By: Campbell Petschke
Before We Get Started…
2024 may have been the best year of music I have been alive for and actively paying attention to. From just two weeks into the year, what I consider to be a 9/10 album dropped and set the tone immediately. That album took my mind away from the inevitable, once a year, car troubles as I was cooking up some dinner for my girlfriend and I. May have even started dancing around with a spatula… can’t confirm or deny. I digress. This year was full of moments like this. Ones that make a lifeless day behind a computer screen into a memorable afternoon of discovery and deep dive. Long drives to Tennessee and shorter ones to and from concerts became more than just sitting in traffic looking to the skies. New music just hit different in 2024 and it’ll reflect in this list I’ve concocted.
This is only part one of my year end lists that I will drop before year end. In this section, I will attempt to be different and make a top 60 songs of the year list instead of 50 (suck it Pitchfork). The list will range from the multiple rises of pop stars, genre divergences from prior sounds, maybe even something you’ve never heard of before. That’s the beauty of end of year list time, yeah? Listening to what I have to say and then applying it to your own life to make it better. You’re welcome.
In all seriousness, thank you for your curiosity and I hope that everyone reading this had a wonderful year inside and out of music. Let’s kick this off with…
60. Yeat – Breathe
Yeat is a really cool presence in rap. His production choices and vocals are very unique in this very Playboi Carti driven rap-scape, which means a lot because there’s so many that just sound like empty copies. Yeat is different in the sense that it sounds like he really cares about every track even on a 20+ song album. Breathe is a clear standout as it sounds incredible blasted in your headphones or through really good speakers. Super crisp production, really fueled performance, very entertaining track.
59. Peggy Gou – Lobster Telephone
Peggy Gou is a really consistent singles artist and Lobster Telephone is no exception. I mean this positively and in no ill intent, but this is the type of song that does not strike you initially, but then you have the beat stuck in your head for days and can’t remember who the hell made the song. Then you finally find it was this song and you want to cling onto it out of fear that it will infect your mind again and ruin your week… may or may not be based on a true story. Either way, Peggy Gou’s album didn’t really impress me at all this year, but this one is a clear standout. Bubbly, cute, and way too catchy.
58. Nia Archives – Cards on the Table
Cards on the Table is so strong of a song that it’ll make you stop your playlist and go to the album to check out the artist. While Nia is a very talented producer, the lyrics are so innocent. These cute lyrics about just going with the flow and wanting to constantly be young at heart are put over a very 2000s reminiscent breakbeat sound and it wins me over instantly.
57. Caroline Polachek & Weyes Blood – Butterfly Net
On paper, this collab sounds perfect. Through earbuds, it’s also pretty damn close to that. While Butterfly Net was initially on Caroline’s album last year, Weyes Blood’s addition adds something extra to an already strong song. Both of their voices sound so booming and everlasting (if that makes sense?), it feels like this was meant to echo throughout a full auditorium with no microphone and everyone just sits in awe that they have such good vocal chemistry. Need more of both these two soon!!
56. Barry Can’t Swim – Kimbara
Similar to Peggy Gou, Barry Can’t Swim is just a hit machine. This dude is a turning point in electronic and dance music, at least in my world. Truthfully, anything he’s put out this year could’ve been on this list, but Kimbara’s big boom, all out party like no one’s watching sound wins me over just that much more. It’s a killer single that is honestly a great intro to Barry for anyone not familiar with his style.
55. Tove Lo x SG Lewis – Desire
Why did this project get overlooked? One of the greater mysteries of this year was why this collab did not get the love it deserved. It’s not a deep masterpiece or anything, but Desire is an example of what these two had to offer. Just a really carefree, live it up and dance your worries away kind of time. While Charli had her A.G., Tove Lo had her SG, and both made some magic together this year.
54. Olivia Rodrigo – So American
In a time where there’s so many pointless deluxe version cash grabs, be like Olivia. Every song she added to her deluxe felt like it was supposed to be on the original cut of Guts. So American is a clear standout because this feels like the song that nails Olivia as a songwriter. What I loved so much about Guts last year was how forward she is lyrically and even if it comes off basic on paper, it really works because of her sound that she’s achieved this decade. So American highlights this honesty and youthful energy into a sweet love song that prevents being overly gushy with also being pretty funny. The “Oh god, I’m gonna marry him if he keeps this shit up” specifically hits.
