As 2024 wraps up, we pause to celebrate the standout music that shaped the year.
From fresh debuts to long-awaited returns, we’ve curated a list of 100 albums that have left a lasting impression. This selection is a reflection of the records that have resonated most with our customers—whether through high demand at the counter or widespread praise. It captures the variety that fills the shelves at Rough Trade and the diverse tastes of our audience. Our Vinyl Albums of the Year list is a vibrant mix of artists and albums that span the rich musical spectrum of 2024.
Here’s the Top 20 Vinyl Albums of the Year 2024 list (full Top 100 below), with details of the exclusive recordings released to celebrate, available only at Rough Trade NYC, in-store and online:
Album of the Year
SOPHIE - SOPHIE
Future Classic / Transgressive
This album was created by SOPHIE and some of her most cherished collaborators. Close to completion when she tragically died, it has been lovingly finalized by those who hold her closest. As SOPHIE’s studio manager and most trusted sounding board for over a decade, Ben Long was heavily involved in the release of Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-insides, with mastering, production and mixing credits to his name. The two then worked together over several years developing the concept and production of this follow-up album, which Benny has lovingly completed, honoring Sophie’s vision.
"It’s been the greatest of honors for Transgressive to be involved with what we consider to be a truly timeless, transcendent and landmark album. Thank you, Rough Trade; we are forever grateful for all of your support."
Toby L, Founder, Transgressive Records
EXCLUSIVE: SOPHIE (Rough Trade Exclusive silver vinyl) + Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-insides Non-Stop Remix Album (Rough Trade Exclusive red vinyl)
READ NOW: In Conversation with Ben Long, SOPHIE's brother
English Teacher - This Could Be Texas
The thrilling debut album This Could Be Texas from Leeds indie frontrunners English Teacher. Singles "The World’s Biggest Paving Slab," "Nearly Daffodils," and "Mastermind Specialism," which were all A-listed on the BBC 6 Music playlist, English Teacher’s remarkable ascent continues to reach new levels, having completed sold-out debut UK and US headline runs last autumn, following their thrilling debut appearance on Later With...Jools Holland.
EXCLUSIVE: This Could be Texas (Rough Trade Exclusive gold vinyl) + Live from BBC Maida Vale (Rough Trade Exclusive chalk white vinyl)
Laura Marling - Patterns in Repeat
Written after the birth of her daughter in 2023 (and recorded with her in the room), Patterns in Repeat now finds Laura Marling reflecting on her own experience becoming a mother. The sounds are grounded in a specific and revelatory time in Laura's life, but more broadly dives deeper into her reckoning with the ideas and behaviors we pass down through family over generations.
Almost entirely acoustic with minimal overdubbing and elegantly placed orchestral accents, this is the most focused, subtle and sharpest collection of Laura's career.
EXCLUSIVE: Patterns in Repeat (Cream vinyl) + Laura Marling Sings Raffi (Rough Trade Exclusive 11 Track LP)
The Smile - Cutouts
The trio - Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and Tom Skinner - debuted several songs from Cutouts during The Smile’s UK tour in March. Cutouts features 10 new-tracks and is produced by Sam Petts-Davies. It’s the band’s third studio album following Wall of Eyes, released in January, and the trio’s 2022 debut album A Light For Attracting Attention. Cutouts was recorded in Oxford and at Abbey Road Studios during the same period of time as Wall Of Eyes. The album features string arrangements by the London Contemporary Orchestra and the album art was painted during the recording process by Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke.
EXCLUSIVE: Rough Trade Exclusive Live at the BBC 6 Music Festival 2024 12" in a slipcase built to house both Wall of Eyes and Cutouts LPs sold separately
The Last Dinner Party - Prelude To Ecstasy
The band’s songwriting is testament to all the buzz and excitement already accumulated. As it should be. Rather than wilt under the spotlight, they’ve arguably become a tighter, stronger unit because of it. Prelude To Ecstasy is both the closing of that introductory chapter and the opening of the next. The Last Dinner Party? Believe the hype.
