2024 featured a multitude of acclaimed music releases, and to finish off the year, The Chatterbox recorded WHHS students’ favorites and tried to better understand the appeal of these top releases.
Sabrina Carpenter – “Short n’ Sweet”
“Short n’ Sweet” offers some of Carpenter’s most dazzling and infectious tunes yet. Building on hit singles like “Espresso,” this album delivers the same wit and glamour that initially turned heads this summer. Carpenter uses witty, engaging lyrics and delightfully tongue in cheek melodrama with an air of effortlessness. For what the album lacks in length, these standout moments more than prove Carpenter’s proficiency in the spotlight, 10 years after she began her career.
Tyler, The Creator – “CHROMAKOPIA”
After a sudden announcement, Tyler the Creator surprised audiences with his newest creation, “CHROMAKOPIA,” this September. Since the release of “Flower Boy” in 2017, Tyler’s projects have taken a more personal approach than his past work. The result has been more mellow production and engaging lyrics that helped Tyler define his niche in hip hop. “CHROMAKOPIA” synthesizes this musical consistency with the more confrontational intensity of past projects. In the process, this album offers a strong retrospective of an artist’s career and current place in the music industry. The result is an album that demonstrates the value of ongoing artistic growth.
Charli XCX – “brat”
“brat” quickly became an internet sensation for its post-ironic marketing campaign, candid lyrics and danceable beats. Though Charli XCX has previously dabbled in the synth-heavy hyperpop style that permeates this album, “brat” propelled her music to new levels of commercial and critical success. The lyrics seamlessly transition from mesmerizing club anthems to raw, emotional tracks that demonstrate insight even between intense moments of levity. It’s this nuanced artistic vision that helped “brat” become one of the most memorable albums this year.
Billie Eilish – “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT”
Eilish continues to refine her sound on “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” which tactfully blends memorable hooks with the more introspective material that she originally gained renown for. Highlights include tracks like “Birds of a Feather,” a spellbinding track that explores the overwhelming feelings associated with close relationships. Aided by strong production and rich instrumentals from her brother, FINNEAS, Eilish constructs a salient image of the moody, internal worlds that pervade these connections. “Hit me Hard and Soft” demonstrates the full potential of Eilish’s lyrical and vocal abilities, ensuring that most listeners will be impacted exactly where it counts.
Zach Bryan – “The Great American Bar Scene”
Bryan crafts another raw, heartfelt letter to rural Americana on “The Great American Bar Scene.” Even after his big break into country stardom last year, this album maintains the same consistency, emotional depths, and vocal character that defined his past projects. Through imaginative singer-songwriter ramblings about grief, family and uncertainty, Bryan pays tribute to his backcountry inspirations while solidifying his own artistic vision. “The Great American Bar Scene” stands as a solid collection of country music, proving that despite the genre’s inconsistent reputation, the right albums can still hit close to home.
Kendrick Lamar – “GNX”
GNX doesn’t have the same conceptual undercurrents as Lamar’s past work, but even so, it does more than commemorate Lamar’s cultural victories this year. Even if it has less ambition than past projects, it fulfills its goals well: a celebration of LA hip hop and the dynamic potential of creative song writing. Ultimately, this album proves the importance of substance in mainstream hip hop. With features from up-and-coming LA rappers, a mariachi singer, and longtime friend and collaborator SZA, GNX is a strong finish for one of the most memorable runs of any artist this year.
Chappell Roan – “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess”
It’s rare to find a pop star who openly stands for a cause, and even rarer for an artist who practices what they preach. Yet Roan not only delivered one of the most enjoyable pop albums this year, but also complemented her rise to fame by regularly advocating political change. These actions included regular donations to LGBTQ+ charities, platforming and performing with local drag queens and declining an invitation to the White House on the basis that federal advances toward equality should happen first. The unlikely success of “Rise and Fall” propelled its creator from minimum wage shifts in Missouri to sold out arenas within a year of its release. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, this lighthearted, camp approach to pop enabled songs like “Good Luck, Babe!” to become the first outspokenly queer songs to find chart success in Billboard history. Roan incorporates catchy melodies and playful banter in a way that should prove memorable for most audiences, regardless of their views or political background.
Taylor Swift – “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology”
Even in the midst of a career-defining tour, Taylor Swift still found a way to release her latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” Just hours after the initial drop, she surprised fans by increasing its length with “The Anthology,” the second half of this double album. On “TTPD,” Swift adopts the persona of a moody, harrowed poet recovering from the scars of a breakup. While the second half of the album displays consistently stronger material than the initial half, all sides of this project should give fans something to be excited about.
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
While not included on “GNX,” Lamar’s closing statement in the genre-defining rap beef of the year took listeners by storm this summer and wouldn’t let go. The turmoil between Lamar and Drake, which this song effectively ended, was brief but decisive. Throughout the saga, Lamar accused his opponent of diluting the artistic value of hip hop for financial profit. He also accused Drake of moral bankruptcy, which included having relationships with underage women. While both artists released great songs, the momentum of songs like “Not Like Us” was too overwhelming to rebut.