2024 Honorable Mentions
Those who just missed it
For those of you who might be new here (because my BlueSky account is bringing in more clicks than ever before): Hi! My name is Eric and I’m an opinionated music nerd who likes to rant and ramble.
I’m also a dad and husband, and this whole music review project takes a lot of time. Versatone is just me, at least for right now. And it’s a hobby. I do not make money from this at all; and should anybody deign to opt in to the paid subscription which does not get you anything new or unique or special, that money is earmarked to go back to artists on Bandcamp Fridays.
So please, bear in mind that all of the opinions below are strictly my own (mostly-)subjective opinions.1 I fully expect other folks’ Top Albums list to vary.2 Especially because the sheer volume of music every year is absurd. My total of 129 albums is down from 2023, but it’s still a substantial number and yet nowhere near enough to be able to encompass a truly significant fraction of the great music released every year. There are albums ranking consistently high on multiple other outlets that I missed entirely.
So, please, without a trace of sarcasm, argue with me in the comments — tell me what I missed or what you love about a particular album or artist. If you’re here, you must have more than a passing interest in music. Let me know your thoughts.
In 2024, I gave 50 albums at least an 8/10 rating (which, in my bucket scoring system, equates to Blue (8.0 - 9.5) or Purple (9.5 - 10)), but only 40 can make the list. The extra ten are highlighted below; I’ve also included 20 additional Green albums which would fall roughly around the 7.5-ish range, totalling 30 Honorable Mentions for your perusal.
If I’ve done my job well, you might find something new to enjoy. I make sure to include genric labels to help you pick out things that might interest you at a glance. And I have to do that because, you may notice, this publication is polyjamorous. Most outlets limit themselves quite a lot. Mainstream outlets don’t give Metal acts the time of day, and outlets that cover Metal don’t cover anything else. I do have a bias towards Metal, but I love damn near everything.
With all of that said, assuming you even read it, let’s get to the main event:
Ten 8/10 Albums Which Also Deserve Love
Technically, I could make this a Top 50 list with these first ten, but I’m not ranking them — that would set a commitment I’m not ready for. The below albums are in alphabetical order and, as always, I’ve included links everywhere — the Artist - Title headings contain links to the original reviews if you want to read more about it, and the genre tags will take you to lists of other albums with the same tag.
Anette Olzon - Rapture
Anette Olzon’s third solo album is, I think, her best yet. This is solid a Power Metal album with a solid conceptual core. At large, the album states that we are, collectively, responsible for our world and for one another; the early tracks state (pretty plainly) that if the Rapture were to happen, it would be because of our collective failings. It pivots at about the halfway mark with tracks titled things like “Take a Stand” and “Cast Evil Out” — which shouldn’t need much explaining. It is truly epic optimism, but this anthemic approach to the world’s problems can be heartening on the dark days to come.
Bastille - &
Without a doubt, this is the best album Bastille has ever produced. I came into this album expecting middling-to-decent; it doesn’t help that I am worn slap out on Dan Smith’s voice, generally. However, this collection of stories and vignettes presented by an admittedly-unreliable narrator is truly something special. Through Ampersand’s 14 tracks, we hear from legends like Eve and Narcissus; historical figures such as Zheng Yi Sao and Emily Dickinson; and many others. BIM’s personal story on “The Soprano & Midnight Wonderings” provides a spine-tingling vocal performance in one of the year’s best features, period. Ampersand is a somber and cerebral experience, and one that I absolutely suggest that you find time to savor — preferably when you find yourself with nothing to do on a particularly lugubrious day.
Halsey - The Great Impersonator
Last Appearance: If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (2021); 35th3
Halsey’s brand of Dark Pop has always carried this particular sense of honesty — she doesn’t shy away from gritty realism. However, The Great Impersonator is possibly the most sincere album she’s ever released. Following a series of diagnoses in 2022 Halsey both began to understand herself better and went through an existential crisis. She kept two of the six diagnoses private until 2024: Lupus and a rare T-cell disorder.
Those two issues led her to believe that The Great Impersonator would be the last album she ever wrote and recorded, and that sense of mortality is woven into the fabric of every track and the album’s concept-at-large.
And, friends, it’s tangible.
If I’m being completely honest, there are songs that I, personally, don’t care for on this album (which is why it didn’t make the top 40), but the raw emotionality, which varies from barely disguised to on-full-display, makes this album one of the best records of the year anyhow.
HammerFall - Avenge the Fallen
I’m a little surprised, honestly, that Hammerfall’s Avenge the Fallen didn’t make the Top 40 — it’s an incredibly solid Power Metal album, one of those that’s just a ton of fun to turn up and jam out to.
But sometimes you count to 40 faster than anticipated.
There’s not much to actually say about this album beyond “it kicks ass”. Don’t let the fact that it missed the actual list deter you if you’re a fan of Power Metal — or Metal-Curious. If you aren’t banging your head by the end of the opening track, “Avenge the Fallen”, I’ll give you a refund.
Judas Priest - Invincible Shield
I feel it’s important to underscore, because I don’t expect many to click through to the review, that Rob Halford was, when this album released, 72 years young.
