Top Ten Albums of 2021

For a pop music fan such as myself, 2021 was definitely a slow burn. The start of this year saw such a lull, especially after the pop explosion that was 2020, but toward the third quarter we started to see some of the more exciting projects come to fruition and save the year. From seasoned veterans such as the likes of Taylor Swift and Adele, to newcomers Olivia Rodrigo and Doja Cat, this year saw an expansive collection of songs that appeal to multiple generations and music lovers alike. This Top Ten list hopefully represents that span of age and genre and displays the excitement of this year in music.

Disclaimer: As an ENORMOUS Taylor Swift fan I have made the hard decision to leave off her monumental re-recorded albums from this list as I do not consider there to be enough new material on the projects to constitute a "new" album. But don't you worry, there may be a nod or two in my Honorable Mentions.

10. An Evening With Silk Sonic- Silk Sonic

Right in the first quarter of the year, an emerging group dropped their bombshell of a lead single, and the world hasn't stopped talking about it since. Of course this dynamic duo is Silk Sonic (comprised of mega A-listers Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) and this smash hit was "Leave The Door Open". The song takes very direct inspiration from 70's soul music and immediately follows the sound started by Mars' Grammy winning album 24k Magic. After this huge release, Mars and .Paak left the world in anticipation for months before dropping the full album, An Evening With Silk Sonic, which does not for one second divert from the 70's sound they initially set out to make. And if we're being honest, the full project delivers even more of a blow than 24K Magic ever did. Although there isn't a whole lot of variety on this album, there is something so charming about a cohesive record that takes you back in time so well that you forget what year it is. The album has something for everyone. Older adults will appreciate the nostalgic instrumentation and vocal performances, while younger audiences will stick around for the duo's undeniable charisma and luscious radio-friendly hooks. "Leave The Door Open" may be the song that audiences will reference for years to come, but make no mistake, this album delivers from top to bottom.

Standout Tracks: "Leave The Door Open", "Fly As Me", "Smokin Out The Window"

9. Montero - Lil Nas X

Remember when a certain music video came out in March that had the entire world talking about its, let's say, controversial elements? If so, then the song "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" will probably ring a bell. The controversial scene in question depictes a shirtless Lil Nas X descending on a pole to the fiery pits of hell where he gives an angry looking Satan a lap dance. Of course this music video was absolutely meant to be provocative, as is Nas X's specialty, and for everyone who doesn't have a stick up their butt, it's positively hilarious. But somehow the album to follow this monstrous single might have been even more of a shock than the hellish twerking. Montero is a raw, honest and therapeutic album for the singer/rapper. It touches on the two main themes of querness, especially the struggles as a blak man in the queer community, and fame, mainly the overwhelming pressure he felt following his record breaking debut single "Old Town Road". The former theme is discussed in heartbreaking detail throughout singles "That's What I Want" and "Sun Goes Down", while the latter is lamented in "Industry Baby" and "One of Me". The honest lyricism throughout the album may be a shock to fans used to the singer's social media trolling, but make no mistake, with up-tempo production and a slew of A-list features, the songs themselves are absolute bangers that'll have you running to the club dance floor (when it's safe to do so of course).

Standout Tracks: "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)", "Industry Baby", "That's What I Want"

8. 30 - Adele

After 6 long years of waiting, this year we finally got the next installment in Adele's discography, the long awaited follow up to 2015's 25: 30. And of course because Adele is one of the biggest superstars of the generation, she announced her grand return by projecting the number 30 onto every famous monument and structure around the world. Needless to say, Adele's resurrection created extraordinarily high expectations for what was to come. Did 30 meet these expectations? For fans who have been touched by Adele's music in the past, there seems to be mixed reviews on the sonic side of this record. The album's sound is much more stripped back then before, with very thin production and a second half consisting of mostly piano ballads. Although there are some bigger moments such as "Oh My God" and "Can I Get It", the majority of this record is slower and much more exposed than before. But lyrically? This is classic Adele. Touching on the main theme of divorce and heartbreak, 30 delivers an incredible emotional blow to all who listen. Adele really lets the listener into her most personal moments, both in lyricism and in actual voice notes from her vulnerable nights alone. These recordings, heard in the midst of tracks "My Little Love" and "I Drink Wine", demonstrate just how raw heartbreak can be, and Adele clearly has no shame in letting us hear the not so glamorous parts of her relationship. This album may not live up to her previous work, but I don't think it's trying to. The project is a perfect demonstration of the emotional rollercoaster of grief, and it will always serve as a diary that listeners can find themselves in, no matter how specific it is to Adele's experience.

