Metacritic Aggregate: 2021 Old Music: World

For information on what lists are consulted, and what the various abbreviations and notes mean, click here.

Reissues, compilations, vault music, etc. For new records, click here.

Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Khaira Arby: Live in New York 2010 (Clermont Music) {16}: EWi:+, PO_r:6+, Rx:26; ny_p:+, xjy:6 -- RC:A-, TH:A-
  2. Indaba Is (Brownswood) {14}: AAJ:+, Gg_j:35, JC:+, JT:29, PO:+, U:+; jzf:+, sg_j:10, tr_j:+, tr_u:+, ws_c:1 -- TH:*
  3. Bola Sete: Samba in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968 (Tompkins Square -3CD) {12}: JC_r:18; am_f:+, jbs:+, jdr:+, jjwd:+, npr_fc:20, tg:+ -- TH:A-
  4. Joseph Spence: Encore: Unheard Recordings of Bahamian Guitar and Singing (1965, Smithsonian/Folkways) {12}: PO:+, Rx:21; aqd:+ -- RC:A, TH:A-
  5. Hailu Mergia & the Walias Band: Tezeta (1975, Awesome Tapes From Africa) {8}: Bc:+, JC_r:+; aqd:+, vbr:+, ws_r:9 -- TH:***
  6. Cuba: Music and Revolution: Culture Clash in Havana Cuba: Experiments in Latin Music 1975-85 Vol 1 (Soul Jazz -2CD) {8}: YW_r:5, pc_c:9 -- TH:***
  7. Toumani Diabate & the London Symphony Orchestra: Korolen (2008, World Circuit) {7}: Mj:+, PM:+, U:+; npr_th:4, pm_g:9
  8. Bob Marley & the Wailers: The Capitol Session '73 (Mercury/Tuff Gong) {7}: YW_r:15; am_l:+ -- TH:A-
  9. Cameroon Garage Funk (Analog Africa) {7}: Bc:+, YW_r:19; aqd:+ -- TH:***
  10. Cuba: Music and Revolution: Culture Clash in Havana: Experiments in Latin Music 1973-85 Vol 2 (Soul Jazz -2CD) {6}: YW_r:25; ws_c:3 -- TH:***
  11. Agustin Pereyra Lucena Quartet: La Rana (Far Out) {5}: PO_r:16+; bc_r:+, ws_r:6
  12. It's a Good, Good Feeling: The Latin Soul of Fania Records: The Singles (1967-75, Craft -4CD) {5}: JC_r:+; jmm:+, npr_fc:16 -- TH:**
  13. The Trojan Story (1961-71, Trojan, 3CD) {5}: rc_r:10, rte_k:+ -- TH:**
  14. Nermin Niazi and Feisal Mosleh: Disco Se Aagay (1984, Discostan) {4}: Bc:+, PO:+ -- TH:**
  15. Amapiano Now (NTS) {4}: ra:+ -- TH:***
  16. Edo Funk Explosion Vol 1 (1980-85, Analog Africa) {4}: PO:+; ws_c:12 -- TH:**
  17. Essiebons Special 1973-1984: Ghana Music Power House (Analog Africa) {4}: -- TH:A-
  18. Wallahi Le Zein! (Mississippi) {4}: PO:+ -- TH:***
  19. The Beaters: Harari (1975, Matsuli Music) {3}: aqd:+ -- TH:**
  20. Lee Scratch Perry: The Specialist: The Pama Years (Pama) {3}: -- TH:***
  21. Shem Tupe/Justo Osala/Enos Okola: Guitar Music of Western Kenya: 45s From the Archive of Shem Tupe (Mississippi) {3}: -- TH:***
  22. Changui: The Sound of Guantanamo (Petaluma -3CD) {3}: AAJ:+; am_l:+, npr_fc:17
  23. Duke Reid International Disco Series (Doctor Bird -3CD) {3}: rc_r:1
  24. 4 Mars: Super Somali Sounds From the Gulf of Tadjoura (Ostinato) {2}: Bc:+; pm_r:+
  25. Desmond Dekker: King of Ska: Live at Dingwell's () {2}: rc_r:2
  26. Bunny Lee: Run Soundboy Run () {2}: rc_r:4
  27. Jimmy London: Bridge Over Troubled Waters () {2}: rc_r:5
  28. Lee Scratch Perry & Friends: Black Art From the Black Ark (Pressure Sounds) {2}: Bc:+, am_l:+
  29. Anastenaria: Tracian Firewalking Ritual Music (Canary) {2}: cw:+, sl:+
  30. Habibi Funk 015: An Eclectic Selection From the Arab World, Part 2 (Habibi Funk) {2}: aqd:+, ws_c:8
  31. Ritmo Fantasia: Balearic Spanish Synth-Pop, Boogie & House (1982-1992) (Soundway) {2}: -- TH:**
  32. Sounds of Pamoja (Nyege Nyege Tapes) {2}: VF:27; am_e:+
  33. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley: Simigwa (Mr Bongo -18) {1}: DW:65 -- TH:[***]
  34. Buena Vista Social Club: Buena Vista Social Club [25th Anniversary Edition] (World Circuit) {1}: pc_r:7
  35. Eboni Band: Eboni Band (1980, We Are Busy Bodies) {1}: ws_r:11
  36. Eve: Canto Aberto (1979, Komos Jazz) {1}: aqd:+
  37. Kiko Kids Jazz: Tanganyika Na Uhuru (Mississippi) {1}: PO:+
  38. Kim Jung Mi: Now (1973, Repsychled) {1}: bc_r:+
  39. The Rootsman: Essentials 1996-1998 (Akuphone) {1}: bc_r:+
  40. Bunny Scott: To Love Somebody (1975, Freestile) {1}: -- TH:*
  41. Star Lovers: Boafo Ne Nyame (1987, Hot Casa) {1}: aqd:+
  42. Eddie Suzuki New Hawaii: High Tide (1973, Aloha Got Soul) {1}: aqd:+
  43. Phuong Tam: Magical Nights: Saigon Surf, Twist & Soul (1964-1966) (Sublime Frequencies -20) {1}: am_l:+
  44. TP Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou: Rep Pop Du Benin Unite Africaine (Acid Jazz) {1}: YW_r:34
  45. Club Coco (Bongo Joe) {1}: Bc:+
  46. Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History of the World's Music (Dust to Digital -20) {1}: AAJ:+
  47. Naya Beat Volume 1: South Asian Dance and Electronic Music 1983-1992 (Naya Beat) {1}: aqd:+
  48. Sabor Surf: Compiled by El Palmas & El Dragon Criollo (El Palmas Music) {1}: Bc:+