The 25 Best Albums of 2024 So Far
The rest of the Top 100 Countdown!
Check out part 1 of this list (No. 100 - 76) here!
Check out part 2 of this list (No. 75 - 51) here!
Check out part 3 of this list (No. 50 - 26) here!
#25: ExWHYZ, Dress to Kill
With a zero-to-100 intro (“Dresscode”) leading perfectly into the EDM “Unknown Sense,” Dress to Kill wastes no time instigating an adrenaline boost! The corresponding mood boost lingers across new songs and remixes alike. One high-energy track after another finds different ways to deliver fun, from the jaunty guitars in “Secret Secret” to the racing percussion in “Obsession.” Other enthusiastic elements involve a deep bass, rousing chants, electrifying synths, and often a combination of the three. There are some slower songs, but they are outnumbered, and they are faster and more textured than some artists’ fastest songs! Also, times when they slow things down exude a free-spiritedness and contentment, as opposed to gloom. This makes songs like “Our Song” and “D.Y.D,” which bring to mind sunny-day car rides, feel like mere party intermissions! Overall, Dress to Kill is a layered and engaging listen, and since it can appeal to a variety of pop enthusiasts and gives makeovers to some of ExWHYZ’s older songs, it can and deserves to attract scores of new fans.
#24: Xdinary Heroes, Troubleshooting
There are countless lyrics throughout Troubleshooting in the band’s typical style of self-hype, about breaking out of thought confines, living by their own rules, and not caring what others think of them. But there is a pivot point once the listening experience gets to “Dreaming Girl” and “until the end of time.” The members are struck with the realization that they are kidding themselves when they use words like “always;” nothing lasts forever. The wave of sadness upon comprehending the fleeting nature of time is palpable, but so is their newfound resolve to make the most of every moment… Xdinary Heroes’ use of thought-provoking prompts continues to add a distinct direction to their journey, and that journey is more emotionally effective than ever. Read the full review here!
#23: RM, Right Place, Wrong Person
Right Place, Wrong Person is RM’s most genre-averse and purposefully meandering work to date. The instruments and his words alike conjure up nuanced atmospheres and hard-to-pinpoint emotions that clash in the corresponding music videos. The unsettling scenes in videos like the literally dark “Domodachi” are by design; viewers are put in the middle of situations as RM is, nothing if not uncertain. Besides defying genre classifications, terms like “characters” and “plot” do not quite apply to Right Place, Wrong Person either. The music videos start without exposition; viewers have to figure out the premise and the players as the story unfolds… Life cannot be fully planned out; life happens simply as one lives it, like how RM’s video scenes unfold as he roams through them. Read the full review here!
#22: JxW, THIS MAN
The soundtrack to the story of “THIS MAN” is a complementary one. JEONGHAN compares his desire for someone to “memory manipulation” and wishes he could “stay in this dream” in the R&B “Beautiful Monster.” WONWOO’s rock ballad, “Leftover,” achingly describes the mere fragments of memories that remain with him during his waking hours. The third song, a Moonbahton one called “Last night,” speaks to both characters’ goals: JEONGHAN’s goal of living in dreams and WONWOO’s goal of retrieving the memories that can bring him a fuller picture of reality. With such a detailed, complex story told visually, it makes sense to cover such a range of character traits and genres sonically too, which this duo does with flying colors.
#21: SCANDAL, LUMINOUS
This J-rock group continues to impress with diverse sounds and one-of-a-kind lyricism… The tracklist order is perfect for the songs to communicate with each other in ways that emphasize the most distinguishable lyrical moments. The titles offer further assistance, like the smart placement of “Vision” and “Line of sight” before and after “LOOP,” respectively. The message with those three songs put together is about keeping eyes on the prize, despite a period of feeling trapped in an endless loop. The instrumentals also align with the story shifts; they know just when to ramp the energy back up after periods of mellowing out. Overall, LUMINOUS shines a light on the smart and ever-shifting storytelling of SCANDAL. Read the full review here!
#20: DOYOUNG, YOUTH
YOUTH tells a descriptive yet abstract tale about a search for meaning in memories and the many “little lights” and “little waves” that assist in that search. DOYOUNG brings this story to life beautifully, with a focus on pop-rock and band music that enhances the story’s coherence. Read the full review here!
#19: Sakurazaka46, Ikutsunokoronimodoritainoka? special edition
This album is a natural extension of the conversation prompted by the pre-release single of the same name. “Ikutsunokoronimodoritainoka?” thoughtfully reflects on how to strike a balance between cherishing and romanticizing the past, and the new songs convey similar internal conflicts… These songs show cautious, self-protective instincts that make them feel more real and relatable. The music speaks to the messy in-between states of running towards and away from feelings… Ikutsunokoronimodoritainoka? special edition takes a one-of-a-kind approach to addressing old-as-time feelings, and the songs are anything but skin-deep. Read the full review here!
#18: tripleS, <ASSEMBLE24>
This tripleS comeback is defined by constant juxtapositions… dark characterizations tend to be accompanied by words of encouragement… <ASSEMBLE24> takes unconventional routes to tell a powerful story of resilience. The music itself compounds the music video’s message; listeners gain determination to keep putting one foot in front of the other as they listen to wailing guitars, fast beats, and throwback sounds mixed with trendy ones - a pairing of the old and new that matches the theme of being fueled by past and future challenges alike. Read the full review here!
#17: (G)I-DLE, 2
The strong suits of (G)I-DLE’s first album, I NEVER DIE, return on 2. They slip vulnerable confessions between songs that embody their devil-may-care personas, balance moments of vindictiveness with ones of pure pain, and bring back lyrics from older songs… They convincingly play the part of villainous characters who relish the demise of their enemies… but they just as convincingly act the opposite… 2 and its videos are expansive forms of expression that manage to be both exaggerated and confessional. They wear confident masks that slip from time to time, but they are always ready to readjust them - as long as they are the ones who get to do so! Read the full review here!
#16: Kimberley Chen, kiki
The pacing of this album ebbs and flows like the water in its intro, and also like a body of water, there is something beautiful in both its high and low tides. The more subdued “low-tide” moments are admirable for their softness and sincerity… The “high-tide” moments come from “Say What” and “Love Me More,” rousing songs during which Kimberley brings a more distinguishable style to her voice. The instrumental choices further fuel the feeling of the songs’ rises and falls… kiki encompasses a range of topics and sounds without straying too far from its emotional core. Read the full review here!
#15: NCT DREAM, DREAM()SCAPE
As detailed in an episode of 17 Carat K-Pop, this group leaves no detail unnoticed! Song lyrics, music video plots, teaser image symbolism, and more all tie into a central storyline, one that is a cross between Inception, The Matrix, and something new and undefinable. DREAM()SCAPE is doubly engaging to listen to and to watch the corresponding videos for, because beneath every hip-hop and pop bop that is simply fun and high-quality, and within every video scene that is simply entertaining, lie potential puzzle pieces related to NCT’s lore! Read the full review here!
#14: ONEWE, Planet Nine : ISOTROPY
This album impressively synthesizes heavy subject matter by using contrasting symbols as conversation springboards. The album cover includes an infinity symbol wrapped around a hot-air balloon, a combination of something never-ending (suiting the “Isotropy” term, a word for sameness in something’s measurements regardless of the format those measurements take) with something whose presence is temporary. A hot-air balloon can only soar for so long; it can only represent freedom for as long as the fuel supply lasts. The most frequently recurring analogies throughout the album fall into two categories: outer-space-themed ones and ones referring to dust, smoke, or other fading and/or flimsy material… When they are not singing about memory preservation, they are singing about memory dissolution. In other words, when they are not singing about making something last, they are singing about the opposite. Ironically, change is the only constant in life, perhaps besides love. Change and love, therefore, can be considered metaphorically isotropic, so ONEWE’s mix of galactic and fragile metaphors is a surprisingly apt way to depict life. Read the full review here!
#13: PURPLE KISS, BXX
First of all, PURPLE KISS’s group synergy is remarkable; their voices go off of one another’s with perfect timing. They each have spotlight-worthy vocals but never hog that spotlight; they each get solo chances to shine that come about organically. Second of all, they sing powerfully and passionately without going overboard, allowing the fullness of the instrumentals to be appreciated while still proving their vocal confidence is earned. Third of all, they make the most pointed lyrics sound just as mellifluous as the plain fun ones… Although there is less clever wordplay in BXX than in previous releases, their words still have a bite to them. Their sweet comments always come with sassy reminders of their upper hand… It is fitting that “[T]he wind tosses me” is BXX’s final line; it sums up how PURPLE KISS’s musicianship might go wherever the wind takes it, but it will always be there naturally! Read the full review here!
#12: milet, Anytime Anywhere
milet’s music remains remarkably agile and detailed. Layered piano, guitars, and strings swell as her voice rises in intensity, and she sounds just as passionate when the sonic waves crash… Anytime Anywhere is a four-track ode to love, one that stays as deeply felt and powerfully communicated in times of struggle and separation as it does in times of euphoria. Finishing touches that compound the emotional blows both ways include stunning high notes and a two-in-one ballad approach (“Wings” goes from sounding like a simple ballad to a power ballad). Read the full review here!
#11: TWICE, With YOU-th
As always, TWICE amaze with their organic growth. Some songs bring to mind the TWICE of earlier eras, like the sweet, wholesome “I GOT YOU” and “YOU GET ME,” and the tropical-tinged, upbeat “NEW NEW.” Other songs mix things up, like the new-to-TWICE drum’n’bass style of “ONE SPARK” and the flirtatious Jersey-club song “RUSH.” The group sparkles the most in “BLOOM,” with all nine voices arranged in a heavenly harmony… With YOU-th embodies TWICE’s “better together” ethos while expanding their sonic horizons and proving for the millionth time why they deserve their global acclaim and attention. Read the full review here!
#10: Jeff Satur, Space Shuttle No.8
Jeff Satur is a one-of-a-kind visionary with music videos that are mini-movies and lyrics that are both musical monologues and stirring poetry… Space Shuttle No.8 features several new songs, like the beautiful acoustic number “Almost over you,” and pre-released singles that each have their own strengths. It is an excellent portfolio of Jeff Satur’s greatest hits and artful intuition. Read the full review here!
#9: IVE, IVE SWITCH
These polished pop songs are characterized by fast BPMs, high-pitched voices that contrast with the lyrics’ cold demeanors, and well-placed finishing touches, like echo effects. The album has its cuter moments… but the message IVE always circle back to is one of knowing their worth… IVE’s classic “better off without you” attitude is prevalent, as is their sweet delivery of even the most bitter comments. Read the full review here!
#8: DPR IAN, SAINT
As written about at length previously, DPR IAN is a natural at telling richly meaningful and immersive stories… They are akin to the soundtrack of a live theater production or a musical audiobook; vivid imagery is provoked through sprawling, atmospheric, layered soundscapes. The experience is complete with different voices used for different alter egos. DPR IAN’s music is also commendable for the ways it gives listeners a life soundtrack for times of gutting transformation. It is cathartic to watch one’s inner turmoil take on a visual - and therefore no longer formless and endless - presence in his shape-shifting characters. His maximalist uses of space and color add even more layers of catharsis and immersion to the viewing experience. SAINT is a lot to take in, both visually and sonically, and that is par for the course for DPR IAN, as he once again taps into the audience's deepest thoughts and feelings. Read the full review here!
#7: IU, The Winning
Contemplative and clever, The Winning has a remarkable breadth and depth for an era of just five songs! Yet each song from The Winning raises the same question: What does winning look like? What is a “win” in life?... Pages on pages could be spent dissecting each song and music video, but the overall takeaway remains the same: “Winning” looks different for everyone. Implicit in that message is an appreciation of the diversity of people’s mindsets, preferences, goals, and dreams. With lyrics like “Ballad, disco, hip-hop / It doesn’t matter… I’m stanning” (“I stan U”) and “Take what you want / No matter who calls you a freak” (“Shopper”), IU celebrates how distinct each person’s vision of happiness is and reminds people that one’s win is not another’s loss. Read the full review here!
#6: LE SSERAFIM, EASY
As explained in an episode of 17 Carat K-Pop, the EASY era’s conceptual roots lie in an insightful poem by Maggie Smith, “Good Bones.” Smith writes about treating this broken and chaotic world like a real estate agent treats a client’s less-than-stellar abode: as something that has admirable qualities if one feels obligated to look for and highlight them. She wants to “sell [her kids] the world,” to do her part in making sure future generations see this world as not so flawed as to be beyond repair. LE SSERAFIM apply this mindset to their own lives, magnifying their potential for greatness and subsequently shrinking their room for doubt and worry. After establishing the “Build something useful on top of this good foundation” mission in the first few songs… they tack on a “regardless of who is or is not watching” clarification… By seeing the usefulness in the “good bones” upon which they build their lives, LE SSERAFIM “sell” their image of having “easy” lives to the audience. It’s a meta application of Smith’s thought-provoking spin on a “fake it ‘til you make it” outlook. The songs on EASY are LE SSERAFIM’s reminders to themselves that those who belittle their work ethic misunderstand how the world works. No one is purely lucky; everyone is just doing what they can with the “good bones” they have been given. Read the full review here!
#5: P1Harmony, Killin’ It
P1Harmony’s songs have always been both playful and meaningful, but what makes them even more so now are their clearly sharpened musical instincts… Sound effects, vocals, tempo changes, and instrumentals all work together like a well-oiled machine, keeping each song surprise-filled and jam-packed… It is a very on-brand choice to dedicate the album’s last song, “I See U,” to the fans, thanking them for their part in P1Harmony’s success. Also apt is the choice to end the song, and therefore the entire album, with the lyric “One thing that I love is… you.” The group is unapologetic about both flexing their musical might and showing a soft, romantic side. They take music seriously, but not too seriously! Read the full review here!
#4: WENDY, Wish You Hell
Wish You Hell is proof that you can take the girl out of Red Velvet but cannot take the Red Velvet out of the girl! The space made for both songs with orchestral flourishes and with R&B beats, the gothic ballerina aesthetics, the Wonderland-esque plot twists… WENDY’s mix of spooky and sweet concepts definitely brings Red Velvet to mind! However, these songs show clear contrasts to both Red Velvet’s and WENDY’s past solo material, especially when it comes to her approach to lyrics. The songs take unexpected detours from what the titles might lead people to assume… She simultaneously makes people feel like her friends while winking and nodding to her “Villain Era” and her more carefree and spontaneous side! Read the full review here!
#3: Sakurazaka46, Jigoujitoku special edition
Every aspect of this Sakurazaka46 era is compelling: its electrifying instrumentals, its meaningful lyrics, its re-watchable corresponding music videos, and its appealing album cover. The group does an excellent job at embedding social commentary in all-consuming, fast-paced soundscapes, and they reinforce their positions through striking and symbolic visuals. Read the full review here!
#2: SEVENTEEN, 17 IS RIGHT HERE
The songs and videos affiliated with 17 IS RIGHT HERE excel at conveying SEVENTEEN’s evergreen values of inclusion, individuality, empathy, and creativity. Lyrically, sonically, and visually, their work represents emotions and experiences with the humor, wit, compassion, depth, and nuance they deserve. They treat anyone and anything that makes noise as someone or something worth trying to harmonize with; they see potential everywhere, allowing their dreams to feel realistic and their music video world (aka their “Fantasia”) to feel like its front gates are always open. Read the full review here!
#1: TXT, minisode 3: TOMORROW
Read a deep dive into this album’s meaning and source of inspiration, The Little Prince, here! An excerpt:
TXT have answers to the key questions in The Little Prince: What and who is it all for?
It is all for intangible things. They do it all for love, for friendship, for the people and the things they have ascribed special meanings to, for all of the tomorrows that they can eagerly await as a result of ascribing those meanings. They do not find the meaning of life through going through the motions (like the men the prince visits on different planets), through following “practical advice” that results in giving up one’s dreams (like the narrator), through talking about merely “sensible things” (like the grown-ups who disliked the narrator’s eccentric drawings), or for no end goal at all (like some of the travelers and pill-buyers in The Little Prince). They determine that life is meaningful when they find meaning in the invisible, in the things that cannot be “seen with the eyes.”
minisode 3: TOMORROW, when considering the context of TXT’s previous eras, is an ode to the little things and the sources of lasting light in life: togetherness, a willingness to live in a shade of gray, and, most importantly, the mindset that loving and losing is always better than never loving at all. They can take the pain of loving someone or something, and they must, for taking time to appreciate those people and things is the wisest possible choice, the ultimate “matter of consequence.”
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More of the year’s best new music so far:
The Best K-Pop Music Videos of 2024, No. 50 - 26
The Best K-Pop Music Videos of 2024, No. 25 - 1
For even more music recommendations, revisit the “Best of 2023” lists!
The Top 100 Albums of 2023, Part Two