30 of the best albums of 2024 -

Want to diversify your Spotify Wrapped before the year ends? 2024 was a year filled with incredible music releases. From established artists pushing boundaries to emerging talents making their mark, there was something for everyone.

This list highlights some of the year's most critically acclaimed albums, as ranked by Metacritic. Metacritic aggregates reviews from professional critics, assigning a numerical score to each review and calculating a weighted average to provide a concise overview of critical reception.

Ready to expand your music library? Click on to explore some of the albums that impressed critics in 2024.

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'Filthy Underneath' - Nadine Shah -

Nadine Shah's fifth album is a deeply personal and introspective record. She doesn't shy away from exploring themes of grief, addiction recovery, and mental health struggles. Shah's powerful vocals and poignant lyrics are combined with rich production and innovative arrangements.

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'Orquídeas' - Kali Uchis -

Uchis's second Spanish-language album honors her Colombian-American heritage. With its bold lyrics and infectious rhythms, the album celebrates female empowerment and embraces the diversity of Latin American music.

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'What Now' - Brittany Howard -

The Grammy Award-winning singer's second solo album blends dance-pop, soul, and funk. Thanks to her soaring vocals and complex arrangements, some critics have even compared Howard to Prince, praising her ability to explore diverse musical styles and create groundbreaking music.

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'Only God Was Above Us' - Vampire Weekend -

Vampire Weekend's long-awaited fifth album mixes energetic sounds with gloomy lyrics. Rolling Stone called it "a harsh beautiful record for a harsh beautiful world." While not as upbeat as their earlier work, the album experiments with different genres and concludes with the more optimistic track 'Hope.'

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'Manning Fireworks' - MJ Lenderman -

Lenderman explores themes of heartbreak and disappointment in his latest release. The album's blend of indie rock and folk influences, combined with Lenderman's insightful lyrics and distinctive vocals, has earned praise from critics and fans alike.

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'3+5' - Melt Banana -

After an 11-year career, the Japanese noise-rock band has released its full-length debut album. Blending grindcore, power violence, and electronica, the duo's intense and chaotic sound still features their signature aggressive guitar riffs.

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'This Could Be Texas' - English Teacher -

The British group's debut album explores themes of social and political unrest, including prejudice, economic hardship, and mental health issues. The band blends elements of indie rock, progressive rock, folk, electronica, and post-punk, creating a compelling and dynamic sound.

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'My Light, My Destroyer' - Cassandra Jenkins -

Cassandra Jenkins' third album is a bittersweet and beautiful exploration of loneliness and melancholy, tempered by moments of optimistic lightness. Despite reportedly going through moments of self-doubt about her work, Jenkins has created a captivating and memorable listening experience.

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'Brat and it's completely different but also still brat' - Charli xcx -

Building on the success of her "Brat Summer," Charli xcx dropped this dynamic remix album featuring a star-studded lineup of collaborators, including Billie Eilish and Lorde. The album reimagines the original tracks, offering fresh perspectives and experimental soundscapes.

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'Ten Fold' - Yaya Bey -

Bey's latest release is a poignant and introspective album that explores themes of grief and resilience. Featuring samples of her late father, Ayub Bey aka Grand Daddy I.U., the album blends soulful ballads with upbeat dance tracks.

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'Lives Outgrown' - Beth Gibbons -

Portishead's Beth Gibbons makes her solo debut with an emotional and introspective album. Recorded over a decade, the album explores themes of aging, loss, and the passage of time. 

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'All Born Screaming' - St. Vincent -

Annie Clark's self-produced seventh album is a bold departure from St. Vincent's previous work.  She embraces a more uplifting and romantic sound, while experimenting with warped synthesizer textures, adding a layer of electronic influence to her sound.

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'Romance' - Fontaines D.C. -

On their fourth album, the Irish group trades their signature post-punk sound for a more expansive and melodic approach, while still exploring their signature themes of identity, society, and the dark side of love.

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'Small Changes' - Michael Kiwanuka -

Five years after his Mercury Prize win, Michael Kiwanuka's fourth album reflects a period of significant personal change. The album explores themes of fear, adaptation, and growth, showcasing Kiwanuka's ability to blend hypnotic beats with empathetic lyrics.

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'Night Reign' - Arooj Aftab -

The Pakistani singer and composer's self-produced fourth album explores the pain of lost love. From 18th-century poetry to modern snippets, the lyrics and Aftab's vocals capture a universal experience: the enduring power of memories and desire in the face of absence.

