If you haven't noticed yet, music is a huge part of our lives over here at Autodidact. In the past, Ronnie and I would post our top 5 albums of the year here on the site to an audience of basically no one, so now that we've grown and we have an incredibly wide array of musical tastes at the brewery, we thought it would make sense to restart the tradition and get the whole team involved. So without further rambling from me, here's the Top 5 albums for 2024 from our team along with some brief thoughts from them about their picks.
Nick
5 - Balance and Composure - With You Spirit
Why? Vibes.
4 - The Story So Far - I Want To Disappear
Why? Pop punk goodness with good lyrics.
3 - One Step Closer - All Your Embrace
Why? Melodic Hardcore band that absolutely nailed it.
2 - Microwave - Let's Start Degeneracy
Why? These guys are the best around right now.
1 - Alkaline Trio - Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs
Why? Fun riffs & great hooks couldn’t put this one down.
Mike
5 - Laura Jane Grace - Hole In My Head
Why? [Mike's motives remain mysterious]
4 - Hot Water Music - Vows
Why? [Mike's motives remain mysterious]
3 - Adeem The Artist - Anniversary
Why? [Mike's motives remain mysterious]
2 - John Moreland - Visitor
Why? [Mike's motives remain mysterious]
1 - Bluey - Rug Island
Why? FUCKING DUH
Lissy
5 - Thrown - Excessive Guilt
Why? good house cleaning music
4 - Real Friends - Blue Hour
Why? i love sad boy music
3 - Capstan - The Mosaic
Why? My answer is too long
2 - Glass Animals - I Love You So F**king Much
Why? catchy af
1 - Knocked Loose - You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To
Why? they just keep getting better :')
Matt
5 - Charles Lloyd - The Sky Will Be There Tomorrow
Why? is good
4 - Charli XCX - Brat
Why? [Matt's motives remain mysterious]
3 - Any Two Words - Double Vision
Why? [Matt's motives remain mysterious]
2 - Mk.gee - Two Stars & The Dream Police
Why? [Matt's motives remain mysterious]
1 - JpegMafia - I Lay Down my Life for You
Why? Â [Matt's motives remain mysterious]
Zoe
5 - Fontaines D.C - Romance
Why? There’s a couple skips on this album which is why it ranks last for me on my top five
4 - Sierra Ferrell - Trail of Flowers
Why? Everyone should be listening to Sierra Ferrell
3 - Clairo - Charm
Why? This record encapsulates every vibe. Bossa Nova, slow, folky, pop. I love it so much. No skips.
2 - Tyler, the creator - Chromakopia
Why? it’s a mix of all of his best work. controversial, with call backs to cherry bomb and flower boy.
1 - Charli XCX - Brat
Why? ITS A BRAT GIRL 2024. I fucking love this record.
Steve
5 - WARLOW - Buried in Dreams
Why? Who doesn’t love some heavy, shoegaze pop? Best song is Thread.
4 - Sad Park - NO MORE SOUND
Why? best Mid-West Emo album of the year. The last two minutes of this album lyrics and music.. top tier
3 - The Republic of Wolves - Why Would Anyone Want To Live This Long?
Why? If you like Brand New’s Daisy but want a band that you feel better listening to, TRoW is for you.
2 - Stalled - Dust Inside A Dream
Why? When I am working, this is probably what we are listening to. Top track Eyes Like Saucers
1 - Microwave - Let’s Start Degeneracy
Why? The best band you’ve never heard. Circling the Drain is a great intro song to this band.
Necco
(lists five albums, refuses to elaborate further)
The Black Keys - Ohio Players
Childish Gambino - Brando Stone and The New World
Knocked Loose - You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To
Erra - Cure
Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us
Gary
5 - Speed - Only One Mode
Why? Straight to the point and flutes
4 - Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven
Why? They just continue to be fun
3 - Counterparts - Heaven Let Them Die
Why? Just when I thought I was done, they pull me back in
2 - Knocked Loose - You Won't Go Till You're Supposed To
Why? Helped my new born go to bed!
1 - Better Lovers - Highly Irresponsible
Why? These guys need to keep making music or cowards will
Ronnie
5 - Regional Justice Center - MORAL DEATH SENTENCE
Why? 12 songs in 13 minutes.
4 - Tyler, The Creator - Chromakopia
Why? How does tyler continue to challenge the hip hop norms and stay fresh with each release? This feels like a Flower Boy sequel or Cherry Bomb cleaned up.
3 - Gel - Persona
Why? This band grows and continues to put together complex and creative hardcore.
2 - Ben Quad - Ephemera
Why? Such a cool noodley record with emo and skramz influence.
1 - Drug Church - Prude
Why? They constantly strike that balance between new hardcore blended with 90s alternative.
Ron
5 - Post Malone - F-1 Trillion
Why? I never liked country. I've always liked Post Malone. After this album, that remains the case.
4 - Kendrick Lamar - GNX
Why? Kendrick LPs are always great, but GNX's "less heavy" subject matter makes it a lot easier to vibe upon repeat listens.
3 - Tyler, The Creator - Chromakopia
Why? Tyler's thematic ability to craft a brazen expression of his rap star ego vs his internal struggles with self doubt and purpose gets better with each album. Chromakopia balances those two sides along with Tyler's growth and age beautifully.
2 - Knocked Loose - You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To
Why? What Lissy said.
1 - Drug Church - Prude
Perhaps more than anything else, Drug Church's simple and direct lyrical approach paints a vivid, down to earth, and sometimes comical picture of the singer's internal monologue on every track.
Thanks for checking out our list. What were your faves? If I can figure out how to turn on comments for this post, feel free to share below!
Want to check some of these albums out? Well we made one giant Spotify Playlist of all of them so you can listen to them all in one long fever dream of a playlist
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