As 2024 winds down, we’re excited to unveil our curated list of the 24 best albums of the year! Immerse yourself in our top picks and join the musical journey on Spotify. Don’t forget to show some love by hitting the like button while you’re there.
24. Peso Pluma – ÉXODO
Peso Pluma’s ÉXODO is a sprawling double album divided into regional Mexican and corridos tumbados on the first disc, and trap, Latin trap, reggaeton, and EDM on the second. – 8.4
23. Danielle Durack – Escape Artist
Collaborating with longtime friend Sam Rosson, Escape Artist seamlessly weaves moody and atmospheric arrangements, serving as a perfect backdrop to enhance Durack’s shrewdly sensitive and acutely felt poetry. – 8.4
22. Faye Webster – Underdressed at the Symphony
Departing from her earlier works, Underdressed at the Symphony showcases a more expansive musical landscape with lush orchestrations, layered vocals, and textured arrangements. – 8.4
21. total tommy – bruises
Jess Holt’s debut album as total tommy, bruises, delivers noisy dream pop infused with heady hooks and emotional immediacy. – 8.4
20. Michael Kiwanuka – Small Changes
Michael Kiwanuka’s Small Changes marks a striking shift from the grand, cinematic sound of his earlier albums. – 8.5
19. Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us
Marking their fifth studio release, Only God Was Above Us also signifies a substantial transition for the band, as it is the first recorded without founding member Rostam Batmanglij, who departed in 2016. – 8.5
18. Still Woozy – Loveseat
Out via Polydor Records, Loveseat explores the realities of relationships through Woozy’s whimsical lens, blending captivating pop, dreamy soundscapes, and heartfelt lyricism. – 8.5
17. Cassandra Jenkins – My Light, My Destroyer
At its core, My Light, My Destroyer reflects Jenkins’ curiosity about the universe, blending field recordings with poetic, allusive, humorous, and confessional lyricism. – 8.5
16. Paper Wings – Listen to the World Spin
Long-time musical companions Emily Mann and Wila Frank triumphantly return with their third album, Listen to the World Spin, offering listeners an intimate journey through landscapes of introspection and self-examination. – 8.5
15. Sophie May – Deep Sea Creatures EP
Deep Sea Creatures was inspired in part by a lyric from Father John Misty’s song ‘When You’re Smiling and Astride Me,’ which resonated with May during a difficult period of isolation. – 8.6
14. Charli XCX – Brat
Described by Charli as her most aggressive and confrontational yet also vulnerable work, Brat draws inspiration from the London rave scene as it blends club, hyperpop, and dance genres. It includes contributions from notable artists like Addison Rae and A. G. Cook. – 8.6
13. Mr. Gnome – A Sliver of Space
Known for their genre-defying sound, Cleveland-based art-rock duo Mr. Gnome delivers an album that expertly blends hypnotic textures with their signature experimental edge. – 8.6
12. MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks
MJ Lenderman’s Manning Fireworks is a collection of laid-back, yet sharply observed alt-country tunes, blending wry humor with moments of genuine introspection and a touch of melancholy. – 8.6
11. Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Kendrick Lamar’s sixth studio album, GNX, features collaborations with artists like SZA and Roddy Ricch while production was handled by the likes of Sounwave and Jack Antonoff. – 8.6
10. Clairo – Charm
Clairo’s Charm is a warm and intimate exploration of love and connection, drawing on influences from 60s and 70s jazz and folk to create a lush and inviting soundscape. – 8.7
9. Kali Uchis – Orquídeas
Orquídeas unfolds as a collection of contemporary ballads, skillfully blending atmospheric production with Uchis’ enchanting and romantic vocals. – 8.7
8. Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood
Boasting collaborations with renowned musicians such as MJ Lenderman, Spencer Tweedy, and Phil and Brad Cook, Tigers Blood promises to be a significant chapter in Waxahatchee’s artistic evolution. – 8.7
7. Wunderhorse – Midas
Wunderhorse’s second album, Midas, is a high-energy foray that immerses listeners in its raw, unfiltered sound, deftly sidestepping the typical pitfalls of a sophomore release. – 8.7
6. Fin del Mundo – Hicimos Crecer un Bosque
Hailing from Buenos Aires with roots in Patagonia, the quartet continues to push the boundaries of indie rock, shoegaze, and post-rock, crafting a record that reflects both their southern heritage and the complexity of human emotion. – 8.7
5. Parannoul – Sky Hundred
Parannoul’s Sky Hundred is a breathtakingly expansive shoegaze journey, weaving together shimmering guitars, ethereal vocals, and driving rhythms to create a deeply immersive and emotionally resonant soundscape. – 8.7
4. Rosali – Bite Down
Rosali’s Bite Down emerges as a captivating blend of smooth, pop-infused singer-songwriter melodies and experimental rock elements, marking it as one of 2024’s standout records. – 8.8
3. bedbug – pack your bags the sun is growing
Bedbug’s pack your bags the sun is growing offers a raw and intimate collection of lo-fi indie rock songs, characterized by hushed vocals and a sense of quiet desperation that permeates its melancholic atmosphere. – 8.8
2. English Teacher – This Could Be Texas
A fusion of post-punk, math rock, and electronic elements with autotune, the album presents a diverse sonic landscape that reflects the band’s eclectic influences. – 9.1
1. The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
After a sixteen-year wait, The Cure return with Songs of a Lost World, a melancholic yet vibrant exploration of familiar sonic landscapes that blends gothic rock sensibilities with expansive, almost space-rock textures. – 9.1