TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2024

50 | COWBOY SADNESS – SELECT JAMBIENT WORKS, VOL. 1

You’ve got to love when a project is appropriately titled. From the band name, to the cheeky album title, a play on the classic collections of Aphex Twin, Select Jambient Works, Vol. 1, sounds exactly as you’d think with droning guitars, dense reverb and post rock jams abound.

Some songs wash away into a haze, others build to epic crescendos backed by knotty and textured drum patterns. These works offer a deep breath on a still morning or a sense of calm in the late evening, and while the band name may mention sadness, I find much more hope than despair in these tracks.

RIYL: Tumbleweeds, Explosions in the Sky, dusty drum loops

Standout track: “Billings, MT“

49 | VEGYN – The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

The elusive producer Vegyn returns with his biggest LP to date, both in terms of production scale and length. The longtime Frank Ocean collaborator breaks free of the confines of Blonde and continues to evolve his woozy palette of sounds. Drums are bigger and more alive, feature artists are more prominent and synths are more hi-fi, resulting in the most complete work of the young producers already impressive catalog.

RIYL: Downtempo electronica, Sampledelia, Endless

Standout track: “Halo Flip“

48 | NILUFER YANYA – MY METHOD ACTOR

Yanya is one of the most exciting songwriters in indie rock with a streak of impressive LP’s dating back to her debut “Miss Universe” in 2019. On My Method Actor, Yanya continues to evolve her sound to include more programmed drums and sub bass to accompany her signature rhythmic guitar playing.

Here, the guitar playing leans more acoustic, less focused on the chorus tones of her past works, and plays off her touchpoints of Radiohead and Nirvana with ease. Her vocals sound relaxed and mature, which tracks after years on the road battle testing her catalog. Yanya comes into her own on My Method Actor and cements herself as someone to keep an eye on for years to come.

RIYL: 90’s alt rock, Drop D guitar

Standout track: “Just a Western“

47 | WASHED OUT – NOTES FROM A QUIET LIFE

Building off of the Balearic pop of 2020’s Purple Noon, chillwave pioneer Ernest Greene leans even further into playfulness and clarity on Notes from a Quiet Life. Gone are the washed out synths and drum machines of his past. In their place are extremely crisp and polished tones, making this one of the most digestible albums on this list. You’re guaranteed to have a good time with this record playing.

That said – these good vibes don’t take away from the quality of the music. Greene’s production has at times been more interesting, but here his chops as a pop songwriter are on full display, and his vocals harmonies sound as good as ever. Just give “Running Away” a spin, I bet that melody will play in your head all day.

RILY: Playlisted indie-pop, harmonies, ~good vibes~

Standout track: “Running Away“

46 | THIS IS LORELEI – BOX FOR BUDDY, BOX FOR STAR

Songwriter Nate Amos who moonlights as one half of the Chicago indie pop group, Water From Your Eyes, showcases his impressive versatility on Box for Buddy, Box for Star. There’s Neil Young-tinged folk, Alex G -inspired bedroom pop, blown-out pop punk and much more.

As my sister put it best, standout track “Dancing in the Club” sounds like blink-182 meets Owl City (complimentary). Amos has a knack for earworm hooks that you’ll want to sing along to and his musicianship makes each new genre attempt feel seamless.

RIYL: Bright Eyes, Owl City, A.G. Cook

Standout track: “Dancing in the Club“

45 | GIFT – ILLUMINATOR

NYC shoegazers Gift are after something much broader in scope than the confines of the legendary indie rock genre bred in England in the early 90s. The group take what Beach Fossils and DIIV did early in their career to revive the once-forgotten genre, and add lush synths and thick drums to the fold. These tracks are big, fun and introspective all at once, and you could see them playing out during a late afternoon festival slot, when the crowd is starting to file in and the haze of the day is starting to lift.

RIYL: 90’s shoegaze, peak Madonna, early DIIV

Standout track: “Light Runner“

44 | MOUNT KIMBIE – THE SUNSET VIOLENT

Mount Kimbie can’t be pinned down. Their excellent album Love What Survives, from 2017, blended dreamy/experimental electronica with driven indie rock. On The Sunset Violet, the duo doubles down on indie rock and brings in some additional players into the fold. The result is a record that feels much more like the work of a full band, as opposed to two producers.

Woozy vocals drift in and out, King Krule shows up for a couple of moody tracks, guitars pierce through and drums propel. It’s enthralling and cathartic and makes you wonder why the duo haven’t tried their hand at this, very British, flavor of guitar music before.

