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Best Albums of 2024

Best Albums of 2024
(Photo courtesy of Spotify)
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish

“BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” “LUNCH,” WILDFLOWER” and “THE GREATEST”. These are just some of the magnificent songs that are in Billie Eilish’s third studio album, “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT.” The album came out on May 17, 2024, and consisted of 10 songs. The tracks all flow together brilliantly with some of the songs even ending with the instrumental parts of the next song. There is a wide range of genres in this album from more pop-forward songs to sad acoustic tracks to electronic. 

The album has received several awards and has been nominated for seven Grammys, including Album of the Year. The album has broken many records and become a favorite among long-time fans of her music as well as new fans. Her song “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” was not a single on this album, but it quickly became one of the more well-known tracks on this album and has even become the most streamed song of 2024 on Spotify. 

This album encompasses all that Billie is and is known for. The songs in this album have some of her best songwriting on it with the powerful and impactful lyrics she uses and the instrumental she puts behind the lyrics. This is one of my favorite albums by her because of how much the album feels like her and her presence. I was also very lucky to see her in concert in early October of 2024 and got to experience these songs live which was one of the best experiences of my life. This album has so many different tracks that offer something to everyone, no matter your taste in music, which is why this is one of the best albums of the year.

(Photo courtesy of Spotify)
(Photo Courtesy of InZAYN)
Room Under the Stairs by Zayn Malik

Plenty of amazing albums came out in 2024, but the best album is “Room Under the Stairs” by Zayn Malik. “Room Under the Stairs” was released on May 17, 2024, and contains 15 songs. 

This album is unlike what we have previously heard from Malik. Malik tends to release R&B music, and this new album leans towards the soulfulness we hear in country music and soft rock. Malik’s voice is compelling and immerses his listeners in his emotions. 

The first song of the album, “Dreamin’,” is a sad song about wasting time on potential dreams. This is a great choice for the opening song because it prepares the listener for the heavy emotions of the album. The last song of the album, “Fuchsia Sea,” is an emotional song about trying to move on from previous struggles to overcome the pain he is feeling. This album is an amazing listen and submerges the audience into many different emotions.

(Photo Courtesy of InZAYN)
"Older" by Lizzy McAlpine
Courtesy of RCA Records
Older by Lizzy McAlpine

Lizzy McAlpine’s “Older” is an album that is layered with countless emotional ballads. Released on April 5, 2024, McAlpine’s work was a hit amongst the youth. This acoustic and folk album serves as a breath of fresh air in a world full of synths and pop music.

The lyrics are where McAlpine shines and shows her talent. She has a way of capturing complicated feelings of love, heartbreak and growing up. Songs like “Older” and “Broken Glass” are honest and vulnerable while “Like It Tends To Do” and “All Falls Down” convey a broken heart. These show McAlpine’s range as both a singer and a storyteller. 

Musically, “Older” strikes a balance between simple arrangements and more complex sounds. The production lets McAlpine’s voice take the spotlight, while the gentle instruments add enough depth to make each song feel complete. It’s the kind of album you can easily get lost in.

With “Older,” McAlpine shows she’s truly found her voice as an artist. The album is a perfect mix of personal and relatable songs. It is one you can listen to over and over, discovering something new each time. If you’re a fan of raw, honest music, “Older” is the album for you.

“Older” by Lizzy McAlpine Courtesy of RCA Records
Photo courtesy of Spotify
Unheard by Hozier

The music artist Hozier largely draws inspiration for his songs from blues, folk and soul, and often focuses on religion and literary themes, as well as making his political and social stances clear through his lyricism. The album he released  this year, “Unheard,” stays consistent with what this artist is passionate about, while also becoming popular in more mainstream media. 

The most well-known song from this album, “Too Sweet,” became No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, and was the reason many people began to dive deeper into Hozier’s other songs as well. While this specific piece is about love and a person’s self-worth, another song in “Unheard,” “Empire Now,” is the artist’s reflection on the independence of his home country Ireland.

Overall, this album as a whole is full of good music, important and relevant themes and shows us meaningful messages if looked at closely enough. These songs have been stuck in my head on repeat and always give me something relaxing to have in the background, which is why this is the best album of 2024.

Photo courtesy of Spotify
Photo Courtesy of Spotify.
Bando Stone and The New World by Childish Gambino

“Bando Stone and The New World” is American rapper and actor Childish Gambino’s sixth and last studio album. The musician’s goodbye album was released on July 19, 2024 and contains 17 songs, all composed of hip-hop, rap, alternative and pop mixed together. Working with and incorporating various genres all in one album and making it sound so amazing truly highlights Gambino’s talents as a musician and his versatility. The release date of this album also makes it a perfect summer album; I had it on repeat as it’s perfect for drives. 

