2024 proved to be an outstanding year for the music world, with many iconic musicians showing some of their best work yet.
It was a huge year for women in the music industry: We saw bold new moves from artists like Beyoncé and Charli xcx, as well as groundbreaking returns to the Billboard Hot 100 from Sabrina Carpenter and Billie Eilish.
This year impressed us across all genres, with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator and Childish Gambino bringing big hits to the rap scene and folk artist Adrianne Lenker breaking ground in the genre.
The Daily Illini has selected our top 10 picks for the best albums of this year, in no particular order.
“COWBOY CARTER” — Beyoncé
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The DI’s rating: 9/10
Editor’s pick: “BODYGUARD”
Beyoncé has continued her venture through genres with “COWBOY CARTER” — and the iconic singer-songwriter’s foray into country did not disappoint. The album covers all the bases with a powerful, emotional sound that only Beyoncé can bring.
Better than bringing its unique sound to 2024, “COWBOY CARTER” is a strong reminder of country music’s origins within Black music communities. As the first album by a Black woman to top the Top Country Albums chart, “COWBOY CARTER” achieved a perfect balance between paying tribute to country greats while keeping the album undoubtedly “Beyoncé.” “COWBOY CARTER” is a masterpiece, proving that the momentum of the singer-songwriter’s career isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
“ORQUÍDEAS” — Kali Uchis
The DI’s rating: 8.5/10
Editor’s pick: “Labios Mordidos (with KAROL G)”
Kali Uchis’ second Spanish-language album is an adventurous, original record that draws inspiration from various musical traditions to create a cohesive product. Her highest charting album yet, “ORQUÍDEAS,” was a standout from the moment of its release and has remained memorable nearly 12 months later.
The dreamy, hazy synth sounds of “ORQUÍDEAS” give it a niche feel. The album showcases, above all else, Uchis’ ability to bind cultures and genres within her music. This one-of-a-kind work has a certain energy that can’t be replicated, cementing Uchis as one of the most prominent artists of this year.
“BRAT” — Charli xcx
The DI’s rating: 9/10
Editor’s pick: “Talk talk”
The comeback of the indie sleaze genre wasn’t expected for 2024, but we’re so glad it happened. Charli xcx was widely known for some big chart toppers of the mid-2010s — Icona Pop’s “I Love It (feat. Charli XCX)” and Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” stand as some of her most successful works. But the English singer-songwriter truly struck gold with this album, defining not only the summer but the entire year with the cultural reset that is “BRAT.”
Receiving widespread critical acclaim and seven Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year, “BRAT” has redefined Charli xcx’s career as completely her own. The remix album, “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat,” brought back what remixes were intended to be, rather than just adding guest artist verses to the original tracks. “BRAT’s” insane popularity may be defining the beginning of a new era for pop music, and if hitting the top 10 on the charts in 15 countries says anything, the world isn’t mad about it.
“GNX” — Kendrick Lamar
The DI’s rating: 8/10
Editor’s pick: “tv off (feat. lefty gunplay)”
Nominated for seven Grammy awards this year and currently set to perform the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, it’s safe to say Lamar has had a legendary 2024. The rapper ended the year with a bang in the form of “GNX,” his sixth studio album, which he dropped quite abruptly, allegedly not even informing his label beforehand.
The album has everything, including glorious features from artists like SZA, Roddy Ricch, Peysoh and more. Production credits from Mustard and Jack Antonoff flow perfectly with Lamar’s work, and the finished product stands as a testament to his talent. “GNX” provides a no-skip record that gave Lamar his fifth album to top the Billboard Top 200 chart and a “victory lap” to his amazing year.
“CHROMAKOPIA” — Tyler, The Creator
The DI’s rating: 8/10
Editor’s pick: “Darling, I (feat. Teezo Touchdown)”
Entirely self-written, arranged and produced, “CHROMAKOPIA” showcases Tyler, The Creator at his best. His creativity shines through, effortlessly blending hip-hop with soul and jazz to create a seamless album. A wide range of featured artists brings an inspired originality to the record that’s hard to hear anywhere else.
As his fastest-selling album yet, “CHROMAKOPIA” has made waves through the music world with hits like “Sticky (feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne)” going viral on TikTok. The candid record shows music at its messiest but in a way that brings everything together, creating something beautiful rather than incoherent.
“HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” — Billie Eilish
The DI’s rating: 8.5/10
Editor’s pick: “WILDFLOWER”
One of the breakout young artists of our generation, Eilish, opened up this year with a sound more confident than ever before. The highly anticipated “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” didn’t just hit the charts hard — it dominated them. The album earned seven Grammy nominations, including several of the most significant categories.
The album is an emotional, sometimes heartbreaking and undeniably beautiful product. Influences from Eilish’s brother FINNEAS shine through, adding a layer of depth to the production that doesn’t go unnoticed. Touching tracks like “THE GREATEST” and “WILDFLOWER” see Eilish at her most vulnerable, making the album an especially memorable one.
“Charm” — Clairo
The DI’s rating: 9/10
Editor’s pick: “Thank You”
Clairo’s third studio album earned the singer-songwriter her first-ever Grammy nomination. Marking her first self-released album, “Charm” has a raw authenticity that is difficult to replicate and sent waves of praise for the artist through 2024’s music scene.
The jazzy feel to the album might be what gives it its distinctive quality, as Clairo uses funk and soul inspirations to create colorful tracks. Clairo has taken indie to a different level and moved beyond her earlier lo-fi sounds in this creative record. “Charm” is effortlessly charming, delicately placing ideas in a way that feels refreshing and new.
“Bando Stone and The New World” — Childish Gambino
The DI’s rating: 8/10
Editor’s pick: “A Place Where Love Goes”
Announced as the final album under Donald Glover’s artist name, Childish Gambino, “Bando Stone and The New World” is an immersive record and a conclusive end to this era of his musical career. While the album has a bit of trouble staying cohesive with its overall narrative, its standout production and musicality make it one of the top records this year.
Collaborations with artists like Yeat and Flo Milli bring a refreshing flow to the album, and the range of producers makes each track sonically unique. The album has built anticipation for the upcoming film of the same name, directed by and starring Glover, which does not yet have a release date.
“Bright Future” — Adrianne Lenker
The DI’s rating: 10/10
Editor’s pick: “Fool”
A quieter release, Lenker’s future is proving to be brighter than ever with her latest work. “Bright Future” will run for Best Folk Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards and contains no skippable tracks, with Lenker’s honesty and emotion carrying through each recording.
The album proves that even without her band Big Thief, Lenker can stand alone as a strong solo artist, creating beautifully simplistic tracks. The record was made entirely on analog tape and without digital devices, adding to the authenticity of Lenker and her team’s work. Without a doubt, it’s comforting to see Lenker doing something different in 2024 and achieving widespread success.
“Short n’ Sweet” — Sabrina Carpenter
The DI’s rating: 8/10
Editor’s pick: “Juno”
Pop stars are so back. Carpenter’s poppy and peppy “Short n’ Sweet” was the pick-me-up this year needed, receiving six Grammy nominations and becoming the artist’s first album to go platinum. With multiple hits that dominated the year, such as “Espresso,” “Please Please Please” and “Taste,” Carpenter appears to have hit her stride in the musical world.
While “Short n’ Sweet” doesn’t bring many new ideas or musical concepts, its enormous success as a record can’t be ignored. An honest album about navigating love in your 20s is relatable to everyone, and its huge popularity will hopefully give the singer the confidence to branch out even further with future projects.
