Favorite Albums of 2024

At the end of each year, I compile a list of my favorite music albums, mainly to document what I enjoyed listening to but also to share with others.

Just like 2023, 2024 was a huge year for music releases, and I had a difficult time cutting down my list to just 10 albums. My process for hunting for new music remains mostly unchanged. I still use Marcos Tanaka’s wonderful Music Harbor and Adam Linder’s Albums app to find new music releases each week. I also use MusicBox, another app by Marcos Tanaka to save albums to a list for listenting to at a later time. I love this app because it gives me a way to keep track of albums that I want to listen to without adding them to my Apple Music catalog. In this way, MusicBox has become my “potential music to listen to” list.

The following are the albums and artists that I’ve spent the most time with and/or connected with over the past year. There are more than a few albums that didn’t make the cut, but I’ve added them as either Honorable Mentions or into the Moar Music sections.

Also, I’ve compiled these albums on the Album Whale service to make it easier to get to other streaming and purchasing services.

• Favorite Albums of 2024 on Album Whale!
• Even Moar Music 2024 on Album Whale!

Full disclosure: Purchasing any of the music using some of the links below will give a small percentage of the sale to my wife at no cost to you.

10. ATARASHII GAKKO! - AG! Calling

Atarashii Gakko no Leaders, also known as ATARASHII GAKKO! is back with their first album in five years, marking a significant shift since their 2019 release, Wakage Ga Itaru (which was also my top pick that year). A lot has happened in that time—their record contract wasn’t renewed, they caught the attention of Asian American indie label 88rising and signed with them, and before long, they skyrocketed to global fame!

Their new album, AG! Calling, takes a different direction from their past work, reflecting where the group is today. Gone are the jazzy grooves produced by H Zett M from their previous two albums, with their signature jazz/pop/rock sound making way for dance, rap, hip-hop, and funk influences. As a longtime fan, I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic for their earlier style, but I also recognize that artists evolve—and with that, comes the opportunity to reach new audiences.

2025 marks ATARASHII GAKKO’s 10th year as a group. I can’t wait to see what they do to celebrate!

Hot Tracks: Fly High, Toryasnse, Forever Sisters

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: iTunes | Amazon

9. L’Impératrice - Pulsar

Following up their album Tako Tsubo (one of my 2022 favorites), French funk outfit L’Impératrice returns with Pulsar—their third album and first entirely self-produced effort. It also marks a first for the band with three guest artists: Fabiana Martone (singing in Italian), Maggie Rogers, and rap from Erick the Architect. If you’re into smooth vocals layered over dance, disco, funk, and techno, this one’s worth a listen.

Sadly, Pulsar may be the last album featuring vocalist Flore Benguigui, who departed the band in September 2024, citing physical and mental health reasons, as well as “profound personal, artistic, and fundamental disagreements” with the rest of the group.

Hot Tracks: Amour Ex Machina, Me Da Igual, Love from the Other Side

Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon

8. The Marîas - Submarine

Submarine initially slipped past my radar, and I’m still not sure how I missed it. Before I knew it, three year had flown by since their previous album, Cinema, which I really enjoyed, so I was curious to hear how their new material would evolve. Lyrically, Submarine explores the themes of solitude, isolation, and pain, while musically, it feels like a natural progression—building on everything they got right with Cinema and expanding from there.

Maria Zardoya’s breathy, delicately layered vocals float over dreamy instrumentation, creating a soundscape that feels like sinking to the ocean floor and letting the music wash over you.

BONUS: For a glimpse of how they bring these tracks to life, check out their Tiny Desk Concert.

Hot Tracks: Echo, Real Life, Only in My Dreams, No One Noticed

Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon

7. Khruangbin - A LA SALA

Khruangbin (pronounced KRUNG-bin) took a slight detour on their third studio album, Mordechai, embracing a disco-funk sound and introducing vocals from bassist Laura Lee. Now, they’ve shifted gears once again, returning with a laid-back, mid-tempo groove that leans into their signature stripped-down formula—just guitar, bass, and drums, with a touch of vocals. From the moment the opening bass notes of Fifteen Fifty-Three kick in, everything feels like home.

