150 Albums from 2024 - "Midas" is Wunderhorse's second album, but I hadn't heard of them before. I was surprised to learn that they are from England, as the leadman Jacob Slater   sings like an American boy. "Midas" sometimes has a grunge approach and other times presents a raw post-punk sound. The band plays exactly the way I like: an album with ten songs, all of them with single-word titles and a straightforward sound. Well, that was my first impression. But after giving the album a second listen, you begin to notice that the lyrics are too personal and intimate to be American and that the sound is not as basic as   you first thought. The guitar tends to sound more creative here and there, and the songs take unexpected directions most of the time. They can feel very proud of their second album. PopUP Score: 90.

150 Albums from 2024 - Katie Crutchfield, Waxahatchee's frontwoman, founder, and singer, now 36 years old, has been maintaining a relationship with singer/songwriter Kevin Morby for eight years. This enduring partnership may have fostered a sense of steadiness and comfort in her mind, inspiring the resilient and fierce nature of tigers for her latest album: "Tigers Blood". This introspective journey back to her roots in Alabama is painted with an Americana/country landscape, diverting from Waxahatchee's indie rock sound for now. The album's intimate nature seems the most appropriate backdrop for her impressive and beautiful lyrics, which feel more personal and true to herself than ever. Even though I have a preference for her indie rock side, I must admit that the result of "Tigers Blood" is a sentimental and emotional work that resonates with everyone’s personal experiences and preferences. PopUP Score: 75.

150 Albums from 2024 - There is a significant time gap between Linkin Park's previous album, "One More Light" (2017), and their most recent, "From Zero," released last November. There is also a huge gap between fans' and critics' reception now and then: "One More Light" was the last album released with Chester Bennington, but it was poorly received, while "From Zero" has garnered successful reviews. Ultimately, this is very good news for the band and their fans: it shows that Emily Armstrong, the new vocalist, was accepted in Chester's place and that the new drummer, Colin Brittain, was also well-received. "From Zero" may be a new beginning for this beloved band, but it is cohesive and sounds exactly like what a fan might expect. Tracks like "Heavy Is the Crown," "Two Faced," and "IGYEIH" are vibrant examples of that. PopUP Score: 79.

150 Albums from 2024 - Maybe because Thou is from the American city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, they have a different lyrical approach to sludge metal. Bryan Funck, the frontman and vocalist of the band, writes about sentiments, feelings, states of mind, and relationships. In "Umbilical," for example, there are songs with titles like "I Feel Nothing When You Cry," where he talks about feeling "impervious like a rock in a sea of chaos" and "I Return as Chained and Bound to You," where he laments, "kneeled before an empty tomb," with "a dream that no one saves." This provides a whole new landscape to their music, making it deeper and more meaningful, causing critics to rave about this album as a highlight of the year in hard rock releases.

However, Thou didn't entirely resonate with me that much. I didn't get the same enthusiasm I felt with Deafheaven's last albums, for example. But maybe I should listen to it more carefully and with a bit more attention when I get the time. PopUP Score: 68.

150 Albums from 2024 - When the members of The xx aren't playing in the band, it seems they love to dance and party. And they are really good at making dance and club tracks. Last year, Romy released her solo album titled "Mid Air," and it received rave reviews. This year, it was Jamie xx's turn. And, once again, critics loved it. His album "In Waves" has made its way onto numerous media's best-of-the-year lists. This is understandable when you listen to the album and find that these are dance tracks filled with heart and soul. It's all about a wonderful good vibe. PopUP Score: 91.

150 Albums from 2024 - Kacey Musgraves was born in a city named Golden, in Texas. Nothing could be more appropriate than "golden" to describe this successful country singer. She released some albums by herself back in the 2000s and gained wider recognition among country music fans when she won the TV competition "Nashville Star." After that, her next release was already under a major label, and "Same Trailer Different Park" from 2013 earned her a Grammy for "Best Country Album." Nine Grammys after, she is back with "Deeper Well". I've never heard her earlier albums, but from "Golden Hour" on, I can easily say that Kacey blends a lot of pop into her country recipe. And may I say I am not a country enthusiast, but I like her last two albums very much. "Deeper Well" sounds like a person who is growing while trying to explore life at the same time. The lyrics delve into introspective themes rather than romantic conversations, and musically, it is very attractive. It is nice to see that, despite all her success, this "golden" songwriter still wants to release an album that resonates with her and not just a generic market product to maintain her selling status. It is very admirable. PopUP Score: 85.

