The Ten Best Albums Of 2024

Updated Published

Joanne Joseph Student Contributor, University of Bristol

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bristol chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

2024 delivered one of the most remarkable years in music in a long time. With the return of iconic pop artists and the rise of fresh new talent, we’ve been blessed with an amazing array of albums. Without further ado, here are my top 10 albums of 2024 from bottom to top:

10. Eternal Sunshine by Ariana Grande

I suspect my Wicked obsession is what’s resulted in Eternal Sunshine flying to 10^th place after originally deliberating between Short n’ Sweet and Romance for this spot. Nevertheless, this concept album is a short but fiery explosion of Grande’s marriage, divorce and everything in between. In a savvy R&B and Y2K-inspired pop record, Grande toys with the public and keeps them guessing the mysteries of her personal life using witty lines and playful lyrics. Between Wicked and Eternal Sunshine, 2024 was undeniably Ari’s year.

Favourite track: Supernatural (with Troye Sivan)

9. This Is How Tomorrow Moves by Beabadoobee

Instead of recording this in the comfort of her London bedroom, Beatrice took a leap of faith and co-produced This Is How Tomorrow Moves with legendary producer Rick Rubin in Malibu, a journey reflected in her hit song “Beaches”. Beatrice’s growing confidence in her songwriting and performances is clear, and this album builds upon her earlier work in a relatable ’90s indie pop/rock record, whilst steering away from the teenage angst of Fake It Flowers.

Favourite track: California

8. What a Devastating Turn of Events by Rachel Chinouriri

The rising Black British artist defies genre boundaries in one of the best debut albums I’ve heard. The record is a turbulent journey through Chinouriri’s personal life captured through her wise storytelling. The album’s turning point is the titular track What a Devastating Turn of Events, where she shares the tragic story of her cousin’s suicide after learning of her pregnancy and her boyfriend’s abandonment. Following this, Chinouriri reflects on life’s unpredictable twists, closing the album with her own unexpected twist of finding love.

Favourite track: The Hills

7. Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii

Storytelling takes a new form in self-proclaimed “Swamp Princess”, Doechii, with “DENIAL IS A RIVER” epitomising this. The energy and charisma in ambitious and technically challenging songs like “NISSAN ALTIMA” is certainly impressive. Furthermore, her ability to create a formidable world from her writing to her performances is unmatched, and this talent is what makes me so sure Doechii will rise to become one of the most influential artists of our time.

Favourite track: NISSAN ALTIMA

6. The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift

As a Folklore and Evermore superfan, hearing TTPD echo these albums through its storytelling and sounds, whilst also channelling the synth-pop of Midnights, was incredibly nostalgic for me. Taylor did not hold back in her songwriting in TTPD either, diving into the extremities of her emotions in an unhinged and candid style. Whilst I do think the album would be more memorable if it was shorter, the number of songs that I adore on this album is simply too great to dismiss.

Favourite track: Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus

5. TYLA+ by Tyla

After her hit single “Water” drove the internet crazy and won her a Grammy, Tyla’s self-titled debut album was highly anticipated, and it absolutely lived up to its hype. She weaved elements of pop, R&B, amapiano, and afrobeats together to create a fresh album recalling sounds of her home in South Africa. From staple house party music like “Truth or Dare” to ethereal melodies like “Butterflies”, this album has been on repeat constantly, and I cannot wait to see what Tyla creates in the future.

Favourite track: PUSH 2 START

4. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish

Eilish’s third album seamlessly blends alternative pop and pop-rock with her haunting vocals and Finneas’s innovative production. She unpacks her romantic relationships, sexuality, and the challenges of growing up in the public eye in an impressive 44 minutes. Songs like “BLUE” and “CHIHIRO” echo her previous ghostly, moody style whilst “WILDFLOWER” showcases her growth as a storyteller, sharing the complexities of relationships with a more mature lens. After drifting away from her music, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT has most definitely brought Billie back into my musical landscape.

Favourite track: THE GREATEST

3. Charm by Clairo

Clairo’s third studio album Charm is by far her best yet. Here, she ascends her former label as a lo-fi bedroom pop artist by delving into soft rock, pop, R&B and soul. Clairo pairs her unique vocals with both rich and whimsical instrumentals, ultimately creating a sultry and sweet 70s inspired record. Both her songwriting and production explores the dark romance of crushes, and what it means to be charmed by someone. Clairo continues to transform her music, and Charm has undoubtedly outshined most albums that have released this year.

Favourite track: Slow Dance

2. Chromakopia by Tyler, the Creator

Arguably Tyler’s most personal record yet, Chromakopia grapples themes of fame, identity, life’s growing responsibilities, and essentially ‘taking your mask off’. Like his other projects, Chromakopia is a concept album where Tyler takes on a persona, in this case “St. Chroma”. Emotive tracks like “Hey Jane” and “Like Him” give us a rare insight into Tyler’s personal life including unexpected pregnancies and truths behind Tyler’s absent father. This contrasts with more upbeat songs like Sticky ft GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne, and Balloon ft Doechii. Either way, Chromakopia is a colourful but cohesive hip-hop/rap record that echoes some of Tyler’s previous albums, whilst being much more grounded and personal.

Favourite track: Like Him

1. Brat by Charli xcx

Now there’s no reality where I wouldn’t name Charli xcx’s “Brat” the album of the year. Its impact sent shockwaves into pop culture and the music industry as we know it, and it’s safe to say Charli dominated music this year.

Brat encapsulates the hedonistic party girl aesthetic, whilst shining light on insecurities and fears surrounding girls, fame, obsession and life. The brutal honesty entrenched in the album, along with its unabashed lyrics and Charli’s exuberant persona, makes Brat extremely relatable to a large audience, which is only heightened by the further release of bonus tracks and the remix album.

Favourite track: Girl, so confusing featuring lorde

and lastly, some honourable mentions:

Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
Romance by Fontaines D.C.
Dunya by Mustafa
Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé
GNX by Kendrick Lamar
ORQUÍDEAS by Kali Uchis
American Hero by Towa Bird
The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams
CRASH by Kehlani