The time has come.
The year is just about over, which means it’s that time once again as I swear to myself that I’m done doing Top 10 lists forever, promise myself I absolutely will not be doing a list this year, then sit down and do a list of the Top 10 Albums of 2024.
As always, the list is based on streaming data sort of, but mostly vibes, and what feels most true to me. Plenty of the Honorable Mentions are Top 10 worthy as well. I’d Cady Heron the Top Album crown to everyone if I could. Well, I could. But I won’t.
These are my picks for my favorite albums of 2024. Sorry to (almost all) men, for the 17th year in a row. Enjoy, and I hope you find something new to love.
Without further ado…
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Kylie Minogue – Tension II (Vinyl)
Kylie goes full Alexandra Stan and asks: “What if we did ‘Padam’ a few more times?”
Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well (Vinyl)
Kacey asks big life questions and finds her peace.
Fletcher – In Search of the Antidote (Vinyl)
Full-throated, scream-along anthems. What a Kelly Clarkson album should sound like in 2024.
Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism (Vinyl)
Dua still doing Dua. Better than Stan Twitter made it seem, that’s for sure.
ARTMS – Dall (Vinyl)
Hypnotic K-pop from a group that’s never stopped being great, regardless of formation. LOONA forever.
Shakira – Las Mujeres No Lloran (Vinyl)
Shaki slaps together previously released singles in an eclectic assortment, and turns her tears to diamonds.
Pet Shop Boys – Nonetheless (Vinyl)
Cool, confronting, genius as always. Who you gonna turn to out of loneliness?
FLO – Access All Areas (Vinyl)
Our greatest hope for a modern UK girl group.
Fabiana Palladino – Fabiana Palladino (Vinyl)
One the year’s most intriguing debuts, evoking Prince and Jessie Ware.
Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter (Vinyl)
Bey takes the reigns in a genre that’s shown her hostility in the past (and present), with sweeping country-inspired tracks full of life lessons, putting the spotlight on Black trailblazers, music legends and rising stars alike.
10. Kelly Lee Owens, Dreamstate
Released on: October 18
Buy it on vinyl
The Welsh electronic musician is giving us new ways to dream, at a time we need it the most. After signing with George Daniel of The 1975 (yes, Charli’s man) to his Dirty Hit record label imprint dh2, Kelly Lee Owens released her fourth studio album in October. What it lacks in lyricism at times (“dreamstate…the dreamstate“), the album more than makes up for in euphoric pulsations and mantra-like declarations repeated over and over that transport and lift higher and higher. It’s a healing aural experience. You’ll feel better after having listened the whole way through, promise.
9. Danna, CHILDSTAR
Released on: April 12
Buy it on vinyl
It’s Danna, bitch. The Mexican superstar actress-turned-pop superstar takes the reigns of her career in a Can’t Be Tamed-turned-Blackout-lite moment, breaking free from her child star origins (thus the album title), securing single name status and stepping into the spotlight on her own terms with an impassioned, dance-y declaration of independence. CHILDSTAR is dark and moody but liberated, full of crazy nights out, sexy bangers, high drama and throbbing club ecstasy. And for further proof of the talent, look no further than the fact that she’s the chosen one to voice and sing the role of Elphaba in the Latin American dub of Wicked. Just wow.
8. Florrie, The Lost Ones
Released on: June 14
Buy it on vinyl
The Lost Ones, indeed: drummer-singer-songwriter supreme Florrie‘s long, long, long delayed triumph of a debut album made its most unlikely arrival in 2024 after various setbacks and all sorts of label/music industry nonsense. Her lush and wistful voice delivers the chills on one anthemic track after another, complete with the kind of sticky pop earworms one would expect from the Girls Aloud maestro himself, Brian Higgins. Anthems like “Looking for Love” and “Kissing in the Snow” are standouts of the year, and songs we’ve had for years like “Get You Back” and “I Look a Little Something” sound better than ever. It’s a real full circle album for the PopJustice forum community, and me personally. A Xenomania album in 2024? This is what dreams are made of.
