R&B

For any lover of R&B. unique songwriting, and vocals reminiscent of Cody Chestnutt, Cautious Clay is the man for you. Hipsters such as myself have been waiting for him to pop the last two years, dropping tracks like "Dying in the Subtlety" long before there were any whispers of his album dropping. Finally here with his debut, Deadpan Love is a record dedicated to the hopelessly awkward and desperately romantic. Without ever delving fully into the corny, Cautious' lyrics are endearing to anyone who fails at flirting. A talented musician, Cautious also helps produce most of the album. ADHD friendly, only one song on the album lasts more than three minutes, allowing for a complex array of sounds in just over a half hour. If ballads are more your speed, the Cleveland native has you covered with the second half of the album. Cautious Clay easily lives up to the hype of his prior singles. 

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
Roots



16) serpentwithfeet's DEACON
Release Date: March 26
Runtime: 29:09
Tracks: 11
Genre: Alternative R&B

We all know serpentwithfeet loves a good sermon - or rather, loves taking us to church. So it's no surprise he named his second studio album Deacon. Opening with "Hyacinth" feels like a call to worship at his church for wayward queer negroes, a safe space that all are welcome to but especially his own kind. With production as smooth and sultry as we expect from the Baltimore-born artist, serpentwithfeet uses the beat to his advantage to sing his woes and triumphs. Deacon is a celebration of black love and black style. There's also a slight humble brag about being able to double his wardrobe with "Same Size Shoes" even if he claims it's about finally being able to fully relate to someone. While in celebration, there's still caution to not flaunt happiness in fear that it might last. Love is fleeting, but lust can be more fun. Play this on the way to or from a FWB's place.

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
Amir



15) Ashnikko's DEMIDEVIL
Release Date: January 15
Runtime: 25:24
Tracks: 10
Genre: Pop/Rap

Everyone needs a little chaos in their ear, and Ashnikko is here to supply it. Just beginning her mixtape era, Ashnikko is already well-versed at blending genres: mainly Pop, Rap, and Punk. Warning us with her opening track that she's dangerous, she follows it up with tracks "Toxic" and "Deal With It," which samples Kelis' Caught Out There, solidifying that she's not one to be fucked with. Mixed with her carefree, try-me-if-you-dare attitude is her sexual side, ready to offer "your girlfriend cunnilingus on her couch." Her firm, barely screaming tone helps sell her songs as bops. Featuring guest spots from Princess Nokia and Grimes, Ashnikko is firmly cosigned in the alternative circles, as if her signature blue hair wasn't enough of an indicator. I wouldn't call this mixtape a full feminist movement, but it's definitely a great female forward project to dance to. And in this COVID world, I think that's the perfect balance we need right now. She even ends with a "musical" for all the cisgender heterosexual men!

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
Little Boy



14) Willow's lately I feel EVERYTHING
Release Date: July 16
Runtime: 26:04
Tracks: 11
Genre: Pop-Punk/Indie Rock

Willow Smith has come a long way from singing about her hair or even fictional vampires living in an apocalyptic world. With her fourth studio album, the princess of the Smiths slides completely into her punk-rock bag to reinvigorate the spirit of the early 2000s. With instrumentals that seem inspired by N*E*R*D, Nirvana, and No Doubt, she receives her biggest helping hand from Travis Barker of Blink 182 drumming by name on at least three tracks. Full of all the angst you'd expect from a punk rock album, Willow's vocals have fully matured, allowing her to wail and serenade us at will. Her lyrics are also very poetic, giving you a little to think on whenever she's not being straightforward. lately I feel Everything easily earns this year "Cooler Than Your Vintage Memories" award. By the way, did I mentioned that annoying "Meet Me at Our Spot" song isn't on this project? And she managed to unearth the original Avril Lavigne for a feature.

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
naïve
Lipstick



13) Jungle's Loving in Stereo
Release Date: August 13
Runtime: 40:02
Tracks: 14
Genre: Funk

Oh, you wanna get groovy? Then, bitch, look no further! Formed primarily by the London duo Josh and Tom on various instruments and vocals, they enlist various other vocalists to help fill out their chorus as they jam out track after track. Jungle should have made their first appearance on this list back in 2018, but they slipped through the cracks. However, finding them in the years to follow, I heavily anticipated their next project. This bass and horn riddled album far from disappoints. Loving in Stereo features funky melodies and interesting cord progressions that would make the BeeGees and the Gorillaz smirk. Lyrically, Jungle offers nothing too exciting, but who cares about that when you're dancing the night away. You can easily play this album from start to finish with a glass of wine in one hand and your darling or bestie in the other as you forgo your plans to go out and dance in your sweatpants instead.

