At number 5 is Bewitched by Laufey. Bewitched was released on September 8th, 2023, and is very unique. This was Laufey’s breakthrough album; it put her on the map for mainstream listeners, and she even won her first Grammy for this album. This album is what I would like to describe as modern-day jazz and really trying to bring jazz back to its former glory, This album is very emotional in some parts but also very upbeat and fun in other areas. She goes through what it’s like to go through heartbreak at different stages in her life but also glorifies the uncertainty of finding someone new and what being young and in love feels like.
Number 4 is Charm by Clairo. Charm is Clairo’s 3rd studio album. Charm was released on July 12th, 2024. It is her first self-released studio album after her previous two albums were released by Fader and Republic, respectively. Charm is a beautiful album surrounded by fun woodwinds and instruments, with Clairos’s voice perfectly complementing the background music.
Sitting in the middle of these rankings is Noah Kahan’s Stick Season, which was released on October 14th, 2022. This is Kahan’s 3rd studio album, and he exploded onto the charts with the release of the song called Stick Season which introduced his album and got people introduced in the release of his album. This album is very relatable for the younger generation and mainly young adults who have had trauma, and this album goes through the emotions of going through said trauma.
Second on my list is Chromeakopia by Tyler the Creator. This is far from Tyler’s first studio album, this is his eighth album. Tyler has solidified himself as one of the greatest artists of our generation and this is one of his best projects to date. This album was more than just your basic rap album; it is mixed with mysterious samples, and Tyler is the most creative artist. The way he produces his music is like no other, and this album is no different. It has you in a different mood almost with every song; some songs make you want to get deep into your feelings, and other songs are very lively and fun.
Last but certainly not least is Eternal Atake by Lil Uzi Vert. Eternal Atake was Lil Uzi’s second studio album and was released on March 6th, 2020. Timing was very important with this album because out of all the albums I’ve listed, it’s definitely the worst produced and is more of a basic rap album compared to the other albums on this list. This album was released just as COVID was starting, and the most important part and the reason I have this album ranked so high is because it’s nostalgia. This album is very nostalgic for people my age because all we could do was sit at home and listen to music, and this was the most popular album at the time. Just because it’s not thoroughly produced and is more basic is not necessarily a bad thing because simple can be good.
