KEXP DJs Top 10 Albums of 2021

2021 Countdown
12/13/2021
KEXP

2021 is coming to a close, and it's time for the KEXP DJs to share their Top Albums of the year. And don't forget to tune in this Friday, December 17th as KEXP counts down the Top 90.3 Albums of 2021, as voted on by our listeners! Will your favorites — or theirs! — make the list?


Abbie Gobeli // Variety Mix // Wednesdays 1-5 AM
rank artist album label
1 Sofia Kourtesis Fresia Magdalena Technicolour
2 Small Black Cheap Dreams 100% Electronica
3 Kylie V Big Blue Self-Released
4 Hard Feelings Hard Feelings Domino
5 CHVRCHES Screen Violence Glassnote
6 Yu Su Yellow River Blue bié Records
7 Ya Tseen Indian Yard Sub Pop
8 SIGSALY Arrival OBSKUR
9 Antonioni Antonioni Lauren Records
10 Rochelle Jordan Playing With The Changes UNDRGRND

Albina Cabrera // El Sonido // Monday night 7-10 pm
artist album label
C. Tangana El Madrileño Sony Music
Mabiland NIÑXS ROTXS MABILAND SAS
Xenia Rubinos Una Rosa Anti
Helado Negro Far in 4AD
Arca Kick ii, iii, iiii, iiiii XL Recordings
Nicki Nicole Parte de mi Dale Play Records
Mon Laferte Seis Universal Music
Petrona Martinez Ancestras Chaco World Music
BaianaSystem OXEAXEEXU Máquina De Louco
Bizarrap BZRP Music Sessions Vol. 37, 38, 39, 40, 41,43, 44, 45, 46 & 47 Dale Play Records
Atticus // Variety Mix // Friday 1-5 AM
rank artist album label
1 The Goon Sax Mirror II Matador Records
2 Snail Mail Valentine Matador Records
3 Iceage Seek Shelter Mexican Summer
4 BLK ODYSSY BLK VINTAGE After School
5 Armand Hammer & The Alchemist Haram Backwoodz Studioz
6 Japanese Breakfast Jubilee Dead Oceans
7 Adia Victoria A Southern Gothic Atlantic
8 Arlo Parks Collapsed In Sunbeams Transgressive Records
9 Madlib Sound Ancestors Madlib Invazion
10 binki MOTOR FUNCTION FADER

Brian Foss // Sonic Reducer // Saturdays 9pm to midnight
artist album label
The Cripples Handbag Pre-op / Bandcamp
The Living 1982 Loosegroove Records
The Monsters You're Class I'm Trash Voodoo Rhythm Records
The Gorls Fall In Love 1992-93 Hozac
Cutters Australian War Crimes Legless Records
Fashion Pimps And The Glamazons Jazz 4 Johnny Feel It Records
Fred Speakman ABCDEFGoodbye!! Bandcamp
Unders III King Pizza Records
The Zack Static Sect When I Grow Up Static Records
Space Boozzies Livin' Up The Coast! Outtaspace
Chilly // El Sonido // Mondays 7-10pm
artist album label
C.Tangana El Madrileño Sony
Xenia Rubinos Una Rosa Jagjaguwar
Petrona Martínez Ancestras Chaco World Music
Helado Negro Far In 4AD
Bomba Estéreo Deja Sony Latin
Cimafunk Alimento Terapia Productions/Thirty Tigers
Sofia Kourtesis Fresia Magdalena Technicolour
Chicarica Arde Lento Quemasucabeza
Mon Laferte Seis Universal Music Mexico
Ed Maverick eduardo Universal Music Mexico

