2024 Real Music Review
The 10 Best Albums of 2024
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Completely Subjective, Absolutely True
You’ve heard it every year, but it was, yet again, another fantastic year for music. Personally, it felt like a breakthrough year for some of the artists I’ve been following for ages. We love to see it.
Milly: Your Own Becoming
Ya like shoegaze? Milly! It’s been so cool to see this band evolve and find their footing. I saw them perform last year in the Bay and really liked their melodic and garage-like sound but it was still new and developing. Your Own Becoming is an album that buzzes through you. Heavy guitar and distortion bathe the entire album, leaving space for devastating lyrics focused on loss of friends, relationships, life. Despite the harder edges, there’s still a hopeful sense that things get better and there’s more Milly to go around. It feels a little like Basement, or Balance and Composure but modernized and grungier. It was a repeat listen for me and I’m really excited to see what this band continues to evolve into.
This Is Lorelei: Box for Buddy, Box for Star
Sometimes I feel like people don’t take my music opinions seriously because of the insane names artists come up with. I mean, Box for Buddy, Box for Star? Ok, sure. A couple of friends suggested I give this album a listen. At first, I thought it was cool, but it didn’t really grab me. I did save their track Dancing in the Club because I liked how it was layered and put together. A few months later, I decided to give the album another shot. It’s hard to describe what this album sounds like because of all the techniques but that why I really enjoy it. Electronic-tinged with some auto-tune and on one track, a steel guitar takes center stage. Beautiful and unique guitar progressions and some lyrics that stop you in your tracks. It makes you think, but oddly feels…comforting? Safe to say, after I gave it another chance, I couldn’t stop listening to it. It’s engaging, experimental, and fun. If you’re down to try something new and also feel a little sad, this one is for you!
Charli XCX: brat
Did you have a Brat summer? What about a Brat legacy! Charli has always been MY pop princess, so it meant a lot to finally see her get the recognition she deserves. I feel as though this album needs no introduction. If you know, you KNOW. For me, this album is honestly one of the best pop party albums to date. It hits the same level for me as Gaga’s Fame Monster. It's iconic, innovative, and oddly…relatable. I loved the features and angles the work took on. You can listen to it and feel understood, empowered, and maybe even a little, brat. We’ll be bumpin’ that in the club for years to come.
MJ Lenderman: Manning Fireworks
MJ! I'm really into his projects, and it's awesome to see this album finally getting him the recognition he deserves. The 2021 album “Knockin” had some bangers for me, and I've always liked MJ's work on Wednesday and the covers project with Karly Hartzman. It's great to watch both of these talented artists thrive, both together and on their own. Manning Fireworks felt very genuine and raw from MJ, capturing that same sadness and twang I love. The combination of his writing and lyricism, along with his amazing guitar skills, made it a must-listen for road trips. Honestly, I don't think there was a better lyric this year than “And I’ve got a houseboat docked at the Himbo Dome.”
Porches: Shirt
Porches really caught me off guard this year but in the best sort of way. I was really into their 2021 album, All Day Gentle Hold!—I had it on repeat all last year. When Joker dropped, I loved the way it expressed the weirdest ideas through a mix of styles and sounds. There’s distortion, auto-tune, and lyrics about blood and other quirky stuff. I’m all about it. The standout moments for me were the opening and closing tracks. Sally kicks things off with an energized and experimental feel, while the closer, Music, is a slow build that really shows how much music means to the band. It leaves you with this eerie feeling, making you wonder what’s next for them. Big fan and loved the direction they took this album in.
Mannequin Pussy: I Got Heaven
I Got Heaven. When the EP dropped at the end of 2023, I was ready for this album. MP has been a constant source of inspiration. This album really cranked up the raw punk sounds while still keeping it polished. I could feel the rage, but also the talent and creativity shining through. For me, it’s their best work in terms of production and songwriting. Loud Bark especially got me going. That anger is palpable baby!
Cindy Lee: Diamond Jubilee
Earlier this year my sister had Diamond Jubilee on and she was just playing through the whole album. I listened, commented that I was really enjoying it, and we proceeded to keep it on repeat most of the night. Unbothered that it had repeated a few times, I would stop to listen just to appreciate what was playing. It’s just to say, that this album is a no-skip-good-time. It’s not easy to describe this one mainly because it’s a big one. 2 hours of beautiful melodies that weave in and out of each other. “Stunning” is an adjective that comes to mind, along with “peaceful.” Overall, this album is meaningful and Cindy has really created what I consider to be a masterpiece. YouTube only, but it’s the perfect album to listen to while working, while spending time with loved ones, or just when you're on your clear your head walk outside. Thank you for your art Cindy. It'll be cherished for years.
villagerrr: Tear Your Heart Out
So I like Alex G, a lot. He’s been my top artist for five years in a row now. It’s almost embarrassing at this point. He’s pretty unique but there are artists that do remind me of him from time to time. That artist for me this year was a band that is new to me, villagerrr. Mid-west emo but with more of the alt-country singer-songwriter flavor. I do think this band is still trying to nail down their signature sound. Some tracks feature the Alex G inspiration with their fuzzy guitar, piano riffs, and high pitch vocals. Others remind me of the band Hovvdy with the swirling melodies and gut-punch, sad, lyrics. It’s good! I’m excited to see where this band goes, and based off this album, there’s even more to develop. It has its diy charm that makes it feel essential indie in all the best ways.
Youbet: Way to Be
Sometimes the Spotify algorithm is actually, good? I have to give it credit for introducing me to the NY band, Youbet. Their sophomore album, Way to Be, captured me with their creativity and experimentation. It’s a pop album, but not in the traditional sense given the unique use of guitar, distortion, and other genres woven in. The use of guitar on this album is particularly beautiful, it’s evident the time and work that went into the composition for each track. The track Peel especially stood out to me with the pop and fizzle of the instrumentation. Each song revealed something unique in either lyrics or composition which made it easy to keep coming back to listen. It’s truly a special album that I hope gets more attention for its ability to delight and keep me guessing.
Fontaines D.C.: Romance
My top pick for 2024 has to be Romance by Fontaines D.C. You know when a song grabs you by the heart and essentially makes you feel invincible? That was me when I heard the track Desire. It’s initially slow, but then builds to this beautiful composition and powerful performance. I could basically feel the point that Fontaines D.C. was trying to get across. So many of the songs on this album felt like that for me. Super creative use of vocals, sound, and instrumentation to layer together some extremely well-produced and meaningful sounds. I’ve been a fan of this band since the beginning and it’s a big departure from Dogrel, and perfect evolution from their last album, Skinty Fia. It feels like they’ve nailed down their sound and found the balance in their style. Each track hits home for me, and while it might start off slow, it builds into something unforgettable. You can definitely hear influences from The Smashing Pumpkins and Pixies, but it still feels fresh and contemporary. I'm really into the direction they took, and I’ll be keeping it on repeat.
Honorable Mentions
Bladee: Cold Visions
Kendrick Lamar: GNX
Mk.gee: Two Star and the Dream Police
Touche Amore: Spiral in a Straight Line