The Freshman 15: 2021's Best Debut Albums
Next week, we'll release our final overall list of this year's best overall albums. But our ongoing best of 2021 coverage continues right now with a look at this year's top newcomers in music.
Above is our list of the 15 best-reviewed debut albums of 2021, ranked by Metascore. Note that albums must have at least 7 reviews—and be a full-length LP (or mixtape) rather than an EP—to be eligible for inclusion. Albums are ranked by Metascore prior to rounding based on scores as of December 14, 2021.
(#2) In-demand producer Dan Carey guided this debut set from the Krautrock-influenced, Brighton, England post-punk band, one of the rare groups whose drummer (Ollie Judge) is also the lead vocalist. Bright Green Field follows a previous release for Warp, the 2020 EP Natural Resources (for Carey's Speedy Wunderground label), as well as Squid's 2019 Town Centre EP and an early reputation as a terrific live band.
Bright Green Field has been landing on plenty of year-end top 10 lists, and Squid just announced a tour of North America in support of the LP beginning in March 2022.
“It may be early, but get ready to etch their name alongside some of the all-time greats. Bright Green Field is already an album rife with the qualities of a classic.” —Sputnikmusic
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