RILY: British invasion guitar tones, King Krule

Standout track: “Empty and Silent“

43 | HAYDEN PEDIGO – LIVE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS

Instrumental music has to accomplish the tough task of grabbing you without the aid of the human voice. Pedigo seems to have no problem with this, and Live in Amarillo, Texas provides a wonderful snapshot into what makes the young guitarist so exciting. His songs are complex, emotional and invigorating, and all led by just Pedigo and his guitar, on stage alone.

Throughout the live record, you can feel the fret buzz, the moments of anticipation and the silence of the crowd, things often taken for granted at concerts in 2024. Pedigo lulls his hometown (and everyone who subsequently listens) into a blissed out trance. We’re lucky to have a record like this in these times.

RIYL: Finger-style guitar, West Texas

Standout track: “Carthage“

42 | VINCE STAPLES – DARK TIMES

Vince Staples is comfortable. That doesn’t mean he’s resting on his laurels, more that he’s locked into a zone. On Dark Times, Staples showcases his dexterity as an MC, his calmness as a rapper and his mastery as an album maker.

When he came up, you could hear the hunger in his voice. Every rap verse was a chance to make it, and that presence was felt on his early tracks. Now, Staples has the luxury of slowing down and takes his time to be a thoughtful and insightful prophet for the next generation. Dark Times is aptly titled for the current state-of-affairs, but I hear more hope in these bars than darkness.

RIYL: Larry Fisherman, Long Beach, CA

Standout track: “Étouffée“

41 | KELLY MORAN – MOVES IN THE FIELD

If the piano playing on Moves in the Field sounds too good to be true, that’s because it kind of is. Kelly Moran uses the Yamaha Disklavier, a digital player piano, to loop intricate melodies that she then would play over to create densely layered compositions that would make Bach proud.

The result is beautiful, harmonious piano tracks that evoke strong emotion and wonder. Despite the digital aid of the Diskavier, these songs are organic and poetic and make for good companions for moments of focus.

RIYL: Classical music, Alberto Balsalm

Standout track: “Succubus“

40 | NIGHT TAPES – ASSISTED MEMORIES

You’ll be hard-pressed to find indie rock/pop that isn’t inspired by 80s drum machines and the early 90s aesthetic. On Assisted Memories, The London trio lean into both of these well-worn tropes, but they do it better than most of their peers. The melodies are inventive and float over the expertly crafted production. The group pulls the best elements from disco (groovy bass and four-on-the-floor beats) and pair it with the unmistakable hallmarks of synth pop (gated reverb and Casio-sheen). This is not a revolutionary combo – but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a modern group who does it better than Night Tapes.

RIYL: VHS video, Cassette warble, Distant disco

Standout track: “Projections“

39 | CHARLI XCX – BRAT

What else can be said about Brat? I surely don’t have anything original to contribute, but I did enjoy the rise and fall of Brat Summer and watching the term be hijacked by the internet until we totally lost the plot.

I’m drawn to Charli XCX for reasons that I can’t fully articulate. Her lyrics are mostly satisfactory and her autotuned voice is serviceable. But the songs soar. It’s all in Charli’s delivery and confidence. Perhaps that’s the Brat factor.

RIYL: Lime green, The club, A.G. Cook

Standout track: “Sympathy is a Knife“

38 | SCHOOLBOY Q – BLUE LIPS

Blue Lips is heavy. Schoolboy Q always carries some baggage around with him, but rarely do we hear it wear on his work like this. The result is a dense and beautiful West Coast hip hop radio, packed with beat switches and energetic guest spots.

Q’s signature rhythmic flow bounces over knotty production and he tackles his past and his growth over the last decade.

RIYL: Jazzy rap beats, Sidechained 808s, a nice round of golf

Standout track: “Thank God 4 Me“

37 | WISHY – TRIPLE SEVEN

Do you miss that classic radio alt sound from the 90s? Think Blind Melon, Sugar Ray, Third Eye Blind, etc.. Well this is the record for you. The debut from Indiana’s Wishy is full of stadium-ready hooks and huge guitars. Songwriters Kevin Krauter and Nina Pitchkites share vocal duties and harmonize over each other’s compositions, producing a sun ray of melody.

The sheen on the outside of these songs helps mask the heavy themes of anxiety, loneliness and abandonment across these tracks, not unlike those alt rockers of the past. Modern production helps beef these tracks up compared to their inspirations, with big drums and basslines to round out the sound. Wishy has hit the jackpot on Triple Seven.

RIYL: Golden-era of 90s alt pop, Third Eye Blind

Standout track: “Love on the Outside“

36 | WAXAHATCHEE – TIGERS BLOOD

Katie Crutchfield finds her footing on Tigers Blood, her sixth studio record as Waxahatchee. While her last record explored country and Americana, Tigers Blood embraces the sounds of the south with great success. Surrounded by warm pedal steel and steady acoustic strumming, Crutchfield’s voice sounds as good as ever and her newfound sobriety seems to have streamlined her writing. In a year where many pop and rock artists have found inspiration in the rootsy sounds of the nation, Tigers Blood is the most successful of the bunch.

