Paste Magazine's 50 Best Albums of 2021 - Page 2

"Like stepping out of a dark room into broad daylight, or that first halting conversation after an extended silence, 2021 was a time for the music world to gradually readjust to normalcy. After an all but tour-less 2020, this year brought bands back out of their bedrooms, basements and rehearsal spaces, off constant livestreams and back onto stages at last. Some artists canceled or postponed as many shows as they were able to play, as the pandemic's summer surge, in particular, continued to destabilize the industry. But on the whole, this year finally gave artists the opportunity to get out and support their latest records after an existential threat to their livelihoods, making their all-important returns to the road. It enabled them to share with audiences the releases they wrote and recorded while they were stuck on the sidelines—a chance to step out of 2020's shadow and let their eyes adjust to 2021's sunshine."-Paste Staff-