The Top 50 Albums of 2024: Part Two (#50 to #41)

The lower reaches of the Top 50 are crammed with overlooked gems.

Nov 29, 2024

Welcome to Part Two of The Perfect Prescription’s Top 50 Albums of 2024 series. In the first instalment, I covered some honourable mentions. Today, it’s time to get stuck in and reveal the first part of the actual Top 50.

Please remember that this series is a celebration of my favourite music of the year. It isn’t an attempt to create an objective, definitive overview of the year, but you are more than welcome to disagree and argue in the comments anyway. I actively encourage it.

Explore The Top 50 Albums of 2024 Series

[Honourable Mentions] [#50 to #41] [#40 to #31] [#30 to #21] [#20 to #11] [#10 to #1]

50. Bill Ryder-Jones
“Iechyd Da”
(Domino)

Bill Ryder-Jones has been a fixture on the British indie scene for over two decades, initially as The Coral’s lead guitarist and later as a solo artist. Iechyd Da is his fifth solo record and arguably the best work of his career. Every year, there is at least one album by a seasoned British musician that causes the critics at Uncut and Mojo to lose their collective shit. It’s usually something by Michael Head. This year Ryder-Jones is the chosen one and it’s either my advancing years or a subliminal come-and-get-me plea to the Uncut editor, but I’m fully on board with the message.

49. Cowgirl
“Cut Offs”
(Safe Suburban Home)

Seven songs and 19 minutes long — is Cut Offs even an album? Who cares! My list, my rules — it’s eligible because it channels the likes of Jesus and Mary Chain, Teenage Fanclub, and Urusei Yatsura to dazzling effect. The grimy power pop of “Wake Up” and “Fading Lights” deserves an audience far beyond the criminally low 379 monthly Spotify listeners Cowgirl have at the time of writing. They are also from York thus securing the bonus point I apply to all Yorkshire releases. I’m joking, of course — that would be ridiculous. There are obviously zero bonuses for Leeds-based artists.

48. SLIFT
“ILION”
(Sub Pop)

My note for this bold and brilliant record reads “stoner acid prog psych rock jams from France”. I think that says it all. ILION is ridiculously over the top, but sometimes in this messed-up world that’s everything you need.

47. Brittany Howard
“What Now”
(Island)

The former Alabama Shakes singer brightened February with this sharply produced collection of psychedelic electro-funk numbers.

46. Real Estate
“Daniel”
(Domino)

The sixth album from Real Estate is another set of accomplished jangle-pop tunes. Innovation isn’t the order of the day here, but when a band does one thing this well it’s hard to grumble too much.

45. The BV’s
“Taking Pictures of Taking Pictures”
(Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten / Shelflife Records)

Hailing from Augsburg, Germany, The BV’s fuse classic twee with 80s indie, adding a dash of shoegaze for good measure. The Field Mice are an obvious touchstone, but there are echoes of The Cure and The Chameleons here too. It’s an accomplished record that sailed under most people’s radars, so please check it out.

44. Quivers
“Oyster Cuts”
(Merge)

Melbourne’s Quivers made the leap to the big (well, bigger) leagues with Oyster Cuts, their first record for venerable indie label Merge. Fans of labelmates The New Pornographers will find plenty to love here, particularly on clear standouts “Pink Smoke” and “Apparition”. I really liked the artwork for this one, too.

43. Helado Negro
“PHASOR”
(4AD)

Helado Negro’s remarkable eighth album exudes a comforting warmth despite — or perhaps because of — its experimental nature. At its best, PHASOR’s hypnagogic compositions almost have an analgesic effect. This is truly ambient-pop bliss.

42. Efterklang
“Things We Have in Common”
(City Slang)

Efterklang’s capability to demonstrate range and move through the songwriting gears is effortless. If you’re not paying attention, it would be easy to dismiss their work as repetitive, predictable, easy. It’s really not. Maybe the thrill of the new has subsided, but Efterklang’s sheer talent and rock-solid foundation — the deep and lasting friendship of the core members — allows them to operate with a level of mastery and cohesion that is awe-inspiring. They have still very much got it.

41. Nilüfer Yanya
“My Method Actor”
(Ninja Tune)

Nilüfer Yanya came onto my radar with 2022’s PAINLESS, which was a phenomenal record and one of my favourites of that year. While My Method Actor falls a little short of her previous mark, it’s still a strong collection. There’s a quiet intensity and clarity of vision here; it’s polished and soulful, the vocal is characteristically smooth, and the crisp guitar work is always engaging. I just miss the unpredictable fizz of PAINLESS.

All of the selections so far have been added to my Top 50 Albums Spotify playlist. Go ahead and save this one as I’ll be adding to it as this series progresses.