Top 20 Music Albums of 2021
by 
ForegroundNoise 
The second year in a row now where I've obsessively listened to every release that's interested me as it came out(ish). Overall prognosis from me (in line with most people on here) is that 2021 packed more of a punch than last year, even if I didn't have as much time on my hands to sit around and listen to music (unsurprisingly).
FN xx
Top 5 Short Releases of 2021
1. Asian glow - pt.2345678andstill (Longinus, 16:00) [KR]
emo • lo-fi / slacker rock • noise pop • folktronica - 8/10
2. Rắn Cạp Đuôi - Ngủ Ngày Ngay Ngày Tận Thế (Subtext, 27:09) [VN]
epic collage - 8/10
3. nouns - Lonely Place of Dyin (n/a, 24:13) [US]
post-hardcore • experimental rock • post-rock • emo - 7.5/10
4. Iglooghost - 「Amber Eon • ᴹᶦᶜʳᵒ」(n/a, 22:00) [GB]
UK bass • wonky - 7.5/10
5. Patrick Shiroishi - Hidemi (American Dreams, 25:44) [US]
avant-garde jazz - 7.5/10
2021 Miscellanea:
wild Up - Julius Eastman Vol. 1: Femenine (New Amsterdam, 67:29) [US]
minimalism • chamber music - 7/10
- Chart updated: 12/10/2025 17:45
- (Created: 02/19/2021 20:29).
- Chart size: 20 albums.
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____________________________________________________________________________
deconstructed club
(Gloo, 42:10)
8.5/10
"Sneaking through the world like a tap when it drips
Tiny little grin in the fuzz of a rift
Shrieking out the ground 'til it bursts, make it chip
Substratе split like a blade in the pith"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 04/20/2021]
deconstructed club
(Gloo, 42:10)
8.5/10
"Sneaking through the world like a tap when it drips
Tiny little grin in the fuzz of a rift
Shrieking out the ground 'til it bursts, make it chip
Substratе split like a blade in the pith"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 04/20/2021]
Buy album
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____________________________________________________________________________
post-industrial • electronic
(WV Sorcerer, 36:50)
8/10
"Oh whoever there
Have you seen a sub human cry？
It hurts
It's ugly as it is"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/25/2021]
post-industrial • electronic
(WV Sorcerer, 36:50)
8/10
"Oh whoever there
Have you seen a sub human cry？
It hurts
It's ugly as it is"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/25/2021]
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____________________________________________________________________________
neoclassical darkwave • avant-folk
(Sargent House, 55:50)
8/10
"The Lord spat and held me by my neck
'I would die for you, I would die for you' he wept"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 08/27/2021]
neoclassical darkwave • avant-folk
(Sargent House, 55:50)
8/10
"The Lord spat and held me by my neck
'I would die for you, I would die for you' he wept"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 08/27/2021]
Year of Release:
2021
Appears in:
Rank Score:
955
Rank in 2021:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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____________________________________________________________________________
post-rock • experimental rock • post-punk
(Ninja Tune, 40:44)
8/10
"In the downstairs second living room's TV area
I become her father
And complain of mediocre theatre in the daytime
And ice in single malt whiskey at night
Of rising skirt hems and lowering IQs
And things just aren't built like they used to be"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 02/24/2021]
post-rock • experimental rock • post-punk
(Ninja Tune, 40:44)
8/10
"In the downstairs second living room's TV area
I become her father
And complain of mediocre theatre in the daytime
And ice in single malt whiskey at night
Of rising skirt hems and lowering IQs
And things just aren't built like they used to be"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 02/24/2021]
Year of Release:
2021
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,299
Rank in 2021:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
____________________________________________________________________________
third stream • post-minimalism
(Luaka Bop, 46:37)
8/10
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/30/2021]
third stream • post-minimalism
(Luaka Bop, 46:37)
8/10
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/30/2021]
Year of Release:
2021
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,573
Rank in 2021:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
____________________________________________________________________________
experimental hip hop • glitch hop • experimental
(n/a, 41:09)
7.5/10
"I scan the room, I see bits and pieces of you scattered
It's those same patterns that gon' get us through the next chapter
Your blood runs through this home and your habits through much after"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/12/2021]
experimental hip hop • glitch hop • experimental
(n/a, 41:09)
7.5/10
"I scan the room, I see bits and pieces of you scattered
It's those same patterns that gon' get us through the next chapter
Your blood runs through this home and your habits through much after"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 10/12/2021]
Year of Release:
2021
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,054
Rank in 2021:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
____________________________________________________________________________
art punk • post-punk • experimental rock
(Warp, 54:41)
7.5/10
"Pamphlets through my door and pamphlets on my floor
Open wide, we've got everything, everything that you like"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 05/14/2021]
art punk • post-punk • experimental rock
(Warp, 54:41)
7.5/10
"Pamphlets through my door and pamphlets on my floor
Open wide, we've got everything, everything that you like"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 05/14/2021]
Year of Release:
2021
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,548
Rank in 2021:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
____________________________________________________________________________
ambient • drone • tape music
(Past Inside the Present, 80:11)
7.5/10
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/12/2021]
ambient • drone • tape music
(Past Inside the Present, 80:11)
7.5/10
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 03/12/2021]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
____________________________________________________________________________
ambient pop • avant-folk
(Unheard of Hope, 55:23)
7.5/10
"En el aire [In the air]
Se que vas a aparecer [I know you're going to appear]
Siento el suelo [I feel the ground]
Aunque no alcancen los pies" [Even if my feet don't reach]
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 01/12/2023]
ambient pop • avant-folk
(Unheard of Hope, 55:23)
7.5/10
"En el aire [In the air]
Se que vas a aparecer [I know you're going to appear]
Siento el suelo [I feel the ground]
Aunque no alcancen los pies" [Even if my feet don't reach]
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 01/12/2023]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
____________________________________________________________________________
technical death metal • avant-garde metal
(Avantgarde, 57:05)
7.5/10
"Intellect cannot process the joke
That light and dark are made of smoke,
That good and evil are empty puns,
As the left hand is the right one"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 02/26/2021]
technical death metal • avant-garde metal
(Avantgarde, 57:05)
7.5/10
"Intellect cannot process the joke
That light and dark are made of smoke,
That good and evil are empty puns,
As the left hand is the right one"
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 02/26/2021]
Total albums: 20. Page 1 of 2
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Top 20 Music Albums of 2021 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Xiu Xiu | 1 | 5% | |
| Ad Nauseam | 1 | 5% | |
| Material Girl | 1 | 5% | |
| Iglooghost | 1 | 5% | |
| Black Midi | 1 | 5% | |
| Otay:onii | 1 | 5% | |
| Ill Considered | 1 | 5% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
8 | 40% | |
| |
5 | 25% | |
 |
2 | 10% | |
 |
1 | 5% | |
 |
1 | 5% | |
 |
1 | 5% | |
 |
1 | 5% | |
| Show all | |||
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Other year charts by ForegroundNoise
(from the 2020s)| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 20 Music Albums of 2025 | ForegroundNoise | 2025 year chart | 2026 | |
| Top 20 Music Albums of 2024 | ForegroundNoise | 2024 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 20 Music Albums of 2023 | ForegroundNoise | 2023 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 20 Music Albums of 2022 | ForegroundNoise | 2022 year chart | 2025 | |
ForegroundNoise has created 72 other 2021 year charts - click here to explore them all.
Top 20 Music Albums of 2021 ratings
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We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