150 Albums from 2024 - Public Service Broadcasting is an intriguing and eccentric London-based band. They take particular subjects, such as events, historical facts, people, or places, and build albums centered around them. For example, in "Every Valley" (2017), they delve into the coal industry. Likewise, "White Star Liner" (2018) narrates the story of the Titanic from its construction to its tragic sinking. In the wonderful "The Race For Space" (2015), they explore the history of humanity's efforts to conquer space. By the way, one of my favorite tracks from 2015 belongs to this album: it is the stimulating "Go," which describes the go/no-go steps of the controllers before Apollo 11's launch.

While it may seem like these "classroom lessons" in the form of music might not be interesting, believe me, it is very cool. They mix audio samples, voiceovers performed by actors and singers, and a sound that is a perfect blend of electronic music and progressive rock. In 2024, they released "The Last Flight," which narrates the story of Amelia Earhart, the famous female aviatrix. It is a beautiful and vibrant album.

They use her voice, or an actor portraying it, to convey how much Amelia loved her plane in "Electra," for example. "Towards the West" is a track about her decision to travel around the world by flying west instead of east to avoid the bright lights of the rising sun. In "A Different Kind of Love," she talks to her husband about their singular relationship, which withstands her long absences. This album is a beautiful and touching homage to this courageous woman. PopUP Score: 93.

150 Albums from 2024 - Getting to their 15th studio album, "Nonetheless," the Pet Shop Boys have proven that a band can always reinvent itself and not be swallowed by the passing of time. Actually, "Nonetheless" is not exactly a reinvention as it sounds really vintage and classic PSB while avoiding sounding dated. The always chic PSB signature is evident throughout the arrangements and harmonies. This might explain why critics fell in love with it: the album received the "Must Hear Album" tag from critics on albumoftheyear.org and appeared on several best-of-the-year lists.

The signature sound can be perceived right from the first track, "Loneliness," a classic. "New London Boy" features a slower BPM, evoking a melancholic atmosphere, the perfect track to listen to when the party night is over. The grand orchestral opulence of "A New Bohemia" and "Love Is The Law" speaks directly to fans who appreciate the luxurious, sad arrangements of "It Couldn't Happen Here," "King's Cross," or "This Must Be the Place I’ve Waited Years to Leave." And the bitter, jealous, cynical, and falsely resigned "Bullet for Narcissus" captures the essence of Pet Shop Boys, reminiscent of "Rent" and the puppet who thrived on that, regardless of the "currency spent".

"Nonetheless" is filled with the lushness and richness we all recognize from these Londoner gentlemen, the same ones who used to work in a pet shop when they were just boys.  PopUP Score: 95.

150 Albums from 2024 - It feels terribly wrong to say something bad about Justin Timberlake. He is the kind of guy that one will judge as a good person just by looking at him. And, also, he is a very good artist. In "Everything I Thought It Was," as in his last three or four albums, beyond thinking exclusively of singing and dancing, he joins the producers team also. The result is a fine and shining product, and there are excellent songs that attest to this, but that little magic pop touch that he achieved in his previous works is missing this time. PopUP Score: 80

150 Albums from 2024 - Although it may seem that Sabrina Carpenter is too young to have an extensive career, the fact is that "Short n' Sweet" is her sixth studio album. Besides that, she has been acting in various movies and even starred in the Broadway production of "Mean Girls." It is safe to say, though, that "Short n' Sweet" has conquered the pop world, scoring number one on many charts around the globe with multiple songs. Sabrina has been nominated in eight categories at the 67th Grammy Awards, including "Album of the Year" for "Short n' Sweet" and "Record of the Year" for the deliciously addictive song "Espresso" from the same album. The competition is tough, but it's wonderful to see women dominating this edition of the Grammys. Alongside Sabrina are Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, and Billie Eilish. PopUP Score: 93.

150 Albums from 2024 - With a 2008 Mercury Music Prize-awarded album, "The Seldom Seen Kid," and a single named "First Steps" specially composed for the BBC as their theme for the 2012 London Olympic Games, Elbow, the band initially formed in Manchester, could have retired with a sense of duty fulfilled after nine studio albums. Fortunately, they haven't. I, myself, have liked Elbow for a long time, but I have to say that I have never felt as excited about an album from them as I have now. "Audio Vertigo" started with drummer Alex Reeves creating drum patterns and sending them to the other band members to work on. And, of course, Guy lent his unmistakable voice and his immense ability to talk about deep inner feelings to describe toxic relationships, painful life experiences, and themes we are all accustomed to hearing from him. However, I have never felt as inspired and touched by his lyrics as I do with "Good Blood Mexico City" and the advices he gives to his son, encouraging him to experience the world and live his life fully, in the beautiful and emotional "From the River," where he says: "Double the farthest that I've ever run. Bring us home something bright from the river. Bring us home something beautiful, son." This is so moving! PopUP Score: 88.

150 Albums from 2024 - The 32-year-old Guatemalan Mabe Fratti is such a peculiar, avant-garde singer and songwriter that sometimes she sounds like she came from outer space or from some unknown civilization. I hadn't heard of her before, but I learned that she started playing the cello very early in her life and participated in several groups before starting her solo career, now in her fourth studio album. "Sentir Que No Sabes" was acclaimed by critics, which is how it came to my attention. Listening to it, I discovered it has some brilliant dissonances. Although it contains many electronic elements, her cello seems to keep it warmer and more human. However, it is not electronic music, nor is it anywhere near a folk album. It is something entirely her own. It is indeed strange, but it provides an excellent opportunity to delve into a kind of music that is completely new and interesting. PopUP Score: 79.

150 Albums from 2024 - With "One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1," Marilyn Manson has reached the impressive milestone of twelve studio albums. The title alone indicates familiar territory for the band. Manson continues his via crucis, delving into religion and faith with his characteristic twisted perspective, which, when compared to modern Christians, may seem less hypocritical.

Anguish, despair, addiction, societal critique, and anger are prevalent themes, all cloaked in his mockery personality. The sound remains a blend of pop, hard rock, industrial, and gothic music that fans expect from the band, now enhanced by guitarist Reba Meyers from Code Orange. As a longtime fan of Manson's work, I believe in the saying "no one changes a winning team," and, that said, this album a perfect continuation of his legacy. PopUP Score: 97.

150 Albums from 2024 - Being born in sunny California and having a father who played country music, it is intriguing to know that Chelsea Wolfe is so into gothic music and introspective lyrics. But I am glad that she didn't succumb to a sunny disposition and, mainly, that she didn't surrender to country music. Otherwise, she could not have created an album like "She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She." It talks about her fight for sobriety and, therefore, is filled with gloomy and beautiful songs. Just listen to the album's opening track, the beautifully dark "Whispers In The Echo Chamber," and you will know what I am talking about. Long live Chelsea. PopUP Score: 86.

150 Albums from 2024 - Ariana does not stop. She is already on her seventh studio album, and the well shows no signs of running dry. She consistently produces pop acts celebrated by both critics and the public, being capable of creating pop "gems" with every album she releases, a fact that completely destroys the fragile image one might mistakenly form when looking at her beautiful face. Beneath her sweet looks lies a fierce woman.

While her praises for playing Glinda in the cinematic version of "Wicked" have been well-deserved, let's focus on her new album, the subject at hand. "Eternal Sunshine" has just proved her strength. While mourning her divorce and moving past it, she delivered a collection of songs performed with grace and softness, effortlessly restraining her voice, seemingly avoiding the high notes we know she can easily reach. The new album is all about softly speaking on the ups and downs of relationships and inner feelings, and it is a superb album. PopUP Score: 92.