Following on from the top ten, here are the remainder of The Baying of Kazak’s favourite albums of 2021.
WARNING: All albums, tracks, and their accompanying videos are completely uncensored. A number of them contain explicit language that is unsuitable for children, NSFW topics and images, discussions of potentially triggering subjects, and/or political commentary that may offend.
11 – 20
=11. Magdalena Bay – Mercurial World (Pop/Indie, Luminelle Recordings)
TBoK said: “Surely one of the most impressive debut albums and the outright strongest pop album of the year… This is a record of ambitious, forward-thinking pop music and, most importantly of all, it is absolutely overflowing with immense hooks and choruses.”
Standout tracks: Chaeri, You Lose!
For fans of: Chairlift, Metronomy, Grimes, Allie X
Read more: Albums of the Month: October
= 11. illuminati hotties – Let Me Do One More (Indie Rock, Hopeless Records)
TBoK said: “Tudzin’s trademark “tenderpunk” has rarely been more tender than it is on Let Me Do One More… One of 2021’s finest indie rock albums.”
Standout tracks: Pool Hopping, Knead
For fans of: The Beths, Bikini Kill, The Hold Steady
Read more: Albums of the Month: October
13. Wolf Alice – Blue Weekend (Rock, Dirty Hit)
TBoK said: Blue Weekend displayed an impressive diversity of styles whilst remaining absolutely stuffed with some of the biggest rock singles of the year.”
Standout tracks: Delicious Things, Smile, No Hard Feelings
For fans of: PJ Harvey, The 1975, Daughter
Read more: Albums of the Month: June 2021
14. Spellling – The Turning Wheel (Art-Pop, Spellling under exclusive license to Sacred Bones Records)
TBoK said: “A stirring theatricality runs throughout The Turning Wheel… but Chrystia Cabral’s impeccably-crafted arrangements and engrossing lyrics ensure that the musical and vocal flamboyance on display here add extra layers of dynamism and genuine drama rather than affectation… A spell-binding voyage for listeners, one that continues to become more rewarding with each repeated play.”
Standout tracks: Boys at School, Little Deer
For fans of: Weyes Blood, Kate Bush, Kelsey Lu
Read more: Albums of the Month: June 2021
15. Halsey – If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (Alternative/Pop, Capitol Records)
TBoK said: “A visionary fusion of 90s US alt-rock, dark electonica, and pop sensibilities which featured a remarkable number of jaw-dropping moments… Halsey won over both her skeptics and the uninitiated with the exceptional If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.”
Standout tracks: Girl Is A Gun, You Asked For This
For fans of: Nine Inch Nails, Poppy, Paramore
Read more: Albums of the Month: August 2021
16. The Staves – Good Woman (Folk/Indie, Atlantic Records UK)
TBoK said: “The Staves’ sublime Good Woman found the Watford trio expanding their signature blend of folk-pop and stunning three-part harmonies, taking both to new heights in the process.”
Standout tracks: Best Friend, Nothing’s Gonna Happen
For fans of: Laura Marling, First Aid Kit, Local Natives
Read more: Albums of the Month: February 2021
17. Tinashe – 333 (R&B/Pop, Tinashe Music Inc., under exclusive license to Equity Distribution)
TBoK said: “333 is the best R&B album I’ve heard this year so far by a considerable distance. It’s a slick, pop-infused effort packed with hooks, so much so that more than half the tracks sound like they could be monster chart-topping singles.”
Standout tracks: Pasadena, The Chase, Bouncin
For fans of: Chloe x Halle, The Weeknd, Arianna Grande
Read more: Albums of the Month: August 2021
18. Pom Poko – Cheater (Indie Rock, Bella Union)
TBoK said: “Equally capable of skittish delicacy as they are hugely satisfying rackets, Pomo Poko’s “noisy sugar coated songs” are packed with brilliantly peculiar vocals and some of the most inventive guitar playing of the year.
Standout tracks: Like a Lady, Cheater
For fans of: Pixies, Sløtface
Read more: Albums of the Month: January 2021
19. Bicep – Isles (Dance/Electronic, Ninja Tune)
TBoK said: “Isles is a triumph, the sound of great artists relishing the opportunities produced by unforeseen circumstances. Its compelling mix of ethereal vocal samples, plaintive synths, and captivating sense of lonely space suggests that Bicep ought not to forget the magic made here once the clubs finally reopen.”
Standout tracks: Sundial, Apricots
For fans of: Burial, Fatima Yamaha
Read more: Albums of the Month: January 2021
20. Sons of Kemet – Black to the Future (Jazz, Impulse! Records)
TBoK said: “The sense of justified righteous anger is often just as powerful during instrumentals as it is in tracks with vocals, a testament to the potency of this record’s composition”
Standout tracks: To Never Forget the Source, Pick Up Your Burning Cross
For fans of: Shabaka And The Ancestors, The Comet is Coming, Ezra Collective
Read more: The 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize – Who Should Make the Shortlist?
21 – 75
21. CHAI – WINK (Pop/Electronic, Sub Pop)
22. PinkPantheress – to hell with it (Pop/Electronic, Parlophone Records)
23. The Killers – Pressure Machine (Rock, Island Records)
24. Houeida Hedfi – Fleuves de l’Âme (Folk/Modern Classical, Phantasy Sound)
25. Kacey Musgraves – star-crossed (Country/Pop, Interscope Records/MCA Nashville)
26. Self Esteem – Prioritse Pleasure (Pop, Universal Music)
27. Alice Ava – Can You Feel It (Alt-Pop/Singer-Songwriter, Alice Lin)
28. Wiki – Half God (Rap, Wikset Enterprise)
29. black midi – Cavalcade (Rock/Experimental, Rough Trade Records)
30. GOJIRA – Fortitude (Metal, Roadrunner Records Inc.)
31. AUDREY NUNA – A Liquid Breakfast (Rap/R&B, Arista Records)
32. Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp – We’re OK. But We’re Lost Anyway. (Art Rock, Bongo Joe)
33. Joel Culpepper – Sgt Culpepper (Soul/Funk, Pepper Records)
34. Indigo De Souza – Any Shape You Take (Indie Rock/Alternative, Saddle Creek)
35. Ausecuma Beats – Musso (Afrobeat/Jazz/Funk, Music In Exile)
36. Tanya Morgan – Don & Von (Hip-Hop, HiPNOTT Records)
37. Half Waif – Mythopoetics (Electronic/Singer-Songwriter, Anti)
38. Mustafa – When Smoke Rises (Folk/R&B, Regent Park Songs)
39. Cassandra Jenkins – An Overview on Phenomenal Nature (Singer-songwriter, Ba Da Bing!)
40. Howie Lee – Birdy Island (Electronic/Chinese Classical/Jazz, Mais Um Discos)
41. Clairo – Sling (Singer-Songwriter/Chamber-Pop, Clairo Records, LLC. under exclusive license to Fader Label)
42. Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg (Post-Punk, 4AD Ltd.)
43. Rochelle Jordan – Play With The Changes (Dance/Electronic, UNDRGRND Records)
44. Flock of Dimes – Head of Roses (Indie Rock, Sub Pop Records)
45. Enji – Ursgal (Jazz/Alternative, Squama)
46. El Michels Affair meets Liam Bailey – Ekundayo Inversions (Reggae, Big Crown Records)
47. Observe Since 98 – Le Dernier Royaume (Rap, Loretta Records)
48. Rodrigo Amarante – Drama (MPB/Singer-Songwriter, Polyvinyl Record Co.)
49. Dave – We’re All Alone in this Together (Rap, Dave / Neighbourhood Recordings)
50. Laura Stevenson – Laura Stevenson (Singer-Songwriter/Indie Rock, Don Giovanni Records)
51. Lord Apex – Smoke Sessions 3 (Rap/Hip-Hop, Lord Apex)
52. DJ Seinfeld – Mirrors (Dance/House, Ninja Tune)
53. Parcels – Day/Night (Pop/Indie Rock, Because Music)
54. TORRES – Thirstier (Rock, Merge Records)
55. Tyler, The Creator – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST (Rap, Columbia Records)
56. Amyl and The Sniffers – Comfort to Me (Rock/Punk, Rough Trade Records)
57. Nana Yamato – Yoakemae (Before Sunrise) (Indie, Big Love Records)
58. Pom Pom Squad – Death of a Cheerleader (Alternative, City Slang)
59. Lang Lee – There Is a Wolf (Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Your Summer)
60. Smerz – Believer (Electronic, XL Recordings)
61. Faye Webster – I Know I’m Funny haha (Country/Indie Rock, Secretly Canadian)
62. Valerie June – The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers (Singer-songwriter, June Tunes Music, inc. Under Exclusive License to Fantasy Records)
63. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – G_d’s Pee AT STATE’S END! (Post-Rock/Instrumental, Constellation)
64. Binaural Space – Karel Čapek’s RUR (Electronic, Binaural Space)
65. Fimber Bravo – Lunar Tredd (World/Electronic, Moshi Moshi)
66. Black Country, New Road – For The First Time (Post-Rock, Ninja Tune)
67. Laura Mvula – Pink Noise (Pop/R&B, Atlantic Records UK)
68. Equiknoxx – Basic Tools Mixtape (Dancehall/Electronic, Equiknoxx Music)
69. Hand Habits – Fun House (Indie Rock/Singer-Songwriter, Saddle Creek)
70. Armand Hammer & The Alchemist – HARAM (Rap, Backwoodz Studioz)
71. Shame – Drunk Tank Pink (Post-Punk, Dead Oceans)
72. Leanne Betasamosake Simpson – Theory of Ice (Indie-Rock/Folk, You’ve Changed Records)
73. Turnstile – Glow On (Hardcore/Punk, Roadrunner Records, Inc.)
74. Damu The Fudgemunk – Conversation Peace (Hip-Hop, Def Pressé)
75. Eris Drew – Quivering in Time (Dance, Interdimensional Publishing)
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