2024 was a whirlwind to say the least, but the amount of great music we got was still second to none. Here are (most of) my favorite albums to drop in 2024 and what stuck with me the most throughout this eventful year.
10. Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Look, with the iconic surprise release and severe lack of time I’ve had to sit with this record and dissect it, I could easily see this shifting placements a bit in the near future. But as of now, well, it’s pretty impeccable and further cements Lamar as one of the greatest to ever live. If anyone is truly able to proclaim “I deserve it all,” it’s him. While his once in a lifetime feud with Drake could’ve been enough to make him one of 2024’s MVPs, GNX is just further reassurance.
Lamar takes us back to his roots with clubby, ballistic west coast bangers and sultry R&B cuts all over this thing, reiterating his significance and spot in the hip-hop sphere, culture and legacy. I can’t wait to spend more time with this record and witness what will become of his highly-anticipated Super Bowl halftime show in a few months, or maybe he’ll surprise us again even sooner than that. The grand, national, experimental king—Kendrick Lamar.
3 tracks to try: “squabble up,” “luther,” “reincarnated”
9. Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft
Even if I’m not as big of a Billie fan I once was, there’s no denying that this just might be her best work to date. Everything from the cohesion, narrative themes and Finneas’ lush production, there’s something for everyone to love on this album and one of the year’s finest pop offerings.
3 tracks to try: “CHIHIRO,” “THE GREATEST,” “WILDFLOWER”
8. JPEGMAFIA – I Lay Down My Life for You
JPEGMAFIA continues on his hot-streak with a more abrasive yet personal outing. If you’re at all into hip-hop that is constantly trying to push boundaries and blend genres, I have no doubt you’ll love this.
3 tracks to try: “SIN MIEDO,” “either on or off the drugs,” “New Black History”
7. Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter
The queen herself completely floored me this year and, honestly, I don’t know why I ever thought she wouldn’t. Being a native Texan, Beyoncé won fans and critics over with her foray into country this year with memorable melodies, legendary guest-stars and deep, personal stories.
While country inspired at its core, Cowboy Carter isn’t afraid to truly defy genre barriers and crossover appeal with tracks reminiscent of R&B, rock and hip-hop as well. Even if not everybody was onboard, you can’t deny Beyoncé’s immense talent and cultural impact and this album remains one of her most innovative and celebrated yet.
3 tracks to try: “16 Carriages,” “Bodyguard,” “Daughter”
6. Magdalena Bay – Imaginal Disk
2024 was truly a banner year for pop and no other album demonstrates the blossoming evolution and exciting sonic developments of the genre quite like this one. Magdalena Bay continue to level up as a duo, producing some of the bounciest, catchiest, lush and just all-over-the-place pop bops and bangers I’ve heard in a while on Imaginal Disk. And what’s even crazier is that they’re still just getting started. I don’t know what the future holds for them but I know it’s bright.
3 tracks to try: “Image,” “Death & Romance,” “That’s My Floor”
5. Porter Robinson – SMILE! 😀
Robinson really came around when I needed him to most a couple years ago with his peaceful, poignant electro-pop opus Nurture. Now with SMILE! 😀, lightning has undoubtedly struck twice.
While this record could seem pretty corny or overblown on the surface, taking inspiration from early ’00s emo-pop and pop-punk, it also embraces those aesthetics head-on with gorgeous electronic production, relatable and smart lyrics and, well, making sure you smile while listening. Robinson reminds you that it’s all going to be okay, and I don’t think there’s anything cringey about that.
3 tracks to try: “Cheerleader,” “Is There Really No Happiness?,” “Russian Roulette”
4. Foxing – Foxing
As deep as Foxing are into their career at this point, they still continue to develop, impress and subvert expectations. And this new self-titled record might be the prime example of that.
While the band’s core genre could be categorized as indie or emo rock, they have always been willing to take risks and push their sonic palette forward and with this album’s profusely hard-hitting, blistering and shrill sound, I think it’s safe to say they’re done testing the waters. Foxing is a relentless record that grows more rewarding with each listen and Foxing continues to be a band I look up to and cherish more and more with each passing release.
3 tracks to try: “Gratitude,” “Barking,” “Hell 99″
3. Tyler, The Creator – Chromakopia
Tyler, The Creator’s creative streak is really unlike anything I’ve seen in hip-hop and music at large in quite a long time. Chromakopia feels like the culmination of Tyler’s enhanced production skills, storytelling ability and just continuously charismatic and infectious tone and personality. I am endlessly in awe of this project and commend Tyler for being so open, raw and honest on it after so many years in the wavering spotlight.
