#top albums

[tswiftupdatess]

Top Albums Debut Global on Spotify (April 19-21):

#1 THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT

[oceanwithinsblog]

after a few months, here i am again with the next poll !! as some of you may know, after knowing the band for so long, i'm currently digging in tøp lore and generally listening on loop to their discography ... SO

in terms of tracklist, lyrics, visuals, lore, live shows, content etc.

i'm keeping the poll open for a whole week, feel free to vote, share and repost! if u also want to point out something specific you like about any tøp project/era, or if u want to share your top tøp songs, i'm all ears!

as for me, i think my favorite album is clancy now <3 trench and vessel are VERY strong contestants (blurryface a bit too), but i guess i'm just so happily satisfied with clancy both sound- and visual-wise that i'll make it first place. all of these positive vibes i'm getting from the release truly caught me off guard ㅠㅠ

besides, i can easily relato to MANY many lyrics (tbh that's always a guarantee when it comes to tøp songs), but this time it truly seems as if if they wrote them based on what i'm going through right now... this album feels super special and personal ngl !! (not to mention, this is also the era i got deep into the storyline and its characters); i know clancy has just dropped - and there's more on the way - but i'm super excited about this album/era !! it will also be the first time i'll see tøp live in concert ㅠㅠ

to be 100% frank, it hurts a bit to dethrone trench as my fav album/era ... maybe after this whole wave of excitement and enthusiasm remodels, i'll reconsider the question on this poll ... at the end of the day, i think both trench and clancy will possibly share the #1 spot of my tøp album rankings

well, let me know about you!! <3

[btw i don't know many tøp fans/clikkes (?) but i'd love to get to know the fandom a bit more :D also, if u have any lore related theories please fill me in !!! i'm totally invested eheh]

[emilyscastlevania]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GROHL

[27-liter-horse]

My favourite albums

[bryisshy]

what’s your top 5 albums at the moment

my top 5 albums atm:

1. Perverts - Ethel Cain

2. Blonde - Frank Ocean

3. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS - Bad Bunny

4. Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat - Charli xcx

5. evermore - Taylor Swift

[jazy3]

That’s a wrap on 2024! 🎶

[vpjdrums]

My Totally Biased Top Ten Albums of 2024

There really is no top or best and in reality it's all subjective and opinion based. Hence me poking fun at the whole thing in the title. But, these are the albums I enjoyed this past year.

In no particular order…

Tarbaby You Think This America (Giant Step Arts)

This is New York Times’ best jazz album of 2024 and their year end review opens with, "The pianist Orrin Evans, the bassist Eric Revis and the drummer Nasheet Waits have each been indispensable to 21st-century jazz… ". That's all you need to know about this album. Just a phenomenal recording from this decades spanning jazz juggernaut of a trio.

The Bad Plus Complex Emotions (Mack Avenue)

It's always fun to see what TBP is going to do next. If you've embarked with them on their ever changing aural journey you're bound to expect some twists, turns, and pleasant surprises. And this album is no exception. To my ears this is the most expressive and layered TBP album yet. A completely natural and stellar amalgam of no wave/post-punk with ethereal and modal jazz sounds. Stand out tracks: Grid/Ocean, Cupcakes One, Tyrone’s Flamingo, and Li Po.

Orrin Evans and The Captain Black Big Band Walk A Mile In My Shoe (Imani)

Another superb offering from an Orrin Evans lead collective and it's no surprise this album has also been topping critics' and publications' best lists this past year. This album really is the story of Orrin's life, featuring some unique and wonderfully executed renderings of some old and new favorites. So many great vocalists on here. Of course, the greats, Bilal and Lisa Fischer, but also New Jersey based crooner, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and arranger, Paul Jost. Jost, in my opinion might be the secret weapon on here. I also did the layout and artwork with the fantastic Chris Kayfield, photographer extraordinaire.

Ethan Iverson Tecnically Acceptable (Blue Note)

Surprise, surprise, another album from a TBP alumnus and much like Orrin, this too has been in the critics’ favorite pile. This is Ethan's second Blue Note album and according to All That Jazz's Mike Jurkovic, this is the first Blue Note release to feature both a theremin performance and a piano sonata. That's the sort of invention and innovation you'll expect from this soulful bop infused body of work.