53. Vampire Weekend – Classical
I hate Vampire Weekend. So pretentious, so Oxford boy, so *fill in the blank*. Honestly, who cares, they still have magic in them after nearly two decades of being active and hearing Classical for the first time was a total treat. This sounds like it was a lost track from the debut era and has the same sense of urgency in Ezra’s songwriting. It tackles the topic of classism and how much it has and will change in the coming years with how each class is represented in our society. Not to say that Father of the Bride lacked oomph, but Classical is what classic VW felt like. Their purpose and presence feels more realized with tracks like this.
52. JOBA – American Fever
In the post-Brockhampton age that we live in, JOBA in my eyes is the most interesting member musically. When American Fever first dropped, it was so exciting. I can’t help but feel that with every member of the boyband dropping, a handful were most excited to see what he would do next. American Fever is a really old school sounding track that has moments of deceptively hopeful horns, ragtime like pianos, and a soaring finale. The live version of this song might be even better, but regardless it’s a kick ass song that did not receive the love it deserved this year.
51. The Beaches – Takes One to Know One
Last year I considered The Beaches to be one of the most exciting new alternative bands to pop up in recent years and that still proves true in 2024. I had the pleasure of seeing the band again this year at Austin City Limits and just based on crowd alone, this group has grown significantly. They opened up with Takes One to Know One and something about that time had it hit me deeper. The opening riff that repeats at the beginning of every verse tickles my brain too. Need more from this group ASAP.
50. PinkPantheress – Turn It Up
Don’t let the album art dissuade you from checking out this single. PinkPantheress’s sweet, bubbly, nostalgic production is just a testament to how talented she is at finding these samples and making magic in the studio. She’s too good to not be a bigger presence in mainstream music. I eagerly await the next banger from her because her hot streak continues and nobody is seemingly anywhere close to doing what she does better than her.
49. Twenty One Pilots – Next Semester
There was too little of expectation going into what a Twenty One Pilots album would sound like after the massive disappointment with Scaled and Icy. Overcompensate was a solid enough single, but Next Semester was the “just when I though I was out, they pulled me back in” moment. This is what a follow up to Trench SHOULD sound like. Kickass bassline (in an alternative way), a passionate vocal performance, and an epic finale that leaves you wanting so much more. On all fronts, this is how Josh and Tyler win some of their audience back (let’s face it, the other part will eat up whatever they put out, bad or good).
48. Quadeca – Guide Dog
Couldn’t have a year end list without something off of Scrapyard. Quadeca gave what felt promised as a bunch of leftovers from I Didn’t Mean to Haunt You and instead was a fully realized LP with a lot to feast on. Most of the tracks were released as EPs last year, but one that really stuck with me was Guide Dog. Just atmospherically, Guide Dog is a somber love song that has a lot of heart about wanting the person in question to see the beauty he sees. Instrumentally, it feels very much of this era with how desperate the dark folky guitar sounds. When Quadeca gets down like this, it is what really hits home for me.
47. Fcukers – Homie Don’t Shake
Fcukers are honestly too cool to be real. Every time you think this song ends, it comes back with something just as interesting as the time before. Homie Don’t Shake comes off like a less aggressive Prodigy track and instead of all the breakbeat, it’s taking place in a club circa 2011. I don’t know if that makes any sense, but in reality I am just trying to get you to get interested in Fcukers. They’re only gonna grow more in this coming year, I can feel it.
46. twikipedia – garden
Probably the latest entry on this list, twikipedia is part of this trend of digicore that just easily wins me over unexplainably. twikipedia plays my emotions like its a Game Boy on Garden. A deeply emotional song that knows how to sort out the events of this situation in a way that just hurts more. Every following song on this album makes you feel a whole range of emotions, but this one struck me the hardest and resulted in an immediate replay.
45. St. Vincent – Big Time Nothing
Annie Clark’s 2014 self titled album has always been my favorite in her discography. All Born Screaming and that album have a lot in common, but Big Time Nothing is proof that it’s like it’s more goth, punkier cousin. It’s like this album’s Los Ageless or Digital Witness. It’s arguably the climax of the record and the point that really shows that this is not the same St. Vincent from Daddy’s Home or even MASSEDUCTION, nor did I want it to be like either. This is continuous proof that Annie still has so much to offer and experiment with. I really dug the heavy funk and shrieks on this track specifically and is the one I return to most as a result.