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
Lifting You



12) FINNEAS' Optimist
Release Date: October 15
Runtime: 43:01
Tracks: 13
Genre: Pop

Billie Eilish is gonna be so mad when she finds out I picked her brother's album over any of hers. Or maybe she'll be supportive? That's the kind of optimism Finneas brings to the table. Just joking, this album is full of pessimism and doubt and critiques about the world around him. Who doesn't love that? Surprisingly carrying a pleasant singer-songwriter type pitch himself, Finneas brings us his debut album. While half of the album finds him stripped down to acoustic instruments, he occasionally allows himself to get funky, adding complexity and variety to the album. Optimist also showcases his fine writing skills proving he knows how to share the best stuff for himself despite helping his sister earn a handful of Grammys. You'll find yourself singing along to Finneas' simplistic, slightly autotuned vocals as he croons about the 90s and relationships. With that I award him the "Most Emotional Big Brother" award. 

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
The Kids Are All Dying
Around My Neck



11) James Blake's Friends That Break Your Heart
Release Date: October 8
Runtime: 43:42
Tracks: 12
Genre: Alternative/Pop

Speaking of emotional, my favorite sadboy released his fifth album this year. James Blake is back, and I couldn't be happier. Admittedly, rising above his last album was going to be a challenge, and he didn't quite achieve that goal. For a while, I wrote this album off because it seemed like more of the same from him. In a way, Friends That Break Your Heart is more of the same from James Blake, but what he regularly produces is fantastic and endearing and melodic. This record found him going more in a pop direction than his mumbly, singing in round debut and sophomore albums, slightly less hip-hip inspired than his fantastic fourth album. As he continues to break into the mainstream, James finds way to reinvent his sound in a way that can still capture us. Unlike before, where James sung about lust and failing relationships, as the album suggests Friends That Break Your Heart is more about friendship dynamics, envy/jealousy, and how to cope when you eventually grow apart. Things that hurt more than you realize they will; at least that was the case for me this Autumn.

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
Life is Not the Same
Foot Forward



10) Remi Wolf's Juno
Release Date: October 15
Runtime: 39:43
Tracks: 13
Genre: Pop/Funk

Let me just call it for you all right now. Despite other artists debuting and having the album chart higher than hers on this list, Remi Wolf easily earns this year's "Best New Artist" award. From the first time I saw her video for "Photo ID" (not on the album) earlier this year, I knew it was meant to be. Outfitted in a hardcore late 90s aesthetic with music videos to match, the Palo Alto American Idol alum brings us raspy, sultry vocals that you'll find hard to resist. Her charm and bubbly attitude radiate off the tracks as she sings about her own empowerment, avoiding ex-lovers, trips to the liquor store, and members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Juno is a microdosed mushroom trip down a 90s rabbit hole through the lens of 2020 ideals and realities. It's also just a fun album. Besides one or two songs to skip, you'll find yourself throwing your head side to side along with her. Mark my word, Remi Wolf is the next big thing.

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:



9) Tune-Yard's sketchy
Release Date: March 26
Runtime: 37:01
Tracks: 11
Genre: Indie Pop/Alternative

It's been years since I've been able to add the Tune-Yards to one of these year-end lists. There's just something about Merrill Garbus' voice; it's so distinct, raspy, and melodic. While I love the Tune-Yards, I always have trouble truly describing them. Their sounds has evolved over the years, and they're a bit more by the books American-Rock than they were in the past, but they still have their worldly/South African flair about them despite being a California-based group. sketchy finds the duo reemerging for the fifth time, loop pedals and haunting lyrics in tow as usual. This album feels as infectious as Whokill and Nikki Nack, as Merrill laments about the courage to challenge our former selves and belief systems. Her powerful screams are matched by blaring horns, her whispers paired with soft 808 kicks and chimes. This year, Tune-Yards have earned themselves the "Return of the Mack" award.

