In a year with a lot of ups and downs both personally and throughout the world, I found a lot of solace and fun with finding new music and sharing with friends. I admit, the increasing use of algorithms have made songs and albums come at a steady full clip which can be hard beyond the new music Friday schedule. On record, more music is released on a given day in 2024 than there was released for the entirety of the year, 1989. That is a lot of music to keep up with that can have one feeling like this or this when trying to half-listen to every new album and song that is out there.
With the mum and bland reaction people felt with their Spotify Wrapped a few weeks back, it shows more effort is needed to take in new music and how our music tastes are influenced when we share it with others. There is a lot of music out there to hold everyone’s attention, and living with all the art in a given timeframe won’t get any easier. It didn’t help lots of well-known artists (JT, Ye) released underwhelming projects in 2024. Also, in waves this year, the music I had been listening to was old playlists or old songs, but I got excited when I dug into a new song and album, especially during the summer. Also talking about music with friends and taking in concerts in Chicago, was truly special (Seeing Stevie Wonder, Kaytranada, Vampire Weekend, and Anderson Paak. were truly excellent to take in).
There were a lot of big names and up-and-comers that released good music this year. I find these lists as a snapshot of time spent discovering new projects and names in a given year. Whether you had a brat summer, danced at a boiler room set, kept up with the Kendrick vs. Drake beef, sang to Chappell Roan, or mourned the Pitchfork festival leaving Chicago, this was a strong year in music when digging beyond the surface.
I want to highlight 20 songs and albums from this year. This will include a long list. While including a link with the main shortlist below:
Best Songs – 2024
1. Tems – Love Me Jeje (GuiltyBeatz, Spatz)
This came out in the beginning of the summer, and felt this was such as warm song that carried me for the rest of the year.
2. Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us (Mustard, Sean Momberger, Sounwave)
Being in LA the weekend at the height of beef and driving around the Saturday night when Not Like Us was released was a lifetime experience.
*Also, Meet the Grahams, Euphoria, and Squabble up captivated during and after the height of the beef were key moments in the culture crowning Kendrick. Meanwhile Drake opted to sing in a fake Reagge accent over the Plain White T’s “Hey There Deliah”
3. Vampire Weekend – Connect/Hope (Ezra Koenig, Ariel Rechtshaid)
Vampire Weekend released their previous 4 albums in different eras of my teens and 20s. Getting this album months before turning 30, songs on longing for a place that once was while cautious hope in an uncertain/unpredictable future is what needed. Seeing them live in July, made me fall back in with VW even more. Nearly 20-plus years into their career, their one of the best straddling the indie and rock space.
4. Doechii – Denial is a River (Ian James, Joey Hanhock, Banser)
I missed out on the earlier single (Persuasive), but Doechii’s is a breath of fresh air. From all the influence you hear on all of this (Tyler, Nicki, Rico Nasty, Curren$y) she has a style all her own. (see also: Sunday Best: Swamp Session)
5. NxWorries – Move On (Knxwledge)
Glad this duo reconnected for one of Paak’s most thoughtful and introspective tracks.
6. KAYTRANADA/Dawn Richard – Hold On (KAYTRANADA)
Sometimes it’s right to act jubilant and dance through the doubt, fear and pain
7. Elmiene – Crystal Tears (D’Mile)
Breakout R&B star in a great year for UK R&B artists
8. Fabiana Pallidino/Jai Paul – I Care (Fabiana Palladino/Jai Paul)
This came out in late 2023. But really this is peak modern quiet storm music to drive to top down.
9. Mk.Gee – Alesis (Mk.Gee)
Man’s make his guitar and production sounds like peak 80s Phil Collins and The Police. An Eric Clapton co-sign also helps.
10. Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather (FINNEAS)
Really the pop song of the year.
11. Tyla – Truth or Dare (Believve, Sammy Soso)
Perfect mix of Amapiano crossing over to a wider audience.
12. Clario – Juna (Claire Cottrill & Leon Michaels)
“I don’t have to think…there is no pretending” plus the horns at ends…very sensual
13. Durand Bernard – Unknown (Egberto “Budda” Foster, Jr & Sam Hoffman)
Sometimes we’re scared to mess up. Its that through of internal effort to go for it.