DIIV Frog In Boiling Water (Fantasy)

This might be my favorite indie rock album of the year. It further leans into the shoegaze, art rock, and dark textures/sounds of their previous album, Deceiver. It many ways, FIBW feels like a companion/sibling album to it, but this younger brother surpasses it’s older sibling in some aspects and it's definitely their best release yet. If there was a way to describe this album it's a soft inviting pillowy cloud floating around uneasily and autonomously. The more discernible influences of My Bloody Valentine, Autolux, Sonic Youth, and Slint are all there, but underneath the surface are more layered, lush, and intricate soundscapes that are all inherently DIIV.

Gustaf Package Pt. 2 (Royal Mountain)

I've always said sophomore albums are make or break for artists and bands. They have to deliver and be as good if not better than the debut. Package Pt. 2 is that and then some. In a world where "post-punk" has become so widespread, Brooklyn based Gustaf have held their own, carved out their own space, and in many respects set themselves apart from their contemporaries. What I love about this album is that it's both sensitive/vulnerable and fierce/daring at the same time. Equal parts introspective and in-your-face. It's no surprise they've become favorites of the likes of Beck, James Murphy, Kathleen Hanna, and Idles.

Starflyer 59 Lust For Gold (Velvet Blue)

SF59 is among the most important American dream pop/shoegaze bands. If you haven't heard them please stop everything and go check out their early (there’s three decades worth of material, so start with those) albums. Jason Martin's contributions from SF59 to The Brothers Martin to Low & Behold (with with Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter) to Lo Tom (supergroup featuring Dave Bazan, TW Walsh, and Trey Many) should have placed him in the ranks of Evan Dando, Lou Barlow, Joe Pernice, and the late great Jason Molina. But, for whatever reason never quite saw center stage like his contemporaries, Dave Bazan and Damien Jurado. However, this album is no short of what his peers have conjured in recent years. A dense and involved offering that is on all levels nostalgic (Lust for Gold’s artwork colors bronze and red is a call back to the first three albums, Silver, Gold, and Americana) for place, time, and sound. Just a beautifully crafted album with absolutely no low points.

Sunny Day Real Estate Diary Live at London Bridge Studio (Sub Pop)

What else is there to say? It's one of the most seminal, heralded, and influential albums of the 90s played live by the artists who created and wrote it. However, this time around presented by a much more sonically and spiritually cohesive outfit performing the songs in the way they've always wanted them to sound.

Keith Jarret, Gary Peacock & Paul Motian The Old Country (ECM)

The original Deer Head Inn album, At the Deer Head Inn, recorded in 1992 and released in 1994, temporarily brought Paul Motian back to the drum throne after a 16-year separation. The album represents what’s memorable of Jarrett’s middle-to-late-period work. A fantastic dive into a refreshing repertoire of classics and standards that few have able to present in that sort of idiomatic fashion. Now we have another collection of songs that ECM has made available of previously unreleased material from that 1992 live recording before a packed crowd of about 200 in the small performance space in the Pocono Mountains. It’s great to hear Paul Motian with Keith Jarret and Gary Peacock, bringing an airy yet crisp and worldly percussiveness once again to the fold.

Tigran Hamasyan The Bird of a Thousand Voices (Naïve)

This is Tigran's most personal and spiritual project yet. Inspired by an ancient Armenian folktale about an anthropomorphic bird, the story presents an era of unrest catalyzing the bird to embark on a spiritual quest to seek world harmony. As Tigran states it struck him as a metaphor for the problems confronting today’s world; conflict, inequality and ecological disasters. In many way the album is also reflective of Tigran himself, blending together many aspects of his singular and artistic life.

Honarable mentions…

Julie My Anti-Aircraft Friend (Atlantic)

This album snuck up on me. I didn't know anything about this band until a friend of mine had reposted a snippet from one of their recent live performances on IG. I was immediately prompted to check them out. This LA based trio is of the new school/recent wave of modern shoegaze bands and I have to say one of the best from that revival. There's the recognizable hints of My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Sonic Youth, Lush, and Morella's Forest, but also the bombast and ferocity of Hum, Failure, Dinosaur Jr., Nirvana, and Swervedriver. The shared "girl and guy" vocals dynamic also brings to mind bands like Rainer Maria and Blake Babies, which is very refreshing to hear these days. The fusing of all these along with their journal entry-esque lyricism/songwriting makes for a fun and compelling listen.

The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis S/T (Impulse)

What happens when two seasoned jazz musicians get together with two of the most respected and legendary musicians from the post-hardcore/punk world? Something really good, that's what. I disagree with a lot of critics' description of them merely as 'Fugazi with free jazz'. I think the intention was to provide a punk painted open canvas to allow for free improvisation. Punk jazz is nothing new, but this is a fresh and welcome addition to the art form, executed at the highest level.

The Jesus Lizard Rack (Ipecac)

They’re back and it’s like nothing has changed. Still the MFn’ noise rock n’ roll titans and just as inauspicious as ever. They’ve arisen like a phoenix and are engulfing us all in their sonic onslaught. My one regret is missing seeing them live when they were here last month. The life of having two small children. Next time.

Pedro the Lion Santa Cruz (Polyvinyl)

Speaking of Dave Bazan, here's the third installments of his ongoing memoir (the two prior being Phoenix and Havasu) series. This moody synth layered collection of indie rock is Bazan's most personal recording yet. Revealing many parts of his Christian upbringing and his exvangelical adulthood, which for many is very relatable. This album seems to be more of a collaborative effort compared to prior releases with contributions coming from his usual cohorts, guitarists/songwriters, Andy Fitts and Erik Walters, and producer/songwriter, Andy D. Park back at the helm.

Ron Miles Old Main Chapel (Blue Note)

Rest in Power Ron Miles (1963–2022) Just go listen to this album.

[bysundaynight]

[kanye--westeros]

Top Albums of 2024

1. I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU - JPEGMAFIA (Favorite Track: vulgar display of power)

2. Dark Times - Vince Staples (Favorite Track: Étouffée)

3. GNX - Kendrick Lamar (Favorite Track: tv off)

4. empathogen - Willow Smith (Favorite Track: false self)

5. CHROMAKOPIA - Tyler, The Creator (Favorite Track: I Killed You)

6. Big Ideas - Remi Wolf (Favorite Track: Wave)

7. Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q (Favorite Track: time killers)

