The Contenders (Part 1)
Great listens that didn't make my 50 Top Albums Of 2024
The last full workweek before Christmas is winding to a close. Around all of my must-finish work tasks I’ve been listening, re-listening, sorting, and compiling my 50 Top Albums of 2024.
Why so many?
6,000+ Songs Added To My Liked Songs Playlist
No, they didn’t all come out in 2024, but MANY of them did. There were hundreds of albums released during that time frame. No, I didn’t listen to them all. But I definitely heard singles from many of them. And I generally do a deep dive after I find a great new single.
Suffice it to say, I had a list of 180 contenders. Which I’m continuing to whittle down to my top 50. 50 is doable, but it took and continues to take a little work!
Great Listens, But Not Top 50
There’s no single reason why an album makes it onto the Top 50. There are many. Number of songs I will listen to on repeat. Pace and tempo changes from song to song. The vocals. The instrumentation. The way the collection of songs make me feel.
In certain cases it’s a band or artist I’ve loved for a long time, but the newest release just doesn’t, in my opinion, match up to my memories.
The selections are ALL based on my opinion. You may not agree with me. In fact, many of you won’t. These are Mallie’s Top 50 Albums released on 2024. Of course they’re going to reflect my taste and preferences.
If you want to know why a specific album didn’t make the cut, please ask me in the comments. I’ll answer!
First 15 Contenders That Won’t Be In The Top 50
There’s A Big Star Outside by Swim Deep
The Future Is Our Way Out by Brigitte Calls Me Baby
Mahashmashana by Father John Misty
Santa Cruz by Pedro The Lion
A Firmer Hand by Hamish Hawk
Real Life by Hazel English
Drifters by Forre Sterra
Good Times For A Change by Tamar Berk
Bright Future by Adrienne Lenker
Fairweather Friend by The Umbrellas
What You’ve Got To Lose To Win It All by The Howlers
Certain Memories by Assistants
Chameleon by trauma ray
Nobody Loves You More by Kim Deal
How Will I Live Without A Body by Loma
And here’s one song from each of the 15 albums listed above!
That’s the first batch of contender albums shared. There’ll be a Part 2, and a Part 3, but I may not share every album on my list before I dive into my “TOP 24 Posts” starting on December 26, 2024.
Want to discuss an album that didn’t make my top list? I’m happy to do so via the comments section. Shoot me your question and I’ll respond. I love talking music with you all, even when we don’t always share the same opinion!
Happy Listening!
I enjoy your playlists but I think I'm gonna have to tell Spotify to f right off come January 1.
Brigitte Calls Me Baby, The Umbrellas, and Hamish Hawk all just landed outside my top 20. Or maybe I had Hamish Hawk in my honorable mentions. I forget. So much music, so little time! I also was just turned on to Loma, and I have a feeling that would make the top 25 based on a first listen. I had no idea that Jonathan Meiburg from Shearwater was in the band. Another powerful album that I imagine is a grower.