The best albums of 2021: The ballots

Here are the ballots submitted by the 11 critics who determined The A.V. Club's best albums of the past year

By Alex McLevy, Tatiana Tenreyro, Gabrielle Sanchez, Baraka Kaseko, Annie Zaleski, Lily Moayeri, Nina Hernandez, Clayton Purdom, Max Freedman | December 23, 2021 | 6:00am

Music Lists Deacon Tyler

Graphic: Allison Corr

The A.V. Club’s list of 2021’s best albums was determined by 11 critics, who each submitted a ranked ballot of their 20 records of the year. Those ballots can be found below, along with their picks for additional nominations—including best EPs and best reissues. If you’re looking to explore the best records of the year that didn’t make our official list, this is the place to find them. Additionally, this is where you can find our critics’ picks for the best singles of the year. (Spoiler alert: Hope you like “Thot Shit.”)

A note to desktop users: If you’d like to view this story in a scrolling layout, you can narrow your browser window.

Alex McLevy

Indigo De Souza, Any Shape You TakeThe Weather Station, IgnoranceThe Armed, ULTRAPOPTorres, ThirstierLow, Hey WhatSon Lux, Tomorrows IIIMadlib, Sound AncestorsChvrches, Screen ViolenceMcKinley Dixon, For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like HerJon Hopkins, Music For Psychedelic TherapyWednesday, Twin PlaguesArooj Aftab, Vulture PrinceNoga Erez, KIDSBad Bad Hats, WalkmanThe Notwist, Vertigo DaysSnail Mail, ValentineJazmine Sullivan, Heaux TalesRatboys, Happy Birthday, RatboyJapanese Breakfast, JubileeLittle Simz, Sometimes I Might Be IntrovertJulien Baker, “Faith Healer”Tkay Maidza, “Kim”Lucy Dacus, “Thumbs”Mdou Moctar, “Afrique Victime”Megan Thee Stallion, ‘Thot Shit”Beach Bunny, Blame GameHolly Humberstone, The Walls Are Way Too ThinBenny The Butcher and Harry Fraud, The Plugz I Met 2Lee Ranaldo, In Virus TimesRebecca Black, Rebecca Black Was HereRadiohead, Kid A MnesiaJoni Mitchell, The Reprise Albums (1968-1971)Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, The Legendary 1979 No Nukes ConcertJohn Coltrane, A Love Supreme: Live In SeattleNirvana, Nevermind: 30th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition

4 Comments