Bo's Top Albums of 2024

I blinked and suddenly we’re in the final month of 2024. Can you believe it? In some ways, the year flew. But in other ways, January feels like it was ages ago, especially when it comes to music. This year was absolutely STACKED with new music! From the dominating pop girls to newbies making their debut and seasoned veterans showing us how it's done, the new releases were widespread throughout genres. As a lover of music, we were honestly truly blessed.

Despite it being a stacked year, it was also a year where I took a chance and listened to many new artists and I found myself a new fan for many of them. In fact, according to my spreadsheet (yes, I’m a nerd who keeps track of my ratings for album releases) I listened to 70 new releases.

With so much saturation this year, there were lots of highs and lows. So for this year’s top albums, I’m using streaming data (thanks, stats.fm!) to assist with a mix of ratings I gave them to rank overall. Let’s get into it!

Honorable Mentions

• Kylie Minogue, Tension II
• A.G. Cook, Britpop
• Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, CHALLENGERS Score
• Rachel Chinouriri, What a Devastating Turn of Events
• Brittany Howard, What Now
• Omar Apollo, God Said No
• WILLOW, empathogen
• Kali Uchis, ORQUIDEAS
• The Marías, Submarine
• Tinashe, Quantum Baby

Top EPs & Mixtapes

• Tove Lo & SG Lewis, HEAT
• Shygirl, Club Shy
• Doechii, Alligator Bites Never Heal
• Leigh-Anne, No Hard Feelings
• Bon Iver, SABLE,

Amidst a sea of albums, we were lucky enough to get some EPs and mixtapes. Notably Club Shy felt like it got Brat summer going as it took on many different forms itself via extended mixes and remixed versions throughout the winter and spring. Shygirl warmed us up for what was to come.

The long awaited Tove Lo and SG Lewis collab EP, HEAT, graced us with its presence during Pride Month, and what a timely release that was. As a longstanding fan of both, this was such a fun little treat of house bangers. I think we need a full album from those two next, though. I couldn’t get enough of it.

Another highlight and standout was Doechii’s mixtape ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL. I was immediately obsessed with “Alter Ego” when that dropped. Though this mixtape was nothing like that, Doechii delivered a punchy and honest project. I’m not usually a fan of R&B/hip hop, but the Swamp Princess caught my attention. Also, her Tiny Desk concert and Colbert performance were both insane in the best way!

TOP ALBUMS

25-16 Rapid Fire

25. Clairo, Charm – My apologies to Clairo as I wasn’t familiar with her game. Clairo shade, anyone? This was sultry bedroom pop paired with a gorgeous production. A welcomed sound amidst the big pop records of the year. 

Faves: Sexy to Someone, Add Up My Love

24. SOPHIE, SOPHIE – SOPHIE’s self-titled posthumous album takes you on a journey and exploration of many different sounds with past collaborators. She was a visionary in her own right and this likely final full length effort is a great addition to her legacy.

Faves: Reason Why (feat. Kim Petras), Why Lies (feat. BC Kingdom and LIZ), Always and Forever (feat. Hannah Diamond), My Forever (feat. Cecile Believe)

23. Tyla, TYLA – Now that’s what I call a debut! The Amapiano combined with today’s contemporary pop R&B sound felt so inventive and infectious with a pulsing drumbeat.

Faves: Water, ART, Truth or Dare

22. FLO, Access All Areas – I’m a sucker for girl groups. This was another one that wasn’t on my radar, but this definitive debut is so lush and taps into the 90s/early 2000s sound while still feeling current. This is the nostalgia I crave! Also, no one else can say that Cynthia Erivo voiced their opening track. 

Faves: Walk Like This, In My Bag (feat. GloRilla), IWH2BMX

21. Conan Gray, Found Heaven – The 80s revival is real with this one and I adore synthpop, so this was a match made in heaven. Yeah, maybe the production takes it too far at times, but the sharp songwriting makes up for it. I’ll forever be a simp for synths.

Faves: Fainted Love, Never Ending Song, Bourgeoisieses 

20. Jamie xx, In Waves – I was obsessed with this project ever since the initial single dropped and I never looked back. A perfectly polished dance album made exclusively for the club.