EXCLUSIVE: Prelude to Ecstasy (Rough Trade Exclusive cream vinyl) + Prelude to Ecstasy: Acoustics and Covers (Rough Trade Exclusive mirror board sleeve variant)
IDLES - TANGK
Tangk is the righteous and vibrant fifth album from madcap truth-seekers, IDLES. Pronounced “tank” with a whiff of the “g” - an onomatopoeic reference to the lashing way the band imagined their guitars sounding that has since grown into a sigil for living in love - the record is the band’s most ambitious and striking work yet. Where IDLES were once set on taking the world’s piss, squaring off with strong jaws against the perennially entitled, and exercising personal trauma in real time, they have arrived in this new act to offer the fruits of such perseverance: love, joy, and indeed gratitude for the mere opportunity of existence.
EXCLUSIVE: Live at Glastonbury (Rough Trade Exclusive 12” featuring performances from IDLES’ landmark Glastonbury 2024 festival performance)
Amyl and The Sniffers - Cartoon Darkness
Cartoon Darkness is driving head first into the unknown, into this looming sketch of the future that feels terrible, but doesn’t even exist yet. A childlike darkness. I don’t want to meet the devil half-way and mourn what we have right now. The future is cartoon, the prescription is dark, but it's novelty. It's just a joke. It's fun.
EXCLUSIVE: Amyl and The Sniffers: Live at the Fonda (Rough Trade Exclusive 6-track live set recorded at The Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles on Thursday 15 August, 2024)
Charli XCX - BRAT
Brat is an exhilarating club record built around high art references and social commentary. Avant-pop and electronic superstar Charli XCX has become an iconic figure in the arts, having helped expand the landscape of popular music over the last decade by seamlessly traversing the underground and mainstream with her artistic output. Over the course of a trailblazing career, the multi-hyphenate creative has earned critical acclaim for her innovative style and entrepreneurial spirit and seen her forward-thinking approach reshape pop culture in the process.
EXCLUSIVE: brat and its the same... (Rough Trade Exclusive photobooth edition)
SPRINTS - Letter To Self
Letter to Self is the sound of SPRINTS consolidating and leveling up. Exhibiting their most vulnerable moments and imbuing their visceral garage-punk with a palpable sense of catharsis that we can all benefit from. Inspired by Savages, their sound matured into energetic and abrasive garage-punk, synthesizing influences ranging from early Pixies, Bauhaus, Siouxsie Sioux, IDLES and LCD Soundsystem.
EXCLUSIVE: Sprints: Live in Dublin (Rough Trade Exclusive magenta vinyl)
READ NOW: Shoplifting with SPRINTS
Yard Act - Where’s My Utopia?
The return of Yard Act. Where’s My Utopia? is the follow up to the Leeds band’s critically-acclaimed debut record The Overload which arrived in January 2022. Written in snapshots of time between a relentless touring schedule, and produced jointly by the band and Gorillaz’ Remi Kabaka Jr, the quartet’s second act is a giant leap forward into broad and playful new sonic waters. Across the record, influences ranging from Fela Kuti to Ennio Moricone via Spiller’s ‘00s pop smash ‘Groovejet’ make themselves known.
EXCLUSIVE: Yard Act: Live at the Nave (Covers EP recorded exclusively for Rough Trade.) + Yard Act: Live at Rough Trade (Rough Trade Exclusive live EP recorded at Rough Trade East in 2024.)
Father John Misty - Mahashmashana
After a decade being born, Josh Tillman is finally busy dying. Mahashmashana is the sixth album by Father John Misty. It was produced by Josh Tillman and Drew Erickson. It was engineered and additionally produced by Michael Harris. It was arranged by Drew Erickson. It was performed by Josh Tillman, Drew Erickson, Jonathan Wilson, Dan Bailey, Eli Thomson, David Vandervelde, Chris Dixie Darley, Jon Titterington, and Kyle Flynn. It was executive produced by Jonathan Wilson.
EXCLUSIVE: Mahashmashana (Rough Trade Exclusive blue mash-up vinyl with bonus print).
Denzel Curry - King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2
A long-awaited album blending sounds from the South's hip hop heritage, ‘90s inspired beats referencing Memphis and luminary groups like Three6Mafia. Featuring artists like A$AP Rocky, 2 Chainz, Ty Dolla Sign, Juicy J and many more, the album reminisces on Curry's career and reconciles past relationships. Departing from his concept-driven albums, it highlights Curry's rap prowess and creative spontaneity.
