The 40 Best Albums of 2021
Above is Metacritic's list of the 40 best-reviewed albums of 2021, ranked by Metascore. This list only includes new albums receiving at least 15 reviews from professional critics (though you'll find a quick list of the top albums with a smaller number of reviews at the end of the gallery.)
Otherwise, all full-length studio albums (or mixtapes) released between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 are eligible, though reissues, live albums, box sets and other compilations are excluded. (Those excluded titles, too, are included in a separate list at the end of the gallery.) Albums are ranked by Metascore prior to rounding based on scores as of December 21, 2021.
(#6) A solo project for 22-year-old indie rocker (and one-time teen prodigy) Lindsey Jordan, Snail Mail followed an impressive 2018 debut with an even better sophomore set. Jordan gets even more personal on Valentine, which she wrote in part while living in her childhood bedroom during the early days of the pandemic and which covers topics like her recent stint in rehab.
“Throughout Valentine, Jordan reaches a new height of expression that practically demands to be heard and felt. ... Over Valentine, Jordan takes turmoil and heartache and creates something beautiful from the mess.” —A.V. Club
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