RIYL: Southern swamps, MJ Lenderman, Wilco

Standout track: “Right Back to It“

35 | CHINATOWN SLALOM – IN A BOX

The U.K. collage-ists continue their run of inventive electronica and heartfelt indie pop on In a Box. Bridging the gap between Ableton experiments and standard songwriting, Chinatown Slalom creates vivid soundscapes and pairs them with crisp melodies. A trumpet will come at you from one direction, while a pitch-shifted vocal will emerge from another, but the songs stay rooted in strong basslines and dancefloor-ready beats to keep your head bobbin’.

RIYL: Caribou, Golden Vessel, Ableton

Standout track: “Gravel Rush“

34 | TARANTULA – IF YOU’RE SIDEWAYS, I’M UPSIDE DOWN

Pulling inspiration from the likes of Turnstile and Alex G, Tarantula present a blend of moody post-emo with immaculate production and hummable hooks. One track will feature screams that would make Jesse Lacey proud and the next will be lead by hazy synths and compressed drum machines, but this record always feel cohesive. In an era where a lot of pop punk and emo music hinges on well-worn tropes, Tarantula approach the genres with a sense of playfulness and experimentation.

RIYL: Daisy-era Brand New, Hotline TNT, Turnstile’s lighter stuff

Standout track: “Gone Fishin“

33 | CRUMB – AMAMA

On AMAMA, Crumb sounds ALIVE. The synth sounds are more hi-fi, Lila Ramani’s vocals push through the haze and the production glistens. They play to the strengths of their rhythm section, with enveloping bass lines and knotty drum grooves driving these psychedelic dreams into a jazzy direction.

Crumb have released two great albums previously, but arrive on AMAMA fully realized and showcasing a singular vision in an overcrowded indie-psych genre. The red-eyed malaise of their past work is replaced by high-definition vision without sacrificing any of the experimental flourishes that made them stand out in the first place.

RIYL: Woozy synths, tasteful experimentation, Standing on the Corner

Standout track: “Side by Side“

32 | TRACE MOUNTAINS – INTO THE BURNING BLUE

Propelling, Americana-tinged indie rock has flooded the scene in the last half decade, thanks in large part to the success of The War on Drugs. While Sam Fender and Lucius truly sound like disciples of Drugs brand of jam, Trace Mountains channels a similar energy with a fresh approach.

Into the Burning Blue features motorik drums and familiar chord patterns, but Dave Benton’s mild country delivery is the difference maker. His songs are built for campfire sing-alongs, but are really the byproduct of years in the DIY-emo scene, adding an air of melodrama to contrast the brightness of the music behind him. Into the Burning Blue pairs well with a long car ride at dusk or a morning coffee listen and is the kind of record you can turn your dad on to. That versatility makes it hard to shake this one from your rotation once you start – you’ve been warned.

RIYL: Twangy indie rock, The War on Drugs

Standout track: “In a Dream“

31 | FAYE WEBSTER – UNDRESSED AT THE SYMPHONY

Faye Webster is incredibly chill. That is an indisputable theme across her discography. But with Undressed at the Symphony, Webster finally brings you post-chill. While her early songs are cute and earnest, these tracks are mature and loungey, showcasing not only Webster’s strength as a songwriter, but also as a bandleader.

Jams emerge, experiments percolate and bass lines groove. Childhood classmate, Lil’ Yachty, shows up for a guest feature that works way better than you’d think. On the very next track, Webster takes aim at Yachty’s autotuned warble with great success. It’s a breezy listen, as most of Webster’s output is, but it is also great to see her pushing her boundaries to make her best record yet.

RIYL: The Atlanta Braves, Chilled out indie, “Let’s start here” by Lil’ Yachty

Standout track: “Thinking About You“

30 | FABIANA PALLADINO – FABIANA PALLADINO

They don’t make pop like this anymore. If this record came out in the late 90s/early 2000s, Fabiana Palladino would be inescapable. Steamy MTV music videos, glossy late night TV performances and accolades as far as the eye can see.

Unfortunately, Palladino’s self-titled debut dropped in 2024, where nostalgic r&b is being co-opted by pop and indie musicians alike. In an over-saturated market, it’s easy to miss the greatness here. But Palladino’s take on 90’s melodrama, with icy synths and silky bass alike, is remarkably fresh and nostalgic all at once. The production is clean, but not overly flashy, the instrumentation is precise and her vocals are crisp. From the album art to the synth tones, Fabiana Palladino’s debut record is a love letter to the glossy palette of the past.