Standout Tracks: "My Little Love", "Easy On Me", "Oh My God"

7. Scaled & Icy - Twenty One Pilots

Earlier this summer, the alt-rock duo Twenty One Pilots dropped their anticipated follow up album to 2018's Trench, titled Scaled & Icy. Trench saw the band shifting into a much darker sound for them while touching on some of the same themes that they've been known for since the beginning. That harder and bolder sound was very new and exciting (and ended up landing them my number two spot for that year), but Scaled & Icy seems to be a big return to form for them sonically. The band has certainly played around with these brighter and more pop-oriented sounds before, namely on their 2013 project Vessel, and it's a sound that serves them very well. Although it doesn't quite live up to either of those old projects in my opinion, it is still a new collection of songs where Tyler and Josh are doing what they do best: getting the listener up on their feet and having a good time. What is really different here is the lyrical content. These songs are much more shallow than the duo's past records, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just means that the album relies mostly on its catchy hooks and upbeat instrumentation. And no hook on the record is quite as catchy as "Saturday", one of the bands most straight-forward pop songs they've ever released and sure to be on every wedding playlist for years to come. That being said, there are still some more emotional hitters here including "Formidable" and "Redecorate", the former providing a beautiful insight into lead singer Tyler Joseph's marriage, and the latter touching on themes of death and loss. Scaled & Icy might not go down as one of Twenty One Pilots most profound albums, but it will always be a very fun group of songs to bring the mood up in any situation.

Standout Tracks: "Shy Away", "Mulberry Street", "Redecorate"

6. Reverie - Ben Platt

Who would've known that Ben Platt could do pop just as well as he does musical theater? Following the success of his Tony winning performance as the titular character in Dear Evan Hansen, Ben Platt released his solo debut album, Sing To Me Instead in 2019 to mostly positive reception. That first project was pretty consistent to what Ben Platt historically does best, musical theater-leaning songs with huge belting moments that show off his absurd vocal prowess. The songs on that album are mostly good, but after a while the record as a whole starts to lull with a lack of interesting musical moments to latch onto, and a little oversaturation of impressive vocal display. In Reverie, Platt overcomes all of these shortfalls. This album is a clear homage to 80's synth pop and it emulates that sound so perfectly. The songs are so cleverly crafted with huge moments that put his songwriting on display instead of his voice. Obviously the voice is still there (it's Ben Platt for God's sake) but the songwriting and production are where this album shines. Reverie clearly understands where to put Platt's vocal talent on full blast, and where it is allowed to dial that back for the sake of the lyrical and melodic composition. The classic emotional and theatrical tunes are still there throughout this album with songs such as "Carefully" and "Dark Times", but it is the anthemic, danceable pop tunes with highs such as "Happy To Be Sad", "Leave My Mind" and "'Childhood Bedroom" that will leave you coming back for more. This album takes such great stories and personal experiences, and develops them into ear worms that are undeniable. This is truly a masterful project for Ben Platt and it will be hard for him to top in his years to come.

Standout Tracks: "Happy To Be Sad", "Leave My Mind", "Imagine"

5. Planet Her - Doja Cat

You would've most likely had to have been living under a rock to have avoided Planet Her this year. Whether you listened to the album or not, surely everyone has at least heard "Kiss Me More", "Get Into It (Yuh)", or "You Right" (i.e. if you've been on TikTok in 2021, you know this album). With Planet Her, Doja Cat is really proving to the world that she should have won that Grammy Award for Best New Artist earlier this year. The album is full of absolute hits from front to back, and the singer/rapper has never sounded more in her element. Last year at the start of the pandemic, Doja Cat really rose to the scene with her smash song "Say So", but she never seemed to live up to that hype with any other song off Hot Pink. This year, she did not come to play. Planet Her features huge pop tunes that have dominated social media, radio play and streams this year, and the songs are absolutely deserving of the attention. "Kiss Me More" is an infectious tune that has not aged a day since its release, "Payday" features a soaring instrumental line that is unlike any other production this year, and "Need To Know" has the rap bridge of the century that'll have you screaming along in your car. But the star of the show here is TikTok dance anthem "Get Into It (Yuh)", which at a mere two minutes and 18 seconds, leaves more of an impression than many whole albums released this year. Planet Her features the most impressive opening eight song run of any album of 2021, and even though the songs following become a little more forgettable, the album never feels dull. Doja Cat is out here reinventing pop music and it's exciting to see where things are headed with her at the wheel.

