The best albums of 2021: The ballots

Indigo De Souza, Any Shape You TakeThe Weather Station, IgnoranceThe Armed, ULTRAPOPTorres, ThirstierLow, Hey WhatSon Lux, Tomorrows IIIMadlib, Sound AncestorsChvrches, Screen ViolenceMcKinley Dixon, For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like HerJon Hopkins, Music For Psychedelic TherapyWednesday, Twin PlaguesArooj Aftab, Vulture PrinceNoga Erez, KIDSBad Bad Hats, WalkmanThe Notwist, Vertigo DaysSnail Mail, ValentineJazmine Sullivan, Heaux TalesRatboys, Happy Birthday, RatboyJapanese Breakfast, JubileeLittle Simz, Sometimes I Might Be IntrovertJulien Baker, “Faith Healer”Tkay Maidza, “Kim”Lucy Dacus, “Thumbs”Mdou Moctar, “Afrique Victime”Megan Thee Stallion, ‘Thot Shit”Beach Bunny, Blame GameHolly Humberstone, The Walls Are Way Too ThinBenny The Butcher and Harry Fraud, The Plugz I Met 2Lee Ranaldo, In Virus TimesRebecca Black, Rebecca Black Was HereRadiohead, Kid A MnesiaJoni Mitchell, The Reprise Albums (1968-1971)Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, The Legendary 1979 No Nukes ConcertJohn Coltrane, A Love Supreme: Live In SeattleNirvana, Nevermind: 30th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition

Little Simz, Sometimes I Might Be IntrovertIsaiah Rashad, The House Is BurningJazmine Sullivan, Heaux TalesGenesis Owusu, Smiling With No TeethCleo Sol, MotherJungle, Loving in StereoMach Hommy, Pray For HaitiMcKinley Dixon, For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like HerSerpentwithfeet, DeaconTyler The Creator, Call Me If You Get LostSilk Sonic, An Evening With Silk SonicRejjie Snow, Baw Baw Black SheepNao, And Then Life Was BeautifulDave, We’re All Alone In This TogetherVince Staples, s/tTopaz Jones, Don’t Go Tellin’ Your MommaPink Sweat$, Pink PlanetLil Nas X, MonteroSnoh Aalegra, Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies Tinashe, 333Noname, “Rainforest” Amber Mark, “Foreign Things” Megan Thee Stallion, “Thot Shit” Brent Faiyaz feat. Tyler, The Creator, “Gravity” J. Cole, Lil Baby, “Pride Is the Devil”

Japanese Breakfast, JubileeSnail Mail, ValentineAdele, 30Summer Walker, Still Over It Clairo, Sling Jazmine Sullivan, Heaux Tales Tyler, The Creator, Call Me If You Get Lost Katy Kirby, Cool Dry Place Faye Webster, I Know I’m Funny Haha Turnstile, GLOW ON Remi Wolf, JunoSilk Sonic, An Evening With Silk Sonic Tasha, Tell Me What You Miss The Most Doja Cat, Planet Her Kacey Musgraves, starcrossedPinkPantheress, to hell with itLil Nas X, MonteroArlo Parks, Collapsed In Sunbeams St. Vincent, Daddy’s HomeLorde, Solar PowerDoja Cat feat. SZA, “Kiss Me More” Japanese Breakfast, “Paprika” Snail Mail, “Valentine”MUNA featuring Phoebe Bridgers, “Silk Chiffon” Mitski, “Working For The Knife”

Japanese Breakfast, JubileeLil Nas X, MonteroRostam, ChangephobiaJazmine Sullivan, Heaux TalesAdele, 30Arlo Parks, Collapsed In SunbeamsMagdalena Bay, Mercurial WorldSnail Mail, ValentineTyler The Creator, Call Me If You Get LostRemi Wolf, JunoGirl In Red, If I Could Make It Go QuietWet, Letter BlueDoja Cat, Planet HerYola, Stand For MyselfLucy Daucus, Home Videoserpentwithfeet, DeaconOlivia Rodrigo, SourJulien Baker, Little ObliviansBillie Eilish, Happier Than EverKacey Musgraves, star-crossedSharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen, “Like I Used To” MUNA featuring Phoebe Bridgers, “Silk Chiffon” Ari Lennox, “Pressure” Jessie Ware, “Please” Remi Wolf, “Liz”

Japanese Breakfast, JubileeOlivia Rodrigo, SOURIndigo De Souza, Any Shape You TakeJulien Baker, Little OblivionsSnail Mail, ValentineKaty Kirby, Cool Dry PlacePom Pom Squad, Death Of A CheerleaderRosie Tucker, Sucker SupremeHelado Negro, Far InHalsey, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want PowerThe Armed, UltrapopLana Del Rey, Blue BanistersModest Mouse, The Golden CasketPinkPantheress, To Hell With ItWe Are The Union, Ordinary LifePetey, Lean Into LifeCheekface, Emphatically No.Rostam, ChangephobiaLucy Dacus, Home VideoGirl In Red, If I Could Make It Go QuietOlivia Rodrigo, “Deja Vu”Parquet Courts, “Walking At A Downtown Pace”Snail Mail, “Valentine”Megan Thee Stallion, “Thot Shit”Mitski, “Working For The Knife”Mannequin Pussy, PerfectHannah Jadagu, What Is Going On?Pronoun, SOUND THE ALARMS!!!1!Jhariah, A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO FAKING YOUR DEATHRebecca Black, Rebecca Black Was HereMy Bloody Valentine, LovelessRadiohead, Kid A MnesiaNirvana, Nevermind (30th anniversary edition)

Turnstile, Glow OnFiddlehead, Between The RichnessThe Armed, ULTRAPOPHyperdontia, Hideous EntityPan-Amerikan Native Front, Little Turtle’s WarCarcass, Torn ArteriesAnika Pyle, Wild RiverRegional Justice Center, Crime and PunishmentHurry, Fake IdeasHulder, Godslastering: Hymns of a Forlorn PeasantryCanal Irreal, Canal IrrealThirdface, Do It With A SmileConcrete Winds, Nerve ButchererSlant, 1집Galvanizer, Prying Sight of ImperceptionJeff Rosenstock, Ska DreamSocioclast, SocioclastLaura Stevenson, Laura StevensonRatboys, Happy Birthday, RatboyFloatie, Voyage OutSnow Ellet, “Cannonball”Somewhere between untitled-era blink-182, mid-period Get Up Kids, and the Postal Service is this incredible Snow Ellet song. Easily the hookiest thing in a year full of pop-minded singles. Militarie Gun, All Roads Lead To The Gun IIThis band’s development has been absolutely thrilling to watch, and if not for that Snow Ellet tracks, “Big Disappointment” would easily have been my song of the year.Dazy, MAXIMUMBLASTSUPERLOUD: The First 24 SongsA collection of 24 lo-fi jams that fall somewhere between brit-pop and noise-rock. What’s not to love?

The Weather Station, IgnoranceL’Rain, FatigueIndigo de Souza, Any Shape You TakeTurnstile, GLOW UPSPELLLING, The Turning WheelJapanese Breakfast, JubileeJazmine Sullivan, Heaux TalesTyler, the Creator, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOSTSnail Mail, ValentineLow, HEY WHATHalsey, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want PowerThe Armed, ULTRAPOPDry Cleaning, New Long LegTORRES, ThirstierSt. Vincent, Daddy’s HomeRemi Wolf, JunoLucy Dacus, Home Videoada lea, one hand on the steering wheel the other sewing a gardenLingua Ignota, SINNER GET READYLily Konigsberg, Lily We Need To Talk NowThe Weather Station, “Atlantic”Indigo de Souza, “Real Pain”L’Rain, “Kill Self”Turnstile, “BLACKOUT”Spirit of the Beehive, “THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN’T DO”LSDXOXO: Dedicated 2 Disrespect The Berlin-via-New-York-via-Philly producer’s first release for XL is full of tough-as-nails techno shuffling, monotone vocal delivery, and unflinchingly horny, campy lyrics. Together, all these elements bring the 4 a.m. queer rave vibes to you anytime, anywhere.

Billie Eilish, Happier Than EverJames Blake, Friends That Break Your HeartWillow Smith, Lately I Feel EverythingRenee Goust, ResisterDoja Cat, Planet HerYoung MA, Off The YakOlivia Rodrigo, SOURArlo Parks, Collapsed In SunbeansFana Hues, HuesRico Nasty, Nightmare VacationIsaiah Rashad, The House Is BurningSummer Walker, Still Over itDawn Richard, Second Line Jazmine Sullivan, Heaux TalesMach-Hommy, Pray For HaitiJapanese Breakfast, JubileeLittle Simz, Sometimes I Might Be IntrovertLil Nas X, MonteroTyler, The Creator, Call Me if You Get LostKarol G, KGO516“Girls Girls Girls,” FletcherNew Jersey vocalist Fletcher stuns by twisting Katy Perry’s “I Kissed A Girl” into a truly sexy ode to women who unapologetically love other women. Beyond content, Fletcher completely remakes Perry’s bubblegum pop into a raucous club banger.

Silk Sonic, An Evening With Silk SonicLittle Simz, Sometimes I Might Be IntrovertJungle, Loving in StereoYebba, DawnIDLES, CrawlerDuran Duran, Future PastHard Feelings, Hard FeelingsLeon Bridges, Gold-Diggers SoundBillie Eilish, Happier Than EverStill Woozy, If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is Dave Gahan And The Soulsavers, ImposterRhys Langston, Stalin BollywoodMartina Topley-Bird, Forever I WaitGreta Van Fleet, The Battle at Garden’s GateLady Blackbird, Black Acid SoulPOND, 9José González, Local Valley Rufus du Sol, SurrenderGorgon City, OlympiaThe The, The Comeback Special

Tyler, The Creator, Call Me If You Get LostMadlib, Sound AncestorsIsaiah Rashad, The House Is BurningFloating Points, PromisesDry Cleaning, New Long LegArmand Hammer, HaramWiki, Half GodTirzah, ColourgradeKa, A Martyr’s RewardKacy Hill, Simple, Sweet, And SmilingAesop Rock, GarbologyLow, Hey WhatFaye Webster, I Know I’m Funny HahaMach-Hommy, Pray For HaitiJPEGMafia, LP!Darkside, SpiralGrouper, ShadePink Siifu & Fly Anakin, SmokebreakLone, Always Inside Your HeadSpace Afrika, Honest LabourBaby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar, “Family Ties”And then Kenny returned from the mountaintop batshit gonzo, like mad that rap continued without him, mad that rappers rapped at all, standing behind you while you listen to the track, mad that you’re listening to it. Like the man says: burn that shit. But have some fun doing it, you know?