Faves: Baddy on the Floor, Life, Dafodil, Still Summer

19. Foster the People, Paradise State of Mind – Indie pop is so back! After not releasing since 2017, that classic psychedelic sound from Mark Foster and Isom Innis was much needed. Definitely a return to form for the, now, duo. A perfect end of summer album full of cathartic grooves. And they put on a killer show at Austin City Limits!

Faves: Lost in Space, See You in the Afterlife, Chasing Low Vibrations

18. Vampire Weekend, Only God Was Above Us – The hipster kings showed how it’s done and somehow raised the bar yet again. And they did that by paying homage to their past albums while looking forward to the future.

Faves: Ice Cream Piano, Classical, Mary Boone

17. Justice, HYPERDRAMA – Indie pop wasn’t the only genre that made a comeback. Electronic dance returned in a big way after the French duo’s 7 year hiatus. Though it’s no Cross, it’s still a fun soundtrack to a night out with some fun big name features.

Faves: Neverender (feat. Tame Impala), One Night/All Night (feat. Tame Impala), Mannequin Love, Saturnine (feat. Miguel)

16. St. Vincent, All Born Screaming – Bold, brash, badass. Annie Clark just knows what works when it comes to art rock. Entirely written and self-produced, it’s possibly one of the more raw and vulnerable records to come out of the year.

Faves: Big Time Nothing, Violent Times, All Born Screaming

The Top 15

15. Empire of the Sun, Ask That God

Remember when I said indie pop is so back? I wasn’t joking! The Australian electronic duo (Nick Littlemore and Luke Steele) made their return after an 8 year hiatus. And suddenly I was transported back to 2008 listening to “Walking on a Dream.” This duo really hasn’t changed much. Ask That God delivers blissful and sun-kissed lyrics and vocals backdropped by funky nostalgia pop with some current influences. It’s by no means groundbreaking, but it’s a fun ride through Lord Littlemore and Emperor Steele’s eccentric universe. I love my kooky Australian uncles and I’m proud to be an Empyrean.

Faves: Changes, Music on the Radio, Cherry Blossom, AEIOU

14. Billie Eilish, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

Admittedly I’ve never been a huge fan of Billie, but I was totally won over by her third studio album. It’s grown up and realized, due in part to effective risk-taking by her and brother Finneas. Their collaboration is something special that’s so unique and can’t be replicated. And it’s aptly named, because it’s got hard and soft moments throughout. I really didn’t expect myself to love this one as much as I did, but this project’s intimacy and depth was undeniable. “Birds of a Feather” dominating the radio waves and TikTok videos is just one example of that. I’m so glad Billie is getting her flowers for this one.

Faves: Lunch, Chihiro, L’amour De Ma Vie, The Greatest

13. Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet

It’s official. I’ve caught the Carpenter bug! Her last album piqued my interest and Short n’ Sweet sealed the deal for me. After the success of “Espresso,” I’m so glad Sabrina harnessed the moment and made a polished and glittery album with hues of 70s retro. As the title suggests, the record is definitely short and sweet, yet it packs a punch in just 36 minutes. Sabrina’s songwriting ability continues to shine, especially with her tongue in cheek suggestive lyrics (see: “Where art thou? Why not uponeth me?”). This was definitely a long overdue breakout for an artist that’s been around the block. The future of pop is in good hands.

Faves: Bed Chem, Juno, Good Graces, Taste

12. Magdalena Bay, Imaginal Disk

When this came out at the end of August, I said goodbye to Brat Summer and hello to Imaginal Disk Autumn. Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin somehow managed to go even more left-field with their second album. Albums take you on a journey, but this is one you have to buckle up because it takes you on an interdimensional ride. Imaginal Disk strikes a strange balance of being dramatic while also not taking itself too seriously. I’ve always enjoyed this duo’s avant garde approach to producing sleek pop and I hope others take note. 