3 tracks to try: “Thought I Was Dead,” “Hey Jane,” “Like Him”
2. Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us
These guys have been a constant love of mine since high school and to watch them put out their best record after nearly two decades into their career is nothing short of astonishing and somewhat sentimental.
Only God Was Above Us is the definition of scaling back and ramping up simultaneously. This 10 track joyride of alternative, baroque pop, noise rock and everything in between never fails to engage your senses and enhance your sonic palette. The “Vampires” did it again, better than ever.
3 tracks to try: “Connect,” “Ice Cream Piano,” “Gen-X Cops”
Honorable Mentions:
The Smile – Wall of Eyes
As a longtime Radiohead fan, I’ll always be interested in anything the band members put out. Did I think I would enjoy this album as much as some of their most beloved and iconic material? No, but it got pretty close. The Smile crafted a gorgeous, brooding record full of atmosphere and remnants of classic Radiohead-isms. Wall of Eyes is a reminder that Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood can still bring the best out of each other when they want to.
3 tracks to try: “Teleharmonic,” “I Quit,” “Friend of a Friend”
Vince Staples – Dark Times
Staples has continued to impress me over the years and this new album is one of his most memorable and vulnerable yet. With a rather unconventional year when it came to fully-formed hip-hop records, Dark Times is a gem that shouldn’t go under your radar.
3 tracks to try: “Black&Blue,” “Étouffée,” “Little Homies”
Remi Wolf – Big Ideas
One of the most fun indie pop albums I heard this year. Wolf is endlessly lovable and charismatic and Big Ideas is only further proof of that. Hoping to see her live someday soon.
3 tracks to try: “Soup,” “Pitiful,” “Toro”
The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
It’s not often you see a band as seasoned as The Cure come back after nearly two decades with a genuinely great album. But I don’t know why I ever doubted them. Robert Smith and company crafted a grandiose coda for the group’s storied career full of that classic ethereal, gothic rock sound. With iconic albums like Disintegration, Pornography and Wish under their belt, Songs of a Lost World isn’t a bad addition in the slightest.
3 tracks to try: “A Fragile Thing,” “Drone:Nodrone,” “And Nothing Is Forever”
Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown
As I’ve grown fond of Gibbons’ past work with the legendary trip-hop band Portishead recently, this new record was also a breath of fresh air. Mixing elements of chamber pop, folk and of course her signature style of trip-hop and poetic lyricism and range, Lives Outgrown blew right through me in the best way.
3 tracks to try: “Tell Me Who You Are Today,” “Reaching Out,” “Floating on a Moment”
Adrianne Lenker – Bright Future
As I’ve also gotten more into Lenker’s work this past year, either solo or with her band Big Thief, this record really grew on me over the past few months. Her immersive and personal songwriting ability and signature voice never fail to completely capture me as I fall deeper into this world of indie and chamber folk.
3 tracks to try: “Sadness as a Gift,” “No Machine,” “Evol”
Laura Marling – Patterns in Repeat
Coming out a day after my 22nd birthday, Marling’s tranquil folk opus on growing older and motherhood is just what I needed at the time. Reminiscent of legends like Joni Mitchell and Carole King, Marling’s soothing voice and captivating stories make this an easy, cherishing listen that just gets better with each guitar strum.
3 tracks to try: “Patterns,” “Looking Back,” “Child of Mine”
Joey Valence & Brae – NO HANDS
Maybe the most fun and endlessly invigorating listen of the year for me. NO HANDS is chock-full of witty, bombastic and hilarious rap bangers that can feel straight out of the ’80s-’90s era, like Beastie Boys or Run-D.M.C. but updated for a modern audience. An absolute blast from front to back.
3 tracks to try: “PACKAPUNCH,” “DOUGHBOY,” “THE BADDEST (w/ Ayesha Erotica)”
1. Charli xcx – BRAT
Where to start with the album that defined my, and so many others’, year? Charli xcx has been an artist I’ve loved for years now. To say I’m glad she’s finally getting her flowers and the recognition she deserves would still be an understatement. While she’s always been a pop pioneer and has driven to push herself with each release, BRAT is her peak musically, aesthetically and personally.
Creating a clubby, anthemic dance-pop opus while also leaving room for vulnerability and heartfelt songwriting, BRAT succeeds on all fronts. It’s no wonder why this was finally the album to shoot Charli straight to undeniable pop-star status. In this constantly crazed, imperfect world, we all needed an album like BRAT and Charli delivered the most raw, messy and real version of herself. It just so happened to become my favorite album of 2024 as well, if not one of the best albums of the decade so far.
3 tracks to try: “Sympathy is a knife,” “365,” “Girl, so confusing (w/ Lorde)”
My year-end playlist with even more songs and albums: 2024 – Spotify