RIYL: TRL-era R&B, Jai Paul

Standout track: “Shoulda“

29 | NATHAN BOWLES TRIO – ARE POSSIBLE

The sonics of Are Possible are rounded out by banjo, upright bass and drums. I bet you’re thinking, “This must be a country-folk or bluegrass album.” Well, think again.

The Nathan Bowles Trio can jam. The grooves throughout Are Possible are much closer to those of The Dead and the Allman Brothers than the sound of Appalachia. Spanning just six songs over 39 minutes, Are Possible feels like you’re sitting in on the session with the group, watching new improvisations appear out of thin air.

RIYL: Banjo, Jam bands

Standout track: “The Ternions“

28 | PEEL DREAM MAGAZINE – ROSE MAIN READING ROOM

It’s great to see a group in 2024 citing Stereolab as a main influence. We’ve got enough Radiohead and Joy Division copycats. Give me more of this playful take on indie rock, with hypnotic guitar, light xylophone pangs and fun vocal interplay.

Rose Main Reading Room establishes Peel Dream Magazine as an exciting force in the LA scene. Releasing this record on emo-adjacent Topshelf Records might raise an eyebrow, but the group’s DIY routes are evident in these multi-color compositions. Whether it’s a repeating phrase that pummels you over on over or a wordless memory that breaks up the chaos, this record is bound to burrow it’s way in your brain.

RIYL: Stereolab, loopy synths

Standout track: “Lie in the Gutter“

27 | NALA SINEPHRO – ENDLESSNESS

The aptly titled, Endlessness, is the second effort from the London-based experimentalist, Nala Sinephro. Bubbling synths, swelling strings and scattered jazz drumming fill out the sound with each “continuum” flowing into the next effortlessly, as if we’re listening in on one long jazzy improv session. Every track centers around an arpeggio where Sinephro and her collaborates drift in and out of the cosmos, extending phrases until they dissipate and blow out like a supernova.

Just 28, Sinephro, showcases her strengths as a composer, producer and bandleader, arranging all of the strings herself and mixing and engineering every song the record. Sinephro handles the synths, piano and harp across the album with wisdom and mastery and it’ll be hard not to crown her as the next great jazz mind in an already excited South London scene.

RIYL: Cosmic jazz, Pharoah Sanders

Standout track: “Continuum 3“

26 | WILD PINK – DULLING THE HORNS

On Dulling the Horns, Wild Pink take their carefully crafted jammy indie sound to the stage. The amps are turned up, the drummer is hammering the skins and singer John Ross has raised his voice above his usual laid back delivery. But the fuzz doesn’t cloud the clarity.

At its core, Dulling the Horns is the most fun record in the Wild Pink discography. The classic sports metaphors are omnipresent here, while distorted guitar solos emerge where pedal-steel once lived. Ross and co. prove that their delicate songs can be scaled up and rock out, an approach would make Dinosaur Jr. proud.

RIYL: Fuzz pedals, emo-tinged Americana, sports references

Standout track: “The Fences of Stonehenge“

25 | YUNG LEAN, BLADEE – PSYKOS

Oh no, another rapper gone rock… On Psykos, the Swedish cloud-rappers trade 808s and synths for drum sets and guitars. This sounds like a disaster on paper. Yung Lean and Bladee excel at a very specific and modern rap style, how could they jeopardize that for a chance at gaining some indie rock cred?

Turns out, the melodic delivery of Bladee and the rhythmic cadences of Yung Lean blend perfectly with moody, reverb-drenched guitars. Both have always been confessional lyricists, describing trouble with anxiety and substance abuse. These themes are well-packaged on Psykos with each MC pushed out of their comfort zone over pumping post punk and expansive post rock. You didn’t know you needed this one, but once you give it a spin you might be hooked.

RIYL: Mount Kimbie, Clams Casino, JAWS

Standout track: “Ghosts“

24 | MUSTAFA – DUNYA

The folk and r&b of Canadian songwriter, Mustafa, is poetic. Dunya is made up of self-proclaimed “love letters to the hood” backed by intimate field recordings, delicate acoustic guitar and intricate IDM beats. In the wake of violence and loss, both in his local Toronto and worldwide, Mustafa is left to ask, “what is it all for”?

Dunya positions Mustafa in the same class as Frank Ocean and Daniel Caesar. Singular voices as songwriters and experimentalists, with deeply emotional tales of loss and love. What separates Mustafa is his worldly view and excellent taste in production. Without hesitation, he’ll drop a rap sample over strummed guitar or flamenco claps over a mangled choir. Through it all, Mustafa’s deep coos and wise words hold it together.

