Audio
Audio North’s favourite albums of 2024
Excellent taste if we do say so ourselves...
Danny Jones -
27th December 2024 
We like to pride ourselves on our love of all kinds of music here at Audio North and we genuinely think 2024 has been one of the truly great years for music, with so many albums released making it into our all-time best-of lists.
Described by many as the year ‘proper pop came back’, guitar music found its feet again and where contemporary electronic music enjoyed another strong spell in the mainstream spotlight, we’ve been like a pig in proverbial you know what in terms of finding new artists and favourite tunes.
With Audio North still in its infancy as The Manc Audio page enveloped our fellow audiophiles over at The Hoot and The Sheff to cover as much regional music as possible back in July, we intend to make 2025 our biggest year yet, so it’s a good job we had such a prolific 12 months of music to launch off.
Let’s look back on how we got here, shall we?
The best albums of the year, according to Audio North
Romance by Fontaines D.C. – EmJ
The Dublin group have taken their evolving sound to new heights with Romance: a forty-minute exploration of post-punk and shoegaze which marks a striking departure from their previous album, Skinty Fia.
It’s gripping from start to finish; the album opens with the titular track ‘Romance’, leading listeners on an emotional journey with the Lana Del Rey-inspired tune, ‘In The Modern World’, before closing with on a high with the nostalgia-infused belter, ‘Favourite’.
Favourite by name, favourite by nature.
Gary by Blossoms – Daisy
Oftentimes, music – especially any music that falls vaguely under the rock umbrella – takes itself a bit too seriously, which is why I have been so utterly obsessed with Gary by Blossoms this year. Even the name is silly.
With songs inspired by a fibreglass gorilla, flares and 42s nightclub, this is indie music to shake your tail feather to, and it’s been my soundtrack to long drives, long shifts and just about everything else in 2024.
Add to that a strange sense of pride I feel to be watching a bunch of local lads hit such a wave of success (as if I had anything to do with it beyond a couple of dozen ticket sales), and Gary is easily my record of the year.
Into the Way by Próxima Parada – Oli
Próxima Parada have always tried to put introspection at the forefront of their music and this latest album is no different. Even their name translates to ‘next stop’ in Spanish.
A mix of laid-back indie tunes mixed with elements of spoken word make for a beautiful album perfect for self-reflection.
‘Anybody Can Sing’ is my personal highlight on the album, making my tram rides into work feel like a much more healing journey than most other commutes.
Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish – Emily
Picking one album as my favourite of the year is far too hard, so I’ve tried to narrow it down a bit.
I wanted to choose something different (hopefully) to the others on the list, and one that I genuinely listened to, front to back, a lot this year – and this ticks both those boxes.
I also have a thing for 10-track albums, don’t ask why, I just do, and this ticks that box as well. Oh, and I’m a bit of a sucker for a concept album and a beat switch, so that’s yet another box ticked. Ended up being a fairly obvious choice after all because, as we all know, Billie is bloody brilliant.
Midas by Wunderhorse – Danny
It’s actually quite hard to verbalise just how much this album has come to mean for me personally but I’ll give it a go. Was already a Wunderhorse fan after seeing them support Sam Fender at Castlefield Bowl back in 2022 and quickly fell in love with their debut, Cub, but Midas has become a full-on obsession.
I typically try to avoid hyperbole but this is up there with the best guitar-driven album to come out of the country in god knows how long and Jacob Slater’s lyricism has genuinely changed my life by tapping into a mix of emotions that, as I’ve already mentioned, are hard to put into words – he somehow manages it.
There’s everything from grunge, post-punk, shoegaze and super digestible indie to stripped-back acoustic ballads on this record; ‘Arizona’ might just be their magnum opus and the whole project led to the single greatest gig of my life back in October.
It’s also been a joy watching them get bigger and bigger, people discovering their first-ever single ‘Teal’ and going on to turn it into a viral TikTok hit. You know that feeling of pure, communal and totally unselfish joy of getting your mate into a band? Yeah… that. Watch this pace, they’re going to be massive.
In case you need a reminder of what happened last time…
— The Manc (@TheMancUK) November 4, 2024
Rumour has it @MancAcademy still hasn’t recovered. 😅
📹: @wunderhorsehq pic.twitter.com/TyiVVjirSm
The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams – Eva
The Secret of Us is the perfect bedroom girlie-pop record. Period.