44. Blu DeTiger – Latency
I love when stars like Blu pop out and grab my attention as quick as she did. She’s a sick bass player and knows that we know that. Latency feels so quick and fresh right off the bat as it feels like I’m about to start listening to Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John. Despite it not being in my Spotify Wrapped top 10, it really felt like it should have. While the rest of her album from this year took a couple listens to grip me, Latency is one that has staying power. A funk clad track that feels like it was lost from the 2000s. This is the song you show someone if you want them to listen to Blu DeTiger (which everyone should).
43. MGMT – Nothing Changes
It’s hard to identify an artist that has as much range and willingness to expand themselves like MGMT. I loved both (I think just two?) singles that they dropped last year, ESPECIALLY Bubblegum Dog. While I don’t think any track quite topped that one, Nothing Changes is pretty damn close. What an introspectively beautiful track! I love how they constantly prove how self aware they are of their place in music and how their past didn’t always align with what they had planned for themselves. The trumpet lead bridge made this probably my first favorite song of this year. Obviously a lot has changed with this list since, but nothing has changed about how much I love this cut.
42. Knocked Loose & Poppy – Suffocate
What can you say about this track that wasn’t felt the first time you heard this as a Knocked Loose fan? This is really one of those “we made it songs” for both KL and Poppy. I know this one doesn’t win over every hardcore fan of the band, but this really does exemplify of what makes the band more accessible in a good way. They honor their ferocity and passion that has made them such a mainstay in hardcore for years and turn it into a new leaf here.
At this point in the list is where it became super hard…
41. Cordae & Lil Wayne – Saturday Mornings
Nobody in rap is doing what Cordae is doing with his collabs. When he dropped RNP with Anderson .Paak nearly half a decade ago, it was a breath of fresh air. As he has collabed with others since, Saturday Mornings proves his ability is not even close to dying out. Cordae and Wayne work off each other like they’ve been doing it for years. Per most of Cordae’s music, it’s very smooth, lyrical, and nostalgic. Wayne gives one of his best verses in years here too. I really have a lot of trust in Cordae to keep pulling this magic out of other artists. This shit is special.
40. Allie X – Weird World
Girl with No Face is so fucking good… but more on that in my next entry. Allie X created a world in this album that is quickly established within Weird World, the opening track. It’s super synthy and goth, two things that go together like fries and frostees. Not only does it do a great job establishing the tone early and what type of artist Allie X is, but it also shows off how stellar of a vocal ability she possesses. Truly one of the best opening tracks of the year.
39. Jack White – You Got Me Searching
Man, what a year Jack White has had. No Name was so incredible I had to choose between five songs to put on this list, but ironically enough though, the one that isn’t on the album is the one that makes this list. I love Jack’s wails and screams on this one. It feels like it’s back in the early days of The White Stripes and I’m nine years old thinking he’s the coolest dude on earth. This tracks amps a man up in a number of ways, but this is just one of those tracks that Jack can churn out just like that and still be effortlessly crafty and fiery.
38. Yot Club – Pixel
A song that repeats itself almost as much as Last Christmas is nearly as catchy as it too. Yot Club has established a name for himself pretty easily these past few years in the bedroom pop subgenre. While there’s countless names that have an aesthetic like this, he’s one that just does it better than most people. Pixel has a sound that begs to be played in massive concert venues and only gets prettier the more it bounces off the walls. It’s a simple, but does it well kind of tune that seemed to always find a way into my playlists.
37. Remi Wolf – Soup
Man, this song should’ve been everywhere. This is Remi’s best song that she’s ever made and while it is a close contention, it also isn’t. A song that shows that she has the range to do more expressive and booming indie pop on top of her already established funk/bedroom pop sound she’s pretty much mastered at this point. Soup is a cute love song that exemplifies what being in love is like. Doing whatever you want for your loved one because you care so much and would do anything to keep them in your company. This has the charm that great pop artists like Caroline Polachek have been able to do with songs like So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings. I put Soup right next door to that song as one of the greats this past decade.
36. Father John Misty – Screamland
*BOOM!* (what my mind did the first time I heard Screamland). As much as I enjoyed FJM’s last project, at least probably more than the average person, Screamland is the type of song that reminds me of why I love his music so much. The chorus of this is so explosive and emotional. The shouts of “stay young, get dumb, keep dreaming, screamland” make every word of the verse that came before it all the more impactful. It’s one of the heavier tracks on this list, but it’s the kind of heavy you find comfort sticking around in for a while.
