Best Albums of 2024: Colorado Sound Staff Picks

No doubt about it, 2024 as was another fantastic year for music – the songs we heard, who we saw live, and what we shared with our friends, families, and communities. And speaking of sharing, members of The Colorado Sound staff have put together lists of their personal favorite albums released in 2024.
Wherever you are, we hope you, too, had a year full of great music. Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you next year!

Ben’s Top 10 Albums
1 – Jack White – No Name
It really speaks to the power of Jack White that he can release an album with zero promotion, no singles released, and it be one of his best works to date. If you’re a fan of the early White Stripes stuff, this album is for you. The guitars, vocals, crazy characters like Archbishop Harold Holmes, Jack White is so back. Garage rock will never die if Jack White is around.
2 – Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood
This album is peak songwriting. Katie Crutchfield’s voice matched with MJ Lenderman’s guitar skills really shine in Tigers Blood, and her lyrics are always something worth listening to. It’s hard to believe Waxahatchee will make a better album than this, but I also thought the same for Saint Cloud in 2020.
3 – Fontaines D.C. – Romance
This album is so damn good. Fontaines D.C. are really mixing it up. A blend of post punk, Britpop, goth, hip hop and even Americana. It’s a melting pot of genres but it all blends together so well. Grian Chatten is an incredible frontman, and this band deserves all the hype they get. Such a fun and beautiful album from start to finish.
4 – Brigitte Calls Me Baby – The Future Is Our Way Out
Another album that is hard to pin genre wise. Imagine the Strokes with Roy Orbison as their lead singer, or Arctic Monkeys with Morrissey. Some songs sound like they could be from the ’50s or ’60s, others are very ’80s-inspired, and some are reminiscent of the early 2000s indie bands. You’ll hear the Strokes, the Stones, the Killers, and Elvis Presley all in one album, and it rocks!
5 – The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
It’s not shocking that the Cure made a great album. It is a little shocking the album is this good after such a long hiatus. Robert Smith is truly one of the most talented songwriters to ever walk this earth. If you’re looking for a great goth album, the Cure will always deliver.
6 – Mannequin Pussy – I Got Heaven
What an album (and band name). The riffs and melodies are amazing, and Marisa Dabice is a great frontwoman – her energy and emotion come through so hard in every song. This is an album you will sing (or scream) along to the entire time.
7 – Jean Dawson – Glimmer of God
I don’t think anyone is more willing to “go for it” than Jean Dawson. He’s a one-of-a-kind artist who dabbles in post punk, hip hop, punk, new wave – really whatever he’s feeling at any moment. If you have eclectic music taste, Jean is your guy, and he doesn’t disappoint with Glimmer of God.
8 – Gary Clark, Jr. – JPEG Raw
This is Clark’s most experimental album to date. He still has his classic blues guitar, but with more hip hop and funk in this one. This album shows off his beautiful singing voice and song writing to complement his masterful guitar skills. He was able to collaborate with some incredible artists on this album such as George Clinton, Valerie June and Stevie Wonder.
9 – Judas Priest – Invincible Shield
Rob Halford has still got his voice even after all these years. This album will fix your heavy metal craving with wicked guitar solos, awesome drumming and of course Rob Halford’s iconic vocal range. It’s wild Judas Priest could make an album this good so far into their career, but they did.
10 – Chappell Roan – The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
She blew up for a reason: her voice is incredible, and she made a great pop/synth pop album. Her humor, chaos and talent come through so clearly. Hopefully this is a new age in pop music, and Chappell Roan will be one of the pioneers.

Stacy’s Top 10 Albums
1 – Hermanos Gutiérrez – Sonido Cósmico
Ecuadorian-Swiss brothers Alejandro and Estevan Gutierrez make up the instrumental band Hermanos Gutiérrez. The emotion and connection between the two brothers is palpable and hard to believe so much can be conveyed through two guitars.
