40 Best Albums of 2021: Year in Review | Playlist 🎧

30. Kacey Musgraves, star-crossed

[UMG Recordings, Inc. / MCA Nashville]

On 💿 Star-crossed, 🏆 Grammy-winning country musician 🎙 Kacey Musgraves does a fine job executing a divorce album.  Musgraves reminisces on the good times, the bad times, the problems, and ultimately, finds the strength to soldier on. For better or worse – depending on who you ask – she continues expanding and/or distancing herself from country. While it’s too mellow at times, more of than not, Musgraves delivers excellence.

Highlights begin with 🎵 “Good Wife,” where Kacey tries to give her all to her hubby. Later, on promo single 🎵 “Justified”, she reflects on her now defunct relationship as well as the aftermath of her divorce.  One of the more personal, spicy numbers comes by way of 🎵 “Breadwinner” where she asserts, “He wants your shimmer / To make him feel bigger / … Until he starts feeling insecure.”  The 🎵 “Hookup Scene” can’t be left out of the gems, though it isn’t nearly as titillating as the title suggests.  Star-crossed isn’t on the same level as 💿 Golden Hour, but it’s still high quality.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Justified”

29. Camilo, Mis Manos

[Sony Latin]

In 2021, Colombian singer/songwriter 🎙 Camilo (Camilo Echeverry) dropped a tight, entertaining, and well-crafted sophomore album with 💿 Mis Manos.  Mis Manos arrived a mere 11 months after his 🏆 Grammy-nominated debut album, 💿 Por Primera Vez.  Among Echeverry’s attributes is the incredible ease with which he sings, flaunting a gorgeous, youthful tone.  Add his colorful, desirable voice alongside the tuneful, rhythmic melodies that grace Mis Manos and you end up with a truly elite album.  The best moments of Mis Manos include the chill, feel-good opener, 🎵 “Millones” (“Millions”), the matters of the heart driven 🎵 “KESI,” and the playful, drippy 🎵 “Ropa Cara” (“Expensive Clothes”) touting “Balenciaga, Gucci, Prada.” 

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Ropa Cara”

28. GIVĒON, When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time

[Epic]

After releasing his 8-track debut EP, 💿 Take Time, in 2020, 🎙 GIVĒON (Giveon Evans) returned in 2021 with the well-rounded compilation album, 💿 When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time, which adds five additional tracks (an interlude and four full-length songs).  The biggest attraction of this 37-minute effort are the refined, silky smooth, and expressive baritone vocals of the 🏆 Grammy-nominated R&B singer – he’s the real deal, period. While the resulting album is brief, Evans thrills on some lushly produced and superbly written standouts.  They include the 🎵 “The Beach,” where he sings about the checkered past of Long Beach as well as an impending relationship. On 🎵 “Heartbreak Anniversary,” he recalls the ended relationship, proclaiming, “Just like the day that I met you, the day I thought forever / Said that you love me, but that’ll last for never.” My personal favorite remains 🎵 “Like I Want You,” a breakout moment, where he longs for his ex, delivering his best performance of the album.  Sure, those three songs all graced Take Time, but the newbies shine too, including the smooth duet with 🎙 Snoh Aalegra, 🎵 “Last Time,” and the elite, nuanced, and refined penultimate cut, 🎵 “Stuck on You.”

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Like I Want You”

27. Leon Bridges, Gold-Diggers Sound

[Columbia]

I’d describe 🎙 Leon Bridges’ third studio album, 💿 Gold-Diggers Sound, as his most contemporary effort to date.  Even so, this well-rounded LP upgrades Bridges’ sound while retaining soulful cues and touches. It satisfies traditional listeners while still appealing and being appreciated by younger R&B enthusiasts.

There are some solid, well-rounded, classy songs that make Gold-Diggers Sound marvelous.  🎵 “Born Again” kicks things off superbly, with the assist from 🎙 Robert Glasper.  Then, there are some fine advance singles, which remain potent: 🎵 “Motorbike”, 🎵 “Why Don’t You Touch Me”, and the crown jewel, 🎵 “Sweeter” featuring Terrace Martin (“Hoping for a life more sweeter / Instead, I’m just a story repeating”). Bridges delivers sheer excellence, period.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Sweeter” 

26. Anthony Hamilton, Love is the New Black

[My Music Box]

After an excruciating five-year wait, 🏆 Grammy-winning, contemporary soul singer/songwriter 🎙 Anthony Hamilton released a brand-new studio album, 💿 Love is the New Black.  While Love is the New Black didn’t receive the attention it should of, it ranks among the best albums of 2021, finding Hamilton remaining true to self.  Here, Mr. Hamilton gives us neo-, retro- and trap-soul, along with his signature brand of grown-n-sexy adult contemporary R&B.

