Music proved its importance again through 2021. A tough year in many ways, but another great year for music. Here's our 21 of '21

1. Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
2. Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under
3. Architects - For Those That Wish To Exist
4. Olivia Rodrigo - SOUR
5. SAULT - NINE
6. The Vaccines - Back In Love City
7. Maisie Peters - You Signed Up For This
8. Taylor Swift - Taylors Versions
9. Self Esteem - Prioritise Pleasure
10. Bicep - Isles
11. Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend
12. Bo Burnham - Inside (The Songs)
13. Foxing - Draw Down The Moon
14. Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Sticky
15. Floating Points & Pharoah Sanders - Promises
16. Every Time I Die - Radical
17. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
18. Turnstile - Glow On
19. Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams
20. Amyl And The Sniffers - Comfort To Me
21. Bring Me The Horizon - Post Human: Survival Horror

And last but not least, here are our individual staff picks of the year:

jt | Mike | Jane | Claire | Max | Tom | Jez | Meg | Joe R | Aaron | Livvy | Shibby | Mark | Alex | Julian | Colleen | Lizzie | Nate