best of Suilen's Best of 2024 (Top Albums, #1-#6) | Finished

[Curaga]

Love the black and white visuals! 

[Suilen]

 

 

#40. Addison Rae - Aquamarine
I've been an Addison believer ever since Obsessed, and it's a miracle she managed to survive that period. I got it bad washed everyone, Diet Pepsi actually charted. The biggest hurdle she has now is finding an identity. She tried some Britney cosplay, some Lana cosplay, and now Madonna cosplay. Madonna is not the worst point of reference, though. I don't think that anyone is directly trying to channel Madonna (unlike Britney and Lana), so that could be her lane. Aquamarine seems like a good start.

 

 

#39. Bonnie McKee - Electric Heaven
Bonnie knows how to make a great pop song, and she doesn't need a disgraced producer for that.

 

 

#38. Rebecca Black - TRUST!
The 'Friday' chanteusse convinced me that she's doing it for real with 'Worth It for the Feeling', which was a genuinely good song. Her debut album left with mixed feeling, but it was obvious that something was brewing. With TRUST!, I can hear it. She might be chewing on Gaga's nachos, but even Gaga can't do Gaga well anymore (though I maintain that LG7 could still be good), so it's obvious that we need some fresh blood.

 

 

#37. LEXXE - Queen of the Night
I'm also the queen of the night in a sense, if by that you mean having the soundest sleep and the most vivid dreams.

 

 

#36. Erika de Casier - ooh
The song makes me feel strangely nostalgic for a time I vaguely remember. It sounds straight out of an OST for a GTA knock-off.

 

 

#35. Coco & Clair Clair - My Girl
Welcome back, Crystal Castles! Seriously, what's up with these CC-inspired tracks? First we had Snow Strippers doing a full-blown cosplay, and then this year had a handful of CC-flavored song. Not that I'm complaining. It's clear that CC left a vacuum no one's dared to fill, and Alice is doing her own thing (which I appreciate). The kids raised on CC finally grew up, and this is the result.

 

 

#34. Jane B - One Taste
K-pop khias are on a roll.

 

 

#33. yeule - eko
softscars passed by me, though I liked the bunny song. It was released at a bad time for me, and the fact that my ex-friend was a big fan of theirs didn't help. eko, on the other hand, was instant, and I love the visual direction. 

 

 

#32. Halsey - Lonely is the Muse
Halsey has been through a lot. Some jerks like the bald man believe that they can rate her music without considering the context. And Muse is good even without the context, and even better with it. Pitchfork believes that a muse is a misogynistic concept. I mean, maybe. Even so, it's up to women and people who still for the most part associate with femininity (Halsey has a complex relationship with womanhood) to deconstruct it, and men should shush. I swear, Halsey broke some people's brains this year.

 

 

#31. SISTAR19 - NO MORE (MA BOY)
I love women. I love when women reunite after god knows how many years and serve a song that's even better than the one they're referencing. 

[Curaga]

Oh shiit, I fogot about TRUST!  That was a moment!

[Kern]

I see a lot of familiar songs on this list  

 

What do you think about Sugar Water Cyanide? I prefer it to Trust!

 

2 hours ago, Suilen said:

#35. Coco & Clair Clair - My Girl
Welcome back, Crystal Castles! Seriously, what's up with these CC-inspired tracks? First we had Snow Strippers doing a full-blown cosplay, and then this year had a handful of CC-flavored song. Not that I'm complaining. It's clear that CC left a vacuum no one's dared to fill, and Alice is doing her own thing (which I appreciate). The kids raised on CC finally grew up, and this is the result.

I listened to this album yesterday and I still don't know what to think. Their goofyness from previous album is gone and I'm not sure if I like this new approach. The songs are not bad, especially this one, but they don't feel authentic to me anymore

 

2 hours ago, Suilen said:

#32. Halsey - Lonely is the Muse
Halsey has been through a lot. Some jerks like the bald man believe that they can rate her music without considering the context. And Muse is good even without the context, and even better with it. Pitchfork believes that a muse is a misogynistic concept. I mean, maybe. Even so, it's up to women and people who still for the most part associate with femininity (Halsey has a complex relationship with womanhood) to deconstruct it, and men should shush. I swear, Halsey broke some people's brains this year.

Clock them 

[Hyune]

Aquamarine + Electric Heaven + Lonely Is The Muse

[JGibson]

Lonely Is The Muse 

[K$Ellie]

Trust! is cute but Sugar Water Cyanide lowkey washed it 

Yeule disappoint a little, it's a cute song but I much preferred pretty much all of Softscars  I think it'll grow if we get an album next year tho!

the Halsey, Erika and Addison songs slap

[theblackestday]

Welcome back legend

So far you're eating  

[TalkThatRihanna]

Diet Pepsi deserved a spot over Aqua I fear

[Renzo_]

Aquamarine is a catchy track.

[Album Leak]

Diet Pepsi > Aquamarine  But I can get down to the chorus, it's catchy enuff.