7. Kali Uchis, Orquídeas
Released on: January 12
Buy it on vinyl
Orquídeas arrived within the very first few days of the year, and instantly secured itself a position on the Top Albums of 2024 list. The dreamy bilingual, bisexual collection from Kali Uchis fluctuates through genres, threading in high-profile collaborations throughout – Karol G, JT, Rauw Alejandro! – and best of all, the absolutely stunning, unexpected disco-tinged delight “Igual que un Ángel” with Peso Pluma.
6. Tyla, Tyla
Released on: March 22
Buy it on vinyl
A star is born. The South African singer is responsible for helping bring amapiano to the mainstream around the world with her self-described “popiano” sound thanks to the inescapable “Water,” yes, but there’s even more deeper within her self-titled debut. Over and over, Tyla provides evidence of brilliance with tracks like “Truth or Dare,” “ART” and “Jump,” as well as “PUSH 2 START” from the deluxe edition, which continues to build momentum. The end result is a thoroughly satisfying, entirely cohesive body of work from start to finish from a singer who is clearly destined for great things still to come. Read the full review.
5. Billie Eilish, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Released on: May 17
Buy it on vinyl
It’s honestly scary how huge Billie Eilish has become. Watching her annual Vanity Fair interview has provided some parasocial assurance that she’s seemingly doing okay. Happier than ever, even. The 22-year-old singer’s continued exclusive partnership with her brother Finneas has proven only more fruitful, with some of their most advanced and interesting work to date on Billie’s latest album, including “Chihiro,” “L’Amour De Ma Vie” and one of the best, perhaps misleadingly sweet-sounding pop songs of the year, “Birds of a Feather.” Sure, there’s still devastating emotions on this record, but there’s also a noticeably lighter sensibility compared to some serious gloom and doom from her past, suggesting she’s allowed some sunshine into the studio. Every replay reveals something new to love. With deliciously long tracks (5 minutes in a 2-minute track world, imagine that!) and plenty of room to explore sonically, Billie has continued to impressively shut out the rest of the world, follow her North Star and blaze her own path.
4. Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet
Released on: August 23
Buy it on vinyl
This is for “Thumbs.” This is for “Paris.” This is for “Almost Love.” This is for “Lie for Love.” We’ve been Little Woodworkers ’round these parts for years. Yes, “Espresso” took over the entire world, and Sabrina Carpenter – along with Charli xcx and Chappell Roan – objectively dominated the summer as the Power Pop Girls. But deeper within her record (her sixth studio album, mind you) just gets even better. Sabrina has perfected this Betty Boop-esque, wink-wink cheeky pop girlie persona down to a science, and the humor and personality ooze out of instantly catchy tracks like “Bed Chem,” “Juno” and “Taste.” The stars have finally aligned, and Sabrina was more than ready to shine in 2024. It’s about time for horny shortie representation in media.
3. Anitta, Funk Generation
Released on: April 26
Buy it on vinyl
Anitta has spent years hustling across language and land barriers, shape-shifting across genres to become the biggest Brazilian export in the world. With Funk Generation, she’s finally found her way home. A hot and horny multilingual ode to the music born from the Brazilian favelas she hails from, the record is wall-to-wall sweaty bangers, resulting in one of the most fun, in-your-face listening experiences of the year. A little focus goes a long way, and the mission statement of Funk Generation is loud and clear: Anitta’s going to teach you how to funk. Read the full review.
2. Ariana Grande, eternal sunshine
Released on: March 8
Buy it on vinyl
Look, it might be hard to remember a time before the Wicked press tour, but the pint-sized ponytailed singer delivered a perfect pop record just a few months prior. Ariana Grande‘s insanely well-trained voice, ear for production and nerdy knack for vocal stacking, combined with the Pop God himself Max Martin behind the boards? There was no stopping this dream team. “Yes, And?” is a wonderfully cunty, Shep Pettibone-style response to critics analyzing the timeline of the Elizabeth Taylor of our time’s latest romance, and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” is the natural evolution of Robyn‘s “Dancing on My Own” – and easily one of the best pop songs of the year, period. May those two continue to lock themselves away in a studio for weeks and deliver many more albums in the future.