With no shortage of high-flying moments, among the crème de la crème is his 🎙 Rick Ross feature, 🎵 “Real Love” which marvelously balances old-school and new school.  Furthermore, that interpolation of 🎵 “Swahililand” (🎙 Ahmad Jamal) is beastly.  There’s also the heartfelt, ‘did me wrong’ slow jam, 🎵 “You Made a Fool of Me”, which marks Mr. Hamilton firmly planted in his niche.  As awesome as these two gems are, it’s the socially conscious 🎵 “Mercy”  where Hamilton gets transcendent, pleading for mercy for the injustices done against the black community, particularly black men.  Powerful.  Love is the New Black – the album you might not have heard in 2021 that you CERTAINLY need to!

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Mercy”

25. Kanye West, Donda

[Def Jam]

💿 Donda, the 10^th studio album by 🎙 Kanye West is a complicated affair – understatement.  Of course, Mr. West is a complicated, polarizing musician.  A lot to digest at 110 minutes, there are still plenty of compelling moments that make Donda worthwhile, without the album being  flawless from top to bottom. Hey, the Recording Academy saw fit to recognize it, including a nomination for Album of the Year, a category West was last nominated for in 2007 (💿 Graduation). There are some awesome highlights, led by the epic 🎵 “Jesus Lord” featuring 🎙 Jay Electronica. Besides superb production work by 🎛 MIKE DEAN, 🎛 Swizz Beatz, and 🎛 Gesaffelstein, I heart the socially conscious message by Larry Hoover Jr. related to the incarceration of his father, Larry Hoover Sr.  Another fine moment comes by way of 🎵 “Hurricane,” featuring superstars 🎙 The Weeknd and 🎙 Lil Baby.  The gems don’t stop there, with West reconnecting with 🎙 Jay-Z on 🎵 “Jail,” as well as that killer use of a 🎙 Lauryn Hill sample on 🎵 “Believe What I Say.” Complicated LP, but intriguing.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Jesus Lord” 

24. Lana Del Rey, Chemtrails Over the Country Club

[Interscope]

🎙 Lana Del Rey had the formidable, elephantine task of following up her 🏆 Grammy-nominated masterpiece, 💿 Norman Fucking Rockwell!.  If her seventh studio album, 💿 Chemtrails Over the Country Club had ended up being weaker, would anyone blame her? The good news is that Chemtrails Over the Country Club marks another great album from Del Rey, even if it doesn’t eclipse NFR!. Much more stripped and subtler than previous albums, Lana nonetheless compels us with the magic of her voice and complexity and poetic sensibilities of her pen.  She’s hypnotic on the opener 🎵 “White Dress,” which is written narratively with a reminiscent approach.  Title track 🎵 “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” follows in all its glory, with cool energy and numerous lyrical allusions.  The beat keeps on going from there with the like of the spiritually charged 🎵 “Tulsa Jesus Freak,” the love-driven, LA-referencing 🎵 “Let Me Love You Like a Woman” and maybe, just maybe the best song, a chilling cover of the 🎙 Joni Mitchell classic,  🎵 “For Free” performed alongside 🎙 Zella Day and 🎙 Weyes Blood. 

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “For Free”

23. Halsey, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power

[Capitol] 

Alternative pop standout 🎙 Halsey (Ashley Frangipane) delivers the best LP of her career with her fourth album, 💿 If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.  If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power is an album with a darker sound that finds Frangipane reflecting on love, mental health, and childbirth.  She gets a huge lift behind the boards thanks to the 🏆 Academy- and Grammy-award winning production team 🎛 Atticus Ross and 🎛 Trent Reznor. 

