In an era where nobody seems to have time for anything, sitting down for 40 to 50 minutes to listen to a full record might just count as a modern act of rebellion. Algorithms and doomscrolling have wrecked our ability to appreciate art, and our brains keep begging for more content with zero context at breakneck speed. And yet—maybe with a bit of blind faith—I’ve still carved out time every week since 2008 to breathe in the scent of a brand-new album, morning, afternoon, and night. It’s become a kind of ritual, a special place I return to again and again in search of fresh emotions.
So here’s a list of 10 albums that caught my ear in 2024. No rankings, no gimmicks—just honest recommendations for curious listeners.
Sofie Royer – YOUNG-GIRL FOREVER LP
At 33, Sofie Royer knows the music industry inside out. As a teenager, she studied at a conservatory in Vienna and even played with the local philharmonic. Later on, she landed an internship at the legendary Stones Throw label, and not long after, Boiler Room snapped her up in 2012 to help expand their business. Fast forward to today, Sofie delivered her third record, Young-Girl Forever LP (2024) — the one that could very well put her in the same conversation as Caroline Polachek or Sky Ferreira. Whether it’s her meticulously crafted music videos that feel like indie films, or her ongoing obsession with reimagining ’80s electropop across this tracklist, Sofie has a truly captivating pop vision in her hands. The world is just waiting to catch up.
Being Dead – EELS LP
It’s been a while since I’ve heard a rock album this exciting. EELS (2024) isn’t just one of the year’s best—it’s experimentation turned into pure sound. Acceleration, sighs, key changes, screams, vocal harmonies, total chaos. Falcon Bitch and Shmoofy (as they call themselves) might act like they don’t take anything seriously, but the moment they pick up their instruments, they turn into beasts of precision. With production by John Congleton (yep, the same genius who’s worked with St. Vincent and Mannequin Pussy) and a sound that nods to the surf rock of The Mamas and the Papas as well as the garage madness popularized by Ty Segall, Being Dead’s sophomore record has all the ingredients to become a future classic
Papooz – RESONATE LP
A straight trip back to the ’70s. French duo Ulysse Cottin and Armand Penicaut just dropped their fourth record, and it’s pure candy for fans of Paul McCartney & Wings. Disco vibes, lush vocal harmonies, a playful banjo, and basslines dripping with funk. With production by Patrick Wimberly (MGMT, Blood Orange), Resonate (2024) easily lives up to the trio of albums that came before it, cementing Papooz’s place in today’s psychedelic soft rock scene alongside heavy-hitters like Drugdealer, Sam Evian, and The Lemon Twigs.
Clairo – CHARM LP
Possessed by the spirit of Carole King, Clairo playfully mimics the sound of a perfectly tuned trumpet with her lips—just like Carole once mimicked a guitar solo on “It’s Too Late” during her live shows. Claire Cottrill has just hit full musical maturity, and honestly, none of us were ready for it. Far removed from the innocent pop of her YouTube beginnings, the American singer unveils an arsenal of warm ideas on CHARM LP (2024), all rooted in the best sounds of the ’70s, with help from timeless instruments like flutes, piano, and even a Mellotron. It’s a rock-solid record from every angle—and maybe the most obvious reason why it ended up snagging a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Album. Not that Clairo really needs one of those tacky awards, but with Leon Michels (Kali Uchis, Norah Jones) handling production this flawlessly, she could easily take it home.
Magdalena Bay – IMAGINAL DISK LP
Mica and Matthew, the most relevant synth and electropop duo of the past five years, are back. And it’s no exaggeration—everything this Miami-born project touches turns to gold. With a rare knack for hitmaking, Mag Bay has consistently challenged the norms of contemporary pop, and this record is no exception. Just when we thought tracks like “Secrets (Your Fire)” or “You Lose!” from their debut Mercurial World LP (2021) were wild and catchy enough, Imaginal Disk LP (2024) lands with twice the synths, three times the beats, and four times the distortion. And yes—they even scored a collab with Grimes (one of their biggest influences) on the track “Image.” Absolute giants.
