Top 40 Albums of 2024
40. Shambolics – Dreams, Schemes & Young Teams (full review)
A fine debut from the promising Fife outfit.
39. Richard Thompson - Ship to Shore
The folk icon’s consistency is showing no signs of waining.
38. Lime Garden – One More Thing
Brighton’s wonk-pop debut has left an indelible mark.
37. The Smile - Wall of Eyes
Two-thirds Radiohead and one-third Jazz drummer Tom Skinner returned with another fine offing.
36. The Rifles – Love Your Neighbour (full review)
Walthamstow’s cult heroes returned with their first album in eight years. Great melodies throughout!
35. Richard Hawley – In This City They Call You Love
Enchanting Orbison and Duane Eddy songs from Sheffield’s romantic treasure.
34. Paul Weller - 66
Gritty and majestic soul music featuring the likes of Noel Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie, and Richard Hawley.
33. Camera Obscura – Look to the East, Look to the West
Traceyann Campbell’s vocals can still melt hearts from distant galaxies!
32. Jack Jones - Jack Jones
Step aside John Cooper Clarke, Jones is ascending to Albion’s poetic throne.
31. Gruff Rhys - Sadness Set Me Free
Recorded in just three days in Paris, Rhys twists from dark to light with a spellbinding freedom.
30. Beth Gibbons - Lives Outgrown
It beggars belief that a talent such as Gibbons has taken this long to release her debut solo album, but it was worth the wait!
29. Ride - Interplay
Bell, Gardener and co’s run form since reforming has written a joyous technicolour new chapter in their memoirs.
28. Bob Vylan - Humble as the Sun
Their anarchy has come of age on this sonic riot!
27. Junodream – Pools of Colour
Breakout performances on tour with Ride and their debut album have put this band firmly in the hearts of a nation.
26. Fightmilk - No Souvenirs
Blending emo, indie, and pop-punk with life-affirming consequences.
25. Kula Shaker – Natural Magick (full review)
The trippy pop-psyche of the 90s superstars made a surprise and welcomed return.
24. 86TVs – 86TVs
Maccebee’s Hugo and Felix White’s side project brought a fresh take to their familiar indie licks.
23. Desperate Journalist - No Hero
Strip away the album's Gothic, Smiths, and The Cure undertones, leaving you with great pop music. Add them back in, and it’s astonishing pop music!
22. Solar Eyes - Solar Eyes
Serge Pizzorno’s soul oozes through this superb Fierce Panda Records release.
21. The Vaccines – Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations
Great. Indie. Rock ‘n’ Roll.
20. Confidence Man - 3am (La La La)
Weird and wonderful rave-inspired hedonism.
19. Mick Head & The Red Elastic Band - Loophole
Head’s ever-expanding catalogue of excellence keeps the flame of ‘Forever Changes’ burning bright.
18. The Shop Window – Daysdream
Jingle-jangle heaven from the Maidstone outfit.
17. Wunderhorse - Midas
English rock music has been given it’s credibility back!
16. The K’s – I Wonder if the World Knows (full review)
There's an aching amplitude flickering needles and hearts alike throughout this fine debut album.
15. James - Yummy
The mercurial Mancunians continue their tremendous run of albums with another chameleon performance, restoring your faith in the creative process.
14. Bill Ryder Jones – Iechyd Da
The ex-Coral man’s best work since ‘A Bad Wind Blows in My Heart’.
13. Rob Vincent - Barriers
It's an enriching set of songs. Easy to see why Robert Plant took him on tour.
12. Office For Personal Development – Doing. Is. Thinking (full review)
Re-defining all that pop music can be
11. Cast – Love is the Call (full review)
Incredible return to form. On par with ‘All Change’.
10. Fontaines D.C. - Romance
The sound of a band conquering their destiny.
9. Baggio – The Dreadful Human Triangle
Indie-folk steeped in melancholy and the passing of the time.
8. Shed Seven – A Matter of Time (full review)
It is their first UK number-one album. It is a testament to their friendship as much as it is to their anthem-making.
7. Memorial - Redsetter (full review)
It's a pin-drop moment of an album. An alt-folk triumph from Brighton via Texas.
6. Meryl Streek: Songs For The Deceased
Incendiary brilliance from the Irish punk producer. Huge things await!
5. Kasabian - Happenings (full review)
Pizzorno lays the Meighan ghost to rest on this record. Pizzorno owns the record, and the record owns the night!
4. Jake Bugg - A Modern-Day Distraction
Bugg returns to his roots and his very best. Classic songwriting and endless guitars chime, and chime big!
3. Deadletter – Hysterical Strength
Wayward post-punk and feral psyche unite on this fine second album.
2. The Libertines – All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade (full review)
An ode to friendship and staying alive. From the soul-crushing to the envigorating, the likely lads rediscover form and reinvent all they were and could be.
1. The Dream Machine – Small Time Monsters
Modern Sky UK’s golden goose lay another golden egg on their second album. Magical. Whimsical. Perfection!