Top 50 Songs Of 2021

From punk rock newbies, to pop superstars, to rap stalwarts, these are my top 50 favourite songs of 2021. 

Check out my top 50 songs of 2020 here!

50. 

JPEGMAFIA 

FEED HER! 

EQT / Republic | Hip Hop 

Kicking things off is the alternative rapper and producer JPEGMAFIA, with what is an uncharacteristically understated track. 

49. 

black midi 

John L 

Rough Trade | Indie Rock 

The English quartet kept their listeners guessing with this eccentric math rock single that opens up their second album, Cavalcade. 

48. 

Madlib 

Road Of The Lonely Ones 

Madlib Invazion | Electronic 

The one and only Madlib teams with fellow production whizz Four Tet for this slick, sample-led single from his latest project, Sound Ancestors. 

47. 

Saba

Stop That 

Pivot Gang | Hip Hop 

One of the most interesting and talented rappers to emerge in recent years, Chicago’s Saba recently revealed this frantic single, which will feature on his next album. 

46. 

Adult Mom 

Passenger 

Epitaph | Singer-Songwriter 

Singer-songwriter Stevie Knipe takes us on a journey with this reflective and forlorn track that opens up their latest album, Driver. 

45. 

NAO 

Burn Out 

Little Tokyo | R&B

This deep cut glows from the London based singer NAO, as she sings about her battles with chronic fatigue syndrome towards an appropriately drowsy outro. 

44. 

Freddie Gibbs 

Gang Signs (feat. ScHoolboy Q) 

Warner Records | Hip Hop 

There aren’t too many rappers in music right now that are better than Freddie Gibbs on a technical level, and on this single he provides an example of that talent. 

43. 

Blu 

Everyday Blu(e)s 

Dirty Science / Nature Sounds / New World Color | Hip Hop 

Over the top of some real cool production, California rapper Blu flexes his rhyming skills on this standout from his latest solo album, The Color Blu(e). 

42.  

Model Man 

Clarity 

Mahogany Records | Electronic 

London based producer Model Man released this stellar and soulful electronic single, which is taken from his self-titled, debut album.  

41. 

Cherry Cheeks 

Boxes 

Total Punk | Post-Punk 

An in-your-face punk rock track from Kyle Harms as Cherry Cheeks, in which he sings repetitively and intensely about..well..boxes.  

40. 

Kid Cudi 

Solo Dolo, Pt. III 

Republic | Hip Hop 

An emotive highlight from rap veteran Kid Cudi’s latest album. As its title suggests, this is the third instalment of his ‘Solo Dolo’ tracks. 

39. 

Vince Staples 

ARE YOU WITH THAT? 

Blacksmith / Motown | Hip Hop 

The opening track to his concise, self-titled album, Vince Staples’ flow blends perfectly with the production of Kenny Beats. 

38. 

Lana Del Rey 

Chemtrails Over The Country Club 

Interscope / Polydor | Alternative 

This is the alluring title track from Lana Del Rey’s seventh studio album, and it is highlighted by a unique and intoxicating vocal delivery. 

37. 

Remember Sports 

Out Loud 

Big Scary Monsters | Indie Rock 

What may well be the most dulcet and bittersweet pop/rock song of the year is this deep cut from the Philadelphia based group. 

36. 

Jazmine Sullivan 

Tragic 

RCA | R&B 

Though her stellar EP, The Heaux Tales, featured several potential tracks for this list, I found myself returning to this stand alone single more. 

35. 

Charlotte Cornfield 

Headlines 

Double Double Whammy | Indie Rock 

In the midst of a global pandemic, it took a special songwriter like Canada’s Charlotte Cornfield to effectively capture just how mundane it has become for so many of us. 

34. 

Cassandra Jenkins 

Hard Drive 

Ba Da Bing! | Singer-Songwriter 

A consensus pick for one of the year’s best songs, Cassandra Jenkins recounts several conversations with strangers and showcases the charm from such arbitrary interactions. 

33. 

Deafheaven 

Great Mass Of Color 

Sargent House | Blackgaze 

Some Deafheaven fans have been loving the band’s new direction, while others miss their older sound. Whichever fan you are, this single will have something for you. 