2 – Sofi Tukker – Bread
This couple’s connection is evident in all of their releases, and Bread is another irresistible romp through feel-good, love-inspired jingle-pop.
3 – Decemberists – As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
The Decemberists returned in 2024 with a double album that didn’t disappoint. It harkened back to their old form with the typical folklore-infused lyrics but also delivered fresh new perspectives for a band going on 25 years.
4 – Michael Kiwanuka – Small Changes
It’s been five years since Michael Kiwanuka’s last album, and since then has had a baby and left his hometown of London. These big life changes are reflected in this new, Danger Mouse-produced album. It’s a softly beautiful new direction for the multi-award-winning singer/songwriter.
5 – Arooj Aftab – Night Reign
Pakistani-American singer/songwriter Arooj Aftab’s latest offering Night Reign is a aural tapestry centering around the Urdu-language poetry of several poets. She weaves a melancholy tale in both Urdu and English and shows why she is the first Pakistani artist to win a Grammy.
6 – Los Campesinos!: All Hell
This seven-piece Welsh band continues to deliver an introspective, quirky romp that covers the gamut from friendship to suburban boredom. Look also for a just-released EP More Hell that offers reworked versions of songs from All Hell.
7 – Kneecap – Fine Art
This Irish rapping trio is set to have a great 2025, if this year is any indication. In 2024 the band released its sophomore album Fine Art, starred in a movie that screened at the Sundance Film Festival, and garnered praise from Sir Elton John himself. The new album is a raucous romp made even more fun by a guest appearance from Grian Chatten (Fontaines D.C.).
8 – Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood
Recorded in just two weeks, Tigers Blood doesn’t disappoint. The album offers all the warmth and grit that you’d expect from Katie Crutchfield, with a pleasant surprise, guest vocals and guitar work from Asheville’s MJ Lenderman.
9 – Mk.gee – two star and the dream police
If you’re looking for a groovy chill album that is part the Police, part Peter Gabriel, part Frank Ocean, look no further than the new Mk.gee album.
10 – IDLES – TANGK
Raw, raucous and lo-fi, TANGK is a 21st century, post-punk love album. Joe Talbot (IDLES vocalist) said that he “needed love” so he “made it. [He] gave love out to the world and it feels like magic. This is our album of gratitude and power.”

Margot’s Top 6 Albums
Because I listen to so much new music during the year, it’s rare that I will sit down and listen to an entire album, unless the release comes from an old favorite or a band or musician I find particularly interesting. If you’ve listened to my show, you know of my great affection for the Cure and Paul Weller, so I’m sure these choices will not be a surprise to you.
The Cure album is probably my favorite of the year. Robert Smith and the band aren’t just like old friends after over 40 years of listening to them, they are also at a point in their lives where their songs touch on things I wrestle with: nostalgia, loss, and my place in a world that doesn’t have my lifelong touchstones in it anymore.
1 – The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World
2 – Paul Weller – 66
3 – Real Estate – Daniel
4 – Ladaniva – Ladaniva
5 – Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood
6 – Peach Pit – Magpie

Ron’s Top 10 Albums
1 – Michael Kiwanuka – Small Changes
If you can drop into the groove this guy creates with his words & his music, I bet you’ll do what I do and make a return trip. I still laugh at his cameo in the filmYesterday.
2 – Nada Surf – Moon Mirror
Music discovery can come from many places. Friends back east are big-time, long-time NS fans and got me into their unique pop sound. I’m still grateful!
3 – Lake Street Dive – Good Together
If an artist or band is lucky, they create a sound that becomes unique them. You hear it and you immediately know who it is. For me, such is the case with LSD.
4 – Paul Weller – 66
I’ve allowed myself to walk down all of this guy’s musical paths…the Jam, Style Council, and his solo work. I’m never disappointed, and this album keeps that streak going.
5 – Arooj Aftab – Night Reign
Her music was always somewhat ‘trance like’ for me. Then, hearing her interview about Joni Mitchell on the show Sheroes led me to another aspect of Arooj. Her desire, like Joni, to quickly set the scene in the first bars/lyrics of a song. Like going 0-60 quickly.
6 – Charley Crockett – $10 Cowboy
It ain’t easy making a unique voice for yourself in the country music world. CC has done that. When I saw him last January, he told me that playing Globe Hall 10 times was the path to Red Rocks (which he played this past September). This album of ‘Gulf + Western’ country helped him get there, too.
7 – Kamasi Washington – Fearless Movement
The say “you never forget your first time.” The first experience I had seeing Kamasi at the Boulder Theater showed me how is music can take me to another place, another world. I’m now always all-in on him.
8 – Sleater Kinney – Little Rope
Last January, when we invited a handful of Colorado Sound members to join us in Boulder for a pre-release listening party for this album, I got to do something I’d not done in a long time: sit…listen…and read the lyrics while the songs played. And I got to really feel the depth of the lyrics, not just the energy of the notes. It was really moving.
9 – Mdou Moctar – Funeral for Justice
Like Michael Kiwanuka, and like Kamasi Washington, Mdou’s music washes over me and allows me to find my own ‘music discovery’ of this desert blues sound. Give yourself the space to do this and you’ll see what I mean.
10 – Future Islands – People Who Aren’t There Anymore
What I said about Charley Crockett applies to this band, too. Even before you know it’s Future Islands, you hear it’s Future Islands. That synth sound of the band, the steady beat of the drums, and Sam’s dramatic delivery of lyrics…that’s entertainment.

Kama’s Top 5 Albums
1 – Future Islands – People Who Aren’t There Anymore
This whole album feels like a soundtrack for an intriguing movie about adventure and feelings. I love the contrast that Future Islands pulls off between deep, grunty vocals and flowy mystical instrumentation.
2 – Brittany Howard – What Now
This is Brittany Howard’s second solo album. It feels different. It’s flowy and soft with interesting beats and connective pieces. It feels somehow nostalgic.
3 – Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft
I tend to love and appreciate anything Billie Eilish works on. This album has more energy and of course, mature content than previous ones.
4 – Red Clay Strays – Made By These Moments
I waited for awhile to hear the full version of “Wanna Be Loved” and seeing a small clip from a live show. These guys turn basic human emotion into rock music with a chilling Elvis effect. And hot damn, I love vibrato.
5 – Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well
The song “Cardinal” opens the album discussing the possibility of an omen in a bird bringing a message from the other side. This is all set to a driving beat. It is so well done. The rest of the album follows the feeling of sweet easy to connect with vocals and beautiful themes.

Dawn’s Top 8 Albums + Extras
1 – Maggie Rogers – Don’t Forget Me
One of the best things on YouTube is the video of a young Maggie Rogers sitting next to Pharrell Williams as he listens to her song, “Alaska.” Its simple purity is intoxicating, just like the songs on her third album, Don’t Forget Me. Rogers sings about (mostly) love in a way we can all relate to, making her songs not only relatable but intricate and enveloping, too. And really, what’s up with the guy ditching her for a Knicks game?!
2 – Charley Crockett – $10 Cowboy
This album is an enjoyable trip through what’s on Charley’s mind, as he shares a bit of his soul with his ruminative, sometimes sad, but always interesting storytelling – a lovely gem of a record.
3 – Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter
What could I possibly say that other, more informed reviewers haven’t already said about this fantastic album? Well, nothing, so I’ll just add that my fave tracks are “Bodyguard,” “II Most Wanted,” and the opener, “Ameriican Requiem.”
4 – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Wild God
This album came out while I was on a road trip in late August, so I had unfettered time to take it in, and while I listened in full a few times, it’s impossible to fully grasp all Cave is conveying through these songs with just a few listens. This album is like a soundscape of someone just trying to figure it out – grief, God, vulnerability, and joy. It’s like the Robert Frost quote, “The best way out is always through.” Also check out a couple of great Nick Cave interviews from the On Being podcast and NPR.
5 – Wild Feathers – Sirens
Sometimes I like my musical choices to be uncomplicated and simple. This isn’t a dig at the Wild Feathers at all, it’s gratitude for making solid songs that can help wash away your troubles. Can’t wait to see them live again – they put on an excellent live show!
6 – Various artists – Bad Monkey soundtrack
My love for Tom Petty will never waver, and it’s songs like those on the Bad Monkey soundtrack that continue to show us the brilliance and lyrical mastery of this legend. The soundtrack includes covers of Tom Petty gems like, “Room at the Top” by Eddie Vedder, “You’re Gonna Get It” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “You Wreck Me” by the War on Drugs, and “Here Comes My Girl” by Weezer – just a few of the gems on this one. You can stream Bad Monkey on Apple TV+.
7 – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Live from the Ryman, Vol. 2
Not usually a fan of live albums, I can’t stop listening to this one. Recorded at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Jason and his band sound as amazing as they do live, and I’ve seen this band more times live than any other. It includes several favorites, “Room at the Top” (another Tom Petty cover), “Overseas” from Reunions, and “Miles” from his 2023 album, Weathervanes.
8 – Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood
This album has landed on several best-of lists, and deservedly so. With key collaborators including MJ Lenderman, Spencer Tweedy, and Phil Cook, Waxahatchee is more of a band on this record with introspective yet catchy lyrics, great harmonies, and a full sound.
Dawn’s extras:
Winnetka Bowling League, “America in Your Twenties” – Mostly from Southern California and named after a bowling league from an L.A. neighborhood, this band has managed to write a well-crafted nostalgic song with modern references that’s also a commentary on adulting.
San Fermin, “My Love is a Loneliness” – San Fermin visited The Colorado Sound earlier this year and performed this song live on-air, and I almost had to pull my car over to recover. Beautiful, vulnerable, and elegiac.
Lake Street Dive, “Twenty-Five” – Just the voice of Rachael Price and the piano of Akie Bermiss, this song is absolute poetry. The first time I heard it I literally burst into tears – how often does that happen?!
Paris Paloma, “Labour” – A commentary on gender inequality wrapped in a lush soundscape with a memorable, hooky refrain.
Lo Moon, “Water” – I’ve been a Lo Moon fan since they stopped into The Colorado Sound in 2018. Their songs are sweeping, cinematic masterpieces, and this one about what I can only surmise is the end of a relationship, only makes me want more from this beautiful band.

Kurt’s Top 13 Albums + Extras
1 – Christopher Owens – I Wanna Run Barefoot Through Your Hair
I’m a longtime fan of San Francisco band Girls, so it’s a thrill to get new music from one of the band’s cofounders. Where Girls was edgy-punk sass, Owens is more stripped-down here, leaning into gentle melodies that toy with sentimentalism – but always seem on the verge of breaking apart. Songs like the lovely “I Think About Heaven” are upbeat and dreamy, but also contain a dark melancholy – you get the feeling the veneer could crack apart at any moment (and on “Do You Need a Friend” it almost does). Which makes Owens’ music all the more beautiful.
2 – Maya Beiser – Maya Beiser x Terry Riley: In C
Cellist Maya Beiser takes a loving, deep dive into Terry Riley’s minimalist masterpiece In C and turns it inside out, bringing out fresh nuance and creating a beautiful, cinematic soundscape that pulses with new life.
3 – Philip Jeck – RPM
The late Philip Jeck was one of modern experimental music’s most beloved musicians and composers. This double-disc compilation brings together collaborations he’d done with many musicians including Chris Watson, David Sylvian, Fennensz, and my favorite Oscar-winning Icelandic cellist and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir.
4 – Michael Kiwanuka – Small Changes
Singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka’s music is easy to love but not always simple to describe. WOrds like “soulful” and “moody” are fitting, but just don’t feel adequate. Just listen – he’s got a love for tradition (vintage soul, rock, folk, hints of jazz and fusion) but his music is in its own world.
5 – Claire Rousay – Sentiment
I guess I was on a low-key ambient bender this year, and among all the drones, tones, and minimalist grooves, Claire Rousay’s album stood way out. Think of it as a bedroom singer-songwriter experimental ambient electronic album – yes, that’s a mouthful – but Rousey’s folky melodies and often-manipulated voice are layered with enough texture and grit to scratch up your feelings.
6 – Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling and Andreas Werliin – Ghosted II
An experimental instrumental adventure from the trio of composer Oren Ambarchi and musicians Johan Berthling and Andreas Werliin that’ll take you into new worlds and beyond. Embrace the journey.
7 – Garrett T. Capps – Everyone Is Everyone
The term “cosmic country” or “cosmic American music” is often associated with Gram Parsons, or the Austin country of the 1970s, and Capps fearlessly embraces the concept on Everyone Is Everyone – along with terms like “gonzo” and “cowboy kraut.” Kooky descriptors aside, the truth is in the music, and the album’s full of catchy songs, fuzzed-out melodies, and Capps’ own unique take on psychedelic country.
8 – CS + Kreme – The Butterfly Drinks the Tears of the Tortoise
This Melbourne two-piece band plays what’s been called “soul ambient fusion,” and I won’t disagree with that. It’s lounge-y and groovy but with a pastoral, bucolic twist.
9 – Peter Cat Recording Co. – BETA
New Dehli-based indie-rock band Peter Cat Recording Co. bring together elements of Indian instrumentation with cabaret, jazz, soul, and rock and roll, creating super-catchy melodies led by the Elvis-smooth vocals of lead singer Suryakant Sawhney.
10 – Cowboy Sadness – Selected Jambient Works, Vol. 1
Sometimes the name says it all, right? Ambient music is definitely having a moment right now, and thanks to a handful of bands who lean into the mournful side of the sound (e.g. SUSS), ‘ambient country’ is also now its own sub-genre. I”m here for it. Put this on for those melancholy, reflective moments or when you just want to drift into another world.
11 – Pimao – Duangkamol
A big shout out the Instagram account myllck, run by a father-son duo of deep music lovers, who highlight incredible artists from around the globe, including this Berlin producer. Pimao weaves Southeast Asian influences together with European electronic-music traditions for a moody mix you can get lost inside.
12 – Lawrence Rothman – The Plow that Broke the Plains – Known initially as a producer, Rothman has an incredible voice that makes their country-infused songs like “LAX” and “Dreams Die Hard” really stand out.
13 – IDLES – TANGK
This British band has made some awesome, aggressive lefty punk that drills right into your ears in all the best ways, but on this album they’ve varied the landscape, mixing high-energy bangers (“Hall & Oates” is definitely “playing in my ear”) with some lower-key, introspective songs (“Roy,” “Grace”) that are equally captivating.
Kurt’s extras:
Piblokto – The Leaves Will Fall Again – Captivating indie folk from a young Singapore artist, I hope we hear more from him soon
Kit Sebastian – New Internationale – This London-based duo creates a pop-friendly sound pulling from Turkish, European, and Brazilian influences.
Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet – Beautiful People – Wild Polish jazz that I kept coming back to
Ka – The Thief Next to Jesus – The late hip-hop artist created a musical journey that’s complex in terms of music and production as well as subject matter.
Pan American and Kramer – Reverberations of Non-Stop Traffic on Redding Road – A beautiful ambient collaboration..
Mustafa – Dunya – Singer-songwriter and poet Mustafa creates beautiful, tender songs, and being Black Muslim and Sudanese-Canadian, offers a perspective unique in the world of folk music.
Related pages:
The Colorado Sound Music Awards – meet the winners and see photos from the event
Top 1055 Songs of the 21st Century – see the complete list of songs
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Become a Colorado Sound member – join our awesome community of passionate music lovers
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