Coltronix // 90.Teen // 6 Am on Saturdays
artist album label
Little Simz I Might Be An Introvert Age 101
Snoh Aalegra Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies Artium Recordings
Goose Shenanigans Nite Club Coincidence Records
Dave We're All Alone In This Together Neighbourhood Recordings
Isaiah Rashad The House Is Burning TDE
Payroll Giovanni and Cardo Another Day Another Dollar BYLUG Entertainment
James Blake Friends That Break Your Heart UMG Recordings
Young Nudy DR EV4L RCA Records
Summrs Nothing More Nothing LESS N/A
Maxo Kream Weight Of The World RCA Records
Darek Mazzone // Wo'Pop // Tuesday 7-10 PM
artist album label
Ustad Saami Pakistan is for the Peaceful Glitterbeat
Aragaki Mutsumi Another World of Okinawan Music Ninuhai Recordings
Lakou Mizik & Joseph Ray Leave the Bones Anjunadeep
Various Artists Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History of the World's Music Dust To Digital
Bab L' Bluz Nayda! Real World
Ak Dan Gwang Chil (ADG7) ADG7 Biscuit Sound
Jupiter & Okwess Na Kozonga Zamora Label
Balimaya Project Wolo So Buda Musique
Justin Adams & Mauro Durante Still Moving Ponderosa Music Records
Mdou Moctar Afrique Victime Matador

DJ Alex // Pacific Notions, Expansions, Midnight In A Perfect World // Sundays 6-9am
rank artist album label
1 Suzanne Kraft About You Melody As Truth
2 Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra Promises Luaka Bop
3 Tyler, The Creator CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST Columbia
4 Porter Robinson Nurture Mom + Pop
5 Clay Beds Kisses Hush Hush
6 Erika de Casier Sensational 4AD
7 Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert Age 101
8 Dijon Absolutely R+R/Warner
9 Raquel Rodriguez Sweet Side self-released
10 Majid Jordan Wildest Dreams OVO Sound/Warner
DJ Alex (Top 10 EPs Edition) // Pacific Notions, Expansions, Midnight In A Perfect World // Sundays 6-9am
rank artist album label
1 Doss 4 New Hit Songs LuckyMe
2 Sam Gellaitry IV FFRR
3 Ragz Originale WOAH Mini Kingz/DMY
4 PinkPantheress to hell with it Parlophone
5 PawPaw Rod A PawPaw Rod EP Godmode
6 Telenova Tranquilize Pointer Recordings
7 Jengi World Trauma Studio KOTO
8 Ash Lauryn Truth FWM Entertainment
9 Special Request x Tim Reaper EP Hooversound Recordings
10 CalvoMusic Nights Into Mornings Night Slugs
DJ Alex (Top 10 'Pacific Notions' Albums Edition) // Pacific Notions, Expansions, Midnight In A Perfect World // Sundays 6-9am
artist album label
awakened souls & From Overseas Keep The Orange Sun Past Inside The Present
Bremer/McCoy Natten (The Night) Luaka Bop
Eydís Evensen Bylur XXIM
Green-House Music For Living Spaces Leaving
Grouper Shade Kranky
Hollie Kenniff The Quiet Drift Western Vinyl
Irena and Vojtêch Havel Melodies In The Sand Melody As Truth
Nala Sinephro Space 1.8 Warp
Pauline Anna Strom Angel Tears In Sunlight RVNG Intl.
Yasmin Williams Urban Driftwood SPINSTER
DJ DC // 90.TEEN // Saturdays 6-7am
rank artist album label
1 YEBBA Dawn Yebba Smith LLC
2 Remi Wolf Juno Remi Wolf
3 Quinn XCII Change of Scenery II Columbia Records
4 Mirabai Kukathas Songs to the Monster Under my Bed Self-released
5 Indigo De Souza Any Shape You Take Saddle Creek
6 Emotional Oranges The Juicebox Avant Garden
7 CHVRCHES Screen Violence CHVRCHES
8 Dijon Absolutely Dark Green
9 Drake Certified Lover Boy OVO
10 Ashe Ashlyn Mom+Pop

DJ Miss Ashley // Variety Mix // Sundays 12-3pm
artist album label
Durand Jones & The Indications Private Space Dead Oceans
Arlo Parks Collapsed in Sunbeams Transgressive Records
C. Tangana El Madrileño Sony
Jungle Loving In Stereo Caiola Records
James Blake Friends That Break Your Heart Polydor, Republic Records
El Michels Affair Ekundayo Inversions Big Crown Records
Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert AGE 101 MUSIC
Navy Bleu Pretty Boy Worldwide
Jaz Elise The Golden Hour RCA, In.Digg.Nation.Collective
Alborosie For The Culture VP Records
DJ Michele Myers // Friday Night Dance Party // 7pm Fridays
artist album label
Celeste Not Your Muse Polydor
Bomba Estereo Deja Sony
Giveon When It's All Said and Done...Take Time Epic
Joy Crookes Skin Speakerbox
Adele 30 Columbia
Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert Awal
Sault Nine Forever Living Originals
Durand Jones Private Space Dead Oceans
Tkay Maidza Last Year Was Weird Vol 3 4AD
Jungle Keep Movin' Caiola Records
DJ Morgan // Variety Mix // Saturdays 12-3pm
artist album label
Aaron Frazer Introducing... Dead Oceans/Easy Eye Sound
Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert Age 101
El Michels Affair Yeti Season Big Crown
Arlo Parks Collapsed In Sunbeams Transgressive
Mogwai As The Love Continues Temporary Residence LTD.
Goat Girl On All Fours Rough Trade
Radiohead Kid A Mnesia XL
Durand Jones and the Indications Private Space Dead Oceans
Altin Gün Yol ATO
Wooze Get Me To A Nunnery Young Poet
DJ SHARLESE // Mechanical Breakdown  // MondayS 1-2AM
artist album label
Nuovo Testamento New Earth Avant! Records
Fragrance. Salt Water Synth Religion
Bladee The Fool YEAR0001
Balvanera Courses of Action DKA Records
Szaio Obraz Bordello A Parigi
Hante. Morning Tsunami Synth Religion
Kraków Loves Adana Follow The Voice Self-Released
Crystalline Stricture Pristine Gardens TONN Recordings
Peppy Pep Pepper Forced Distance Modern Tapes
Стереополина Суперлуние Self-released

Don Slack // Swingin' Doors // Thursdays 7-10pm
rank artist album label
1 Sierra Ferrell Long Time Coming Rounder
2 Turnstile Glow On Roadrunner
3 Tyler, The Creator Call Me If You Get Lost Columbia
4 Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall The Marfa Tapes RCA Nashville
5 Adia Victoria A Southern Gothic Canvasback/Atlantic
6 Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert Age 101
7 Wild Pink A Billion Little Lights Royal Mountain
8 Mdou Moctar Afrique Victime Matador
9 Faye Webster I Know I'm Funny haha Secretly Canadian
10 Curtis Harding If Words Were Flowers ANTI-
Dr. West // Sonic Reducer // Saturdays 9-midnight
rank artist album label
1 Candy Apple Sweet Dreams of Violence Convulse
2 The War on Drugs I Don't Live Here Anymore Atlantic
3 Blu Anxxiety Plaay Dead Toxic State
4 Black Marble Fast Idol Sacred Bones
5 Olivia Rodrigo Sour Geffen
6 Domingæ Æ Sacred Bones
7 Naked Raygun Over the Overlords Wax Trax!
8 Billie Eilish Happier Than Ever Darkroom
9 Turnstile GLOW ON Roadrunner
10 Mac MacCaughn The Sound of Yourself Merge

