I go into every year thinking that it can't get any better for music, and yet I am shocked and amazed each time. I look forward to this article every year, but at the same time it's the most stressful thing I have to do, having to choose between some of the best artists out there. The music this year was so incredible, I decided I had to do a top 24 instead of my usual 10. I take this so seriously, that I listen to as many albums as I possibly can to make this ranking as fair as possible (this time around, it was over 80+, I lost count). How can I know what the best albums are if I don't listen to them all?! You'll see a wide range of artists on this list, from big to small, so please give them all a chance because they wouldn't be on this list if they didn't deserve it! It's just my duty as a music blogger. I went into this with an unbiased opinion, focusing purely on the quality of music and songwriting, and ended up finding new favorite albums and artists I never would've found if it wasn't for this article project. I hope that reading this gives you the same opportunity!
Also, check out our Spotify playlist below which features all the top, most popular, and most streamed songs of the whole year all in one place!
24. Blood On The Drums - Ashton Irwin
Ashton Irwin is known best as the drummer for the pop/rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, but he is so much more than that. He released his second studio solo album this year, “Blood On The Drums”, to prove it. I mean yes, the drumming on this album is kick-ass, but so is the songwriting, the vocals, and the unique mixture of both pop and rock styles. Touching on subjects of love, mental health and the toll it takes on you when you’re in the entertainment industry, “Blood On The Drums” is an album coming purely from Ashton’s heart and soul.
23. Willson - Ashe
"Willson", is the 3rd album by Ashe, also known as Ashlyn Rae Willson (can you guess what her other two albums are named?). This album is authentic nostalgic music. It sounds straight out of the 80's with real electro-synth pop and soft rock sound and production quality. This is something we have missing in a lot of today's music, it's that sense of realness in the instrumentation. Ashe also has this stunningly beautiful and classic vocal tone that matches perfectly with the style. Let's not forget the lyricism, because her songwriting is also phenomenal. It clearly comes from a personal place, but it's also flawlessly relatable.
22. rosie - ROSÉ
You may know her best from her role in the worldwide famous K-Pop girlband BLACKPINK, but ROSÉ is ready to show the world what she's got solo and dang, did she start off strong. Her solo debut album, "rosie" is filled with a diverse variety of songs from lyrical ballads to danceable bops. It's truly a magical moment when you get to experience an artist step outside of their box, and see them as an individual person and not just part of a group. We often dehumanize celebrities enough as it is, but it's even harder when you're in a band. This is music that ROSÉ clearly poured her heart into to make it her own, and you can tell.
21. Rockwood - Mark Ambor
The debut album from singer/songwriter Mark Ambor, "Rockwood", is named after a state park in New York, which is a place Mark used to escape with his friends when he was younger - which is exactly what he'd hope this album would be for his listeners; an escape. I think he accomplished just that, because this album was incredible. Filled with acoustic guitar driven, lyrically emotional, and folk inspired pop bops and ballads, "Rockwood" is has a universal sound that I believe just about anybody would love.
20. biting my tongue - kenzie
"biting my tongue" by kenzie is described as emotive pop. As personal as the lyrics are to kenzie, they are so relatable and helpful for all of her listeners out there. Her songs touch on topics of mental health, heartbreak, and childhood trauma. She has such a stunning, soft vocal tone that is perfect for the honest approach she takes in her music. The production is also so cathartic, with melodies that are literally crafted in highly thought out ways and not thrown together just because it sounds good (example: the song "word vomit" having a ton of run on sentences without catching a breath"). It's so interesting to hear all the details put into this, and it deserves all the love!
19. Bitter Sweet Love - James Arthur
With "Bitter Sweet Love" by James Arthur, we see something new spark within him. He really dug deep into his songwriting roots, which he felt may have gotten a bit lost over time, and got inspired to write in a way he never has before. This album is full of raw, vulnerable, and story-driven lyrics, while also still hearing those powerhouse vocals we all know and love. He also decided to only work with one producer, something that he hasn't done in a while, which made this album all the more special and connected. You can really hear the love and detail that went into each song, which is why it came out as such an incredible piece of art.
18. You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1) - Alex Warren
Alex Warren's "You'll Be Alright Kid (Chapter 1)" is half of a debut album, with the other half to come in the new year. I feel like I can't even begin to describe how great this project is. The concept of this album is to give advice to his younger self; things he wishes he would've been told when he was a kid. This album has some of the most addicting melodies you'll ever hear, so just get ready for them to get stuck in your head. The lyricism is also so incredible, and as healing as it probably was for Alex to write these words to himself, it's just as healing for us all to hear them for ourselves too.