35. Mk.gee – ROCKMAN
Similar to Jack White, I could’ve picked a handful of different songs off of Mk.gee’s project from this year, but instead I opted for the single. ROCKMAN gets stuck in my head pretty easily with how unique it sounds. It feels old fashioned in a jangly, funky kind of way. Almost like it could’ve came out this year or 40 years ago. I can’t really compare it to anything either because it sounds so fresh and new. Mk.gee feels like he’s the next step in alt R&B or just the sounds of the 2020’s in general. Who knows, but I can’t wait to see.
34. SIN MIEDO – JPEGMAFIA
Sometimes Peggy will connect two things together into a rhyme and you’ll have no idea why he said it or why he would think of it. SIN MIEDO is full of moments like that and placed alongside this punchy, mosh worthy, pulsating beat makes it one of the most exciting moments on this record. I can list nearly any line on this song and you’d understand why it’s so re-listenable just lyrically. This is one of the songs on the list you just need to stop reading about and go listen and then come back and geek out with me.
33. Chat Pile – Masc
Chat Pile is a super consistent act that you may not be familiar with yet… may I present to you Masc. A deeply hurtful track that relatable, but not quite something you really want to relate to either. I wouldn’t call this self-deprecating, but more so self defeating. When the song begins to close after the last lines, the hurt seeps in more as the anger grows and Raygun Busch starts screaming “it’s your world!!” If you’re looking for a good gateway into more dense hardcore, it’s hard to go wrong with Masc.
32. Nilüfer Yanya – Like I Say (I Runaway)
Nilüfer Yanya has subtly made herself known in the indie world these past few years and it’s not hard to tell why. Tracks like Like I Say exist and you can see why she deserves her place in the indie-scape (and probably deserves even more). Nilüfer’s vocals are more reserved on this track, but they’re very sultry and smooth too. It compliments the surprise heaviness that comes when that first brash chorus comes in. I know there’s no way to tell unless I had a time machine, but I have a feeling this song will be a classic one day. It sticks out too much in what has been dropping lately for it to not have staying power.
31. Disclosure – She’s Gone, Dance On
The duo has said on their Spotify Wrapped messages that this song was originally a song made for other DJs to utilize, but instead became a big hit for them. Not sure why they thought it wouldn’t, this is probably the best track they’ve dropped since their debut album over a decade ago (not discrediting anything since, this is just really solid). I love the little teases and surprises that come with this one. To me, this is one hand that if you’re leaving a club floor and you hear it come on, you run back and dance your ass off.
30. TV Girl, George Clanton, Jordana – Butterflies
I guess 2024 was the year of dance with how much more of a presence it has on my list. TV Girl and George Clanton are the pairing that felt like Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars for Silk Sonic. I never would’ve thought to pair them together, but it makes so much sense. Fauxllenium is a really strong project (and return to form for TV Girl) because of how well these two work together and how Jordana takes her already well established relationship with TV Girl and brings a really sweet and memorable vocal performance. Absolute favorite part of this song is when it tricks you that it’s over and gives you about another minute to party on. Love love love all three of these artists together.
29. Faye Webster – Thinking About You
I’ll admit, before this year, I had not been fully on board with Faye yet. Not that I didn’t like her, the project I picked initially did not do much for me (try to guess which one it was), but Underdressed at the Symphony was the gateway and Thinking About You was one that kicked it off in the best way. Faye’s vocals feel especially delicate on this cut, almost like a soft confession. The soft piano and xylophone paired with the riff that repeats for nearly the entire runtime make me feel like I’m chilling on a cloud, way up high looking down at massive grassy fields swaying side to side. It’s a seriously chill moment on the record that sets up a constant comfort that sticks with this rest of the album.
28. Dora Jar – She Loves Me
When I saw Dora Jar open for The 1975 last year, I was very intrigued by her presence. The last track she played was one off of this year’s album, No Way to Relax When You’re On Fire and garnered my attention more than the average opening act. That song was Puppet, but the following single afterwards was She Loves Me and that secured me as a fan. Dora is a not so average pop artist. She has moments where she’s pretty kooky and quirky like at the end of this song where she let’s out a series of wails and cries that somehow make sense being included. I love how every following chorus, something new gets added on it to make it more interesting with a misleading faster tempo. This song introduced me to how great Dora will be in these coming years.
