The 2024 End of Year music lists thread

Treble The 100 Best Songs of 2024
https://www.treblezine.com/the-100-best-songs-of-2024/

finalizing our list of the best songs of 2024—much as it is every year—took a bit of finessing. We nominated our favorites, made playlists, pitched our cases, debated and set arbitrary limits on artists and albums we knew would dominate the conversation (and maybe loosened one or two, for that matter). But one thing isn’t up for debate: This year was simply loaded with not just great songs, but ones that went harder than usual. There’s a lot about this year that we’d probably like to forget, but our 100 favorite songs of the year, at least, are worthy of the record books.

Written by Adam Blyweiss (AB), Adam P. Newton (APN), Casey Burke (CB), Colin Dempsey (CD), Elliot Burr (EB), Emily Reily (ER), Greg Hyde (GH), Jeff Terich (JT), Jeff Yerger (JY), Konstantin Rega (KR), Liam Green (LG), Langdon Hickman (LH), Noah Sparkes (NS), Patrick Pilch (PP), Tyler Dunston (TD), Tom Morgan (TM), Virginia Croft (VC) and Wil Lewellyn (WL)

1. Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”

Spotify Playlist:

Treble - The 100 Best Songs of 2024
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3xdJvX5lhQfBIKCk8DxJfc?si=549e84f2bde9477c

I keep seeing “starburster” in several lists and just listened to it and I don’t get it. It sounds like Kasabian.

I don’t hate it and the inhaling through the chorus is a cool touch, I’m just a bit suprised this sort of sound is critically approved by consensus now.

nah it’s lame as hell

It sounds like Kasabian.

lol otm, like at least they could have the decency to sound like primal scream?

The Quietus - AOTY format - The Quietus Albums of the Year 2024
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2314-the-quietus-albums-of-the-year-2024/

RA - the Best Records of 2024
https://ra.co/features/4404

I need to explore this later in the day.

These are the albums, EPs and compilations that made our year—from bright amapiano and complex sound design through bratty pop and studies in dub techno.

Number 1:

Loidis - One Day
West Mineral

Good to see Polygonia right up there in the RA list

Pitchfork top 50 albums

https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-albums-2024/

besides bladee in the top ten it’s a pretty good list

For Apple Music users,

Apple Music Replay 2024: How to get it
https://mashable.com/article/apple-music-replay-2024-how-to-get

Some cool picks on RA. First time hearing this Regal86 thing. I’m not sure I’ll be in the mood for an effing 100 tracks album but the opening song is very promising.

NME: have more on Apple Music Replay 2024

Ahead of Spotify Wrapped, Apple Music Replay shares biggest songs of 2024
https://www.nme.com/news/music/ahead-of-spotify-wrapped-apple-music-replay-shares-biggest-songs-of-2024-3818316

Top 20 Songs on Apple Music UK:

This is the mainstream in the UK.

1. Noah Kahan, ‘Stick Season’
2. Teddy Swims, ‘Lose Control’
3. Benson Boone, ‘Beautiful Things’
4. Sabrina Carpenter, ‘Espresso’
5. Shaboozey, ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’
6. Hozier, ‘Too Sweet’
7. Jack Harlow, ‘Lovin On Me’
8. Taylor Swift, ‘Cruel Summer’
9. cassö, RAYE & D-Block Europe, ‘Prada’
10. Dasha, ‘Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)’
11. Billie Eilish, ‘BIRDS OF A FEATHER’
12. Sabrina Carpenter, ‘Please Please Please’
13. Beyoncé, ‘TEXAS HOLD ‘EM’
14. Tate McRae, ‘greedy’
15. Post Malone, ‘I Had Some Help (feat. Morgan Wallen)’
16. Myles Smith, ‘Stargazing’
17. Sophie Ellis-Bextor, ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’
18. Sonny Fodera, MK & Clementine Douglas, ‘Asking’
19. Chappell Roan, ‘Good Luck, Babe!’
20. Taylor Swift, ‘Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)’

Kind of funny how Pitchfork completely ignored Beyonce on their top albums list when they gave her BNM when it came out.

