As we enter 2025 and 2024 fades into the past, students reflect on the past year and the various events that happened. More specifically, the albums that dropped during 2024. From big main-stream releases such as Charli XCX’s Brat to smaller, more indie releases, such as Magdalena Bay’s Imaginal Disk, 2024 had a lot to offer musically.
Senior Elijah Harfst
Q: What was your favorite album released in 2024 and why?
A: My favorite album of 2024 is Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay. This album was a huge surprise to me as I had only heard of Magdalena Bay a couple of times, but never any songs. While waiting for the album to be released, I listened to the singles released, and each one, sounding different, intrigued me. On the album release day, I took the time to put on my headphones and listen from front to back. One of the most enchanting album experiences I had ever had. Each song shows different synth-pop and dream-pop inspirations while having some of the freshest ideas brought to the genres. The album, at 53 minutes, has a high re-listenable value to it. Every song smoothly transitions into the next providing an experience while listening. I believe it is near perfect.
Junior Em Montalvo
Q: What was your favorite album released in 2024 and why?
A: I really liked Brat [by Charli XCX] because it was just a fun album that helped me through a hard time. It was also Prefaced by Joyride by Kesha, and it was such a good follow. It featured a plethora of good artists, and so many of the songs were bangers.
Sophomore Sariah Stevens
Q: What was your favorite album released in 2024 and why?
A: My favorite album was Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet because pop music is one of my many favorite genres. The songs were very catchy after listening to them once or twice and very danceable.
Junior Isaiah Bolden
Q: What was your favorite album released in 2024 and why?
A: [My favorite album of 2024 was] Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish because the sonic atmosphere and mood of the album are just so perfect in how they complement the songwriting and production of the album. I feel the album is a bit underrated because of the popularity of “Birds of a Feather” from the same album and other big releases later in the year like Charli XCX’s Brat or Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet, both solid albums in their own right though.
Sophomore John Diwa
Q: What was your favorite album released in 2024 and why?
A: One of my favorite albums of this year was Doechii’s new mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal. However, there are many close competitors like Adrianne Lenker’s Bright Future and Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft. The leading factor behind me picking Doechii’s album was that it was completely different than other albums due to the inclusivity of it. There are songs for everyone like hard rap with rhymes like “CATFISH,” “NISSAN ALTIMA,” or “BOOM BAP,” to melodious tunes like “HUH!” or “ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL”. Give this album a try… you won’t be disappointed.
Overall, 2024 offered some much-loved albums that not only gained praise from the artists’ fans but from students as well. Let’s hope the releases of 2025 are just as good, if not better than 2024.
