Albums: I considered any album that was officially released during the calendar year of 2024 to be eligible. Also, with the evolving nature as to what is considered a full album release in modern times (“full” records seem to span anywhere between 7 and 700 songs these days), I’m also considering extended-play releases as eligible. Neither compilation albums or today’s endless slew of reissues or deluxe, or super-deluxe, OR super-duper deluxe editions of a previously released album are eligible.
25) Kacey Musgraves- Deeper Well (MCA)
Deeper Well may not have been the twangy country double-down that may purists were hoping for in the wake of 2021’s poppy Star-Crossed, but what it ultimately proved to be was precisely what this body of songs called for: the first true double-down on the pure folk origins that have been the heartbeat of the Kacey Musgraves catalog all along. The obvious centerpiece of the record, “The Architect”, serves as a blueprint in its own right, anchoring a body of work that spills over with the emotional consequences one grapples with as they enter the back-half of their thirties. It may not spill over with the twangy wit of Pageant Material, but there will be plenty of time to revisit that arena. Well is indeed a deep one, a sparkling showcase for Musgraves’ generational lyricism and tender, crystalline singing.
My Top Three Tracks: “The Architect”, “Cardinal”, “Lonely Millionaire”
24) Dawes- Oh Brother (Dead Ringers)
Dawes debuts their downsizing back down to a brotherly duo with a richly rewarding release that easily ranks among the rest of the Laurel Canyon veterans’ triumphs. The brothers Goldsmith remain prominently steeped in the guitar-rock realm that was so prominent on the preceding Misadventures of Doomscroller, but with the kind of relaxed intimacy and reflection that you’d expect with such a familial affair. Nevertheless, this atmospheric quality does nothing to temper the biting vibrancy of their songwriting, which remains among the most tantalizing across the entire musical spectrum. Their ability to inject humor and levity into their weightiest subject matter remains unparalleled and only amplifies the powerful impact of their music. New landmarks like “King of the Never-Wills” and “Hilarity Ensues” are as emblematic of this as anything they’ve released to date.
My Top Three Tracks: “King of the Never-Wills”, “The Game”, “Hilarity Ensues”
23) Red Clay Strays- Made By These Moments (RCA)
One of the most refreshing success stories of the year and certainly one of the more merited discoveries of the viral Tik-Tok age, the Red Clay Strays successfully parlayed their online buzz into a major-label record deal, and one that avoided any interference in the authenticity that makes the band so great in the first place. Under the tutelage of Americana production icon Dave Cobb, the Strays delivered a sophomore set that vibrantly builds upon the promise of its prelude, offering a set of sizzling and emotional songs, red-hot and diverse musicianship, and by way of Brandon Coleman, some of the most vocally imposing singing showcases to be seen this entire generation. Moments to be made by, without question.
My Top Three Tracks: “Wasting Time”, “Drowning”, “Devil In My Ear”
22) Katie Pruitt- Mantras (Rounder)
On her long-awaited sophomore release, Katie Pruitt further solidifies herself as one of the most awe-inspiring singer-songwriters to emerge in popular music’s post-Y2K chapter. There are those special lyricists with wisdom and empathy beyond their years, and Pruitt’s definitely one of them. But then there are lyricists with a uniquely elevated level of fearless gumption, nerve, and honesty. And, Katie Pruitt is damn sure one of those. This is both beautifully and devastatingly illustrated throughout the aptly-titled Mantras, as she pulls absolutely zero punches while reflecting upon a childhood marred with religious prejudice and familial rejection of her queer identity, and then simultaneously confronting a frightening new world that threatens to wreak the same kind of havoc on her adulthood. She lays every ounce of that fear, confusion, and sadness bare throughout this record, without ever sacrificing her grace, pride, or perseverance. This young lady is no longer too generous with “all the fucks she’s giving”. That she colors it all within a swirling backdrop of folk, rock, pop, and country makes it all the more potent.