EXCLUSIVE: King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2 (Rough Trade Exclusive silver vinyl includes bonus flexi 7" with unreleased song "Mystic Freestyle")
Fontaines D.C. - Romance
Romance is Fontaines D.C.'s most ambitious, expansive record yet, its 11 tracks constellating ideas that have been percolating among the members since they released Skinty Fia in 2022. These ideas crystalized while touring the U.S. and Mexico with Arctic Monkeys as the five band members shared music and found a through-line with artists that deftly build out their own sprawling creative worlds: the attitude and aesthetic sheen of artists like Shygirl and Sega Bodega, the bolshy sonic palettes of hip hop and heavy metal, Mos Def, A$AP Ferg, OutKast and Korn.
Ezra Collective - Dance No One's Watching
Dance, No One's Watching is an ode to the sacred, yet joyous act of dancing, an album that musically guides you through a night out in the city, from the opening of possibilities as a new evening spans out ahead, to dawn’s final hours as the night comes to a close.
EXCLUSIVE: Dance, No One's Watching (Rough Trade Exclusive blue vinyl with signed postcard)
St. Vincent - All Born Screaming
Album number seven and St. Vincent continues to thrill, educate and be innovative. Her first fully self-produced album (having co-produced every one of her previous efforts), All Born Screaming is St. Vincent at her most primal.
EXCLUSIVE: All Born Screaming (Rough Trade Exclusive white vinyl with signed poster.)
Clairo - Charm
American indie-pop luminary Clairo returns with third album, Charm, co-produced by Clairo and Leon Michels (of The Dap-Kings and El Michels Affair). Evoking balmy summer evenings and tête-à-têtes in plush conversation pits, Charm is a collection of warm, 70’s-inspired grooves that move lithely between jazz, psychedelic folk and soul.
EXCLUSIVE: Charm (Rough Trade Exclusive pink coral vinyl)
Kneecap - Fine Art
Heavenly Recordings / [PIAS] Group
Across the record’s twelve tracks and the interconnecting moments between them (recorded by the band and friends including DJ Annie Mac), the pub comes to life vividly, providing the perfect backdrop for the cast of characters that join the dots throughout the album. From the moment the idea was born back in Toddla T’s studio, it was the obvious location to base the world of Kneecap in.
EXCLUSIVE: Fine Art (Rough Trade Exclusive tri-color vinyl w/ bonus flexi)
READ NOW: Label Focus: [PIAS] Group w/ exclusive interview
Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk
Magdalena Bay, the Los Angeles-based duo of Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin, create magical pop music that floats in the ether of our collective social cosmos. While they call California home, their essence lies in the clouds, emitting unique yet familiar frequencies of synthesized nostalgia, kitschy catchiness, and warped neo-hooks. Suited for the times, Magdalena Bay blends the known and felt with innovative sonic landscapes.
EXCLUSIVE: Imaginal Disk (Rough Trade Exclusive translucent vinyl)
Knocked Loose - You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To
As Knocked Loose chipped away at what would become their third album, they felt the pressure from all sides. Internally, there was the need to challenge themselves as songwriters while retaining the merciless intensity and unflinching honesty that have always been their calling cards. Externally, there was a whole new set of eyes on the hard-touring Louisville quintet, following a banner year in which they’d brought their underground-seasoned sound to some of the world’s biggest stages, finding themselves the unlikely viral darlings of both Coachella and Bonnaroo.
EXCLUSIVE: You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To (Rough Trade Exclusive algae colored vinyl with signed hardcover hymnal book featuring songs and imagery from "You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To, "Upon Loss" and "A Tear In The Fabric Of Life".)
Cassandra Jenkins - My Light, My Destroyer
What’s most remarkable about My Light, My Destroyer is it captures an artist at an exciting leap in her evolution. So much about the album feels of-a-kind with its predecessors; field recordings and found sound permeate, narrative songwriting crashes into heady, swirling compositions. Jenkins sings with what can only be described as a power- whisper (think Sufjan Stevens, Annie Lennox, Margo Timmins or YHF-era Tweedy), her vocals up close and intimate but subtly confrontational. But it all feels bigger here, more finely honed, bolder and richer than her previous work and than her peers.
EXCLUSIVE: My Light, My Destroyer (Indie Exclusive pink vinyl w/ NYC exclusive signed lyric book)