Words by WASTER Staff | Photo by Andrew Santellan
How does one classify an album as ‘the best of the year’? Is is about the views? The clicks? The sales metrics? Not for us. We didn’t consult the Billboard charts, but we did write about some amazing music that got us through the past twelve months.
In no particular order, here are some of our favorite records of 2024…
Charli XCX – “BRAT”
A savage spirit haunts Charli XCX’s sixth studio album, “BRAT,” a record that feels both deeply nostalgic and startlingly futuristic. The Grammy-nominated album showcases Charli at her most daring, channeling the raw energy of London’s underground rave scene while pushing pop music into exhilarating new territory. Opening track “360” sets the tone with its glitchy, pulsating production, immediately establishing the album’s aggressive, club-ready sound. “Club Classics” follows with equal intensity, its thundering beats and distorted vocals creating a hypnotic atmosphere that feels both calculated and chaotic.
The album finds its emotional core in tracks like “So I,” a touching exploration of grief, and “I Think About It All the Time,” where Charli contemplates motherhood with disarmingvulnerability. “Girl, So Confusing” serves as the album’s most talked-about moment, its lyrics dissecting industry relationships with surgical precision, while “Sympathy Is a Knife” cuts even deeper into personal territory. “Apple” became the unexpected viral moment of the year, its accompanying dance trend dominating social media feeds and spawning countless recreations. However, the track’s success shouldn’t overshadow its artistic merit—it’s a masterclass in modern pop production, showcasing Charli’s ability to craft songs that are both experimental and accessible.
What makes “BRAT” extraordinary is its refusal to compromise. Whether she’s exploring electroclash on “B2B” or diving into hyperpop on “Mean Girls,” Charli maintains her artistic vision throughout. The result is a cohesive statement that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. “BRAT” isn’t just an album—it’s a manifesto for pop music’s future. In pushing against the boundaries of conventional pop, Charli XCX has created something truly remarkable: a record that challenges listeners while remaining incredibly addictive. It’s no wonder the album has earned multiple Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year—this is what pop music sounds like when it stops playing by the rules.
– Brittany Norvell Priest
The Lemon Twigs – “A Dream Is All We Know“
While always fun, and out of time – The Lemon Twigs went back in time (sort of) in their newest record, “A Dream Is All We Know.” With clear nods to The Beach Boys and The Beatles, among other influences, it’s an easy album to love if you appreciate music from that period. What feels most genuine about this band is that they capture the spirit of those years. The positive and hopeful spirit of that era comes through in the music, yet they aren’t speaking of/for a generation, they’re speaking for themselves and what gives their lives so much meaning. — The title track is excellent, as is “My Golden Years,” “Rock On (Over and Over),” and “Sweet Vibration.” The latter has a great la-la-la section that I’m just such a little slut for. Overall, the newest release from The Lemon Twigs is a nostalgic one that harkens back to those special and simpler years in the music industry. You can tell the D’Addario brothers have a lot of love and
admiration for the music from that time, and it comes through in everything they do (including this album).
– Steve Melone
Clairo – “Charm”
Clairo’s groovy, dreamy, jazzy, third album detailing her feelings on love is Charm. Released on July 12th, 2024, it has received a nomination for Best Alternative Album by the Grammy’s for 2024.
Clairo, an Atlanta-born singer-songwriter, released her first album, Immunity, in 2019. Before that, a string of EPs were posted on YouTube; her song “Pretty Girl” from this period sparked a record deal and propelled her into fame. Her second album, Sling, details themes of loss, yearning, and future motherhood, propelling her transition from a teenager coming of age to adulthood.
Two major aspects of Charm are scattered throughout the record; the first being breezy, light, and joyful. Songs like “Sexy To Someone”, “Juna”, and “Second Nature” are the stand-out tracks from this theme. Notably, “Sexy To Someone,” is a flirty, jazzy track that opens up about her desire to be attractive to her partner. Meanwhile, songs like ‘Slow Dance,” “Pier 4”, and “Terrapin” reflect gloomy themes of fear, vulnerability, and rejection.
Although the song “Juna” is not a single, it enjoyed widespread fame among the youth after its initial release because of TikTok. It is a light and airy song that describes the effect that her partner’s love has on her. Lyrics like “You make me wanna (Buy a new dress)/ You make me wanna (Slip off a new dress” most closely resembles this claim.
A key feature of the album’s beauty is the production and instrumentation. It blends the indie-rock of her first album, the soft rock of her sophomore record, and the jazzy elements that adorn this album, further creating a lush, daydream-esque sound you can get lost in. Brass instruments convey a joyful sound, while string arrangements portray sadness.
Overall, Charm is a great album that showcases variety in Clairo’s catalog. The record details themes of love, vulnerability, fear, and acceptance through brass, strings, and lyricism that transports the listener into Clairo’s world.
