10. “Aghori Mhori Mei” – The Smashing Pumpkins (Mary’s Music, Thirty Tigers)
Alternative Rock, Progressive Rock
After releasing the bloated, three-act rock opera ATUM in 2023, it became debatable if the Smashing Pumpkins would ever expand on the sound that made them alt-rock gods on “Gish” and “Siamese Dream.” While I’m all for experimentation, it hasn’t worked in the band’s favor on any of their releases since 2012’s “Oceania.” However, “Aghori Mhori Mei” sees the band going back to the basics while maintaining a sense of musical maturity. Billy Corgan’s screeching guitar tones and Jimmy Chamberlin’s signature drumming take you back to the band’s heyday in the mid-90s with the rocking riffs of “Sicarus” and “Edin.” While also featuring plenty of dreamy synth leads and soundscapes, this record feels like the Pumpkins have finally figured out how to harness what made such different albums like “Gish” and “Adore” work together. I think the Pumpkins might be back.
FAV TRACKS: “Edin,” “War Dreams of Itself” and “Sicarus”
LEAST FAV TRACK: “Pentecost”
9. “Only God Was Above Us” – Vampire Weekend (Columbia)
Indie Rock, Chamber Pop
It’s a real shame when an extremely successful band drops what is their best album to date and it doesn’t get nearly the same hype as their previous efforts. Coming off of three straight #1 albums in “Contra,” “Modern Vampires of the City” and “Father of the Bride,” Vampire Weekend released the gritty, complex and direct “Only God Was Above Us,” which so far has only peaked at #27 on the Billboard 200. This new effort from the New York City natives fires on all cylinders with abstract instrumentals, youthful vocals and Ezra Koenig’s erudite writing. Throughout the track listing, the band seems to dive into its past musically, but in a way that’s both fresh and familiar and the same time.
FAV TRACKS: “Ice Cream Piano,” “Gen-X Cops” and “Mary Boone”
LEAST FAV TRACK: “The Surfer”
8. “Hit Me Hard and Soft” – Billie Eilish (Darkroom, Interscope)
Alt-pop, Bedroom Pop
A dramatically dynamic record, the listening experience of this new album from Billie Eilish is best described by its title. “Hit Me Hard and Soft” is certainly Eilish’s most musically mature album to date, ebbing and flowing between gripping lows and soul-crushing highs. Tracks like “The Greatest” see Eilish writing from an incredibly vulnerable place, detailing her experience with an unrequited lover while gradually building to a climax that is one of the best moments on any track she has released to date. The album is also a top-tier producing hat trick from the singer’s brother and studio virtuoso Finneas, following in the footsteps of “When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” and “Happier than Ever.” The record’s instrumentals are rich, emphatic and inviting. “Hit Me Hard and Soft” is yet another massively enjoyable record from Eilish.
FAV TRACKS: “The Greatest,” “L’Amour De Ma Vie” and “Blue”
LEAST FAV TRACK: “The Diner”
7. “Tigers Blood” – Waxahatchee (Anti-)
Folk Rock, Alt Country
This most recent installment of Katie Crutchfield’s folk/country project Waxahatchee is a warm, yet gritty follow-up to 2020’s “Saint Cloud” that sees Crutchfield in a far more grounded and peaceful place. “Tigers Blood” is loaded with Americana storytelling that tackles frayed relationships, family conflicts and the faded memories of a once blissful past. The album’s authentic writing, paired with a pop approach to production creates an eclectic, yet relatable record that grips you slowly but tightly for all of its 42 minutes. While maybe not as mainstream as some of the other entries on this list, “Tigers Blood” has much to offer for any music fan who values great songwriting.
FAV TRACKS: “Burns Out at Midnight,” “3 Sisters” and “Tigers Blood”
LEAST FAV TRACK: “365”
6. “Alligator Bites Never Heal” – Doechii (Top Dawg, Capitol)
Alternative Hip-Hop, Trap
Although technically a mixtape, I would be remiss if I had failed to show some love for “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” the most recent release from Top Dawg Entertainment’s new signee Doechii. The first female rapper signed to the famed label has somehow fallen under the radar, despite releasing some impressive EPs in 2021’s “Bra-Less” and 2022’s “She/her/black bitch.” “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” however, has garnered widespread acclaim– including some Grammy nominations– and for good reason. It is a 47-minute showcase of lyrical and stylistic versatility, white-hot braggadocio and hard-hitting bars. While I still feel we’ve yet to see Doechii’s best work, this mixtape should put the rest of the industry on notice.
FAV TRACKS: “Bullfrog,” “Catfish,” “Nissan Altima” and “Fireflies”
LEAST FAV TRACK: “GTFO”
5. “You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To” – Knocked Loose (Pure Noise)
Hardcore, Metalcore
In a musical landscape currently dominated by squeaky-clean pop and radio-friendly hits, Kentucky-based hardcore outfit Knocked Loose burst onto the scene with their new record “You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To,” a brutally triumphant metal album that’s as catchy as it is abrasive. It’s got all the key elements of a great hardcore record– chunky, down-tuned guitars, soul-crushing drums and guttural vocals–diversified with elements of funk, and even reggae, with the clave-style riffs on tracks like “Suffocate” and “Piece by Piece.” The record also made a significant cultural impact thanks to its commercial success. “Suffocate” peaked at #10 on Spotify’s Viral 50 charts back in May, topping industry giants such as Taylor Swift. The album’s success even landed the band a spot on Jimmy Kimmel Live, which garnered massive praise from the metal community, and major pushback from the show’s fans. “You Won’t Go” was not just the year’s most enjoyable metal album, but the swift kick in the tail the mainstream needed.
