My 10 Must-Hear Albums of 2024

The year is coming to a close, so that can only mean one thing – it’s time for my annual must-hear albums list!!! A quick reminder of how I do things here …

* I focus on indie artists/bands, so this list is filled with fantastic albums that I feel deserve to be heard by a wider audience.

* I don’t use number rankings, I list the artists/bands alphabetically, because this isn’t about saying one album is “better” than another, it’s about putting the focus on great albums everyone should hear.

* Each album title links directly to where you can hear it in full.

* Whenever possible I’ve included links to interviews I’ve done with the artists/bands this year.

So without further adieu, here are my ten must-hear albums of 2024.

 

Acid Tongue
Acid on the Dancefloor
Genre: Garage rock with psych rock, punk rock, and classic rock influences

An album fueled by hallucinogens, and a strong love of numerous forms of rock music, Acid on the Dancefloor is my kinda weird. From the psych rock title track, to the acoustic “Friends with Bad Advice,” it’s an awesome musical melange that has something for everyone … provided you’re cool with getting a little strange (which you should be!).

 

All Feels
This Place is a Message
Genre: Indie rock with ‘90s alternative influences

If, like me, you love both modern indie rock, and classic ‘90s alternative (yes, it physically hurt me to put the word “classic” in front of “‘90s”), All Feels hit that musical bullseye with This Place is a Message. A great listen, the album manages to get better with every spin.

 

Babel Map
Teeth
Genre: Goth, shoegaze, post-punk

I’m not entirely sure how just four people created a sound as big as Teeth, but goth outfit Babel Map completely fill the room with their wonderfully dark, and intense tunes. A bold album that can knock you on your ass, Teeth has a lot of bite.

 

Blushing
Sugarcoat
Genre: Shoegaze, dreampop, alternative

Blushing has become one of the most consistently great bands in the indie scene over the past half decade. Every time they release a new album it’s an immediate must-listen, and Sugarcoat proved to be no exception. Not simply a sweet addition to their growing catalog, it actually tops everything else they’ve done.

 

Gamblers
Pulverizer
Genre: Pop-rock with ’80s influences

With a blend of melancholy lyrics, and music that ranges from warm to boisterous, Gamblers totally knocked it out of the park with their sophomore album, Pulverizer. Thanks to some very cool ‘80s influences – I’m talkin’ bands like Huey Lewis and the News, and Devo – there’s a familiarity to the sound of Pulverizer that lends itself to immediately falling in love with it.

Interview: Gamblers – An Indie Band You Shouldn’t Bet Against

 

Kitty Coen
☆HELLCAT☆
Genre: Alt-pop with country influences

Imagine if Halsey decided to embrace the songwriting qualities of country music, and you start to get an idea of the vibe of Kitty Coen’s ☆HELLCAT☆. From the bold alt-pop of “i’m afraid all boys are the same,” to the country soaked “cadillac,” Coen shatters musical boundaries with an album that could easily stand alongside releases from Billie Eilish, and Chappell Roan.

Interview: Kitty Coen – The Hellcat is Ready to Roar

 

Miranda and the Beat
Can’t Take It
Genre: Punk rock with some psych rock thrown in

Miranda and the Beat’s Can’t Take It is like a step back in time to when CBGB was the epicenter of the universe, and bands had to inspire rowdiness, or risk having bottles thrown at them (the bottles thing wasn’t cool, but it’s part of history). The album has a nice ebb and flow, with high energy moments that are truly remarkable.

Interview: Miranda and the Beat are Here to Kick Some Ass

 

mr. Gnome
A Sliver of Space
Genre: Electronic / Rock

I normally balk at albums that feature songs that are over seven minutes long, so when mr. Gnome won me over with a seven minute single, it was really something. The song, “Nothing and Everything,” is like a movie, and it leads off A Sliver of Space, setting the tone for an incredible album that ranges from electronic music, to a classic Yeah Yeah Yeahs sound.

Interview: mr. Gnome – Connecting With This World, and Beyond

 

Salt Cathedral
Before It’s Gone
Genre: Worldly indie electro pop

With their second LP, Before It’s Gone, Salt Cathedral tackled the subject matter of living in the modern world, while setting those complexities to a sound that draws from musical inspirations around the world. From Latin sounds, to French house music, the album is a very cool audible trip that won’t require a passport, but you might want one after listening.

 

SNUB
All Day Glow
Genre: Heavy grunge

Grunge is alive and well, and thanks to Aussie rockers SNUB, it’s heavier than ever. The foursome’s debut album, All Day Glow, is filled with intense emotion, with frontwoman Lisa Bell pretty much always sounding like she’s ready for a fight.

Interview: 8 Things You Should Know About SNUB

 

There you have it! Those are 10 of my favorite albums from 2024. I hope you’ve found something, or maybe even multiple somethings, that you want to check out in full. Happy listening!