# The best albums of 2024

Metacritic's best-reviewed albums of 2024, led by Charli XCX's Brat, which also topped the aggregate of more than 100 critics' year-end lists.

- 242 votes · 21 items
- May 2, 2025 · vinylhead_grumpy
- https://even.best/en/l/291/the-best-albums-of-2024

## Top 20

1. **Brat — Charli XCX** (16 · ▲22 ▼6) — Rave-pop produced with A. G. Cook; Metascore 95, number one in 22 critics' lists and the 'brat summer' phenomenon.
2. **Romance — Fontaines D.C.** (14 · ▲15 ▼1) — The Dublin band's fourth album and a leap towards the mainstream.
3. **Absolute Elsewhere — Blood Incantation** (13 · ▲15 ▼2) — Death metal meets 1970s prog in two long suites; Metascore 92.
4. **Songs of a Lost World — The Cure** (12 · ▲15 ▼3) — Their first album since 2008, slow and mournful; Metascore 93.
5. **Here in the Pitch — Jessica Pratt** (12 · ▲12 ▼0) — Hazy 1960s-style folk; the best-reviewed album of her career (90).
6. **Cowboy Carter — Beyoncé** (11 · ▲14 ▼3) — Americana and country with Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson; Grammy for Album of the Year.
7. **Hit Me Hard and Soft — Billie Eilish** (11 · ▲11 ▼0) — Her third album, with 'Birds of a Feather' and 'Lunch'; Metascore 89.
8. **Funeral for Justice — Mdou Moctar** (11 · ▲11 ▼0) — Tuareg desert rock with political anger from Niger; Metascore 90.
9. **All Hell — Los Campesinos!** (10 · ▲11 ▼1) — Their first album in seven years, self-produced; Metascore 90.
10. **This Could Be Texas — English Teacher** (8 · ▲9 ▼1) — The Leeds band's debut, winner of the Mercury Prize.
11. **Patterns in Repeat — Laura Marling** (7 · ▲10 ▼3) — Songs about motherhood and family written after the birth of her daughter; Metascore 91.
12. **Wild God — Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds** (7 · ▲8 ▼1) — An unusually joyful, optimistic Nick Cave; Metascore 89.
13. **Orquídeas — Kali Uchis** (6 · ▲8 ▼2) — Latin pop sung in Spanish; Metascore 88.
14. **Tigers Blood — Waxahatchee** (6 · ▲7 ▼1) — Katie Crutchfield's Americana with MJ Lenderman on guitar; Metascore 89.
15. **Manning Fireworks — MJ Lenderman** (5 · ▲6 ▼1) — Sardonic indie-country from the Wednesday guitarist; Metascore 88.
16. **Lives Outgrown — Beth Gibbons** (3 · ▲7 ▼4) — The Portishead singer's first solo album, ten years in the making; Metascore 88.
17. **Nobody Loves You More — Kim Deal** (3 · ▲4 ▼1) — The first-ever solo album from the Pixies and Breeders icon; Metascore 89.
18. **Night Reign — Arooj Aftab** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — Jazz and ghazals in English and Urdu; Metascore 89.
19. **All Born Screaming — St. Vincent** (2 · ▲7 ▼5) — Annie Clark's first self-produced album; Metascore 89.
20. **Only God Was Above Us — Vampire Weekend** (1 · ▲4 ▼3) — A New York record of grit and orchestration; Metascore 88.
21. **I Got Heaven — Mannequin Pussy** (1 · ▲3 ▼2) — Punk rage and tenderness from Philadelphia; Metascore 89.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.