Substack Wrapped: Some of my Favorite Albums I Reviewed this Year
looking back on this past year and the albums I have discussed. Ranking, but lovingly.
After spending close to seven months reviewing new album releases here on Substack, I think it’s time for me to rank all the albums I have reviewed based on how much my love has grown since the first time I listened to them. All these 2024 releases are stunning and I will attach my past reviews under each album so you can get a deeper dive into my thoughts on each record, but this post is mostly related to how perspectives on albums can change through time. To me, it is just based on how much I go back to each of these albums to listen to all the way through or the tracks that I listen to when I revisit these records.
I have fully reviewed 17 albums here on Substack, which are the ones I will be ranking, but the albums released this year that I have not reviewed publicly will be ranked in next week’s post on my “albums of the year,” which will be even more difficult to do but too interesting not to.
The Ranking.
17 - Crumb’s “AMAMA”
An album that I can still feel when I look at the cover as it is so descriptive of what the album sounds like. While I have never been the biggest indie enthusiast, this is a great album with amazing visuals that add to understanding the vision for this record. The production in this album makes it so experiential and lively, which must be amazing to see live. “Genie” is beautiful and dynamic, which I still gravitate towards.
16 - Peggy Gou’s “I Hear You”
I still remember the first time I listened to that record and I still think it is a good album representative of 2024. Her sound is pretty unique, and it is dance music, which makes it harder to differentiate. Once in a while, I’ll play some of the songs from that album, but it is such a summer album that I can’t play it casually during the fall. Still great, but very specific for me to go back to consistently. “All That” is still an instant classic though.
15 - Rachel Chinouriri’s “What A Devastating Turn of Events”
I have been waiting for people to catch up on how great she is, and I know her moment will come with time. She has been able to make such engaging pop music, and this album is only one of the many good ones to come from Rachel. Her vocals alongside the powerful production choices make it so easy to listen to and smooth all the way through. A memorable 2024 album and I think everyone should keep an eye on what she does.
14 - NewDad’s “MADRA”
The first time I listened to this album, I was so pleasantly surprised and I kept recommending it to people because of how good it is. Because it was released so early last year, it ended up flying under the radar for a lot of people, but I love seeing creators recreate the cover look, or reference the album. I enjoy this album a lot, and I have such vivid memories of it. The sound is so full and nostalgic at times that it makes it easy to understand as a listener who did not listen to NewDad before this record.
13 - Beabadoobee’s “This is How Tomorrow Moves”
What I remember most from this album is how vulnerable she is lyrically, while also staying so consistent with her sound. Beabadoobee’s essence comes through with this album so clearly since her voice is so unique and identifiable, while she has also cultivated a personal sound, which is not easy to do. The album is diverse with her exploring some different styles but they all feel very authentic and merge really well.
12 - Marina Allen’s “Eight Poited Star”
Every song in this album is enchanting and beautiful with a folk twist. Her voice is angelic and matches the world-building of the visuals so well. I became a fan of this album, and I wish I had space for it higher on my ranking. I had never heard of Marina Allen before this album, but I got a good grasp of who she is as an artist while listening to it, and that essence she is able to communicate so well is what captures audiences and makes you want to keep listening and check out her discography (which is also great, by the way). Such a beautiful record that is absolutely remarkable.
11 - Walt Disco’s “The Warping”
I would play this record on a loop for some time and the more I listened, the more I got it. It is fun and weird, but so nostalgic with the influences and the unique singing style. Cooking to this album is so fun, and every time I listen to it, it just makes me want to dance (very fitting considering their band name). I wonder why this album flew so under the radar in general, since rock fans love influences, and this record feels like a modern take on 80s-90s alternative music. If you take one thing from this ranking, I hope it is curiosity for Walt Disco.
10 - Ha Vay’s “Baby I’m The Wolf”
One of my accomplishments was getting my friend interested in Ha Vay. She loved “Moon Girl,” and I sent her a couple other Ha Vay songs that she seemed to enjoy. Ha Vay creates this world with her music that leaks into everything she does as an artist. Her voice is as angelic and fantasy-like as her visuals, and her presence on stage is so fitting of the aesthetics she seeks out. As a fan, it is pretty fun to watch the things she does. All of these factors are backed by how catchy her songs are, and I wish for her to keep gaining popularity so I can see what she can do with her world-building.
9 - The Dare’s “What’s Wrong With New York?”
When “Girls” first came out, I thought it was just a catchy song made by this upcoming artist. However, when the album came out, I understood exactly what his vision was and I think it’s great. From a marketing perspective, I could talk about branding forever and the social culture associated with the rise of The Dare, but he is able to back his branding with good club music that makes you want to go see him live. “I Destroyed Disco” is so good that I genuinely thought it would end up in my Spotify Wrapped (it did not).
8 - Genevieve Stokes’ “With A Lightning Strike”
A beautiful album that deserves so many roses. There were a couple of weeks where I would play this album all the way through and just listen. She uses her voice to describe her feelings clearly to the listener, making the album so easy to listen to and transparent. It might take some time for people to catch up to Genevieve Stokes, but when people do, they will get it.
7 - Cold Cave’s “Passion Depression”
Cold Cave found a way to grow and mature sonically without losing their essence and without getting repetitive, which is hard to do in their genre. It is lyrically potent, fun, and a step in the right direction for Cold Cave to keep growing. The album also came at the perfect time for a revival of the electronic, dance-wave music happening right now. The tour must be so fun.
6 - Faye Webster’s “Underdressed at the Symphony”
This was the first Faye Webster album I listened to all the way through and it lives so vividly in my head. It feels so playful and experimental that it feels like I got to see Faye’s personality with the production and style choices. The pace never feels dull due to the variety she gives with this record, and it feels so engaging all the way through with so many long-term bangers. Once in a while, a random song from this album will come up on shuffle and it feels as though I have listened to it 100 times. Great album, and very underrated.
5 - Fontaines D.C.’s “Romance”
The production feels carefully put together with meaningful choices, like the random strings we hear in some of the songs and the very full sound that adds a dirty sound to the record, contrasting its pristine cover. The accent in the vocals also adds a layer of nostalgia for the British, messy vocals that were so signature during the 90s, and I love it. Imitating the accent while singing along and dancing is the only right way of listening to this great record.
4 - Bolis Pupul’s “Letter To Yu”
When I randomly remember the story behind the making of this record, I end up sad and wanting to play it all the way through again. The purpose, perspective, attention to detail, and careful curation make it stand out from a regular electronic album and make you want to listen so carefully and actively to really feel what Bolis Pupul felt exploring Hong Kong. Insanely beautiful and a must-listen from this past year.
4 - The Marias’ “Submarine”
The Marias this year came in swinging, and for good reason. Seeing this level of vulnerability in 2024 was refreshing and so deeply relatable. I don’t think anyone expected “No One Noticed” to become such a hit, but I knew in my heart that it was stunning from the moment I first heard it. There are so many great tracks in this one album, it is hard to believe they are not nominated to every award category. However, I think people will look back on this album with so much love and nostalgia since I already do.
2- Clairo’s “Charm”
Definitely a MOMENT in 2024. This record also showed me a lot of Clairo’s personality and perspective. The visuals she has chosen throughout the release period add so much character and depth to the album since she does this aesthetic building that makes you understand what the album is for her. Clairo’s lyrical power is as clear and cutthroat as ever, and her stylistic choices make me so excited for every project she releases in the future.
1 - Adrianne Lenker’s “Bright Future”
What a stunning piece of work. When I saw this album all over my timeline on Twitter when it first came out, I knew it was something special since so many people were connecting deeply with it. However, I was not prepared for how grounded, vulnerable, transparent, and powerful it is. I could ramble about this album forever (and I did since this album is the reason why my Substack exists right now). At the time, I was also vaguely familiar with Adrianne Lenker’s solo work, so it felt like such an experience to see her folk side and how it adds so much to her lyrical expertise. Vocally, it is also wonderful and enchanting. I root for this album and will hold it close to me forever.
More albums next week to wrap up 2024. Thank you for reading.