In September, I thought it would be fun if I made an end-of-the-year list of my favorite music of the year. Since 25 is a lot, I kept the descriptions short.
Every album and song’s quality is fact-checked by me. If you don't know some of these already, and they sound interesting,g I included "highlighted tracks" since not everyone has time to listen to an entire album. They are in no order, just how they appear in the tracklist
25. Friend
/james K/(Downtempo·Indietronica·Ambient Pop)
The album feels something of outerspace, like an alien trying to serenade you. It succeeds, with head-scratching sound effects, layered vocals, and occasional drum breaks. Along with a great cover of “Duvet” by Bôa.
Fun and intoxicating electronic dance record. I really love the song, Sister; growing up with someone just like yourself, personality-wise, as well as shared lived experiences, which are difficult to find.
This album came out in January of this year, but it's a shame I only recently started listening to it. I haven’t caught up with Asian Glow since 2023, when they dropped their anticipated collaboration EP, Weatherglow (2023). In 11100011 Asain Glow continues to provide the dreamy, sonically dense, interesting, and moody records along the likes of Parannoul and Della Zyr in the Korean Rock scene.
The UK Hip Hop and Electronic scene has been on a roll this year. Kwes e’s fingers crossed, shows how fun creating art with your friends can be, with endless swag and melodic beats. Probably my favorite cover of the year.
Moody and beautiful. The reverb on Joanne’s vocals gives a dreamlike quality to everything, and, in return, makes it hard to hear what she’s saying sometimes; I quite like it. If you are not tuned in, it's almost like she's humming, which adds to the emptiness, creating an ambient vibe.
Highlighted tracks: “Friendly”/”Peaceful”/”Gown”
20. Safe 2 Say
/Corey Lingo/(Contemporary R&B·PluggnB·Pop Rock)
It’s easy to get lost in the melodies of this album. Corey Lingo has a voice filled with nostalgia, which you can’t help but sing along to.
Highlighted tracks: “I’m Just Getting By”/”Would You Mind”/”New Jack Story”/”Hundred Miles”
19. Stardust
Danny Brown/(Hip Hop·EDM·Hyperpop)
Danny Brown is forever evolving his sound. Stardust has a mixed bag of collaborators spanning different kinds of internet-music, with topics ranging from sobriety and happiness to overcoming depression. A real feel-good album, filled with hope.
Highlighted tracks: “Book of Daniel”/”Flowers”/”Lift You Up”/”Baby”/”The End”
18. Through the Wall
/Rochelle Jordan/(Deep House·R&B·Dance-Pop)
Through the Wall is an hour of the best curated DJ house mix. Very sexy and breathy. An album that fits the vibe of wanting to dance with a crush.
Highlighted tracks: “The Boy”/”Doing It Too”/”Bite The Bait”/”Sweet Sensation”/”Close 2 Me”
I would have been on a high if this came out in my junior year of high school. Hyukoh and Sunset Rollercoaster were among the artists I listened to most back then. This album is a recording from their AAA concert, and basically consists of 30 of their best combined tracks. Showcasing some of the best Korean and Taiwanese indie from the 2010s into the early 2020s.
Highlighted tracks: “Burgundy Red”/”Wanli万里”/”New Born”/”Candlelight”/”Let There Be Light Again”/”Villa”/”My Jinji”
16. Shine Forever
/Lil Shine/(PluggnB·Pop Rap·Cloud Rap)
I kept forgetting Shine Forever was released this year because it came out on the very 1st of January. Which also makes this album one of the albums I’ve listened to the most this year. Lil Shine has a distinct sound with high-pitched vocals; if you can get behind it, then every song he makes is a hit. The perfect mix of rapping and singing, along with the icy beats and a perfect sample of “Kiss Me Thru the Phone” by Souja Boy.
Highlighted tracks: “Worst Me”/”Feel Me 2”/”KissMeThruDaPhone”/”One Chance/In2Dis”
15. KOREAN AMERICAN
/Kimj/(Dubstep·EDM·Hyperpop)
An album filled with personality, from the collaborators to the names of the tracks, KIMJ infuses culture into his sound that can only be made by him.
Highlighted tracks: “1-800-FUCKOFF”/”R U READY GASHINAYA VIP”/”#chinesekorean”
14. Choke Enough
/Oklou/(Electronic·Indietronica·Ambient Pop)
The layered synths, along with Oklou’s lush and quiet voice, give a futuristic sound. Different from anything out right now.
Highlighted tracks: “Obvious”/”Take Me by the Hand”/”Harvest Sky”/”Blade Bird”/”Dance 2”
13. Getting Killed
/Geese/(Indie Rock·Art Rock·Psychedelic Rock)
Just a great rock album. I especially love the song “Long Island City Here I Come”, those longer songs that create tension and build up, the perfect way to end an album.
Highlighted tracks: "100 Horses"/"Au pays du cocaine"/"Long Island City Here I Come"
12. Vanities
/Malibu/(Ambient)
My study album of the year. The number of times I listened to this during midterms/finals is crazy. Tranquil experience, and honestly could be the soundtrack to a Dune film.
