Scoring System:
https://kit10phish.blogspot.com/2024/12/2024-album-ranking-scoring-system.html
Albums w/highest % Songs Judged [# good & up]
https://kit10phish.blogspot.com/2024/12/albums-whighest-songs-judged-good-up.html
Mid-Albums [Highest % of Greats]
56
Rod Stewart
1 great/13 tot = 7.69%
2 good-ish
23.08% output is good & up
The swing genre is apt, and it’s about time somebody joined Michael Buble’ in capitalizing on this abandoned section of music. He doesn’t have Buble’s golden vocal chords, but there’s enough spirit to nearly make up for that. Rod sounds properly old-school, and his band is perfectly post-modern in sound.
55
Kacey Musgraves
1 great/14 tot = 7.14%
3 good-ish
28.57% output is good & up
I try. I always try to get into Musgraves. But there’s just no spark in her music for me. I
need more interest somewhere, whether it be in production or lyrics–just something to
get my attention. This still wasn’t it.
54
Miranda Lambert
2 greats/14 tot = 14.29%
3 good-ish/14 tot = 21.43%
35.71% output is good & up
I hate that my feisty fave Miranda is so low. Here's what I think happened: she wants to
be recognized for her work. She sees the olden style classic country such as Kacey
Musgrave getting awarded. So Miranda made a Grammy-bate classic country album.
Very off-brand. But the thing is-Miranda is too outspoken. She's upset the important
men in the establishment. Therefore even her best work will never be recognized. So
she ought to just make her sassy music that's authentic to her. Fu(k the Scammy's.
53
Thomas Rhett
2 greats/14 tot = 14.29%
8 good-ish/14 tot = 57.14%
71.43% output is good & up
There’s nothing I can point to that’s wrong with this album. But there weren’t many
songs that had IT either. I think Rhett tends to lean a bit too far into the sentimental
and saccharine. I’d like love songs, but with an edge. Take a risk.
52
Ariana Grande
2 greats/13 tot = 15.38%
4 good-ish
46.15% output is good & up
Man-centric lyrics. She's a great singer but doesn't show off her skills much. I would
like it better if it was faster or more upbeat.
51
Kings of Leon
2 greats/12 tot = 16.67%
5 good-ish
58.33% output is good & up
In trying to pander to the soft whispery Gen Z sound, they lost everything I had liked
about them.
Top 50 Albums of 2024
50
Katy Perry
2 greats/11 tot = 18.18%
1 good-ish/11 tot = 9.09%
27.27% output is good & up
It was just OK. And I’m not judging that on the sucky Dr. Luke of it all, just the quality of
the music. And nothing roared, so to speak. There was no heart in it at all. I found the
songs to be dispassionate, and I’m not sure why. I have no idea if Katy writes her stuff
now or before, but there is a distance that I feel now that wasn’t there before.
49
Katie Pruitt
2 greats/11 tot = 18.18%
3 good-ish/11 tot = 27.27%
45.45% output is good & up
I want to be blown away by Pruitt’s studio work in the way I was taken aback seeing her
live. But her Spotify material just comes across too quiet.
48
Jennifer Lopez
3 greats/16 tot = 18.75%
6 good-ish
56.25% output is good & up
Sure, the album didn’t age well because of the recent divorce. And now it seems real
cringy. But forget the real life PR-mance and listen to the songs in isolation of news,
and they’re pretty good. They can get a bit too detailed, or gross, but mostly I thought it
was a set of sweet love songs.
47
Sheryl Crow
2 greats/10 tot = 20.0%
5 good-ish/10 total = 50.0%
70.0% output is good & up
Nobody wants to rank THE Sheryl Crow 47th in any list. And she’s one of my staple
artists. I saw her at the Pink concert and she was fu(king triumphant! She ate–as the
kids say. The writing on this album is (I really, really hate to say this) sub-par. There’s a
lot of repetition, and little substance.