Standout Tracks: "Get Into It (Yuh)", "Payday (feat. Young Thug)", "Need To Know"

4. Happier Than Ever - Billie Eilish

Following the massive debut Billie Eilish had in 2019 with her critically acclaimed album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, there was a lot of expectations going into her next full length project. The first few singles off of this record emerged as early as a full year before the album's release with "My Future", and later, "Therefore I Am" in late 2020. Both of these songs came as a success for the young singer, but it wasn't until the release of "Your Power" as the official lead single for the album that we got a taste of what this record might be. Happier Than Ever is a complete left turn from Eilish's debut album, and it came as a shock for fans and casual listeners alike. The world had grown to expect dark sounding melodies with thick production from Eilish and brother and collaborator Finneas, but upon the release of the stripped back acoustic ballad of a lead single, fans weren't sure what to expect. What they got was an honest and tender collection of songs that display the 20 year old's experiences with fame, relationships, power imbalances and of course, "Getting Older". That first track on the album not only sets the tone of what is to come lyrically throughout the record, but also sonically, with very thin and quiet production and a vocal performance from Eilish that is reminiscent of the old-time crooners. Of course there are still classic Billie Eilish moments that remind us of her darker debut such as "Oxytocin" and "NDA", but this project is rich with softer moments that somehow convey even higher emotion like "Halley's Comet" and "Male Fantasy". In the middle of the album we get a deeply vulnerable segment where Eilish opens up in spoken word about her struggles with body image, which transitions into her lament about not giving into the societal pressure utilizing the same instrumentation throughout ("Not My Responsibility" into "OverHeated"). But it is the title track that gives us the most jaw dropping moment of the singer's career thus far. This song begins as much of her songs do, with soft voice and acoustic ukulele, but it suddenly switches and we begin to hear Eilish belt her heart out like never before to seething lyrics about a past lover, layered on top of hard rock guitar and drums. It is a moment that many fans wish they could live again for the first time, and it is a hugely encouraging indication for what might be to come in Billie Eilish's ever evolving career.

Standout Tracks: "Happier Than Ever", "Oxytocin", "Your Power"

3. Star-Crossed - Kacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves has had a difficult few years since the release of her Grammy winning album Golden Hour. Since the success of her love-struck third record, Musgraves went through a pretty nasty divorce and found herself wondering how she was ever going to relate to those songs again. What came from that heartache, pain and uncharted territory for the pop-country singer was her most personal album to date: Star-Crossed. This record is exactly as it seems, a divorce album much like the aforementioned Adele project, but with dreamier production and melodies that will leave you in awe. Where Golden Hour saw Musgraves lost in the euphoria of new love, Star-Crossed leaves her to pick up the pieces of a lost marriage. But the musical compositions are not far off from one another. Sonically, "Cherry Blossom", "Easier Said" and "Keep Lookin' Up" could have found their way on the 2018 LP, but lyrically they couldn't be more distant. Even though there are many familiar sounds here, Star-Crossed has a sound all of its own. The production is brighter, poppier and the vocal performance is more direct and in your face. It's clear that Musgraves is singing not only through sadness here, but anger as well. This is most evident in middle of the album track "Breadwinner" where the singer seethingly describes her ex's awe with her fame and accolades until he "starts feeling insecure". That cut along with "Simple Times" and "What Doesn't Kill Me" are clearly new sounds indicative of this album, with pop hooks and dance-like production. There is much debate as to whether or not this could be considered a country album like the rest of Musgraves' back catalog, but what keeps the artist grounded in her roots are her lyrics, which have always been masterfully crafted, clever and witty. These songs might be masked with electronic production and catchy choruses, but make no mistake, at the center of these songs are country heartbreak stories. Like Musgraves once said, "you can take me out of the country, but you can't take the country out of me".

Standout Tracks: "Simple Times", "Justified", "Hookup Scene"

2. = - Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran came in full force this year with another chart topping and record breaking album. After what seemed like a very long four years since his last solo album, ÷ (ignoring the train wreck that was his Number 6 Collaborations Project), Sheeran finally released his fourth studio album = in late October. According to the singer-songwriter, = (pronounced Equals) is a culmination of four years of writing and spans a multitude of life experiences. The first single "Bad Habits" came earlier this summer, and just like many other Ed Sheeran singles, it was huge and bombastic, with an ear worm of a chorus and thickly layered production. In the performer's more recent years, this has become fairly typical, but even "Bad Habits" seemed to isolate fans who have grown accustomed to his soothing melodies and acoustic guitar. "Shivers" came after in early fall, and although the song was equally as pop-centric, it provided a much clearer window into what the album might be, and excited fans. Equals as a whole is classic Ed Sheeran. From front to back this album is full of beautiful melodies, huge production and heart melting lyrics. Sheeran oozes love and sappiness on this record and it's clear that the songwriter has found the person who makes him his happiest. It's impossible not to smile as he endearingly sings about his wife and newborn child across soaring choruses and his quintessential guitar led instrumentation. Songs like "Overpass Graffiti", "Collide" and "Love In Slow Motion" are what every person wants to hear from a signifiant other. The love described in these lyrics is one of passion, trust and adventure. Slower ballads like "First Times" and "The Joker And The Queen" are sure to be the next wedding first dance songs from Ed Sheeran following "Thinking Out Loud" and "Perfect". The second kind of love the singer describes in "Leave Your Life", and "Sandman", the love for his child, will have every parents' heart melting. But the third kind of love, the love for a best friend torn from life too early, described in "Visiting Hours" is the most heart wrenching, as Sheeran wishes to God that heaven could have visiting hours so that he could see his friend again and ask him for advice. If you were not a textbook Ed Sheeran fan before, this album will not change your mind, but for the people who have hung onto every word he so beautifully articulates for many years, you will be sure to find love in this project.

Standout Tracks: "Overpass Graffiti", "Collide", "Stop The Rain"

Honorable Mentions

Red (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift

Red has always been a standout album in Swift's career, but this reimagining has completely brought new life to these songs. This new release also happens to feature my favorite song of the year, and perhaps Taylor Swift's entire discography: All Too Well (Ten Minute Version).

Fearless (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift

This is such a straight-forward re-recording of previous material, but it still feels fresh and exciting. Look out for "Mr. Perfectly Fine" in the vault tracks and dance your heart out.

Flowers for Vases/Descansos - Hayley Williams

Dancing with the Devil... The Art of Starting Over - Demi Lovato

1. Sour - Olivia Rodrigo

Every so often a young artist will emerge who makes an immediate splash in the world of pop culture. Rarely is that artist so utterly deserving of every accolade, every press headline, and every bit of attention that comes their way. In 2021 that artist was Olivia Rodrigo, and her album Sour is undeniably the best project released this year. At the turn of the new year, the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star released her first ever solo single "Drivers License", and never has a song from a virtually unknown artist soared to the top of the charts so quickly. "Drivers License" was instantly everywhere, completely unavoidable and there's a reason for that. The song is a masterpiece, a once in a lifetime anthem that takes inspiration from so many artists that have come before Rodrigo while cementing a sound of her own altogether. The sheer success of the song had every attribute for the makings of a one-hit-wonder, but Olivia Rodrigo did not slow down. Three months after her smash debut, she released her second single "Deja Vu", which proved that she had way more up her sleeve than previously expected. Then after the release of her third single "Good 4 U" (one of my favorite songs of the year), Rodrigo dropped her highly anticipated album Sour. The originally planned EP, turned full length project upon the success of "License", explores the main theme of teenage heartbreak across sonically diverse sounds and absurdly gorgeous vocal lines. Olivia Rodrigo proudly boasts her musical influences from Taylor Swift to Alanis Morissette, and those influences are clear throughout this project. Although many critique the young pop star for stealing other people's work ("Deja Vu" from Swift's "Cruel Summer" and "Good 4 U" from Paramore's pop-punk anthem "Misery Business"), it is evident that her songs are simply a product of her being a fan of these artists throughout her youth. Sour has pop, pop-punk, alternative, singer-songwriter and many other genres sprinkled into the short 11 song tracklist, but they all painstakingly display the artist's young heartache with full vulnerability. The singles may put Rodrigo's anger on full blast, but it's the album's acoustic deep cuts that really show her rawest thoughts and emotions after a a difficult break-up. It's amazing to see such a heart wrenching body of work that contains some of the most musically gripping songs of the decade come from such a young artist, and based on the unbelievable success that Sour has garnered, it is clear that Olivia Rodrigo is here to stay.

Standout Tracks: "Good 4 U", "Drivers License", "Traitor"