My Top Three Tracks: “All My Friends”, “The Waitress”, “Standstill”
21) Jack White- No Name (Third Man)
A high-water mark in both Jack White’s catalog and the recent rock lexicon as a whole, No Name found the notoriously creative enigma finding the kind of primitive, prominent reconnection with his White Stripes roots that no other solo album of his has sought out. And it’s hard to name a year in recent rock memory that had been as desperately wanting for a project like this as 2024. No Name finds White simply being the pure classic rock star that he has always been at his core, without getting too swept up in the artistic minutia of it all. Now, of course this LP is not without the typical White tropes and quirks. But overall, this is flat-out jamming record, rife with classic garage riffs, zany psych-rock call-backs, fetching choruses, and no shortage of good, old-fashioned sonic contagion. May the rest of the rock universe follow Jack’s lead here and give way to a rock revolution in 2025..
My Top Three Tracks: “That’s How I’m Feeling”, “It’s Rough on Rats (If You’re Asking)”, “Archbishop Harold Holmes”
20) Ariana Grande- Eternal Sunshine (Republic)
A reunion with pop-sleuth Max Martin and the aftermath of a brief marriage set the stage for Eternal Sunshine, and its status as the recertification of Ariana Grande’s modern pop superstardom. The return of Martin to the production helm brings out some of the most infectious bangers of Grande’s career, reclaiming the magic quality of records like Sweetener and Thank U Next. Meanwhile, the latest evolutions in her personal life give an added gravitas to the more contemplative, and utterly heartbreaking tracks throughout the album. And then there’s that voice, which remains one of the purest and most resonant vessels in all of post-millennium pop. To simply hear her sing is divine. To simply jam out to a beastly track like “Yes, And?” is a frigging blast. To be able to do both, as we are afforded multiple opportunities for throughout Eternal Sunshine, is the pinnacle of pop music fandom, recalling the very heights of similar dynamos like Whittney and Mariah before her.
My Top Three Tracks: “Yes, And?”, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)”, “True Story”
19) Taylor Swift- The Tortured Poets Department (Republic)
Leave it to Taylor Swift to release her least accessible record in the midst of her reign as the biggest box-office draw in the history of pop music. So moody, downbeat and introspective is The Tortured Poets Department, that it makes her rootsy pandemic twins Folklore and Evermore feel like dance-floor staples. The assessments that it’s an album for the most devoted Swifties is certainly accurate, but that also overshadows the fact that it’s the darkest lyrical showcase from a legendary songwriter. To hear almost depressed confessionals like the title track, “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” and the veiled devastation of “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” juxtaposed against the triumphant joy surrounding everything related to the Eras tour is eye-opening to say the very least, and should not be disregarded for the pivotal artistic statement and evolution that it represents.
My Top Three Tracks: “The Tortured Poets Department”, “Down Bad”, “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?”
18) Lake Street Dive- Good Together (Fantasy)
An endlessly gratifying bounty of bops, Good Together taps into the sheer joy of this fantastic band as vigorously as any set in their unassumingly deep catalog. Rachael Price’s silky smooth voice remains one of the most criminally overlooked across the entire musical spectrum; her evocative deliveries boldly radiate emotions of joy, empathy, soul, and pure fun unlike any of her contemporaries currently occupying chart space. She’s far from the sole star of the show however, with her fellow musicians matching her electricity with a sweltering and diverse arsenal of chops that can master everything from pure pop and soul to R&B, funk, and vintage rock. It’s that unflappable cohesion of the group’s talents and personalities that elevate their music and overall band identity to the hallowed level of the very best pop and rock bands, past and present. Good Together? Perhaps the biggest understatement of 2024.
My Top Three Tracks: “Good Together”, “Far Gone”, “Walking Uphill”
17) Vampire Weekend- Only God Was Above Us (Columbia)
The continued fascinating evolution of one of the 21st century’s greatest indie breakthroughs to date. From the onset, Vampire Weekend was always a band gloriously caught between their charmingly nerdy indie looseness and what was clearly a grander and more sophisticated vision for both the sonic and topical implications of their music. Only God Was Above Us is arguably their most alluring distillation of those qualities thus far in their impressive discography, with its sound touching upon bold iterations of nearly every genre imaginable, while the songs themselves push the group further into the social, cultural, and emotional conflicts that accompany the 40-something experience in the chaotic 2020s. This record is a feast for the ears and the mind, from a group whose vibrant creativity and unique vision remains unparalleled across the contemporary music spectrum.
My Top Three Tracks: “Capricorn”, “Ice Cream Piano”, “Hope”
16) Amythyst Kiah- Still + Bright (Rounder)
Arriving the final week of October, this earthquaking battle-cry of an album arrived just in time to help us navigate the emotional and political chaos of the 2024 Presidential Election, with Amythyst Kiah’s glorious vocals once again proving to be a beacon of light to guide us through any series of troubled times. As ever before, Kiah doesn’t shy away from the pain or ugliness of neither our culture’s biggest challenges or her inner-most battles. She uses the other-worldly powers of her voice and artistry to transform these dark moments into some of the most gorgeous musical moments that will be committed to record in her lifetime. With an unwavering commitment to both musical excellence and societal justice, as well as an omnivorous stylistic imagination, Kiah crafts an album that not only confronts the darker elements of the human experience, but also manages to subvert that darkness with a powerful jolt of perseverance, conviction, and ultimately the brightness promised in the album’s title.
My Top Three Tracks: “Play God & Destroy the World” featuring S.G. Goodman, “Empire of Love”, “Let’s See Ourselves Out”
15) Wyatt Flores- Welcome to the Plains (Universal)
The much anticipated arrival of Wyatt Flores’ first full-length album not only failed to disappoint in the light of high expectations, but managed to defy them as well. Building on the remarkable promise established by a series of excellent EP appetizers, Welcome to the Plains is a gluttonous main course of Americana magic, anchored by Flores’ passionately rousing voice, his gut-wrenching brand of storytelling, and an onslaught of fiery musicianship that ripples through the veins of the listener. At the core of it all is a young man both fascinated and undeniably held hostage by the tension building between his small-town roots and the stakes of a grander world. The depth and wisdom with which he tackles these topics are certainly beyond his years, and presented in a fabulous melting-pot of American roots music, performed with a profound spark rarely seen on a third album, much less a debut.
My Top Three Tracks: “Welcome to the Plains”, “Oh, Susannah”, “Forget Your Voice”
14) Shawn Mendes- Shawn (Island)
The fifth studio album from Shawn Mendes is one of those rare pop music triumphs, with a young artist rising above all of the superficial expectations of the mainstream industry to finally discover their wholly-realized artistic voice, all of the commercial consequences be damned. In the case of Mendes, the artistic benefits certainly fair outweighed any statistical concerns. The record gorgeously finds Mendes leading his listeners down a stomping folk-pop path through all of the emotional baggage attached to his stardom, with the final destination being the soulfully reflective patchwork that has been bubbling underneath his work all along. Both his voice and his songs sound fantastic in this setting, which gives the entire album one of the most rewarding emotional arcs of the year. This is not the record to restore Shawn Mendes as a pop megastar, but rather the one that solidifies him as a vital artistic voice. It’s an outcome that is far more rewarding for Mendes’ loyal fanbase, and surely for the man himself as well.
My Top Three Tracks: “Why, Why, Why”, “Heart of Gold”, “That’ll Be the Day”
13) Miranda Lambert- Postcards from Texas (Big Loud)
Under normal circumstances, we’d be trumpeting Postcards from Texas for the mere fact that it’s the first indy release from a mainstream superstar, after two decades working within the Nashville major-label ecosystem. But this is Miranda Lambert y’all, the modern legend who has been the artistic beacon in Music City for that entire run, refusing to follow anyone’s path but her own. Therefore, Postcards is in actuality another excellent release in arguably the finest country albums discography since Trisha Yearwood, and Emmylou Harris before her. Lambert’s balance of fiery anthems and tender ballads remains tastefully sturdy, her pen remains pristine, and the home-state setting in which she’s recording only further emphasizes the gritty authenticity that’s been the glowing emblem of her entire career. All hail the beginning of a new arc that promises to be even greater than the one preceding it.
