As 2021 draws to a close, we look back to the albums and music artists that made their marks.

Space constraint meant that we had to focus on the artists and songs that cut through the noise. When everyone else was trying to go viral and engage audiences via TikTok with dance challenges, the following let their songs do the talking for them.

For sheer emotional wallop, Adele’s latest album “30” takes the cake for most soulful album of the year. Only because, out of each and every song that comes out of it cost the singer heartbreak and eventually her marriage. The piano-decked ballad “Easy On Me” stayed true to Adele’s style, and fans wouldn’t have it any other way. Asked about what the whole album is all about, the singer straightforwardly said “divorce, darling, divorce.”

John Mayer totally went the other way and wrote an album worth of 80s flavored pop. One can argue that his fame affords him this luxury of putting out whatever. But the fact that he was able to come out sounding as good as he did in “Sob Rock” while conjuring up the sounds of a past era with instant faves like “New Light,” the Clapton-esque nod of “Last Train Home,” and the retro country pop sounding “Why You No Love Me” while still giving something familiar like “Shouldn’t Matter But It Does” is just aces in our book.

Taylor Swift did it again when she ventured into soft indie rock via 2021’s “Evermore” record (which started with 2020’s “Folklore”). She proved that she didn’t need the big, overly produced sound to get attention and that outside of her fans, every song she writes will find listeners from across spectrums. And that she made a big hit out of a re-recorded song (from the “Red, Taylor’s Version”) like “All Too Well” (and a 10-minute song at that) just tells you what kind of pull and star power that Taylor wields. But more importantly, she just requires a listener’s undivided attention, and she will not disappoint.

Every two or three years in pop, we’ll see a newcomer who will make it big. Olivia Rodrigo already has more hits that most artists can only dream to have in their whole careers, certainly fits the bill. Her album “Sour” at one point in 2021 had the most singles at any top 10 charts everywhere. From the rocking opener “Brutal” to the Gen Z tailored ballad “Traitor,” to the monster hit “Driver’s License,” to the modern pop rock staple “Good 4 U.” A billion plus listens each for the last two aforementioned songs alone probably proves she’s doing something right.

Hands down, Ben & Ben is currently still the biggest band in the land. And they got to where they are gimmick free. Meaning no viral hits, no dance challenges, just plain old songwriting that resonated with listeners who’ve embraced the Ben & Ben sound. Their work ethic is also to be commended. Just as the pandemic hit, the entire band decided to live together, all in the name of craft. They’ve managed to produce a whole album’s worth with “Pebble House, Vol 1: Kuwaderno.”

Everything Arthur Nery put out for 2021 went white hot. From “Take All The Love,” to the collab hit “Pelikula” with Janine Tenoso, to the current hit “Pagsamo” that finally cemented Arthur Nery’s hitmaker status. Further proof that previous hits “Binhi” and “Higa” were no flukes and that Arthur Nery’s style; a relaxed R&B inflected drawl with a lilt of a falsetto is resonating with Pinoy pop music fans.