18 hours ago

OCULATE UK: TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2024

2024 is coming to an end. Perhaps a relief for some… but one thing can be said for this year; there was some INCREDIBLE music released. Despite conversations about attention spans dwindling, and brainrot content soon to be the death of us all, it was a terrific year for the album.

From pop powerhouses finding their truest voice, to new bands punching through the noise with undeniable force, from the sharpest pens in rap, to the freshest perspectives in folk, 2024 gave us some beautiful examples of the self-expression an album can offer.

After much deliberation, we have pulled together our top 10 albums of the year. A difficult decision to be sure, with many worthy contenders, but those in our list truly are the crème de la crème.

So, in no particular order, here is OCULATE UK's top 10 albums of the year for 2024.

English Teacher - This Could Be Texas

Where are all the new bands these days? See articles on the troubled state of the grassroots music scene. See also - English Teacher. Leeds, Leeds, Leeds. But, This Could Be Texas? They’ve progressed the archetypal indie four-piece format by refreshing it with new sounds, new topics and new perspectives.

Thank goodness Lily Fontaine doesn’t have the voice for R&B, because this is one of the finest debuts in the alternative sphere of the last decade. But hey, don’t take our word for it, take the word of the Mercury Prize, awarding their first non-London act in 8 years. An incredible achievement for one of the UK’s brightest prospects.

Kendrick Lamar - GNX

The fact we at Oculate found out about ‘GNX’ through countless stories captioned with a variation of “wtf is going on right now”, isn’t a reflection of our dwelling under a rock, but rather of the theatrics of Kendrick’s 2024 run. This includes the Compton legend treating hip hop to the most iconic rap beef of the century, and releasing a surprise album teaser presented in true enigmatic fashion, followed by a full album mere minutes later.

Although ‘GNX’ sports bouncy West Coast influences and buoyant soulful sonics, it also feels like a powerful full circle moment. Over a decade ago Kendrick released his critically acclaimed album, ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city’, which played as an ode to Compton and homed a poignant monologue from Kendrick’s mother about inspiring others plagued and trapped by the same gang culture to strive for more. Now 12 years later, in ‘GNX’, Kendrick sets the stage for a host of rising West Coast artists, many of which are forging their paths much like Kendrick did in the era of K-Dot and ‘Section 80’.

In 2024, the Compton icon continues delivering what the people want, often before the people even know themselves.

Fontaines D.C. - Romance

Fontaines D.C's fourth album delivered an entirely different flavour to their discography.

Making their debut on XL Recordings, the Dublin five-piece brought a refreshing, inventive and adventurous album, consisting of 11 tracks produced by Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford. On Skinty Fia, Fontaines said goodbye to the Irish origins of their sound, ever present on previous albums including their debut album Dogrel which felt like a re-introduction to Irish punk. Romance opens with the haunting track of the same name before Starbuster, the first single to be released in the lead up which was written by frontman Grian Chatten, after a panic attack he experienced at London's St Pancras Station.

The quintet have had an absolutely stellar year, having headlined The Park stage at Glastonbury and made an appearance at Reading & Leeds, before their UK and Europe tour and the release of the era-defining, Romance.

Tyler The Creator - Chromakopia

Tyler, the Creator’s ‘Chromakopia’ is a fearless, genre-blurring album that sees him deconstruct his own mythology while delivering some of his most innovative music yet. With sharp humour, introspection, and his signature chaotic creativity, Tyler explores themes of family, fame, and identity, challenging long-held narratives about his father and grappling with his own contradictions. Tracks like the adrenaline-fuelled 'Noid', the soulful 'Take Your Mask Off', and the playful 'Sticky' showcase a mix of G-funk, gospel, metal, and country influences that collide without losing focus. Guest features from Doechii, GloRilla, and Sexyy Red add to the album’s energy, while Tyler’s unmistakable presence holds it all together.

‘Chromakopia’ isn’t just another reinvention - it’s Tyler at his most daring, raw, and compelling.

Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal

It feels like Doechii is everywhere at the moment (and we’re loving it). I wonder what her schedule currently looks like? Between touring, TV appearances, NPR performances, festival slots and more, the west-coast Top Dog Entertainment representative has catapulted to the top of discourse about the very best in rap worldwide.