17. VENUS - Zara Larsson
"VENUS" by Swedish singer/songwriter, Zara Larsson is a flawless dance pop album with incredible vocals and phenomenal production. Although many would recognize Zara's voice if they heard it on the radio, I don't think she gets enough credit for her artistry and for her albums as whole. There is so much passion and soul in Zara's voice when she sings, but that isn't the only thing that makes her music great. It is definitely in fact, very danceable - there's nothing hiding the fact that there's a lot of production that goes into these songs; but have you ever paid attention to the songwriting too? I challenge you to give "VENUS" the album in it's entirety a chance if you haven't already!
16. Hereditary (Deluxe Edition) - Cassadee Pope
If you're a fan of that nostalgic early 2000's pop punk sound, you'll absolutely love Cassadee Pope's fifth album, "Hereditary", specifically the Deluxe Edition because, well duh, you get more songs! This highly underrated album is to die for. Cassadee has a voice that once you hear, you never want to stop listening; her tone, range and control are so phenomenally impressive that you get mesmerized. Not only that, but the catchiness and uniqueness of the instrumentations and lyrics stand out from other pop punk songs, making it so that you're still getting that sense of nostalgia but also getting something brand new and exciting.
15. Radical Optimism - Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa's third studio album, "Radical Optimism" was pretty much exactly what you'd expect from Dua Lipa, but with a bit more emotional lyricism and experimental production moments that helped up her game. There's tons of nostalgic 80's synth-pop and 70's disco influence mixed with modern dance pop production while the lyrics are themed around relationships and breakups to give us that signature Dua Lipa sound we all know and love. It's the perfect album to put on when you want something to dance and sing along to and need a pick-me-up. It's a skipless, bop after bop album to put you in a good mood whenever you need something fun and upbeat.
14. Kissing Death - MOTHICA
Dark alt. pop singer/songwriter MOTHICA released her third studio album, "Kissing Death", an amazing concept and visual album that tells an incredibly personal and relatable story. MOTHICA is known about touching on subjects that often other artists don't like to sing about, but it's what needs to be heard; such as mental illness, addiction, and childhood trauma. She takes these topics and intertwines them with highly catchy soundscapes and mixtures of electronic and rock influenced productions. "Kissing Death" is so particularly clever, and you have to watch the visual album as you listen, because the seeing the story as you go just makes it all the better.
13. Me Again - Sasha Alex Sloan
Sasha Alex Sloan is one of the most underrated songwriters of our time. Her album "Me Again" is a vulnerable, personal project that comes from a place of healing. The tone is very soft and gentle, with acoustic singer/songwriter influences and even some country twang here and there. With plenty of relatable lyrics and gorgeous vocals, this album is perfect for when you need something to either cry to, OR, sit and close your eyes, and just breathe. Sometimes that's all we need, and this album is the perfect decompression music. Writing this album may have been healing for Sasha, but listening to it is healing for her audience. Everyone say thank you Sasha!
12. Artificial Paradise (Deluxe) - OneRepublic
"Artificial Paradise" (Deluxe) by OneRepublic was one that surprised me. I personally didn't expect to love it as much as I did, but now I'm surprised that I haven't seen people talk about it more! I will say, you HAVE to listen to the Deluxe version. It's a slow-burn album, which is such a rare occurrence, meaning the second half (at least in my opinion) was a lot more enjoyable than the first half. The Deluxe version features a total of 18 tracks, and it's definitely what I'd like to call "feel good" music. This is what you put on when you really need a good pick me up, or a sense of euphoria after having a bad day. OneRepublic is so stupidly talented, and there's no way to describe it - you just need to listen to this album. The production is immaculate, and the melody structures are to die for. Something I found so unique and beautiful, were the moments of classical orchestral interludes, which somehow fit so well in between all the electronic pop, and actually brought a tear to my eye.
11. Short n' Sweet - Sabrina Carpenter
Ah, Sabrina Carpenter, our pop princess. This woman has managed to completely take over the world and she absolutely deserves it; and if you don't know who she is, you're sleeping under a rock. She is unapologetically herself, and I think what listeners love about her the most is how she's comfortable with her sexuality - and not for men, but for all her girls to cheer her on! The point of her songs are to have fun with them, and to not take things so seriously. While she does have her absolute killer pop songs like "Espresso", "Juno" and "Taste", she also is an emotional ballad songwriter that all of us can sit and cry together to; songs like "Dumb & Poetic" and "Lie To Girls". She really can do it all.
10. Found Heaven - Conan Gray
Conan Gray's third studio album, "Found Heaven", took a surprising but iconic turn. Completely taking an authentic 80's approach, both in it's sound and aesthetic, "Found Heaven" transported listeners back in time. You'll hear respectful nods and influence from icons like David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Queen and Elton John. This album is filled with catchy synth-pop bops (like Lonely Dancers, Never Ending Song and Bourgeoisieses), as well as emotional glam rock ballads (Like Alley Rose, Forever With Me and Winner). Mixing Conan Gray's impeccable and emotional lyricism skills with this nostalgic universe and his undeniably loveable voice gave listeners a perfect place of catharsis to get lost within.