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'Tigers Blood' - Waxahatchee -

Katie Crutchfield's Waxahatchee has consistently delivered honest and insightful music. 'Tigers Blood' continues this tradition, offering a collection of anthemic songs that explore Crutchfield's personal experiences and the complexities of human relationships.

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'Passage du Desir' - Johnny Blue Skies -

After his 2016 Grammy nomination for Album of the Year, Sturgill Simpson returns with his debut album under the name Johnny Blue Skies. Blending country, rock, and psychedelic elements, 'Passage du Desir' repositions Simpson as one of Nashville's most unconventional artists.

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'Here in the Pitch' - Jessica Pratt -

The Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter delivers a mesmerizing and ethereal album. With her distinctive voice and intricate guitar work, Pratt creates a dreamy and atmospheric soundscape, drawing inspiration from Brazilian rhythms and the precision of jazz singers like Judee Sill and Anita O'Day.

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'Hit Me Hard and Soft' - Billie Eilish -

In her third full-length studio release, Eilish showcases her growth as a songwriter and performer, blending haunting melodies, clever lyrics, and infectious rhythms. With a newfound maturity, she explores themes of sexuality, relationships, and self-discovery with raw honesty and vulnerability.

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'EELS' - Being Dead -

In a nearly nihilistic, yet humorous exploration of youth in an era where hope for the future seems naive, the Austin band's second album delivers a lighter, '90s-inspired take on themes of dating and identity, and even includes a love-letter-like song to Godzilla.

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'Wild God' - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds -

Cave's 18th album with The Bad Seeds is a testament to the human capacity for both joy and sorrow. While the album is deeply rooted in grief, it also celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. Cave's raw and poetic lyrics explore themes of love, loss, and the complexities of life.

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'Funeral for Justice' - Mdou Moctar -

Recorded in just five days, 'Funeral for Justice' is a technically impressive and emotionally charged album. Moctar's guitar work is masterful as he denounces the exploitation of Niger's resources and the erosion of its indigenous culture.

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'Iechyd Da' - Bill Ryder-Jones -

This solo release showcases the British musician's talent for creating atmospheric and melancholic soundscapes. Bringing a combination of delicate guitar work and ethereal vocals, the album offers a deeply personal and moving listening experience.

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'All Hell' - Los Campesinos! -

After a seven-year hiatus, the Welsh indie rock band delivers a dose of their signature energetic and emotionally charged music. With their trademark wit and vulnerability, Los Campesinos! continue to explore themes of love, loss, and the complexities of modern life.

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'Nobody Loves You More' - Kim Deal -

Deal's solo debut offers a nostalgic trip through the '90s indie rock scene while also delivering a fresh, contemporary sound. With the help of her former bandmates in The Breeders, Deal blends catchy melodies and insightful lyrics to create a signature indie rock experience.

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'Cowboy Carter' - Beyoncé -

In a surprising departure from her usual R&B and pop sound, Queen Bee's country-inspired album features collaborations with various artists, including country legends Willie Nelson and Linda Martell.

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'Patterns in Repeat' - Laura Marling - British singer-songwriter Laura Marling delivers a deeply personal and introspective album. Recorded at home and co-produced with Dom Monks, the album showcases Marling's signature folk-rock style, with its intricate guitar work and poignant lyrics.

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'Absolute Elsewhere' - Blood Incantation -

The Colorado death metal band's latest album impressed critics and fans with its blend of heavy, dissonant riffs and psychedelic, progressive elements. The band's intricate songwriting and technical prowess create a truly immersive and otherworldly listening experience.

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'Songs of a Lost World' - The Cure -

After a 16-year hiatus, The Cure returned with their 14th studio album. This long-awaited release showcases the band's enduring talent and timeless sound, offering a nostalgic journey through their signature blend of alternative and gothic rock.

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'BRAT' - Charli xcx -

Charli xcx's sixth studio album is a bold, aggressive pop album inspired by British 2000s rave culture. Its distinctive sound and confident attitude sparked the "Brat Summer" phenomenon, and the album's title even became Collins Dictionary's Word of the Year. With its provocative cover art and defiant lyrics, 'BRAT' became a cultural statement.

Sources: (Metacritic) (The Guardian) (Pitchfork) (Billboard) (NPR)

See also: Music giving you chills? Here's why, according to science

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