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
my neighbor



8) IDK's USEE4YOURSELF
Release Date: July 9
Runtime: 43:51
Tracks: 17
Genre: Hip-Hop

When I first heard IDK, I thought I was listening to the resurgence of "Old" Kanye. After further research, I discovered my ears were trying to fill the hole in my heart my former favorite rapper left when I casted him out. Curious about more than his flow, I gave IDK's second studio album a chance. To my surprise, once I ventured past the first track with a trap-beat, I was treated to soulful samples and 808s. Clever wordplay and punchlines transported me back to the height of backpack rap in the mid-00s. However, IDK (Ignorantly Delivering Knowledge) is far from the Mos Def type. He'll still brag on a track, spit lines about bitches, all the usual rap shit. And it's wonderful. Once he lures you in with his phenomenal bars, dope beats, and illustrious rap features, the Bowie, Maryland-raised rapper delves into more personal and taboo topics, including his upbringing and sexual abuse. There's even a skit or two! USEE4YOURSELF is more than meets the eye or ear, but you'll find that out for yourself.

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
Peloton



7) Silk Sonic's An Evening with Silk Sonic
Release Date: November 12
Runtime: 31:17
Tracks: 9
Genre: Funk/R&B

Perhaps the most anticipated album of the year, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak had the entire country thirsting for more after they dropped "Leave the Door Open" in March. With Bootsy Collins as their special guest, An Evening with Silk Sonic double slaps us with funk and leaves before it overstays its welcome. Nostalgia for the 70s is very marketable, but you don't want to oversell the gimmick. Both Bruno and Anderson realize this, allowing their vocal and rapping skills to balance the album. I didn't measure, but they may actually share the stage equally, which is a feat when one star is arguably bigger than the other. Each track is funkier than the last as we slide from club song to sex anthem to revenge track to ballad. There's a little something for everyone on this collaboration. So gather you more agile homies, learn a song and a routine, and take to a street corner to woe the gender of your choice.

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
Put On a Smile



6) Yebba's Dawn
Release Date: September 10
Runtime: 38:48
Tracks: 12
Genre: R&B/Jazz

I'd like to take this time out to thank Mark Ronson for introducing me to Yebba two years ago. And I guess I can extend that thanks to Ed Sheeran for signing her? Much to my surprise, Yebba is from Arkansas not South London, proving that America can grow blue-eyed soul ladies, too. Filling the shoes Duffy left on Warwick Avenue, Yebba gives us her debut Dawn. As I've alluded, her voice is full, dynamic, heavy but light. Siting the Clark Sisters as her main influence, Yebba performs vocal acrobatics all over this album. In her jazzy tone, she sings about the typical love and betrayal but touches on grief, having recently lost her mother to suicide. The album also features verses from Smino and A$AP Rocky. With Ronson leading production on Dawn (with help from Yebba), it's no wonder why this album is so delightful and so high on this list. Any other year, Yebba would have earned multiple "awards," but this year's top five had other plans....

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:



5) Lil Nas X' MONTERO
Release Date: September 17
Runtime: 41:17
Tracks: 15
Genre: Pop/Rap/Rock

And the award for "Gayest Album of 2021" goes to....! Joking aside, THE BOY DON'T MISS! It might seem confusing how a Nicki Minaj stan on Twitter become a pop sensation with a song that could have easily been taken as a joke or one-hit-wonder, but when you have marketing genius and trolling skills like Lil Nas X, stardom is as close as you want it. Out with his official debut album, LNX is the new great gay black hope (since Frank Ocean didn't want the mantle). And he has cosigns to boot. Featuring all the pop/hip-hop flair and beats we've come to expect from him and his team, Montero lets us into his mind with his self-titled album. He laments about love/lust and flaunts his sexuality in the face of conservatives, sure, but he also sings about dealing with imperfect parents, mental health, and looking for acceptance. It's a fairly emotional album, accompanied by synthesized horns and pianos. Elton John even shows up. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and as a dark-skin black man and queer in America, he's very aware of all the targets on his back. Despite that, he sings through his pains and shares his triumphs with us. And each track is a hit. Like I said, THE BOY DON'T MISS!




4) Bo Burnham's Inside (The Songs)
Release Date: June 10
Runtime: 53:28
Tracks: 20
Genre: Synth-Pop/Singer-Songwriter

Bo Burnham has been an internet presence since nearly the beginning of Youtube. Comedy Central Records snatched him up as a teenager seeing his comedy and music promise. Some might have called him a protégé. Eventually, I'm sure that pressure got to him, and he hid for five years. He then dropped arguably one of the best Netflix comedy specials since the streaming service's existence. Basing his comedy in music, he released the special as his fourth comedy album. However, his songs don't sound like jokes. Produced solely by Bo, each song sounds like it could easily be on the radio, spanning different genres and decades. Without even seeing the special, the songs are infectious, introspective, and self aware. Bo recognizes the power he has to change and uplift the world with his comedy as an everyday white guy and agrees it's as ridiculous as it sounds. Through the album, we listen to him joke about calling his mother, white liberalism, technology, and growing older. Perhaps too smart for his own good, his lyrics are fun without being dumbed down. You'll find yourself singing along to this depressed white man's words, and for that, I award Inside (The Songs) with "The Unexpected."