46
Gwen Stefani
2 greats/10 total = 20.0%
6 good-ish/10 total = 60.0%
80.0% output is good & up
I’m sorry to say (really, really, disappointed) that Gwen is no longer that cool girl. I wish
she was. That swagger! That attitude of I don’t follow trends or comply with society–I
MAKE trends and bend society to my will. God she was awesome! I wish she didn’t
take on the persona of every boyfriend. And I wish she would be more carefree and
less Kardashian about her age. Give aging a fu(k you-don’t turn to plastic! In the way
her face conveys this anti-cool, more socially acceptable outlook, so does the music.
Top 45 Album of 2024
45
The Decemberists
3 greats/13 tot = 23.08%
2 good-ish/13 tot = 15.38%
38.46% output is good & up
The writing is detailed and self-aware as usual. They really know how to convey a
visual story through their lyrics.
44
Bright Eyes
3 greats/13 tot = 23.08%
5 good-ish/13 tot = 38.46%
61.54% output is good & up
Remember how when you were depressed or going through a break-up or otherwise
angsty, you’d use Bright Eyes lyrics as your AIM away message or Myspace name? No?
Just me? Well, the nearly suicidal quality the music used to have is all but gone. Now
we have a more gimmicky switching the channels thing going on. It’s Beyonce. It’s Lord
Huron. But what I want is some of that ‘ol lyrical darkness back.
43
The Avett Brothers
3 greats/9 tot = 33.33%
3 good-ish
66.67% output is good & up
THIS is the album Brandi Carlile and the twins have been trying to make ever since they
gave up their hipster vibes. The harmonies are beautiful, the record has a folksy
homespun feel, and it celebrates a more rural sound. The difference? This album is
faster and the production has more vibrancy. And I couldn’t help noticing ‘Country Kid’
and ‘Keep Your Heart Young’ are musical twins.
42
The Black Keys
5 greats/14 tot = 35.71%
6 good–ish
78.57% output is good & up
They changed their whole sound. It's no longer dark and jazzy. It’s too soft, too melodic
now. I want more syncopation, more alternative vibes. Some of these songs could be
The Monkeys (“Don’t Let Me Go”) they have a brightness about them. Get rid of that.
41
Twenty-One Pilots
5 greats/13 tot = 38.46%
4 good-ish
69.23% output is good & up
It’s their best album in awhile, returning to some semblance of the core sound we liked
from their debut. Nothing is as catchy or hookey as that first album. I’d like to see the
core robotic, rap, hipster sound translated into songs that sound like jingles. I’m talking
chikka cherry cola, remember? I think that will elevate what they’ve got going.
Top 40 Album of 2024
40
Olivia Rodrigo- Spilled
2 greats/5 tot = 40.0%
3 good-ish
100.0% output is good & up
Link to playlist of Good-ish songs:
Top 39 Albums [highest % of awesomes]
39
OneRepublic
1 awesome /18 tot = 5.56%
5 greats
4 good-ish
55.56% output is good & up
Group, syncopated, hopeful, waltz, swirling, orchestral.
I wanted to like this Album more, but the majority of the songs were not up to
their caliber. They didn’t hold up to the standard set up by them. It seems like
the album might have been slapped together. I’d like to see a return to their
more lush, substantial tunes.
38
Childish Gambino
1 awesome /17 tot = 5.88% are awesome
0 greats
2 good-ish
17.65% output is good & up
Smart, intricate, complex, interesting, fast, lots going on, not a big fan of
screaming, catchy. I can hear that other artists have been inspired by this
(Beyonce for one).
37
Kelsea Ballerini
1 awesome /15 tot = 6.67%
4 greats
5 good-ish
66. 67% output is good & up
Slow, low key, processing break up, catchy, pop-country
Damn, I really wanted to rank one of my faves, Kelsea so much higher! The
songs were growers, as I like to call tunes that don’t hit you immediately. And
that’s OK. But even after marinating with them for awhile, each song was a
little… lackluster. I really hate to say it too. I think every song would have
benefitted from just one more edit, and I think Kelsea’s production needs to be
amped up a little more. I truly wanted to be cheateee and put these higher, but
they just didn’t pass that bar.
36
Luke combs
1 awesome/12 tot = 8.33%
0 greats = 0%
3 good-ish
33.33% output is good & up
Sentimental, sweet, reminiscing.
