I Listened to an Album Everyday in 2024
Read along on my journey of listening to 366 new and different albums this past year.
My new year’s “resolution” or project this year was to listen to a new album everyday in 2024. Across the span of 2024, I have successfully listened to 366 albums that were fresh to my ears. “New” in this case meaning something I had never listened to front-to-back before. My goal going into this was to come out of this year with a better grasp at music history, culture, and expand/diversify my music taste by exploring new genres and artists. I also knew this was an attainable project due to how much music I listen to in a day, I just had to find a way to work this into my daily listening habits.tn
Another objective of this project was to better understand the concept of albums as an art form. The modern music industry is so focused on “big hit” songs, so much so, that society has started steering away from long-form music. In my opinion, the art of albums hasn’t been as prevalent due to streaming services and the loss of physical media. You used to have to buy the entire album on vinyl, cassette or CD in order to listen to music so albums were more widely listened to.
Selecting the albums: I kept a list of albums on my phone separated by genre, but I had a few different ways of selecting the albums including the following.
Choosing historically significant, or “classic” albums I’ve neglected to listen to previously
Listening to albums that I liked songs off of but had never listened to the whole album
Listening to more of an artist I already enjoy
Going through an entire discography of an artist
New releases
Asking friends, my parents and grandparents, coworkers, acquaintances, and random people what their favorite album is and asking for recommendations
My dad’s copy of “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die” by Robert Dimery
Rolling Stones articles
Posting a question box on Instagram
When I was telling people about this project, I often got asked “how did you find the time” or “that's a lot of dedication” regularly. When I wake up daily, I really prioritize my morning routine, and this year a part of it was playing my album of the day right after I woke up. I thought the most efficient and productive way to be able to consume this volume of new music was to add it to another part of my daily life, rather than trying to set aside a free hour where I just sit down and listen. Don’t get me wrong, I still did that a lot, but this method helped me make the time for it everyday no matter how busy I was.
Over the span of this project, I listened to a total of 248 different artists, countless genres and 102,607 minutes of music. This project made me learn a lot about music, history and culture. I prioritized listening to iconic or historical albums, for example I listened to a lot of old hip-hop and rap, because I enjoy modern hip-hop but I’ve neglected to discover the roots and history of the genre. I didn’t grow up exposed to this genre, so fully immersing myself in the roots of hip hop with artists such as 2pac, Outkast, Nas, Lauryn Hill as well as Blues and RnB artists to understand the roots of the genre widely expanded my understanding of modern hip hop. I also in turn found myself watching a lot of music documentaries, interviews, concert films and reading articles about music history throughout the year.
Mistakes made: There were periods in this project where I got a little burnt out and didn’t actively listen to the albums. I partially blame this on my daily reviews of the albums I wrote towards the beginning of the year. I loved writing them, however it put a pressure on myself to write them everyday, which quickly became too tedious for my busy lifestyle. This in turn caused me to burn out around March but I was easily able to turn it around. It was also tricky to fit albums in when I went on trips, I tried to batch them in order to get ahead but it caused me to not have any fun while doing this. I also accidentally missed a couple days so making an effort to catch up made it feel more like a chore than a cool project.
Would I recommend this? Yes. To anyone who gets into musical ruts or finds themselves listening to the same few artists or songs on repeat, this was such an eye-opening experience and really expanded my music taste and knowledge. I think a more tangible option for this project would be to listen to a new album weekly in order to truly digest, analyze and sit with the music instead of trying to rack up the number of albums.
An outstanding year in music: In my opinion 2024 was a monumental year for new music. In my lifetime I hadn’t lived through a year where music has flourished quite like this one. Artists were going in new directions, experimenting in ways never done before and the releases this year felt very authentic. Below are some of the records I had on repeat that were released in 2024.
Tangk- IDLES
Romance- Fontaines D.C.
Wall of Eyes- The Smile
Two Star and the Dream Police- Mk.gee
Underdressed at the Symphony- Faye Webster
X’s- Cigarettes After Sex
No Name- Jack White
Alligator- Doechii
Cutouts- The Smile
Charm- Clairo
Loveseat- Still Woozy
Chromakopia- Tyler, the Creator
Songs of a Lost World- The Cure
Pratts & Pain- Royal Otis
GMX- Kendrick Lamar
Manning Fireworks- MJ Lenderman
I Lay Down My Life For You- Jpegmafia
It’s Us Vol. 2- Concrete Boys
Top 10 Albums:
Chromakopia - Tyler, The Creator
This album absolutely blew me away from the first listen. Tyler, the Creator tunes into an introspective side while writing this album and allows the listener to really connect with him throughout the album while featuring incredible production, mixing and instrumentation. The first track is bone chilling, inspiring and cinematic. The switch between the marching rhythm and harmonies from Daniel Caesar into the heavy and fast hip hop beat was a mind-blowing transition. The lead single “Noid” has an absolutely incredible rock-inspired feel that gives us a glimpse into the dark realities of fame. “Rah Tah Tah”, “Thought I Was Dead”, and “Sticky” are amazing hip hop songs that not only sound really effing cool but are written extremely well. My standout track on this album is “Like Him”. Arguably Tyler’s most emotionally raw track featuring him sharing that he recently found out his father wanted to be in his life and his mother hid it from him. From the lyrics, to the piano and the beat build up to Lola Clark’s incredible wailing to represent Tyler as a child, the track left me in tears upon first listen. This album also made an extreme impact culturally as it was released right before the election, “St. Chroma” really spoke to me during this time and seeing it live for the first time around tens of thousands of young people was invigorating.
