Here’s Troy L. Smith's totally objective, but undeniably indisputable list of the 10 best albums of 2021. Where does Adele rank?
come Grammy Nomination time. But Musgraves is such a strong songwriter; she could succeed in any genre. Yet, for as strong as “Star-Crossed” is, its melodies can be hit or miss in the second half. But what gets Musgraves through is the personal touches she brings to a breakup album that features some of the best kiss-offs to an ex you’ll ever hear.
Fast-forward to 2021 and Tyler is now a creative force, critically acclaimed and cited as an influence by an artist like Billie Eilish. What’s most fascinating is that Tyler has earned every bit of it with fantastic projects, culminating with his creative masterpiece “Call Me If You Get Lost” in 2021.
The album functions as an extension of the mid-2000s mixtape glory days with DJ Drama of “Gangsta Grillz” fame playing the engaging host. It’s the perfect setting for Tyler’s varied sounds and sporadic themes as most tracks clock in under the three-minute mark, save for two that approach nine or 10 minutes.
And yet, it all flows together. The move from the love jam “WusYaName” to the menacing “Lumberjack” might be the best music moments of 2021. But that’s just one highlight. Tyler is in the pocket lyrically on an album that incorporates elements of hip hop, R&B, jazz, reggae and pop. With Kanye West all over the place, Kendrick Lamar M.I.A. and Drake more focused on making memes, hip hop needed Tyler more than ever. And he delivered.
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