Top 10 Albums of 2021

Here we go again, my top 10 favorite albums from 2021. This was a year that had me all over the place in terms of genre, as you will see. I strayed out more from my future bass tendencies compared to my list from 2020. We got some hip hop, R&B, experimental bass, midtempo, pop/acoustic, and of course some “vapor twitch” or future bass adjacent music that’s right up my alley (I hate classifying genres so don’t come at me for mislabeling genres; it’s all subjective anyway). We will be counting from 10 to 1, with one being my favorite album of the year. I will throw a quick couple of honorable mentions before the big reveal as well. Let’s get into it.

Number 10:

Catching Z’s - Zeds Dead

I talked about this during my song selection post when looking at this album, but I was absolutely knocked on my ass by this album. Zeds Dead is not known for dropping this type of slower EDM consistently, let alone an entire album. It is so relaxing and chill from top to bottom; my only complaint is it is a little short of a listen. Standout tracks are: lost birds, i think you’re cool, and late night drive.

Number 9:

An Evening with Silk Sonic - Silk Sonic

Man oh man is this album groovy. The thing I like most about Silk Sonic is that it really feels like the best of both artists come out in their performances. Bruno Mars has his great catchy song writing and lyricism on display, Anderson .Paak brings some great raps and absolutely crushes it on the drums. Put it all over some classic R&B grooves and this album will have you hooked. Standout tracks are Smokin Out The Window, Leave The Door Open, and Fly As Me. Also the music video for Smokin Out The Window is hilarious, I definitely recommend checking it out.

Number 8:

Simulation - Virtual Riot

This album was another surprise for me. I had never really listened to Virtual Riot before and this album was not on my radar at all, not until my girlfriend recommended it to me. I was expecting a pretty standard sounding dubstep/bass music album and I am very happy to say that I was wrong. While this album does have some “standard” moments, overall it pushes bass music in a bunch of different and great directions. It is beautifully mixed, tells a story and really is the cutting edge of bass music. Standout tracks include CHROMA, Get Away, Rewrite, and Exile.

Number 7:

bb u ok? - San Holo

San Holo returned in great fashion with his sophomoric album bb u ok? While this album was not as impactful to me as album1, just because I’m at a different stage in my life currently, I still really respect and admire how great of a songwriter San Holo is. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, San Holo is one of the most gifted artists to make emotionally evocative music that articulates complex emotions in a very clear and relatable way. This album is no different, but with a lot of the subject matter being about relationship issues, while I am currently in a happy relationship, I did not relate as much. Standout tracks are: heal (↑%), the great clown Pagliacci, wheels up and you’ve changed, i’ve changed.

Number 6:

Spiral - Rezz

Rezz delivered an absolute heater of an album this year which tickled my midtempo wanting brain. Rezz really pushed her sound in new directions with this album which I really appreciated. It didn’t sound stale or recycled as a result, showing Rezz is continuing to grow as an artist. Standout tracks are Paper Walls, Chemical Bond, and Taste of You.

Number 5:

SOLUS - CharlestheFirst

I really really struggled with where to place SOLUS in the top 10 following the unexpected passing of Charles. It was always in the top 10 for this year, but I initially had it lower. After listening a couple dozen more times following Charles’ passing I realized how impactful the album was to me so bumped it up to fifth. The experimental bass music scene is still reeling the loss of the legend. May Charles rest in peace. Standout tracks are: For Now, Foreboding Feeling, and Out of the Dark.

Number 4:

Ashlyn - Ashe

Here’s probably a surprise pick for a lot of people but Ashe’s album is, pardon my french, fucking phenomenal. What I really like about this album is that Ashe lets her voice do almost all of the heavy lifting on the album. There are vocal harmonies everywhere and you can really hear the emotion and conviction in her singing. Most of the instrumentals are very simplistic to really emphasize how talented Ashe is. The album really details her struggles with a failing relationship, love, and family in a very realistic and human way that forces you to empathize with her. It really is a special album. Stand out tracks are: Moral of the Story, Ryne’s Song, I’m Fine, and Me Without You.

Number 3:

Surrender - RÜFÜS DU SOL

This album is probably the most “me” sounding album on the entire list from this year. While this isn’t the most sound pushing for RÜFÜS DU SOL, Surrender still really delivers some emotional punches and makes you want to dance in the strobes of a nightclub. Not much to say about this album besides that its really great. Standout tracks are Next To Me, Surrender, and Make It Happen.

Number 2:

Call Me If You Get Lost - Tyler, The Creator

Tyler, the Creator really got back to his roots with some really great rapping on this album and boy is it great. The album really walks the line between Tyler flexing the entire time and Tyler telling a really sad story about how he fell in love with a girl who wasn’t available for him in a genius fashion. It really ties thematically with Flower Boy and IGOR, his two previous albums, where his materialism is used to fill a void in his life because of his woes of love life and finding a partner. And WILSHIRE is one of the coolest tracks from the album, a nearly nine minute story detailing the whole relationship with the woman that apparently Tyler recorded in full on the second take. Legendary. This album came way too close to being number one for the year, but ultimately I couldn’t do it. Standout tracks are WILSHIRE, HOT WIND BLOWS, and MASSA.

Honorable Mentions:

Just going to drop a quick couple honorable mentions before we get into the number one album. The anticipation is killing you, I know, but I’m milking it. First up, we have Times by SG Lewis. This album has a great disco feel to it and is catchy as all hell. I really enjoyed it but it didn’t quite make the list. Check out the tracks Chemicals and Feed The Fire. Next we have Old Time Radio by Joey Pecoraro. Joey is my personal favorite lofi artist and this album was a return to his classic sound after his previous album Sea Monster. Check out the tracks ;) and Train, Cold, Snow. Lastly, we have PEACE LOVE & WUBZ by LSDREAM. I really wanted this album to make the list but it just did not hit me as hard as his last album RENEGADES OF LIGHT did. It still has a lot of the weird wonky wubs that LSDREAM is known for. Listen to HIGH VIBRATIONS and FOLLOW THE VIBE to get a feel for the album. Alright, lets get into number one.

Number One:

Nurture - Porter Robinson

Of course it’s Nurture. There was no other option for number one this year. This album is 7 years of anticipation for Porter Robinson’s follow up to my personal favorite album of all time, Worlds. And the wait was worth it. This album is perfect from top to bottom. No skips (no, not even dullscythe, I see the dullscythe haters and you’re wrong, that song is a bop), some of the most lyrically rich songs of all time, some beautiful messages and of courses some gut punches that will make you cry. I had the amazing opportunity to see Nurture live four (the fourth being the original online performance at Secret Sky) separate times in 2021 and I will say with my full chest that I cried at every single performance. I think the reason why I love it so much is that it is just so human and real feeling to me. Porter is extremely upfront and genuine about his struggles with his mental health, his career, his will to live, all of it, and expresses it all and the lessons he’s learned to love and appreciate life on full display with such an earnestness that I can’t help but love it. It is truly a masterpiece and an inspirational piece of art. Thank you Porter.

There are my top 10 albums from 2021. Absolutely 0 people where shocked by my number one, but maybe some of you were shocked by some of the other albums on the list. Let me know what your thoughts on my list are. Did I miss any of your favorite albums? For example, I know a lot of people like Griz’ album Rainbow Brain but it didn’t catch me as much as some of Griz’ other albums. Tell me your favorite albums from 2021, hit me up on Twitter, all of that. I’ll be back soon for my top 10 singles from 2021.

Much love.