My Top Three Tracks: “Alimony”, “No Man’s Land”, “Living On the Run”
12) Sabrina Carpenter- Short ‘n Sweet (Island)
The class of young ladies currently vying for Taylor Swift’s crown of female pop dominance is one of the most impressive crops we’ve seen in sometime. This can be credited to the fact that women like Sabrina Carpenter and peers like Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo have made their inroads by modeling Swift’s creative conviction and independence, rather than merely her sound, as can so often happen in an assembly line industry like popular music. These women are all their own unique artists, and on Short ‘n Sweet, Carpenter benefits from all of the gestating she was allowed to do on her first five albums, culminating in this unveiling of a sharply charismatic and confident songstress fully self-aware of her best signatures. Signatures of which are a total pop blast thanks to the sheer contradictions they are of one another. These songs are sweet but sassy, romantic but raunchy, and all endlessly infectious.
My Top Three Tracks: “Taste”, “Espresso”, “Slim Pickins”
11) Kaitlin Butts- Roadrunner! (Soundly)
Turns out that the fiery, shit-kicking, honky-tonky leanings that Kaitlin Butts demonstrated on her 2022 breakthrough were truly just mere hints as to the question posed by the album’s title, What Else Can She Do. Enter Roadrunner!, a daring record with a depth that extends far beyond the charming tropes implied by its low-key Oklahoma!-leaning concepts. This is the very best version of what you might call a “variety-show” album, one that remains loyal to Butts’ neo-traditionalism and Broadway machinations, but is never limited by them. She duets with Vince Gill one moment, and covers Kesha in the next. She tackles Rodgers & Hammerstein and then twangs up a early Cher classic shortly thereafter. She does all of this with the precise amount of theatricality and kitsch that it requires, not to mention the level of authenticity and confidence necessary to keep this kind of novelty on the right side of the tracks, a talent that is far-too-rarely appreciated. Up to this point, Butts had established herself as a solid singer and songwriter. With Roadrunner!, she solidifies herself as a world-class entertainer as well.
My Top Three Tracks: “Hunt You Down”, “Come Rest Your Head (On My Pillow) featuring Vince Gill, “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead to Me)”
10) Dua Lipa- Radical Optimism (Warner)
Though certainly not the chart juggernaut that its predecessor was, Radical Optimism is a magnetic and worthy follow-up, with Dua Lipa assuredly solidifying the dazzling dance sound that is unquestionably her signature at this stage. She fluidly incorporates flourishes of psychedelia while both her pen and vocal abilities continue to equally blossom amidst a well-crafted balance of contagious bangers and evocative ballads. Sweltering tracks like “Houdini” and the title cut are as fetching as anything on Future Nostalgia, but it’s moments like the bittersweetly mature break-up tune, “Happy For You” that really illustrate Lipa’s narrative growth, and suggests that her ability to break our hearts is catching up with her knack for making them race. This is pop music’s dark-horse classic from 2024; and that’s not just the radical optimism talking.
My Top Three Tracks: “Illusion”, “These Walls”, “Happy For You”
9) Luke Combs- Fathers & Sons (Columbia)
Precious Memories. Up On the Ridge. The Pistol Annies projects. The Highwomen. My Savior. Lindeville. Mainstream country’s 21st century canon has actually been fairly generous in providing richly rewarding artistic swerves from A-listers at the top of their chart game. And Luke Combs’ surprise Father’s Day release easily ranks among the best of such releases. Fathers & Sons finds the typically blustery common-man superstar stripping things down to a gorgeous acoustic backdrop, and it marvelously showcases a body of fatherhood tunes that easily rank among his greatest compositions. The grass-tinged, more organic instrumentation brings out the warmest qualities of Combs’ booming twang, and his unabashed willingness to wear his heart on his lyrical sleeve soars to new heights via these heartwarming reflections. This record will be the perennial jewel in his catalog from this moment forward.
My Top Three Tracks: “Front Door Famous”, “All I Ever Do Is Leave”, “Plant a Seed”
8) The Decemberists- As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again (YABB)
An audaciously artful project that takes the listener on a wide-eyed adventure through captivating storytelling, emotional performances, and an entrancing melting pot of diverse sounds, The Decemberists’ first long-player in six years demonstrated that their time away was creatively fruitful and inspired. It’s a true return-to-form for a venerable indie band whose breakthrough was among the most alluring of its era. Collin Meloy’s inimitable voice, both of the physical and compositional nature, is as imaginatively fantastical as ever before, and his superlative bandmates raise those stakes like never before, with an uncanny ability to capture a stunning well of musical styles and aural experiences with the kind of nimble range that knows no peer. The result is a thrilling experience of a record, one that simultaneously transports you to a mythical land and taps into the emotions of the all-too-real universe we’re living in.