RIYL: Confessional ballads, Bon Iver, Madlib

Standout Track: “Gaza is Calling“

23 | CARIBOU – HONEY

Dan Snaith has explored a lot of territory with his Caribou project. While he has set his sights on the club before, it has never been as overtly targeted as it is on Honey. With electro disco, french house and sample-heavy EDM all coming into the fold, it’s safe to say this is Caribou’s banger record.

Snaith’s expert production, knack for rhythmic sequences and signature falsetto are all familiar touchpoints. But on Honey, you’ll be surprised to learn that all of the voices come courtesy of Snaith, with some mangling via AI. Using the technology to warp his voice to sound like samples from the record store is one of the cooler uses of AI we’ve seen in music, even if there are some questionable choice (see the rap verse on “Campfire”).

Caribou remains one of the most inventive and interesting electronic projects of recent memories, with each release challenging what we learned of the last.

RIYL: Fout Tet, Floating Points, Daphne

Standout Track: “Climbing“

22 | CINDY LEE – DIAMOND JUBILEE

Diamond Jubilee could be a transmission from a distant past or a post-apocalyptic future. It wouldn’t be out of place to hear these songs playing on the radio in 60s or Fallout. Cindy Lee, the drag alias of Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Flegel, is presented as a ghostly bandleader whose commanding presence is immensely felt, if if you can’t quite grasp “her”.

Inspired by 50’s girl group bands and Summer of Love psychedelia, Diamond Jubilee is led by Flegel’s expert guitar experiments and druggy production. Playing into this even further is the presentation of the album as a single, 2-hour YouTube stream or a download from Web 1.0-style website. In an era of streaming domination, Flegel refuses to host Diamond Jubilee on Spotify or Apple Music. If you want to hear it, you’ve got to put the work in. Lucky for you – it’s worth the effort.

RIYL: Early Amen Dunes, Karen Carpenter

Standout Track: “Stone Faces“

21 | KENNY MASON – 9

There’s a certain sound to Atlanta. You know it when you hear it, thanks to superstars like Young Thug, 21 Savage and Gunna. Then there’s Kenny Mason, who takes those familiar soundscapes and inflects them with moody emo, cloud rap and lyrical hip-hop.

Mason trends closer to contemporaries like J.I.D. and Earthgang than the YSL crew and works with much more interesting producers than the thousands of Metro Boomin’ lookalikes out there. Chief among those producers is Mason himself, having a hand on the boards in all of the tracks on 9. Joining the fold is former Title Fight guitarist, Shane Moran, who lens his signature style to four of the songs, leaning into the emo style of his legendary band. In a crowded landscape, 9 showcases Mason’s abilities as a rapper, writer, producer and singer.

RIYL: Atlanta Trap, Title Fight

Standout Track: “JUMPIN IN“

20 | DIIV – FROG IN BOILING WATER

The main theme of Frog in Boiling Water is rejection. Rejection of capitalism, the limelight, demons, et. al. It’s a heavy record, with heavy themes and guitars. It also happens to be the best DIIV record in a decade.

Frog in Boiling Water was almost an electronic record. Thankfully for us, that idea was scrapped, and the NY-based quartet built off of their grungy take on shoegaze. The melodies and harmonies are haunting and the songs play out like warning signs. They are also undeniably gorgeous. Like watching a mushroom cloud envelop the sky, you can’t bear to look, but you can’t quite avert your gaze.

RIYL: Ride, Swervedriver

Standout Track: “Everyone Out“

19 | SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE – YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING

Surely we’ll never see another group like Animal Collective. Spirit of the Beehive are not like Animal Collective, but there are is a common thread in terms of approach and songwriting.

If we are doing the AnCo comparison, than YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING is Spirit’s Merriweather Post Pavilion. The Philly DIYers finally embrace their pop sensibilities, turning out some of their most beautiful work to date. That’s not to say that this is a pretty record, but there are moments of beauty buried within in these psychedelic collages.

RIYL: Animal Collective, SP 404s, Avocados

Standout Track: “1/500“

18 | CLAIRO – CHARM

Charm is Clairo gone Daptone Records. The singer-songwriter teamed up with producer Leon Michels to channel the golden-era of soul, with tape-driven drums, lush roads and jazzy synths. It’s the most confident we’ve heard Clairo on record and it’s also her best stylistic shift to date.

After working with Jack Antonoff on her last record, Sling, no one would’ve blamed Clairo for leaning in to modern pop on her new record. Instead, she sought inspiration from the sounds of her parent’s record collection. Thanks to the throwback production style, you could probably sneak this one into your dad’s 70s playlist without suspicion. The new sound and approach suits Clairo’s warm voice beautifully.