TYLA – TYLA LP
When I first stumbled upon Amaarae’s music back in the early pandemic days of 2020, the hype around the new wave of African pop still felt like something confined to niche magazines and hardcore music heads. Fast forward to today, and genres like Popiano, Alté, and Afrobeats have not only landed spots at Coachella 2025 but are also leaving a major mark on Western culture. Among the brightest names in this new scene, TYLA easily stands out. At just 22, she’s already won a Grammy and dropped a debut album that’s been widely praised by critics. The young South African keeps making history with every move, blessed with a vocal talent that channels the sensual R&B energy of early-2000s icons like Ciara and Rihanna.
GLASS BEAMS – MAHAL EP
“This is what Paul Atreides listens to while riding a sandworm across Arrakis,” reads one comment under the clip of Glass Beams’ recent KEXP performance. And honestly, this user isn’t wrong. Earlier this year, master composer Hans Zimmer orchestrated the perfect OST for Dune, one of the best sci-fi films in years—and just days later, Rajan Silva and company gifted us MAHAL EP (2024), which could easily pass as the ultimate soundtrack for the end of the world. Inspired by the music and ethos of Ananda Shankar (the talented Indian sitarist), this Australian project fuses past and present. Through seductive basslines and the distorted sounds of Eastern and Western instruments, Glass Beams delivers a masterclass in contemporary psychedelia—a mystical sound seemingly crafted to match the intricate masks they wear during live shows.
CRUMB – AMAMA LP
Under the production of Jonathan Rado (Foxygen), New York quartet Crumb has dropped their third studio album, AMAMA (2024): a musical journey that’s hard to describe and even harder to process. In the words of vocalist Lila Ramani, “This album feels a little less polished and timid—and isn’t afraid to lean into the weirder edges of our sound. There are plenty of quiet, pause-filled moments […] alongside more explosive ones.” Without a doubt, this psychedelic pop approach isn’t for everyone, but amidst the atmospheric vocals and constant time shifts, listeners will always be happily challenged to find new meanings between the notes.
Jessica Pratt – HERE IN THE PITCH LP
More than ten years after her debut LP in 2012, Jessica Pratt finally made her U.S. television debut this past July on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The song chosen for the occasion was “Life Is,” one of the standout tracks from Here In The Pitch LP (2024). There, under the glow of a single spotlight and surrounded by complete darkness, Jessica revealed a bit of the magic of her fourth record to the live audience. With new studio skills at her disposal, the Californian has managed to incorporate a fresh palette of instruments into her production, with clear nods to ’70s Brazilian popular music (MPB). “The process of making this record felt more embodied […] more grounded and tangible. […] The sounds on this new album feel like something you can hold in your hands,” Jessica told Stereogum. I’d say we now have even more reasons to let ourselves sink into Jessica’s warm hands before drifting off to sleep.
Bullion – AFFECTION LP
I first discovered Bullion’s experimental approach back in the early pandemic days with the release of We Had A Good Time EP (2020). Even then, it was clear that Nathan Jenkins was trying to craft a “pop that resists labels.” A little ’80s pop here, a dash of yacht rock there. Today, after producing tracks for heavyweights like Carly Rae Jepsen and Nilüfer Yanya, Bullion seems only to have refined his ability to create melodies that feel way ahead of their time. In short, Affection LP (2024) packs nostalgia, hypnotic grooves, and unconventional song structures into just 40 minutes of pure, forward-thinking pop..
¿Where can I listen a playlist with all these albums?
To wrap things up, I’ve put together a Spotify playlist featuring a glimpse of some of my favorite tracks from the best albums of 2024.
These are other albums from 2024 that i could not review but are also great
If you have got some extra time, I recommend you have a try of the following:
Sam Evian – PUNGE LP
Nubiyan Twist – FIND YOUR FLAME LP
Night Tapes – ASSISTED MEMORIES LP
Club Kuru – BEFORE THE WORLD LP
Nilufer Yanya – MY METHOD ACTOR LP
Fontaines DC – ROMANCE LP
Sabrina Carpenter – SHORT N’SWEET LP
MJ Nebreda – CORAZÓN CLUB VOL.1 LP
Shygirl – CLUB SHY EP
salute – TRUE MAGIC LP
