Last year was one of the best for music in the last decade. A lot of awful things happened in the world, and this is, I think, reflected in the sphere of music; so many artists turned inwards with dark thoughts and sentiments. This doesn't mean nothing inspiring came out...quite the opposite, in fact. I feel like darkness can lead to a depth of emotion and nuance in music that is, in and of itself, quite beautiful. Below are my favorite albums from the year 2021. (Scroll to the bottom for a playlist with track picks from each album.) Enjoy! 25. The Joy Formidable - Into the Blue || Indie Rock || melodic, heavy || Favorite track: Sevier || 8.5/10 24. Injury Reserve - By the Time I Get to Phoenix || Experimental Hip Hop || avant-garde, futuristic || Favorite track: Superman That || 8.5/10 23. PJ Harvey - White Chalk - Demos || Singer/Songwriter || depressive, lonely || Favorite track: Dear Darkness || 8.5/10 22. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions || Indie Rock