Now it's December, it's time to look back over the year and celebrate the music that's been permanently on rotation.
As always, there have been loads of new albums released over the course of the year but there's only a handful I've kept coming back to. I don't expect everyone to agree with my choices here but these 10 albums are the ones that have soundtracked me year.
It's important to note my ranking is based on personal preference, not commercial or critical success. Keep reading to find out which albums made my list!
Please note this article doesn't include any Country albums as our Top 10 Country albums list will be published on EF Country separately.
10. Tyla – ‘Tyla'
South African star Tyla came hot out of the gates last year with her smash ‘Water', which was a global phenomenon. Her long-awaited debut album followed this year and it combined nods to her heritage and Aaliyah-style R&B. A deluxe edition of the record followed recently, adding the awesome ‘Push 2 Start' to the track list. While the album may not have been huge, it's firmly established Tyla as a force to be reckoned with and don't be surprised if she goes the Rihanna route and reinvents herself before taking over the world.
9. Jennifer Lopez – ‘This Is Me… Now'
It's safe to say that 2024 hasn't been Jennifer Lopez's year. From the flop of her album ‘This Is Me… Now' to the end of her fairytale marriage to Ben Affleck, Lopez has been on the receiving end of plenty of media scrutiny. Honestly, she hasn't deserved it and ‘This Is Me… Now' is her best album in a very long time. Yes, it may have turned people off with it's gushing Bennifer references, but it if you strip all that away it's a solid pop/R&B album. “Can't Get Enough” was a tongue-in-cheek slap back to her critics while the slinky R&B of ‘Rebound' should have been a huge smash. There's a lot to like here if you give it a chance!
8. Usher – ‘Coming Home'
You could say 2024 has been the year of comebacks for some legacy artists and that's definitely true for Usher. As a long time fan, I've been disappointed with his last few albums but ‘Coming Home' feels like a real Usher album. Dare I say it could be up there with ‘8701' and ‘Confessions'? Usher leaned into what he does best, combining pop, R&B and dance for a record that pops from start to finish. ‘Ruin' with Pheelz is a total jam, the sexy ‘Risk It All' with H.E.R. is Usher's best song in years and ‘Stone Kold Freak' is the superstar doing what he does best.
7. Shawn Mendes – ‘Shawn'
All eyes were on Shawn Mendes this year as he switched gears and leaned into a folkier sound for his latest album ‘Shawn'. After cancelling his tour after a handful of dates in 2022 to focus on his mental health, Mendes has been pretty much off the grid since save for the odd new song here and there. On ‘Shawn', the artist is the most introspective we've heard, showcasing a maturer sound and allowing his music to do the talking. It might not have blown up the way previous releases have, but it's a slow-burn for sure!
6. Mahmood – ‘Nei Letti Degli Altri'
Italian star Mahmood is probably best-known for competing in Eurovision twice for Italy. In his native he's the equivalent of Bad Bunny, and he has the banging tunes to match. ‘Nei Letti Degli Altri' is the home of the smash ‘Tuta Gold' as well as the stripped-back gem ‘Overdose'. Switching between harder hip-hop leaning songs and pop, Mahmood is a star operating in his own lane. ‘RA TA TA', one of the songs of the summer, was added to the digital version of the record and it's a total earworm!
5. Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Short n' Sweet'
2024 has been the year of Sabrina Carpenter. With three number ones under her belt – ‘Espresso', ‘Please Please Please' and ‘Taste' – Carpenter has been pretty much untouchable. Her star has exploded across the globe and her brand of sassy, tongue-in-cheek pop has struck a chord not only with Gen-Z but with pop fans of all ages. ‘Short n' Sweet' capitalised on Carpenter's ability to combine biting lyrics with catchy hooks, and as hard as I tried to resist, I became a fan in the end!
4. Marc Anthony – ‘Muevense'
He may have been overshadowed by Ricky Martin when the Latin explosion hit in the 90s, but Marc Anthony has transformed himself into one of the biggest Latin music stars in the world over the past few decades. ‘Muevense', his 13th studio album, is an unadulterated tropical/Salsa celebration with some of the catchiest songs he's ever released. ‘Punta Cana' is charmingly seductive, ‘Ale Ale' is a party soundtrack, and ‘Pasemos a los Besos' is a romantic moment, perfect to dance to with your partner. There's no one like him, and ‘Muevense' deserves all the plaudits!
3. Eminem – ‘The Death of Slim Shady'
The rap icon experienced a resurgence this year and that was because he was back on form for latest album ‘The Death of Slim Shady'. Resurrecting his much-missed Slim Shady persona, Eminem delivered an album full of his trademark wit, untouchable social observations and jaw-dropping frankness. The self-skewering ‘Evil' is a highlight as is the White Gold featuring ‘Habits'. Losing none of his bite, Eminem is as relevant as ever.
2. Omar Apollo – ‘God Said No'
You might have started off the year not knowing who Omar Apollo is but I'll be surprised if you don't know his name now! The singer-songwriter has been building a loyal fanbase for years but his latest album ‘God Said No' is his best work to date. The infectious ‘Spite' is the peak moment on the record but Apollo showcases range with the emotive ‘Dispose Of Me' and the 80s-tinged ‘Less Of You'. Contemplative, stirring and memorable, it's a body of work Apollo should be proud of. 2024 was also the year he moved into acting opposite Daniel Craig in the much-buzzed ‘Queer'.
1. Muni Long – ‘Revenge'
The singer-songwriter has been riding the crest of another viral hit thanks to ‘Made For Me' and her latest album ‘Revenge' was well worth the wait. From the heartbreak anthem ‘Ruined Me' to the gospel-tinged ‘Make Me Forget' and the sassy acoustic jam ‘Type Questions', Long didn't miss a beat. The album showcases her stellar vocals, her prowess as a songwriter and her appeal as an artist. Surely it's only a matter of time before she's a global star?