8. Algorithm - Lucky Daye (Favorite Track: Think Different)

9. What Now - Brittany Howard (Favorite Track: Red Flags)

10. Soul Burger - Ab-Soul (Favorite Track: California Dream)

11. Charm - Clairo (Favorite Track: Juna)

12. Two Star & The Dream Police - Mk.gee (Favorite Track: Candy)

13. I've Never Been Here Before - Erick the Architect (Favorite Track: Breaking Point)

14. Humble As the Sun - Bob Vylan (Favorite Track: Ring the Alarm)

15. TANGK - IDLES (Favorite Track: POP POP POP)

16. Nothing - Louis Cole (Favorite Track: Life)

17. COWBOY CARTER - Beyonce (Favorite Track: SWEET HONEY BUCKIIN')

18. People Who Aren't There Anymore - Future Islands (Favorite Track: Corner Of My Eye)

19. What A Devastating Turn Of Events - Rachel Chinouriri (Favorite Track: Dumb Bitch Juice)

20. The People We Become - nobigdyl. (Favorite Track: leave it to God)

21. It Wasn't That Deep - Glolorun (Favorite Track: Walk)

22. HEAVY JELLY - SOFT PLAY (Favorite Track: Act Violently)

23. Imaginal Disk - Magdalena Bay (Favorite Track: Cry For Me)

24. Songs For Sinners & Saints - Killer Mike (Favorite Track: Humble Me

25. Mahashmashana - Father John Misty (Favorite Track: Screamland)

26. Bando Stone & The New World - Childish Gambino (Favorite Track: Cruisin)

27. The Alexander Technique - Rex Orange County (Favorite Track: Carrera)

28. Cyan Blue - Charlotte Day Wilson (Favorite Track: My Way)

29. Atavista - Childish Gambino (Favorite Track: Final Church)

30. She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She - Chelsea Wolfe (Favorite Track: Dusk)

31. No - Tomato Flower (Favorite Track: Destroyer)

32. Pointy Heights - Foushee (Favorite Track: rice & peas)

33. Love Heart Cheat Code - Hiatus Kaiyote (Favorite Track: Cinnamon Temple)

34. Quiet In A World Full Of Noise - Dawn Richard x Spencer Zahn (Favorite Track: The Dancer)

35. Public Love - Littrell (Favorite Track: Meet Me In The Water)

36. AND THEY MINE FOR OUR BODIES - Gao the Arsonist (Favorite Track: INSOMANIA)

37. Afrikan Alien - Pa Salieu (Favorite Track: Big Smile)

38. TIMELESS - Kaytranada (Favorite Track: WITCHY)

39. HARDSTONE PSYCHO - Don Toliver (Favorite Track: BACKSTREETS)

40. ORQUIDEAS - Kali Uchis (Favorite Track: Perdiste)

Honorable Mention:

Hit Me Hard And Soft - Billie Eilish, Older - Lizzy McAlpine, HEAVY - SiR, Hyperdrama - Justice, INDIGO - Jared Evan, Dark Matter - Pearl Jam, JPEG RAW - Gary Clark Jr., What A Fucking Nightmare - The Chisel, Chains & Stakes - The Dead South, #Richaxxhaitian - Mach-Hommy, I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy, Samurai - Lupe Fiasco, Something in the Room She Moves - Julia Holter, Brat - Charli XCX, 9 - Kenny Mason, The Art Of The Lie - John Grant, Dopamine - Normani, Where The Butterflies Go In The Rain - Raveena, Big For You - Zsela, God Said No - Omar Apollo, Wide open, horses - James Vincent McMorrow, This Wasn't For You Anyway - Lola Young, Permanent Pleasure - Joywave, MEGAN - Megan Thee Stallion, Mantras - Katie Pruitt, Romanticism - Hana Vu, No Name - Jack White, CRASH - Kehlani, Shadowbox - MAVI, Bird's Eye - Ravyn Lenae, This Is How Tomorrow Moves - Beabadoobee, Bad Cameo - James Blake x Lil Yachty, Ultra 85 - Logic, The Loop - Jordan Rakei, A LA SALA - Khruangbin, Power - illuminati hotties, Better Me Than You - Big Sean, Wild God - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Please Don't Cry - Rapsody, Found Heaven - Conan Gray, When a Thought Grows Wings - Luna Li, A Dream Is All We Know - The Lemon Twigs, Penalty of Leadership - Boldy James & Nicholas Craven, You Only Die 1nce - Freddie Gibbs, Bravado Intimo - IDK, Evergreen - Soccer Mommy, The FORCE - LL Cool J, From Zero - Linkin Park, Moth - Fana Hues, PHASOR - Helado Negro, Dunya - Mustafa The Poet, Negative Spaces - Poppy, Maybe In Nirvana - Smino, Mika's Laundry - Matt Champion, Fabiana Palladino - Fabiana Palladino

Albums Worth Checking Out Despite Not Making HM:

Stargazer - Helqvist, We Don't Trust You - Metro Boomin x Future, Bryson Tiller - Bryson Tiller, Deeper Well - Kacey Musgraves, Here In The Pitch - Jessica Pratt, Pinball - MIKE & Tony Seltzer, Only God Above Us - Vampire Weekend, Loss Of Life - MGMT, Saviors - Green Day, GRIP - serpentwithfeet, Eternal Sunshine - Ariana Grande, Can We Please Have Fun - Kings of Leon, Name Your Sorrow - Pillow Queens, Visions - Norah Jones, Girl With No Face - Allie X, Melt The Honey - PACKS, All Born Screaming - St. Vincent, Everything I Thought It Was - Justin Timberlake, Lives Outgrown - Beth Gibbons, INSANO (NITRO MEGA) - Kid Cudi, American Dream - 21 Savage, Radical Optimism - Dua Lipa, Chaos Angel - Maya Hawke, Good Together - Lake Street Dive, Little Rope - Sleater-Kinney, Don't Forget Me - Maggie Rogers, Love's Letter - Shae Universe, Everybody Can't Go - Benny The Butcher, Head Rush - Channel Tres, Summertime Butch - Benny The Butcher, Quantum Baby - Tinashe, Doing It For Me - Larry June, PRATTS & PAIN - Royel Otis, flight b741 - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, COYOTE - Tommy Richman, Idols & Vices: Vol 1 - Kimbra, For Crying Out Loud - FINNEAS, Leon - Leon Bridges, Glorious - GloRilla, Still Praying - Westside Gunn, Tyla - Tyla, Audio Vertigo - Elbow, WORLD WIDE WHACK - Tierra Whack, Black Yacht Rock Vol. 1: City Of Limitless Access - Pharrell Williams, Underdressed At The Symphony - Faye Webster, The Crossroads - Cordae, Petrichor - 070 Shake, Blacks & Whites - Big Hit, Hit-Boy x The Alchemist, The Book Of Clarence Soundtrack - Jeymes Samuel, ROLLERCOASTER - Cadence Weapon, BUG - Kacy Hill, Why Lawd? - NxWorries, Born In The Wild - Tems, When Angels Cry - jev., Across The Tracks - Boldy James x Conductor Williams, Memoirs in Armour - Navy Blue, The Genuine Articulate - The Alchemist

