PEOPLE Picks the Top 10 Albums of 2021

The rapper owned his Black queerness, proving he's no one-hit wonder.

With her debut, the actress fulfilled her teenage dream and achieved pop stardom.

Adele bid adieu to marriage and said hello to self-love in a vulnerable set.

Swift breathed new life into her 2012 heartbreak classic with this rerecording.

Halsey embraced grunge and theatrics on their best LP yet.

Guyton expanded the boundaries of country with her powerful first record.

Doja delivered out-of-this-world bops tailor-made for TikTok and beyond.

After unpacking grief on past projects, the indie rockers found joy.

On album No. 2, the precocious alt-pop star explored fame and growing pains.

Musgraves broke down her heartbreak on this ambitious album about divorce.