Here are the Top 25 albums of 2021 on WYEP. After another year of the pandemic, these were the new releases selected by the Programming staff of WYEP after hours of listening, airplay, debate, critiquing, and enjoyment. There’s a bit of everything musically on this list, from artists we’ve championed in the past, to several newcomers, debut albums, and others that made a personal impact upon us as curators. The one thing the entire staff agreed upon unanimously was this year’s No. 1 album of 2021. I Hope you enjoy the music on this list and can take the time to dive in deeper on some you may not have discovered yet.
Check out the WYEP hosts’ top songs of the year here.
| 1. “We Are” by Jon Batiste |
| 2. “In These Silent Days” by Brandi Carlile |
| 3. “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” by The War On Drugs |
| 4. “Raise The Roof” by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss |
| 5. “30” by Adele |
| 6. “Daddy’s Home” by St. Vincent |
| 7. “Gold-Diggers Sound” by Leon Bridges |
| 8. “Wary + Strange” by Amythyst Kiah |
| 9. “Collapsed In Sunbeams” by Arlo Parks |
| 10. “Open Door Policy” by The Hold Steady |
| 11. “Long Lost” by Lord Huron |
| 12. “Different Kinds of Light” by Jade Bird |
| 13. “My Morning Jacket” by My Morning Jacket |
| 14. “Today We’re The Greatest” by Middle Kids |
| 15. “Stand For Myself” by Yola |
| 16. “Future” by Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats |
| 17. “Home Video” by Lucy Dacus |
| 18. “Private Space” by Durand Jones & The Indications |
| 19. “Jubilee” by Japanese Breakfast |
| 20. “Renewal” by Billy Strings |
| 21. “Smile, You’re Alive!” by Benji. |
| 22. “Obviously” by Lake Street Dive |
| 23. “In Heaven” by Strand Of Oaks |
| 24. “662” by Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram |
| 25. “Screen Violence” by Chvrches |
Earlier this year, Afternoon Mix host Rosemary Welsch chatted with Jon Batiste, the artist behind WYEP’s album of the year, in a Live & Direct (from home) Session. Check it out here: