As we bid farewell to 2024, it’s the perfect time to spotlight albums that stood out this year. In this special edition of What’s Going On, we’re looking at projects that resonated on the charts and with listeners worldwide. From legends revisiting their roots to rising stars having their breakthrough moments, these records are a testament to the fact that there’s still great new music being released.
The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
After 16 years of anticipation, Songs of a Lost World saw The Cure return with a deeply introspective and sonically expansive album. As the title suggests, this album is a journey through time, loss, and the search for meaning. With Robert Smith’s unmistakable voice leading the charge, the band delivers a layered and atmospheric soundscape, blending post-punk instrumentation with lush production and haunting melodies. The album sounds nostalgic like The Cure at their best, yet it’s also forward-thinking making it both an elegy and a testament to the band’s enduring relevance. Ultimately, we’re just glad this didn’t turn out to be a Chinese Democracy situation.
Charli XCX – Brat
Do the words Brat Summer mean anything to you? If they don’t, you’ve probably been living under a rock. Pop provocateur Charli XCX stole the summer with Brat, an exhilarating and rebellious album that came out at just the right time. From the moment the album starts with the track “360,” Charli commands attention with a fierce blend of A. G. Cook and Cirkut-produced beats, catchy hooks, and lyrics dripping with main character energy. Brat is a declaration of independence and Charli’s playful and often tongue-in-cheek approach to pop is evident throughout, but it’s the emotional depth beneath the flashy production that truly sets this album apart. The album explores strained relationships with fellow women in the industry and sees the 30-something pop sensation pondering motherhood without ever stopping the party vibe.
The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy
London-based band The Last Dinner Party made their mark with Prelude to Ecstasy, a debut album brimming with ambition, rich instrumentation, and hauntingly beautiful storytelling. With an art-rock sensibility and a sense of theatricality, this album is an emotional roller coaster, full of drama and delicacy. The band masterfully blends indie rock with baroque pop elements, creating a lush soundscape that supports their poetic lyrics. Nagging allegations of being industry plants and a foot-in-mouth quote that saw the largely upper-class band weighing in on the cost-of-living crisis haven’t slowed The Last Dinner Party down.
Pet Shop Boys – Nonetheless
English dance legends Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, better known as Pet Shop Boys, returned with Nonetheless, an album that strikes a perfect balance between their classic synth-laden electro-pop and an elegant mature sound. The duo’s ability to create infectious hooks remains intact, but on Nonetheless, they dive deeper into themes of gay love, the passage of time, and queer history. While the album’s danceable beats and catchy choruses will satisfy anyone who picks up the album, the subtle nods to the past will really endear this project to longtime fans. Neil Tennant even breaks out his signature deadpan rap on the standout track “New London Boy.”
Rachel Chinouriri – What a Devastating Turn of Events
Singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri’s What a Devastating Turn of Events is a stunning work of emotional depth and radical honesty. The album marries indie-pop with Chinouriri’s varying influences, all while maintaining a vulnerability and openness in her songwriting that resonates deeply. The album’s production is lush and immersive, with Chinouriri’s voice at the forefront, guiding listeners through a journey of emotional highs and lows. It’s a pop record that feels like a cathartic release. The British singer’s “Never Need Me” music video went viral earlier in the year, thanks to superstar actress and self-professed Rachel Chinouriri superfan Florence Pugh appearing throughout it.