RIYL: AM radio soul, El Michels Affair

Standout Track: “Thank You“

17 | FONT – STRANGE BURDEN

I’m a sucker for percussion, and Austin, TX dance-punkers, Font have got the rhythmic sauce. Thanks to two drummers and singer Thom Waddill’s rhythmic deliver, you’ll have a hard time not tapping your foot to Font’s music. Inspired by the likes of Radiohead and the Talking Heads, their music is funky, noisy and weird. It also just goes really hard.

Take standout track, “Hey Kekulé” for example. Over a repetitive piano loop, the group beefs up the classic four-on-the-floor disco beat while Waddill shrieks and coos all the same. It’s hypnotic and infectious, but also will have you asking WTF? a few times for good measure.

RIYL: Tasteful cowbell, Stop Making Sense, LCD Soundsystem

Standout Track: “Hey Kekulé“

16 | LOUKEMAN – SD-2

I don’t care what the old man down the street says, sampling is an art. Canadian producer, Loukeman, wields his sampler with precision, pulling from the lofi folk of Lomelda, the trap r&b of PARTYNEXTDOOR and everywhere in between.

The result is slinky, off-kilter dance music in the vein of Jacques Greene and Bonobo. It’s house music for the art school kids and indieheads alike. The songs never peak or rely on a drop, but rather settle in to a head-bopping groove and live there for a few minutes. It’s the soundtrack for chillest dance party ever.

RIYL: Jacques Greene, Ross From Friends, Crate-digging

Standout Track: “Baby You’re a Star“

15 | THE SMILE – WALL OF EYES

Radiohead’s music has always had proggy elements. On Wall of Eyes, The Smile embraces prog head on and deploys its elements in various forms, from winding ballads to 11/16 breakdowns. They also embrace some of their most difficult and abrasive tendencies, challenging you to join them on this epic.

Lucky for you, the journey is worth it. On Wall of Eyes, The Smile shed the weight of the Radiohead name and push into new territory. “Friend of a Friend” is the closest Thom Yorke has ever gotten to writing a Beatles song, while “Bending Hectic” is a dizzying, romanticization of driving off a mountainside. There’s never been anything quite like Wall of Eyes in the iconic discography of Yorke and co., and that’s a feat in itself.

RIYL: Radiohead, Math rock

Standout Track: “Teleharmonic“

14 | MATT CHAMPION – MIKA’S LAUNDRY

With his first release post-Brockhampton, Matt Champion channels the organic R&B of contemporary and collaborator, Dijon, for a groovy and upbeat record. Save for the out-of-place “Gbiv”, Mika’s Laundry is mostly a departure from the experimental, blown-out rap of his former band. In it’s place, Champion and his cast of collaborators and producers make confessional indie pop with acoustic and electronic flourishes.

You could brush this album off as Absolutely-lite, but while Champion is doing his best Dijon impression, he also showcases what makes him unique as a songwriter and singer/rapper. His smooth rap delivery, with a touch of bravado and swagger, is offset by his poppy hooks that could rival the best choruses from his former bandmate, Kevin Abstract.

Mika’s Laundry may end up being an essential work in the extended Dijon universe, as more and more artists tap him as a producer and collaborator. For now, it’s a great example of an artist leaning into his influences and tapping the right collaborators to create the best work possible.

RIYL: Dijon, Mk.gee, Brockhampton

Standout Track: “Slug“

13 | KENDRICK LAMAR – GNX

What more does Kendrick have to do to show you he’s really the GOAT? After the best rap beef of my lifetime played out this summer, leading to the raucous “Not Like Us” dominating the charts, Lamar surprise dropped GNX on a Friday in late November as if we wouldn’t notice.

GNX is the most fun Kendrick record to date. It’s a victory lap after a long summer in the booth. Here, Lamar embraces the bouncy West Coast sounds of the 90s and puts on up-and-coming MC’s from the surrounding area. It’s not the instant classic of Good Kid, m.a.a.d. City or the Savior-mode reflection of Mr. Morale. Instead, it’s a celebration of everything Lamar has done to date. And honestly, he deserves it.

RIYL: Drakeo the Ruler, rap beef

Standout Track: “reincarnated“

12 | BALANCE AND COMPOSURE – WITH YOU IN SPIRIT

It’s been eight years since the last Balance and Composure full length. After they announced their hiatus in 2019, it didn’t seem like we’d hear from them again. Lucky for us, the band re-grouped during the pandemic to begin writing again for fun, and eventually, thanks to producer and honorary sixth member, Will Yip, they got back in the studio to record a proper record.