Faves: Image, Death & Romance, That’s My Floor

11. Fabiana Palladino, Fabiana Palladino

One of my favorite discoveries was this stunning gem of a debut album. Fabiana Palladino is definitely one to watch and rightfully so as she got the stamp of approval from Lorde and Jessie Ware. This sophisticated self titled debut album dazzles and shimmers with a contemporary R&B sound among synths. The production provides such a pleasing ambiance. It’s no wonder Jessie Ware lauded the work, because I found it to be very Jessie Ware-esque. There’s elements of Janet Jackson in there, too. The perfect introduction to Fabiana and I’m excited to see what else is in store for this up and comer.

Faves: I Can’t Dream Anymore, Give Me a Sign, Can You Look in the Mirror?

10. Kacey Musgraves, Deeper Well

This one may have hit harder and deeper (hehe) for me since I’ve been going through my own Saturn return as I turned 29 this past year. Deeper Well evoked a lot of early Kacey, keeping things simple and stripped down to the studs. It was a comfort listen that felt like a hug. Beyond the concept of a saturn return, anyone could relate to the message of clearing the emotional crap out of your life and starting anew.

Faves: Anime Eyes, Cardinal, Sway, Lonely Millionaire

9. Empress Of, For Your Consideration

Empress Of is a one of a kind artist. Lorely Rodriguez really is that girl. It’s hard to describe, but her voice is so unique and she has brought something to the pop landscape others haven’t. As a concept album, For Your Consideration chronicles the end of her relationship with an LA movie director in the midst of his “For Your Consideration” campaign for the Oscars. The title track brilliantly sets the scene and spends the next 30 minutes exploring broader themes within Hollywood, detailing those peaks and valleys of a heated romance. And despite it being a shorter runtime, it zigs and zags while still keeping on theme. She’s never been more self-assured and commanding with her unique storytelling and production approach. In my homosexual opinion, this is one of the more underrated and overlooked albums from the year that deserved acclaim. Not to mention it features some spectacular features like Rina Sawayama and MUNA. 

Faves: Lorelei, Kiss Me (feat. Rina Sawayama), What’s Love (feat. MUNA)

8. Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine

I really didn’t think we’d be getting another album from Miss Ponytail for a bit with her being busy in actress land, but I’d like to thank the SAG-AFTRA strike and Ari’s reunion with Max Martin for allowing this to come to fruition. It seems we have another project exploring the idea of saturn return, but in a different way. Described as “sort of a concept album” and named after the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Ariana delves into her messy life. She puts the idea of a divorce album on its head and has an honest conversation with her fans. It’s almost as if she took the good parts of Sweetener and Thank U, Next and took things up a notch. It’s delicate and raw yet still danceable. You can tell the Wicked rehearsals have worn off on her for the better, because this album easily has her best vocals, songwriting and overall musicianship. 

Faves: We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love), Supernatural, Yes, And?

7. Bonnie McKee, Hot City

This one was long overdue to arrive in our ears, but I’m so glad we finally got it. Responsible for penning massive hits for Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Kesha, Kelly Clarkson and more, Bonnie’s been around the block. And if it wasn’t for her label stringing her along in 2014, we would’ve had this sooner. But 10 years later after re-records and gaining back the rights to the songs, they finally saw the light of day. Hot City is rooted in the early 2010s capturing the essence of the charts while remaining strikingly fresh. As a pop fan obsessed with nostalgia, this is the perfect treasure trove of yesteryear. Bonnie’s already done so much for the pop music landscape, so this felt like the best treat and view into her vibrant mind.

Faves: Hot City, Electric Heaven, Rewind Your Heart

6. Dua Lipa, Radical Optimism

Perhaps the most contentious release of the year? People have their criticisms be it a similar sound from before or the questionable rollout. Either way, this felt like a prime example of not fixing what isn’t broken. Maybe it didn’t quite live up to Future Nostalgia, but that’s a hard act to follow and emulate again. The bottom line for me is that Miss Peep filled this with catchy earworms that I couldn’t stop listening to. The vacanza queen took us on a European vacation that I could only dream of. You could tell she wanted to have fun with this record. Maybe she had a little too much fun with collaborators Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) and Danny L Harle, since it did at times feel safe, but it didn’t stop me from pressing play over and over again. Also her headline show at Austin City Limits was a 10/10.

Faves: Falling Forever, Happy For You, Houdini

5. Maggie Rogers, Don’t Forget Me

I don’t usually stan men, but we do have to thank Pharrell Williams for discovering Maggie back in 2016. After being thrust into the spotlight, her slow but assured rise has been so satisfying to see as a fan from day one. And her third go round feels like a return to form we were introduced to then. Maggie showed her prowess with Surrender and is now settling back into herself. And you can hear that loud and clear across this entire effort. Co-produced with Ian Fitchuk, I absolutely loved the mashing of cosmic country with elements of disco and psychedelic rock. It’s simple but effective and never takes away from Maggie’s slinky vocals that always remain front and center.

Faves: The Kill, So Sick of Dreaming, On & On & On

4. Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter

On the coattails of Renaissance we get the second in a trilogy of music recorded during the pandemic. Reclaiming genres that were pioneered by Black people, this one also came with a bit of personal spite, after receiving backlash for her “Daddy Lessons” performance with The Chicks at the CMAs in 2016. That sting led to this reinvention of Americana and country. But it’s even more than that as she explored blues, folk, soul, rhythm and blues, funk, gospel, the list literally goes on. Genre-bending at its finest. From the first track to the last, Beyoncé takes you through an entire radio show and brings along some of the greats (Dolly Parton, Linda Martell, Willie Nelson) and some rising country stars (Tanner Adell, Shaboozey, Brittney Spencer, etc.) to help out. It’s by no means my favorite work from Mrs. Carter, but I’m glad it exists in her expansive and growing repertoire. She absolutely didn’t need to prove she belonged in the genre, but those Virgos will do anything to have the last laugh and that she did.

Faves: Bodyguard, Ya Ya, II Most Wanted

3. Allie X, Girl With No Face

Miss Alexandra Hughes fully embraced 80s synthpop on her third effort and I ate it all the way up. From the lead single release of “Black Eye,” I was hooked. Girl With No Face is laced with Allie’s quintessential weirdness but goes guns blazing into the 80s goth pop sphere and doesn’t look back once. Entirely self-produced, Allie’s doing what major artists wish they were doing with their sound and pen game. I honestly don’t think there’s another artist out there who could write a touching and heartbreaking song longing for her eczema cream lady named “Galina.” Allie X is another artist that continues to be slept on (she even says it herself! See: “You Slept On Me”).

Faves: Galina, Off With Her Tits, You Slept On Me

2. Remi Wolf, Big Ideas

Remi Wolf wasn’t really on my radar until this year. I’d heard a few of her songs from previous works and I liked what I heard but never really put the effort into exploring further. I’m joining the club fashionably late, but happy to be here either way for album two. The title gives you an idea of what you’re getting yourself into: it’s a bouncy record that kaleidoscopes through disco beats and reggae grooves. Remi leaves it all on the table, divulging all her thoughts and stories in her journal. “Soup” sounds like a modern day “Call Your Girlfriend” anthemic belting ballad. While scattered about, it’s nonetheless unabashed and honest (see: “Alone in Miami,” “Toro”). And best of all, it’s just downright fun (see: “Slay Bitch”). 

Faves: Toro, Soup, Kangaroo

1. Charli xcx, Brat (plus the deluxe and remix albums)

If you know me well enough, was there any doubt this would be my album of the year? Charli is one of my all time favorite artists and it was so satisfying to watch her get her flowers for this triumph of an album. It absolutely deserves all the praise. With her past of sneaking into parties and raves, Brat is the club album that was practically begging to be made. But it’s not all dance beats. Charli is the most raw and authentic she’s ever been. She’s not just a partygirl she claims to be. There’s a complicated popstar underneath it all. And the album rollout over the past year has been so pleasing to see. Dropping a deluxe album and new versions with guest features? You bet. How about an entire remix album that almost functions as an entirely new album? Absolutely. No one else is doing it like her. Charli deserves all the success. Brat summer forever!!!

Faves: Spring Breakers, Everything is Romantic, Apple (the entire tracklist, honestly)