Our pick for the very best album of 2021 is ….

Many people believed that there would be some great albums to come out of the pandemic.

Well, they were right.

Artists — most of whom were sidelined from touring and thus, theoretically, had more time to focus on writing and recording — delivered a staggering number of solid albums in 2021.

Indeed, it was hard to whittle down this list of top recordings to just 10. It was even harder to figure out which one should be No. 1. Each entry listed in the top 5, at one point or another, seemed to be in pole position for the honor of album of year.

By year’s end, however, the top spot seemed pretty obvious.

Here are our picks for the Top 10 albums of 2021.

1. “Outside Child,” Allison Russell

The Canadian singer-songwriter-clarinetist has been releasing highly moving music for nearly 20 years, beginning with the duo Po’ Girl (with The Be Good Tanyas’ Trish Klein) and continuing on with Birds of Chicago and Our Native Daughters. Now, she’s firmly established her solo recording career with the release of this marvelous debut.

“Outside Child” is a gorgeous blend of styles, from jazz and Americana to soul and world music to country and folk — all of which Russell handles with refined elegance. The lyrics, however, relay a harrowing story of abuse the artist suffered as a child at the hands of her adoptive father.

“Blood on my shirt, two ripped buttons,” Russell sings on “Persephone.” “Might’ve killed me that time, oh, if I’d let him. He’s slow when he’s drunk, and he lost his grip on me

“Now I’m runnin’ down la rue St. Paul, tryna get out from the weight of it all”

Ultimately, “Outside Child” proves to be a celebration of survival and resilience. It’s a brave, bold and beautiful album, one that deserves to be heard by millions.

2. “Fortitude,” Gojira

Twenty-five years after first forming — originally under the moniker Godzilla — France’s Gojira now must be considered among the greatest metal bands of all time. The quartet continues to make its case, quite convincingly, with its seventh studio album, which arrived with all the subtlety of a bazooka blast five years after 2016’s equally excellent “Magma.”

The band’s patented, heady mix of progressive metal and technical death metal styles is still at the forefront, but it’s now backed up with blues, world music and more of an ‘80s mainstream metal vibe than ever before. Christian Andreu is as ferocious as usual on lead guitar, while Joe Duplantier continues to take his vocal game to new heights in this collection of arena-rocking anthems.

3. “Reckless,” Morgan Wade

The Virginia singer-songwriter’s debut shows that she should be a force in the country music genre for years — maybe even decades — to come.

Standing tall compared to so much of the cookie-cutter country going on in the mainstream these days, Wade comes across as strikingly authentic as she spins hardscrabble love songs and vivid reminiscences.

Her voice is a mix of Sheryl Crow and Lee Ann Womack, with a dash of Dolly Parton. That’s, of course, a big compliment. Yet, expect the need for such comparisons to quickly fade as Wade firmly establishes her own voice in the industry.

4. “Hall of Fame,” Polo G

Judging by the titles of his three albums — “Die a Legend,” “The Goat” (which many would translate to mean “the greatest of all time”) and “Hall of Fame” — it’s clear that this young Chicago rapper doesn’t lack for confidence. More importantly, however, he’s able to back up those boasts.

Having just rocked fans with “The Goat” — our pick for the best album of last year — Polo G returns with another undeniable winner in 2021. The songs sparkle with equal amounts of talent and ambition, as the G man rhymes through one memorable offering after another. The streetwise realism of the lyrics hasn’t faded one bit with success, but there’s a certain sheen to the production that was missing on the previous two albums.

It’s a winning mix, but one that still feels like a work in progress, leading us to believe that — as amazing as it may sound — Polo G’s best days are still in front of him.

5. “Solar Power,” Lorde

The New Zealander’s amazing streak is still going:

Three full-length albums into her career and Lorde has still yet to deliver anything less than a good song to fans. And the vast majority of them have actually been pretty great.

“Solar Power” is a worthy follow-up to 2013’s “Pure Heroine” and 2017’s “Melodrama” — both of which rank among the very best albums of the millennium. It might not quite exist in the same stratosphere as its predecessors, but this third outing is full of curiously appealing lyrics, often leading to double takes in terms of meaning and intent, as well as cunning micro-beats and addictive grooves.

She’ll never be confused with Mariah Carey, of course. Yet, what Lorde lacks in vocal range, she more than makes up for with nuance, intrigue and signature style.

We’re witnessing an all-time great at work.

6. “Sour,” Olivia Rodrigo

We’ve watched untold hours of Disney Channel’s “Bizaardvark” in the Harrington household, so perhaps that’s why it was a bit difficult for me to initially follow along on Rodrigo’s transition from “Paige” to pop star.

Yet, the proof is most definitely in the pop — and Rodrigo’s debut is one of the best the genre has offered up in a number of years. “Sour” is filled with topnotch tunes, sung with remarkable poise and confidence by this 18-year-old vocalist. Dan Nigro, who has worked with Carly Rae Jepsen, Sky Ferreira and others, is spot-on with the production work. Yet, the star of the show might just be the insightful and introspective lyrics, which make me alternately wish I were younger and glad that I’m not.

7. “When You Speak,” Jeremy Camp

The Indiana singer-songwriter returns with another excellent collection of inspirational pop songs, which are subtly flavored with bits of rock and country. Camp’s voice is so soothing and comforting, coming across like words of encouragement from a lifelong friend, as he warmly croons through such offerings as “Can’t Take Away” and “Here With You.”

The shinning title track, in particular, always leaves me feeling a bit better about my day and a little more hopeful about the world in general. And who doesn’t need at least some of that in 2021?

8. “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert,” Little Simz

The London rapper follows up her Mercury Prize-nominated third studio album, 2019’s “Grey Area,” with an even bigger and better offering that illustrates all the reasons why she’s one of the most exciting artists in hip-hop.

“Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” is flush with lush orchestration, intriguing vocal work, fascinating rhymes and curiously satisfying beats and grooves. It’s adventurous and experimental, but never in a solely self-serving fashion, living in the place where Bjork meets The Streets.

9. “I Don’t Live Here Anymore,” The War on Drugs

Four years after the masterful “A Deeper Understanding,” the Philly rockers return with another brilliant addition to their catalog. “I Don’t Live Here Anymore,” like much of the band’s other recordings, comes across at times like a great lost classic-rock record.

The music is as sweeping as a Hollywood score, slowly constructing stadium-size anthems with guitar parts that seem to marry the notes of Mark Knopfler with those from Heartbreaker Mike Campbell. There’s also a ton of “Broooce” to the mix, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given that frontman Adam Granduciel named his child after Springsteen.

10, “Senjutsu,” Iron Maiden

There were a lot of worthy candidates for this final slot — including “Daddy’s Home” by St. Vincent, “War & Wonders” by D Smoke and both of Lana Del Rey’s 2021 releases. None of those, however, makes you want to bang your head and pump your fists quite like the solid 17th studio outing from these hard-rocking heroes.

“Senjutsu” is certainly one of the band’s best offerings of the 21st century, which is saying more than some would have you believe. More than 45 years into its career, Maiden still rocks harder — and better — than just about anyone. Chalk the album up as yet another reason why the group deserves to be voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.