27. Tyler, the Creator & Teezo Touchdown – Darling, I
Darling, I is the type of song you’d kinda hope Tyler would be making this deep into his career. He’s never been the type to try and be something that he isn’t and the more he has aged in his career, the more this is still the case. This is just one of a handful of songs on Chromakopia that have a more stripped down storytelling of how he perceives his love life and what he wants in a partner if he even wants one. Usually, I get a little nervous whenever Teezo makes an appearance on a track, especially since I didn’t care for his feature really at all on their last track together. He fits like a glove in this instance. He harmonizes on beat and stands out when he needs to without feeling intrusive. Darling, I is an example of how Tyler still has new sounds to show us and I seriously don’t think he can do any wrong at this point.
26. The Japanese House – 🙂
Wanna know something annoying about part of why I like this song so much? It reminds me of The 1975. I know, I know. Anyhow, that’s not why it’s here. 🙂 is probably the strongest I’ve felt about The Japanese House in general. It lives up to it’s title of being a song that makes the listener feel good. The opening riffs feel reminiscent of Yuno’s Sunlight in how it boosts a mood near instantly. Sometimes you need a song like this to calm you down and that’s the purpose of what 🙂 serves. A bright, shimmery, cute track.
25. Beach Bunny – Vertigo
Any time Beach Bunny drops a new single, I feel instantly gravitated towards it for like a whole month. Vertigo stuck around a little longer. Lili Trifilio’s lyrics resonate with a lot of people my age. We’re stuck in this time of life where we are still discovering ourselves and trying to navigate our love lives too. Vertigo is no stranger to this identity as it’s a theme that sticks around with other Beach Bunny songs, but still feels fresh. She pretty much has mastered making catchy hooks and riffs, but that’s pretty standard for her at this point since Emotional Creature solidified it. Love this one a lot, definitely got blasted in my car more than a few times.
24. Jungle – Let’s Go Back
This was such a mean tease. When Let’s Go Back dropped, I thought it was another album cycle. Silly, greedy, Campbell. Why not drop a single though? Back on ’74 blew up on TikTok and Instagram, so why not make a similar song in different font? Despite this reminding me a lot of that track, Let’s Go Back still captures that vintage effect, takes it with a sing along chorus, and one that really does make you want to dance like you’re involved in one of their music videos. Kudos to Jungle for doing the right thing and striking while the iron is hot and on top of it be as good a song as this.
23. Clairo – Juna
Third time is the charm, which is fitting since it’s the album’s title. After seeing Clairo live last year, I adopted a new found appreciation for her and her music. I never would’ve guessed her having the year she has had though. This is partially due to how great songs like Juna were part of this near masterwork. The best compliment I can give Juna is it doesn’t feel abrasively classic, but sounds classic. It’s layered to sound so soft, sweet, and 70s. Similar to how I felt about Remi’s Soup, this truly is the best song that Clairo has ever dropped in the sense that this is the sound she was born to perform alongside.
22. NxWorries, Snoop Dogg, October London – FromHere
Last year, Kaytramine dropped the song Rebuke, which felt like summer encapsulated in a little over two minutes. NxWorries captures that essence again in a little over four. Anderson .Paak’s vocals are next level passionate and take it to a level that I have not heard before from him. Knxwledge’s production takes you to the depths of a hot summer evening driving lakeside by the sunset. If this didn’t bang in your car during this past summer with the windows down, change that next summer. This has future classic written all over it.
21. The Garden – Ballet
I really came to love The Garden this year for how eclectic they are as artists. They really kind of do whatever they want and I think they find it hilarious. Ballet is a banger that never gives you time to breathe. Any time where the song is pounding you to a pulp with that bass, it has you waiting for the next drop alongside some evil Vincent Price in Thriller-like laughter. It’s so maniacal, this band is so cool.
20. Sarah Kinsley – Last Time We Never Meet Again
I don’t wanna hear any argument that Sarah Kinsley isn’t the most underrated pop artist of this generation. That’s a bold claim, but if the last two years have proven anything, it’s that she has staying power and knows how to tug on the heartstrings. Anyone that grew up on Florence + the Machine will probably adore this song for how reminiscent it feels of Lungs era. Last Time We Never Meet Again soars by as Sarah’s vocals take you to the heavens, especially between the chorus. It’s a showcase of how talented she is as a producer, songwriter, and singer. Gonna sound like a broken record, but I really could’ve pulled any song off of Escaper and it would’ve made sense, but this one in particular highlights everything of what makes Sarah a force in the pop world.
