2021 outliers
by 
DommeDamian 
- Chart updated: 10/31/2025 17:45
- (Created: 05/24/2025 19:43).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 0 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and this chart has not been rated yet. Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
View the complete list of 57,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from Clairo. (Remove this filter)
Buy album 
- #Sponsored
60/100
The first word that comes to mind when listening to Sling is tenderness. Claire's soothing, calm voice, and the (for the most part) piano tied with the simple strings have a neat bond, that nails tenderness down to a T, almost too precisely for its necessary imperfections. [Allusive, she actually uses the same quiet intimacy that Billie Eilish does, but Clairo in some ways contain small dozes of Elliott Smith's emotional honesty and the urgency of Lisa Germano.]
From the get go, her voice seem more at home than the half-baked Immunity's bedroom pop. Yet there is a possibility that ms. Cottrill will settle down for a few years, if not for good; and I hope she is doing good* especially in terms of how she demonstrates some of her thoughts and emotions into this record. Sling stays in a very introspective, hushed, and contemplative Chamber/Baroque folk pocket, even if the atmosphere is a bit forced at times. There's not really a song I hate as much as the worst moments of her debut. Wade is a nothing-burger, there's much of aimlessness on Zinnias.
On the contrary - besides initially Blouse, which is basically this typea atmosphere in its best form (a harmony again inspired by Elliott Smith, and melancholy a la Sufjan Stevens) - there wasn't a song that was outstanding in the field of this kind of music, at least to its standards. But after a few spins, I've come to actually love the opener Bambi, the instrumental balance on that track is something to b-hold, and is definitely one of the finest indie folk songs of the decade so far.
If I should criticize Sling just a little further, I would likely quote from my man Punk Revolution Now saying: "There is not a single memorable melody in this entire record and the only thing that differentiates one song from another are the instrumental arrangement choices which Jack Antonoff is likely making. The songwriting and production is totally competent, but the end result is essentially background music which will never be worth returning to". I think Jack Antonoff is very responsible for a lot of what Sling sounds like (and also again why the songs don't feel too natural), but the fact that Claire wrote most of these songs on piano - that drastically changed her way of thinking about the songs - says at least something in my view.
The lyricism and song topics all around Sling is rather veteran; from unequal relationships (Patridge, Harbor, Little Changes), through the lostness in being alongside ignorant and sexual bias (Blouse), through the struggles of doing something you love (Bambi), through the coming of age feelings on family (Management, Reaper, the story behind Joanie), to the final stage of grief and a chapter called self-care (most of them), are all fitting for the scenario that Clairo is portraying, and Jack musically is backing up.
..... but the SONGWRITING itself is anonymous of gripping memorability and fitting,colorful language (at least compared to somebody like Lorde who in an anonymous way also guests here), and there ain't that many melodies. That one that mostly sticks in my mind is on the chorus on Blouse; "If touch can make them hear then touch me now", and I also do have a little soft spot for the verse-melody on Harbor (the next best song after Bambi). Just For Today have a pretty dumb melody, despite featuring some of Claire's best moments in lyricism like "As we speak, I'm hеre to meet devils for tea / Peering 'round the corner of my life / I throw my drink into the faces of my demise". So I will say that a lot of these lyrical plots on the album are ones that I can share the feelings of, doubtlessly, but still the majority - songwriting-wise - goes over like observers and not full embodiments. And the music, whilst pleasant, is baroque but tamed of its usual sauce.
Yet, in contrast to many other 2021 albums striving for some level of introspection, Sling by Clairo actually accomplishes to a solid deal. Claire comes off self-aware and lovable and that (as me trynna end on a positive note) is gooood. At just 22 she has understood baroqueness, and if she chooses down the line to continue making music, I think chances are she'll make material more excellent and fulfilling than Sling. She has not reached her full potential but from my perspective, she has taken a quantum leap in that direction.
*why do I always do this? [First added to this chart: 05/26/2025]
The first word that comes to mind when listening to Sling is tenderness. Claire's soothing, calm voice, and the (for the most part) piano tied with the simple strings have a neat bond, that nails tenderness down to a T, almost too precisely for its necessary imperfections. [Allusive, she actually uses the same quiet intimacy that Billie Eilish does, but Clairo in some ways contain small dozes of Elliott Smith's emotional honesty and the urgency of Lisa Germano.]
From the get go, her voice seem more at home than the half-baked Immunity's bedroom pop. Yet there is a possibility that ms. Cottrill will settle down for a few years, if not for good; and I hope she is doing good* especially in terms of how she demonstrates some of her thoughts and emotions into this record. Sling stays in a very introspective, hushed, and contemplative Chamber/Baroque folk pocket, even if the atmosphere is a bit forced at times. There's not really a song I hate as much as the worst moments of her debut. Wade is a nothing-burger, there's much of aimlessness on Zinnias.
On the contrary - besides initially Blouse, which is basically this typea atmosphere in its best form (a harmony again inspired by Elliott Smith, and melancholy a la Sufjan Stevens) - there wasn't a song that was outstanding in the field of this kind of music, at least to its standards. But after a few spins, I've come to actually love the opener Bambi, the instrumental balance on that track is something to b-hold, and is definitely one of the finest indie folk songs of the decade so far.
