Favourite music in 2024

I’m not here to do an annual music wrap-up, but…

Albums

These were my favourite albums of 2024:

• Linkin Park – From Zero

• Tori Amos – Deep Dive Live

• The War on Drugs – Live Drugs Again

• St. Vincent – All Born Screaming

• London Grammar – The Greatest Love

• Dua Lipa – Live from the Royal Albert Hall

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I also have three honourable mentions, two of which were released at the end of 2023 (though I listened to them mostly in 2024) and one of which is an EP:

• Peter Gabriel – i/o (2023)

• Hania Rani – Ghosts (2023)

• The Hu – The Trooper (EP)

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Songs

These are the songs that got stuck in my head most often and for the longest time in 2024 (in alphabetical order):

• Champs – 3,000 Miles

• Chris Stapleton – Think I’m In Love With You

• Devon Cole – Good Guy

• Dua Lipa – Happy For You

• Elderbrook & Bob Moses – Inner Light

• Filter – For the Beaten

• Gretta Ray – Cherish

• Hania Rani – Hello

• Heleina Zara – Cardboard

• Kesha – JOYRIDE

• St. Vincent – Sweetest Fruit

• Linkin Park – The Emptiness Machine

• Linkin Park – Two Faced

• London Grammar – Kind of Man

• Peter Gabriel – This is Home (Bright-Side Mix)

• ROSALÍA & Rauw Alejandro – VAMPIROS

• ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – APT.

• Sabrina Carpenter – Taste

• The Chemical Brothers – Wide Open

• The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding

Shout-outs

Production

I can’t remember the last time I listened to a song on a constant loop as much as I listened to St. Vincent Sweetest Fruit. The layers, the soundscapes, the loops – there’s so much to unpack, enjoy on its own, and then repack and enjoy as a whole in this song. Phenomenal. (Here’s a production breakdown of that song, in case you’re interested.)

I love that Dua Lipa released two versions of her Radical Optimism album: a regular version and an extended version. It’s great having access to longer, more groovy, more atmospheric, and less radio-conforming versions of all her latest songs. (Reminds me of Peter Gabriel releasing two versions of his i/o album in 2023 – a Bright-Side Mix and Dark-Side Mix – each produced by a different mixer.)

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Live versions

Half of my favourite albums this year here live albums, which is great to see. I love a good live album.

Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa performed a live duet of Stapleton’s Think I’m In Love With You that at the 59th Academy Of Country Music Awards. I also love a good live duet :)