Hot Tracks: Fifteen Fifty-Three, May Ninth, Ada Jean

Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon

6. Ginger Root - SHINBANGUMI

Ginger Root, the music project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Cameron Lew, surprised me with the release of SHINBANGUMI (which translates to “new program” or “a new season of a show”). It’s a concept album where Lew envisions himself as a fired TV producer who defies the odds to build his own media empire in 1987, complete with faux commercials seamlessly woven between the infectious tracks. It’s very retro, lo-fi and an absolute blast to listen to.

Blending everything that made the ’80s Showa era great with playful interludes, SHINBANGUMI is a love letter to the spirit of ’80s Japanese culture. If you want to appreciates Ginger Root’s aesthetic and sound, be sure to check out his special YouTube video series, SHINBANGUMI Timeline.

Hot Tracks: No Problems, Better Than Monday, Kaze

Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon

5. Taka Nawashiro - Lifescape

Last year, when I picked my #2 favorite album, Kurena Ishikawa’s Kurena, I wrote, “The guitar solo on the track Sea Wasp was so Metheny-esque, I had to look up who was playing.” It turned out to be none other than Taka Nawashiro.

From what I’ve gathered, Nawashiro was born in Saitama, Japan, and recorded Lifescape in New York with two different bands before completing it in Japan, adding Baba Tomoaki on saxophone, Ruri Matsumura on vocals for Promise of 60, and Kurena Ishikawa on Kobune. While his playing has hints of Pat Metheny, Nawashiro brings plenty of originality and versatility to the project, making it my favorite jazz guitar album of 2024.

Hot Tracks: All of it.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: Tower Records Japan | Amazon

4. Nala Sinephro - Endlessness

Nala Sinephro’s last album, Space 1.8, was one of my favorites of 2021. Every so often, I’d check her social media to see what she was up to, but for a while, it felt like she had just disappeared. So when Endlessness was announced, it instantly became one of my most anticipated releases—and it did not disappoint!

The album begins and centers around an arpeggio that serves as its foundation, evolving into a rich tapestry of sounds and textures. Each track is titled Continuum followed by a number, but they aren’t just variations of the same theme. Instead, they flow seamlessly into one another, forming a cohesive, ever-changing sound sculpture that blends jazz, electronica, and ambient into a lush, immersive experience.

I’m still really disappointed that I missed my chance to get tickets to see her perform in Japan this past December—but at least I have this album to get lost in.

Hot Tracks: All of it. This one is an experience.

Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon

3. Andrew Bird and Madison Cunningham - Cunningham Bird

I remember checking in on what Madison Cunningham was up to and noticing she had an upcoming album with Andrew Bird—an artist I wasn’t familiar with at the time. When Cunningham Bird was released, I gave it a listen with no expectations and was completely blown away!

It wasn’t until writing this review that I learned Cunningham Bird is a full track-for-track cover album of Buckingham Nicks, the classic 1973 album from Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, released just before they joined Fleetwood Mac. It’s been years since I last heard Buckingham Nicks, so it’s no wonder that I didn’t notice this important detail. Also, since it’s out of print and unavailable on streaming services, tracking it down isn’t exactly easy—though a quick YouTube search allowed me to refresh my memory.

Interestingly, neither Cunningham nor Bird had any strong ties to the album before starting this project, which gave them the freedom to approach the songs with a fresh perspective. Despite being a track-for-track cover, they’ve infused it with so much of their own style that it feels both timeless and revitalized. Buckingham and Nicks’ song writing remains just as powerful 50 years later, and Cunningham and Bird’s renditions offer a beautifully reimagined gateway for a new generation of listeners.

The album gives me the same vibe as Foreverly by Billie Joe Armstrong & Norah Jones—where deep reverence for the originals meets a fresh, inspired reinterpretation.