I’d like to see some edge on the next album.
35
Lenny Kravitz
1 awesome /12 tot = 8.33%
2 greats/12 tot = 16.67%
2 good-ish
41.67% output is good & up
What a fu(kin’ rock star, amIright?!
Covers? Cool, R&B, Stevie wonder, love, thankful.
34
Keith Urban
1 awesome /12 tot = 8.33%
4 greats/12 tot = 33.33%
2 good-ish
58.33% output is good & up
Party, outlaw, similar to ‘03, radio-friendly, catchy, outlaw-ish. You can tell Keith
went back to his roots as the songs were upbeat and had those hooks. But
something is still missing. I don’t exactly know what it is, but that absent
component drops the album down a notch. I think it’s authenticity that would
elevate the sound. I want something from Keith’s heart, not just material that
the PR focus group promises is in style right now.
33
Coldplay
1 awesome (2 versions) /20 total (4 songs have a 2nd version) = 5.00%-12.5%
depending how you count multiple song versions
2 greats (1 is a version)/20 tot or 16 w/o versions = 10-12.5%
15.0% output is good & up
Cool Synth, orchestral flavor in backing, drama, anthemic, hopeful, earnest.
The original songs they did do were filled out and sounded good. Thoughtful
and professional as you’d expect. But don’t think I didn’t notice that the majority
of the album was filler. I need an EP or I need more.
32
Snow Patrol
1 awesome /11 tot = 9.09%
4 greats
4 good-ish
81.81% output is good & up
Syncopated, low key.
31
The Hanseroth Twins
1 awesome /10 tot = 10.0%
0 greats
6 good-ish
70.0% output is good & up
Harmony, introspective, folk.
I would have like some beat some of the time. I would have liked to hear some
differentiated sounds instead of one song blending into another. I think the
production could have used some pop–as in punchiness or interest, not as in
popular music.
Top 30 Albums of 2024
30
Halsey
2 Awesomes /19 tot = 10.53%
0 greats
7 good-ish
47.37% output is good & up
Concept album, Personal, storytelling, detailed, health, sadness, regret, fear.
I hadn’t really listened to Halsey before, aside from that song she sings with Kelsea Ballerini that I am certain I hear Taylor’s voice on. Anyway, going into this album with no expectations, I was moved by Halsey’s story of health issues and motherhood. The album was emotional, angry, sad, and raw. It should have been ranked higher by all the critics, but sounds like Halsey wasn’t upset the old, white, men of the industry didn’t get it. I’m sure plenty of people in this healthcare-hellscape did.
29
Jelly Roll
3 awesomes/28 tot = 10.71%
1 greats
0 good-ish
14.29% output is good & up
Rehab, therapy, white knuckling, churchy, gospel. Real downer. Real complainey.
Most of the music felt like a wet blanket thrown over me at a beach party, with
a couple upbeat or sassy outliers. Not a fan, sorry Kathleen.
28
Zolita
2 Awesomes /8 tot = 11.5%
4 greats
2 good-ish
100.0% output is good & up
27
Justin Timberlake
2 Awesomes /18 tot = 11.11%
6 greats
6 good-ish
77.78% output is good & up
Catchy, similar vibe to 20/20,secret break up? Disco, deep bass, jazzy piano
tinkling.
Was the music's reception colored by the recent negative press of Justin? Yes. Was the album largely a let down and disappointment even when employing ‘death of the author’? Also yes.
Like, what?! Sexy or just… Gross?
26
Green Day
2 Awesomes /15 tot = 13.33%
5 greats
8 good-ish
100.0% output is good & up
Pushing boundaries, open minded, rockabilly?
This album is solid, and still has that thing that makes Green Day the subversive
“punk” band of its roots. They added a distinctly 1950s flair to many of the
songs, which I thought was interesting given the ‘Make America Great’ of it all.
They are probably reminding society that even the idyllic 1950s had problems,
and not everyone thought things were perfect. Just the old, white men of a
certain economic status, per the usual. And my thoughts were substantiated
when I was looking for a picture for this entry: Apparently the band routinely
denounces Trump and the MAGA agenda. Good for them.
25th Best Album of 2024
25
Beyonce
4 Awesomes /27 tot =14.81%
3 greats
9 good-ish w/1 version [w/versions 30 tot songs]
53.33% output is good & up
Catchy, pop/R&B, interjections, detailed descriptive story, she and miley were
made to sing together! Voices complement perfectly; each song contains
varying components: opera, Orchestra
It's a complex, layered album. Totally bloated, not conducive to streaming. I would have cut 8 tracks (interludes? Memos?) and reworked two others to go into a bridge or something.
I kept looking up lyrics thinking I was missing something important. The way it's laid out conveys depth and importance, but the lyrics don't. I think it suffers from overzealous fan base artificially lifting it. The album is fine. Most songs are catchy. But there's no profound epiphany hidden within. The message within was: “Listen to my catchy songs.” And that's fiiiiinnnnne. I think it could have been better if she more overtly and obviously addressed the intersection of rural/country and race & sex. Like within her lyrics-I get that many of the songs were ‘urbanized’ and/or carefully subverted traditional elements to prove a point. But more. Define that intersection more fully and more clearly.
24
Ben platt
2 Awesomes /13 tot = 15.38%
0 greats
9 good-ish
84.62% output is good & up
Pipes, gay sensibility, dramatic, emotional, sensitive, descriptive
23
Eminem
3 Awesomes /19 tot = 15.79%
6 greats
4 good-ish
68.42% output is good & up
Concept album and explanation that’s totally meta. Lots of call outs and
call backs (words, themes, music) to Eminem’s earlier works and controversies.
He’s heavy on the humor while providing ample context for Marshall Mathers,
Eminem, and his alter-ego, Slim Shady. The artist fluently exchanges identities
singing both as Eminem and Slim Shady while divulging personal details and
motivations of Marshal Mathers’ real life.
The wordplay is scholarly yet contemporary. Bounce to leave and bounce as in the fabric sheets brand. The word “Ludacris” as crazy and as a call out to the rapper. It’s high-level writing, however you slice it. Eminem’s technical skill is still unparalleled between the writing and the fast rapping.
I was immediately hooked by the idea behind the album, even though some of the words and themes that I’ve sung along with since my high school days in the 1990s were jarring to me as an adult in a more PC-ified world. Once you blot out the bigotry, the songs are so perceptive, astute, and might I say erudite. No, I’m not kidding.
22
Sabrina Carpenter
2 Awesomes /12 tot = 16.67%
1 great/12 tot = 8.33%
4 good-ish
58.33% output is good & up
Catchy, bold, confident, rancor, retaliation, competitive, playful.
I’d say Sabrina had a break-out year despite her prior albums–this is not her
first rodeo. And I’d also say that she won song of the summer with Espresso.
Between her iconic Coachella performance, opening for Taylor Swift’s
record-breaking Eras tour, and Spotify ending every playlist everyone played
with her single, Sabrina was Queen of the Pop Girlies in 2024.
21
The Home Team
2 Awesomes /12 tot = 16.67%
5 greats/12 tot = 41.67%
3 good-ish
83.33% output is good & up
Upbeat, angry, alt-punk/rock.
Link to Playlist of Great 2024 Songs:
20th Best Album of 2024
20
Bela fleck
1 awesome of 3 versions/5 songs tote (3 versions of same song) = 20-50%
depending how you count multiple song versions
1 great of 3 versions
40.0% output is good & up
Good pickin’ but classical, more than bluegrass. This is for the college concert
hall, not as much the spoon-playin’ outdoor festival.
Intricate, elaborate, complex, layered, technical.
19
ManikFox- Don’t Listen to This
But do listen to my mate’s album:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0fd5YgMjnMwShSSRbqxfld?si=YvZ-xdVjRha4oMqA2fLAcw
3 awesomes/14 tot = 21.43%
7 greats
4 good-ish
100.0% output is good & up
18
Glitter & and doom
4 Awesomes /18 tot = 22.22%
0 greats
6 good-ish
55.56% output is good & up
Theater-kid, fun medley and remixes, personal spin on old favorites, notes. It’s a
project I’ve been waiting for since 2021(?).
