2024 was a seismic year for music, with major releases from the likes of Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Clairo, Tyler, The Creator, and more redefining genres and boasting surprise comebacks. From long-anticipated albums to unexpected debuts, much of the year’s creative spark came from artists finally shaking off post-pandemic stagnation and rediscovering their groove in the studio. With bold new sounds and introspective lyricism, the industry felt like it had truly entered a long-overdue renaissance.
From soft rock to jazz, broadway to hip-hop, these are the Maroon and White staff’s picks of the best albums of 2024—in no particular order.
Clairo, Charm
Jazzy, warm, and soulful, Charm has easily become many music fan’s top albums of this year, including me. Released on July 12th, this album was long awaited and highly anticipated, with her previous album being released 3 years ago. Charm is a collection of heartfelt self expression and flirty love songs. Go listen! — Lydia Teri
Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology
Swift shattered our hearts once again with this manuscript of visceral emotion. As rumors of a breakup with her long-time boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, swirled, Swift captured our attention and pulled on our heartstrings with this devastating 31-track album. Scoring sixteen weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and 5 Grammy nominations while on her “Eras Tour,” Swift proved once again that she can do it with a broken heart! — Lottie Boyles
Hozier, Unreal Unearth: Unending
Warming, playful, yet sentimental all at the same time, this album truly unearths the complexity of emotions through music and even embodies the 2024 year for some. Although the album was released once, Hozier’s approach was different as he added even more songs to the tracklist. Each song on the album has complex layers of instrumentals and strong vocals. The songs in the album are carefully curated to embody the losses of love, spirituality, and self discovery. From melancholic ballads such as De Selby (Pt 1) to childlike and playful songs like Too Sweet, this album truly shows the different sides of life. — Lily Chen
Fontaines D.C., Romance
An instant classic by the Irish band of our generation. With dreamy production and lush lyricism, listeners are ushered into a new era of music. Romance exemplifies Fontaines D.C.’s experimental style through a trailblazing blend of genres. From Hip-Hop inspired drums on “Sundowner” to an alternative mix of both electric and acoustic guitar on “Favourite” the human condition is not only recognized, but celebrated. Their fourth studio album cementats Fontaines D.C. as a tour de force in the modern world of music. — Anna Grace Hodges
Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet
Fun, summery, vibrant, and in your face. There isn’t a more pop princess-y album that deserves our good graces. She started her 2024 journey by joining the openers for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour alongside amazing singers such as Gracie Abrams, Phoebe Bridgers, and Paramore. Fans adored her and were obsessed with Carpenter’s energy, which led to her breakthrough success. Her songs dominated every social media platform, and her music videos were iconic. While the album jumps from lovesick songs like “Juno” it catapults down to tear-jerkers like “Don’t Smile”, Carpenter once again proves her fame is not a coincidence. — Nancy Smith
Maggie Rogers, Don’t Forget Me
With a 10 song tracklist that feels like an introspective summer car ride down a back road, Don’t Forget Me ruminates on sonic and lyrical nostalgia to encapsulate the bittersweetness of being in your late twenties and figuring out how to love and be loved. From watching life change as you get older in “It Was Coming All Along,” to Rogers admitting that she feels behind in comparison to those around her on the album’s closer and title track “Don’t Forget Me,” this album is the culmination of a lifetime of confessions with a distinctive, forward-looking narrative. — Hayden Arnett
Lizzy McAlpine, Older (and Wiser)
McAlpine shot for the heart when she was writing this album. The simplicity in the instrumental allowed for the raw, heartbreaking emotion of the lyrics to shine through. Originally releasing “Older” in April, McAlpine added to her message after releasing the deluxe version of the album, “Older (and Wiser).” This album captures the feeling of growing up and the lost and hopeless feeling of falling in love while you’re young. — Marlee Fleming
Billie Eilish, Hit Me Hard And Soft
Billie Ellish recreates herself once again with her third studio album, revealing her feelings at this stage in her life with songs like “The Greatest” and “Blue.” This album is deeply personal, with lyrics on both the healing and hurt Billie has experienced due to herself and others. Hit Me Hard and Soft was a collection that I got to share with friends when it first came out, which is another part that makes this album moving to me. — Kayden Adams
Wicked Movie Cast, Wicked: The Soundtrack
When I first heard about this adaptation being released, I was wildly unimpressed. How could anybody capture one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time on screen? However, as I was watching this movie in theaters, both the visuals and music gave me chills. With songs that have been iconic for years now given a new life, there is no doubt that this album blew me, and others, away. From lively, upbeat songs like “Dancing Through Life” to the groundbreaking remake of “Defying Gravity,” this album is one of my favorites. — Lily Hughes
Tyler, The Creator, Chromakopia
Chromakopia is the best album of the year because Tyler is just absolutely original; every album is something that has never been done before. He also had an amazing mix of features ranging from Childish Gambino to Lil Wayne. He is also a baddie with amazing style so he gets brownie points. — Haley Kiser
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