Best Of 2021: Albums In Order Of Preference Through October 31st

1 – Sour – Olivia Rodrigo

2 – Donda – Kanye West

3 – Queendoncom – Yemi Alade

4 – Montero -Lil Nas X

5 – Punk – Young Thug

6 – Mother Love – Angelique Kidjo

7 – Jose – J Balvin

8 – Justice – Justin Bieber

 

9 – Deacon – serpentwithfeet

10 – Heart & Soul – Eric Church

11 – Ten Songs of Worship & Praise for Our Tumultuous Times – St. Lenox

12 – House of Lull . House of When – Alexis Marshal

13 – Somewhere – Sun June

14 – Thirstier – Torres

 

15 – Infinite Granite – Deafheaven

16 – Ultra Pop – The Armed

17 – Young Shakespeare – Neil Young

18 –  ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE – Brockhampton

19 –  Oh! Pardon tu dormais… – Jane Birkin

20 – Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me: Senior Year – Kaonashi

21 – Sound Ancestors – Madlib

22 – Once Upon A Time – Chika

23 – Madre – Arca

24-  J.T. – Steve Earle

25 – Los Dioses – Anuel AA, Ozuna

26 – Off The Yak – Young M.A.

January: a very quiet month (even if I included the first week of February, it would shake it up), the big surprise is Madlib, of course…

February: a short month and a slow month for the year, all the real action has been on the singles so far so despite Madlib and Sun June being near the top there is an overriding sense of the year not having started. Specifically, rap has been very quiet.

March – The year begins to settle in with serpentwithfeet, at least for now, gonna be difficult to dislodge from the top spot. As for Neil Young, that is one great performance…

April – The year has properly kicked in and for a month takes the limelight away from singles. Bieber went from a disappointment to the best album of the year, once you get past MLK, the deeply melodic and sweet strong ode to love (and God) improves and improves. It is possible Eric Church will replace him at # 1 at some point, or even serpentwithfeet will come all the way back. I am holding off putting box sets on this list, if I wasn’t The who and John Lennon would be here. Here is Justin:

May – a ton of albums but mostly indifferent rather than good, Olivia is the first new superstar, Young M.A. invents drill in her own image, mathcore has its masterpiece…

June – a hot and heated month, with two albums that vie for top spot, especially Kidjo’s Afropop masterpiece at the top, and very  difficult to beat as well

July – Three new entries, Torres’ best album to date, the former Daughter’s nihilism, and the not yet released Kanye West latest.

August – two new releases, and the completed Kanye West takes over the top. I appear to be the only person who flipped out over the masterpiece of mothers, wives, divorce and Jesus, but I can’t hear why anyone is less than astounded at the achievement. I think perhaps West is so controversial that people sometimes can’t hear him

September – the second week of the month saw an inundation of new albums but only two made it it behind the velvet curtain: Lil Nas X and J Balvin.

 

October – considering the time of year, a quiet month with only Young Thug added here