Words by Maggie Mahoney
Every year, I find myself leaning on music as a source of joy and solace while navigating the ebbs and flows of life. Throughout 2024, I spent countless hours sitting in my office, at the gym, or in my bedroom listening to curated playlists, not to mention many nights at concert venues, watching some of my favorite artists live. With this in mind, below are some of the albums I had on repeat this year, in no particular order. In an effort to not bore you with music you may already know, I have avoided mentioning pop sensations Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande (despite thoroughly enjoying their respective 2024 releases).
Buzz by NIKI
I have been a fan of NIKI since her 2017 singles “I Like U” and “Chilly.” In her third studio album: Buzz, NIKI adopts a more experimental style than her previous R&B-focused tracks. Although this was not a “no skip” album for me, I appreciated the project’s sonic and emotional range and innovative production. I also found many of the individual tracks to be contenders for some of my favorite songs of the year, notably its title track “Buzz.”
Timbuktu by Ethan Regan
At just 21 years old, Ethan Regan blends folk and indie genres with honest lyrics in his latest project Timbuktu. I was lucky enough to see him live this year at Baby’s Alright in Brooklyn and he sounded just as wonderful in person as on this record. My favorite songs from the album were “wilmington” and re-released singles “katherine” and “fine china.”
Older (and Wiser) by Lizzy McAlpine
As a certified sad girl, I am a huge fan of Lizzy McAlpine. Nostalgic, heartbreaking, and poignant, this album captures how it feels to age, to experience heartbreak, and to navigate the confusion and changes that come with being in your 20s. “Vortex” was my favorite song from the original project and “Spring into Summer” was my favorite of the extended version of the album.
Amy – EP by Yana
I discovered Yana this year through TikTok and have been hooked ever since. Her relatable songwriting, haunting melodies, and folksy vocals ensure this short EP packs a punch. “Haunt Me,” “The Wall” and “How Long” were immediately added to my 2024 playlist upon my first time hearing them.
Charm by Clairo
I would be remiss not to mention Clairo’s 2024 album and my personal “album of the summer,” Charm, as one of my favorites of this year. The heart of the project stays true to Clairo’s soft and whimsical sound, just infused with greater confidence and sonically interesting production choices. Charm reveals Clairo’s versatility as an artist and her ability to understand how to create catchy hits that will land with her audience. I struggle to find a weak link in this album.
Don’t Forget Me by Maggie Rogers
Maggie Rogers’ third album is by far her strongest in my eyes. Weaving in nods to folk and country music, the songs feel self assured and the writing feels wise and raw. You can tell Rogers’ is coming into her own style in this project and having fun while doing it.
It was difficult to narrow down my standout albums to just six, so my honorable mention albums of this year are: This is How Tomorrow Moves by Beabadoobee, Penelope Road – EP by Penelope Road, 14 minutes by Dominic Fike, Kansas Anymore by Role Model, and This Could All Go Nowhere – EP by The Brook & The Bluff. If Kendrick Lamar’s GNX and the new Wicked movie soundtrack had come out slightly earlier in the year, I am sure they would also be making my list of most listened to albums. I also want to shout out artists Amelia Moore, Karly Bowman, and UMI for having some excellent song releases in 2024. Happy listening!
You can read more of Maggie’s writing on her Substack, Notes App Nightmare, here.
This story first ran in Issue 38: The Music Issue. Read more from the issue here