 

I was hoping for a new Say! Yes with that SISTAR19 track but of course it isn't. The only good thing about that song is the hot bartender man in the video! 

 

The Jane B track is intriguing. I need to keep her in my mind for future releases. 

LEXXE's song is actually really dope! I have to check her out as well. 

[Suilen]

7 hours ago, Kern said:

I see a lot of familiar songs on this list  

 

What do you think about Sugar Water Cyanide? I prefer it to Trust!

 

I listened to this album yesterday and I still don't know what to think. Their goofyness from previous album is gone and I'm not sure if I like this new approach. The songs are not bad, especially this one, but they don't feel authentic to me anymore

 

Clock them 

I wasn't impressed by Cyanide at the first listen but maybe it could work in the context of the EP, depending on what sound she'll go with.

 

I get the older fans of Coco & Clair Clair not clicking with this album because there was something charming about the tongue-in-cheek approach to their previous stuff, but what they did here was kinda good. B*tches 2 was unserious, too.

 

1 hour ago, Album Leak said:

Diet Pepsi > Aquamarine  But I can get down to the chorus, it's catchy enuff.

 

I was hoping for a new Say! Yes with that SISTAR19 track but of course it isn't. The only good thing about that song is the hot bartender man in the video! 

 

The Jane B track is intriguing. I need to keep her in my mind for future releases. 

LEXXE's song is actually really dope! I have to check her out as well. 

Glad that you checked those out!

[Mezik]

AQUA MARINE AND LONELY IS THE MUSE.  

 

Both terrific tracks. Addison Rae has grown so much on me this year. She really knows her niche, and I'm pumped for her future releases.

 

Happy to see Bonnie too.  

[Mr. Blue_Shirt]

Aquamarine, Lonely is the Muse and NO MORE (MA BOY) are soo good

 

Electric Heaven is in the top 3 on her album for me This early 2010s bop is what pop stans thought Katy would serve in 143 nnn

[TRF.]

Addison, yeule, Erika de Casier, Coco & Clair Clair... the absolute tastery

[Suilen]

 

 

#30. JT - Okay
I was quite fond of City Girls, and this is apparently the non-homophobic/transphobic member, so she had my attention. The album was cute, and she's showing a lot of promise, but the hypest song was definitely Okay. There are some clunky moments here, though she compensates them with her attitude.

 

 

#29. Dua Lipa - Training Season
That was... an interesting year for Dua. Houdini (a top 10 song from last year for sure) and Training Season were a 1-2 punch, but then... I did enjoy my time with the album, and I think that the hate is a bit overblown and mostly fueled by the lack of success than quality (though that's kind of the same for some pop stans, and it reminds me of old reviews of Russian pop music where an album was good only when it was a collection of hits. The same mindset prevails even now). There was some false advertising for the album, though, in the end, if it bops, it bops. Training Season did what it had to do.

 

 

#28. RAYE - Genesis, pt. ii
Raye has a fascinating career. One would think she'd end up like other British girls that rely on DJs to get hits, but something shifted in 2020. She dropped some absolute bangers, and I'd say that Love of Your Life was my favorite song from that stacked year. There was a fear she'd revert with Bed, but then she became independent, which was a bold move. It later paid off when she got a hit and lots of acclaim. I respect what she did on My 21st Century Blues, even if sometimes it wasn't what I wanted. She was burned out on dance/pop music, so her pivot to a more soul/jazz sound is understandable. Genesis was a nice experiment, and she was smart enough to separate it into 3 parts. I can listen to the whole song, mind you, but the second part is an obvious highlight. It's exactly what I like about Raye as an artist. She will probably continue in the direction of part 3, which isn't ideal, but it can't get any worse than Stefani's attempts at jazz, right?

 

 

#27. Crystal Kay - That Girl
Crystal Kay releasing a great song in 2024 wasn't on my bingo card. Honestly, I kind of wrote her off after the semi-cute Shine. I didn't care if she was a flop, but I did care about the material, which was middling. Now, she decided to reunite with some people responsible for her earlier (good) stuff, and the result was amazing. It doesn't always happen, by the way, and 2024 had some glaring examples of that.

 

 

#26. FKA Twigs - Eusexia
Twigs is one of those artists that could drop something within a given year, and that something is guaranteed to be one of the best things of that year. Well, many would disagree with Tears in the Club, but I personally tapped my boot to that. Eusexia is a good representation of her artistry, and she came up with a whole new word for it. Who even does something like that these days?

 

 

#25. aespa - Armageddon
Aespa dropped a lot of good stuff this year, and there was no obvious choice. Armageddon is probably their least 'gay' title track, though I have nothing against Supernova and Whiplash and definitely didn't say that the latter was too LGBTQ+ for me. I like the wordplay and the chant-like chorus. It does make you think of an impending doom. I love optimism.