19. The Last Dinner Party – Caesar on a TV Screen
As I’m writing this part of the list, I am realizing how strong of a year it was for debut albums. The Last Dinner Party more than proved themselves with a handful of kickass singles to tease Prelude to Ecstasy. Caesar on a TV Screen was the moment I fell in love though and for good reason. It’s so melodramatic, unpredictable, and daring. Abigail’s voice is so commanding throughout and it sucked me into a handful of surprises. In the most endearing way possible, Caesar on a TV Screen is very dorky in a theatrical way with how the showman-like instrumentals mix with Abigail’s over the top moments. It’s honestly so cool how everything blends into the way it does and leaves you feeling like you heard a movie.
18. Royel Otis – Heading For the Door
People my age fondly look back at the late 2000s and early 2010s as being a peak time for indie and alternative. Gonna try to not butcher this: Royel Otis feels like what 2000s indie was for my generation for this current generation. They feel like they’ve captured a sound that will inspire a lot of other artists the way a Two Door Cinema Club or MGMT would. Heading For the Door was the single that inspired this hope for it’s minimalistic approach. The little riff that plays before the chorus is so good it can make a Gen Z/millennial cry indie tears. There’s also something very Belle and Sebastian about this track that puts me over as well. It might be because it’s a simple sounding song that has little moments that shine so bright because of it. A song you can pick apart and find more to love.
17. Fred Again.., Anderson .Paak, Chika – Places to Be
If you’re a fellow Fred Again.. fan, you know how well we got fed this year. Two projects and a bunch of fun singles. Places to Be being the highlight. It’s kind of obvious that we’re past the point of Actual Life sounding Fred, but if all of it sounded as atmospheric and heartful as this cut does, well… as we frequently hear, “we gon’ make it through.” This was honestly a great year to be an Anderson .Paak fan too with him sliding on this up-tempo beat confirming how multifaceted he is as an artist. Chika’s presence was exciting to see too because after her XXL freshman class, I really hadn’t heard much from her and she did great here too. All together just a very easy song to put on at any time and feel a little bit better about life.
16. Justice & Tame Impala – One Night/All Night
2024 also saw the return of Justice and in the most exciting way possible… with Kevin fucking Parker??? The first of two songs to feature Kevin’s vocals on Hyperdrama was the most exciting way to rollout an album after being gone for nearly seven years. The artist names involved speak for how good this track is man. It’s Justice collaborating with Tame Impala, you don’t need to tell me that’s good. Of course it is!
15. Chinese American Bear – Kids Go Down
I did not expect to fall in love with an album this late in the year the way I had with Chinese American Bear. Kids Go Down has such a freeing sound that tugs hard on my heart like it was just broken once those keys kick in near halfway. The band has said that this is just a meaningless song that is meant to draw similarities to a nursery rhyme which makes a lot of sense. This feels so innocent that if it was personified, I’d wanna just give it a big hug the way that it hugs back.
14. Fontaines D.C. – Starburster
Yeah, I know this is the song you’ll see on most, if not every major music publication’s list… BUT there is very good reason behind it. Grian is so fucking cool on this song. His delivery, his demeanor, that inhale?! Probably the most badass moment in indie this year. It’s so nasty. I appreciate the openness of the lyrics and how it speaks to the basic desires and always craving more from others and from life (if I’m interpreting correctly). Starburster is such a devious track that coming back to it it only gets more exciting.
13. Kendrick Lamar – Euphoria
I don’t get why everyone is celebrating Not Like Us over Euphoria. Is it because it’s shorter? More catchy? I mean this track is better in like every possible way despite Not Like Us still being a banger. This was the first of four times he would clap back at Drake after Push-Ups and truthfully he could’ve stopped here and it would’ve been vicious enough. Similar to how Pusha T cooked Drake with The Story of Addidon, Kendrick aims below the belt MULTIPLE times. From the Richard Pryor sample, the beat switch, and killing it off with saying how much he hates the way he talks, walks, and dresses. He calls out Drake on multiple different levels and the further you get into the song, the meaner it gets. He had it coming.
12. DARKSIDE – Graucha Max
I played Graucha Max during a listening sesh and my friend said it sounds like “Nine Inch Nails got invited to the quinceanera.” I love that description. I mentioned a song earlier being unpredictable, girl, THIS song is unpredictable. So much so that you should just stop right here and just try it out first hand and then come back and geek with me about it (part two). DARKSIDE go next level bonkers on this one after their previous work just being really fascinating in an intricate way. Graucha Max is fascinating in a what the fuck way. There’s at least two different times when you think this song is over, but instead comes back and does something you’d never guess in a million years would come next, but it WORKS! This is such a cool turn for DARKSIDE, I really hope they continue to go wild like this again.
