Our Favorite New Albums of 2024 So Far! (Part One of Three)

20 of R&R's Top Music Picks for 2024!

It’s that time of year again! In what’s becoming an annual tradition here at The Epicurean Vagabonds, now that we’re halfway through 2024 we’ve decided it was time once again to take stock of our favorite new albums. We listen to a lot of new music every week (far more than we can cover on the podcast), and below are 20 of our top 60 album picks from the year thus far. Enjoy! And don’t forget to check back next week for Part Two!

[Editor’s Note & Public Service Announcement: For the sake of convenience and accessibility, we’ve linked to each album on Spotify. But please PLEASE support your favorite musicians if you can afford it. Purchase their albums/merch directly via Bandcamp or their official sites, and pay to see them live in concert so they can afford to keep making the music we all love.]

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Our Favorite New Albums of 2024 So Far! (Part One of Three)

Abdullah Ibrahim: 3

An exquisite, introspective new double album from the iconic 89-year-old South African jazz pianist/composer. Favorite Track: “Mindif - Live”

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Alice Coltrane: The Carnegie Hall Concert (Live)

Never-before-released live album of transcendent spiritual jazz from our favorite harpist of all time. Favorite Track: “Africa”

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Alina Bzhezhinska & Tony Kofi: Altera Vita

Saxophone meets harp in these gorgeous jazz duets inspired by the great Pharoah Sanders. Favorite Track: “Tabula Rasa - Blank Slate”

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Amaro Freitas: Y’Y

Experimental Brazilian pianist explores indigenous Amazonian sounds. Favorite Track: “Sonho Ancestral”

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Antonio Oyarzábal: La Muse Oubliée II: Women Composers

The second album in a years-long project spotlighting the classical piano compositions of overlooked women composers. Favorite Track: “Sketches in Sepia” (composed by Florence Price)

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Arooj Aftab: Night Reign

Bebop meets Pakistani folk music and luminous vocals. Favorite Track: “Raat Ki Rani”

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Aziza Brahim: Mawja

Poetic, bluesy rock ballads with a rich sonic palette from the acclaimed Western Saharan singer-songwriter. Favorite Track: “Bubisher”

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Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper: Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper

New African String Theory! Kora blends with guitar in this meeting of two musical maestros. Favorite Track: “Moss on the Mountain”

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Beth Gibbons: Lives Outgrown

Pensive post-Portishead perfection! (And a strong contender for our favorite album of the entire year so far.) Favorite Track: “Floating on a Moment”

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Brittany Howard: What Now

Eclectic psychedelic soul-funk-jazz-rock with a delicious retro vibe. Favorite Track: “What Now”

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Can: Live in Paris 1973

Released just two weeks after the recent death of Damo Suzuki, this live album presents the krautrock pioneers at the peak of their powers. Favorite Track: “Paris 73 Zwei”

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Canberk Ulaş: Echoes of Becoming

Ancient ethereal woodwind melodies from a Turkish duduk virtuoso. Favorite Track: “Greetings to Istanbul”

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Caroline Shaw & Sō Percussion: Rectangles and Circumstance

Hauntingly beautiful compositions inspired by the words of Emily Dickinson, Gertrude Stein, Christina Rossetti, Emily Brontë and William Blake. Favorite Track: “And So”

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Charles Lloyd: The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow

Recorded last year on the legendary saxophonist’s 85th birthday, Lloyd’s latest all-star quartet brings together Jason Moran, Brian Blade and Larry Grenadier alongside the jazz master himself. Favorite Track: “Defiant, Tender Warrior”

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Charles McPherson: Reverence

Age 84 at the time of this live recording last November, alto saxophonist Charles McPherson celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Smoke Jazz Club as well as his own musical career of 64 years (and counting!). Favorite Track: “Come Rain or Come Shine”

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Christina Pluhar & L’Arpeggiata: Wonder Women

Songs by 17th-century women composers juxtaposed with traditional Latin American songs about women, masterfully arranged by early music specialist Christina Pluhar. Favorite Track: “Traditional: La Llorona”

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Christone “Kingfish” Ingram: Live in London

Rousingly dynamic live performance from the 25-year-old blues ingenue. Favorite Track: “Fresh Out”

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Dua Lipa: Radical Optimism

Endlessly exuberant electro earworms from Albania's most beloved pop diva. Favorite Track: “Training Season”

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Einstürzende Neubauten: Rampen (apm: alien pop music)

Ever-innovative industrial firebrands imagine they are “just as famous in another solar system as The Beatles are in our world.” Hence, alien pop music! Favorite Track: “Ist Ist”

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Elbow: Audio Vertigo

Another addictive album of impeccable songs with captivating lyrics penned by Manchester’s indie rock troubadour, Guy Garvey. Favorite Track: “Balu”

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Check back next week for Part Two. And please tell us in the comments what new music you’ve been enjoying this year. We’re always searching for new music from all genres to add to our listening queue!