Josh’s Top 15 Songs of 2024

15 The Table

Rex Orange County

Rex Orange County released The Table as the lead single on his album The Alexander Project about two years after his career dropped off significantly due to what would eventually turn out to be false sexual assault allegations. The album is a much more stripped down version of his previous work that dives into Alex’s personal life, his relationships, going to therapy, and more. The Table is a very simple but incredible song about Alex growing an appreciation for the beauty and meaning of small things in his life as simple as the table where he sits. The minimalist instrumentation allows the listener to focus more on the lyricism and storytelling, revealing the impactful message.

14

Are You Looking Up

Mk.gee

I only discovered Mk.gee this year, but was instantly hooked by his sound. His imperfect, scratchy vocals, and dreamy, distorted instrumental sounds similar to Dijon, another artist that I have been a huge fan of as of recent. Then, I discover that the reason why it sounds so similar is because Dijon had his hand in a lot the album. Not only that, but after a bit more snooping, I found Mk.gee playing with Dijon for his live performances on Absolutely !

Are You Looking Up combines all of the beautiful and airy elements of Mk.gee’s sound to create a song about being more proactive in life rather than waiting for things to come to you. However, rather than presenting it directly to the listener, he’s telling it to Rylee, who is the protagonist that pops up throughout the album.

13 U Should Not Be Doing That

Amyl and the Sniffers

Amyl and the Sniffers, an explosive band out of Australia, perfectly capture the raw spirit of punk rock. Their track U Should Not Be Doing That is loud, unapologetic, and endlessly fun. Lead singer, Amy Taylor is a magnetic presence, embodying the carefree, unfiltered energy that defines the band’s sound. Her attitude is infectious, daring you to let loose and dance like there’s no one watching.

12

HOT ONE

Denzel Curry, TiaCorine & A$AP Ferg

Florida native, Denzel Curry seems to have a pattern of switching between albums with a serious tone and albums that are just fun. In 2022, he released one of his most serious albums to date Melt My Eyez See Your Future which received much critical acclaim for rapping about previous themes of mental health and suicide. I anticipated that his next project would be one that takes itself less seriously and boy was I right.

Denzel, once again, shows his versatility on his newest release King of the Mischievous South bringing on other powerhouses such as That Mexican OT, A$AP Rocky, Ski Mask the Slump God, and more. HOT ONE features my favorite verse of the year from TiaCorine who most only knew her before from her song that popped off on TikTok. This song is addicting, energetic, quirky, and just plain fun. It shows that Denzel continues to stay in a league of his own.

11

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Billie Eilish

I anticipate most people reading this list will have already heard this song from how much it gets overplayed; however, the hype is deserving.

In my eyes, Hit Me Hard and Soft is Billie Eilish’s most mature and comprehensive album to date. Billie stays persistent on exclusively letting her brother Finneas co-write and produce her albums, and BIRDS OF A FEATHER is proof of their work being one-of-a-kind.

10

Juna

Clairo

This year was the year that I finally jumped onto the Clairo bandwagon. I think what caught my attention was her love of hip hop and, for some reason, I can’t help but hear a little bit of Alchemist influence on the production of this song. In its essence, the instrumental of this song is hip hop, but Clairo mixes in her soothing vocals to make it her own.

9 Ever Seen

beabadoobee

For the second time, beabadoobee has made my list with the latest release of her third album This Is How Tomorrow Moves. Her cutesy, upbeat sound is reminiscent of Norah Jones, Sara Bareilles, or Vanessa Carlton.

Ever Seen is a simple, no-frills love song, but every time it comes on it makes me want to sing it at the top of my lungs in my car.

8

Darlin’

Jean Dawson

San Diego born (represent), Jean Dawson has quickly risen in popularity since working with prominent artists such as Lil Yachty, Mac DeMarco, and SZA. Most notably, he did arrangements on Beyoncé’s latest album Coyboy Carter to secure his first ever Grammy.

Darlin’ is the opening track of Dawson’s most recent album GLIMMER OF GOD. It’s clingy, it’s catchy, and it’s captivating. At one point in the track, Dawson distorts his voice into a nasally tone, which makes it even more goofy and is infectious to join in.

7 New England

nothing, nowhere.