Romance - Fontaines D.C.
Fontaines D.C. was my top band of 2024 and I was impatiently awaiting this album for months. The debut single, “Starburster” was such an out of the box song that sounded very different in comparison to their older material, featuring more synths and an edgier tone. The track also uses unique rhythms including the iconic breath in between lyrics in the chorus. The album’s second single “Favourite” is jam-packed with nostalgic and bittersweet emotions featuring an infectious guitar melody. “In the Modern World” the album’s fourth and final single, has a cinematic, end-of-the-world atmosphere that almost leaves you hopeless. This album in comparison to their earlier material draws more influence from Britpop bands such as Oasis and Blur. Other standout tracks on the album for me were “Sundowner” featuring vocals from guitarist Conor Curly, “Bug”, “Death Kink” and “Here’s the Thing”. My one critique on the album was having 4 singles released prior to the record’s release. The album is only 11 songs long, and it felt like I already knew half the album before my first complete listen. My favorite thing about this record is how accessible it is, there is truly a track for everyone; post-punk tunes, emotional ballads, indie rock hits and everything in between. Seeing this band receive well-deserved traction and raving reviews has been so cool and I can’t wait to see where they go from here.
Two Star and the Dream Police - Mk.Gee
I’ve been listening to Mk.Gee since I discovered the song “You” back in 2018. The artist Mike Gordon, or Mk.Gee has been on a roll this year. With the release of this album along with singles “Lonely Fight” and “Rockman”, he is up and coming on many critics’ lists. Mk.Gee draws influence from The Police and Bon Iver’s recent more electronic, experimental work on this record. Mk.Gee played guitar for Dijon when he opened for Bon Iver on his 2022 tour, which I had the pleasure of seeing, probably leading to some inspiration for this record. This album is extremely experimental and has such a unique sound that no other artist could replicate. Mk.Gee’s specialty is impressive and unprecedented guitar writing/playing along with very unique effects. The album pairs this unique sound with raw vocals to create an atmosphere that the listener hasn’t heard before. This album is individuality and creativity at its core. Standout tracks on this album for me were “Alesis”, “DNM” (featuring Dijon), “How many miles” and “Are You Looking Up?”. The mix on this record is impeccable, especially considering how many unique sounds the album includes. The contrast of the more digestible, quicker tracks on the album with the slower, emotional tracks makes for a great listen overall. Throughout every listen of this album, I’ve discovered something new which made this album one of my top listened to albums of this year.
All Things Must Pass - George Harrison
This is one of those albums that I have known songs off of for years but never listened to front to back and I was not disappointed. I consider this the best solo Beatles album easily, and it quickly has become one of my favorites. George Harrison’s instrumentation on this album is so cool and he uses very unique guitar sounds throughout the record. Bob Dylan was also a huge role in the making of this album, whose influence you can clearly hear. “My Sweet Lord”, the most popular song off the album, has an infectious guitar line that can instantly cheer you up. The album was released in 1970, and it features the best sounds of both the 60’s and 70’s rock and folk music. The themes on this album are love, friendship, and personal growth after the separation of The Beatles. This album reminds you literally that “all things must pass”, everything will work itself out, and to make the best out of your time on this earth. My favorite tracks include “I’d Have You Anytime”, “I Live For You”, “If Not For You” and “All Things Must Pass”. A truly beautiful record through and through.
Chet Baker Sings - Chet Baker
This album has truly been on repeat for me over this past year. I started getting into jazz music in the latter half of 2023, focusing primarily on instrumental jazz. This album is so highly regarded in the jazz community and for a good reason. The album features very simple melodies and traditional lyrics that take you back to the basics of music and is a very easy listen. This album is very relaxing to me due to Chet Baker’s soothing voice and smooth trumpet solos. The album isn’t very “exciting” by today’s standards but it is a breath of fresh air in comparison to modern music that can be very complicated and over-produced. There is something very human and genuine about this album as well. My favorites off the album are “It’s Always You”, “I Fall In Love Too Easily”, “My Funny Valentine” and “Time After Time”.
