Firebird’s Top Albums of 2024: Staff Picks.
collage by Joseph Mooney.
Throughout December 2024, Firebird conducted its fourth annual Album of the Year poll. Staff members drafted their personal top 10 albums of the year, and then ranked them on a ballot. Results were then tabulated using a points-based system that assigned ten points to each voter’s first choice, nine points to their second choice, and so on. Because of the nature of the voting, the general results are inherently a popularity contest, so Firebird has given its members the opportunity to feature their individual lists in this article.
One of the beautiful things about Firebird is that no two of our staff members share the exact same taste in music, and no two people will agree on everything. Of course, there are some throughlines: heavy-hitters like Charli xcx, Kendrick Lamar, and Sabrina Carpenter show up frequently here, as reflected in their placement on our official Top 20 Albums of 2024 list. But at the same time, some staff members have albums in their top three that others wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole, and some have ranked albums that many of us have never even heard, which has made sharing and debating our favorite music of the year so exciting. The 42 of us that volunteered to share our rankings for this article come from a myriad of places and backgrounds, and the resulting diversity of these lists means that you’re bound to find some of your favorite music here. If you see someone with a list here that has a few of your favorites from 2024, chances are you might also discover some new music on their list to take with you into 2025!
— Joseph Mooney, Editor-in-Chief
Joseph Mooney, Editor-in-Chief
Taylor Swift — THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT
Gracie Abrams — The Secret of Us
Beyoncé — COWBOY CARTER
Kali Uchis — ORQUÍDEAS
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n’ Sweet
Halsey — The Great Impersonator
Billie Eilish — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
cupcakKe — Dauntless Manifesto
Ariana Grande — eternal sunshine
Allie X — Girl With No Face
“Let me make myself clear—I do not think THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT is the album of the year, nor is it Taylor Swift’s best work...by any means. But in a year riddled with endless debate and discourse about its merit, Swift's eleventh studio album is a force of nature, formidable in power and impossible to ignore.
With release of TTPD in the middle of her larger-than-life Eras Tour, Swift has found herself, yet again, grappling with the double-edged sword of overexposure. But amidst the clamor, TTPD stands high and mighty, offering some of Swift’s most inventive and introspective work to date. I can’t help but buy into the theatrical flair and absurdity of tracks like “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?,” while the richly produced Jack Antonoff cuts (“Fresh Out the Slammer” and “The Black Dog,” among others) prove that the alchemy between Swift and Antonoff remains untouchable. Ultimately, TTPD’s finest moments occur as Swift broods and breaks down on “Guilty as Sin?”: a slow-burn that plunges listeners into the depths of the Blue Nile while shining through as a career-defining masterpiece.
Ultimately, the world is just a little bit tired of Swift, and honestly, I can’t blame them. Imagine feeling lukewarm about a musician, only to watch as she cements herself as the defining artist of the 21st century. So yes, a good chunk of TTPD’s criticism has been warranted (even a die-hard fan like myself can admit that we probably didn’t need 31 brand new songs). However, my Firebird comrades have, in many ways, fallen victim to the hate train fueled by overexposure, dismissing the album’s merits too quickly. And as Miss Swift’s most loyal soldier, I’m crowning TTPD as my album of the year—not because it’s perfect, but because it’s a testament to what Swift does best: making the personal feel universal.”
Alia Smith, Managing Editor
Charli xcx — BRAT
Waxahatchee — Tigers Blood
MJ Lenderman — Manning Fireworks
Geordie Greep — The New Sound
Nilüfer Yanya — My Method Actor
Adrianne Lenker — Bright Future
Mk.gee — Two Star & The Dream Police
Xiu Xiu — 13” Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips
Sega Bodega — Dennis
Nala Sinephero — Endlessness
“Charli xcx has always been fascinated by the phenomenon that is pop stardom. A quick glance at her discography reveals an embrace of both left-field experimentation and the mainstream spotlight, a duality she has maintained for over a decade. Somewhere in between these two extremes, BRAT feels like a natural culmination of past projects, paying homage to the club scene where Charli got her start and capitalizing on the widespread nostalgia for early aughts party culture. As that conspicuously vivid shade of green grew increasingly impossible to avoid, it was clear that the record’s tremendous response stemmed from something deeper than simply soundtracking the certified party girl anthems of the summer. Rather, the candor and vulnerability of its lyrics—which swing from stunning displays of bravado in one moment to crushing self-doubt in the next, and which capture the conflicting relationship dynamics familiar to us all—renders an emotional complexity that touched a nerve in listeners everywhere. All things considered, the collective experience of BRAT was one of head-bopping body-rocking catharsis, cementing its place in music history and establishing Charli xcx as an iconic figure within the current cultural zeitgeist.”