Treble - The 50 Best Albums of 2024
https://www.treblezine.com/the-50-best-albums-of-2024/

1. Chat Pile – Cool World

Stereogum The 50 Best Songs Of 2024
https://www.stereogum.com/2288976/best-songs-2024/lists/year-in-review/2024-in-review/

1: Waxahatchee - "Right Back To It" (Feat. MJ Lenderman) (Anti-)

An update from Bleep

Bleep - 100 Tracks 2024 - will be announced on 24th December (that's 3 weeks today)
https://bleep.com/100-tracks-2024

This year will be the 16th and final instalment of Bleep's 100 Tracks - our definitive guide to the best music of the year.

A true journey of discovery, with the best tracks from our favourite albums, dance bangers, and unsung gems, ready for home listening or as a killer DJ tool.

Available to pre-order now as a high-quality download or gift to a loved one for Christmas. The full tracklist will be announced and available to download on Tuesday 24th December.

Wait, why is it the final countdown? Are they shutting down?

The Wire's year-end issue is out but I don't have time to type up their lists (new releases and archival/reissues, 50 each).

Someone with the physical magazine or a site subscription can confirm

https://www.yearendlists.com/2024/the-wire-top-50-albums-of-2024

FTR, Raymond (or anybody else here who contributes to The Wire), they'll give you a free digital subscription if you ask.

Americana is not my thang, but those interested:

CMAT, Candi Staton and Lyle Lovett to be honoured at the UK Americana Awards
https://www.uncut.co.uk/news/cmat-candi-staton-and-lyle-lovett-to-be-honoured-at-the-uk-americana-awards-147942/

The ceremony takes place at London's Hackney Church on Jan 23

loads of UK and International categories including:

INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
American Aquarium – The Fear Of Standing Still
Bonny Light Horseman – Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Woodland
Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well
Kyshona – Legacy
Willie Watson – Willie Watson

INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – “Empty Trainload of Sky”
Hurray For The Riff Raff – “Buffalo”
Julian Taylor & Allison Russell – “Pathways”
Kyshona – “The Echo”
Lizzie No – “The Heartbreak Store”
Sierra Ferrell – “American Dreaming”

Chris May's Best Jazz Albums Of 2024 - allaboutjazz.com

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/chris-mays-best-jazz-albums-of-2024

In case you missed the sad news, our dear friend and compatriot, Chris May, passed away in November (read our tribute). Below are the albums he considered extraordinary in 2024—a final testament to his discerning taste and love of sound

A playlist with most of the Quietus list:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/79T0hN4p5q9aF0sIHzhLDR?si=32ff5fa00c954757

Tristwch Y Fenywod seem to echo early Dead Can Dance, without the stunning vocals and songwriting, but they still make a good impression.

Gorilla vs. Bear’s Albums of 2024
https://www.gorillavsbear.net/gorilla-vs-bears-albums-of-2024/

