Rolling Stone Ranks 100 Best Albums of 2024

As 2024 nears its end, Rolling Stone has unveiled a ranking of the year’s 100 best albums. This year’s list spotlights an exciting selection of newcomers and industry veterans making breakouts and comebacks in every genre, with plenty of alternative favorites returning for their flowers once again.

Following Brat summer, Charli XCX’s beloved Brat secured the top spot, with Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter coming second and the rapidly rising newcomer–featured in the October-November issue of Relix–MJ Lenderman’s Manning Fireworks in third place. While pop artists populated the bulk of the top 10, Waxahatchee’s Tiger’s Blood arrived at 10, teasing the themes to come in the rest of the eclectic year-end summary.

Clairo’s Charm emerged at 13, following Zach Bryan’s arena-packing The Great American Bar Scene at number 12. Here in The Pitch, Jessica Pratt’s long-awaited fourth LP, arrived in 18th, just before Mdou Moctar’s Funeral for Justice at 19, and Jack White’s No Name at 20. Johnny Blue Skies/Sturgill Simpson’s Passage Du Desir came in 24th, with Kim Gordon’s The Collective taking 26th place. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings brought folky flair at number 28, with their record Woodland, with Faye Webster’s Underdressed at the Symphony representing alternative indie in the 34th spot. The Smile’s Wall of Eyes secured the 35th spot on this year’s longlist. 

Vampire Weekend made the list for Only God Was Above Us, with Lainey Wilson, The Cure, St. Vincent and Cash Cobain back-to-back to close out the top 50 for Whirlwind, Songs of a Lost World, All Born Screaming and Play Cash Cobain, respectively. Brittany Howard’s What Now Adrienne Lenker’s Bright Future and Sierra Ferrell’s fan-favorite record Trail of Flowers were also featured, as well as Arooj Aftab’s Night Reign, Maggie Rogers’ Don’t Forget Me and name-twin Maggie Rose’s No One Gets Out Alive. The Hard Quartet’s debut LP was also included.

Tribute record Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin featuring Bruce Springsteen, Billie Joe Armstrong, Jack Antonoff, Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello came in 90th; Malin made a triumphant return to the stage alongside many of these guests on Dec 1 for a benefit staging at The Beacon. Along with the best records, the publication also listed the year’s best songs featuring many of the same artists, as well as The Black Keys, The Black Crowes, Stevie Nicks, Kacey Musgraves and Hozier–with Chappell Roan at #1 for “Good Luck, Babe!” 

Read the full list at rollingstone.com.