Razor sharp flows, witty lyricism, social commentary, exquisite costume and set design, flawless breath control, electric stage presence, must we go on? All this and more can be seen in and around her Grammy-nominated ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal’. She’s top three in rap right now, and this author would argue she’s not second or third.

Rachel Chinouriri - What A Devastating Turn of Events

Rachel Chinouriri’s debut album, What A Devastating Turn of Events, is a strikingly raw and fearless exploration of life’s darkest corners, delivered with sharp wit and emotional depth.

Her unflinching honesty resonated deeply with crowds during her Glastonbury performance this summer, where she owned the second-biggest stage with one of the festival’s standout sets. Touching on themes like suicide, eating disorders, and depression, Chinouriri’s writing never feels overwrought or over-polished. Instead, it’s messy, relatable, and achingly human, driven by indie-rock influences that cut straight to the core.

The South Londoner’s ability to balance unfiltered emotion with clever lyricism makes What a Devastating Turn of Events a debut worth returning to time and again.

Wunderhorse - Midas

“MIDAS!”. The title-lyric from the title-track of Wunderhorse’s sophomore album, this is a fantastic entry point for those unfamiliar with the band. Following up the success of their debut ‘Cub’ was never going to be easy, but Jacob Slater’s covid-formed four-piece have stepped up again.

It’s the timbre of the voice, the thrashing instruments, and the ear-grabbing lyrics. It’s ‘Rain’, it’s ‘Emily’, and it’s ‘Arizona’. It’s bloody brilliant, it’s f*cking fantastic and it’s absolutely amazing. ‘Midas’ has the rawness that Wunderhorse became beloved for, and hits suitable for the enormous venues they now find themselves playing. 'Midas' is an album we seem to just keep coming back to, and so deservedly finds a spot on our list.

Bashy - Being Poor Is Expensive

An undeniable legend to anyone who knows ball, Bashy was long overdue his time back at the top of UK rap. This project feels like the culmination of years of growth for Bashy, both inside and outside of music. He delves into the experience of a black man from London with sensitivity and expertise, whilst showcasing his long-honed skill as an MC.

Everything he does feels deliberate, and mulling over lyrics on tracks like ‘Midnight in Balans’, it’s clear Bashy operates with precision. ‘Blessed’ shows his musicianship in all its glory, and ‘How Black Men Lose Their Smile’ highlights the importance his voice carries. Bashy didn't return to cash in, or for relevance, or clout, quite the opposite, he came back because he had something important to say, and he executed his vision flawlessly.

Mustafa - Dunya

Returning this year with his debut album ‘Dunya’, 28 year old poetic prodigy and singer-songwriter Mustafa has continued to rework the mainstream conceptions of folk. Much like its predecessor, ‘When Smoke Rises’ EP, ‘Dunya’ is deeply emotional and stirring with a translucent angst that speaks beyond the confines of the album’s stories.

In ‘Dunya’, the Toronto-hailing multi-hyphenate curates a melting pot of folk, soul, traditional Middle Eastern sonics, and lyrical motifs often rooted in rap, creating a sound that speaks to the duality and juxtaposition of Mustafa's musical catalogue, as much as it does to the world around him.

Having always explored community through his artistic outputs, with ‘Dunya’, Mustafa continues bridging the groups he belongs to, touching on his faith, the lives of those around him and the prevalent racialised injustices impacting his communities. We were left instinctively reading and researching the communities he chronicles with such profundity, and whose visibility is so critical in light of the humanitarian crises in Palestine, Congo, Sudan and beyond, that have reached a boiling point in 2024.

Charli XCX - BRAT

“Eugh, what’s with that new Charli XCX album art?” we all grimaced at that now, iconic, shade of ‘brat green’, backdropped against the lowercase, ever-so-slightly pixelated, noun of the year ‘brat’. Never judging a book by its cover has never been more applicable than with the cultural phenomenon that is Charli XCX’s sixth studio album.

Leading a revolution of unconventional pop music which see-saws between edm and techno, all varnished with the chintzy yet characteristically infectious vocals of Charli XCX, the record leapt into uncharted territory which earned more than just praise. From the US vice-president Kamala Harris re-branding her presidential campaign, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl taking part in the viral Apple dance and generally influencing the population of the world to call anything that’s a lighter shade of green ‘brat’. It’s Charli’s world and we’re all living in it.