The 20 Best Albums of 2021 So Far
Which albums have impressed critics the most during the first half of the year? Above, we rank the best-reviewed LPs released between January 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021 by Metascore. Albums must have at least 7 reviews from professional critics to be eligible, and resissues, EPs, live albums, and compilations are excluded.
Hailing from rural Niger, Tuareg singer-guitarist Mdou Moctar first came to the attention of Western music fans with 2019's Ilana: The Creator, his fifth album but first with a full band. Influenced as much by Eddie Van Halen as by traditional Tuareg music, Moctar recently signed to indie stalwarts Matador for this sixth LP, which reaffirms him as a self-taught guitar hero.
“In so many ways, the album represents the full realization not just of Moctar’s individual artistry, but of what’s possible when influences collide in unexpected ways.” —Paste
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