The best music of 2024 so far

ft. catchy songs, buzzy albums, and exciting artists to know

Jul 23, 2024

It has been…quite a year, to say the least, and it’s only July. But this newsletter isn’t a place for existential crises or hot takes on unprecedented times. It’s a place for good music!

Fortunately, there has been plenty of that in 2024. Now that we’re over halfway through, let’s use this issue as a mid-year check-in — highlighting buzzy artists to know, albums to explore, and under-the-radar gems I’ve missed.

(And if the buzziest artist of the moment happens to weigh in on those unprecedented times, even better! I will trust that all US-based Hear Hear readers are registered to vote.)

Follow the Hear Hear playlist to stream all the music mentioned in this issue, and issues past.

10 songs + albums I’ve got on repeat right now

Before diving into the curator-driven lists, I wanted to share a few personal favorites that have been on repeat for me lately…

“Love Me Not” // “Love Is Blind” // “Dream Girl,” Ravyn Lenae’s slinky singles. Another batch of futuristic, atmospheric R&B tunes from the remarkably consistent Lenae, who I’ve been following since her debut Crush EP (produced by Steve Lacy) in 2018. I’m hyped for her upcoming album, out August 9. [Shoutout to Vulture for including “Love Me Not” on their “best songs of 2024 so far” list.]
“She’s Leaving You,” MJ Lenderman’s twangy porch rocker. The prodigal guitarist from the band Wednesday continues his run of stellar solo songs, “blurring the line between alt-country and ’90s slacker indie,” as Stereogum’s Chris DeVille writes. Somehow Lenderman has fused these clear influences and turned them into a signature sound. [“She’s Leaving You” also made the Vulture list!]
“Lithonia,” Childish Gambino’s punk-rock anthem. Donald Glover “channels Rivers Cuomo in the ’90s for a barroom singalong tuned for the end times.” So writes Reggie Ugwu in a great NYT profile of the multi-talented artist, who has shaped my cultural tastes since high school. Glover released his new album (supposedly his last as Childish Gambino) on Friday.
“My Day Off,” Kacy Hill’s vibey collaboration with Nourished By Time. Hill’s indie-pop album BUG is loaded with jams, but this one takes the cake with its bubbly beat and well-paired vocals. “You Know I Love You Still” is another highlight, a Haim-adjacent, California-inspired, open-air tune.
“Lo Siento” // “Cartagena,” Reyna Tropical’s bouncy rhythms. A cool mix of sounds that have been catching my ear, nicely detailed by Pitchfork’s Isabelia Herrera: “The LA-based artist’s full-length debut uses Peruvian chicha, Congolese soukous, and Afro-Colombian percussion to explore both personal grief and the abiding melancholy of diaspora.”
“Going Home,” Tyler Childers’ fiddle-driven, hoarse-voiced story song. The wildly popular country artist has apparently been playing this one for years at his shows, but finally released a live recording to stream — it’s a wonderfully jaunty Avett Brothers-style tune.
Big Wave, Razor Braids’ warm, fully-formed sophomore album. I’ve been coming back often to this lovely ten-track record of “soaring harmonies and driving guitars” from the Brooklyn queer femme trio. From the wistful melancholy of the title track and “B26,” to the twee-pop of “She” and “I’m Your Meal,” I keep finding new favorite moments and melodies on every listen.