Not a bad track on the album; each song is honest, organic and melancholic. Comfortably one of if not my absolute favourite albums of 2024 and perfectly relatable for all with topics such as heartbreak, love and personal growth.
Cannot wait to see where her career takes her next.
Bird’s Eye by Ravyn Lenae – Thomas
The Chicago airy-toned vocalist dropped her second studio album in 2024 and also paid Manchester a visit for the second time in November too. The R&B songstress’ latest record has it all, from some easy-listening favourites such as ‘Candy’ to the call-and-response classic, ‘Love Me Not’.
A huge highlight is the narrative track ‘One Wish’ which doubles as a heartfelt collaboration with Childish Gambino that has some of the most addictive guitar twangs ever.
I’ve definitely spent many ‘Days’ listening to this record and will continue to do so well into next year – and most likely forever.
BRAT by Charli XCX – Fran
“I’m not a bitch, I’m just bitchy” – Charli XCX. Saturday, 7 June was not only the day the best album ever to bless our ears was released but the start of BRAT summer – a summer we will all never forget. Charli XCX shaped the whole year by being unapologetically ‘bratty’ and I will forever be here for it.
She encouraged everyone to interpret ‘BRAT’ differently; whether it was rocking up to the club with smudged mascara or just being generally bold, however you wanted to celebrate BRAT was allowed.
I’ve always been a huge Charli fan. CRASH is an album I still frequently listen to (possibly too often), so when number six was on the way I was gassed. From top to bottom, this album is absolutely phenomenal. With club bangers like ‘360’ and ‘Von Dutch’, Charli brought back the real meaning of dance-pop tunes.
If BRAT wasn’t enough Charli then went on to release a second collaborative version called Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still BRAT, where she collaborated with creators on every single track. I could go on forever but this is your sign to queue up both albums at top volume. BRAT summer, autumn, winter and spring — amen.
This Could Be Texas by English Teacher – Clem
The debut album from Leeds legends English Teacher bagged them the coveted Mercury Music Prize in 2024 and I must have fantastic taste because it’s been the soundtrack to my life ever since it was released.
The post-punk four-piece blend inventive lyricism with twisted vocals, and their Northern charm really shines through.
My favourite track is the smash single ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’ is a certified banger and one that I will never skip every time it pops up on my Spotify.
Wicked: The Soundtrack by Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and more – Kris
I have only just discovered Wicked and now I’m fully obsessed. The music, the songs, the FEELINGS – it’s all just sensational.
Even if you don’t like musicals you can’t help but love it and, of course, we encourage you to go along and see the original theatre production as well as the movie adaptation.
The only downside is it’s now seriously messing with my Spotify algorithm…
Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter – Amy
Being a radio girl myself, I have to admit I’m not usually a full album listener, but when you think of the biggest songs in 2024, you’d be mad to say Sabrina Carpenter isn’t up there.
From ‘Espresso’ and ‘Please Please Please’ to ‘Taste’, ‘Juno’ and more, this year is the one that saw the Short n’ Sweet pop princess completely take over – and I will always find myself singing along to them all, you can’t say you won’t find yourself swaying along too.
Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album is 100% one of if not, THE best album of 2024.
Inhale / Exhale by Rüfüs Du Sol – Will
It was a tough choice but I think I have my answer.
Their music is unreal and always reminds me of summer – real on-the-beach vibes. Can’t wait to go see them at Manchester Academy 2 next year and witness the beauty of ‘Innerbloom’ live.
Sensational.
Early Twenties by Cat Burns – Belvie
Cat Burns‘ Early Twenties is my pick for album of the year 2024. Saw her at Boardmasters and she was absolutely brilliant.
Every time she comes on it just reminds me of being in a field, in the sun with a gin and tonic and just enjoying those festival vibes.
She’s even got a great gospelly cover of ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ too.
Read more:
- The UK’s much-loved ‘day rave’ with Vicky and Jon McClure returns to Manchester for NYE
- 50 alternative Christmas anthems to add to your festive playlist this year
- Rowetta and Happy Mondays have parted away after 34 years
We’re nothing if not eclectic…
Here’s to what we’re sure will be another brilliant year jam-packed with tunes.
Let us know what you think were the best albums and top songs of 2024 down in the comments.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — Press Images