What makes Gambino such a unique artist is that through each of the productions of his albums, he incorporates a specific project along with it to make each song tell a different story, bringing it to life. “Bando Stone and The New World” envisions Gambino as Bando Stone, a singer who is navigating through a post-apolyclictic world – also known as “The New World.” He teams up with a woman and her son to survive against myriads of deadly threats and prehistoric creatures. 

Through each of the songs in the album, the listener is immersed into a world where the music is truly felt. Tracks such as “Survive” and “Cruisin’” include tons of details in both the upbeat and catchy instrumentals and the vocals. I found all the tracks in the album to be very different compared to his previous works as it’s more sci-fi and dark music, while still maintaining his upbeat rhythms. I will always recommend this album to everyone as all the different genres make it a unique and universal listen.

Photo Courtesy of Spotify.
Eternal Sunshine
Courtesy of Republic Records
eternal sunshine by Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande; though seemingly taking a break from music to focus on her part in the highly anticipated “Wicked” movie, surprisingly made room in her busy schedule to release a beautifully heartbreaking album entitled “eternal sunshine.” 

The album covers the events that had occurred after Grande’s last studio release, “positions,” back in 2020. Namely, she delves into her divorce from Dalton Gomez, her healing journey, and her contentious new relationship with her “Wicked” co-star, Ethan Slater.

The album’s 13 tracks tell a story of heartbreak and newfound love, giving listeners a newfound perspective and appreciation for Grande. From her first single release, “yes, and?” she shocked her audience with a new house pop feel and lyrics that addressed the rumors surrounding her love life and body. 

She then went on to release the full album which ranges from empowering feminist anthems like “true story” or “the boy is mine” to more emotional tear-jerkers like “i wish i hated you” and “we can’t be friends (wait for your love).” The versatility displayed by this album further cemented Grande as a pop icon. 

The album, when released on March 8, debuted at number-one on the US Billboard 200 chart. It’s clear that this project, though only having a run time of 35 minutes, was still valued by many and continues to be as this year wraps up.

Eternal Sunshine Courtesy of Republic Records (Kendall Wilson)
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
The Avett Brothers by The Avett Brothers

The studio album titled “The Avett Brothers,” Is a self-titled album from the folk rock band The Avett Brothers. This album shows themes of love and togetherness all while providing its listeners with great music. This nine song album is quite short, but still gives a folkish experience that is worth listening to.

This band has been giving listeners nice acoustic riffs and pleasant strumming for years now, and the songs they make are some of my favorites. This album is a hit, but I feel that it doesn’t get enough recognition. It comes straight from the heart of the band, and the concept of love really stands out. It makes you feel many different emotions such as loneliness, admiration and joy. 

The consistency of this album is amazing and I realized while listening to it for the first time that this band still has a lot to offer. Although not everyone knows this band, I feel like this album could help people realize that this band is worth listening to. That is why it is my choice for album of the year.

Photo Courtesy of Spotify
Courtesy of Warner Records via https://www.maudelatour.com/
Sugar Water by Maude Latour

Maude Latour’s debut album, “Sugar Water,” is a beautiful homage to embracing love and heartbreak in its purest form. Spanning 12 songs and 34 minutes, the album journeys through a turbulent whirlwind of emotions and sounds.

Known among fans for her eclectic sounds and storytelling lyrics, Latour’s debut full-length album will have listeners dancing, crying and jamming (if not all three at once). “Sugar Water” is the perfect addition to Latour’s discography of singles and EPs, whose sounds have remained consistent and hard-hitting. Songs from this project have a variety of sounds, branching the genres of dance and indie pop for an aesthetic auditory appeal.

Notable tracks from the album include “Cruel Romantics” and “Sugar Water,” whose compositions and instrumentals stand out among others in the pop genre. Both experiment with themes of love, yet take the concept in starkly different directions. Whereas romance is infatuated in “Sugar Water,” “Cruel Romantics” focuses on the damaging codependencies of toxic partners.

It’s such a delightfully interesting experience to listen to love, an often-used theme in the music industry, portrayed in a new and unique perspective. While other albums focus solely on the positive or negative aspects of love won and lost, “Sugar Water” exemplifies the nuances of romantic entanglement. As the album suggests, love can simultaneously be happy and sad, fulfilling and empty.

Latour’s debut is a strong addition to her already solid discography. “Sugar Water” rightfully holds the title for best album of 2024.

Courtesy of Warner Records via https://www.maudelatour.com/ (Monroe Huckaby)
Photo Courtesy of Spotify
Brat by Charli XCX

On June 7, Charli XCX released her new album named “Brat,” which had everyone’s heads turning. Most people including myself have first discovered her songs primarily through TikTok with the song “Apple,” where people danced to this song playing over it. This sparked the album as a whole to get the much needed attention it deserved with people having this as one of their top summer albums. 

