I don’t always go through the motions of making a year-end list for a few reasons: I prefer to spend December listening to Christmas music for one, and I feel weird ranking albums, especially since a lot of times I take months or even years to get around to loving an album. But I’ve found value in making a list of releases that came out in a given year to reflect on what I’ve been into, and to look back upon.

So here’s my favorite albums from 2024, in alphabetical order:

• Cindy Lee - Diamond Jubilee

• Dummy - Free Energy

• Dustin Kensrue - Desert Dreaming

• Ginger Root - SHINBANGUMI

• Kishi Bashi - Kantos

• Mo Dotti - Opaque

• Pedro the Lion - Santa Cruz

• Peel Dream Magazine - Rose Main Reading Room

• Psychic Temple - Doggie Paddlin’ Thru The Cosmic Consciousness

• Starflyer 59 - Lust for Gold

Honorable Mentions:

• Helado Negro - Phasor

• TW Walsh - Wilderness

• Teen Daze - Elegant Rhythms

• Pearl & the Oysters - Planet Pearl

• Justice - Hyperdrama

• Photay - Windswept