Good Kid M.A.A.D. City - Kendrick Lamar
The second studio album of one of the most influential rappers, Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid M.A.A.D. City is an absolutely electrifying, soul-crushing, infectious work of art that deserves the raving reviews it gets. Before this project, I had never dived into Kendrick’s work other than his top hits and knowing of him. Listening to “To Pimp a Butterfly” my first impression of Kendrick was completely wiped away and inspired me to listen to the rest of his discography throughout this project. The album focuses on Kendrick’s personal experience of living in a gang-driven neighborhood in California, Compton. It touches on themes of drugs, violence, racism and poverty. The skits throughout the album create the environment of Compton and feature Kendrick’s family and friends. This album is very introspective and allows us to understand Kendrick in a unique light. My favorite tracks off the album are “Backstreet Freestyle”, “m.A.A.d. City”, “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst”, and “Swimming Pools (Drank)”. This album has many hits on it that I have heard many times, but in the context of the album these songs are a lot deeper, such as “Money Trees”, “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” and “Poetic Justice”. This album I find to be more accessible than “To Pimp a Butterfly” but the themes are more hidden in the lyrics than straightforward in the music. The production on this album is awesome and the album is highly regarded for a good reason.
Tangk - Idles
“The most important band in the world”, a direct quote from my dad after his first listen of the album. The British Post-Punk band “Idles” has been very active in recent years, especially as a political voice of activism. Throughout their career, they touch on themes of love, equality, and justice, a very important message in recent years. The band takes these themes to a new level with the release of Tangk. The production on this record is crystal clear and the louder you listen to it, the better it sounds. Idea 01 introduces us into the world of Tangk with an eerie piano melody and soft-spoken lyrics from lead singer Joe Talbot. One of my favorite tracks and second on the record is “Gift Horse”, an energetic tune about Joe playing toy horses with his daughter and his words of encouragement to her, but also a critique of the British monarchy; the song is jam-packed with inspiring lyrics and heavy guitar and drums. “POP POP POP” is also another standout on this record, repeating the phrase “Freudenfreude” which in German translates to the joy you feel watching others be joyful, a juxtaposition to the phrase “schadenfreude” which means to feel joy from others suffering. Other standout tracks on the record include “Grace”, “Dancer” and “Hall & Oates”. I also had the privilege of seeing them live on this album’s tour and their energy live is electric. They also prioritize speaking out about world issues during their shows which I think is so important.
Negro Swan - Blood Orange
I have listened to Blood Orange for a long time but I never listened through an entire album. Blood Orange is the solo project of Dev Hynes, a British multi-instrumentalist and musician. Blood Orange has a very unique sound that no other artist could create. Mixing themes of R&B, jazz, rock and funk, Blood Orange has a very specific sound. Dev Hynes plays every instrument possible and he is extremely skilled at all of them. On this record he mixes funk-style guitars with unique rhythms, horns and smooth bass lines all topped off with whimsical vocals. I find Blood Orange’s music so enjoyable because he takes influences from everything and mixes it together. I cannot relate too much with this album because it focuses on the Black Queer experience, but I think it is so introspective and cool to hear music from this perspective. A standout track on the record is “Chewing Gum” featuring A$AP Rocky and Project Pat. It is such a fun track that has a cool beat, melodic guitars, and raw lyrics and a dreamy atmosphere. Other favorites are Charcoal Baby, Saint, Runnin’, Minetta Creek and Out Of Your League. I’d highly recommend this album to anyone because of how it has something for everyone.
Cartwheel - Hotline T.N.T.
Shoegaze revival never sounded so good. The album features the same old crunchy, dreamy and scratchy sound of traditional shoegaze artists such as Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins, mixed with clear, cohesive lyrics and more prominent drums. I discovered Hotline T.N.T. this year through many raving reviews of the album’s release in 2023. Hotline T.N.T. is the solo project of Will Anderson that disguises itself as a band. The drums on this track are all done electronically which is incredibly interesting to me because they sound so real. The guitar hooks in each song are unique but equally infectious and the highlight of the album. The lyrics are vague but also heartbreaking. My only complaint about this album would be how short it is. I also got to see this band this year, and they are amazing live, especially in a more intimate venue. My standout tracks include “Protocol”, “History Channel”, and “Son in Law”.
Charm- Clairo
The final album on this list was also released this past year. The third album from indie pop artist Clairo, “Charm” was an absolute joy to listen to. The title of the album is a play on the “Third Time’s the Charm” saying. On this record, Clairo really finds her individual sound. I have been listening to her since 2018 when she used to have a bedroom pop sound, and this album displays a huge jump in maturity. Charm draws influence from soft-rock and jazz sounds and experiments more with instrumental groovy sounds and poetic lyrics. This album is heavily influenced by the 1970’s and the era’s unique sounds. This record lyrically also steers away from relationships and shows a more introspective side to Clairo. Standouts for me are “Nomad”, “Sexy to Someone”, “Thank You” and “Juna”. The lyrics explore introvertedness, independence and the concept of love.
I created a playlist for this project that includes a song from each album I listened to this year in order (mostly). Attached is also a spreadsheet listing every album I listened to in my project. Thanks for reading and I hope this inspires you to expand your music taste and knowledge someway in 2025.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0yGL9sU9dgF1kCSJbVJIFN?si=ef5d0f7196c64b72