With the album getting increasingly popular, XCX saw a growth in people knowing her name and past songs she has written. Her music is very upbeat in my opinion and brought about positive vibes with people dancing and just having fun with it. 

Going along with this, XCX released extended versions to her album “Brat,” with others surprised to see who featured in it. The song “Guess,” featured another popular singer named Billie Eilish which made both fans on each side come together to make this song extremely popular. I was shocked when I found this out and listened to the song myself but I thought it added a whole other vibe to the song that made it impossible to get out of my head. 

This popularity made it so XCX could perform concerts to fans with many thinking that she brought a whole new amazing standard to concerts. The concert was described to be almost like a party where people could simply just have fun: something that had been lost before in past concerts. 

She has such passion for her work and shows and I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for the new year.

Photo Courtesy of Spotify
Photo courtesy of Spotify
Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter

You either know her from the hit Disney Channel show “Girl Meets World” or her songs in the album “Emails I Can’t Send,” Sabrina Carpenter has been a complete popstar hit this 2024 year. With launching her single “Espresso” on April 11, Carpenter teased her new album that wouldn’t be coming out till late August. Finally, on August 20, “Short n’ Sweet” was debuted. 

The album displays Carpenter’s experiences with love and her perspectives on dating. Its title refers to the emotional significance of her brief romantic relationships, her short stature and the album’s short runtime. Carpenter describes “Short n’ Sweet” as her second major album, emphasizing that she has full creative control over her music, starting with “Emails I Can’t Send” (2022), her first album released under Island Records.

Apart from the music scene, Carpenter showcases her individuality in the pop world. Her “Short n’ Sweet” album is a perfect expression of femininity, incorporating elements of vintage fashion into her accompanying tour.

To support the album, she launched the “Short n’ Sweet” Tour in September 2024, marking her first arena tour and further establishing her status as a prominent figure in contemporary pop music.

Photo courtesy of Spotify
Bewitched: The Goddess Edition Cover
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Bewitched by Laufey

Laufey’s “Bewitched” is an absolutely enchanting album that was so lovely, it was reworked. Originally dropping on September 8, 2023, the album was reissued on March 6, 2024. This album paved the way for one of her more popular songs, “Goddess.”

“Bewitched” is a collection of jazz and pop ballads, with a total of 14 songs. This album had an iron grip on my day-to-day life, and I would have it on repeat. It inspired my exploration and eventual love for jazz. This would have to be the best album of 2024 because of the captivating lyrics, the haunting melodies and the relatable topics. Some of the most common lyrics in the whole album are love, know and never.

This album was revived for Laufey’s most recent tour, and I could not be more happy about it. One of Laufey’s favorite cited artists is Taylor Swift, and she said “[Taylor Swift] has done for pop and country what I hope to do for jazz.” Overall, I respect her, and greatly appreciate the culture she has cultivated through her music.

Bewitched: The Goddess Edition Cover Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo Courtesy of Republic Records
Found Heaven by Conan Gray

On April 5, Conan Gray released his long-awaited third studio album, “Found Heaven.” This album is an exciting revisitation of 80s pop rock, inspired by artists such as Elton John, David Bowie and Queen. I found it to be a perfect summer album, and a refreshing addition to Gray’s discography. 

The album opens with the title track “Found Heaven,” a song that is both bittersweet and hopeful. My favorite on the album, “Found Heaven” touches the soul as Gray explores complex family dynamics, growing up and self-discovery using his haunting lyrics and vocals. He further dives into ideas of longing, love and heartbreak in his songs “Forever With Me” and “Alley Rose.”

Throughout this album, Gray embraces a new sound, vastly different from that of his albums “Kid Krow” and “Superache.” Gray shocked fans with his vocal range in the album’s leading single, “Never Ending Song,” as he implemented notes lower than he’d ever sung before. Above all, this album makes me want to dance. The 80’s backing effects add pop to every song, especially prevalent in the singles “Killing Me” and “Eye of the Night.” 

I’ve had “Found Heaven” on repeat since its release, and I still haven’t gotten tired of it. Gray’s lyrics and vocals fit any atmosphere, and can bring me joy on the darkest day. For anyone looking for 80’s pop and a good time, “Found Heaven” is a must-listen.

Photo Courtesy of Republic Records (Jackie Regan)
Photo courtesy of Spotify
CHILD OF GOD by Forrest Frank

Forrest Frank, who classifies himself as a Christian contemporary artist, released his newest album titled “CHILD OF GOD” on July 26, 2024. Frank collaborated with a variety of other songwriters, including Tori Kelly, JVKE and Hulvey, to compose this masterpiece of an album.

