Artists across the world did all they could in 2020 to help save the year from the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing surprisingly fruitful efforts. But despite defining the beginning of quarantine for so many listeners, it was not until 2021 that the majority of albums released were produced solely in quarantine. 

The year started slowly following the long-awaited release of Playboi Carti’s Whole Lotta Red, though notable January albums included the brief but buttery Heaux Tales EP by Jazmine Sullivan and the heartfelt instrumental work Sound Ancestors by legendary hip-hop producer Madlib.

The month was capped off not only by Sound Ancestors, but also OK Human by Weezer, which sophomore Nick Meyers cited as “one of my favorites of the year.”

Once the year entered its second quarter in April, things began to heat up with releases from Brockhampton and Taylor Swift’s first of many re-recorded albums with Fearless.

May saw the release of J. Cole’s The Off-Season the first major hip-hop release of the year. The following week, Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour, the first debut album in history to produce two separate number one charting singles, was also released and quickly broke global Spotify records for the biggest opening week by a female artist. The month also ended with the posthumous tribute Exodus by the legendary DMX who had passed the previous month. 

June saw releases like Tyler, the Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost, uniting the vigor of his old vocals with his matured production and content.

July is when the year may have reached its climax, starting out with a bang with Vince Staples’ brief and emotionally detached eponymous album Vince Staples. Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever released to a number one billboard spot, which contained somewhat similar reflective content to We’re All Alone In This Together by the UK’s Dave, a personal favorite of sophomore Mason Lai. 

Willow’s Lately I Feel Everything released mid-July, to critical acclaim, as well as praise from Camas students.  

“Lately I Feel Everything beautifully illustrates the variety of emotions one feels in life through music,” sophomore Sophia Wade said. 

In late August, the artist formerly known as Kanye West’s Donda defined not only the month but the entire year. West’s maternal tribute not only set the record for most first-day streams on both Apple Music and Spotify, but the album received some of the most attention of any album made in the past decade over its backstory and controversy. 

However, Donda’s release coincided with the chart-topping Certified Lover Boy by Drake amidst the “beef” between the two gargantuan artists that has since been settled. 

On the same Friday as Certified Lover Boy, London’s own Little Simz released the masterpiece Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, one of the finest works of both poetry and production of the century thus far. The following week, sophomore Shiven Friedman’s pick for album of the year, Baby Keem’s The Melodic Blue released as well, capping off the potential already seen in Keem and leaving room for more. 

October was relatively dull, despite JPEGmafia’s abrasive LP!, though November followed with Adele’s 30, which topped the charts until the end of the year, becoming the highest-selling album of the decade thus far, and breaking several of Adele’s own records.

An Evening With Silk Sonic, the work of super duo Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak. released, cashing in on the build-up that had been amassed for more than half a year. 

“Everyone was hyped for a classic and they delivered,” sophomore Mason Lai said. 

As December came to a close, 2021 ended up producing great works while leaving hope for even greater works and lives in the upcoming year.