2024 in Music.
Brat summer, a beef for the ages, and an Irish band at Ally Pally.
What I listened to in '24.
Another short list, but every one has earned its place. 2024 had Charli XCX's brat summer, Kendrick and Drake going at it for most of the spring, and Fontaines D.C. at Alexandra Palace in November.
*Standard warning: grown-up words and themes. Especially Kendrick.
Talk Tonight – Jersey
Just a high-energy banger.
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Stop Giving Me Advice – Lyrical Lemonade, Dave, Jack Harlow
From Lyrical Lemonade's All Is Yellow, Cole Bennett's video label becoming a proper album. Dave and Jack Harlow trading verses on the same track is something I didn't know I needed.
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Starburster – Fontaines D.C.
The lead single from Romance, and Fontaines D.C. at their most unhinged. I saw them at Alexandra Palace in November and this one is a different animal live.
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Von dutch – Charli xcx
brat summer was a thing, and I'm not going to pretend I didn't enjoy it. Charli XCX had been the coolest pop star nobody knew for about a decade, and 2024 was the year everyone else caught up.
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Please Please Please – Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter had a massive year with Espresso, but this is the better song, and the video with Barry Keoghan is a laugh.
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Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar
The ending of the biggest rap beef in years, and the biggest song of the year. Kendrick went on to play it at the Super Bowl and win five Grammys for it. Drake did not have a good 2024.
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Treat Each Other Right – Jamie xx
Back in the 2022 list I apologised to Jamie xx for putting Romy and Oliver Sim on and leaving him out. In Waves was worth the wait, so here you go Jamie, all three of The xx have made the list now.
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Ice Cream Piano – Vampire Weekend
The opener on Vampire Weekend's Only God Was Above Us. A slow build that turns into something huge.
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In The Morning – Carrie Baxter
The opposite: a warm, cosy Sunday morning tune.
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Right Back to It – Waxahatchee
Waxahatchee with MJ Lenderman, from Tigers Blood. Americana that sounds like a long drive in the sun. I saw her at the Eventim Apollo in June 2025.
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DENIAL IS A RIVER – Doechii
Doechii's track is basically a therapy session with jokes, and it's very funny and very sharp. Her mixtape went on to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album.
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Messy – Lola Young
Lola Young from Croydon, and her first UK number one. A brutally honest song about not being able to please everyone.
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Outta Da Blue – Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Alus
Snoop and Dre back together on the Missionary album. Nothing new here, just two legends doing what they've always done, and it still sounds great.
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Date Nite – KhakiKid, Saint Demarcus
KhakiKid again. This came out right at the end of the year and ended up on the 2025 list too, so it’s on both. Hilariously well written, and I’m seeing him live in London this October.Another short list, but every one has earned its place. 2024 had Charli XCX's brat summer, Kendrick and Drake going at it for most of the spring, and Fontaines D.C. at Alexandra Palace in November.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify