9 New Releases You Need to Listen To (June 2024)

One of my listening goals for 2024 was to absorb more country or country-hybrid releases, especially since the appetite for these genres has exploded recently. This commitment led me to discover and love “Tigers Blood,” Katie Crutchfield’s sixth album under the Waxahatchee moniker.

Mixing elements of country, folk, Americana, and alt-rock, the reason to listen is Crutchfield’s tremendous ability to bring the tender familiarity out of her own lyrics vocally. Her singing won’t necessarily overpower you but, in several spots, finds moments of powerful but subdued beauty.

Genre: Alternative, Blues

Label: Nonesuch

Release Date: April 5, 2024

Vibe: 😎

The uneven creative output since El Camino fueled my indifferent reaction when I saw a new Black Keys record announced for 2024. Sure, that’s nice, but so what? How much did Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have in the tank? The short answer is much more than I anticipated.

The new record, Ohio Players, feels like an update, or at least a return to, their blues-fueled persona that got lost in the weeds post-Camino, much to the chagrin of fans who accused them of “selling out” and so on. In that respect, this LP doesn’t explore any new sonic territory or offer any big surprises. But, in the end, that’s the point.

The Beck production doesn’t hurt, either.

Genre: Electronic, Ambient

Label: Text Records

Release Date: March 15, 2024

Vibe: 🪷

There’s something about ambient music that can be so soothing when the production favors earthier, more tactile textures instead of the gloss of mainstream house and techno. The latest from Four Tet, Three, fits this bill nicely. It’s more understated than listeners familiar with his work may expect, but it’s all in service of growing those soundscapes organically.

At times, this record reminded me of the nostalgia-driven electronic albums that garnered substantial critical acclaim in recent years. The expansion of smaller influences or starting points, not unlike James Holden’s approach to his 2023 record, grounds new interpretations in some recognizable tendencies. The stranger the reconfigurations get, the more arresting the results.

Genre: Noise Rock, Hardcore Punk

Label: Sub Pop

Release Date: March 1, 2024

Vibe: 😵

The title of this LP should give you a good idea of what it sounds like.

The sixth long-form outing from the Pennsylvania-bred outfit is full of abrasive hardcore punk delights that take aim at all manner of societal injustices. From the evils of overbearing parental units (”Helicopter Parent”) to a literal travelogue of ick (”Everywhere is Bad”), the group hasn’t lost their taste for dark humor as a way to drive their music.

I also admire their lack of a sonic update to their persona. This record is their first in more than a half-decade and, in line with punk’s original ethos, avoids the tropes of maturation—which, in this case, would be some hybrid of yacht rock or dad metal.

Let this sweaty, mosh-ready approach live on as long as possible, please.

Genre: Pop, R&B, Nu-Disco

Label: RCA

Release Date: March 15, 2024

Vibe: 🧐

It’s fashionable to dunk on Justin Timberlake these days, mostly for good reason. But, if we remove the pop cultural baggage (to the degree that we can) from the mix, I’d say his latest LP, Everything I Thought I Was, is better than expected. It easily clears the bar left behind by 2018’s miasmic Man of the Woods and, for at least half its running time, had the makings of a near-classic. If anything, JT still knows how to craft compelling pop music.

The best cuts on this record are the ones designed to fill dancefloors in various contexts. Like the “Sexyback” days, songs like “F** Up the Disco” and “My Favorite Drug” work despite how dumb some of the songwriting is. Timberlake wisely relies on his stable of producing talent, which includes everyone from Calvin Harris to old ally Timbaland, to create highlights that rise far above the more grating moments.

Genre: Punk, Post-Hardcore

Label: Pure Noise

Release Date: February 9, 2024

Vibe: 😵‍💫

The second album from UK punk outfit the Chisel, What a F* Nightmare* is one of the boldest, most belligerent records you’ll listen to this year. What makes it such an enthralling listen is the timeless, old-school aggression that it wears so well. The tracks, primarily short, two-and-a-half-minute bursts of angry energy, are honed sharper than the deadliest of blades.

That’s not to say there’s no appeal here for consumers unfamiliar with (or uninvested in) punk’s increasingly global underground scene. Several of the choruses, anchored by lead singer Cal Graham’s unshakable charisma, inspired moments that had me thinking of the Clash in their crossover potential.

Genre: Alternative, Dream Pop

Label: Mom + Pop

Release Date: February 23, 2024

Vibe: 😯

In a year when many 2000s pop acts attempted to recapture some pop culture cache to varying degrees of success, perhaps the most pleasant surprise was the latest LP from MGMT. The psychedelic pop act best known for hits like “Electric Feel” and “Kids” builds off a 2018 comeback album with an even grander, more rewarding creative statement.

The neon-colored sense of innocence that permeates their best work is tinged with a more mature sensibility throughout. You can hear the life experience seeping into their soundscapes and lyrics, where grappling with pain has nonetheless led them to a hopeful outlook. Listen to this one on the finest pair of headphones or speakers you can muster.

Genre: Hip-Hop, Trap

Label: Interscope

Release Date: April 5, 2024

Vibe: 🍑

When Cardi B’s mixtapes started to pop off, right before she gained mainstream popularity with “Bodak Yellow,” her detractors were saying the same things GloRilla’s are currently saying. The music’s too basic, the rhymes are too dirty, and so forth. But, like Cardi before her, Glo’s talent is undeniable, a fact solidified by how infectious Ehhthang Ehhthang is.

The mixtape, which debuted inside the Top 20 of Billboard’s album chart earlier in 2024, is as much an ode to the strip club-ready crunk hits of yore as it is a vehicle to showcase the emcee’s chops behind the mic. Despite features from established names like Megan Thee Stallion and Moneybagg Yo, I was impressed by how consistently Glo’s skills shine through.

This record is undoubtedly a sign of bigger things yet to come.

Genre: Alternative, Hard Rock

Label: Republic

Release Date: April 19, 2024

Vibe: 🤘

Last but certainly not least, there’s the new record from the Seattle veterans. Now in their fourth decade, the band takes a more streamlined approach here than on their previous two, decidedly more experimental albums. Those releases underperformed commercially and critically, but based on how thrilling a listen this was, you could certainly call this a return to form.

One of the architects behind this success is Andrew Watt, the producer who, after working on Eddie Vedder’s 2022 solo effort, was one of the driving forces behind recent LPs from Ozzy Osbourne and the Rolling Stones. Like those pleasant surprises, Dark Matter recaptures and refreshes the signature early-90s Pearl Jam sound. With a balance of hard-charging rockers and introspective ballads, the group hasn’t sounded this tight or reinvigorated in quite some time.

What did you think about these recent releases? Are any of them on your shortlist for Album of the Year? Let me know in the comments!