A year marked by both devastation and triumph for music, as artists pushed genre boundaries and defied expectations.
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings’s Woodland, released amidst hurricane-damaged equipment, produced woebegone tales of empty freight trains and departed friends. Jpegmafia’s I Lay Down My Life for You found a balance between caustic lyrics and self-reflection. Charli Xcx’s Brat catapulted her to mainstream fame with its inescapable dance tracks.
Shabaka Hutchings’ Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace saw the resurgence of the shakuhachi flute, while Floating Points’ Cascade returned to club music, showcasing Sam Shepherd’s polymath prowess. Kim Deal’s Nobody Loves You More blended pop sweetness and gnarly guitar in her 12-year-awaited album.
Cassie Kinoshi’s Seed departed from her Tomorrow’s Warrior peers with a sweeping orchestral score emphasizing self-care, while Sophie’s posthumous release showcased singular sound design and eclectic self-assurance. Kendrick Lamar’s GNX flexed its bopping productions and retro samples while retaining dense lyricism. The Shovel Dance Collective’s The Shovel Dance revitalized folk with traditionals like The Merry Golden Tree, exploring tensile emotion and a cappella.
These albums redefine genre boundaries, as artists explore new sounds, emotions, and themes.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/dec/22/music-kitty-empire-10-best-albums-of-2024