As you know the Indigo Girls are close to my heart, and despite this kind of
movie/music/production being a little off-brand for me I enjoyed the reworks of
the songs, the different singing style, and a new perspective for their work. But
obviously, their originals remain my favorites.
17
Lindsey Stirling
3 Awesomes /12 tot = 25.0%
2 greats/12 tot = 16.67%
1 good-ish
50.0% output is good & up
Listen within a video game or fight/chase movie scene. Touch of celtic(?)
Epic, dramatic, fast, technical. I can’t wait to watch some of her dynamic music
videos!
16
Sia
4 Awesomes /16 tot = 25.0%
3 greats/16 tot = 18.75%
6 good-ish
81.25% output is good & up
Emotive, pipes, empathetic, empowered, pipes, technical. I never thought I
would say this, but the singing is almost too good on every song. Because each
track features pipes, the specialness(?) wore off. Keep the notes, but change
the tone of the songs so those anthemic ones really pop, and the sad ones
emote–there needs to be variability is what I think I’m trying to say.
Top 15 Songs of 2024
15
Charli XCX
4 Awesomes /15 tot = 26.67%
1 great
0 good-ish
33.33% output is good & up
365- beat, party, debauchery, high energy
Von dutch- zinging, Synth is amazing! exciting, sassy, confidence, cold dance
club, samples blend but make it catchy
I do think Charli XCX is artificially higher in a lot of people’s rankings because of comparison. People are scoring her relative to Dua Lipa. And I think that’s unfair, because though they both sound clubby and dancie, they are actually representing different things. Dua is more electric pop, while Charlie is overseas dance clubs. They’re both great! They both bring the dance. But Dua’s polished to Charli’s bedraggled. Dua giving face to Charlie flashing grill. See the difference? Subtle, but clear once you get it.
14
Post Malone
How can you go wrong with duets/features?
5 awesomes/18 tot = 27.78%
3 greats
5 good-ish
72.22% output is good & up
Vibrato, fun, introspective, descriptive, duos/feat, catchy, down to Earth,
13
Teddy Swims (part 1.5)
4 Awesomes /14 tot = 28.57%
0 greats
4 good-ish
57.14% output is good & up
I cannot stand face/neck tats. They look fucking trashy as hell. And the grille?
Yuck. I hate it here. Luckily the music sounds nothing like what Teddy looks
like. Soulful, strong voice, gospel, intense, emotional.
Listen before you sneak your flask into the AA meeting. Afterward, talk $hit
about your ex, but make it beautiful.
12
The Offspring
3 Awesomes /10 tot = 30.0%
2 greats/10 tot = 20.0%
2 good-ish/10 tot = 20.0%
70.0% output is good & up
Supercharged is no joke. Every track is punchy and upbeat. Energetic, bitter,
adamant. Listen before a fight (or before conquering some big goal).
11
Sum 41
6 Awesomes /20 tot = 30.0%
4 greats/20 tot = 20.0%
8 good-ish/20 tot = 40.0%
90.0% output is good & up
Confident, Resolute, told ya so, fast, energetic
Top 10 Albums of 2024
10
Mean girls 2024 Soundtrack
4 awesome / 13 total = 30.77%
1 great
2 good-ish
53.84% output is good & up
Humorous and sometimes unexpected lyrics (fugly cow). Singing talent!
Renee Rapp
3 Awesomes /4 tot = 75% of her Mean Girl songs were awesomes
The singing is bananas, funny
9
Taylor swift
10 Awesomes /31 tot = 32.26%
7 greats
13 good-ish
96.77% output is good & up
Rebellious, introspective, emotional, sad, angry. One of the most elaborate and
contemplative albums of 2024. I think the complexity was impenetrable for
some listeners. People who didn’t have context, or didn’t put together the braid,
might just end up tangled. It’s a IYKYK kinda thing.