Highlighted tracks: “So Sweet & Willing”/”Jaded”/”Watching People Die”
11. Ghost Holding
/venturing/(Slacker Rock·Slowcore·Shoegaze)
One of Jane Remover’s newer aliases, venturing, focuses on one of my favorite parts of her music: her songwriting. Thirteen songs, each deep and dark in its own way, mostly about self-disgust and love. Reminds me of her earlier work, such as “goldfish” from Frailty (2021) and “Royal Blue Walls” (2022).
Sidenote: I really love how, in “Halloween,” she's able to create a mood within seconds of saying the first line of the song.
Lucy Bedroque steers away from the classic “rage” sound and adds his creativity, incorporating dancier tracks/transitions while displaying range with different vocal inflections that add even more texture to the sound. Also, “2010 Justin Bieber” might be the best song name ever, and the name itself is sort of ironic, as it references the 2010s and how Lucy’s sound is very much a product of now.
Highlighted tracks: "Speakers Never Learn"/"Ultraviolet"/"2010 Justin Bieber"/"Fenty Face"/"One Of Us Is Lying"/"Unmusique"
9. REST IN BASS
/Che/(Rage·Hip Hop)
Che delivers the best “themed” album of the year. In my mind, REST IN BASS sees Che’s persona, the “BASS KILLER”, conquering the world. Commonly within the tracklist, Che’s vocal projection and range provide a dynamic listening experience that feels like he's his own feature, and inside that “world,” leaving the listener with no option but to succumb to the bass, the chaos, the future. It’s a lot to take in, but if you can listen, he is nothing short of a rockstar.
The most relatable out of anything this year, Ninjajirachi sings about growing up in the 2000s surrounded by technology and how it has shaped our experiences differently from those of our parents. Incredible production and probably the only person able to make you dance while also talking about wanting to fuck their computer.
Highlighted tracks: "iPod Touch"/"Fuck My Computer"/"CSIRAC"/"Delete"/"Infohazard"/"Battery Death"
7. The Passionate Ones
/Nourished by Time/(Bedroom Pop·Alternative R&B)
Passion through love. Passion through art. And being passionate about yourself. Nourished by Time lulls with the importance of self-expression, accompanied by funky instrumentation and catchy lyrics that remind you always to put yourself first.
Highlighted tracks: "Idiot In The Park"/"925"/"Tossed Away"
6. Lifetime
/Erika de Casier/(Trip Hop·R&B)
Erika's vocals strike a sense of serenity, making for the perfect winter album. Her flirty lyrics and the drumbeat create a vibe that is maintained throughout.
Catchy, fun, and heavily UK pop culture-influenced. Every song is the perfect length, avoiding overstaying its welcome but leaving you wanting more for endless replayability.
Highlighted tracks: "Illegal"/"Tonight"/"Stars"/"Nice to Know You"/"Stateside"
4. Half Blood
/Slayr/(Rage·Pop Rap·Digicore)
This might be recency bias since this came out in November, but I don’t care. This album is produced phenomenally well, with seamless transitions between songs, bouncy beats, occasional rock guitars, and even a sample of a Björk interview. There isn’t a dull moment on the album, with each track having its own identity, making you want to listen to the whole thing.
Highlighted tracks: “Demigod”/”Sloppy Joe”/”Never Go Down”/”Wipe Yo Nose”
3. Heavy Metal
“But didn’t this come out in 2024?” This was released at the very end of 2024. Also, it is my list.
Cameron Winter is one of the best vocalists right now, with a wide range that goes high, low, breathy, and even slurs mid-word, all coming out clean. The bare but also chaotic instrumentation to match his vocals or add space to the songs. Excellent songwriting and many references to Nina Simone.
Highlighted tracks: "Love Takes Miles"/"Drinking Age"/"Try as I May"/"Nina + Field of Cops"
2. Forever Howlong
/Black Country, New Road/(Pop·Art Rock·Baroque Pop)
After losing their main vocalist from their last album, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this one because Ants from Up There (2022) was just so great. Forever Howlong is an entirely different tone; a bit more upbeat and themes of togetherness, which definitely makes this a happier record than their last one. The best way to describe this would be “theater kid music” but as a compliment. Fantastical storytelling that sometimes breaks the fourthwall, cinematic song structure to match, and great playing from the band members all around with three different female vocalists/writers.
Highlighted tracks: "Besties"/"Two Horses"/"For the Cold Country"
1. Revengeseekerz
/Jane Remover/(Digicore·Hip Hop·EDM)
Revengeseekers takes everything Jane is an artist. She takes the danceability and insanely over-the-top production style from her Jersey Club project, Leroy, and clashes them with her existing style. The album has some of the craziest beat drops that melt your brain; there are so many sounds, from video game samples to even samples and interpolations of her own songs. After all the chaos, her songwriting still shines through; it is perfect on all fronts and leaves me with creative envy.
Highlighted tracks: “Psychoboost”/”Star People”/”Experimental Skin”/”Dreamflasher”/”Turn Up or Die”/”Professional Vengeance”
