As the year comes to an end, it is time to look at how the year was overall for music and decide what I believe is the best album of the year.
The albums nominated this year were five of my favorites from the year and five of the highest-rated albums according to music rating sites. These albums were chosen because of their unique and excellent sound on top of their cultural impact as a whole. The albums that were chosen are a great representation of what 2024 had to offer for music and will most likely stand the test of time.
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Honorable Mentions:
The New Sound is the first solo album by Geordie Greep who was a part of the former rock band Black Midi. The best way to describe this album is slam poetry on jazzy rock instrumentals. This album is an impressive piece of work that will leave you thinking about the very essence of life itself. This album is an amazing piece of art but is not the type of music that you are going to listen to on the way to work on a Tuesday morning. The highlight of this album is the instrumentals that will grip you the whole time and leave you thinking that this is a new sound.
Only God Was Above Us is Vampire Weekend’s 5th studio album and offers another solid indie rock project from the group. The use of guitar throughout the album carries the instrumentals, elevating the album as a whole. The lead singer’s vocals and lyrics about the fame and the annoying tendencies of fans show that there is no other band like Vampire Weekend. The album proves Vampire Weekends as a distinct and talented band that can create an album that leaves you entertained all the way through.
Childish Gambino’s 6th and final studio album Bando Stone and the New World is another solid project from Childish Gambino that can leave fans satisfied. This album is a soundtrack to a movie that has not been released which leaves the album feeling incomplete. Even without the movie, the album gives a summer camp vibe that leaves you stunned with Childish Gambino’s amazing vocals and notable features. The album is a complete package with songs such as “Steps Beach” and “A Place Where Love Goes,” which are tonal, distinct songs that both leave you dancing and are filled with joy. Even though it is not Childish Gambino’s strongest album it is still a great conclusion to his musical career.
We Don’t Trust You is a collab album from Future and Metro Boomin. This is the first full-length album from the long-time collaborator and it leaves fans satisfied and wanting more. Metro Boomin’ production is at full force and it combines lovingly with Futures melodic rapping. The most notable song from this album is “Like That”, which started a rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar that was a large part of the culture during the summer. Even though the album is solid from front to back, besides “Like That” there are no songs on this album that will make you continually think about it.
Hardstone Psycho is the 5th full-length album from rapper and vocalist Don Toliver. While this is not his best outing it is still an amazing project. The use of electric guitar throughout the album helps contribute to the biker vibe that the album is going for. Don Toliver continues to prove time and time again that he has one of the best voices in the current rap game. The album can get boring at some points but the highs of this album are some of Don Toliver’s bests.
Top 5:
- Brat is the 8th studio album from Charlie XCX and has left the world in a cultural frenzy. Though this is not my type of music the talent displayed by Charlie XCX on this album can not go unnoticed. The album offers a club music style of pop that can make anyone want to get up and dance. With the electronic instrumentals littered throughout the album give the album a vibe of a 24-hour party. The lyrics on this album are impeccable as Charlie sings about a party lifestyle that she has been living and the downs and ups of it. Brat is a great album that will probably stay in the cultural zeitgeist for a while.
- Imaginal Disk is the 6th studio album by Magdalena Bay that has been on the top of almost every website’s top album of the year list. The album offers a psychedelic synth-pop record that gives the listener a transforming experience that will leave them throbbing at the heart. The instrumentals on this album are nearly flawless providing a fresh take on pop by mixing a modern pop feel with 80’s pop’s use of synths. This is the first music that I have heard from the duo and this album shows the immense talent they have through their instrumentals and lyricism. This album is amazing and entertaining but unfortunately is one that flew under the radar.
- I Lay Down My Life For You is the 9th full-length album from JPEGMAFIA that offers a unique-sounding style of rap that is not heard a lot today. The album is an experimental Hip Hop album that is best described as hip-hop-rock fusion that makes you want to thrash around. The lyrics that JPEGMAFIA provides on this album are amazing and cause the listener to think about the balance of truth and fiction behind his music. Even though the album has a small amount of features the features from Denzel Curry and Vince Stapels are highlights of the album. Even though the album has some flaws in its mixing it doesn’t shine light away from how great this project is.
- Chromakopia is Tyler, The Creator’s 7th studio album and 8th musical project. The album shakes up the norm of what a Tyler, The Creator album was for a while and delivers a sound that is familiar but keeps fans on their toes. The album is a vulnerable look into Tyler’s internal and external struggles within the different aspects of his life that fans may be able to connect to. Tyler’s impeccable flow and unique production lift notable tracks such as “Like Him”, “Sticky”, and “Take Your Mask Off”. The second half of the album is almost perfect taking listeners on an emotional rollercoaster that leaves them wanting more.
- After listening to all of these albums over again and reassessing them I have decided to name No Hands by Joey Valance and Brae as the Discography Deep-Dive’s album of the year. No Hands is the 2nd full-length album from Joey Valance and Brae and is entirely self-produced and self-funded. This album is a head bob all the way through and leaves you wanting more from the duo. The jazzy instrumentals mixed with the house music style production perfectly combine with the duo’s flow and lyrics. There is no other rap group like Joey Valance and Brae currently making music. No Hands is amazing with no song that you want to skip. The fun nature of the album and impeccable flow from the duo leave this album as one to remember. The album touches on how the duo’s success has affected them and the people around them with bars that make you giggle and think about through your day. Even though there are very few features on this album when they do appear they lift the song there on to new heights, with the most notable one being Danny Brown’s. I had the pleasure of seeing the album live in concert and it elevated my enjoyment of the album even more.