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: 06/28/2026 14:15
- (Created: 02/19/2021 20:29).
- Chart size: 20 albums.
There are 0 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and this chart has not been rated yet. Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
View the complete list of 60,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
____________________________________________________________________________
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]
____________________________________________________________________________
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]
____________________________________________________________________________
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:
1,181
Rank in 2021:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
____________________________________________________________________________
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:
3,853
Rank in 2021:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
____________________________________________________________________________
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:
3,013
Rank in 2021:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
____________________________________________________________________________
polyphonic chant • Occitan folk music • polifonia occitana
(Pagans, 58:59)
7.5/10
"'Conduisetz-nos, la tant bela Liseta!' ['Lead us there, oh beautiful Liseta!']
'Seguetz-me donc, mos tres capitanis!' ['Then follow me, my three capatains!]
'Drubetz, mon paire, drubetz a la Liseta!' [Open up, father, open up for Liseta!']
'Non, druebe pas sens saber qui tu menas!' ['No, I shan’t open without knowing who you bring!']
Lai i son rentrats, [They went inside]
An tuat sos paire e maire, [They killed her father and mother]
An tuat sos paire e maire, [They killed her father and mother]
Mes trois beaux capitanis" [My three handsome captains]
____________________________________________________________________________
polyphonic chant • Occitan folk music • polifonia occitana
(Pagans, 58:59)
7.5/10
"'Conduisetz-nos, la tant bela Liseta!' ['Lead us there, oh beautiful Liseta!']
'Seguetz-me donc, mos tres capitanis!' ['Then follow me, my three capatains!]
'Drubetz, mon paire, drubetz a la Liseta!' [Open up, father, open up for Liseta!']
'Non, druebe pas sens saber qui tu menas!' ['No, I shan’t open without knowing who you bring!']
Lai i son rentrats, [They went inside]
An tuat sos paire e maire, [They killed her father and mother]
An tuat sos paire e maire, [They killed her father and mother]
Mes trois beaux capitanis" [My three handsome captains]
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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:
1,334
Rank in 2021:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
____________________________________________________________________________
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:
1,825
Rank in 2021:
Rank in 2020s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
____________________________________________________________________________
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]
____________________________________________________________________________
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]
Total albums: 20. Page 1 of 2
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!
Top 20 Music Albums of 2021 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Black Country, New Road | 1 | 5% | |
| Travis Miller | 1 | 5% | |
| Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra | 1 | 5% | |
| The Body | 1 | 5% | |
| San Salvador | 1 | 5% | |
| Lost Girls | 1 | 5% | |
| Injury Reserve | 1 | 5% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
 |
7 | 35% | |
| |
5 | 25% | |
 |
2 | 10% | |
 |
1 | 5% | |
 |
1 | 5% | |
 |
1 | 5% | |
 |
1 | 5% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 20 Music Albums of 2021 chart changes
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
Down 1 from 6th to 7th |
Down 1 from 7th to 8th |
Down 1 from 8th to 9th |
| New entries |
|---|
Top 20 Music Albums of 2021 similarity to your chart(s)
Not a member? Creating an account is quick, easy and FREE!
Join 50,000+ music fans
- Join a community of over 50,000 music fans.
- Create & share your own charts.
- Influence the overall album rankings.
- Post comments in the forums and vote on polls.
- Comment on or rate any album, artist, track or chart.
- Discover new music & improve your music collection.
- Customise the overall chart using a variety of different filters & metrics.
- Create a wishlist of albums.
- Unlock Dark Mode and other member features.
- Help maintain the BEA database.
- Earn member points and gain access to increasing levels of functionality!
- And much more.
Join now It only takes a moment.
Other year charts by ForegroundNoise
ForegroundNoise has shared 74 more year charts with the community. Browse them all here.| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 13 Music Albums of 2026 | ForegroundNoise | 2026 year chart | 2026 | |
| Top 20 Music Albums of 2025 | ForegroundNoise | 2025 year chart | 2026 | |
| Top 20 Music Albums of 2024 | ForegroundNoise | 2024 year chart | 2026 | |
Top 20 Music Albums of 2021 ratings
Not enough data Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.
Please log in or create an account if you want to be able to leave a rating
Top 20 Music Albums of 2021 favourites
Showing all 1 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top 20 Music Albums of 2021 comments
Be the first to add a comment for this Chart - add your comment!
Please log in or create an account if you want to be able to add a comment
Your feedback for Top 20 Music Albums of 2021
What do you think of this chart? Leave a comment or rate it below!
Log in or create an account to rate this chart, leave comments and join the discussion.
