2024: The Soundtracks to Our Year
Written by UPTIGHT MAGAZINE
2024 was an incredible year for music, offering a diverse range of sounds and stories that captured our hearts. From genre-defining releases to hidden gems, these albums became the soundtracks to our lives. To celebrate, our team has rounded up their favorite albums of the year, complete with personal statements about why these records resonated so deeply.
Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk
BAILEY BLAKE - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
After a long debate, Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay came out on top as my favorite album of the year. It’s such a unique, playful, and endlessly creative record that still manages to pack an emotional punch. The album tells the story of True, a fictional character who has a disc implanted in her forehead to achieve perfection. When her body rejects the implant, she’s forced to confront her flaws and rediscover what it means to be human. This concept is beautifully supported by the duo’s introspective lyrics and recurring themes of self-discovery and consciousness. Impressively, Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin wrote and produced the entire album themselves, with Tenenbaum’s stunning vocals bringing it all to life. Tracks like "Death & Romance"—easily a contender for the best song of the year—knocked it out of the park for me. While I think the album could have been a little tighter overall, its standout moments are so strong that they more than make up for its longer runtime. Imaginal Disk is bold, imaginative, and exactly the kind of music that stuck with me this year.
Charli xcx - Brat
AVA SHARAHY - WRITER
As a lifelong Angel, Charli xcx’s most recent album, Brat, was shaping up to be my top album since I saw the music video for “Von dutch” on the front page of YouTube. The rollout since then led to more excitement, culminating in sitting in the Newbury Comics of the Westchester Mall after my retail shift to listen to a pre-release of the album at a listening event. Since then, the hype exploded upon the official release of the album, where everything was as green as a child star covered in slime at a Teen Choice Awards show, and the season was designated “Brat summer.” The album was everything I love about Charli’s music: from the interesting production to the nods to her origins as a UK club kid, to the introspection in the train-of-thought lyrics. I could be kicking my feet and giggling to “Talk talk” one minute and tearing up at the beautiful memoriam to SOPHIE in “So I” the next. Everyone else was on the same boat, launching her back into the pop star stratosphere unseen since the days of “Boom Clap.” There are downsides, of course, since I’ve given up on getting a ticket under $200 for her tour at this point. For fans, though, there is a sense of pride: from being mind-blown as a high schooler listening to “Track 10” to seeing a full-budget rain-soaked performance for the Pop 2 cult hit this year. Brat is not just an album of the year; it’s the culmination of the years of unrecognized hits and albums prior from a pop star on the periphery of mainstream fame and fringe scenes, alongside a series of revolutionary producers and collaborators.
Kali Uchis - ORQUÌDEAS
LEAH CALIXTO - OPERATIONS MANAGER
I would say, for sure, Kali Uchis' ORQUÍDEAS was the album I fell in love with this year. Her music has always captivated me, and this year's album did not disappoint. I think it’s a perfect representation of young adults in the Latinx community embracing their señora era. This album has honestly helped me be more confident in my identity as a Latina and in becoming an adult. Her mix of Spanish and English lyrics, as well as her blend of genres, is truly stunning.
Glass Beams - Mahal E.P.
JASON SALTHOUSE - WRITER
The sophomore E.P., Mahal, from Glass Beams has been on repeat ever since its March release and could easily take its place as my favorite album of 2024. It blends the captivating and mystical sounds of desert music with a superlative groove that is unrivaled in mainstream music.
Glass Beams is a lyricless, secretive three-piece instrumental project founded by drummer and producer Rajan Silva during the lockdowns of the 2020 pandemic in Melbourne, Australia. The band performs every gig wearing bedazzled face masks to hide their identity. In a rare interview with Rolling Stone India, Silva was asked about the masks and what they represent. “Like a singer explaining the lyrics to a song, we’re hesitant to give the definite answer of what they mean to us for fear of destroying the beautiful fan interpretations.”
Tyler, the Creator - Chromakopia
AMANDA MACK - PHOTOGRAPHER
Boy, do I feel stupid for thinking the honest and self-reflective approach to Flower Boy was going to be a one-off for Tyler, the Creator. Since 2017, Tyler has seemingly been on a mission to be the biggest zig in an industry full of zags. In many ways, Chromakopia feels like it should not have worked out the way it did. It was announced as a surprise drop, which is usually done as a gimmick to distract from the lack of quality, but Chromakopia is probably the most thoughtfully and meticulously crafted work of Tyler’s career, hitting on everything from his fame-fueled paranoia to natural hair shame. It’s also an album where vast marching band percussion and showy A-list features exist alongside interstitials from his mother, where she lovingly offers guidance to keep him from making mistakes and confessions about her own.
Fifteen years into this solo career, it’s somehow his biggest album, an honor the public usually reserves for novel acts with debut releases. And last but not least, it solidified Tyler as the most unlikely bisexual icon in music. As a fellow chaotic queer, everything else I’ve said about Chromakopia barely matters. That plot twist could have done the work of making it my favorite album of the year.
Crumb - AMAMA
NATALIE HOGAN - WRITER
Crumb returned with their third studio album, AMAMA, in May of this year. Following Jinx (2019) and Ice Melt (2021), the album serves as a showcase of the band’s matured sound. AMAMA is without a doubt my favorite release this year. From the artwork to the lyrics to the instrumentals, this record hits the spot every time. Done by artists Abraham El Makawy of AINTWET and Kalle Wadzinski, the album cover resembles a quilt or woven blanket with imagery depicting the titles of each song. It feels like a story or heirloom that has been passed down from generation to generation. This idea goes hand in hand with the album title itself, as AMAMA is the name Ramani uses to refer to her grandmother, and her culture serves as a strong basis for the album and title track.
AMAMA begins bright and sunny, creating that feeling of seeing the rising sun peek through your blinds on a cool spring morning. The first half of the album follows this idea and keeps you enticed with colorful melodies and electronic elements. Track 6, “Genie,” absolutely blows every other song out of the water, though. This song is the best on the album by far and highlights each member’s shining talent. Jesse Brotter’s funky bass lasts all the way through, Lila Ramani’s dreamy vocals keep you in a trance, Bri Aronow’s synth is like fireworks, and Jonathan Gilad’s drumming keeps the song interesting without letting it fall apart.
The second half of the album begins with the interlude “Nightly News.” It is a short song that is fully immersive, making the listener feel like they have half-awoken to a random TV channel playing in the middle of the night. Every song after follows this wondrous, but night-like, sound. Ending with “Swarm,” AMAMA comes full circle, like the sun rising and setting after a long day. It has become my personal favorite release from Crumb and is a must-listen if you have not already.
Sublime with Rome - Sublime with Rome
DUSTY HAYES - WRITER
This year, the one album I found myself counting down to release day for was Sublime with Rome's new self-titled record. With punk rock jams like “Battle Scar,” classic reggae hits like “All I Need,” and experimental tunes like “Love Is Dangerous,” it delivered everything you could want from a Sublime with Rome album. A bittersweet entry in their discography, as it would be their last, frontman Rome Ramirez having announced his intent to leave the band at the end of the year. Nonetheless, the record played in my car at all hours of the day throughout the year, and the accompanying tour drew a sea of fans when it came to the Indiana State Fair here in Indy.
Conan Gray - Found Heaven
KAITLIN TORRE - PHOTOGRAPHER, WRITER
Conan Gray released his third album, Found Heaven, this year. I found myself listening to this album constantly. It has a unique blend of ’80s pop while still staying modern. Found Heaven was very different from anything he has released before, causing some people to think twice about this album. However, I enjoyed this new era and how fun and unique it was. From the opening track to the last, each song has a great amount of emotional depth, which is impossible to ignore. Conan mixes these retro sounds with themes of longing, self-discovery, and the complexities of love. The contrast between the bright atmosphere and reflective lyrics creates a dynamic journey, perfectly capturing the highs and lows of life. Track nine, “Forever With Me,” significantly stood out to me with its ability to capture the feeling of longing in a raw and intimate way. The production is beautifully layered. The subtle synths and the powerful beat perfectly complement Conan's vocals. His delivery here is especially moving, conveying a sense of yearning and hope. Found Heaven feels like a love letter to the past but is still relevant today. Found Heaven quickly became one of my favorite albums from Conan Gray and is a must-listen if you haven't checked it out already.
Gracie Abrams - The Secret of Us
ALIVIA STONIER - WRITER
My favorite album of 2024 was Gracie Abrams' sophomore album, The Secret of Us. With the vulnerability of a heart split open, the record is a love letter to the ones we can’t help but ache for, even after things have gone sideways. Abrams details ignoring instincts for the chance of a good thing, paired with a deep self-awareness about the parts people play in an unraveling partnership. Despite a rollercoaster of melancholic pining, the album features glimmers of hope that come with affairs of the heart.
As the project, full of guitar-backed confessions, comes to a close, you're left with a moment of hope on the track “Close to You,” a reminder that there’s fun to be found in the eyes of someone else. It’s an ode to growing from the failed connections that have shaped us and ones that can continue, even if they result in heartache. It’s worth the risk.
Hinds - VIVA HINDS
CARRIE SIXTA - PHOTOGRAPHER
This was a long time coming for Ana and Carlotta of Hinds, the creators of the band. The creation of this album came from a formative and big change for the two. Losing band members, their agents, and their label really threw them for a loop, yet they persisted. It is not hard to believe that they rose from the ashes. The bond and true sister-ship they have is what makes everything so spectacular. Being raw with their sound and vulnerable with their lyrics is what ties it all together. I feel truly inspired and a great love for all women when I listen to Viva Hinds.
While they certainly were more focused on the production with this album than previous ones, you cannot deny the fact that the spirit of riot grrrl music is still in here. From the gentle sounds of Daniel Johnston to noisy rock sounds like Fontaines D.C., las chicas de Hinds are a force of nature with a true love for all music and know how to give genres justice. Por mis chicas favoritas en todo el mundo de rock, gracias por este álbum y sincero, viva Hinds!
And that’s a wrap on 2024! From the biggest hits to the hidden gems, this year has given us plenty of music to keep us going. Whether it was a new favorite or an album we couldn’t stop playing on repeat, these releases have made the soundtrack of our year. What about you? Which albums were your standouts this year? We’d love to hear what got stuck in your head.
Here’s to more great tunes in 2025!