1. Charli xcx, Brat
Released on: June 7
Buy it on vinyl
Duh. The way the Brat campaign swallowed pop culture whole for the bulk of 2024 – the “Apple” dance, Brat wall, Chloë Sevigny, Lorde, Troye Sivan, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Addison Rae, the remixes, the color green, the CNN panel, the Vice President’s presidential campaign, the Sweat Tour, SNL – can and should be studied in the future. But at its (rotten) core is the music: Charli xcx wrote a blunt, sarcastic, vulnerable dance record about being in your 30s, dulling anxieties with drugs and partying, feeling self-doubt about your career path and life choices, the complexities of female friendships (the entire “Girl, so confusing” saga is one of the best things to happen in pop in a long while), mourning a close friend and collaborator, and whether or not to go away and have a baby. It is deeply relatable, danceable, and ultimately remarkable, and a reminder of how refreshing it is to hear a pop star sing largely about topics beyond the trials and tribulations of romance. (Everything is romantic, anyway.) Everything Charli’s done since the MySpace days has led up to this cultural moment. Lightning struck. This angel earned her No. 1, easily.
Tove Lo & SG Lewis, Heat
Released on: June 14
Too…too vay lo? Period!
Tove Lo and SG Lewis would have easily secured a Top Album of 2024 slot had they cranked out just a few more tunes in their studio sessions together. Get it together, you two. Regardless, the Swedish Queen of the Clouds and the producer extraordinaire released some Heat, and it is…well, hot. (Obviously.) Heat is an empowering, top-to-bottom slam dunk for sweaty dance floors on summer nights, conjuring everything from ’90s trance remixes, to early ’00s Kylie, to the glory days of Bodyrox and Luciana. Real the full review.
Shygirl, Club Shy
Released on: February 9
Shygirl knows how to party: Club Shy is essentially a ’90s and ’00s-club inspired prepackaged DJ mini-set. It’s packed to the brim with thick (thicc) beats, come-hither crooning and plenty of nostalgia-inducing dance floor euphoria, with subtle nods aplenty to the pioneers who came before while still propelling today’s electronic scene into the future. And, even better, there’s a second part coming next year. Read the full review.
Sunday (1994), Sunday (1994)
Released on: May 3
Buy it on vinyl
Paige Turner, who you perhaps knew already as XYLØ, and partner Lee Newell make a gorgeously gloomy duo, and their newly formed group Sunday (1994) provided one of the best debut records of the year. They’re a little bit Tired Boy, but I never once grew tired of their melancholy melodies and somber songcraft. It’s little bit Lana Del Rey, some Mazzy Star, a bit of Ethel Cain, a hint of The Cardigans. Evocative lyricism, wistful soundscapes – it’s all perfect for late night contemplations, Sunday Scaries and pensive glances outside the window on a rainy day.
And there you have it.
Last year, I wished for Robyn to return and Save Pop™ this year. And perhaps the other Robyn – Robyn Rihanna Fenty, too. Didn’t happen.
Nothing’s changed for 2025, although rumblings suggest that I might at least get my wish from the Swedish Queen of Pop. Can’t trust the makeup lady would ever return at this point. Oh, and the possibility of Sky Ferreira‘s Masochism just became way more real. I’ll throw in a new one from Grace Jones and Sade while I’m out here manifesting my ultimate dream releases. Radical optimism, right?
Have a happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year, everyone.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2023.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2020.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2018.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2016.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2015.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2014.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2013.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2012.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2011.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2010.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2009.
See the Top 10 best albums of 2008.
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