2024 is at its end — at least, in terms of new music. While there might be some December albums worth checking out, the final months are usually pretty dry in terms of music releases due to the holiday season’s monopolization of the radio. It’s been an amazing year for music — some of my favorite albums of the decade came out, pop music thrived, as did rap, metal, and overall there were pretty much great albums coming out consistently every week. The only downside of this music boom is that I’ve had to leave many great albums off of my top 10 albums of 2024 list. It was difficult to narrow down my favorites into just 10, so much so that I will include a few honorable mentions that got squeezed out of my top 10 at the end of the year. Whether or not we agree on the best albums of the year, we can all agree that music is wonderful, and a lot of great music released in 2024.
Honorable Mentions:
“POST HUMAN: NeX GEn” by Bring Me The Horizon
This album has some of my most-played songs of the year, and many that I’ll keep in heavy rotation for years to come. Bring Me The Horizon is a band I have a certain fondness for since they were one of the bands that introduced me to metal when I was in high school, and this record is a lot of fun. At times, the production choices and lyrics can be questionable, and there are some misses on this album for sure, but also lots of catchy melodies and really fun radio metal.
“CHROMAKOPIA” by Tyler, The Creator
The long-awaited follow-up to “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST” delivered on the hype, with Tyler flexing his production, rapping, and self-analysis across the record. I think “Like Him” and “Thought I Was Dead” are two of his best tracks to date. It is not my favorite record of his, simply because Tyler has so many great records, but it stands strong in his consistently fantastic album streak that began with 2016’s “Flower Boy.”
“GNX” by Kendrick Lamar
2024 was a huge year for Kendrick, with the beef between him and Drake taking up much of the music conversation when it was playing out earlier this year. Personally, while that was a wild spectacle, I’m glad to be able to talk about Kendrick outside of that context, since the discussion around the beef got way too played out and annoying.
The surprise release of “GNX” was great, and the music met the hype in my opinion, with crisp production and slick bangers from the beginning to the end of the album. I saw some people disappointed that this record lacked the ambitious scope and intense self-reflection of albums like “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers” or “To Pimp A Butterfly,” but Kendrick making an album of songs that bump in the car is really exciting, and admittedly it was cool to listen to a Kendrick album that didn’t require numerous listens to unravel. I thought this was a surefire entry on my Top 10 list, but it was outdone by another album released on the same day.And without further ado … my top 10 albums of 2024.
- “Umbilical” by Thou
I was not at all familiar with Thou before this year, and they managed to blow me away with one of the most punishing and nasty metal records I have heard in a while. Avalanches of guitar are kept from collapsing by tight drum work that keeps up and constantly switches the pace. High shrieks blare over the instrumental din like sharp bursts of static. An oppressive but engaging combination of sludge and doom metal that manages to keep up a lot of variety. One of the best metal records of the year, against a lot of stiff competition.
- “BRAT” by Charli xcx
Pretty easily my favorite pop record of the year (although Billie Eilish came close), BRAT is probably the release that 2024 will remember the most. Through a combination of memes, marketing, and the genuine quality of the record, it was the most-talked-about album of the year, even if you didn’t listen to it, you heard about it. It dominated the music zeitgeist in a way that few albums have.
The mix of electrifying production and thumping beats paired with lyrics that range from self-love to self-doubt makes for an emotional and danceable ride with lots of surprising moments. In a year where it felt like a blockbuster pop release dropped every other week, BRAT outshines the rest with its production, songwriting, and taste.
- “Absolute Elsewhere” by Blood Incantation
“Absolute Elsewhere’s” combination of throwback psych rock, progressive death metal, and Berlin School (an early genre of electronic music developed in the 1970s) made for a fascinating genre blend. If you love bands like Pink Floyd and have been looking for a gateway into metal, this album is a must-listen. Spiraling synths combine with mind-blowing riffage to make for a spacey and exciting journey. There’s an almost campy element to it, tapping into such a retro space that it almost begins to become cheesy, but the technical proficiency and details in the composition keep it from crossing the line into a gimmick. Truly my favorite death metal release this year, and one I think is worth checking out, even if you’re not a fan of the genre.