Early on, there is a run of terrific songs.  🎵 “The Tradition” is primarily a piano ballad, set in a minor key, giving it darker vibes.  Later, 🎵 “Easier than Lying” is a rock record with no shortage of energy or intensity, including the angst-filled chorus. On 🎵 “Lilith,” the listener is treated to sick beat, fiery bass line, and a strong vocal, working with dark, brutally honest lyrics.  And let’s not forget about 🎵 “I am not a woman, I’m a god” or arguably, the crème de la crème, 🎵 “The Lighthouse.” If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power is easily deserving of that 🏆 Grammy nomination.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “The Lighthouse”

22. Shelley FKA DRAM, Shelley FKA DRAM

[Atlantic / EMPIRE]

DRAM, reborn as 🎙 Shelley FKA DRAM, and embracing R&B exclusively, shines on his short but incredibly sweet sophomore album, 💿 Shelley FKA DRAM. It took five years for him release a new album, but his self-titled effort was definitely worth the wait.  There are no misses to be found as every song is definitely worth spinning.  The production is superb, the songwriting is sweet, the vocals are electrifying, and the collaborations (🎙 Summer Walker, 🎙 H.E.R., 🎙 WATT, 🎙 H.E.R., and 🎙 Erykah Badu) are all worthwhile too.  What’s most impressive about this album, of course, is just how gifted a singer Shelley is. Songs that stand out on this fabulous project include the Walker-assisted, buttery smooth opener, 🎵 “All Pride Aside,” the sensual follow-up, 🎵 “Exposure,” and the crowning achievement, the grandiose 🎵 “The Lay Down” (featuring H.E.R. and watt), which features an epic chorus and stellar guitar feature. Shelley FKA DRAM = utterly sublime.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “The Lay Down”

21. Elton John, The Lockdown Sessions

[Mercury]

Iconic pop/rock musician 🎙 Elton John delivered an engaging, fun collaborative 32^nd studio album with 💿 The Lockdown Sessions. The Lockdown Sessions finds the 🏆 decorated musician collaborating with musicians from all walks of life, many unexpected (🎙 Young Thug and 🎙 Jimmie Allen especially).  The resulting album is starkly different from everything else in his catalog, which makes The Lockdown Sessions so special and aa breath of fresh air. There’s plenty to heart about The Lockdown Sessions.

So, what are some of the gems that make The Lockdown Sessions among the best of 2021? The crowning achievement arrives at the top, the groovy, danceable 🎵 “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” featuring 🎙 Dua Lipa, which mashes up previous Elton John classics.  His duets with other LGBTQ+ 🏳️‍🌈 artists – 🎙 Rina Sawayama (🎵 “Chosen Family”) and 🎙 Years & Years (🎵 “It’s a sin (global reach mix)”), and 🎙 Brandi Carlile (🎵 “Simple Things”) – are terrific. Throw in his piano playing on a 🎙 Miley Cyrus-helmed 🎙 Metallica cover (🎵 “Nothing Else Matters”), and a gospel-soul collab with fellow icon, 🎙 Stevie Wonder (🎵 “Finish Line”), make The Lockdown Sessions must-hear.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)”

20. Foo Fighters, Medicine at Midnight

[RCA]

Following a three-year hiatus, the 🎙 Dave Grohl-led, 🏆 Grammy-winning, totally badass 🎙 Foo Fighters return with a totally worthwhile tenth studio album, 💿 Medicine at Midnight.  Contributing to the sheer excellence are the services of ‘it’ producer 🎛 Greg Kurstin, whom the band has worked with plenty in recent times. From the start, The Foos come out firing on all cylinders with 🎵 “Making a Fire” with its overdrive-fueled guitars, a hella tuneful melody, and the best weapon – Grohl on the mic (it’s the “na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na’s” for me dawg)! Even formerly somnambulant single 🎵 “Shame Shame” shines within the context of Medicine.  That said, there are songs with even more firepower such as the thoughtful 🎵 “Waiting on a War” where Grohl reflects on the state of world and the effect that it has on the young, who are often adversely affected and the big, obnoxious, rousing, turned TF up 🎵 “No Son of Mine”. 

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “No Son of Mine” 

19. Snoh Aalegra, Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies

[Artium Recordings / Roc Nation] 

Miss me with the BS that R&B is dead – it’s not! Swedish-born and bred Iranian singer/songwriter 🎙 Snoh Aalegra (Shahrzad Fooladi) is a prime example of an artist infusing life and sheer excellence into the genre. Aalegra shines on her third studio album, 💿 Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies, released in the hot summer of 2021. Set in the ‘progressive’ vein of the genre with ample cues from the past, Aalegra delivers a surefire gem.  Over the course of 15 tracks, she captures the listener’s attention with cool but expressive vocals and songs centered on matters of the heart – L-O-V-E.  No wonder she snagged a couple of 🏆 Grammy nominations!