9. Eternal Sunshine - Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande has been through a lot of personal things in the past several years. Recently, she's been the subject of rumors (and yes, that's all they are, rumors) and has gotten a lot of backlash. Her seventh studio album, "Eternal Sunshine" comes after she had spent a lot of time already filming in the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical, "Wicked" in which she plays Glinda. You can tell in this album she's heavily inspired by her time as this character. Her voice is a lot brighter, more airy and soft. There are still RnB tones in the beats and instrumentations, but you can feel the fantasy and whimsical influence, as well as the Broadway inspiration in the harmonies. This time was a very healing moment for Ariana and you can tell. These songs are some of her most vulnerable, and that's why it's also some of her best work. It's also named after and inspired by a movie starring one of her all time favorite actors, Jim Carrey, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind".
8. Patterns - Kelsea Ballerini
Kelsea Ballerini mixes country into modern pop in a way that makes country music haters, love country. It’s artists like her that have brought country music into the mainstream, because even though it’s “country” music, it’s also pop music at the same time. The instrumentation and production has way more of a pop groove and flare, while Kelsea sings with just enough twang to keep the country roots alive. “Patterns” particularly is such a pivotal album for Kelsea, both personally and for her career. Being her first big project after going through a divorce, it’s filled with emotionally healing songs and raw lyrics, both for her and for her listeners. Not only that, but the melodies are so incredibly cathartic and listening to Kelsea sing is indescribably comforting.
7. Dear Joe, - Jax
I can confidently say that nobody came out with an album like Jax this year. “Dear Joe,” Jax's DEBUT ALBUM by the way, is so unique and has Jax’s personality written all over it. Featuring a mixture of full length songs with the most incredible lyricism you'll ever hear and quirky little comedic interludes that you may recognize from her TikTok stardom, "Dear Joe," will make you cry, laugh, dance and sing along all within one sitting of it's 47 minutes. Everything about this album will blow you away; the catchy melodies, the incredible production work, and of course, Jax's powerhouse voice. I truly believe that this album was underrated this year, so if you haven't listened to it yet, I suggest you give it a chance.
6. The Great Impersonator - Halsey
Halsey has had it rough the past few years, having to go through a battle with lupus and a rare blood disorder. Battling for her life really opened up her emotional and creative mind, which in the end resulted in one of the most genius concept albums of all time. If I was going off of theme alone, this album would've been No. 1. Although not every single one of the tracks will knock you off of your feet, the songwriting on this album is incredibly vulnerable and comes from a very deep and personal place. The way each track is themed after an artist that Halsey was inspired by while she was growing up (from Britney Spears to Stevie Nicks) is so fascinating and she does it in a really respectful and honoring type of way. It is an idea I'm honestly shocked hasn't been thought of before, but now Halsey gets to say she is the original great impersonator.
5. Proof You Weren't The Only One - Chandler Leighton
Chandler Leighton's debut album, "Proof You Weren't The Only One", is breathtaking. Rarely do I ever hear an album on a first listen and that's enough for me to know if I like it or not, but that's all it took for me to know that this was the perfect album. There are no skips. Every song takes you away on this emotionally captivating journey, and you just can't help but want to listen to it over and over again. Her dark alt. pop sound has mixtures of highly emotional ballads and hardcore energetic bops that keep you on your toes. It's a perfectly balanced and blended project, and you can feel every ounce of effort and love that was put into it. I had no doubt in my mind even after just my first listen that it was going to be one of the best album's I would hear this entire year, and it deserves a lot more attention than it's getting. I promise you, if you haven't heard it yet, it's worth listening.
4. Vertigo - Griff
Griff made so many big motions in her career this year; from releasing her unbelievably impressive debut album "Vertigo", opening for Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter, going on her own headline world tour, then releasing a live album and a bonus single that ended up taking the world by storm, "last night's mascara". Griff is not only a phenomenal songwriter and vocalist, but a producer as well. She knows how to perfectly craft her songs to get you addicted to her sound. Her songs are relatable, emotional and catchy beyond belief. If you haven't given "Vertigo" a listen yet, I highly suggest you do. If you're a fan of nostalgic electro-pop production and emotional lyricism, you will love Griff.
3. falling for robots and wishing i was one - LØLØ
Pop/Rock artist LØLØ's debut album, (yes, another debut album was this incredible and made it to No. 3... LØLØ you need to be so proud of yourself), "falling for robots and wishing i was one", has some of the most brutally honest, unapologetic, heartbreakingly relatable songs I have ever heard in my entire life. As someone who loved The Wizard of Oz growing up, LØLØ used that as her theme not only for the cover art, but for the concept of how everyone she dates seems not to have a heart (like the tin man, or a robot), and she wishes that she could be that way - cause wouldn't life be so much easier if we didn't have to feel heartbreak? This is another album that is easy to instantly fall in love with on a first listen with no skips. Everything is flawlessly written, sung and produced with pure emotion and passion. It's truly one of the best debut albums and I know that LØLØ is going to make waves in this industry.