- “Night Palace” by Mount Eerie
Singer-songwriter Phil Elverum’s eleventh release under the Mount Eerie name is, in a word, spell-binding. Like his best records, he creates a natural-feeling safe haven for the listener, an escape from the drudgery of life, somehow doing this while simultaneously lamenting personal emotions, global genocides, and the possibility of decolonization. It’s a long album, certainly a listen that asks a lot for one sitting, but one that I find endlessly rewarding.
The instrumentation is so well-textured and immersive, and Elverum’s signature rambling style of singing tells of a man with a lot on his mind. Despite the numerous songs, heavy subject matter, and often 5-plus minute song lengths, I found this album a comforting and well-paced listen. If you’re not into indie folk, it may not be rewarding at first, but there is a lot to unpack among layers and layers of beauty and poignancy. Give it a shot, and expect to need multiple listens to appreciate its full scale.
- “Mahashmashana” by Father John Misty
Here it is — the album that knocked Kendrick down to an “honorable mention.” I’ve enjoyed most of what I’ve heard from Father John Misty, and would definitely consider myself a fan, but even with my history with his music I was blown away by this release, and I think it’s his best.
Reaching back into the best singer-songwriter music of the 70s, Josh Tillman (aka Father John Misty) crafts long and luxuriating songs that keep his signature snark while amping up the instrumental beauty and progression.
As much as it draws upon artists of the past for influence, it maintains Tillman’s unique personality and witty social commentary, backed by a gorgeous instrumental palette that helps his pertinent lyrics shine through all the more. The biggest highlight for me is “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All,” a winding song that felt like a timeless classic the first time I heard it. If nothing else, listen to this song, it’s a real treat.
- “NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD” by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed’s big return record comes with an indescribable subject matter. If it’s not abundantly clear from the album’s name- or lack thereof, I suppose- the album is about the many thousands who have been killed in Palestine. The band is no stranger to political messaging in their work, and those familiar with their leftist leanings should not be surprised that the band would make an album like this. Like their previous work, the band makes an emotional, beautiful post-rock journey, but the tone here feels different.
Unlike decidedly grim and apocalyptic releases like “F#A#∞”, this album has a heartbreakingly hopeful tone to it, an uplifting current beneath the incalculable weight of reality. It’s almost like it’s meant to soundtrack a future when the Palestinian people have peace, rebuilding after the cataclysm that they have been through. It’s a hard record to talk about, and incredibly emotional despite being instrumental, bar a few audio recordings. An essential album, but one that weighs heavier than the others on this list.
- “Every Bridge Burning” by Nails
The grindcore legends surpassed my expectations with their latest effort, throwing together a grab bag of other metal subgenres and approaching every track with blistering ferocity. A brief but throttling listen that will shred the ears of the uninitiated but reward seasoned metal fans. Read my full review of the album.
- “SCRAPYARD” by Quadeca
Although it’s not my album of the year, as I expected it to be after being so enamored with it upon release, this record and its strange, ethereal songs already hold a strong place in my heart. The strange genre blends, the mix of organic and electronic instrumental palettes, the excellent songwriting … it’s truly a statement putting Quadeca in his own lane. I eagerly anticipate his upcoming album “Vanisher” — I think it could be his magnum opus. Read my full review of the album here.
- “Cool World” by Chat Pile
Chat Pile’s bleak, nihilistic grooves made for one of the best records I’ve heard this decade. Sludgy riffs, unhinged vocals, and dagger-sharp political commentary that reflects the horrifying nature of humanity with a necessary mirror. A powerful and wonderful work from one of the best bands in the underground rock scene. Read my full review of the album here.
- “You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To” by Knocked Loose
Most likely unsurprising to anyone who has read my previous articles or knows me at all personally, Knocked Loose’s third album is my album of the year. It is metalcore perfection that never lets up for a moment. Knocked Loose have fully established themselves among the canon of metal, titans of heavy music like Converge, Death, and Gojira; pushing the needle for extreme music further with every release.
Read my full review of the album here.
Thanks for reading! Here’s to another great year of music in 2025.
