NME's 50 Best Albums of 2024

It was a massive year for music – here’s the cream of the crop. This is NME's list of the best albums of 2024

Published: December 06, 2024 07:00 Source

# 1

BRAT by Charli XCX

Album • Jun 07 / 2024 Electropop Electronic Dance Music

# 2

Romance by Fontaines D.C.

Album • Aug 23 / 2024 Indie Rock Alternative Rock

# 3

This Could Be Texas by English Teacher

Album • Apr 12 / 2024 Indie Rock Art Rock

# 4

Silence Is Loud by Nia Archives

Album • Apr 12 / 2024 Liquid Drum and Bass Jungle

# 5

Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay

Album • Aug 23 / 2024 Neo-Psychedelia Synthpop

# 6

Songs of a Lost World by The Cure

Album • Jan 01 / 2023 Gothic Rock Alternative Rock

# 7

COWBOY CARTER by Beyoncé

Album • Mar 29 / 2024 Country Pop

# 8

Dunya by Mustafa

Album • Sep 27 / 2024 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 9

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish

Album • May 17 / 2024 Alt-Pop

# 10

What A Devastating Turn of Events by Rachel Chinouriri

Album • May 03 / 2024 Indie Rock Pop Rock

# 12

GNX by Kendrick Lamar

Album • Nov 21 / 2024 West Coast Hip Hop

# 13

Fine Art by Kneecap

Album • Jun 14 / 2024 Political Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 14

Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman

Album • Sep 06 / 2024 Alt-Country Slacker Rock

# 15

Two Star & The Dream Police by Mk.gee

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

# 16

Right Place, Wrong Person by RM

Album • May 24 / 2024 Contemporary R&B Hip Hop

# 17

Charm by Clairo

Album • Jul 12 / 2024 Soft Rock Sophisti-Pop

# 18

Verbathim by Nemahsis

Album • Sep 13 / 2024 Alt-Pop

# 19

TYLA by Tyla

Album • Mar 01 / 2024 Afropiano Contemporary R&B

# 20

3AM (LA LA LA) by Confidence Man

Album • Oct 18 / 2024 Euro House Dance-Pop

# 21

On Purpose, With Purpose by Ghetts

Album • Feb 23 / 2024 UK Hip Hop Grime

# 22

Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker

Album • Mar 22 / 2024 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 23

Prelude to Ecstasy by The Last Dinner Party

Album • Feb 02 / 2024 Indie Rock Pop Rock Glam Rock

# 24

eternal sunshine by Ariana Grande

Album • Mar 08 / 2024 Contemporary R&B Pop

# 25

Wall of Eyes by The Smile

Album • Jan 26 / 2024 Art Rock Post-Rock

# 26

Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons

Album • May 17 / 2024 Chamber Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 27

You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To by Knocked Loose

Album • May 10 / 2024 Metalcore

# 28

BLUE LIPS by ScHoolboy Q

Album • Mar 01 / 2024 West Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 29

Cartoon Darkness by Amyl and The Sniffers

Album • Oct 25 / 2024 Garage Punk

# 30

<ASSEMBLE24> by tripleS

Album • May 08 / 2024

# 31

Being Poor is Expensive by Bashy

Album • Jul 11 / 2024

# 32

Access All Areas by FLO

Album • Nov 15 / 2024 Contemporary R&B Pop

# 33

WHO AM I by BERWYN

Album • Jul 12 / 2024

# 34

Letter to Self by SPRINTS

Album • Jan 05 / 2024 Garage Punk Post-Punk

# 35

Tigers Blood by Waxahatchee

Album • Mar 22 / 2024 Alt-Country Singer-Songwriter

# 36

Night Reign by Arooj Aftab

Album • May 31 / 2024 Chamber Folk Chamber Jazz

# 37

My Method Actor by Nilüfer Yanya

Album • Sep 13 / 2024 Indie Rock

# 38

HEIS by Rema

Album • Jul 10 / 2024 Afrobeats

# 39

The Great Impersonator by Halsey

Album • Oct 25 / 2024 Singer-Songwriter Pop

# 40

Iechyd Da by Bill Ryder-Jones

Album • Jan 12 / 2024 Singer-Songwriter Chamber Pop

# 41

Born in the Wild by Tems

Album • Jun 08 / 2024 Contemporary R&B

# 42

Short n' Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter

Album • Aug 23 / 2024 Pop

# 43

Dreamstate by Kelly Lee Owens

Album • Oct 18 / 2024 Progressive House

# 44

CHROMAKOPIA by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Oct 28 / 2024 West Coast Hip Hop Neo-Soul

# 45

MADRA by NewDad

Album • Jan 26 / 2024 Indie Rock Dream Pop

# 46

TANGK by IDLES

Album • Feb 16 / 2024 Art Rock Post-Punk

# 47

Midas by Wunderhorse

Album • Aug 30 / 2024

# 48

MEGAN by Megan Thee Stallion

Album • Jun 28 / 2024 Southern Hip Hop Trap

# 49

POST HUMAN: NeX GEn by Bring Me The Horizon

Album • May 24 / 2024 Alternative Metal Emo-Pop

# 50

This Is How Tomorrow Moves by beabadoobee

Album • Aug 16 / 2024 Pop Rock Singer-Songwriter Alternative Rock