At the end of every year, the Plugged In team casts a glance back at what we’ve reviewed in every category over the previous 12 months or so. I’ve been fielding our choices in the music realm for this annual blog since 2013. The funny thing about this process is that it seems to be either feast or famine. And this year was definitely on the thin side in terms of albums or tracks that might be worthy of your attention.
I generally try to provide a diverse list of possibilities, in terms of genre, solo artists or bands, Christian musicians and mainstream ones, and male and female singers. This year, though, there’s less diversity than I’d like, especially when it comes to female performers.
We’ve reviewed many of the biggest female artists in the industry this year: Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande and Gracie Abrams. There’s a lot to say about each of them and the songs that they’ve given us this year; unfortunately, they each come freighted with some pretty big concerns, too.
As we move into 2025, we’ll keep an eye out not only for the biggest movers and shakers in the musical world, but also for the artists crafting songs worthy of a listen because of their redemptive or thought-provoking perspective on the world.
And one final disclaimer of sorts: As with all of our year-end picks, inclusion on this list doesn’t mean that the songs and artists we’ve highlighted are without flaws. Several of my choices below come with some content issues that you should be aware of. So before streaming or purchasing any of these artists’ works, we’d encourage you to read our full reviews of these tracks and albums.
So … enough preamble. Let’s dive into Plugged In‘s picks for best music of 2024!
Jelly Roll, Beautifully Broken
Jelly Roll’s latest effort is not without some significant disclaimers—which I’ll get to in a minute. But first, a confession. Jelly Roll (born Jason DeFord) has blown up the last couple of years, but I didn’t really get it. After listening to this album, though, I do. Not only does he have terrific country vocal chops, but Jelly Roll’s transparent, vulnerable songs offer a front-row seat for the internal battles we all face. His include a war with addiction and substance abuse.
But even if those struggles aren’t a part of your story, what we get here is a powerful collection of songs that unpack the tension between addiction and grace, failure and forgiveness. And even though this isn’t technically a Christian album, it may as well be with lyrics like, “Dear Lord, can you help me?/I’ve fallen out of grace/ … I’m shackled in these chains/I’m haunted by the lies of every time I said I’d change” (“Heart of Stone”). That said, there’s one harsh profanity here and a handful of milder ones that remind us we’re not dealing with a CCM artist. That language may be a deal-breaker for some. But it’s also infrequent enough to be navigable on this otherwise powerfully personal album about holding onto faith amid failure.
ROSÉ, “number one girl”
I mentioned above that many of most popular female singers this year produced music that just has too many concerns for us to be able to include them on this list. ROSÉ’s hit “number one girl” has some issues, too. But I think they’re navigable ones, and they might even provide a catalyst for a deeper conversation with tween or teen girls about value and self-worth. In “number one girl,” this Korean singer delivers an achingly painful plea for affirmation and acceptance. She wants to know that she has value and that her romantic partner cares for her in a committed, exclusive way: “Tell me that I’m special, tell me I look pretty/ … Say what I’m dying to hear/’Cause I’m dying to hear you.”
There’s a rawness here that makes me protective of this 27-year-old singer. But that very vulnerability could lead to deeper questions with our kids: Where does my value come from? How do I handle rejection? When is it appropriate to open our hearts to love, and when do we need to protect them? “Number one girl” begs those sorts of questions, even if ROSÉ at times seems prone to compromise in order to find the love she so desperately longs for.
Justin Timberlake, “Selfish”
You might be surprised to find a Justin Timberlake song on this list. After all, his music has regularly featured risqué moments, and his personal life has drifted into the tabloid zone a few times, too. That said, this track unabashedly declares the former *NSYNC singer’s love for his wife, actress Jessical Biel: “And my heart would go flatline/If it wasn’t beatin’ for you all the time.” A few lines here are mildly suggestive, but Timberlake keeps it pretty PG overall. And along the way, we get a lovely, even gushy dose of a husband’s love for his wife. Very nice stuff from Mr. Timberlake.
Skillet, Revolution
If there’s a constant through line in my end-of-year Best of Music lists through the years, it’s Skillet. That’s because year in and year out, John Cooper and his band keep cranking out crushing metal that challenges listeners to keep the faith. And the band has faithfully executed that calling for nearly 30 years now. Skillet’s latest album, Revolution, delivers another barrage of songs that acknowledge life’s hurts but encourage us to press through them. The song “Defector,” for instance, poignantly articulates that dichotomy between struggle and perseverance as we trust in God’s love for us: “I will be your light when you can’t see/ … I know the battle you’ve been through/I’m never backing out on you.” Revolution unleashes plenty more where that came from, as Cooper and Co. keep their unwavering focus on God’s character.
Forrest Frank, Child of God (Deluxe)
In contrast to Skillet, Forrest Frank is a relative newcomer to the Christian music scene. The 29-year-old, who’s also one-half of the pop duo Surfaces, is on a mission: to craft memorable music from a faith perspective. Plugged In reviewer Jackson Greer writes, “Forrest Frank wants you to know that Christian music doesn’t have to be boring.” The “Deluxe” edition of his latest album, Child of God, spans a whopping 27 tracks, dealing with subjects such as depression, fatherhood and marriage. He recently told Christianity Today that he believes many in his generation are craving music that “speaks openly and unapologetically about Jesus.” And this album definitely makes good on speaking directly to that hunger for Christ-focused truth … that isn’t boring.
And that’s it! Those are Plugged In‘s choices for best music of 2024.
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