FAV TRACKS: “Piece by Piece,” “The Calm That Keeps You Awake” and “Sit and Mourn”
LEAST FAV TRACK: “Take Me Home”
4. “Songs of a Lost World” – The Cure (Fiction)
Gothic Rock, Space Rock
When veteran bands attempt to make huge comebacks after long hiatuses, they seldom hit the mark like The Cure did with “Songs of a Lost World.” The first full-length project from the goth rock icons in 16 years, the album’s flamboyantly grim lyrical themes and droned-out instrumentals take the listener on a sonic journey through time and space as they come to grips with loss, grief and mortality. Tracks like “A Fragile Thing” and “I Can Never Say Goodbye” illustrate the inner doom of dying love, while the production on “Warsong” and “Drone: Nodrone” are warm and thick enough to wear as a coat. Featuring eight tracks that span just under an hour in length, the record takes its sweet time getting into its main course. It takes nearly three minutes into the opener “Alone” before we get lead singer Robert Smith’s first vocal. Despite such a slow and almost “glacial” pace– as fans and critics alike have described– “Lost World” still keeps the listener’s attention with every note. This record is dark, pensive and delightfully alluring. “Songs of a Lost World” see The Cure simply doing what The Cure do best.
FAV TRACKS: “Drone:Nodrone,” “A Fragile Thing” and “Endsong”
LEAST FAV TRACK: “All I Ever Am”
3. “GNX” – Kendrick Lamar (PGLang, Interscope)
Rap, West Coast Hip-Hop
Just when we thought 2024 couldn’t be a better year for Kendrick Lamar, he blessed his fans with a certified West Coast classic on a Friday morning in November. A few months removed from his high-profile beef with Drake– where Lamar won in dominating fashion– the Compton native surprise-dropped his fifth studio album, “GNX.” The album sees K-Dot championing the West Coast with beats inspired by the G-Funk era of the 1990s, while displaying a level of aggressiveness not seen since his infamous verse on Big Sean’s “Control.” Opener “wacced out murals” sets this tone, with Lamar addressing Lil Wayne’s response to not being selected for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, as well as Snoop Dogg’s role in sharing one of Drake’s diss tracks, “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Even with this newfound anger and resentment toward the rest of the rap game, Lamar’s introspective side still shines through on the tracks “man at the garden” and “reincarnated.” While there is no clear conceptual direction for the record, the track listing serves as a brutally honest love letter to Los Angeles and West Coast hip-hop, as well as a personal statement from Lamar on how he truly feels about himself and the rest of the industry. MUSTARRRRD!!!
FAV TRACKS: “man at the garden,” “reincarnated,” “luther” and “hey now”
LEAST FAV TRACK: “dodger blues”
2. “No Name” – Jack White (Third Man)
Garage Rock, Blues Rock
Jack White is a rock n’ roll renaissance man. Whether it be his work with The White Stripes, The Raconteurs or his record label/vinyl production company Third Man, White has always gone his own way creatively. His latest beat is that of his new solo record “No Name,” a rambunctious hard rock album that honors its Detroit influences flawlessly. White’s signature blues-punk riffage and wailing vocals are as good as they’ve ever been, cementing the album’s “all killer no filler” vibe. There isn’t much else to say about “No Name,” but for good reason. It’s simply a raw and relentless hard rock record that is sure to be the source of plenty of speeding tickets.
FAV TRACKS: “Old Scratch Blues,” “It’s Rough on Rats (If You’re Asking)” and “Missionary”
LEAST FAV TRACKS: “That’s How I’m Feeling”
1. “Chromakopia” – Tyler, the Creator (Columbia)
Alternative Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul
In the current landscape of mainstream hip-hop, where deep concepts and a commitment to personal reinvention are few and far between, Tyler, the Creator is the rare artist who greatly embodies both elements. The Hawthorne, California native’s most recent full-length effort “Chromakopia” takes a personal dive into his experience growing up in Los Angeles. Throughout the record, Tyler explores the lessons he learned from his mother during adolescence, and ultimately his paranoia and anxieties around growing up, fame and his navigation of romantic relationships. Whether it be the exploration of polyamory on “Darling, I,” or the rambunctious freak anthem “Sticky,” “Chromakopia” is deep and relatable for anyone coming to grips with early adulthood. Combined with the luscious production and energetic instrumentals, the record makes for an introspective yet thrilling hour of listening.
FAV TRACKS: “Rah Tah Tah,” “Darling, I,” “Sticky” and “Take Your Mask Off”
LEAST FAV TRACKS: “Judge Judy” and “Noid”