My Top Three Tracks: “Oh No!”, “Long White Veil”, “William Fitzwilliam”
7) Billy Strings- Highway Prayers (Reprise)
A superlative opus from one of the most heralded musicians and buzziest concert draws of the current moment. Even at an extensive twenty tracks, Highway Prayers doesn’t waste a single moment in showcasing not only the technical proficiencies of Billy Strings’ unique talent, but also his colorful personality and vast stylistic range. Creators and appreciators of everything from bluegrass and Outlaw country to classic rock and classical (period) will find much to devour throughout the performances here, with all of these disparate influences and musical shades finding common ground in both Strings’ obvious affection for them, and his talent for mastering and marrying them so seamlessly. And not only can he deliver an array of sounds and styles, but he can do the same with varied emotions as well. You’ll experience laughter, sadness, joy, and wonder along Billy Strings’ highway of prayers. If there’s a more well-rounded, natural talent to emerge this decade, I’ve yet to see them.
My Top Three Tracks: “Seven Weeks In County”, “Stratosphere Blues/I Believe In You”, “Don’t Be Calling Me (at 4AM)”
6) Gary Clark Jr.- JPEG Raw (Warner)
An absolute cornucopia of genres, guest stars, and bold artistic and social statements, JPEG Raw is the artistic culmination and cultural touchstone that Gary Clark Jr.’s career has been progressively building toward since his 2012 debut. His ever expanding well of stylistic mastery is as far-reaching as it’s ever been, touching upon everything from traditional African and classic jazz sounds to Cosmic Hip-Hop and swaggering funk. His rapturous vocals and wizard-like guitar skills remain at the absolute peak of their powers, with each stylistic turn providing further evidence as to the pure dexterity and diversity he possesses in both of these realms. At the core of it all is a soulfully thoughtful through-line of purpose and social conscience that is rarely but overtly acknowledged on the lyrical surface of the songs. Instead, Clark and his guests allow the sheer wonder of audacity and their performances do the talking, resulting in a gloriously celebratory record for the African-American experience, but also one meant to unite musical lovers of all cultures and walks of life.
My Top Three Tracks: “Maktub”, “Don’t Start” featuring Valerie June, “What About the Children” featuring Stevie Wonder
5) Zach Bryan- The Great American Bar Scene (Warner)
By all conventional music industry standards, Zach Bryan is indeed American music’s most unlikely modern superstar. But on his latest oeuvre, a loosely conceptual album based around the occupants of a small-town tavern, his scrappy, intra-personal poetry and blue-collar sketches prove precisely why he is the most natural kind of musical hero. There’s a reason his soul-baring, personal excavations can reside so naturally against the bittersweetly triumphant third-person stories he weaves, and The Great American Bar Scene is indeed the greatest example of this that he’s released thus far. Bringing these moments to life even more vigorously than past works is a subtle incorporation of classic Heartland Rock overtones , which injects new color into Bryan’s sound without intruding on the raw soundscape that won him his legions of followers in the first place. He’s already carved out the most prolific body of work amongst contemporary artists, but The Great American Bar Scene proudly upholds that it’s one of the most consistently rewarding as well. In Zach Bryan’s world, quality and quantity are refreshingly not exclusive of the other.
My Top Three Tracks: “Pink Skies”, “American Nights”, “Sandpaper” featuring Bruce Springsteen
4) Beyonce- Cowboy Carter (Columbia)
So much hullabaloo has been made over whether Cowboy Carter was truly a country album or not, but Beyonce herself made it clear from the get-go that this was simply a Beyonce album, not a record that had to be defined or restricted by the limitations of genre or style. And like any other Beyonce album that preceded it, that means that this album gets to be whatever the hell it wants to be at any given moment, and it perhaps lives up to that notion more than any other release in her catalog. Does it do plenty to help African-Americans and women alike celebrate their pivotal roles in the origins and legacies of country music and American roots music as a whole? Absolutely. But it additionally takes us on a beautifully chaotic and entertaining journey through the annals and influences of everything else from classic rock and funk to R&B and Hip Hop, and beyond. Its sheer ambition admittedly leads to some flaws, but they only enhance the sheer fascination of the entire record. It may not have ultimately reached the cultural, blockbuster heights that many predicted, instead becoming a bona fide, dark-horse cult favorite in her canon. Every great artist with any true longevity has at least one of those in their discography, and Queen Bey achieved quite the gem with hers.
