Top 5 Albums of September, 2024

Virgo season has come and gone, but here’s 5 of the best albums from the last 30 days.

As a virgo myself, I might be slightly biased towards the 9th month of the year. However, even with that partiality in mind, this September was undeniably chock full of quality album releases. From big names and up-and-comers alike, this month had plenty for music fans to sift through and enjoy. As always, it was incredibly difficult to narrow down my selections to only 5 picks, but nonetheless I persisted. Here are my top 5 albums of September, 2024, listed in alphabetical order. Also, I feel that I share a terrible secret, lest it rob me of all journalistic integrity… two of the records on this list… were actually released on August 30th. Despicable, I know. If you’re still willing to support me and writings after such a betrayal, then, please, read on. Now, without further ado…

1. Alligator Bites Never Heal - Doechii

The “debut album” is one of the most legendarily sacrosanct rites of passage in hip-hop history. It’s got to be a tremendous amount of pressure for an artist to condense everything that makes them a worthy investment of time, fandom, and funding into a 50-minute runtime, and more than a few promising names have dropped the ball when it came to passing the “debut” hurdle. Lucky for us, Florida rapper Doechii’s first full-length LP does far more than merely pass the goal-posts. Best known for her high-profile collaborations and various viral TikTok appearances, Doechii utilizes this album to fully showcase everything that makes her a compelling solo artist. Nineteen tracks, 47-minutes, basically no features: Alligator Bites Never Heal seizes the spotlight with absolute self-assurance and refuses to let go. Doechii bounces from flow to flow with complete effortlessness, rattling off quick-witted and deeply sardonic lyricism that’s perfectly paired with an eclectic soundscape of high-budget production. For any rap fans desperately hoping to find the next brightest trailblazer in the culture’s new guard, both Doechii and this album are an absolute must-listen.

Favorite Track: Boom Bap

2. In Waves - Jamie xx

While it’s not a record I tend to gush about very often, I’m actually a massive fan of Jamie xx’s 2015 debut, In Colour. Because of this, I’ve been quietly anticipating the British producer’s sophomore effort for the more than 9 years it’s taken for it to come out. Finally, after such a long wait — and more than a few tantalizing singles — In Waves is here. This time around, Jamie’s production strays away from the moody electronica of his debut, instead providing an uptempo collection of house and garage tracks. His stylistic staples are still here in full force (chopped dialogue samples, glistening piano flourishes, an unexpected array of collaborators, etc.), but In Waves also places a stark emphasis on the bare-bone fundamentals of dance music. Don’t let all of the gorgeous melodies and pop vocalists fool you; this album is here to make you move. Whether you’re putting it all on the dance floor or wiping tears from your eyes, In Waves is an exhilarating and paradoxically meditative experience in breaking a sweat.

Favorite Track: The Feeling I Get From You

3. Manning Fireworks - MJ Lenderman

At just 25 years old and already with four solo albums under his belt, Mark Jacob Lenderman feels like an inevitable indie rock star in the making. Following collaborations with the likes of Indigo de Souza, Waxahatchee, and Wednesday (of which he’s a member), Lenderman’s Manning Fireworks has served as a breakout moment for the young songwriter and his arrival among music nerds. Following in the folksy-tinged footsteps of slacker rock progenitors like Silver Jews and Modest Mouse, MJ Lenderman offers a stripped-back and deceptively simple approach to alternative country. His lyricism is utterly captivating, somehow refracting tried and true tropes of Americana and bluegrass through an uncompromisingly-Zoomer lens (“I’ve got a house-boat docked at the Himbo Dome”). It’s an incredibly easy album to throw on and enjoy, and with a tight runtime and some ultra-catchy guitar licks, Manning Fireworks is sure to be a staple in my personal rotation for the rest of the year and beyond.

Favorite Track: Joker Lips

4. Wild God - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

After seventeen albums of material spanning nearly five decades, you would think Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds might have explored every possible emotion in the range of humanity. Yet, as the band’s 18th LP proves, there was yet one unexplored corner they’d never tackled head-on: joy. Following several personal tragedies — including the loss of two children — the playful and beaming approach of Wild God might seem an odd route for Cave and company to embark upon. In practice, however, this album’s distinct blend of improvisational instrumentation, fuzzy mixes, and goofy lyrical musings is a refreshing catharsis that celebrates the fact of its very existence. Wild God is rich tapestry of chamber rock, one that plays with the tempered jubilation of one who has weathered the storm, and emerged to turn his face to the sun… and you better believe it’s another home run for Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ already incredible track record.

Favorite Track: Song of the Lake

5. 13” Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto With Bison Horn Grips - Xiu Xiu

With more than two dozen full-length projects under their belt, indie-rock outfit Xiu Xiu has become an indomitable fixture in harsh, experimental music over the past 20 years. Because of this, the single most surprising thing about Xiu Xiu’s 14th studio album is the fact that it’s utterly approachable. Make no mistake; 13” Frank Beltrame… is still a Xiu Xiu album through and through. There’s unsatisfying chord structures drenched with atonal dissonance, gut-wrenching lyrics courtesy of front-person Jamie Stewart, and an unsettling lack of stylistic precedence. There is, however, something subtly straight-forward about this latest effort; slowly but surely coalescing into semi-traditional — dare I say, catchy — song structures. For perhaps the first time in Xiu Xiu’s entire career… they kind of sound like a rock band. Despite these changes, Stewart and co. have lost absolutely none of their potency, and 13” Frank Beltrame… has already shot towards the top of my ranking of their discography. It’s a beautiful, sickeningly irresistible journey that 100% needs to be on your radar before 2024 comes to a close.

Favorite Track: Common Loon