If I should criticize Sling just a little further, I would likely quote from my man Punk Revolution Now saying: "There is not a single memorable melody in this entire record and the only thing that differentiates one song from another are the instrumental arrangement choices which Jack Antonoff is likely making. The songwriting and production is totally competent, but the end result is essentially background music which will never be worth returning to". I think Jack Antonoff is very responsible for a lot of what Sling sounds like (and also again why the songs don't feel too natural), but the fact that Claire wrote most of these songs on piano - that drastically changed her way of thinking about the songs - says at least something in my view.
The lyricism and song topics all around Sling is rather veteran; from unequal relationships (Patridge, Harbor, Little Changes), through the lostness in being alongside ignorant and sexual bias (Blouse), through the struggles of doing something you love (Bambi), through the coming of age feelings on family (Management, Reaper, the story behind Joanie), to the final stage of grief and a chapter called self-care (most of them), are all fitting for the scenario that Clairo is portraying, and Jack musically is backing up.
..... but the SONGWRITING itself is anonymous of gripping memorability and fitting,colorful language (at least compared to somebody like Lorde who in an anonymous way also guests here), and there ain't that many melodies. That one that mostly sticks in my mind is on the chorus on Blouse; "If touch can make them hear then touch me now", and I also do have a little soft spot for the verse-melody on Harbor (the next best song after Bambi). Just For Today have a pretty dumb melody, despite featuring some of Claire's best moments in lyricism like "As we speak, I'm hеre to meet devils for tea / Peering 'round the corner of my life / I throw my drink into the faces of my demise". So I will say that a lot of these lyrical plots on the album are ones that I can share the feelings of, doubtlessly, but still the majority - songwriting-wise - goes over like observers and not full embodiments. And the music, whilst pleasant, is baroque but tamed of its usual sauce.
Yet, in contrast to many other 2021 albums striving for some level of introspection, Sling by Clairo actually accomplishes to a solid deal. Claire comes off self-aware and lovable and that (as me trynna end on a positive note) is gooood. At just 22 she has understood baroqueness, and if she chooses down the line to continue making music, I think chances are she'll make material more excellent and fulfilling than Sling. She has not reached her full potential but from my perspective, she has taken a quantum leap in that direction.
*why do I always do this? [First added to this chart: 05/26/2025]
Total albums: 1. Page 1 of 1
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!
2021 outliers composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Anavitória | 1 | 1% | |
| Tenue | 1 | 1% | |
| Little Simz | 1 | 1% | |
| Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine | 1 | 1% | |
| Iceage | 1 | 1% | |
| Wild Honey | 1 | 1% | |
| Bladee | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
47 | 47% | |
 |
20 | 20% | |
 |
7 | 7% | |
 |
5 | 5% | |
| |
4 | 4% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
2021 outliers chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 1 from 99th to 98th For Free by David Crosby |
| Up 1 from 98th to 97th Dohlmen by Dohlmen |
| Up 1 from 97th to 96th Love Will Be Reborn by Martha Wainwright |
| New entries |
|---|
| Shade by Grouper |
| Space 1.8 by Nala Sinephro |
2021 outliers similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Music Albums of 2021 |  Mercury | 2021 year chart | 2022 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 2021 | ThuramThugood | 2021 year chart | 2025 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 2021 |  Cytoma | 2021 year chart | 2022 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 2021 | mlgprounicorn | 2021 year chart | 2021 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 2021 |  imacgill | 2021 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 2021 | Hyggevinyl | 2021 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 88 Music Albums of 2021 |  babyBlueSedan | 2021 year chart | 2022 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 2021 |  zags7000 | 2021 year chart | 2024 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 2021 | juanr1096 | 2021 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 2021 |  pjohnsongolf | 2021 year chart | 2022 |  |
2021 outliers similarity to your chart(s)
Not a member? Registering is quick, easy and FREE!
Why register?
- Join a passionate community of over 50,000 music fans.
- Create & share your own charts.
- Have your say in the overall 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.
- Help maintain the BEA database.
- Earn member points and gain access to increasing levels of functionality!
- ... And lots more!
Register now - it only takes a moment!
Other custom charts by DommeDamian
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R.I.P. Jahseh Dwayne Richardo "XXXTentacion" Onfroy | DommeDamian | Custom chart | 2020 | |
| Favorite album covers | DommeDamian | Custom chart | 2025 | |
| 10-month Challenge "Top 100 Greatest Music Albums" | DommeDamian | Custom chart | 2019 | |
| Top 100 REAL greatest albums | DommeDamian | Custom chart | 2025 | |
| From Scaruffi To Me | DommeDamian | Custom chart | 2024 | |
DommeDamian has created 79 other custom charts - click here to explore them all.
2021 outliers 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.
2021 outliers comments
Be the first to add a comment for this Chart - add your comment!
Your feedback for 2021 outliers
Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
If you enjoy our site, please consider supporting us by sparing a few seconds to disable your ad blocker.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
