A thing that's always been a source of pride for me is that I still haven't reached a point where my music taste has calcified, where I stop being curious and only stick with artists I already like. Even though I ask myself more and more whether I'm becoming washed -- particularly when Pitchfork drops a new best-of list and it's filled with rap picks I find borderline unlistenable -- the thrill of discovery is still too powerful to ever want to retreat from it just because I sometimes stumble upon things I don't understand. So even though I'm an aging indie kid who continues to check out new Decemberists albums (don't laugh, this latest one was pretty solid!), I remain intrigued by the idea that my new favorite band could be right around the corner.
2024 was a year where I felt more open than I've ever been. I attribute that to new friendships with music lovers who have slightly different wheelhouses than I do and being inspired to meet them where they're at. It might not be fully reflected in my list of favorites below, but I tried a wide range of music this year and it was very nourishing. Below is a mix of old and new loves, but all of them made 2024 better. Enjoy!
The rules: The window of eligibility for this list is anything released from January 1, 2024 to now. This list can include albums, mixtapes, EPs, and anything in between.
