By Kyla Taurasi

Released: March 8, 2024

Favorite song: we can’t be friends (wait for your love) 

Eternal Sunshine is a highly relatable album, especially for high schoolers dealing with change and growth. “We Can’t Be Friends” is my favorite track because it’s all about knowing when to walk away from things that hurt you. At the same time, there are fun songs like “Boy Bye” that keep the album from feeling too heavy. Overall, it’s a great mix of meaningful messages and upbeat tracks, making it perfect for any mood. Eternal Sunshine was a widely anticipated release, as it is Grande's first album release in three years. The emotions in the songs are heartfelt and are sure to connect to her listeners.

By Kam Molloy

Released: May 17, 2024

Favorite Song: L'AMORE DE MA VIE

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT is Billie's best album to date. The music really does fit the title of the album, as almost every song has a melancholic, soft section that has a deep emotional appeal, as well as a louder, almost jarring section that shows off her singing abilities. Each song is very distinct from the next, and yet the album has a nice flow to it, knitting together a story of her life in the past years and her growth throughout her time in the music industry. The album also blends the dark pop she's known for with more upbeat EDM-style music, which go together shockingly well. All in all, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT is an incredible combination of Billie's older music and newer experimental sounds, as well as a really cool way she discusses her personal experiences with her audience. 

By Cullan Sarmiento

Released: July 12, 2024

Favorite song: Rockstar

Initially famous for being an award-winning songwriter for artists such as Morgan Wallen and Blake Shelton, Hardy has carved out a career of his own. Hardy’s QUIT!! album is a mashup of country and rock. His redneck personality mixed with his rock genre type of music make his songs sound new and fresh. His recent live appearances, which included supporting Morgan Wallen on his 'One Night At a Time' tour, have boosted his Spotify monthly listeners by 3+ million. Keep an eye on this man. He has a bright future as a songwriter in the business.

By Emily Gallagher

Released: August 21, 2024

Favorite song: Bug

Romance is a masterpiece. While Fontaines D.C. has already proven itself to be a band taking on the alternative rock genre by storm, the release of its third studio album, Romance, has cemented the fact that Fontaines D.C. is simply a step ahead of the rest. Romance produces a unique sound never before heard from the band, perfectly blending both the band's usual dark, gloomy sound with new, experimental instrumentals. From the gritty-sounding rap verses in "Starburster" to the haunting instrumentals in "Sundowner," the album deserves every bit of critical acclamation given- it truly gets better with each listen. 

By Sophie Piro

Released: August 23, 2024

Favorite song: Good Graces

Sabrina Carpenter's sixth studio album, "Short n' Sweet," was the best pop album last summer. Its most popular, "Espresso," made it to Number 1 on Billboard's Top 100 and was named Top Global Song of the Summer by Billboard. I love this album because the songs are upbeat, catchy, and get stuck in my head for days. Listening to it instantly puts me in a good mood. Honestly, there isn't one song that I don't like! Some of the songs have country influences, such as "Slim Pickins" and "Coincidence," while others are slower and convey deep emotion like "Dumb and Poetic" and "Lie to Girls." My favorite song on the album is "Good Graces" because it makes me want to get up and dance. The beat is so fun, and her voice sounds amazing! One thing that stands out on this album is its sense of humor. Many of the lyrics are corny but clever and will make listeners laugh out loud. 

By Fiona McCafferty

Released June 21, 2024

Favorite song: Risk

The Secret of Us is worth every 47 minutes, it feels like opening Gracies Abrams journal and reading the pages. The album opens with “Felt Good about you” , a song where Abrams reflects on the slight moments of hope and joy in an otherwise doomed relationship. The song's subtle guitar playing creates a warm and nostalgic feeling. As a whole the album feels deeply personal but it is also highly relatable to her 50 million monthly listeners on Spotify and other music platforms. My personal favorite on the album is “Risk,”  a standout track that highlights her songwriting and vocals as there is minimalist production with soft piano chords and faint electronic sounds. The song builds up and Abrams' delivery of the lyrics grows as well.   

Abrams also released a Deluxe version of his album on October 18, including four new songs and three live versions. The album closes with “Close to You,” a simple track which showcases the bittersweet tone of the album.  The Secret of Us solidifies Gracie Abrams as a talented performer and heartfelt lyricist.