Kristen Wallace, Executive Editor
NxWorries — Why Lawd?
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Future & Metro Boomin — WE DON'T TRUST YOU
Magdalena Bay — Imaginal Disk
Vince Staples — Dark Times
Freddie Gibbs — You Only Die 1nce
MAVI — shadowbox
KAYTRANADA — TIMELESS
Ayra Starr — The Year I Turned 21
“NxWorries (‘No Worries’ for the uninitiated) is the stage name for the duo of Knxwledge, a producer known for soulful chops, and Anderson .Paak, a multi-hyphenate who never does the same thing twice in a row. These two worked together seamlessly on 2016’s Yes Lawd!, which begs the question: could a sequel live up to the original? Actually, it’s even better. Why Lawd? is the moody, phone-on-do-not-disturb counterpart to the laid-back grooves of Yes Lawd!. The bitterness of ‘KeepHer’ (‘You said you needed peace, then spent the week in Greece/Phone off, you said you was sleep/I know you was gettin’ ya cheeks beat, bitch!’) distills the ethos of this project: .Paak trying to project confidence when it just isn’t there. Filing for divorce after 13 years of marriage will do that to you. Bitter isn’t a word I would use to describe almost any of Anderson .Paak’s catalog, and that’s why Why Lawd? stuck with me so much in 2024.”
Jake Harvey, Copy Editor
The Smile — Wall of Eyes
Mk.gee — Two Star & The Dream Police
Jack White — No Name
JPEGMAFIA — I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
Don Toliver — HARDSTONE PSYCHO
The Smile — Cutouts
Yeat — 2093
Beyoncé — COWBOY CARTER
“Even if The Smile isn’t altogether new, Wall of Eyes marks their most definitive break from Radiohead yet, outshining their debut and standing as a wondrous work that will enchant, haunt, and charm you at will. The album is at times volatile and at others subtle. It is both astonishingly detailed and effortlessly fluid. It is among Yorke and Greenwood’s best work since In Rainbows, and yet Yorke said that the band wrote and composed 'Read the Room,’ ‘Friend of a Friend,’ and ‘Bending Hectic’ in three days while touring their debut album. It is a masterpiece and we should all be grateful to the trio for shedding the excesses of Radiohead to share their unfiltered genius with us.”
Eric Harwood, Treasurer
Magdalena Bay — Imaginal Disk
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
The Cure — Songs of a Lost World
Mount Eerie — Night Palace
Godspeed You! Black Emperor — “NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD”
Maruja — Connla’s Well - EP
Quadeca — SCRAPYARD
MJ Lenderman — Manning Fireworks
Adrianne Lenker — Bright Future
Dillom — Por cesáre
“Matt and Mica must have developed inter-dimensional travel since they tore up Harper Courtyard in 2023. How else can you explain this? Every song feels like a hit from two dimensions over, the mix so delicate that if you dropped your phone, the entire track might scatter into pieces. Somehow, they seem to have perfected the craft of songwriting—it feels as though they can now see every musical timeline. That would explain the astounding warmth they’ve created: every bass stabilizes, every string section sweeps, and every synth sails effortlessly above the clouds. On my first listen, I was convinced that each song was the best, only to be proven wrong with the next track. By the second listen, I was amazed at how many choruses I had already memorized. It’s a herculean feat of both songwriting and quality control that the eight track run from ‘Image’ to ‘That's My Floor’ even exists, and even more astounding that it can be accessed for free. The crystal cocoon of Magdalena has officially shattered and flowered into a sonic butterfly.”
Joyce Zhang, Layout Director
RM — Right Place, Wrong Person
Ariana Grande — eternal sunshine
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n’ Sweet
Billie Eillish — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Evan Call — Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Original Soundtrack)
j-hope — HOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1
Halsey — The Great Impersonator
Rosé — rosie
Clairo — Charm
“Maturing is stanning someone for their music rather than their looks. As a long time K-pop fan, I cannot stress enough that RM’s album cannot be defined by the limits of K-pop. It was the most coherent and reflective album package of the ones on the list. He keeps surprising me with new and innovative songs with witty and meaningful lyrics. A 6 and half minute lead single in this day and age? We really stan a king.”