Hot Tracks: All of it.

Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon

2. Luna Li - When a Thought Grows Wings

Many of my favorite albums have come from artists that have gone through a breakup or end of a relationship and processing that experience through music. It’s not that I wish that kind of pain on anyone, but there’s something about hurt, healing, and transformation that becomes a catalyst and can fuel incredible music.

Multi-instrumentalist Luna Li went through significant changes before writing When a Thought Grows Wings—ending an eight-year relationship and relocating from Toronto to Los Angeles. The result is a beautifully honest album, filled with poetic lyricism, captivating melodies, and hooks that linger long after the music stops. I really enjoyed her melodic guitar outros on Golden Hour and I Would Let You, making this a deeply resonant and rewarding listen.

Hot Tracks: All of it.

Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon

1. soraya - soraya

Bassist/vocalist Kurena Ishikawa is no stranger to my favorites list, having secured the #2 spot for her album, Kurena, last year. This time, she joins forces with pianist/composer Kento Tsubosaka to form soraya, whose self-titled debut album arrived in March 2024. The lead single, Hitori / Chiisaku Sayonara wo, climbed to #6 on the J-WAVE TOKIO HOT 100. Both Tsubosaka and Ishikawa have previously released solo works on the jazz label VERVE, and their combined talents shine here.

The simple yet infectious melody of Hitori lingers long after the song ends, while Kazenokade is beautifully composed, swinging effortlessly with a great hook. BAKU is just pure fun. The entire album is filled with gorgeous melodies and masterful instrumentation, and there’s something incredibly comforting about Ishikawa’s vocals.

Looking back, 2024 was a difficult year for me, but this album became a bright spot—one of those rare records that helped me through the rough patches. That lands it in the top spot for 2024. I hope you’ll give it a listen.

Hot Tracks: All of it.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: iTunes | Tower Records Japan

Honorable Mentions

Tears for Fears - Songs For A Nervous Planet

Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith are in fine form on what feels more like an EP with a bonus live set. The four new tracks feel like they could have been part of a great full-length album. If this had been a full album, it might have made my top 10 for sure.

The live set was recorded during their 2023 Tipping Point Tour. Hearing their hits and new songs from The Tipping Point performed live was a treat. But the icing on the cake was the surprise performance of Break It Down Again—especially since Curt wasn’t even in TFT when it was released.

Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon

Billie Eilish - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

Yeah. I really liked this one.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: iTunes | Amazon

Clairo - Charm

On her third album, Claire Cottrill goes deeper into soft lo-fi pop with a 70’s vibe.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: iTunes | Amazon

Los Days - Dusty Dreams

Tommy Guerrero and Josh Lippi are back with another dusty, desert reverb and vibrato drenched collection.

Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon

Pat Metheny - Moon Dial

A solo Metheny record is rare, so much so, that this is only his third. Featuring an amazing set of originals and covers, Mood Dial was a real treat.

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: iTunes | Amazon

Judas Priest - Invincible Shield

New music from Priest! 🤘 Nothing more to say! Listen: Apple Music | Spotify
Buy: iTunes | Amazon

Even Moar Music

These are other albums I spent time with during 2024 that you might also enjoy.

Ambient

Cornelius - Ethereal Essence
Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify

Genfukei - Descent Ever Near
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify

Alternative

Brokeback - Brokeback and the Black Rock
Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify

Dance

Johannes Albert - Cosmic Reverie - EP
Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify

Electronic

Joe Nora - Parasol
Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify

J-Pop/City Pop

*Toshiki Kadomatsu *- Tiny Scandal
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify

須藤 薫 (Kaoru Sudo) - SUMMER HOLIDAY
Listen: Apple Music | Spotify

Jazz

Jasmine Myra - Rising
Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify

Kazuki Isogai, Kumai Goro - Seawater - EP
Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify

Mildlife - Chorus
Listen: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify

See my Favorite albums of 2023 here.