The crowning achievement – the must-hear – is 🎵 “Lost You,” which balances past and present superbly, and Aalegra puts in work with beautiful, pure vocals – cool energy, if you will.  Thematically, she reflects on losing love yet still longing for that person.  Other bright spots include 🎵 “Neon Peach,” where she collaborates with 🎙 Tyler, The Creator and the neo-soul-tinged 🎵 “Violet Skies.” If you’ve yet to listen to Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies, well, you’re totally missing out! 

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Lost You”

18. The Black Keys, Delta Kream

[Nonesuch]

On 💿 Delta Kream, 🎙 The Black Keys (🎙 Dan Auerbach and 🎙 Patrick Carney), go the covers route, and return to their roots: the blues.  Delta Kream exceptionally pays tribute to blues heroes, most prominently David Kimbrough, Jr., best known as 🎙 Junior Kimbrough.  Auerbach sings well and with ease, never overdoing/trying too hard to capture that bluesy aesthetic. Recorded live in the studio, Auerbach and Carney, who also produce, enlist the services of friends 🎙 Eric Deaton (electric bass) and 🎙 Kenny Brown (electric guitar).  The crème de la crème of Delta Kream includes the 🎼✍ John Lee Hooker/ 🎼✍ Bernard Besman classic, 🎵 “Crawling Kingsnake,” the Kimbrough’s suggestive 🎵 “Stay the Night,” and 🎙 Robert Lee Burnside’s 🎵 “Going Down South.”  

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Crawling Kingsnake”

17. Jon Batiste, We Are

[Verve]

Gifted, versatile Louisianan musician 🎙 Jon Batiste delivered one of the year’s best and most satisfying R&B albums with 💿 We Are. Better yet, We Are is one of the best albums of 2021 regardless of genre.  Sadly, too few folks indulged into this neo-soul affair which finds Batiste showing off his prodigious musicianship (did you hear that he became an 🏆 Academy Award winner?).  It all begins with the grandiose opener 🎵 “We Are,” enlisting numerous collaborators including the 🎙 Gospel Soul Children’s Choir and the 🎙 St. Augustine High School Marching 100.  Of course, it’s Jon’s nuanced lead vocals that shine brightest.  Later, he kills it on the song to beat, 🎵 “Cry,” with messaging which laments the injustices of the world (“For the loss of the innocence / For the struggle of the immigrants / For the wrongful imprisonment”). Of course, there’s also a fine blend of classic and novel with a heaping does of infectious on 🎵 “I Need You.”

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Cry” 

16. serpentwithfeet, DEACON

[Secretly Canadian]

🎙 Serpentwithfeet (Josiah Wise) an artist worth checking out if you haven’t in the past.  The openly gay musician brings his own distinct style to his music – an alternative/experimental brand of R&B with electronic cues.  The best way experience Wise is listen to the eclecticism he brings to the table. In 2021, he managed to drop one of the best albums of the year with the 11 track, 29-minute effort, 💿 DEACON. Serpentwithfeet totally nails it, showing off immense skilled as a singer and songwriter, as well as exhibiting innovative spirit, keeping things fresh and progressive.  The other pros of DEACON lie within the track list.  The romantic 🎵 “Hyacinth” commences the album lushly with ear catching production.  🎵 “Same Size Shoe” continues to find Wise dip into romance with a special man, one who, indeed “wear the same size shoe.” Later, he’s open about same-sex love and sex, a formerly taboo topic, on 🎵 “Wood Boy” (“He’s stacking that wood / Just like he should / Got my wood, wood boy”). There’s not a bad song to be found on DEACON. 