01 CINDY LEE | Diamond Jubilee
02 MK.GEE | Two Star & the Dream Police
03 BEING DEAD | EELS
04 JESSICA PRATT | Here in the Pitch
05 MACH-HOMMY | #RICHAXXHAITIAN
06 FINE | Rocky Top Ballads
07 MAGDALENA BAY | Imaginal Disk
08 SKEE MASK | Resort
09 CHARLI XCX | brat
10 DEAN BLUNT + JOANNE ROBERTSON | Backstage Raver
11 NIGHT TAPES | Assisted Memories
12 NILUFER YANYA | My Method Actor
13 JACK J | Blue Desert
14 MJ LENDERMAN | Manning Fireworks
15 ARMAND HAMMER | BLK LBL
16 NAEMI | Dust Devil
17 HILDEGARD | Jour 1596
18 ASTRID SONNE | Great Doubt
19 NOURISHED BY TIME | Catching Chickens
20 F.G.S. | Tinker Bell's Cough
21 TYLA | Tyla
22 SAM MORTON | Daffodils & Dirt
23 FABIANA PALLADINO | Fabiana Palladino
24 BURIAL | Dreamfear / Boy Sent From Above
25 BROADCAST | Spell Blanket / Distant Call
26 CAROLINE SAYS | The Lucky One
27 DOROTHEA PAAS | Think of Mist
28 LARYSSA KIM | Contezza
29 MERCE LEMON | Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild
30 LOUKEMAN | Sd-2
31 HEMLOCK | 444
32 FERGUS JONES | Ephemera
33 CAOILFHIONN ROSE | Constellation
34 MAN REI | Thread / Doer
35 BULLION | Affection
36 ERIKA DE CASIER | Still
37 FIEVEL IS GLAQUE | Rong Weicknes
38 MERELY & MALIBU | Essential Mixtape
39 GB | Gusse Music
40 DISCOVERY ZONE | Quantum Web

The Quietus Columnfortably Numb: The Best Psych Rock of 2024
https://thequietus.com/tq-charts/columns-of-the-year/columnfortably-numb-the-best-psych-rock-of-2024/

That was the year that was, in psych rock terms, remembers JR Moores, picking out his 10 top releases of 2024

hmm gvb have less to dig through than usual

From Scotland: The Skinny's Albums of 2024
https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/opinion/albums-of-the-year/the-skinny-albums-of-2024

summary via:
Acclaimed Music Forum
https://www.acclaimedmusic.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15809

1. Charli xcx – BRAT
2. Fontaines D.C. – Romance
3. The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy
4. Kneecap – Fine Art
5. The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
6. Adrienne Lenker – Bright Future
7. Tyler, the Creator – Chromakopia
8. Magdalena Bay – Imaginal Disk
9. Cindy Lee – Diamond Jubilee
10. Still House Plants – If I don't make it, I love u
11 MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks [ANTI-]
12 English Teacher – This Could Be Texas [Island]
13 Waxahatchee – Tiger Blood [ANTI-]
14 Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us [Columbia]
15 Mannequin Pussy – I Got Heaven [Epitaph]
16 Mermaid Chunky – slif slaf slof [DFA]
17 Godspeed You! Black Emperor – NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024, 28,340 DEAD [Constellation]
18 Kim Gordon – The Collective [Matador]
19 Nala Sinephro – Endlessness [Warp]
20 Wunderhorse – Midas [Communion]

The Wire's Records of the Year 2024
The Wire AOTY format
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2322-the-wires-records-of-the-year-2024/

UK based The Forty-Five's Best Albums of 2024
https://thefortyfive.com/opinion/reviews/best-albums-2024/
AOTY format
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2323-the-forty-fives-best-albums-of-2024/

This music website is run by an ex NME editor, Charlotte Gunn.

New York Times critics:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/arts/music/best-albums-2024.html

#1s: Charli XCX (Pareles), Mk.gee (Caramanica), MJ Lenderman (Zoladz)

2024 Spotify Wrapped is out and already users are complaining of the lack of features, e.g most listened to micro genres, similar cities, additional you might like playlists etc.

If only that hadn't have sacked people as talented as Glenn McDonald (and many others) last December.

hmm gvb have less to dig through than usual

― ufo

Yeah there’s still some very agreeable choices and some overlooked things, but it feels more hivemind-y than usual. I noticed this year he wasn’t very active.

RA: best tracks of 2024

https://ra.co/features/4401

RA - The Best Tracks of 2024
https://ra.co/features/4401

The Best Tracks of 2024

This year's 25-strong list ranges from pearly downtempo to zany budots and souped-up dubstep. But who made #1?

Let's be honest: albums reigned supreme in 2024. The Ubiquitous Festival Anthem was in short supply—especially when you consider last year's rich bounty. As such, the list below follows a more gentle curve, with nods to ambient, R&B and oddball tunes from all around the globe. Dubstep and downtempo get a strong look-in; traditional house and techno, perhaps controversially, less so.

