JamBase Release Day Picks 2024: The Year In New Album Releases
Stream a Spotify playlist featuring +350 albums released this year.
By Team JamBase Dec 20, 2024 • 4:16 am PST
JamBase’s weekly Release Day Picks feature has tracked hundreds of new albums across genres throughout 2024, from emerging artists to legendary performers. The weekly roundup showcases the breadth and depth of new music arriving each Friday, spanning rock, jazz, folk, electronic, jazz, pop, bluegrass, hip-hop and beyond.
With over 350 albums documented in 2024, the collection represents artists from around the world and encompasses releases from both major labels and independent imprints. Traditional full-length albums make up the bulk of the releases, while live albums, archival releases, and anniversary editions round out the remainder. M
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Rock veterans made a strong showing this year, with Pearl Jam issuing their album Dark Matter, while Green Day kicked off 2024 with Saviors. The jam scene is well represented with new releases from Phish (Evolve), Widespread Panic (both Hailbound Queen and Snake Oil King), and Grateful Dead archives including Duke ’78 and the 50th anniversary edition of From the Mars Hotel.
The Americana and folk realm continues to thrive with releases from Billy Strings delivering both Highway Prayers and Live Vol. 1. Kacey Musgraves returning with Deeper Well, while Sierra Ferrell offered a captivating Trail Of Flowers. Legacy artists are also well-represented, with Willie Nelson dropping two albums: Last Leaf On The Tree and The Border.
Pop and hip-hop heavyweights make their mark with Beyoncé‘s genre-bending COWBOY CARTER, Taylor Swift‘s The Tortured Poets Department, and Eminem‘s The Death of Slim Shady. The electronic music landscape sees new offerings from Justice (Hyperdrama), Caribou (Honey), Floating Points (Cascade) and Four Tet (Three).
Notable collaborations pepper the list, including Chick Corea & Béla Fleck‘s Remembrance, Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding‘s Milton + esperanza, and Greensky Bluegrass & Holly Bowling‘s The Iceland Sessions.
Live albums and archival releases form a significant portion of 2024’s offerings, showcasing the enduring appeal of live music recordings. My Morning Jacket continued their live series with MMJ Live Vol. 4: Terminal 5, while Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit presented Live from the Ryman, Vol. 2. The Jerry Garcia Band‘s archival series expanded with GarciaLive Volume 21: February 13th, 1976 Keystone Berkeley. Historic recordings also surface with The Allman Brothers Band‘s Final Concert 10-28-14 and ‘s Live At Fillmore East, 1969.
The jazz and instrumental category showed considerable strength, with releases from virtuosos like Kamasi Washington (Fearless Movement) and Julian Lage (Speak To Me). Archival releases also make a significant impact, with collections from Frank Zappa (Apostrophe (‘) [50th Anniversary Super Deluxe]) and Miles Davis (Miles in France 1963 & 1964 – Miles Davis Quintet: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8) providing fresh perspectives on classic recordings.
Independent and alternative artists contribute significantly to the list, with new works from Real Estate (Daniel), Sleater-Kinney (Little Rope), and St. Vincent (All Born Screaming). The psychedelic and experimental scene remained vibrant with releases from the ever prolific (Flight b741) and Khruangbin (A LA SALA).
Journey back through 2024’s new album releases to revisit your favorite or discover something new. Stream all of the available 2024 JamBase Release Day Picks new album releases via the chronological Spotify playlist below:
