bgillesp's 2021 Albums of the Year
Not quite on time with this list, but a whole heck of a lot closer than last year's pitiful display. Overall, I think this year was really great, especially in the metal realm. Maybe it was the quality of the music or maybe it was just me, but getting back into more metal than I had been into last year had a big impact on this list. Top 25-ish is more solidly ranked being 4.5/5 or near it. Lower down is more loosely ranked. |
1 | | Every Time I Die Radical
AOTY. I didn't hop on the hype train with Low Teens, even after revisiting it recently, but this blew me away. Who'da thunk it that a band like this would put out their best album so late into their career. Topped my previous favorite of theirs, New Junk Aesthetic, by a good margin. |
2 | | King Woman Celestial Blues
Thank ya Dewi! I still haven't revisited their previous album (of which I have vague memories of it being just okay to me, but now I question myself), but if Dewi hadn't hyped this to the high heavens I would've missed out on a masterpiece. |
3 | | Between the Buried and Me Colors II
Aaaand they're back! Quite the wild ride and one of their best albums surprisingly after the disappointing (to me) Automata duo. |
4 | | Dvne Etemen Ænka
Still one of my proudest achievements on this site is being the one to add this band to the database. This is their best stuff yet and I hope they keep it up! |
5 | | Malignant Altar Realms of Exquisite Morbidity
Got on this real late, so I haven't spent the most time with it, but it clearly rules. Great Morbid Angel worship. |
6 | | Chevelle NIRATIAS
What is with old bands putting out their best work in ages this year??? |
7 | | JPEGMAFIA LP! (online)
I liked the online and offline version about equally, but since this one is more convenient to jam on spotify, I'll put it here. My favorite album of his (but maybe it just took me this long to connect, so I plan to revisit some of his stuff). |
8 | | Devin Townsend Devolution Series #1 - Acoustically Inclined, Live
Dev being Dev but live and acoustic. Great fun. |
9 | | Moses Sumney Live from Blackalachia
That VOICE! Why yall sleep on this? |
10 | | Leprous Aphelion
Old Band Surprisingly Makes Best Album [4] |
11 | | Typhoon (USA-OR) Sympathetic Magic
Took a while to fully grow on me, but as one of, if not the biggest, fanboys on the site for them, it's still pretty great. |
12 | | Adjy The Idyll Opus (I-VI)
I need to spend more time with this one and actually read the lyrics, because I feel like there's a huge rabbit hole behind them that I haven't explored. Beautiful stuff and my favorite review of the year by Rowan. |
13 | | Inferi (USA) Vile Genesis
Melodic tech death adventures. Much fun |
14 | | Der Weg Einer Freiheit Noktvrn
These guys can do no wrong. |
15 | | Obscura A Valediction
Another metal album that is more fun than I know what to do with. |
16 | | Genesis Owusu Smiling with No Teeth
Got on this one late after seeing it on year end lists. It is the most likely one here to grow a bunch on me over the next couple years. |
17 | | Manchester Orchestra The Million Masks of God
Sowing-core |
18 | | The Killers Pressure Machine
Sowing-core [2], but also I never would have checked this without his review and I am very thankful |
19 | | Trophy Scars Astral Pariah
I just love these guys' unique bluesy sound. |
20 | | Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Another new-ish (at least to the spotlight) rapper I'll definitely be paying attention to from now on. |
21 | | Ishmael Ensemble Visions of Light
#1 album that nobody ever listened to. Nu-Jazz. Please check it. |
22 | | Amenra De Doorn
Seems like everyone forgot about this one. Or maybe yall just didnt like it as much as I did |
23 | | KennyHoopla Survivors Guilt: The Mixtape//
I love this guy's vibe. Most exciting pop-punk artist in recent years for me. |
24 | | Kanye West Donda
Kanye has his ups and downs, but man what an epic this was. |
25 | | Springtime (AUS) Springtime
Thanks Doof! |
26 | | Flying Lotus Yasuke
Might watch this show just for the music |
27 | | Mastodon Hushed and Grim
Old Band Surprisingly Makes Best Album [5] |
28 | | Panopticon ...And Again into the Light
Banjos belong in black metal |
29 | | Ad Nauseam Imperative Imperceptible Impulse
Another one that will probably grow on me a bunch. Listening to it as I type this list and had to bump it like 30 spots higher to here. Took forever to click for whatever reason. |
30 | | The Exit Bags Tower of Quiet
Someone from Sput made this (Jots?, correct me if I'm wrong because I forgot) and it's super nice |
31 | | Aesop Rock x Blockhead Garbology
Great combo of rapper and trip hop artist |
32 | | Devin Townsend The Puzzle
It's weird, and non-Dev fans probably have no chance of liking it. Heck, even tons of Dev fans hated it, but I thought it was really neat. |
33 | | Ethereal Shroud Trisagion |
34 | | Iosonouncane IRA
would be higher if it was shorter |
35 | | Wolves in the Throne Room Primordial Arcana |
36 | | Amigo the Devil Born Against
Murderfolk. Fun as heck |
37 | | Leon III Antlers in Velvet |
38 | | Erra Erra
For Steak ;) |
39 | | The Armed Ultrapop |
40 | | Turnstile Glow On |
41 | | Nick Cave and Warren Ellis Carnage |
42 | | Blood Cultures LUNO
GRAVEYARD VIIIIIIBES!!! |
43 | | Lana Del Rey Blue Banisters |
44 | | Archspire Bleed the Future |
45 | | Lantlos Wildhund |
46 | | Arab Strap As Days Get Dark |
47 | | Isaiah Rashad The House Is Burning |
48 | | Mol Diorama |
49 | | Buke and Gase and So Percussion A Record Of...
So weird and i love it |
50 | | Insomnium Argent Moon |
51 | | Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The LSO Promises |
52 | | Gojira Fortitude |
53 | | Devin Townsend Devolution #2: Galactic Quarantine |
54 | | Kevin Penkin Eden (OST)
I did watch this show just for the music. |
55 | | Sturgill Simpson The Ballad of Dood and Juanita |
56 | | A Better Tomorrow Spiritual Crossing
Another Sput project that I loved (from ??, also forgot which user here) . First track was one of my favorite songs of the year. They describe themselves as heavy metal soul music so check them out if it sounds intriguing. |
57 | | Spidergawd VI |
58 | | Spectacular Diagnostics Ancient Methods
Also Natural Mechanics. Kinda like a double EP of chill electronic hip-hop type stuff |
59 | | Havukruunu Kuu Erkylän Yllä |
60 | | Lil Nas X Montero
Unexpectedly good |
61 | | Switchfoot interrobang
Unexpectedly good [2] |
62 | | Khemmis Deceiver
Still good, but really disappointing after their last 2 |
63 | | Idles Crawler |
64 | | Son Lux Tomorrows III |
65 | | Cult of Luna The Raging River |
66 | | C. Tangana El Madrileño
First track was so bad, i nearly gave up on the album before it was over. Glad I didn't because the rest was solid if a bit inconsistent. I'd go crazy for an album full of the flamenco-styled tracks |
67 | | Julien Baker Little Oblivions |
68 | | Injury Reserve By The Time I Get To Phoenix |
69 | | Amon Tobin How Do You Live |
70 | | Employed To Serve Conquering |
71 | | Worm Foreverglade |
72 | | Makaya McCraven Deciphering The Message |
73 | | The Devil Wears Prada ZII |
74 | | Fire! Defeat |
75 | | Knocked Loose A Tear in the Fabric of Life |
76 | | Lambchop Showtunes |
77 | | Nubiyan Twist Freedom Fables |
78 | | Sons of Kemet Black to the Future |
79 | | The Home Team Another Night Alone with You
One of my favorite current pop-punk acts. Wish more people would check them |
80 | | Jazmine Sullivan Heaux Tales |
81 | | The Home Team Slow Bloom
Not quite as good as the above EP due to some down tracks, but still great. |
82 | | Lingua Ignota SINNER GET READY
Makes me sad |
83 | | Tems If Orange Was A Place
Neo-soul |
84 | | Devin Townsend Snuggles
Pleasant, probably only to Dev fans though |
85 | | Blackwater Holylight Silence/Motion |
86 | | Arca KicK iii
The only one of hers I checked this year |
87 | | Spirit Adrift Forge Your Future |
88 | | Lana Del Rey Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Why'd yall hate this one? |
89 | | Morcheeba Blackest Blue
trip-hop |
90 | | Iglooghost Lei Line Eon |
91 | | Beach House Once Twice Melody |
92 | | The War On Drugs I Don't Live Here Anymore |
93 | | Omega (ITA) Nebra
death-doom |
94 | | Circa Survive A Dream About Love |
95 | | Frontierer Oxidized
tries just a little too hard |
96 | | Lorem Ipsum Vivre encore |
97 | | King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard L. W.
It's getting harder and harder to keep up with their releases |
98 | | Cradle of Filth Existence Is Futile |
99 | | Kishi Bashi Emigrant
nice change of pace for him |
100 | | Spectral Wound A Diabolic Thirst
was supposed to be 59 but I noticed too late |
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