Notable EPs/Mixtapes:

Drop 7 - Little Simz, Scrapyard - Quadeca, Something Ether - Lil Yachty, ROBOPHOBIA EP - EARTHGANG, Might Delete Later - J. Cole, Slow Burn - Baby Rose x BADBADNOTGOOD, On Read EP - Dear Silas, The Pursuit - The 80s, King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2 - Denzel Curry, Alligator Bites Never Heal - Doechii

Great Songs on Decent to Bad Albums:

"OFTEN, I HAVE THESE DREAMZ" by Kid Cudi

"Honestly" by Lil Dicky

"Doomsday" by Lyrical Lemonade x Cordae x Juice WRLD

"If We Being Real" by Yeat

"Your share of the night" by Gesaffelstein

"BANG YOUR HEAD" by Devin Malik x Schoolboy Q

"Nobody Escapes" by Mother Mother

"Fuel" by Eminem x JID

"Earwax" by Ski Mask The Slump God

"Walking In The Rain" by Toro Y Moi

[musigenic]

2013: top 10 albums and the year i learned too much

i turned 16 in 2013. it was the year everything started feeling too big and too small all at once. i kissed my first girl and smoked my first joint in the same week. my grandmother died, and the world kept spinning like nothing happened. here are the albums that got me through.

top 10 albums of 2013:

"Pure Heroine" - Lorde this album was my bible. lorde made being an outsider feel cool, like it was a superpower.

diary, september 4, 2013 i kissed her. i kissed her, and she kissed me back. it wasn’t fireworks. it was quiet, like slipping into a pool at night. i think she’s scared of what it means. so am i. ‘buzzcut season’ played on her speakers after. it was perfect.

"The Bones of What You Believe" - CHVRCHES this album was neon lights and late-night drives.

diary, november 16, 2013 smoked too much. the room spun, and i told sara about grandma. she hugged me so tight i thought i’d break.

"Modern Vampires of the City" - Vampire Weekend they made sadness sound so clean. diane young was my anthem for pretending to have my shit together.

diary, may 22, 2013 sat on the roof with a bottle of something cheap. we laughed about nothing. the stars were bright, but it still felt like the world might end.

"Hesitation Marks" - Nine Inch Nails this was for the nights i needed to scream but couldn’t.

diary, august 8, 2013 grandma’s funeral was today. i wore black lipstick, even though mom said it was inappropriate. fuck appropriate.

"Days Are Gone" - Haim haim was the sound of late summer, when everything felt like it might fall apart but hadn’t yet.

diary, july 12, 2013 party at ethan’s. danced with a boy just to see if it felt different. it didn’t.

"Paramore" - Paramore this album was my angry-girl therapy.

diary, april 30, 2013 math test sucked. life sucked. i locked my door, put on paramore, and let myself feel everything all at once. it was messy, but it helped. hayley williams is my religion.

"If You Leave" - Daughter haunting, beautiful, sad. “youth” felt like a ghost whispering in my ear, reminding me that pain could be pretty.

diary, february 19, 2013 valentine’s day was a joke. love is a joke. except maybe it’s not.