Taylor Pate, Creative Director
Amyl and The Sniffers — Cartoon Darkness
The Marías — Submarine
Erika de Casier — Still
Bladee — Cold Visions
Bassvictim — Basspunk
The Hellp — LL
Clairo — Charm
ian — Goodbye Horses
Loukeman — Sd-2
Porches — Shirt
“Amyl and The Sniffers came in swinging with another feel good, powerful album. A guaranteed pick me up regardless of the situation.”
Sally North, Social Media Director
Glass Animals — I Love You So F***ing Much
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
Charli xcx — BRAT
The Cure — Songs Of A Lost World
Cindy Lee — Diamond Jubilee
Clairo — Charm
Magdalena Bay — Imaginal Disk
John Summit — Comfort in Chaos
Beyoncé — COWBOY CARTER
Laura Marling — Patterns In Repeat
“Have you ever had your heart broken, fallen in love, had a crush, or even just a hint of butterflies in your stomach? This album explores every facet of what it means to be in love. Maybe it’s because it came out at a particularly vulnerable point in my life and reminds me of everything I loved about their previous albums and has sonic similarity to Tame Impala, but I love this album so f***ing much. ”
Nic Restivo, Social Media Director
Geordie Greep — The New Sound
MJ Lenderman — Manning Fireworks
Cameron Winter — Heavy Metal
Mount Eerie — Night Palace
Magdalena Bay — Imaginal Disk
Xiu Xiu — 13” Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips
JPEGMAFIA — I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Adrianne Lenker — Bright Future
Bonny Light Horsemen — Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free
“The New Sound is unmarked territory for Black Midi's former frontman Geordie Greep. The lyrics are cynically absurd, delusional to the maximum. The ridiculous lyricism is no obstacle to instrumentally bonkers tracks that blew me away on first listen. It really seems as if all synapses were firing away during this entire album process, and this work highlights just how bonkers Greep's creative abilities are, and now completely free to do as he pleases, we can only look forward to whats to come.”
Alyssa Manthi, Outreach Director
Beabadoobee — This is How Tomorrow Moves
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n’ Sweet
Charli xcx — BRAT
The Marías — Submarine
Childish Gambino — Atavista
Mk.gee — Two Star & the Dream Police
Magdalena Bay — Imaginal Disk
Lizzy McAlpine — Older
Remi Wolf — Big Ideas
Ravyn Lenae — Bird’s Eye
“I took a heinous number of flights this past year. As I flew back and forth across the Atlantic, This is How Tomorrow Moves was the only album I wanted to listen to. Bea has never been a powerhouse vocalist, and yet, her gentle, melodious voice shines in every song. However, don’t mistake her simplicity for dullness. From the first track to the last, Bea’s emotional journey completely envelops you. Each song is a unique experience, addressing a concern I had with her earlier work that primarily focused on the anxiety and insecurities of growing up. However, This is How Tomorrow Moves is assertive. She knows who she is, and I think we ought to listen.”
Alexander Malm, Editor
The Cure — Songs of A Lost World
Charli xcx — BRAT
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Vampire Weekend — Only God Was Above Us
Laura Marling — Patterns in Repeat
Porter Robinson — SMILE! :D
Meaningful Stone — Angel Interview
Beyoncé — COWBOY CARTER
Vylet Pony — Girls Who Are Wizards
Cicada — Coastland Revisited (A Remake of Select Pieces)
“The Cure hasn’t released an album since 2008. On the controversial Shows of a Lost World tour after the pandemic, they performed new songs, but despite the promise of a new album, a couple years have passed with no release. Now, the much-anticipated Songs Of A Lost Word is out, and it’s even better than most fans could have ever hoped.”