In 2024, nothing, nowhere released four albums. Although many of the albums turned out to be mediocre, nothing, nowhere shows that churning out a lot of music will eventually strike lightning in a bottle. New England is one of the most unique songs I’ve heard all year. It’s the perfect crossover of country and pop-punk and I will never not scream the chorus at the top of my lungs.

6

Luther

Kendrick Lamar & SZA

I feel like I could’ve put five different Kendrick songs on my list this year, but this one takes the cake for me. After releasing arguably one of the best diss tracks of all time, Not Like Us, Kendrick Lamar decides to release his album GNX, which is essentially a love letter to Los Angeles hip hop and culture. Meanwhile, Drake continues to make attempts at firing shots at Kendrick while all being complete duds. Kendrick makes no note of this as he has nothing else to prove at this point; so much so that he releases part 6 of his “The Heart” series which completely glosses over the fact that Drake attempted to steal the name for his own diss track towards Kendrick.

Luther gets it’s name from the starting sample of this song being taken from legendary R&B singer Luther Vandross. Kendrick and SZA go back to back on what is one of the most beautiful songs of the year.

5 II MOST WANTED

Beyonce & Miley Cyrus

This year Beyoncé dropped the second of a three-album trilogy that she teased a couple of years ago making fans wonder what she has up her sleeve next. The first, Renaissance, is a dance album which was one of my favorite albums that came out in 2022. Now with Cowboy Carter being a full on country album, she proves to everyone that she can dominate any genre of music she chooses. My guess for the next album is a screamo album. C’mon Beyoncé…

II Most Wanted was just my favorite duo this year between two heavy hitters with the most amount of range. Beyoncé and Miley was a duo that I never knew I needed until I heard them together on this.

4

Vintage

Moses Sumney

I did not discover this song or artist until late into 2024, but it quickly made its way up towards the top of my list. Vintage is just pure R&B at its finest. The classic yet simple piano, combined with Sumney’s buttery vocals acts as a nod to older R&B, hence the title of the song. There is really no other way to put it other than to turn it on and let it speak for itself.

3 Apple

Charli XCX & Japanese House

Of course I had to have Brat on my list this year in some form. This was the first time Charli XCX received any sort of critical acclaim since Boom Clap and it was so long overdue. How I’m Feeling Now was my album of the year when it came out during Covid. An album that’s main theme talks about missing the small things like being able to go out to the clubs with your friends.

Brat takes all of the experimental elements of How I’m Feeling Now and polishes it much further into an album of maturing for Charli. She is raunchy on the album, but also sings about seeing all of the people around her being happy without success and fame because they’re starting families, for example.

Charli really outdoes herself with the rollout for this album because a few months after its release, she releases another album with all the songs of Brat, but with artists being featured on each one. Apple feat the japanese hosue, for whatever reason was just a banger to me. I loved the japanese house’s album In the End It Always Does, and most people would be surprised to hear that one of the songs off that album was sampled on another song that made my list last year: MY EYES by Travis Scott. So whatever happens to come out with them I am an instant fan.

2

Everything to Me

Porter Robinson

What can I say about Porter Robinson. Probably the most underrated artist that isn’t “main-stream” coming out with music today. Whenever this man releases an album it will make my list. This year Porter released SMILE :D, an album that provides his commentary on his overly obsessed fan-base. Porter’s struggles with his mental health with the idea that fans want to know every little detail about his life, and have even exclaimed that he has saved them from taking their own. He feels an incredible weight on his shoulder from these things, and even explains that these people don’t even know the real him…or do they. Porter explains on this song, “You don’t know me, but you know me.”

Everything to Me is the closing track of the album where Porter can’t find a word to describe the relationship with his fans other than “Love” because he doesn’t know any other way of describing it. To me, it’s perfect, it’s beautiful, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

1 either on or off the drugs

JPEGMAFIA

Rapper, producer JPEGMAFIA continues to prove there is no one coming close to what he is doing with his release of I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU. His production is heavy, punchy, and abrasive and he himself recognizes that his music is not for the faint of heart. However, either on or off the drugs is not that. It’s some of JPEGMAFIA’s best rapping on the LP, and its production is masterfully mixed. It’s backing vocals, electric guitar, and strings are combined to make my favorite song of the year.