 

 

#24. Chlöe - Boy Bye
I think that Chloe is the best at doing unexpected things. Body Do is still that song, even though it wasn't a particularly good fit for the album. Or the album was a bad fit for the song. Boy Bye was another surprise. It's just delicious and has a liberating vibe. I've seen some comparisons with Janelle, and... sorta kinda. Following her print wouldn't be the worst thing. Or Willow's. Judging by some of her interviews, she doesn't want to be pigeonholed as a rnb artist, and I can see why. 

 

 

#23. Becky Hill - Darkest Hour
With Believe Me Now?, Becky proved that she's slightly more than another girl relying on collabs that the UK will chew and spit out. I wish I'd spent more time with it, as my first impression was very favorable, but there isn't enough time in the world. While it had a bunch of standout tracks, including the Self Esteem collab, Darkest Hour was an instant favorite. I'd say it pretty much describes my current situation, except an hour turned into years.

 

 

#22. Doechii - Alter Ego (with JT)
As a person partially responsible for one of Azealia Banks' numerous bans from social media, I won't mince words - she's deranged and needs help. But no matter how mentally ill she might be, her inability to release music left a hole that no one really attempted to fill. If Alter Ego was the only thing Doechii released this year, I'd say let's watch out for what's coming. But Doechii's mixtape solidified that Azealia's spot is not what she's aiming for, which is, well, respectable. It was still a cute one-off throwback.

 

 

#21. LANA - Almost 20
Lana is one of Chanmina's daughters. Who knew that an artist I once randomly promoted would turn out to be the Nicki Minaj of j-rap, with all the talent and influences and none of the baggage Onika has? Anyway, I checked out of modern j-pop and focused on older artists for a while, so imagine my surprise when my interest was invigorated this year, and I discovered all these rap girls trying to follow the Mina print. When was the last time female rap flourished in Japan? Maybe with Heartsdales? Lana, admittedly, isn't the best of them (find out who's the best from my throwback tracks). I actually find her rap tracks to be lackluster. But when she's trying to be poppier? Kana Nishino, you're bones.

[Hyune]

Training Season + Genesis

[Album Leak]

I haven't vibed with Becky Hill's releases for a long time. It genuinely feels like she had more timeless and inspiring music in the mid 2010s. Losing is still her absolutely BEST song. It genuinely sounds so good to this day! Unpredictable and Sunrise In The East are also major, MAJOR bops. But everything afterwards has been so-so. Darkest Hour is eh for me, is a cute girl but that's all. 

 

Almost 20 is very nice though. I'm always fascinated with j-pop artists who are perhaps more western-flavored in terms of presentation, and how they fit into the overall Japanese music market. I feel like as of late there has been a bigger market for that type of artist in Japan, especially j-rap/hiphop seems to be booming. And you're right, she is kind of CHANMINA's daughter! But I don't think her material has reached the heights of CHANMINA's  But her verse on Bad B*tch kinda ate the rest up.

Edited December 20, 2024 by Album Leak

[Kern]

3 hours ago, Suilen said:

She will probably continue in the direction of part 3, which isn't ideal, but it can't get any worse than Stefani's attempts at jazz, right?

Well I hope so, but I gotta admit, Gensis has some... interesting lyrical choices. It's a bit too in your face for me

[JGibson]

Training Season 

[TalkThatRihanna]

Training Season + Boy Bye

[Mr. Blue_Shirt]

Training Season, Genesis, Eusexua, Boy Bye, Alter Ego are huge bops

 

The way i'm kinda obsessed with JT's Okay because of those be mindful of why you were invited to the section meme

[Suilen]

10 hours ago, Album Leak said:

I haven't vibed with Becky Hill's releases for a long time. It genuinely feels like she had more timeless and inspiring music in the mid 2010s. Losing is still her absolutely BEST song. It genuinely sounds so good to this day! Unpredictable and Sunrise In The East are also major, MAJOR bops. But everything afterwards has been so-so. Darkest Hour is eh for me, is a cute girl but that's all. 

 

Almost 20 is very nice though. I'm always fascinated with j-pop artists who are perhaps more western-flavored in terms of presentation, and how they fit into the overall Japanese music market. I feel like as of late there has been a bigger market for that type of artist in Japan, especially j-rap/hiphop seems to be booming. And you're right, she is kind of CHANMINA's daughter! But I don't think her material has reached the heights of CHANMINA's  But her verse on Bad B*tch kinda ate the rest up.

I'm actually not that familiar with most of Becky's stuff before 2020, so I'll take your word for it and dig into it. 

 

I agree that we're getting more western-flavored artists, I discovered like 5 of them through Spotify this year, but they are still too obscure for my liking. I have a whole rant on this prepared for my highest Japanese song.

 

-

 

Posting my top discoveries in a bit, I doubt many will care about Russian and Japanese women that were popular 20 years ago, let's get this out of the way.

[Curaga]

Chloe, Dua Lipa, Crystal Kay 

[PokiTails]

4 hours ago, Suilen said:

Posting my top discoveries in a bit, I doubt many will care about Russian and Japanese women that were popular 20 years ago, let's get this out of the way.

I do!