But that's not to say the list lacks dance floor heft—you only have to look as far as incendiary floor-fillers from the likes of 1OO1O, Thoughtforms and TAAHLIAH & Elouiza. And then there's our #1, which sits somewhere between the club and the beach party. It's also the second time this artist—on this occasion, in collaboration with one of our favourite vocalists—has clinched the top spot since 2022. They must be doing something right.

— Carlos Hawthorn

Number 1:

[01]
Nick León & Erika de Casier
Bikini
TraTraTrax

MOKA just got in before me !

one of the best EOY lists I have seen so far, from Bristol's Crack Magazine

Crack Magazine - Top 50 Albums of 2024
https://crackmagazine.net/article/list-article/best-albums-2024/

AOTY format:
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2329-crack-magazines-top-50-albums-of-2024/

From ambient concréte to shapeshifting rap, via melancholy confessionals, hot-and-sticky bangers, bracing hardcore and – let’s be real – some of the best capital-P Pop music since forever… these are the albums of 2024, according to Crack Magazine

1: Cindy Lee
Diamond Jubilee

I wrote the Wire's Jazz & Improv list (10 titles); here it is:

1. Lisa Ullén, Heirloom
2. Matthew Shipp, New Concepts In Piano Trio Jazz
3. Wadada Leo Smith & Amina Claudine Myers, Central Park's Mosaics Of Reservoir, Lake, Paths And Gardens
4. Milford Graves/William Parker/Charles Gayle, WEBO
5. Thembi Dunjana, God Bless iKapa. God Bless Mzantsi.
6. Amaro Freitas, Y'Y
7. Tyshawn Sorey Trio, The Susceptible Now
8. Nala Sinephro, Endlessness
9. Mary Halvorson, Cloudward
10. Vijay Iyer Trio, Compassion

Caramanica's list is unusually "normal" this year.

p4k rock albums list, ekko astral is #1

https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-rock-albums-2024/

08 SKEE MASK | Resort

hell yeah

UK based Radio Station Radio X have published the worst 2024 EOY Best Albums list I have seen so far. Link provided for comedy:

The 25 best albums of 2024
https://www.radiox.co.uk/features/x-lists/best-albums-of-2024/

Thankfully I have not listened to Radio X in 2024. Who is this wretched radio station catering for in 2024?

Geez, that is terrible - Kasabian, Kings of Leon, Bastille and Razorlight? Ugh.

Aiui, even Black Keys stans don't think much of that new album.

I didn't even scroll down far enough to see Snow Patrol and The Zutons. I guess there was a corner of the world where 2024 was the return of the landfill indie scene.

i mean who cares but LOL at the math of the MJ Lenderman album being Pitchfork's #4 best album of the year but their #7 best rock album of the year

UK based Louder than War presents LOUDER THAN WAR TOP 100 ALBUMS OF 2024
https://louderthanwar.com/albums-of-2024/

AOTY format
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/2330-louder-than-wars-top-100-albums-of-2024/

Like last year the Louder than War list is a very mixed bag of the good, to the average and to bad. From complete unknowns that you never knew even existed, to random choices of heritage artists well past their peak, artists you had forgotten or never knew released albums in 2024, a few decent choices and some predictable selections.

I look at this list and it certainly doesn't represent my 2024. I expect the list doesn't make any sense to anyone outside of the contributors of the list. A cultural cul-de-sac of odd choices restricted to the confines of Louder than War.

Number 1 by the way was

1. Amyl & The Sniffers: Cartoon Darkness
(Rough Trade)

xp the rock list is billed as specifically the opinion of two staff writers, as opposed to the full staff + contributors main list

i mean who cares but LOL at the math of the MJ Lenderman album being Pitchfork's #4 best album of the year but their #7 best rock album of the year

― na (NA)