Los Angeles Times' 20 Best Albums of 2024

Check out the 20 best albums of 2024 as selected by Times pop music critic Mikael Wood.

Published: December 11, 2024 11:00 Source

# 1

Short n' Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter

Album • Aug 23 / 2024 Pop

# 2

THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT by Taylor Swift

Album • Apr 19 / 2024 Alt-Pop

# 3

Two Star & The Dream Police by Mk.gee

Album • Feb 09 / 2024 Alternative R&B Neo-Psychedelia Hypnagogic Pop

# 4

The Loneliest Girl In The World by Laci Kaye Booth

Album • May 17 / 2024

# 5

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE by ERNEST

Album • Apr 12 / 2024

# 6

Born in the Wild by Tems

Album • Jun 08 / 2024 Contemporary R&B

# 7

eternal sunshine by Ariana Grande

Album • Mar 08 / 2024 Contemporary R&B Pop

# 8

The FORCE by LL COOL J

Album • Sep 06 / 2024 East Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 9

BRAT by Charli XCX

Album • Jun 07 / 2024 Electropop Electronic Dance Music

# 10

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish

Album • May 17 / 2024 Alt-Pop

# 11

COWBOY CARTER by Beyoncé

Album • Mar 29 / 2024 Country Pop

# 12

One Hand Clapping by Paul McCartney + Wings

Album • Jun 14 / 2024

# 13

TORI. by Tori Kelly

EP • Apr 05 / 2024 Contemporary R&B Pop

# 14

GNX by Kendrick Lamar

Album • Nov 21 / 2024 West Coast Hip Hop

# 15

Songs of a Lost World by The Cure

Album • Jan 01 / 2023 Gothic Rock Alternative Rock

# 16

Frog In Boiling Water by DIIV

Album • May 24 / 2024 Shoegaze

# 17

Charm by Clairo

Album • Jul 12 / 2024 Soft Rock Sophisti-Pop

# 18

Hardstone Psycho by Don Toliver

Album • Jun 14 / 2024 Trap Southern Hip Hop

# 19

The Hard Quartet by The Hard Quartet

Album • Oct 04 / 2024 Indie Rock

# 20

Deeper Well by Kacey Musgraves

Album • Mar 15 / 2024 Folk Pop Singer-Songwriter