"The 1975" - The 1975 “sex” was everything my mom didn’t want me to hear but couldn’t stop me from loving.

diary, october 9, 2013 he called me ‘mature for my age.’ fuck that.

"Trouble Will Find Me" - The National this was for the nights i felt too much.

diary, june 2, 2013 i miss her. it’s stupid to miss someone who’s not even dead. but i do. maybe one day, she’ll miss me too.

"Reflektor" - Arcade Fire this album was a whole mood.

diary, december 28, 2013 another year almost over. thank god. maybe next year will be easier. maybe it won’t. either way, i’ll survive. i always do!

2013 was a year of firsts and lasts. it broke me, but it also made me. these albums were the soundtrack to my chaos, my heartbreak, my growing pains. here’s to the music that carried me when i couldn’t carry myself.

[music-moon]

Released in 2025: A Playlist

Every year I make a playlist of the best songs released in that year. This is 2025.

Some albums I'm anticipating:

Lana Del Rey - The Right Person Will Stay

FKA Twigs - Eusexua

Banks - Off With Her Head

I try to listen to new music every week. In this playlist I will save my favourite singles and album deep cuts released in 2025. I keep it sorted by release date for the most part.

Join me while I adore and explore where music takes us this year!

See previous years: 2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024 / 2025

[venomedvenom]

my fav albums of the year:

AND THEY MINE FOR OUR BODIES by Gao The Arsonist

Negative Spaces by Poppy

GNX by Kendrick

You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To by Knocked Loose

there was a lot more releases this year that i liked but they didnt keep me coming back like these albums

[thischarmingamy]

Favorite Music of 2024

There was so much brilliant music that came out in 2024! I’m having the worst time narrowing down my list of faves. Luckily, my two cats, Candy O. and Ada Monroe, have been assisting me. Ada Monroe looking mad because I wasn’t playing Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at the time It’s my hope that at least one person finds something they dig through this post. If you’re a Spotify person, do check out…

[josephlikesmusic]

JosephLikesMusic Top 10 Albums of 2024

First of all, apologies for not being super active anymore :< I've just been busy with school and personal life so this blog just hasn't been a major priority for me. I did want to end off this year with a list of some of my favorite albums that have come out this year, and wow what a year it's been for music. This list doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of all the great music that came out this year, just the ones that stood out the most to me.

#10: Clancy - Twenty One Pilots

Honestly, my biggest disappointment with this album is that I didn't give it a listen sooner. I've never gotten super into the band, but I have a lot of fond memories of hearing their hits while growing up. Clancy proves that Twenty One Pilots is just as capable of writing catchy hits as they ever had, from Next Semester to Navigating, this project has some great songs that played on loop in my mind for days after I first listened to it.

#9: No Normal - Kill Lincoln

As a huge ska enjoyer, this album just had to make the list. I found Kill Lincoln a few years ago and they've been my favorite modern ska band ever since. This album does everything but disappoint, with such a fun and upbeat vibe that I feel perfectly encapsulates the feel of their live shows. With this being the band's fifth studio album, I am so excited to see where they go from here, especially since they have been releasing such consistently great music.

#8: Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend

I got really into Vampire Weekend early this year, with their fun pop songs that have a hint of rock influence. Only God Was Above Us demonstrates everything that I love about the band, from the experimental instrumentation to the beautiful vocals. Capricorn definitely stood out the most to me, the lyrics immediately hooked me in and I just love how the simple production slowly gets more murky and dissonant is the cherry on top. Re-listening to this album while making this list really made me wish that I had listened to it more throughout the year and that my Vampire Weekend phase wasn't so short.

#7: No Name - Jack White

This album almost sounds straight out of the 1970's with easily some of the best blues music that's been written since the turn of the century. I constantly hear people complaining about how people just don't make music like Led Zeppelin and other bands of the time used to, and my new response to that is to point them to this project. It is kind of amazing to me that I haven't seen this album discussed more, but regardless it is easily one of the best rock albums released this year.

#6: HIT ME HARD AND SOFT - Billie Eilish

It is insane to me just how amazing of a songwriter Billie Eilish is when she's not even five years older than I am. Hit Me Hard and Soft is one of the most vulnerable and introspective albums that I've seen released in the last decade or so. Songs like LUNCH still have the classic Billie feel to them, but in a much more mature sense than her past albums. This maturity is what I think makes this album stand out so much in a year full of incredible pop albums. I really think that this project has something for everyone, even if Billie's last albums weren't for you.