My Top Three Tracks: “American Requiem”, “II Most Wanted” (featuring Miley Cyrus), “Ya Ya”
3) Sierra Ferrell- Trail of Flowers (Rounder)
A marvelous breakthrough that finds Sierra Ferrell gracefully graduating from a potential noise-maker to the highest echelon of roots music royalty. As with her preceding discs, Trail of Flowers is at its core a pure folk record, but it also finds her growing increasingly comfortable with the fact that she doesn’t have always live within the boundaries of this lineage. Using the combination of her bewitching voice and stunning song-craft as an unflinching compass, Ferrell takes her music through a meandering but ever-cohesive crop of songs that curiously dabble in everything from honky tonk and fiddling tunes to bluesy murder balladry and juicy blues-tinged numbers. It all forms a mesmerizing blend that feels like the lovechild between Alison Krauss’ vocal and instrumental purity and Brandi Carlile’s thunderously bold stylistic and topical diversity. However, beating at the heart of it all is a convicted and uniquely gifted talent with an artistic stamp and POV all her own. This flowery trail may just be the roadmap leading to the future of Americana music, and what a sparkling future it looks to be.
My Top Three Tracks: “American Dreaming”, “Dollar Bill Bar”, “I Could Drive You Crazy”
2) Sturgill Simpson as Johnny Blue Skies- Passage du Desir (High Top Mountain)
Passage du Desir emphatically proves one undeniable fact right out of the gate: under any pseudonym, Sturgill Simpson remains one of the truly splendid musical creators of our time. In an era where the length of a standard album release often takes the first half of the LP concept to ridiculously hollow extremes, Simpson–err, Blue Skies–delivers an unbridled classic within the confines of eight tracks across forty-two minutes. And while the listener may certainly be left craving more at the album’s end, you’ll never feel short-changed by the gorgeous wave of musical excellence that this record carries you through. The project’s sonic trappings strike a splendid balance between the rich golden textures of A Sailor’s Guide to Earth and the twangier fringes of Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, with the soulfully rough contradictions of his booming voice being gifted with as fine of a showcase as it has to date. His guitar picking throughout is equally impressive, evoking jazz-leaning sophistication one moment, and then either greasy rock blues or tasty honky tonk the next. This Blue Skies kid might just make it after all..
My Top Three Tracks: “Scooter Blues”, “Jupiter’s Faerie”, “Mint Tea”,
1) Carly Pearce- Hummingbird (Big Machine)
Carly Pearce set an incredibly high bar for herself with her 2021 divorce album, 29: Written in Stone, and its highly-anticipated follow-up not only matched that watermark, but it triumphantly soared past it as well. Once again, Pearce wears her affinity for bluegrass and 90s country sounds proudly on her sleeve. But Hummingbird is more than just a novel, nostalgic feast for the ears of legacy country music lovers. There’s an ample serving of meat on these bones as well, with Pearce taking all the right cues from the heyday classics of women like Pam, Patty, Trisha, Faith & the Chicks by building a solidly textured body of songs grounded by a fulfilling emotional well of heartbreak & humor, honesty & earnestness, passion & talent. It rightfully places artistic integrity and authenticity as its primary concern, yet isn’t afraid to provide some commercialized radio-bait, but only when it suits the arc of the album. She’s unafraid to go to the darkest realms of her own personal story, but she’s just as effective narrating from a third-party perspective. Her ability to do all of this on successive releases now firmly establishes her as one of Nashville’s rare album-artists, and by combining her influences from the past with her own contemporary perspective, she’s surely but quietly leading the path forward for one of American music’s most storied scenes.
My Top Three Tracks: “Truck on Fire”, “Rock, Paper, Scissors”, “Fault Line”
Previous: Part I
The 706 