14. Beyonce – RIIVERDANCE (Beyoncé & The-Dream)
Best song on Cowboy Carter. It was never intended to be nominated for CMA’s. Someone has vogued or square danced to this (see also: Zack Fox Elevator Music Set with mix)
15. Erica de Cassier – Lucky (Erika de Casier & N. Zaks)
16. Charli XCX – Everything is Romantic (A.G. Cook, Charli XCX, El Guincho)
Many songs to pick from brat, but this was one. When the beat drops 50 seconds, is the peak 12:15am crying in the club experience.
17. Aaron Frazier – Perfect Strangers (Alex Goose/Aaron Frazier)
A relationship, connection or reconnect can seem unbreakable until it’s not. Whether whose fault it was, sometimes we have to mourn to know what was had to move forward.
18. Saba/No I.D. – How to Impress God
Accolades and tours mean nothing in the long run.
19. Schoolboy Q – Blueslides
Giving flowers to Mac, and growing yourself and the others around you (see also: THank God 4 me)
20. Sabrina Carpenter – Don’t Smile
Underrated heat rock from an album full of chart-toppers (Espresso, Please, Please Please)
Best Albums – 2024
1. Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us
A love letter to a bygone era of New York City. Lyrics for an anxious future.
2. Mk.Gee – Two Star & The Dream Police
Modern guitar with influence from the 1980s. Hope Dijon, a close collaborator (Mk.Gee has played in Dijon’s touring band) gets more shine with this
3. Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal
For artists for a large breakthrough, it seems there to be a prime viral moment. Doechii let the music speak for itself on this “mixtape” and the perfromances have matched it. (see also: NPR Tiny Desk, Late Show with Stephen Colbert Performance)
4. Fabiana Palladino – Fabiana Palladino
Underrated R&B/Pop album indebted to UK R&B and Quiet Storm sounds of the late 1980s. Daughter of famed bassist Pino Palladino (worked with D’Angelo and John Mayer)
5. Common/Pete Rock – The Auditorium Vol. 1
Common dialed back the clock with this one. Also seeing these songs performed live with the Grant Park Orchestra in Millennium Park over the summer was fun.
6. Charli XCX – Brat
The perfect marriage of Club Girl aesthetic and electronic head production
7. Aaron Frazer – Into the Blue
Retro soul album for flirting, falling in love, breaking up, finding yourself, and picking yourself up and getting back out there again.
8. Allysha Joy – The Making of Silk
Australian R&B singer with amazing vocal runs.
9. Clario – Charm
I admit, I only knew Clario for Pretty Girl early on, but this a warm and inviting album with the lyrics, brass and woodwinds.
10. NxWorries – Why Lawd?
If keyed in for the first album of the collaboration between Anderson Paak and producer Knxwledge back in 2016, this album fits the laid-back groves of the first
11. Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Kendrick and guests take listeners on a West Coast tour. It should be noted of Drakeo the Ruler’s influence throughout this
12. Tyler, the Creator – Chromokopia
Tyler makes claim to being 2nd best in LA. An album of maturity and fame and ramifications with it.
13. Dawn Richard/Spencer Zahn – Quiet in a World Full of Noise
To sing of defiance and hope after years of tragedy and grief is a testament of strength.
14. Schoolboy Q- Blue Lips
Great return to form album. (This review captures a few thoughts)
15. Montell Fish – Charlotte
More lessons on grief and holding in that space
16. Andra Day – CASSANDRA (cherith)
Known more for the song “Rise Up” and playing Billie Holliday, this album opened to her singing I was not aware of. (See Also: New York Times Review)
17. Anthony Bruno – Cefalú
Jazz inspired by warm vacations and also the tinges of smooth jazz that I heard growing up on the radio around Chicagoland on WUNA 95.5
18. Erika de Casier – Still
Erika was the key songwriter for breakout K-Pop group NewJeans song “Super Shy”. Her sweet and bashful lyrics and fine-tunining the 2000s R&B production make for a fun listen
19. Samara Joy – Portrait
Tights vocals and a great band playing here. Samara Joy’s only 25, and can’t till more people catch on (See also: 60 Minutes interview)
20. Jordan Rakei – The Loop
First foray into his work and will dig in more.
The Typecaster 