Best of 2024

Power pop, pop punk, indie rock, and alternative rock blended into ear worms you won't get out of your head.

A band that's hard to pin down, but so damn cool. Parts indie rock, slowcore, dream pop, psych rock and experimental rock.

The Irish post-punk group incorporate more Irish/British/US alternative rock influences to create one of their best records yet.

One of the best female songwriters in indie/alt rock, combining elements of indie rock with R&B/soul. Such a fresh, unique sound.

If Ned's Atomic Dustbin was a hardcore band, they would be High Vis.

A new artist I stumbled upon this year. And this is my fave indie folk record for 2024. So much more confidence than her previous records. Can't wait to see where she goes from here...

My fave hyperpop, art/post punk band right now. I almost forgot about this release as it came out in January 2024. SO catchy, so good.

MJ Lenderman can do no wrong it seems. Not only is his solo work excellent, his band Wednesday made my top list for 2023. He also worked with Waxahatchee this year (see below) and Indigo De Souza (see last year's list.)

Southern/country-tinged slacker rock, like if Pavement was from the south.

Kendrick was busy this year. Beyond the diss tracks and war with Drake, he managed to sneak in a full album. And it's good. My hip hop album of the year.

One of my favorite live bands and one of their best records. Indie rock with a touch of punk and hardcore. So good...

Waxahatchee has kind of blown up in the last couple years and it's well deserved. I've been a fan since the early 2010s and I always thought she was at her best when she leaned into her southern roots more (though she can write great indie rock tunes as well)... her last two albums have fully grasped those reins and she's putting out her best work.

I took the easy way out on this one. This project is actually a double album, but I don't like the second half at all (which was released two months later), so I am going to consider it a separate album. Super good country tinged folk for fans of Adrianne Lenker, Damien Jurado, and Bonny Light Horseman.

Good Looks blends folk, rock, and emo into super catchy cathartic tunes that you will be singing to yourself for weeks.

Navy Blue is Sage Elsesser, a Brooklyn born rapper, producer, and skateboarder. Memoirs in Armour is his 8th full length and one of his best. Stream of conscious story telling over jazzy melodic loops. Highly recommended if you are into alternative hip hop.

One of rock music's most talented guitar players and performers. All Born Screaming is her best album since her self-titled 2014 album.

I was on quite an alt/indie folk kick this year. If you like Big Thief or Mitski you will dig this superb singer/songwriter that mixes 60s/70s folk with jazz influences.

Gouge Away is a hardcore band from Florida that builds off of influences like Fugazi, Pixies, and Unwound. I don’t follow new hardcore releases as closely as I used to, but bands like Gouge Away and High Vis make me think that is a mistake.

One of my favorite bands from the late aughts. Their first album in seven years and it was a return to form in many ways – at least the sound I loved. So glad they are back together and touring.

I wanted and hoped this would end up higher, but it was a strong pool this year. Still one of my favorite hip hop albums of the year. Tyler's unique style is on full display.