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Same Size Shoe”  

15. Manchester Orchestra, The Million Masks of God

[Loma Vista]

Cutting straight to the chase, Atlanta, Georgia alt-rock band 🎙 Manchester Orchestra doesn’t disappoint in the least on their 2021 album, 💿 The Million Masks of God 💪. Hey, even if The Million Masks of God sucked, they could easily lay claim to one of the best album titles of the year, right? Right! The good news, of course, is not only does 🎙 Andy Hull and company have a great album title, but they also have a great album as well.  The southern alternative rock collective delivers awesome music that makes you think and analyze it.  The Million Masks of God isn’t necessarily a challenging listening itself, though if you seek to understand the totality of themes and concepts, decoding it adds an additional layer of complexity.  There isn’t a bad song to be found with most of the ‘non-gems’ being nearly equal to the gems; it’s hard to distinguish them, honestly.  Highlights include the six-minute stunner 🎵 “Angel of Death” which encompasses mortality (duh), 🎵 “Keel Timing,” which references mental health, 🎵 “Bed Head” which references ghosts, and two fine cuts referencing the birth of Hull’s sun, 🎵 “Dinosaur” and 🎵 “Obstacle.” The Million Masks of God is one of the deeper albums of 2021 overall.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Angel of Death”

14. H.E.R., Back of My Mind

[Capitol] 

Although lengthy, 🏆 Academy Award and Grammy winner 🎙 H.E.R. (🎙 Gabriella Wilson) delivers on her debut album, 💿 Back of My Mind. Sure, Back of My Mind could be edited, but it marks a fine representation of one of the most gifted musicians of our time. As predicted, the album earns Wilson more Grammy nominations, including one for the highly coveted Album of the Year (her third nom in that category).

Which songs make Back of My Mind one of the elite efforts of 2021? Opener and promo single 🎵 “We Made It” does a fine job setting the tone.  Follow up 🎵 “Back of My Mind” is classy with its vocal harmonies, terrific production, and some tasteful vocal contributions from 🎙 Ty Dolla $ign. 🎵 “Damage” is a surefire smash, finding Wilson exploring ‘real love.’ Later, 🎵 “Lucky” and “Cheat Code” keep Back of My Mind on-point.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Damage” 

13. J. Cole, The Off-Season

[Dreamville / Roc Nation]

🏆 Grammy-winning rapper 🎙 J. Cole delivers an enjoyable, well-rounded sixth studio album with 💿 The Off-Season. While The Off-Season isn’t THE best album by Cole, it ranks among the best projects in his discography.  From the start, Cole spoils the listener’s with the lit banger 🎵 “9 5 . s o u t h” where he touts his skills and success in the game and brilliantly takes shots at rappers who rely on quantity over quality with very little gain.  Throw in an awesome 🎙 Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz sample, and “9 5 . s o u t h” is arguably the song to beat.  Not so fast though! The Off-Season also delivers jam-packed gems with the stellar 🎵 “p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l.” featuring 🎙 Lil Baby, the short but hella potent 🎵 “i n t e r l u d e”, and the reappearance of his 2020 gem, 🎵 “t h e . c l i m b . b a c k” which is every bit as effective as it was prior to The Off-Season.  Jermaine Cole is ‘batting a thousand’ on The Off-Season. 

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “9 5 . s o u t h” 

12. Silk Sonic, An Evening with Silk Sonic

[Aftermath / Atlantic]

What do you get when you put 🎙 Bruno Mars and 🎙 Anderson  .Paak together? Duo 🎙 Silk Sonic, of course! Also, you get two elite, 🏆 Grammy-winning musicians that bring plenty of musicianship to the table. Silk Sonic shines on its short but potent album, 💿 An Evening with Silk Sonic, which materialized in November 2021.  The results, all in all, are sweet, hence why An Evening with Silk Sonic ranks among the 40 Best Albums of 2021 in my book!

The crowning achievement should come as no shocker, if you’ve been woke with the musical landscape of 2021: 🎵 “Leave the Door Open”.  Still, Mars and Paak wouldn’t stop there, unveiling more swagger-filled, retro-soul gems.  🎵 “Fly as Me” and 🎵 “777” both feature infectious, inescapable grooves, and of course lit songwriting.  Singles 🎵 “Smokin Out the Window” and 🎵 “Skate” may not eclipse the 🏆 Grammy-nominated centerpiece (🎵 “Leave the Door Open”), but they come incredibly close.  This 31-minute LP is must-hear, no cap!