Amishi Gupta, Editor
Ariana Grande — eternal sunshine (slightly deluxe)
P1Harmony — Killin' It
Way Ched — BLEND
keshi — Requiem
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n' Sweet
ENHYPEN — Romance: Untold
Kiana Ledé — Cut Ties
JUNNY — dopamine
slchld — APOLOGY
NIKI — Buzz
“eternal sunshine is an album which permits not a single skip. Each song is captivating in its own right, demanding that you listen and give it your full attention…which is exactly what I did everyday for the four months following this release, making Ariana Grande my top artist of the year. Start to finish, eternal sunshine explores almost every emotion and thought one may have when falling in and out of love. I found her vulnerability incredibly heart-touching. She shares her stories of navigating love through a combination of upbeat pop tracks and gentler r&b songs, my favourites being “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” and “supernatural (with Troye Sivan).” eternal sunshine (slightly deluxe) offers collaborations with Troye Sivan and Mariah Carey with whom Ariana Grande’s voice complements wonderfully. Grande’s voice is just remarkable, and I think with eternal sunshine, she showed a slightly new side of it to us. The album, in one sitting, evokes forms of yearning, clarity and hope—is that not so powerful? Whether you’re singing your heart out or on the verge of tears, eternal sunshine is truly an album straight from the soul.”
Annie Debreu, Writer
Berlioz — open this wall
L’Impératrice — Pulsar
Billie Eilish — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Charli xcx — BRAT
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
Taylor Swift — THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT
“Open This Wall is my favorite album because of how Berlioz blends genres, especially how he mixes jazz with modern elements like electronic. The way he layers soulful improvisation with house feels fresh and unpredictable. It’s like every track reinvents itself.”
Arianna Lafontant, Writer
Lizzy McAlpine — Older
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Doja Cat — Scarlet 2 CLAUDE
Ariana Grande — eternal sunshine
Billie Eilish — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Ravyn Lenae — Bird’s Eye
Sabrina Carpenter: Short n’ Sweet
Doechii — Alligator Bites Never Heal
Amelia Moore — he’s just not that into you!
Charli xcx — Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat
“Older is a musical masterpiece from start to finish. McAlpine takes us on a journey through a relationship filled with love, strife, heartbreak, and everything in between. It is beautifully composed, with unique melodies and instruments, and of course her amazing voice. Watching McAlpine recreate each track with her band live is an experience I will never forget. She shows us both her prowess as a lyricist and the strength it takes to be so vulnerable in your art. This soft, indie folk album exhibits talent like no other, and was certainly the highlight of 2024 in music.”
Brandin Moore, Layout & Photography
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Don Toliver — HARDSTONE PSYCHO
Future & Metro Boomin — WE DON'T TRUST YOU
Childish Gambino — Atavista
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
Doechii — Alligator Bites Never Heal
Billie Eilish — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n' Sweet
Gunna — one of wun
Charli xcx — BRAT
Charlotte Littlefield, Writer, Art, & Layout
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings — Woodland
Mannequin Pussy — I Got Heaven
Shenseea — Never Gets Late Here
Ekko Astral — Pink Balloons
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Laura Marling — Patterns In Repeat
Adrianne Lenker — Bright Future
Jake Bugg — A Modern Day Distraction
MJ Lenderman — Manning Fireworks
Knocked Loose — You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To
“In March 2020, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings found themselves in a tornado, the roof ripped from their Nashville studio, nearly destroying their masters, their demos, and their life’s work. Four years later, the pair has rebuilt, but not without sadness and sorrow. Woodland, named for their musical home, walks all paths of life: “Here Stands A Woman” stands before a mirror as a beautiful picture of aging and “Howdy Howdy” praises the unrelentless love between the pair. The duo’s effortless Americana—the soft hypnotism of Rawlings’ guitar paired with the gentle grit of Welch’s voice—finds itself more stripped than usual, but no less refined and powerful. With instruments in their hands and songs in their hearts, Welch and Rawlings not only remind us of what we had, but help us find what we may have again.”
David Hall, Writer
Allie X — Girl With No Face
Joanna Wang — Hotel la Rut
Friko — Where we've been, Where we go from here
3776 — The Birth and Death of the Universe Through Mount Fuji
This Is The Glasshouse — 867
Magdalena Bay — Imaginal Disk
glass beach — plastic death
Halsey — The Great Impersonator
Juliana Gattas — Maquillada en la cama
Bladee — Cold Visions
To me, Girl With No Face sounds like what pop music in the 80s could have been, driven by uncanny coldwave acts and icy Kraftwerk types. It's an alternative look back on the decade that glamorizes its underbelly, turning alienating lyrics and cold synth lines into grooves that are so damn inviting that you can't help but wanna dance with somebody anyway. A thrilling misanthropy links these tracks together, as do incredible vocal performances—Girl With No Face is just as much an ode to the very weird and very real 80s as it is a gothic dance floor fantasy.