2. The Secret of Us (Deluxe) - Gracie Abrams
Miss Gracie Abrams, she is no longer the secret of us and is getting the attention she has always deserved. With her second studio album, "The Secret of Us", she made waves in mainstream music and accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. If you don't know who Gracie Abrams is yet, you're living under a rock and NEED to listen to this album. TSOU peaked at No. 2 on the billboard charts when it released. She managed to do a rare thing, and made a deluxe track (That's So True) go No. 1 on the charts. She went from having 7 million monthly Spotify listeners just last year to (currently) over 43 million! She is one of the most talented songwriters today, not only lyrically but melodically as well. It's incredible to watch her get the success she deserves, and now her song "Us" featuring Taylor Swift is nominated for a Grammy in 2025!
1. The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology - Taylor Swift
I feel like this won't come as a surprise to many. Taylor Swift is one of the most brilliant songwriters of our entire lifetime, and The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology album is just more proof of that. Her 11th studio album features 31 intelligent, unique tracks that everyone had to pull out their dictionary for, but it's totally worthwhile. Did you know what a soliloquy was before hearing "But Daddy I Love Him"? Yeah, me either. The catharsis you feel when listening to Taylor Swift is unmatched, and her songwriting abilities only seem to keep getting stronger (who the heck thought that was possible?!). The Tortured Poets Department not only was the top streamed album this year, but Taylor Swift was the most streamed artist in the entire world, which is why she's not only the number one artist statistically, but the number one person in so many people's hearts. Her music and her tour this year brought so many people together. There's nothing that can beat the magic and relatability of Taylor Swift.
So there you have it! What do you think of our list? Remember that this is just my interpretation of the nearly 100 albums I had listened to this year, and I do hope you give the ones you haven't heard yet a listen. I truly believe any true pop music lover will find at least some tracks on each and every one of these that they will like! Please check out the list below to see most of the other albums I have listened to this year for more suggestions. Did we miss any that you think deserve more attention? Follow us on our socials and let us know what you think!
Written By Kaitlyn Nicole
MORE ALBUM SUGGESTIONS:
(in no particular order)
Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft
Charli XCX - BRAT
Shawn Mendes - Shawn
Benson Boone - Fireworks & Rollerblades
Joshua Bassett - The Golden Years
ROSIE - What Scares Me The Most
Zayn - ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS
Girl In Red - I'M DOING IT AGAIN BABY!
Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well
Alexander Stewart - bleeding heart
Brooke Alexx - Big Mouth
Nelly Furtado - 7
Caleb Hearn - Left on McKinney
Alec Benjamin - 12 Notes (Deluxe) [16 Notes]
beabadobee - This Is How Tomorrow Moves
The Marias - Submarine
mxmtoon - liminal space
Dean Lewis - The Epilogue
Zach Hood - Whispering Pines
London Grammar - The Greatest Love
Jess Glynne - Jess
Will Young - Light It Up
The Script - Satellites
Nessa Barrett - AFTERCARE
Lizzy McAlpine - Older (and Wiser)
Remi Wolf - Big Ideas
Emlyn - that's how you make a villain
Coldplay - Moon Music
Snow Patrol - The Forest Is The Path
Dayglow - Dayglow
Tom Walker - I AM
Kylie Minogue - Tenson II
Rachel Chinouriri - What A Devastating Turn Of Events
Jordin Sparks - No Restrictions
FINNEAS - For Cryin' Out Loud!
Usher - Coming Home
Gwen Stefani - Bouquet
Foster The People - Paradise State Of Mind
Paris Hilton - Infinite Icon
Kehlani - Crash / While We Wait 2
Suki Waterhouse - Memoir of a Sparklemuffin
Faye Webster - Underdressed at the Symphony
The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy
Goth Babe - Lola
Green Day - Saviors
Glass Animals - I Love You So F***ing Much
Meghan Trainor - Timeless
St. Vincent - All Born Screaming
Normani - Dopamine
Camila Cabello - C,XOXO
Imagine Dragons - Loom
Clairo - Charm
Maggie Rogers - Don't Forget Me
BoyWithUke - Burnout
I Don't Know How They Found Me - Gloom Division
Paloma Faith - The Glorification of Sadness
Porter Robinson - Smile! :D
Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us
Allie X - Girl With No Face
Tyla - Tyla
Zedd - Telos
Katy Perry - 143
Bleachers - Bleachers
Ian McConnell - Season 2
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