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Leave the Door Open”

11. BROCKHAMPTON, ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE

[RCA]

🎙 BROCKHAMPTON absolutely slaughters on their 2021 album, 💿 ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE.  This fine addition to their discography shows this multi-person collective (including 🎙 Kevin Abstract, 🎙 Matt Champion, 🎙 Joba, and 🎙 Dom McLennon) at the top of their game. Running 13 tracks deep, the boys never miss the mark – no duds on the track list! What makes ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE shine is the versatility of the members of the band, the authentic, honest, often emotionally tinged lyrics, and great production work.  Furthermore, BROCKHAMPTON are able to secure some awesome guests only adding to their own stellar contributions.  If ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE indeed ends up being the penultimate album by the collective, it’s a damn good one.  Among the best of the album include 🎵 “BUZZCUT” featuring 🎙 Danny Brown, 🎵 “Chain On” featuring 🎙 JPEGMAFIA and sampling the 🎙 Wu-Tang Clan classic, 🎵 “C.R.E.A.M.”,  “The Light,” 🎵 “Windows,” and “Don’t Shoot Up the Party.”    

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “BUZZCUT” 

10. Jazmine Sullivan, Heaux Tales

[RCA]

It took six years for 🏆 Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 Jazmine Sullivan to release a new project.  That’s extremely long, but at least 💿 Heaux Tales ended up being totally worth the wait.  On the 32-minute project (often characterized as an EP), Sullivan picks right up where she left off in 2015 (💿 Reality Show) showcasing one of the most commanding, intriguing, and soulful voices in the game.  Furthermore, the conceptual nature of the project – women’s love/sex lives – adds a unique dimension.  Also, throw in the fact that besides being geared toward women, Heaux Tales is unapologetically raw and B-L-A-C-K. Among the highlights are 🎵 “Pick Up Your Feelings,” where Jazmine just lays it out there for the offending dude, the steamy, sexed-up 🎵 “Put It Down” and 🎵 “On It” (featuring 🎙 Ari Lennox), and the gorgeous, simple ballad, 🎵 “Lost One,” where Sullivan admits to being “a selfish bitch” as she requests on the chilling chorus, “Just don’t have too much fun without me /… Please don’t forget about me.” 

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Lost One”

9. Taylor Swift, evermore

[Taylor Swift, 2020]

After wowing with 💿 folklore, in December 2020, 🎙 Taylor Swift released its companion piece, 💿 Evermore.  Like the Grammy-winning album that preceded it, Evermore lacks no shortage of musical gems, closing out 2020 with a surefire bang [Note: It arrived too late to appear on the 2020 list]. On Evermore, Swift continues to thrive in the alternative/folk lane, truly been showcasing her musicianship at its best.  No, she’s no powerhouse vocalist, but stylistically, she’s truly able to shine.  Her best attribute, her songwriting, is on full display.  So, what are the gems of this consistent, beastly album? It begins with opener 🎵 “Willow” which finds Swift singing with ease, shining most on its memorable, tuneful chorus.  Of course, those 🎵 “Champagne problems” that follows are pretty rad in their own right, though it’s a collaboration with 🎙 HAIM on 🎵 “No body, no crime” that truly steals the show.  “She says, ‘I think he did it, but I just can’t prove it’/ I think he did it, but I just can’t prove it,” Swift sings on the chorus, continuing, “… No, no body, no crime / But I ain’t lettin’ up until the day I die.”  There are hits beyond those mentioned that reflect how awesome Evermore is top to bottom.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Willow”

8. Nas, King’s Disease II

[Mass Appeal]

💿 King’s Disease II, the 2021 sequel to 💿 King’s Disease (2021), exceeds the original! 🎙 Nas, who finally won a 🏆 Grammy for King’s Disease, delivers a rap album that is consistent from start to finish.  Of course, it should surprise no one that King’s Disease II is nominated for Best Rap Album just like the original.  The hits keep piling up for the East Coast veteran, beginning with the glorious ‘pressure’ of 🎵 “The Pressure” (“The world on my shoulders, it’s been gettin’ too heavy / I been bench pressing the problems, ain’t even get sweaty”).  He doesn’t stop there, imparting the tale of 🎵 “Death Row East,” paying ode to 🎙 EPMD on 🎵 “EPMD 2” (as well as featuring them), and getting spiritual on 🎵 “My Bible.” That, of course, merely covers the surface.  King’s Disease II = surefire gem.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “The Pressure”

7. Doja Cat, Planet Her

[Kemosabe / RCA] 

💿 Planet Her marks the ‘breakthrough’ album for versatile pop musician 🎙 Doja Cat.  Not only is this Amala Dlamini’s best work, but it also ranks among the biggest and best albums of 2021.  Planet Her feels like Dlamini successfully showcased her full talent – just how versatile she is, ultimately.  Perhaps not a perfect album without flaw, but it’s a damn good one.