Favorite Tracks: "Weird World," "Galina," "Bon Voyage"
David Lara, Writer
Leon Thomas — MUTT
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Billie Eilish — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Future & Metro Boomin — WE DON'T TRUST YOU
Blxst — I'll Always Come Find You
Vince Staples — Dark Times
SZA — SOS Deluxe: LANA
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
Don Toliver — HARDSTONE PSYCHO
KAYTRANADA — TIMELESS
Dawn Heatherly, Editor
KAYTRANADA — TIMELESS
Doechii — Alligator Bites Never Heal
Mura Masa — Curve 1
Beyoncé — COWBOY CARTER
Tyla — TYLA
Charli xcx — BRAT
The Last Dinner Party — Prelude to Ecstasy
Ravyn Lenae — Bird's Eye
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n' Sweet
Roy Blair — Chasing Moving Trains
“When I stopped to think of albums from 2024, I kept coming back to TIMELESS. Kaytranada's third studio album is just that: "classic, timeless." The record is 63 minutes of the producer at his best, seamlessly flowing from R&B to electronic to hip hop to pop and somehow having 15 featured artists all on one cohesive project. Cuts like "Weird" with Durand Bernarr and "Witchy" with Childish Gambino are fantastic additions to Kaytra's catalog, and "Snap My Finger" gave the people another dreamy PinkPantheress hit. Sure, this album was made for the summer, but it's one of the best of 2024 because it's always the right time to press play on a project as fresh as TIMELESS.”
Ece Tumer, Writer & Layout
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Nia Archives — Silence is Loud
Fred again.. — ten days
Berlioz — open this wall
Clairo — Charm
Charli xcx — BRAT
Kali Uchis — ORQUÍDEAS
Dominic File — 14 minutes
Declan McKenna — What Happened to the Beach?
Neon Pill — Cage the Elephant
“GNX is like that avocado that you buy from the store reduced and it turns out to be perfectly ripe.”
Eliana Schiller, Writer & Art
Aoife O’Donovan — All My Friends
Rema — Heis
Kaia Kater — Strange Medicine
Gillian Welch — Woodland
Doechii — Alligator Bites Never Heal
Nala Sinephro — Endlessness
Fievel Is Glauque — Rong Weicknes
Thee Sacred Souls — Got a Story to Tell
Vince Staples — Dark Times
Chief Keef — Almighty So 2
“A couple years ago, I was lucky enough to be a vocalist on Aoife O’Donovan’s All My Friends. Maybe that makes me a little biased, but either way, this bluegrassy Americana album certainly isn’t one to miss. Aoife’s vocals are refreshing, flying effortlessly through intricately complex melodies with unbelievable rhythmic precision. While resonant, her voice has a slightly breathy timbre, complimenting arpeggiated fiddle lines and bright, brassy horns perfectly. Written as a tribute to the passage of the 19th Amendment, All My Friends is undeniably American Folk. Yet Aoife brings a modern spark to the genre, putting her own spin on bluegrass in a masterful and captivating way.”
Eloise Stoddard, Layout
Gracie Abrams — The Secret of Us
Billie Eilish — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Sza — SOS Deluxe: LANA
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Taylor Swift — THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n’ Sweet
Role Model — Kansas Anymore
Charli xcx — BRAT
Beyoncé — COWBOY CARTER
Ariana Grande — eternal sunshine
Evgenia Anastasakos, Writer
MJ Lenderman — Manning Fireworks
Jessica Pratt — Here in the Pitch
Cindy Lee — Diamond Jubilee
Waxahatchee — Tiger's Blood
Xiu Xiu — 13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips
Godspeed You! Black Emperor — NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD
Laura Marling — Patterns in Repeat
Clairo — Charm
Mount Eerie — Night Palace
Hovvdy — Hovvdy
“When MJ Lenderman sang "Every catholic knows he could've been pope" to a crowd assembled in Thalia Hall this past October, a group of teenage boys began screaming, jumping along to the music as they started their own mini-mosh pit. Manning Fireworks is witty, deadpan, and maybe a little pathetic sometimes. Still, through all the lyrics about Lightning McQueen, Guitar Hero, and the "Himbo Dome," Lenderman remains sincere. Listen to this album when you're feeling like a loser but have a sense of humor about it.”