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
30



3) Tyler, the Creator's CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST
Release Date: June 25
Runtime: 52:41
Tracks: 16
Genre: Hip-Hop

And the award for "Most Rappinin-Ass Negro of 2021" goes to... Tyler, the Creator! Listen, when you have DJ Drama host your sixth album to give it that good 2006-2012 mixtape feel, you're already ahead of the pack. With rap features from Lil Wayne to Domo Genesis to YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Tyler has all his bases covered from Gen X to Zoomers. Still employing the smooth melodies from his most recent projects, Tyler reincorporates his hard flows and 808 heavy beats from his OddFuture days, supplying us with a rich tapestry of his current identity and the black experience. Having come to peace with his sexuality, he raps about bitches and niggas he's still lusting over. He also muses over his self reflection, community, and childhood. The pacing of the album is also fantastic. We're treated to six 150 or less second songs to give us that real mixtape feel before he transitions to more traditional 3.5 minute rap tracks. The second half of the album features two 9 minute songs, showcasing Tyler's versatility with style and composition. Call Me If You Get Lost is the perfect culmination of his skills. It's almost as if he found himself.

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:



2) Jazmine Sullivan’s Heaux Tales
Release Date: January 8
Runtime: 32:21
Tracks: 14
Genre: R&B

To keep it a stack, from the first note of Heaux Tales' intro, I knew this would be the album to beat. All year, I compared other projects to what Jazmine Sullivan assembled, and few measured up. I should be upset with her for setting the bar so high so early in the damn year (day 8? really?!), but who am I to hold excellence against a black woman? Cleverly pairing nearly every song with a black woman's "Tale," Jazmine's fourth album takes us on a journey of black sexuality, promiscuity, and heartbreak. Her lyrics are relatable, even when it seems like she's trippin during "Put It Down," but who among us hasn't been dickmitized into worshipping the concrete a dusty man steps upon? With a vocal range that even Beyonce and Adele could envy, Jazmine controls each track and chooses the perfect moments to show off. Featuring guests Ari Lennox and H.E.R., she proves that she knows how to play well with others, opening her up for any award show to invite her to perform multiple artists' tributes to come. Heaux Tales truly deserves the title of "Blackest Album of 2021" for showcasing black femininity as effortlessly as it does. But who could have possibly come along and pushed it out of the number one spot it deserved?

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
On It (feat Ari Lennox)
Lost One



1) Adele’s 30
Release Date: November 19
Runtime: 58:15
Tracks: 12
Genre: Jazz/Soul

"It's about divorce, babe! Divorce." As the years go on and records become more digital, I prefer shorter albums. 80 minute albums are too much. However, this year's best album has the longest runtime on the entire list thanks to dynamic five- and six-minute tracks. That's right, Adele - or Delly Anne as black Twitter calls her - has returned with the fourth edition in her age-titled saga. Taking roughly five years to step away, raise her child, and focus on what she wants out of a relationship, she's returned to make us cry and wail once again. Perhaps her most musically adventurous album, Adele utilizes the jazzy influences we haven't heard since 19 along with her classic piano-balladeer skills. Always one to sing about love, longing, and lost, 30 focuses more on what Adele could have done differently in her marriage, as a person, and as a mother. (If "My Little Love" doesn't make you tear up, than you're heartless or you weren't a child of divorce.) Standing firmly in her decision to make music for her Millennial and Gen X peers, Adele is truly for all ages. She has a talent for making her experiences feel universal. 30 is a message of healing and growth, and we could all use a little of that as we move forward into the new year.

Breakout Single:
Standout Tracks:
I Drink Wine
To Be Loved


Welp. That's my time. As always, I hope you enjoyed my list and writing. If you found a typo, no you didn't. If you disagree with my picks, let me know. I want to know your favorites, too. Still can't believe this is the ninth time I've done this. I'll have to make a Best of the "Decade" list soon. Maybe it'll even have albums I ranked too low initially. Some albums have more staying power than others. Til next December, stay safe, warm, and vaccinated. 

Don't forget, you can check out my back catalog here: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013.
Oh, and of course, a playlist of this year's picks can be found below.



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