32. 

Beach House 

Superstar 

Bella Union | Indie Pop 

My personal favourite track from the recently released new batch that the Baltimore based dream pop duo bestowed upon us all so recently. 

31. 

DijahSB 

Way Too Many Things 

DijahSB | Hip Hop 

A stellar track from the Toronto based artist’s second album, Head Above The Waters, which is both defiant and inspiring. 

30. 

Hamilton Leithauser & Kevin Morby 

Virginia Beach 

Dead Oceans | Indie Rock 

An unexpected but most welcome collaboration, and hopefully the first of more to come from the former frontman of The Walkmen and Kevin Morby. 

29. 

Jorja Smith 

Addicted 

FAMM | R&B 

A passionate R&B standalone released this year from the English singer-songwriter Jorja Smith has some mellow production which surrounds her exquisite voice. 

28. 

Ducks Ltd. 

18 Cigarettes 

Carpark | Indie Rock 

The biggest highlight from the Canadian duo’s summery new album, Modern Fiction, is this cool and confident rock single, which has hints of jangle pop too. 

27. 

Big Thief 

Little Things 

4AD | Indie Rock 

At this point I feel safe in saying that Adrianne Lenker and her band mates can do no wrong. This great new single is set to appear on their approaching double album. 

26. 

Benny The Butcher & Harry Fraud 

No Instructions 

Black Soprano Family | Hip Hop 

New York’s Benny The Butcher recites earnest lyrics over producer Harry Fraud’s subtle and effective production. 

25. 

Japanese Breakfast 

Be Sweet 

Dead Oceans | Indie Pop 

Featured on the third album by Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee, this is a sleek and polished single led by lead vocalist and songwriter Michelle Zauner. 

24.  

Ari Lennox 

Pressure 

Dreamville / Interscope | R&B 

The latest single from the Washington based artist is one of the sexiest and most assured songs released all year, not that we expect anything less at this point. 

23. 

St. Vincent 

Somebody Like Me 

Loma Vista | Indie Pop 

A key track from Annie Clark’s latest St. Vincent project, Daddy’s Home. A subdued vibe with slide guitar, a light ‘70s aura, and those trademark vocals. 

22. 

Home Is Where 

Long Distance Conjoined Twins 

Knifepunch | Indie Rock 

From the coalescing appeal of the strumming guitar and harmonica, to the unpredictable vocal delivery, this is a contender for the most fun rock track of the year. 

21. 

RIOPY 

Noah 

Parlophone | Modern Classical 

One of the most soothing and relaxing pieces of music I heard all year was this wonderful single from the French pianist and composer. 

20. 

Wet Leg 

Chaise Longue 

Domino | Indie Rock 

Immediately earning the reputation as one of rock’s most promising new acts, English duo Wet Leg deliver a quirky and charming track for their debut single. 

19. 

Lucy Dacus 

Hot & Heavy 

Matador | Indie Rock 

Fewer songwriters in modern rock create such immediate emotion and imagery in their music as Lucy Dacus, as can be heard on this excellent single. 

18. 

Greet Death 

I Hate Everything 

Deathwish Inc. | Indie Rock 

Has any other song title described the majority’s feelings on life over the past couple years? Michigan’s Greet Death drag their feet on this contemplative slowcore gem. 

17. 

Sons Of Kemet 

In Remembrance Of Those Fallen 

Impulse! | Jazz 

One of the finest pieces of jazz heard all year was this deep cut from the latest Sons Of Kemet LP, Black To The Future. With its busy percussion, persistent tuba, and dancing horns. 

16. 

Olivia Rodrigo 

deja vu 

Geffen | Pop 

A monster hit from the versatile popstar’s debut album, SOUR. Olivia Rodrigo muses about an ex’s newest relationship on this impeccably produced and performed single. 

15. 

Snail Mail 

Headlock 

Matador | Indie Rock 

Though the singles from her second album received well earned acclaim, this is the track that stood out the most to me from Lindsey Jordan’s Snail Mail project. 

14. 

