Top 10 Best Albums of September

I am a huge fan of catching up on new releases, and I love rating them when I get a chance. September has been a never-ending roller coaster of new music, and I am incredibly excited to see what October has to offer. Here are my top 10 records of the month.

10. Rex Orange County- The Alexander Technique 

7.1/10

Indie folk, baroque pop, singer-songwriter, R&B

Alex O’Connor’s first album since 2022’s WHO CARES? is a melancholic foray into indie folk and baroque pop. With production handled by the unbelievably talented James Blake, as well as Alex himself, it falls flat in certain aspects, but it is still an engaging and enjoyable listen.

9. The Alchemist- The Genuine Articulate

7.4/10

Jazz rap, instrumental hip-hop, abstract hip-hop

After a pretty productive 2024 so far, dropping the beat for Kendrick Lamar’s insane Drake diss “meet the grahams,” as well as producing new music for ScHoolboy Q, Action Bronson, Conway The Machine, and many others, The Alchemist has released a new instrumental album with smooth production and great sampling. It’s not his best instrumental album, but it’s pretty good by Alchemist standards. The features are amazing as well.

8. LL Cool J- THE FORCE

7.6/10

LL Cool J’s first solo album since 2013’s less-than-stellar Authentic is a wonderful, nostalgic tribute to 90s hip-hop, featuring great performances from industry titans such as Rick Ross, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem, as well as some great retro beats produced by the legendary Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. 

7. Molchat Doma- Belaya Polosa 

7.8/10

Belarusian darkwave band Molchat Doma returns to the studio for Belaya Polosa. This new album incorporates elements of trip-hop, gothic rock, alternative dance, and EBM, while also maintaining parts of the band’s signature sound. Its sparkling synths, pounding drum beats, dark production, and atmospheric vocals all make for an interesting and eclectic performance.

6. Midwife- No Depression In Heaven

8.0/10 

Slowcore, dream pop, ambient pop

The newest album by Midwife, the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Madeline Johnston, is an incredibly powerful and gloomy slowcore album, with 7 tracks of beautiful guitar melodies punctuated by Madeline’s depressive crooning vocals. It’s certainly not Low, Ethel Cain, Duster, or Red House Painters, but it is still a solid, compelling slowcore album.

5. Ginger Root- SHINBANGUMI

8.2/10

City pop, bedroom pop, shibuya-kei 

Ginger Root’s 3rd album is a unique blend of indie pop and 1980s Japanese city pop, with an upbeat and nostalgic sound punctuated by hazy synth pads, punchy brass, funky drum beats, and frontman Cameron Lew’s warm and relaxed vocals.

4. Floating Points- Cascade

8.3/10

Progressive house, techno house

The newest studio effort from British electronic artist Sam Shepherd, also known as Floating Points, is a fresh collection of infectiously danceable house tracks, complete with booming percussive rhythms, deep bass, and complex synth arrangements. 

3. Jamie xx- In Waves

8.5/10

Progressive house, deep house, ambient techno, IDM

In Waves is a breathtaking, brilliant progressive house album and a wonderful return for Jamie xx, after his 2013 debut In Colour. Featuring entrancing samples, crystal clear production, and great vocal performances from an eclectic host of guests, it’s an amazing listening experience, and I’m excited to see what Jamie drops next.

2. Nala Sinepho- Endlessness

8.6/10

Space ambient, jazz fusion, third stream

Nala Sinepho’s newest addition to the jazz fusion world is a futuristic, cosmic journey across 45 minutes of captivating synth solos, combining hazy production, intricate saxophone rhythms, satisfying melodies, and more to create a unique and enthralling sound.

1. 40 Watt Sun- Little Weight

8.8/10

Doomgaze, doom metal, slowcore, post-metal, shoegaze

40 Watt Sun’s beautiful blend of doom metal and slowcore has been copied before by bands such as Jesu and Have a Nice Life, but it seems like it will never be replicated. Frontman Patrick Walker’s stunning vocals backed by walls of shattering, fuzzy guitars are tear-jerking and absolutely breathtaking to listen to.

These have been my favorite albums of the month, tune in for October’s edition to see more! Thank you for reading!