– Haley Papeo
Gary Clark Jr. – “JPEG RAW”
Gary Clark Jr. has always had his own flair and style when it comes to writing music. Incorporating different genres like funk and hip-hop with his guitar heavy sound, Clark has created his own path as a bluesman. He has shown to be on that same path with his fourth studio album, JPEG Raw. Released back in March, Gary Clark Jr. continues to intrigue and delight fans with his own brand of the blues.
Beginning with opening track “Maktub” and the following title track “JPEG Raw”, Clark showcases his roots as a blues guitar player. But on this record, Clark is able to also boast about his status as a musician in today’s industry. Calling on legends like Stevie Wonder (on “What About the Children”) and George Clinton (on “Funk Witch U”) for collaborations is a bit of a subtle brag (he even commented about it on stage this summer).
While there is plenty of guitar on this album to keep fans captivated on songs like “Hearts in Retrograde” and “This Is Who We Are”, it’s some of the more soulful songs that have me intrigued. “Hyperwave” and especially “Habits”, are songs that have real emotion, not to mention soaring guitar peaks, that make it easy to get lost on this path Gary Clark Jr. has been creating throughout his career.
– Patrick Lacey
Lawrence – “Family Business”
Lawrence’s latest album, Family Business, is a heartfelt and dynamic blend of pop, funk, R&B, and soul that adds another sonically diverse piece to the band’s vibrant catalog. Fronted by siblings Clyde & Gracie Lawrence, the duo showcases an exploration of relationships, self-reflection, and the complexities of family – all while keeping a deep, tight groove.
Family Business captures listeners from the very first note of “Watcha Want” with its tight-knit and heavy-hitting horn and rhythm arrangements and choral backing singers before busting into Gracie’s signature high-pitched wails. Songs such as “Do” and “Hip Replacement” are standout tracks, seamlessly weaving playful lyrics with high-energy instrumentals that practically beg you to dance. Meanwhile, ballads like “Something in the Water” and “Death of Me” showcase Gracie’s vocal prowess.
What makes Family Business stand out is the band’s intentional personal storytelling. Tracks like “i’m confident that i’m insecure” dives into anxieties and insecurities, whilst “Guy I Used To Be” celebrates the difference someone can have on the person they love.
Ultimately, Family Business is more than just another album – it’s a piece of work that creates an experience. Clyde & Gracie deliver another album that is both deeply personal and universally appealing, with traditional Lawrence pop-bangers, an expression of growth as musicians, and a love letter to their family.
– Anthony Abu-Hanna
Jack White – “No Name”
While many of Jack White’s solo albums can seem indulgently experimental and strange, his new release, No Name, finds the guitar god returning to his roots and delivering a true garage rock gem. From the opening notes of a ripping ‘Old Scratch Blues’, the listener is in for a raw and gritty good time.
Track by track, No Name channels a ferocity that fans of The White Stripes have been craving since the duo called it quits in 2011. The album is full of wall-shaking, earth-quaking guitar licks, bringing fans back to the ‘little room’ in Detroit where it all began. Anyone close to White’s catalog will recognize the vibes: ‘Bombing Out’ comes at you with a rapid-fire riff reminiscent of ‘Fell In Love With a Girl’, while ‘Archbishop Harold Holmes’ gives ‘Icky Thump’ energy all the way through. Highlights like ‘Bless Yourself’, ‘Rough on Rats’, ‘Underground’, and ‘Morning at Midnight’ make for a ‘no-skip’ album that belongs in heavy rotation.
Soon after its no-frills release in July, White brought No Name on the road, and he even drove the damn van himself. There was no official press release, no set schedule, just Jack and his band swiftly selling out lots of other ‘little rooms’ all over the country – sometimes on only a day’s notice. Lucky for listeners, White just revealed a ton of new tour dates, and he’ll be playing much bigger rooms in 2025.
– Audra Tracy
Katy Kirby – “Blue Raspberry (Deluxe)”
The follow-up to 2021’s Cool Dry Place strikes a different tone, one that is often downbeat, but beautifully crafted. Kirby is incredibly gifted with the delicate nature of her voice, and always clever in her careful songwriting. Her awareness of consumerism, intimate relationships, religious ritual, and the subtle nods to distracting technology ask the listener to stare at whatever analogue material is nearest them (at least it does for me, and it’s usually the seat in front of me on NJ Transit). In addition to the wildly catchy single, “Cubic Zirconia,” other highlights include “Wait Listen,” “Redemption Arc,” and “Table.” The attention placed on harmonizing vocals doesn’t go unnoticed on this album, yet it doesn’t feel over-produced on any tracks. Kirby executes the subtlety in its many forms on this record. I love the choice to lean more heavily into the acoustic guitar, and willingness to differ from the rockier debut. The
musicianship feels evolved from the first, incorporating more instruments (particularly strings). Or maybe, it could be there is more space between the notes this time around, and I’ve just become more attentive to the musical choices made. Perhaps that was the goal, to stop and enjoy the music.
– Steve Melone
Check out Our Favorite Songs of 2024 too!