Jackson Driver, Writer
Speed — Only One Mode
IDLES — TANGK
The Smile — Wall of Eyes
Haywire — CONDITIONED FOR DEMOLITION
Jack White — No Name
High Vis — Guided Tour
The Chisel — What a Fucking Nightmare
Knocked Loose — You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To
Amyl and the Sniffers — Cartoon Darkness
Gatecreeper — Dark Superstition
“Hardcore had one hell of a year. In a world awash with uncertainty, the thundering and high-octane nature of Hardcore provides a release not likely to be found elsewhere. Even with all of its successes this year, Speed's Only One Mode proved to be an album that opened up the pit over and over again. With an endless supply of riffs, mosh calls, and the famous flute breakdown, Only One Mode is an incredible album from a band that will only continue to impress.”
Jordyn Smith, Writer
Magdalena Bay — Imaginal Disk
Charli xcx — BRAT
Clairo — Charm
Fontaines D.C. — Romance
The Marías — Submarine
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n’ Sweet
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
Ravyn Lenae — Bird’s Eye
Lizzy McAlpine — Older (and Wiser)
beabadoobee — This Is How Tomorrow Moves
JP Moreno, Layout
Joel Ross — Nublues
Out of/Into — Motion I
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
NxWorries — Why Lawd?
Vince Staples — Dark Times
Charles Lloyd — The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
WILLOW — empathogen
ScHoolboy Q — BLUE LIPS
IDK — BRAVADO+INTiMO
“Joel Ross, the 29 year old Blue Note signed vibraphonist from Chicago, released my favorite record of the year for his original and authentic take on modern jazz. The moody and swinging album incorporates both respected standards and originals with a hip-hop feel. John Coltrane’s “central park west” is a standout of the album including a sophisticated and free-wheeling vibraphone solo by Ross. Rising star Immanuel Wilkins, featured on alto-saxophone, brings his own impassioned voice. If you want to know what jazz sounds like in the 21st century, check this album out.”
Justin Walgren, Editor
Beyoncé — COWBOY CARTER
Suki Waterhouse — Memoir of a Sparklemuffin
Taylor Swift — THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY
Billie Eilish — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
KAYTRANADA — TIMELESS
Tyla — TYLA
Leon Bridges — Leon
Ariana Grande — eternal sunshine
Brittany Howard — What Now
Kacey Musgraves — Deeper Well: Deeper into the Well
“I doubt the millions of people who vehemently reject the categorization of COWBOY CARTER as a country album realize that they’re ironically speaking to the album’s strengths rather than its weaknesses. True, only a handful of its songs are one-hundred-percent faithful to the genre of country. The rest dabble in classic rock, rhythm and blues, gospel, soul, funk, and even hip hop. But the product is neither aimless nor jarring as its critics would have you believe. All of these musical traditions are united by a common origin within the Black community, and Beyoncé samples them all to walk us through the story of her musical upbringing. COWBOY CARTER offers both sweeping ballads that narrate generational struggles and more intimate folk songs that speak to Beyonce’s personal experiences within those struggles. There are also dance tunes, romantic duets, a capella interludes, an opera solo, cameo appearances from country and rock icons, and so much more. COWBOY CARTER is a masterful, postmodern musical epic that uses country music as a medium for deconstructing and reorienting our understanding of American musical history.”
Lauren Moskal, Writer
Maggie Rogers — Don’t Forget Me
Role Model — Kansas Anymore
Noah Kahan — Stick Season (Forever)
Leon Bridges — Leon
Lizzy McAlpine — Older (and Wiser)
Peach Pit — Every Little Thing
Suki Waterhouse — Memoir of a Sparklemuffin
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
Taylor Swift — THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENTS
Childish Gambino — Bando Stone and the New World
“Don't Forget Me is one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard. Rogers, in early April of this year released this Indie Folk album after her previous album, Surrender. Surrender was nowhere near as strong as her debut album (according to the public), but So Sick of Dreaming was her comeback. The fun, loving guitar mixed with her insane vocals gave this album no skips. Hearing the music now, months later—-even in frigid Chicago—simply takes me back to that warm April with the windows down in my car, laughing and singing to Maggie Rogers' perfect album.”
Levi Simon, Editor
Ka — The Thief Next to Jesus
Nala Sinephro — Endlessness
MIKE & Tony Seltzer — Pinball
Xiu Xiu — 13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto With Bison Horn Grips
Mount Eerie — Night Palace
Loukeman — Sd-2
Fievel is Glauque — Rong Weickne
Adrianne Lenker — Bright Future
Aoife O'Donovan — All My Friends
Chief Keef — Almighty So 2
“‘Can end quick, treasure friendship, 'cause it's beautiful/I know that evil cause I lost some people that were beautiful.’ Rest in peace Ka.”