11. Billie Eilish – L’amour De Ma Vie
I know this is solely a Billie song, but Finneas is this operation here too and this song deserves a spot because this is the height of their powers combined into something really special. What starts at a pretty stellar vocal performance from Billie (duh) turns into a super freeing, larger than life, massive release once the beat switches. The production might even impress me more than Billie’s performance on here simply because of how appropriately satisfying it transitioned and kept it’s momentum. Lyrically, the explosive second half of the song is even more fitting with this being a breakup song reflecting on how bad things were before, but as Billie will repeat multiple times over tastefully placed autotune, “it’s over nooooooooooooooow.” Finneas and Billie were very nervous to put this song out, but it more than paid off.
Top 10 Time!
10. Jamie XX & Robyn – Life
Nine years Jamie… NINE long years we had to wait for a follow up to In Colour. Life alone was worth the wait as this is a pretty sick way to kick off a new chapter of your career. While In Colour was more focused on lo/fi, soft house beats, In Waves is the party hard younger brother. Life exemplifies this as the beat feels urgently festive, especially adding Robyn’s vocals onto it. It’s a command you to the dance floor song and man does it never get old. I was very surprised this was not in my top five most streamed songs as it is one of those tracks you never want to end so you just keep playing it over and over.
9. FKA Twigs – Eusexua
FKA Twigs is unique in the sense that she never feels missing. Her drops and rollouts all feel very appropriate, which you can’t always say for many artists. It hits even more when you drop something as cool as Eusexua. What an exciting way to kick off a rollout that is essentially four years in the making. While she’s no stranger to experimenting, she really flies on the fast paced house beat that makes you wanna pound the club roof. By definition, Eusexua means transcendence or a heightened state of euphoria and there are a handful of moments that make you feel that too alongside with her.
8. Mannequin Pussy – Nothing Like
Back to back years I’ve had Mannequin Pussy in my top ten of the year. They can’t help it if they’ve put out heat, guys. Let them live. Nothing Like stands out for how, once again, they can make a verse end and soar with such emotion that it gives you goosebumps. This song about young love and how that leads to obsession and intensity leaves you with such a full empty feeling. It’s hopeful in what the character is pursuing, but mindless in the way it could all fall apart. I love Missy’s angles she writes from as they’re pretty unique and styled really creatively. This one in particular was based off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I love when art inspires art like this and makes it into something just as beautiful. The breakdown of this song is one of my favorite moments in music this year.
7. Friko – Where We’ve Been
In a list with mostly upbeat or sentimental tracks, here lies Where We’ve Been, which rips my heart out. Everything about this has the emotional depth of your top ten most secret cry movies combined. Okay maybe slight overexaggerating, but Friko is able to paint a picture of the most devastating past I’ve been exposed to all year. It tackles the topics of isolation, longing for love, living in a pretty rundown house, but still being in love… I’ll spare you before you start crying too. This whole album is fantastic, but this opening track will suck you in if you find comfort in other’s wallows as well.
6. Charli XCX & Lorde – girl, so confusing
I have no hesitation with calling this one of the best remixes/alt versions of all time. While the OG version of girl, so confusing was a fun song about her and Lorde’s relationship without saying it was, adding her into the mix added so much. Lorde does a cool call and respond to everything Charli said in her verse and explains her angle while trying to come to an understanding of their friendship. The sentiment and message of this song by adding Lorde added a needed layer of heart. Men and women go through this struggle of miscommunication constantly, sometimes creating drama where it didn’t even exist in the first place. I love the commentary that this song sparked along with it just being really, really well written. Especially Lorde’s verse.
5. Laufey – Goddess
How cool is it that we have a jazz pop singer get as big as Laufey has this past year? Her album last year was a total treat and it was really cool to get a second helping of her again this year. Goddess was the first single in promotion of her deluxe, but I feel like this was a big intro for some of her older fans (not me though, you be safe out there). Goddess made waves in a way that united fans in an Adele type of way where, yes, she has this awesome talent and it feels comfortable for all demographics to latch onto.
This track is so stunning. Laufey is heartbroken and tells us all very softly… until she doesn’t. She flat out tells you in a goosebump inducing way that she is “not your fucking goddess” as the song closes. I find myself breaking my own heart a few times whenever I revisit this one as there’s lines that are subtle stings that frequent throughout. Thanks for making breakup songs as powerful as your ones about falling in love Laufey, very kindly mean.
4. Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
There are very few artists I’ve seen explode the way that Chappell Roan has this year. Fest performances, viral interviews, people discovering her album half a year after it dropped… it was a great time to be a Chappell fan. When Good Luck, Babe! dropped, it was a moment in time. People finally clamored to be a part of what a cool vibe Chappell presented. There really is nothing like this song out there right now, especially in top 40. At least no one that does it as cool as she does alongside Dan Nigro’s teamwork. This feels like a song that has been around forever, but will speak to this generation more than anyone’s.
Good Luck, Babe! is a prideful callout to those who are better off without their shitty exes. Chappell’s vocals on this track too… MWAH! Incredible. If you have YouTube compilations of “Our Reaction to Chappell Roan on Good Luck, Babe!”, you did something very, very correct. Or really wrong, I mean look at Women’s World… ANYHOW, this is probably a perfect pop song and it’s already a mainstay in my apartment.
3. Magdalena Bay – Cry For Me
Music at times can be a very emotional experience for me. It’s not often that one brings me to tears though, and that’s an accolade that ironically Magdalena Bay’s Cry For Me holds.
Imaginal Disk has multiple contenders for song of the year, but Cry For Me is a special moment in their run. One that stands out among their track listing not only in this album, but their entire discography. There’s so much emotion in Mica’s vocals in the last half of this song, especially in the final chants of “think of love when you remember me” and that’s what gets me to tear up. The last minute of this song are fueled by disco inspired piano keys and strings that are brutally stunning and evoke more happy emotion than sad. This track stands out on it’s own because of an amazing vocal performance and beautiful production, but this also stands out just as strong contextually within Imaginal Disk and I hope that anyone who reads is willing to do themselves that favor to reach the height that I do whenever I revisit this beautiful song off a pretty flawless album.
2. Raye – Genesis
There are a lot of great songs on this last, but Raye’s Genesis is the only great song that is also an achievement. It’s no secret that Raye is ultra talented, can write, produce, all of the above… but was anyone expecting this? I certainly wasn’t. There are a few different ways you can digest Genesis. All into one seven minute experience or in three separate parts. I implore to listen in the full seven minutes as it is a dark, honest, leaving all on the floor, heartbreaking, exploration into what it means to be human in 2024.
Raye has described this song as a cry for help in a way that she hopes will help others find their muse and confide in activities and people that will help with growth and finding their own self worth. Don’t mistake this as “yeah, everyone says that.” Pay attention and you’ll more than likely find a part of you in this song. Whether you’re fighting your demons and battling with addictive tendencies or dabbling so much with the idea of life and death because of how much it scares you… I think there really is a great conversation to be had after listening for a lot of people who haven’t listened yet.
A trap infused beat turning into an all out jazz number begging for the light above… who would’ve predicted something as miraculous as this? Like I said, this is an achievement in recent music history and a really amazing way to let the world know who you are and what they can be if they persist despite the negativity haunting women and men of all ages. Raye is a special talent that has an audience eagerly awaiting her next move.
1. Porter Robinson – Cheerleader
If you’ve been in my car at any point from like April to now, chances are you’ve heard me play this song at least once. I’ve always liked Porter Robinson, but I never knew I would LOVE a song of his this much. He clearly knows how special this song is because of how he promoted and made it known what his intentions were alongside it’s release. He chose to tackle something that was weirdly kind of ahead of a bigger conversation that came up again later in the year. The parasocial relationships that fans have with their favorite artists.
Porter managed to create an instantly catchy track that highlights the difficulty of being an artist with the attention he has attained in the past. Having fans with stalker-like behaviors, weird art being drawn of him kissing guys, feeling like they know everything about you… but at the end of the day he knows that these are the people that are keeping the lights on. With each repetition of the chorus, the message gets struck deeper and Porter exemplifies that despite this he is always grateful… but it’s also draining. It comes off in a way that is like “I love you, I would never say anything bad about you, but you’ve got to take a step back and I’ll still care about you just as much.” It’s one thing when you’re going against your haters, but it’s a delicate line to walk when you’re up against your admirers and Porter walks that line with love and respect.
With all that said, Cheerleader is my favorite song of 2024. It goes along with Porter’s trend to explore musically what he can dabble with outside of the electronica world he mainly resides in. With Cheerleader, he made it known of how well he can craft a pop track and make it for people who appreciate an electronical, nerd influenced, glittery banger that serves more of a purpose than what may be on the surface or the album art. I have no problem calling this track the best of the 2024, a year where singles, albums, and artists were at the top of their game.
The Art of Vibing 