Eva Walker // Audioasis // Saturdays from 6 pm - 9 pm
artist album label
Warren Dunes Get Well Soon Self Released
The Shivas Feels So Good // Feels So Bad Tender Loving Empire
The True Loves Sunday Afternoon Color Red
La Luz La Luz Hardly Art
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio I Told You So Colemine
Jarv Dee x Bad Colours BlakHouse EP Self Released
The Barrett Martin Group Stillpoint Sunyata
Enumclaw Jimbo Demo EP Youth Riot
Red Ribbon Planet X Danger Collective
MYXA Snap Snakes EP Self Released
Evie // Variety // Sundays 3-6pm
artist album label
Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band Expansions Big Crown
Yves Tumor The Asymptotical World EP Warp
L'Rain Fatigue Mexican Summer
Nation of Language A Way Forward PIAS Recordings
Japanese Breakfast Jubilee Dead Oceans
La Femme Paradigmes Born Bad Records
Madlib Sound Ancestors Madlib Invazion
Flying Lotus Yasuke Warp
Helado Negro Far In 4AD
Little Simz Sometimes & Might Be Introvert Age 101 Music and AWAL

Gabriel Teodros // Early // Every weekday from 5-7am (pacific time)
artist album label
Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert AGE 101 MUSIC
Cleo Sol Mother Forever Living Originals
Mustafa When Smoke Rises Regent Park Songs
Arlo Parks Collapsed in Sunbeams Transgressive Records
Hiatus Kaiyote Mood Valiant Brainfeeder
Skyzoo All the Brilliant Things Mello Music Group
SAULT Nine Forever Living Originals
tUnE-yArDs sketchy. 4AD
MALIA Unpolished self-released
Mara TK Bad Meditation Extra Soul Perception
Hans // Variety Mix // Wednesday nights 10-1AM
rank artist album label
1 Arlo Parks Collapsed In Sunbeams Transgressive
2 Madlib Sound Ancestors Madlib Invazion
3 Coral Grief Coral Grief self-released
4 The Reds, Pinks and Purples Uncommon Weather Slumberland
5 Durand Jones and the Indications Private Space Dead Oceans
6 Japanese Breakfast Jubilee Dead Oceans
7 Mdou Moctar Afrique Victime Matador
8 Charley Crockett Music City USA Son of Davy
9 John Coltrane A Love Supreme (Live in Seattle) Impulse!
10 jeseul (오제슬) ㅅHOWER (sonagi) self-released
John Gilbreath // Jazz Theater // Monday 3 to 5 am
artist album label
John Coltrane A Love Supreme Live in Seattle Impulse
Esperanza Spaulding Songwrights Apothecary Lab Concord
James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet Jesup Wagon Tao Forms
Ches Smith/We All Break Path of Seven Colors Pyroclastic
Hafez Modirzadeh Facets Pi Recordings
Yuma Uesaka and Marilyn Crispell Streams Not Two
Charles Lloyd & The Marvels Tone Poem Blue Note
Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn Sorry Uneasy ECM
Sons of Kemet Black to the Future Impulse
Steve Coleman and Five Elements Live at the Village Vanguard Volume II Pi Recordings