There is no shortage of highlights. Things start off marvelously with the groovy, feminine 🎵 “Woman.”  Later, Dlamini is sharp, spitting that sex game flawlessly on 🎵 “Need to Know”, amplified by modern production work from 🎛 Dr. Luke.  She drops some superb, big-time collaborations with 🎙 Ariana Grande (🎵 “I Don’t Do Drugs”), a steamy duet with 🎙 The Weeknd (🎵 “You Right”), and the most celebrated song of the album, 🎵 “Kiss Me More” featuring 🎙 SZA.  Planet Her is the place to be!

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Kiss Me More”

6. Tyler, The Creator, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST

[Columbia]

It’s amazing when a musician evolves – blooms into a beautiful flower.  Maybe describing 🏆 Grammy winner 🎙 Tyler, The Creator as a flower is pushing it, but the rapper, singer, and producer has grown over the years.  Following two masterpiece albums – 💿 Flower Boy and 💿 IGOR – Tyler keeps the masterpieces coming with 2021’s  💿 CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. Ultimately, it’s another elite, must-hear LP, rap or otherwise.

There is no shortage of gems.  A personal favorite is 🎵 “Rise!” featuring 🎙 DAISY WORLD, where Tyler produces alongside 🎛 Jamie xx.  Long before it arrives on the track list, The Creator has already wowed with 🎵 “Corso,” where he waves in numerous pop cultural references, and continues to develop his character, Tyler Baudelaire and a traveling theme.  There’s also the epic 🎵 “Lemonhead” with its stupendous production including malicious brass and a banging, pummeling beat, not to mention a feature from rapper 🎙 42 Dugg.  Of course, there’s 🎵 “WUSYANAME” (featuring 🎙 YoungBoy Broke Again and 🎙 Ty Dolla $ign), single 🎵 “LUMBERJACK”, which samples 🎙 Gravediggaz, and can’t leave out the narrative 🎵 “WILSHIRE,” which lasts more than eight-and-a-half minutes.  CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST is a “juggernaut” – one of the top contenders for the best of the best of 2021.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Rise!”  

5. Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR

[Olivia Rodrigo / Geffen]

Did anyone predict that 18-year-old 🎙 Olivia Rodrigo would end up being one of the biggest music stars of 2021? After establishing herself early on in the year with her dominant no. 1 hit, 🎵 “drivers license”, I had the feeling that big things were going to happen for the singer/actress.  That big thing, of course, is her superb debut album, 💿 SOUR, which was tailor made for Gen-Z.  Hey, even us millennials can get onboard with this modern classic.  Besides the ace-in-the-hole (“drivers license”), Rodrigo wows with the attitude-laden, spunky opener, 🎵 “Brutal”: “Where’s my fucking teenage dream? / If someone tells me one more time / ‘Enjoy your youth,’ I’m gonna cry.”  On 🎵 “traitor,” she has some choice words for her betrayer.  Later, on 🎵 “déjà vu”, she discusses her ex’s new relationship, while the pop-punk oriented 🎵 “good 4 u” gives “drivers license” a ‘run for its money’: “Cryin’ on the floor of my bathroom / But you’re so unaffected, I really don’t get it / but I guess good for you.”  Honestly, that’s only the tip of the iceberg with SOUR, which isn’t the least bit sour regarding its quality.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “drivers license”

4. St. Vincent, Daddy’s Home

[Loma Vista]

With 💿 Daddy’s Home, 🏆 Grammy winning singer/songwriter 🎙 St. Vincent (Annie Clark) delivers a surefire home run.  Being honest, Clark never disappoints.  That said, for as many great albums as she’s released, Daddy’s Home ranks near the top.  She never misses the mark with each song bringing something meaningful and rewarding. It begins with 🎵 “Pay Your Way in Pain”, an ear catching record blending funk, electronic cues, and top-notch songwriting.  Things continue to shine on 🎵 “Down and Out Downtown”, which employs a soulful, vintage palette of sounds and lyrically recounts and reflects on the previous night’s experiences. Keep working the incredibly consistent track list and eventually you reach the glorious 🎵 “The Melting of the Sun,” where Clark highlights numerous women telling their respective stories, most of which are filled with pain and adversity.  One more, must-hear gem is 🎵 “Down,” arguably the song to beat, encompassing the vicious cycle of abuse as well as revenge.  Top to bottom, Annie has a surefire case for the BEST album of 2021.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Down” 