Mitski 

The Only Heartbreaker 

Dead Oceans | Indie Pop 

The Japanese-American artist Mitski made her long awaited return in 2021, previewing her next record with this fantastic, danceable synth pop single. 

13. 

IDLES 

Beachland Ballroom 

Partisan | Post-Punk 

Showcasing a subtle evolution to their sound, England’s IDLES raised the bar with this heavy lead single to their fourth album, CRAWLER. 

12. 

Lushlife 

Depaysement (feat. Dälek) 

Fortune Tellers | Hip Hop 

At over nine minutes long, producer Lushlife is joined by the hip hop duo Dälek on what is a sprawling and mind-bending amalgamation of jazz and rap. 

11. 

Valerie June 

Fallin’ 

Fantasy Records | Indie Folk 

An incredible talent, Valerie June is able to remove the additional instrumentation and let her vocal gifts speak for themselves on this touching deep cut about a lost love. 

10. 

Boldy James & Real Bad Man 

Light Bill (feat. Meyhem Lauren) 

Real Bad Man Records | Hip Hop 

Boldy James is currently one of rap music’s most cerebral and deliberate performers, which is what makes the juxtaposing production such a satisfying dichotomy, with the whaling and wheezing of the obscure harmonica sample blaring in tandem with his vocals. Oh, and Meyhem Lauren is equally fantastic. 

9. 

Xenia Rubinos 

Did My Best 

ANTI- | Alternative 

“I didn’t even get to say goodbye.” It’s a lyric performed on this electronically charged single with such an audible anguish that it is immediately relatable to all of us who have unexpectantly lost someone recently and been left with the feelings of frustration and grief. 

8. 

Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra 

Movement 6 

Luaka Bop | Jazz / Modern Classical 

From the moody saxophone intro, to the weeping strings which escalate to the most dramatic of crescendos, this is a bold and beautiful piece of music from these first time collaborators. That it is the highlight on an album full of similar moments should speak volumes on this particular track’s potency. 

7. 

Nation Of Language 

This Fractured Mind 

Play It Again Sam | Indie Pop 

I don’t think another song grew on me as much as this one did over the months since I first heard it. Taken from the Brooklyn based trio’s second album, A Way Forward, this single combines melodic synths, bass, and sophisticated vocals. 

6. 

Tennis Club 

Coming Over 

things we like | Indie Pop 

Serving up the most addictive and endearing pop song of the year is the Los Angeles based duo, Tennis Club. Longtime friends turned band mates, this is one of the pair’s first singles, a simple declaration of love and desire, and it’s an ace indication of what’s to come. 

5. 

duendita 

Open Eyes 

Mexican Summer | Neo-Soul 

I find it hard to think of another track this year that captured my attention as quickly and completely as this stand alone single from the New York artist, duendita. With dreamy and soulful production, she creates a truly resonant effect with her rich vocals as it builds towards its glitchy completion. 

4. 

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis 

Lavender Fields 

Goliath | Alternative 

My personal favourite track from the new album by long time band mates Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. A light and drifting track, the music of which is so ethereal, the background vocals so enchanting, and the words of Nick Cave so lyrical, it all creates a heady and gorgeous listening experience. 

3. 

Arooj Aftab 

Baghon Main

New Amsterdam | Alternative 

From the beginning of this album’s opening track, Brooklyn based, Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab invites the listener in to something both moving and utterly arresting. The nocturnal sounds of the strings (which includes Darian Thomas on violin) offer the perfect companion for her transcendent vocals. 

2. 

Dry Cleaning 

Scratchcard Lanyard 

4AD | Post-Punk 

I can’t remember the last time I heard a better introduction to a band than this single from the London based post-punk group, Dry Cleaning. From the rhythmic bass and drums, to the sharpness of the lead guitar work, to the random and intriguing wit of the spoken word lyrics. 

1. 

Indigo De Souza 

Kill Me 

Saddle Creek | Indie Rock 

“Kill me , slowly , take me , with you”. When it comes to effective opening lyrics I don’t think any grabbed my attention quite like these. The first single and the final track to her latest album, Any Shape You Take, the singer-songwriter from North Carolina is both thoughtful and affecting on this grunge inspired rock track that climbs towards an epic conclusion.