John Richards // The Morning Show // 7-10am
rank artist album label
1 Nation of Language A Way Forward Self-Released
2 Wolf Alice Blue Weekend RCA
3 Idles Crawler! Partisan
4 Bachelor Doomin' Sun Polyvinyl
5 Makthaverskan For Allting Run For Cover
6 James All The Colours of You Self-Released
7 Mad Foxes Ashamed Self-Released
8 Aeon Station Observatory Sub Pop
9 Amyl and the Sniffers Comfort To Me Rough Trade
10 Arlo Parks Collapsed in Sunbeams Terrorbird
Josh Caplan // 90.TEEN // 6:00 AM on Saturdays
artist album label
Indigo De Souza Any Shape You Take Saddle Creek
dltzk Teen Week PlanetZero
Bladee The Fool YEAR0001
underscores fishmonger Self-released
Snail Mail Valentine Matador
Porter Robinson Nurture Mom + Pop
Jeff Rosenstock SKA DREAM Polyvinyl
Beach Bunny Blame Game Mom+Pop
PinkPantheress to hell with it Parlophone
Buck Meek Two Saviors Keeled Scales
Kennady Quille // Variety Mix/Audioasis Fill in DJ
artist album label
Celeste Not Your Muse Polydor Records
King Sheim The Greek Tragedy EP Celeste Marin Felsheim
Bachelor Doomin' Sun Polyvinyl Record Co.
Yola Stand For Myself Easy Eye Sound
CHAI WINK Sub Pop Records
Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert AWAL Recordings Ltd
Mirabai Kukathas Songs to the Monster Under My Bed Self Released
Faye Webster I Know I'm Funny haha Secretly Canadian
Arlo Parks Collapsed In Sunbeams Transgressive Records
Issy Wood If It's Any Constellation Zelig Music
Larry Mizell Jr. // The Afternoon Show // Monday-Friday 1-4 PM
artist album label
L'Rain Fatigue Mexican Summer
Dina Ögon  Dina Ögon  Sing A Song Fighter
serpentwithfeet Deacon Secretly Canadian
Mara TK Bad Meditation Extra Soul Perception
Rochelle Jordan Play With The Changes Young Art
Kaidi Tatham An Insight To All Minds First World
Haitus Kaiyote Mood Valiant Brainfeeder
Turnstile GLOW ON Roadrunner
Black Midi Cavalcade Rough Trade
Pharoah Sanders & Floating Points Promises Luaka Bop

Kevin Cole // Drive Time with Kevin Cole // 4:00 - 7:00 PM Tuesday through Friday
rank artist album label
1 Arlo Parks Collapsed in Sunbeams Transgressive
2 IDLES CRAWLER Partisan
3 Elbow Flying Dream 1 Polydor Records
4 Lucy Dacus Home Video Matador Records
5 The Weather Station Ignorance Fat Possum Records
6 Nation of Language A Way Forward PIAS Recordings
7 Julien Baker Little Oblivions Matador Records
8 Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert AWAL
9 Celeste Not Your Muse Polydor Records
10 Cassandra Jenkins An Overview on Phenomenal Nature Ba Da Bing
Larry Rose // Larry's Lounge // Tuesdays 10pm-1am
artist album label
Alewya Panther in Mode Because London
Durand Jones & The Indications Private Space Dead Oceans
Aaron Frazer Introducing... Dead Oceans/Easy Eye Sound
Japanese Breakfast Jubilee Dead Oceans
Jarv Dee x Bad Colours BlakHouse self-released
Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert Age 101
Arlo Parks Collapsed in Sunbeams Transgressive
Rostam Changephobia Matsor Projects
serpentwithfeet DEACON Secretly Canadian
Tyler, the Creator Call Me If You Get Lost Columbia
Lisa LeClair // Variety Mix // Fill In Host
rank artist album label
1 Adia Victoria A Southern Gothic Atlantic
2 Garbage No Gods No Masters Infectious
3 Louisahhh The Practice Of Freedom HE.SHE.THEY
4 GHLOW Slash And Burn PNKSLM
5 Sleater-Kinney Path Of Wellness Mom + Pop
6 King Hannah Tell Me Your Mind And I'll Tell You Mine EP City Slang
7 Indigo De Souza Any Shape You Take Saddle Creek
8 King Woman Celestial Blues Relapse
9 Slant 1집 Iron Lung
10 Jenevieve Division Joyface
Marco Collins // Variety Mix/Fill In Guy Fill In Host
rank artist album label
1 Fred Again.. Actual Life (April 14-December 17 2020) Atlantic UK
2 Aaron Frazer Introducing... Dead Oceans
3 Jarv Dee & Bad Colours Blakhouse Moor Life
4 Left At London t.I.a.p.f.y.h. Left At London Is Gay
5 Silk Sonic An Evening With Silk Sonic Atlantic
6 Leon Bridges Gold-Digger's Sound Columbia
7 Unkle Rōnin I Self Released
8 Arlo Parks Collapsed In Sunbeams Transgressive
9 Brijean Feelings Ghostly International
10 LOW HEY WHAT Sub Pop
Phoebe B // 90.TEEN // 6-7am Saturdays
rank artist album label
1 Indigo De Souza Any Shape You Take Saddle Creek
2 Jayomi midnight love note self-released
3 Luna Li jams EP In Real Life Music
4 Japanese Breakfast Jubilee Dead Oceans
5 Cleo Sol Mother Forever Living Originals
6 Arlo Parks Collapsed In Sunbeams Transgressive Records
7 Jaz Elise The Golden Hour RCA Records
8 SAULT Nine Forever Living Originals
9 Mirabai Kukathas Songs to the Monster Under My Bed self-released
10 Tyler, the Creator Call Me If You Get Lost Columbia Records
Reeves Richards // Variety Mix // Sunday Overnight, 2am-6am
artist album label
Lingua Ignota SINNER GET READY Sargent House
Fucked Up Year of the Horse Self-Released
Noctule Wretched Abyss Translation Loss
Turnstile Glow On Roadrunner
Japanese Breakfast Jubilee Dead Oceans
Laura Mvula Pink Noise Atlantic
The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die Illusory Walls Epitaph
Adia Victoria A Southern Gothic Canvasback
Pom Pom Squad Death of a Cheerleader City Slang
Filth Is Eternal Love is a Lie, Filth is Eternal self-released
Reverend Dollars // Variety Mix // Thursday 1-5 am
artist album label
AceMoMA A Future Haus of ALTR
Angel-Ho A Time to Die NAAFI
Black Rave Culture Black Rave Culture Haus of ALTR
Erika de Casier Sensational 4AD
Hiatus Kaiyote Mood Valiant Brainfeeder
Jamael Dean Primordial Waters Stones Throw
JazzZ Black Religion Tokyo Dawn
Moor Mother & billy woods BRASS Backwudz Studioz
Nappy Nina & Jwords Double Down LucidHaus
Rochelle Jordan Play With the Changes Young Art