From the NYT: 6 songs from exciting young artists

The New York Times’ trusted critics, Jon Pareles and Lindsay Zoladz, shared 40 standout songs that nicely capture the zeitgeist of 2024. I picked out a few favorites from their pop-leaning list…

“Safer,” Tyla: “Following her worldwide 2023 hit ‘Water,’ Tyla pulls away from temptation in ‘Safer,’ harnessing the log-drum beat and sparse, subterranean bass lines of amapiano.”
“We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love),” Ariana Grande: “Grande appropriately channels Robyn — the patron saint of crying in the club — on this nimbly sung, melancholic pop hit.”
“The Greatest,” Billie Eilish: “Opening her voice from breathy to belting while the production goes widescreen with drums and choir.” [I’ve been into a bunch of songs from this album, especially the current hit “Birds Of A Feather.”]
“Sexy to Someone,” Clairo: “Pairs her breathily muttered vocals with a persistent groove, resulting in a kind of strutting summer anthem for introverts.”
“Like I Say (I Runaway),” Nilüfer Yanya: “Has an almost collagelike feel, reveling in contrasting textures and suddenly erupting into a blaze of guitar distortion on the chorus.”
“He Venido al Mar,” Lido Pimienta: “Begins with sparse electronic chords and gathers layers of percussion and voices, assembling a cumbia and a community out of thin air.”

From Pitchfork: 3 hip albums showing where music is headed

Pitchfork’s rolling list of their favorite 2024 albums highlights a few records that have been particularly trendy among the music critic community. I haven’t gotten too deep into any of these yet, but enjoyed my first listens and have been excited to dive back in…

BRAT, Charli XCX: “With her sixth album, Charli XCX transcends all narratives and delivers a hit. BRAT is imperious and cool, nuanced and vulnerable, and one of the best pop albums of the year.” [I’ve been really into “360” from this one, especially on runs! And the remixed version of “The girl, so confusing” with Lorde feels extremely of-the-moment.] [Also, watching Jake Tapper try to understand what constitutes a “brat summer” was funny.]
Diamond Jubilee, Cindy Lee: “Two hours, 32 songs, each one like a foggy transmission from a rock’n’roll netherworld with its own ghostly canon of beloved hits. Its spiritual center is girl group music, reduced to a single girl and reflected through a hall of mirrors.” [This one is right up my alley, but as part of the gimmick it’s not streamable on Spotify so I haven’t committed to it.]
Box for Buddy, Box for Star, This Is Lorelei: “On the first proper album under his solo alias, Water From Your Eyes’ Nate Amos balances self-reflection with a sly, idiosyncratic approach to DIY pop songcraft.” [“I’m All Fucked Up” and “Where’s Your Love Now” have been helpful gateway tracks for easing into this album.]

From NPR: 3 sleeper picks in podcast form

All Songs Considered released a fun mid-year episode last month, with some thoughtful takes on the general vibes in music this year, from Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter to Helado Negro, MK.gee, and Brittany Howard. I particularly enjoyed songs they shared from Pedro The Lion, Blondshell, and Madi Diaz.

From No Expectations: 5 indie rock & folk albums to know

For his indispensable newsletter, Chicago music writer Josh Terry listed his 30 Best Albums of 2024 So Far. A few notable picks that I haven’t shared yet…

Lived Here For A While, Good Looks: “Conversational, accessible, and full-throated indie rock with big riffs and a bigger heart.” [Standout song: “If It’s Gone”]
Here in the Pitch, Jessica Pratt: “Chilling, stripped-back folk music that feels like it’s always been around but is never a throwback.” [Standout song: “Life Is”]
I Got Heaven, Mannequin Pussy: “Recorded with veteran indie rock producer John Congleton, the entire album is the perfect leap for one of Pennsylvania’s most electric punk rockers.” [Standout song: “I Don’t Know You”]
Bite Down, Rosali: “These are elliptical, compelling folk songs. They both rock as hard as anything from Yo La Tengo and Neil Young and mesmerize like Sandy Denny or Will Oldham.” [Standout song: “Bite Down”]
Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free, Bonny Light Horseman: “This is just immaculate songwriting and it’s all jaw-droppingly pretty.” [I mentioned this supergroup — featuring Fruit Bats’ Eric D. Johnson and Anaïs Mitchell — back in April when the first single came out. But the full album is worth a full listen, with some especially excellent songs I wanted to shout out: “Tumblin Down” and “Old Dutch.”]