3. Billie Eilish, Happier Than Ever

[Darkroom / Interscope] 

I don’t envy the task of a musician having to follow-up a juggernaut – a certified masterpiece. 🎙 Billie Eilish had an elephantine task on her hand: following up her juggernaut of a debut album, 💿 WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?.  Thankfully, her and her go-to-producer, brother  🎛 FINNEAS (Finneas O’Connell), drop a follow-up album in 💿 Happier Than Ever that minimally matches, if not exceeds the brilliance of her debut.  One of the reasons why Happier Than Ever stands tallest among the best albums of 2021 is its intimate, personal nature. Eilish does a fabulous job of conveying her experiences, giving us more of herself – digging deeper!

There are hits and hits for days.  Early gems released far in advance make their way on Happier Than Ever (🎵 “my future” and 🎵 “Therefore I Am”).  Moments like 🎵 “Your Power” and 🎵 “NDA” help us to know more about/ understand the young musician, respectively tackling an abusive relationship and the plight of fame (“Had a pretty boy over, but he couldn’t stay / On his way out, I made him sign an NDA”).  Two of the most ear-catching moments come by way of the minimalist, rhythmic 🎵 “Oxytocin,” among the most distinct records I’ve heard in 2021, and the 🎵 “Happier Than Ever” where Eilish expands her voice, giving us a powerful vocal performance on the second half of the track.  It’s not the least bit surprising that Happier Than Ever finds Eilish is a familiar position – nominate for multiple Grammys.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Happier Than Ever”

2. Lil Nas X, MONTERO

[Columbia]

In the year of our Lord, 2021, 🎙 Lil Nas X proved all the haters and skeptics wrong.  Single after single, released in advance of 💿 Montero, his full-length, debut album, has shown an indisputable superstar.  Montero is an entertaining, personal debut album that successfully blends, pop, rock, and trap.  Furthermore, its ranks among the most intriguing and consistent albums of the year.  No shock here than Lil Nas was nominated for multiple Grammys.

The crowning achievement comes as no surprise: the controversial 🎵 “MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name)”, where Lil Nas X reflects on his own experiences with his sexuality. Of course, behind the title track, there are no shortage of gems.  He shines on collaborations, including former no. 1 hit 🎵 “INDUSTRY BABY” alongside 🎙 Jack Harlow and 🎵 “Scoop” featuring 🎙 Doja Cat.  He’s also strong on solo numbers like the catchy 🎵 “That’s What I Want,” 🎵 “Dead Right Now” which writes off the fakes, and the underrated, gorgeous 🎵 “Sun Goes Down”.  On MONTERO, Lil Nas X never misses the mark.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”

1. Adele, 30

[Melted Stone / Columbia] 

Following a six-year-hiatus, decorated pop musician 🎙 Adele outdoes herself, releasing one of the best albums of her career with 💿 30. Honestly, there isn’t a bad song to be found on this divorce-fueled LP.  Adkins does a marvelous job of sharing her emotions and hardships she’s experienced through song, speaking to her artistry.  Some of the songs run long but she makes it well worth the extended duration.  There is no shortage of hits – all bops folks!

On dominant no. 1 single 🎵 “Easy on Me”, divorce is the primary culprit of the singer’s petition for ‘ease.’ On 🎵 “Cry Your Heart Out” she switches up the formula, dipping her toes into reggae (!).  🎵 “I Drink Wine” is a soulful pop record incorporating introspection, self-improvement, and of course, L-O-V-E.  What about 🎵 “Woman Like Me” where she’s legit angry, asserting, “Complacency is the worst trait to have, are you crazy? / You ain’t never had, ain’t never had a woman like me.”  And maybe, just maybe, the best song on this masterpiece is 🎵 “To Be Loved” with its high-flying vocals and gut-wrenching, heart-driven lyrics.  Amazing album, period.

Must-Hear Gem 💎: 🎵 “Easy on Me” + 🎵 “To Be Loved”