#5: CHROMAKOPIA - Tyler, The Creator

This entire list took a lot of narrowing down, but these next three spots were the hardest to decide. Ultimately, I decided to give my #5 spot to Tyler. This album had hook after hook after hook, and watching the entire roll-out take place in less than two weeks was just so crazy from a cultural standpoint. While I don't think that this is Tyler's best album, CHROMAKOPIA is just undeniably catchy. I just have so much fun listening to this project that there was no way it wasn't making the top 5.

#4: GNX - Kendrick Lamar

Like I said for CHROMAKOPIA, this top 5 was just so difficult to narrow down, and it is completely possible that if I were to remake this list a year from now that I would place this album below Tyler's or above my number three. Just when I thought that the 12 day roll-out of CHROMAKOPIA was crazy, the surprise drop of this album just a few weeks later blew my mind. After the incredible summer that Kendrick had, such a catchy album really secures 2024 as his year. Similar to what I said about Tyler, this definitely isn't Kendrick's best album, but with tracks like squabble up and tv off, I really can't talk shit about this album. If anything, this album only made me even more excited to watch Kendrick's performance at the upcoming Super Bowl in February.

#3: Empty Eddy - Ultra Q

If any of my picks this year were to surprise someone, I think that this is it. Ultra Q is far from a household name, yet I am still placing their latest album over well established artists and bands. Am I crazy? Maybe. But at the same time, maybe everyone else is crazy for not giving these guys the attention they deserve. Songs like Beep Boop and You and Me in Dreams demonstrate incredible songwriting skills from the still young Jakob Armstrong as well as amazing musicianship from the rest of the band. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys live a few months ago (and already have tickets for their next US tour), and it was genuinely one of the best shows I've ever gone to. I even got to talk to the band after the show, and they are just so sweet. If I were to try to convince you to listen to any album off this list, it would be this one. Not only does it deserve the most attention, but it is just a remarkable album.

#2: brat - charli xcx

Brat summer brat summer brat summer blah blah blah. There isn't much I can say about this album that hasn't already been said. Not only did Charli have incredible marketing, but she had the music to back it up. Brat is the kind of pop album where you just know how influential it is the moment that it's released. I'm not going to call it the Rubber Soul of the 2020's but I'm also not NOT going to call it that. There's no way that the phenomenon that this album sparked won't change how artists both create and release their work. If I had to predict how 2025's pop music would sound, I would say that there's going to be a chunk of artists trying to ride the wave that Charli has created, and another chunk of artists actually inspired by the fact that such an experimental album was able to sell the way that it did. Regardless, this album defined 2024 and if my favorite band of all time didn't also release an album this year, it would be a clear number one.

#1: Saviors - Green Day

There's a reason that this list is my personal favorite albums and not a subjective list, and it's this album. Green Day has been my favorite band for well over five years at this point and I couldn't not place this album at number one. After the commercial failure of Father of All.. I was a little worried about this album, but Saviors is such a rebound after that disaster. I could ramble all day about this album, and while most of my love for it is rooted in my love for the band, I do think that this is their best album since 21st Century Breakdown way back in 2009. While this album isn't for everyone, songs like Bobby Sox and Dilemma are so catchy and I had a blast seeing both live (although I'm still salty that 1981 debuted the DAY AFTER I saw them live last summer). This album is just pure fun, and I am so glad that we got this instead of Father of All 2.

As I mentioned in the intro, 2024 was a great year for music. There are so many more albums released this year that I didn't place on this list that just barely missed the cut. This doesn't even include albums like The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan, that while released last year, helped to define the musical atmosphere of this summer. If there's one thing I can say for sure about this year, it's that good music is so back. 2024 was really a turning point in the industry, and I really think that when we look back on the music of the 2020's, this is the year that will define the decade.

[dopeshootitup]

my 2024 music topster at the moment! what do we think?

[binders-and-beanies]

I was tagged by @feelingsofaithless to share my top albums of 2023, thank u!! I tag @random-jot and @autokad92 if it seems fun to u!