8
Dua Lipa
4 Awesomes /11 tot = 36.36%
For tie-breaker only: [4 of 15 (11+4 versions) = 26.67%]
2 great versions/15 w/versions = 13.33%
3 goods w/1 being a version
60.0% output is good & up
Catchy, dance. Hitting notes, gallop beat. Though the songs would benefit from
more complexity and less repetition.
The album is like this dress:
It’s revealing and on-brand. It sparkles, it’s eye-catching, it says “party” but also
just misses the mark. The dress just. . . hangs. There’s potential, but has this
ambiguous attribute that you can’t quite put your finger on, but that prohibits it
from being a stunner.
7
Fletcher
4 Awesomes /11 tot = 36.36%
4 greats/11 tot = 36.36%
3 good-ish
100.0% output is good & up
Synth, drama, beat in backing is fun and adds to vibe, processing, notes!
Catchy, lots of interest in production.
Compared to her earlier works, the album is lower. Compared to the field of
artists, Fletcher still is heads above most. Her story-telling, visual writing, and
notes are powerful. For the next album, I’d like to see a bit more sass along with
the technical singing ability Fletcher always brings to the table.
6
Imagine Dragons
4 awesomes/10 tot = 40.0%
1 great/10 tot = 10.0%
3 good-ish
80.0% output is good & up
Back to their core sound, but elevated with synthesizers, and some well-placed
auto tune. The stand out for me is the onomatopoeia!
Empowered, strong, unapologetic, sassy, energetic.
Top 5 Albums of 2024
<All Top 5 Artists are Queer>
(according to the song lyrics)
5
Billie Eilish
4 Awesomes /10 tot = 40.0%
2 greats/10 tot = 20.0%
3 good-ish
90.0% output is good & up
Super-lez, whisper-pop, Gen zzz, serious, passionate,desperately in love,
emotive, notes!
This is foreshadowing for our top album’s concept:
In 2019 Eilish, 22, said she’s been grieving the girl that she was. She said in a cover interview with Rolling Stone published Wednesday. "I've been looking for her in everything, and it's almost like she got drowned by the world and the media. I don't remember when she went away."
4
Gracie
6 Awesomes /13 tot = 46.15%
3 greats
0 good-ish
69.23% output is good & up
Whisper-pop, very Gen zzz, growers, hopeful, angsty, softly intense. The
quietness belies the passion.
3
ManikFox- Story of the Fox
This is my mate’s music! Check it out:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4F3jYh4DRFpZ7WPi1IiECS?si=CyRpU9b6RnSm3raa0HdMcQ
9 awesomes/19 tot = 47.37%
2 greats
8 good-ish
100% output is good & up
Album concept: Takes the listener on a journey of places ManiKFox has lived.
Immerses the listener into special locations.
2
Xana
8 Awesomes /15 tot = 53.33%
3 greats
3 good-ish
93.33% output is good & up
It’s a difficult subject, and the lyrics can be heavy, but damn! That singing!!!
Dark, serious, simmering anger, synthetic, drama, open, unapologetic, intense,
and Emotional, accusatory, introspective. I hate that she wants her name to be
pronounced Ex-Ana, but there’s no dash or anything. What Xana spells is Zana
or Cksana, but I digress. I’ll forgive the name because she’s one of FOUR
lesbians at the top of the 2024 albums list! Represent!!!
#1 album for 2024
Benson Boone
9 Awesomes /15 tot = 60.0%
3 greats with 1 being a version, had there been a tie (there wasn’t!) I would’ve
used formula:
[9 + 15 (+6 versions of a song) = 21 songs w/versions = 42.86%]
5 good-ish with 1 being a version
80.95% output is good & up
Pipes! Feeling, interesting, crescendo, emote, catchy
My gay-dar pinged when after I ranked this album I saw a picture of Benson Boone. But I don’t look into biographical or other info prior to rating in an effort to try to keep in solely about the music. Probably along with everyone else, I pictured him singing about a girlfriend or wife the first hundred times I took in this album. After the whole ranking was finished, I did a 101st listen to add color to the ranks for the blog. And heard the songs with new ears. I realized the album is all one story.
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