With You In Spirit is a snapshot of what makes Balance one of the best emo bands of the past 20 years. Pulling influence from across their catalog, while also deploying a few new tricks, the album finds the quintet dialing in their songwriting, lyrics and guitar tones. It’s the best that singer Jon Simmons has sounded on wax. The mix is massive, yet intricate allowing the band to shine and pummel all at once.

RIYL: “The Wave”, Will Yip production, Brand New

Standout Track: “a little of myself“

11 | PORCHES – SHIRT

Aaron Maine has taken his Porches project from the DIY basement scene to the club and back. On Shirt, Maine embraces new territory in the form of fuzzy rock with autotuned vocals. This combo probably sounds kinda ridiculous, but in Maine’s hands it’s a ton of fun.

Shirt was inspired in part by the pop punk music Maine grew up on. The lyrics are simplistic and cheeky, with references to made up friends and dogs and worshiping bread. Again, it sounds kinda ridiculous to write about, but trust me, it works.

RIYL: Autotune, Weezer

Standout Track: “Joker“

10 | BEEN STELLAR – SCREAM FROM NEW YORK, NY

The kids are alright. The post-punk group Been Stellar was born out of the dorms of NYU in the late 2010s. On their debut, Scream from New York, NY, they write a fucked-up love letter to the city they call home.

Singer Skyler Knapp sounds wise beyond his years as his backing band lashes out behind him. Knapp’s lightly off-key deliver is reminiscent of Elias Rønnenfelt on Danish punks, Iceage, while his band takes from the best of DIIV and Oasis in the same breath. It’s inspiring to hear a young group embrace the best of a bygone era they never got to see themselves.

RIYL: British post-punk, Hyperview-era Title Fight, Early aughts NYC rock

Standout Track: “Sweet“

9 | MJ LENDERMAN – MANNING FIREWORKS

MJ Lenderman is the best songwriter you’ve never heard of. I think he’s on the cusp of a Phoebe Bridgers-type blow up, which will no doubt spawn hundreds of copycats, because he’s just that good.

On Manning Fireworks, the Asheville, NC singer-songwriter sharpens his pen and his guitar solos for a collection on patio-ready rock outs. Over kinda sad, kinda jammy alt rock, Lenderman tells tales of ambitious divorcees and down-and-out-hotel employees as if they’re common folklore. Following in the footsteps of Neil Young and Jason Molina, Lenderman is on the road to household name status.

RIYL: Crushing light beers, Neil Young, Chill guitar solos

Standout Track: “She’s Leaving You“

8 | MOUNT EERIE – NIGHT PALACE

Night Palace oozes artistry. Phil Elverum has taken his musical endeavors in many directions over his 25+ years in the industry, but never has he sounded like this. Night Palace plays out like free jazz and beat poetry, even amidst the tape hiss and noisy freakouts.

No one can craft a song like Elverum. They are almost like living beings. Night Palace embraces the influence of his home in Anacortes, WA, and puts it on full display. There’s a large brush fire in the yard, a whale sound in the distant and fish speaking back to you. Sweeping the floor is a religious experience. Myths come true. Anything is possible in the Night Palace.

RIYL: The PNW, the soft whisper of the night, the Microphones

Standout Track: “Myths Come True“

7 | HOVVDY – HOVVDY

I feel like I’ve written this before, but Hovvdy’s music can make you nostalgic for a memory you’ve never lived. Maybe it’s a house party with your best friends where the keg never runs dry or running through a field where a sun never sets.

The self-titled double album from the Texas duo is a testament to what makes them so great. The interplay between Will Taylor and Charlie Martin is at its apex. Martin’s delicate voice and delivery compliment Taylor’s lower drawl perfectly. Hovvdy’s brand of pop-folk has been imitated by many, but is impossible to match. Left-field production choice compliment acoustic finger picking, as drum machines warp and synths swell around Taylor and Martin. It’s a little bit warm and a little bit weird, just how I like it.

RIYL: Boygenius, Richard Linklater movies

Standout Track: “Bad News“

6 | AMEN DUNES – DEATH JOKES

I’m gonna be real with you – you probably won’t like this record. At least not immediately. In 2018, Amen Dunes, the moniker of songwriter Damon McMahon, released the now-classic Freedom to critical acclaim. Freedom is one of my favorite albums of all time, so when I got wind that Amen Dunes would be back this year with the long-awaited follow-up, I was thrilled.

Death Jokes is not Freedom in any way. Gone are the classic rock callbacks and embellishments of McMahon’s warm backing band. In its place are offbeat drum machines, scattered samples and Ableton experiments. What ties them together though, is McMahon’s unforgettable voice and sense of melody.

“Rugby Child” one of the standouts from Death Jokes perfectly represents the album as a whole. Over a programmed 909 with an untrustworthy tempo, McMahon’s finger-picking is mangled by Ableton’s warp feature to try to match the beat. The first time you hear it, it’s a frustrating track. It’s undeniably beautiful, but the instruments appear to be fighting against each other to stay on time. But the more you listen to it, the genius shines through. McMahon has an uncompromising vision, and his experimental tendencies may be off-putting at first, but are extremely rewarding on repeat listens.

RIYL: Old 909 drum machines, Messing up pretty songs

Standout Track: “Rugby Child“

5 | THE SMILE – CUTOUTS

On Cutouts, the second album from the Radiohead side project in 2024, The Smile play to all of their strengths. Jonny Greenwood’s signature orchestral nodes? Check. Tom Skinner’s knotty, frenetic flams? You bet. Thom Yorke’s amphibious songwriting across rocking grooves and doomy electronica alike? Of course.

Leaning into these elements is what makes Cutouts my favorite record from The Smile thus far. You could argue the pacing is sluggish, with two slow burners to open the record. But I think it’s a stroke of genius, as the world The Smile creates continues to widen with every new track.

RIYL: Radiohead, Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood

Standout track: “No Words“

4 | CHANEL BEADS – YOUR DAY WILL COME

This is the kind of experimental indie folk I’ve always been drawn to. It’s guitar music made on the computer. At once incredibly modern, but also indebted to the Elliott Smith’s and Nick Drake’s of the past.

NYC producer, Shane Lavers, mangles his voice and compositions to the point of no return on Your Day Will Come. The pop melodies are still in there somewhere, buried under layers of formant-shifted autotune. But the hooks are inescapable, even if they’re hard to grasp. The instrument choices are brash and bold, but never sound out of place. There’s a pseudo-Steely Dan meets Hans Zimmer instrumental jam, a full-on ambient drone piece and a song about an embarassed dog. What’s not to love?

RIYL: Alex G, Pitched-up vocals

Standout Track: “Police Scanner“

3 | FOUR TET – THREE

Four Tet embraces his past and present on Three. Taking inspiration from his early 2000s output, while also embracing his dance-ready house tracks of the 2020s all at once, Kieran Hebden has put together his finest work yet, no small feat for an artist who’s been making music for the better part of the last 30 years.

Hebden’s greatest strength as a producer is creating electronic music that feels alive. These are floating and organic compositions, which is amazing when you consider that they are produced almost entirely in Ableton using software synths and old drum loops. Hebden may just be reaching his creative peak, decades after his first works as Four Tet.

RIYL: Floating Points, Caribou

Standout Track: “Loved“

2 | MK.GEE – TWO STAR AND THE DREAM POLICE

Michael Gordon is a ghostly figure. Is he Two Star? Or the Dream Police? Perhaps both? It’s hard to tell. At his shows he is mostly backlit, lurching around the stage in dark clothes and surrounded by smoke. His songs sound like 80’s pop transmissions from roughed-up cassettes. His guitar playing is deceptively intricate. His voice shrieks and coos from one song to the next.

What is clear about the NJ-bred mastermind is that his proper debut album has cemented him as a savior of guitar-music, inspiring kids to pick up old Portastudios and Roland VG-8 guitar synths to make their own hazy indie pop.

I’ve been singing Gordon’s praises since I stumbled into his first mixtape Pronounced McGee in 2018, but I never could’ve dreamed he would ascend to this level so quickly. In the past year he’s performed on SNL, Jimmy Kimmel Live and the Jill Sander Fall/Winter fashion show. He’s reportedly in the studio with Justin Bieber and Eric Clapton has compared him to Prince.

Heavy lies the crown, but all indications tell me that this kid is built for it.

RIYL: Prince, songs without kick drums, Eric Clapton’s recommendations

Standout Track: “Are You Looking Up?“

1 | ITASCA – IMITATION OF WAR

Imitation of War is a warm hug. At least that’s what it became for me after my first listen in February. Dropping the same day as Two Start and the Dream Police, I almost missed this gem of an album, but thanks to my insatiable taste for new music, I stumbled into Kayla Cohen’s third record at the perfect time.

The album is led by Cohen’s soothing voice and meandering guitar, working as twin forces through the mountainside depicted on the album art. The songs feel organic and earthy, rooted in nature and the spiritual realm. Cohen’s backing band, filled out by several members of psychedelic stalwarts, Wand, matches her energy – laid back and urgent all at once. It’s a listen that will keep you coming back as you try to uncover Cohen’s dense licks and cloudy metaphors.

RIYL: Chorus pedals, Joni Mitchell, Laurel Canyon

Standout Track: “El Dorado“