Sarah Slaughter // 90.Teen // Saturdays 6am Rotating DJs
artist album label
Sleater-Kinney Path of Wellness Mom + Pop
The Muslims Fuck These Fuckin Fascists N/A
Destroy Boys Open Mouth, Open Heart Hopeless Records
Witch Fever Reincarnate Sony Music UK
wych elm Rabbit Wench N/A
She/Beast Violent Tendencies PNKSLM
St. Vincent Daddy's Home Loma Vista
The Sueves Tears of Joy N/A
Widowspeak Honeychurch Captured Tracks
Goat Girl On All Fours Rough Trade
Sean Morrow // Variety // Mondays 10pm - 1am
artist album label
Erika de Casier Sensational 4AD
Loveshadow Loveshadow Music From Memory
Space Ghost Dance Planet Tartelet Records
Tondiue Painted Creature Secondnature
Stice Stice's Satyricon Ramp Local
Plush Managements Inc. Free Britney Plush Records Inc.
V/A Ritmo Fantasía: Balearic Spanish Synth-Pop, Boogie and House (1982-1992) Soundway
Parris Soaked In Indigo Moonlight Can You Feel The Sun
Dreamcastmoe After All This In Real Life
Physical Therapy Hyperextension: The Complete Physical Therapy Remixes Vol. 2 Allergy Season
Troy Nelson // Variety Mix // Saturdays from 3 to 6pm
rank artist album label
1 El Michels Affair Yeti Season Big Crown
2 Curtis Harding If Words Were Flowers Anti-
3 Dry Cleaning New Long Leg 4AD
4 Hard Feelings Hard Feelings Domino
5 Amyl and The Sniffers Comfort to Me ATO
6 Altin Gün Âlem ATO
7 Laura Mvula Pink Noise Atlantic
8 Parquet Courts Sympathy for Life Rough Trade
9 Ora The Molecule Human Safari Mute
10 Goat Girl On All Fours Rough Trade

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