And he is still slaying it. As is the rest of the band, whose ages are 76, 72, 62, and 44.
They’re still more Metal than so many of these new acts out here (looking specifically at you, Falling in Reverse’s Ronnie Radke); and they perform live with more energy than most, according to a friend who saw them at a festival last year.
If you’re looking for heavy, hard-hitting Metal with epic overtones, this album is for you. It is unrelenting. It may be softened a bit from their heyday, but they utilize their skill and experience to compensate so there’s very little noticeable difference. Invincible Shield is still as solid and impenetrable as the rest of their discography.
Ministry - Hopiumforthemasses
(Thrash Metal | Industrial Metal)
Ministry’s Hopiumforthemasses is one of the few appropriately angry albums we got in 2024. Now, in early 2025, almost a year after it released, it feels even more timely. The fusion of Industrial and Thrash is a perfect vessel for Jourgenson’s vehemence and relentless mockery of the right. Ministry makes heavy use of auto-tuned soundbytes to help craft and carry the messages in their songs, but damn if it isn’t catchy as fuck.
If you need music to rage to as we proceed into this new Trumpian regime, Hopiumforthemasses provides.
Nina Nesbitt - Mountain Music
(Folk-Pop)
If you’re a fan of Indie Folk-Pop, Nesbitt’s Mountain Music is a must-listen. The album is largely acoustic, with a moody, reminiscent atmosphere. It is, in every sense, a homecoming — musically and lyrically. There’s even a song titled “I’m Coming Home”. The Scotswoman’s performance is gorgeous, throughout, and the songs are sometimes subtly complex, with elements popping through when you least expect them. There are few truly big moments on the album, which gives the few that exist more weight; Mountain Music’s strengths lie in its pensive contemplation.
Sheppard - Zora
Pop Rock is one of those genres that you expect to be kinda basic. Mainstream Top 40 station shit that isn’t necessarily awful, but definitely isn’t anywhere near vying for critical success. It’s just hard-coded into what the genre is. Sheppard’s Zora defies that with its entire being.
Zora is full-to-the-brim with incredibly fun and catchy songs, but it also serves as a rebirth for the group as they pay homage to their heritage and stride purposefully towards their new dawn. It’s an inspiring reminder that we all face dark times, and the sun will rise again.
If you’re looking for bright and danceable songs, you’ll find them on Zora.
The Waeve - City Lights
(Indie Rock | Folk Rock | New Wave)
The duo of Graham Coxon and Rose Dougall is making waves — for good reason. Their blend of Indie/Folk Rock with Krautrock and touches of New Wave make for interesting and fun songs. There are catchy melodies and hooks throughout this album, plus plenty of sax and synth. This makes City Lights one of the more unique albums of 2024.
Willie Nelson - Last Leaf on the Tree
(Country)
At almost 92 years old, it is something of a shock that Willie Nelson is still going. But he is. Last Leaf on the Tree is his 76th LP. He’s forgotten more albums than most artists will ever produce!
The wildest thing, though, is that this is still legitimately very good. I don’t expect a living legend to sound bad, by any means, but I picked up this album expecting maybe a 7/10 and a chance to pay tribute to this incredible musician and his iconic guitar. But I underestimated Willie and Trigger.
Last Leaf on the Tree is also notable because Willie’s son, Micah, took the lead on production for the first time. And Micah has an affinity for Indie Rock, which has given the album a much richer production style than expected. The Nelsons have fused these rather disparate ideas into something gorgeous here.
20 More Albums You May Want To Check Out
Now, to round out to an even thirty additional albums on this list, here are 22 of my favorites which were ultimately, as a full album, not quite up to snuff for Blue.
Childish Gambino - Bando Stone and The New World (Hip Hop | Indie Pop | R&B)
Dragonforce - Warp Speed Warriors (Power Metal | Speed Metal)
Everything Everything - Mountainhead (Progressive Rock | Indie Rock | Art Pop)
Leprous - Melodies of Atonement (Progressive Metal | Avant-Garde Metal)
Meghan Trainor - Timeless (Pop | Soul | R&B)
Opeth - The Last Will and Testament (Progressive Metal | Death Metal)
Phantogram - Memory of a Day (Trip Hop | Dream Pop | Electronic Rock)
Tungsten - The Grand Inferno (Power Metal | Industrial Metal | Symphonic Metal)
Vola - Friend of a Phantom (Progressive Metal | Progressive Rock)
Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood (Indie Folk | Indie Rock | Country)
Thanks for following along! The real Countdown begins tomorrow!
The links below will work once each article has gone live.
AOTY | #2-10 | #11-20 | #21-30 | #31-40 | Honorable Mentions
Indeed, that much can be observed, as I am very likely the last out-of-shape nerd crawling across the finish line. And what I have observed is several AOTY awards for Brat. I really don’t get it.
I should note that 2021 was the last year where I rated few enough albums for sub-8 ratings to make my top 35. The Great Impersonator is a better album than its predecessor, despite that its ranking is lower.