“CHILD OF GOD” includes 20 songs that are considered to be electronic pop, reggae and hip hop soul, among other trending genres. One of the songs, “GOOD DAY,” debuted several months before the entire album was released, reaching #1 on the Christian Digital Songs chart early on and winning the 2024 GMA Dove Awards for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. 

But, what I think is most interesting about this particular Forrest Frank album is it consists of more than just music. Frank featured three songs that aren’t actually songs: one, a conversation with his grandfather called “HEY GRANDAD,” two, powerful snippets of his grandfather’s testimony — shared at the 1985 Billy Graham Fort Lauderdale Crusade — named “WHAT LIVING IS ALL ABOUT” and three, one of pastor Jonathan Pokluda’s sermons titled “CHILD OF GOD.” All provided insight into Forrest Frank’s personal experiences and the values that have remained consistent throughout his music-making journey, adding even more significance to an already beautiful compilation.

When creating this album, Frank was largely inspired by his own coming to Christ and the gravitating kinship he’s felt with God ever since. In an interview for the GMA Dove Awards, Frank states that his relationship with God has always embraced more of a “child-father” dynamic and he’s dedicated to sharing it with the rest of the world. Frank’s music is relatable, sincere and joy-filled, so it’s no wonder why his popularity is surging among younger audiences. For all Christians and non-Christians alike: I recommend listening to this album. You’ll find it has a kind of vibe unlike any other.

Photo courtesy of Spotify
(Photo courtesy of Spotify)
Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé

American singer Beyoncé’s eighth studio album “Cowboy Carter” was released on March 24, 2024, as her first country album. Debuting at number one on Billboard for the eighth time, Beyoncé has made her mark as one of the best singers and songwriters of the century. The album spent a total of 15 weeks in the Top 100, an incredible feat.

The album consists of 27 tracks, including covers of well-known songs, like “Jolene” by Dolly Parton and “Blackbird” by The Beatles. While these famous songs are included, many of the songs have a new and modern vibe, making the album a tasteful mix of new and old. Listeners can appreciate her original lyrics as well as her vocals on songs many people are already familiar with. Beyoncé’s albums generally fall into the pop genre, but “Cowboy Carter” draws on different genres of music, but the main inspiration comes from country. 

There is no denying that “Cowboy Carter” is a hit album that deserves the spot as the best album of 2024. From its time on the top charts to the combination of pop and country, the album has proved to be a great listen.

(Photo courtesy of Spotify)
(Photo Courtesy of Spotify)
The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has created many fabulous albums in her discography including albums such as “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” “Midnights,” “Red (Taylor’s Version)” and more. She has explored different genres throughout her career to present her music in various ways, including country, pop, synth and folk. “The Tortured Poets Department” has a mix of genres going from synth to acoustic. 

Not only did she release one album, but she also released two different versions of “The Tortured Poets Department.” 15 new songs were added to the deluxe album called, “The Anthology”. Some of the popular tracks from both albums include, “Fortnight (featuring Post Malone,)” “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart,” “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” and “So High School.” Personally, one of my favorite songs from the deluxe album is called “Peter” because it brings out the emotions of missing someone and being angry that they have gone missing from your life very well.

Her albums involve different aspects of being in love and the trials it can bring someone if things turn wrong. This album definitely brings a clearer side to being alone and lost after losing someone that you have loved for so long. Throughout the album, she tells the story of the process of moving on from people and the sadness and anger that comes with it. I love this album due to the intensity that this album brings to her whole musical career.

(Photo Courtesy of Spotify)
The Secret of Us
Courtesy of Spotify
The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams

On June 21, 2024, Gracie Abrams blessed us all with the release of her latest album, “The Secret of Us.” Featuring 13 tracks, addictive lyrics and a collaboration with Taylor Swift, this album catapulted Abrams to fame in a way that her previous records didn’t. Her relatable lyrics told stories of personal growth, young love and heartbreak that captivated audiences from the first listen and continued to pull on our heartstrings for the rest of the year. 

One particular song from the album, “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” is a deeply emotional, beautiful track that had people singing along and using it on TikTok videos all year long. The other single, “Close To You,” also gained a lot of popularity and was also very catchy I know I was screaming along to it in my car too many times to count. 

Just when we thought we couldn’t get enough of this album, Abrams released “The Secret of Us (Deluxe)” on Oct 18, 2024. Featuring 4 brand new songs as well as live recordings of some of her more popular songs, this new edition fueled even more attention for the young star, specifically since it included the hit song “That’s So True,” which quickly became a favorite among her fans and listeners alike.

The Secret of Us Courtesy of Spotify
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