Luca Bigler, Writer
Mount Eerie — Night Palace
Magdalena Bay — Imaginal Disk
Beth Gibbons — Lives Outgrown
The Smile — Cutouts
Fontaines D.C. — Romance
Geordie Greep — The New Sound
Klaus Johann Grobe — lo tu il toro
IDLES — TANGK
Xiu Xiu — 13” Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips
Future Islands — People Who Aren’t There Anymore
“Night Palace evokes the imagery of planting your bare feet in untouched soil. It’s Phil Elverum’s personal statement, a bare expression of an evolved psyche fully in tune with nature. Indie rock, meditative ambient and even moments of thrash metal all coalesce in this massive project to create a foundation upon which a cry for human decolonization is expressed. Night Palace is a uniquely monumental effort, the likes of which we will likely not see from another artist for years to come.”
Madison Esrey, Editor
Charli xcx — BRAT
Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor — Challengers
Adrianne Lenker — Bright Future
Doechii — Alligator Bites Never Heal
Charli xcx — Brat and it's completely different but also still brat
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Beyoncé — COWBOY CARTER
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n’ Sweet
Ariana Grande — eternal sunshine
Childish Gambino — Bando Stone and the New World
“It's brat.”
Mark Kamulegeya, Writer
Ariana Grande — eternal sunshine
Tinashe — Quantum Baby
Tyla — TYLA
Magdalena Bay — Imaginal Disk
Charli xcx — BRAT
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n' Sweet
Beyoncé — COWBOY CARTER
Billie Eilish — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Dua Lipa — Radical Optimism
Normani — DOPAMINE
“Leave it to Miss Grande to come back with a banger of an album after everyone was ready to chop away at her because of cheating allegations. eternal sunshine is thank u next's sister as in both albums are introspective and find Ariana Grande making sense of complex situations. I really enjoy this album because not only is its concept focused and well executed but also Grande sounds her best ever vocally.”
Marley Pileggi, Writer
Khruangbin — A LA SALA
Rema — Heis
Peso Pluma — Éxodo
Jack White — No Name
Zach Bryan — The Great American Bar Scene
Mabe Fratti — Sentir Que No Sabes
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
JPEGMAFIA — I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU
Jessica Pratt — Here in the Pitch
Klô Pelgag — Abracadabra
“For me there are only really three criteria I care about when choosing my AOTY: Enjoyment, Replayability, and Innovation. Personally, I liked A LA SALA more than any other album this year. I thought it expanded on what Khruangbin has done well in the past while incorporating some new elements. I always find downtempo to have a lot of replay value, so by the nature of the genre, it gets points for that. Khruangbin is miles above everyone else in their field in terms of consistency, creativity, and overall quality. A LA SALA is a continuation of this dominance that I found myself going back to throughout the year. It is perfect to study to, to play during a cool night drive, or to play for your parents if you don't want to scare them with your more deep-cut music taste. Sure, you might get a funny look if you say your AOTY was from a band called Khruangbin, but that's a look I'm not afraid to receive.”
Noah Crutchfield, Writer
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Freddie Gibbs — You Only Die 1nce
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
JPEGMAFIA — I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU
Magdalena Bay — Imaginal Disk
ScHoolboy Q — BLUE LIPS
Don Toliver — HARDSTONE PSYCHO
Denzel Curry — KING OF THE MISCHIEVOUS SOUTH
Future & Metro Boomin — WE DON'T TRUST YOU
Vince Staples — Dark Times
“2024 was the year of Lamar. His spree of surprise releases during the first half of the year was yet again reinforced by the release of GNX in late November. Blending Lamar's signature lyricism and word play with infectious West Coast beats, GNX presents yet another evolution in the artistry of Lamar. Largely absent is the deeply vulnerable man from 2022's Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers—save for a few reflective deep cuts like “man at the garden“ and “heart pt. 6”—replaced by a man who is uncompromising in both his love for his culture and hatred for anyone who stands in his way. This project is a magnificent tribute to Southern Californian and West Coast hip hop.”
Obi Ukomadu, Writer
The Smile — Wall of Eyes
Charli xcx — BRAT
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
JPEGMAFIA — I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU
Mount Erie — Night Palace
Zach Bryan — The Great American Bar Scene
Geordie Greep — The New Sound
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMOKOPIA
Laura Marling — Patterns in Repeat
Father John Misty — Mahashmashana
Roxane Bushofsky, Writer
Vampire Weekend — Only God Was Above Us
MJ Lenderman — Manning Fireworks
Cage The Elephant — Neon Pill
Olivia Rodrigo — GUTS (spilled)
Chappell Roan — The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
The Voidz — Like All Before You
Adrienne Lenker — Bright Future
The Last Dinner Party — Prelude to Ecstasy
Yung Lean & Bladee — Psykos
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
“Who doesn't love a little bit of social commentary colored with school-days nostalgia? Their first new album since 2019, Only God Was Above Us scratches Vampire Weekend lovers' itch in the best way. A mix of both Modern Vampires of the City-esque upbeat tracks and Contra-type slow jams, with some unique techno flare as well, Only God Was Above Us is a beautiful showcase of Vampire Weekend's talents.”
Samuel Espinal, Jr., Editor
Ariana Grande — eternal sunshine
Charli xcx — BRAT
Doechii — Alligator Bites Never Heal
KAYTRANADA — TIMELESS
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Billie Eilish — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Ravyn Lenae — Bird's Eye
Gracie Abrams — The Secret of Us
FLO — Access All Areas
Lizzy McAlpine — Older
“For moments where you’ve lost yourself and it feels like you can’t do anything right, Ariana Grande offers a lifeline: eternal sunshine. Ariana Grande’s honest introspection reveals the need for mindset shift and being your top supporter. It’s being honest with yourself, rolling with the punches, and getting back up. We’ve focused too much on the opinions of others that we can’t answer a simple question: Who am I? And as always, she bests herself vocally with each project. Thank you Ariana—this album was exactly what we needed.”
Sha Frasier, Former Editor-in-Chief
Charli xcx — BRAT
Cindy Lee — Diamond Jubilee
Vampire Weekend — Only God Was Above Us
454 — Casts of a Dreamer
Magdalena Bay — Imaginal Disk
DJ Anderson do Paraiso — Queridão
MJ Lenderman — Manning Fireworks
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Adrianne Lenker — Bright Future
Geordie Greep — The New Sound
Sydney Cook, Editor
Beyoncé — COWBOY CARTER
Charli xcx — BRAT
Kendrick Lamar — GNX
Leon Thomas — MUTT
Doechii — Alligator Bites Never Heal
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n' Sweet
WILLOW — empathogen
Kali Uchis — ORQUÍDEAS
KAYTRANADA — TIMELESS
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
Tanaya Vohra, Writer, Website, & Art
Ayra Starr — The Year I Turned 21
Tyla — TYLA+
Zara Larsson — Venus
Tayc — HÉRITAGE
Tems — Born in the Wild
PARTYNEXTDOOR — PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4)
Lucky Daye — Algorithm
FLO — Access All Areas (Unlocked)
Odeal — Lustropolis
Dua Lipa — Radical Optimism
Toby Chan, Photography
Charli XCX — BRAT
Sabrina Carpenter — Short n' Sweet
The Marías — Submarine
Billie Eilish — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Father John Misty — Mahashmashana
Will Vanman, Writer & Art
Ginger Root — SHINBANGUMI
Hiatus Kaiyote — Love Heart Cheat Code
NxWorries — Why Lawd?
Louis Cole — Nothing
Vulfmon — Dot
Pearl & The Oysters — Planet Pearl
Tyler, The Creator — CHROMAKOPIA
Doechii — Alligator Bites Never Heal
KAYTRANADA — TIMELESS
Yo Gabba Gabba — Yo Gabba GabbaLand! (Season 1)
“This year delivered some of the strongest music releases arguably this decade, but SHINBANGUMI stood out as the album I kept returning to. LA-based indie band Ginger Root's newest project features a culmination of city pop-inspired soul developed over their previous EPs, Nisemono and City Slicker. Although short in runtime, the album brims with creativity and passion, blending irresistibly catchy, sleek, retro-yet-fresh lo-fi funk ear candy with an ambitious interconnected music video plot. It’s been a pleasure to watch Ginger Root build such a strong catalog over the past few years, and I can’t wait to see where they go next.”
edited by Joseph Mooney, Editor-in-Chief, & Kristen Wallace, Copy Editor.
collage by Joseph Mooney.
album artwork believed to belong to either the publisher of the work or the artist.
