2024 has been my favorite year for new music releases in a long time. It saw great releases from well-known artists like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish, but also showcased some “new” artists such as Gracie Abrams, Sabrina Carpenter and Hozier.
With that being said, let’s take a look at my top five album releases from 2024 – a feat that was incredibly difficult to narrow down to only five.
Honorable Mentions
Creating a top five was so impossible it would hurt my soul to not include a few more albums on here. So here are the albums that didn’t quite make the top five but I still loved this year: “The Tortured Poets Department” by Taylor Swift, “eternal sunshine” by Ariana Grande, “Short n Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Charm” by Clairo, “Lana” by SZA and “brat” by Charli XCX.
Now, onto the top 5.
It was a surprise for me this year that I listened to rap in any significant amount, but 2024 has fueled my love for Kendrick Lamar and this surprise drop was definitely an enjoyable one.
In particular, I have a feeling “luther” with SZA may become my number one song on my 2025 Spotify Wrapped. Kendrick brings strong lyricism and stances on social issues that I feel is missing from the majority of modern day rap.
It’s refreshing to consume rap music where the lyrics don’t constantly objectify and degrade women. Kendrick is able to avoid this while still creating hard-hitting music that doesn’t read as “too soft.”
While “Unreal Unearth” wasn’t technically released in 2024, the year still held Hozier’s three EP/extension releases with “Unheard” to “Unaired” to the most recent addition “Unending.”
The additions were a delightful way for me to never get enough of the incredible album this is. Hozier’s breakout song, “Too Sweet” was even featured on the second EP, “Unaired,” propelling him to newfound stardom.
However, the hidden gems from these EPs such as “Wildflower and Barley” with Allison Russell and “July” are my favorites of the “Unending” album. Hozier’s lyricism and unique sound are truly unmatched and I’m thrilled he’s finally getting his well-deserved recognition. And if you’ve only listened to “Too Sweet,” I highly recommend you give the entire album a listen.
And here’s yet another breakout star of 2024: Gracie Abrams. While I listened to “Good Riddance” prior to her explosion of popularity, I never really got into her music until “The Secret of Us.” Full of relatable songs with hard-hitting lyrics, Gracie has made a bang with her emergence in the music industry.
After touring with Taylor Swift and even having her featured on one of the tracks, Gracie has begun to solidify her seat at the table of the music industry. She’s young, she’s talented and we’ve certainly not seen the end of Gracie Abrams; stay on the lookout for what’s to come for this young artist.
I had enjoyed Tyler, the Creator in the past but not enough to call myself a fan; this album certainly changed that. I did a full-length review a few months ago detailing my immense love for the record.
Tyler, the Creator has shaped a unique voice for himself in an era of hip-hop and rap where voices tend to blend together and often are indistinguishable from one another. Through his quirkily honest lyricism and creative features, he created my favorite hip-hop/rap album of the year.
His refusal to originally reveal the features on the album cemented himself as a strong solo artist, as he is commonly lumped together with his collaborations.
This album is indescribably amazing. It’s rare for me to say that I absolutely love every song on an album, but this one certainly does it. Lyricism: stunning. Production: incredible. Vocals: otherworldly.
This album has such an ethereal vibe unlike any other music I’ve listened to. I feel like I’m levitating when I listen to it. Finneas’ production and creativity shines through bright and clear in the incredible instrumentals woven into the tracklist. Billie’s incredible voice and delicate harmonies only add to the perfect production.
Well, there you have it. Those are my top albums for this year. I can only dream that 2025 will come even close to matching the talent we’ve experienced this year. So, be on the lookout for my next blog detailing my predictions/hopes for the upcoming new artists for 2025. If this year was any indication, new artists aren’t going away.
