24 IDs, Infinite Vibes: GRiZ’s ‘ID Bible’ Breaks Boundaries
January 15, 2025
January 15, 2025
January 2025 Artist Spotlight: Quackson
As 2024 comes to a close and Spotify Wrapped makes its highly-anticipated appearance, many are reflecting back on their music highlights of the year. To join in on the fun, I asked the RB Writing Team to participate in a three-part series consisting of their top tracks, albums, and breakout artists of 2024. Last week we kicked off the series with Top Tracks of 2024, so without further ado let’s get into our writers’ top albums of 2024 below:
Jake Kwapiszeski
When I heard Svdden Death was releasing an album I knew that it was going to be a good year for music. Harbinger, Svdden Deaths newest album, did not disappoint. With the album came a collection of the best IDs that he has been playing over the last year. Harbinger is 10 songs of pure riddim madness. We not only got a full length Svdden Death album, but also a collaboration EP with Marshmello. Both Harbinger and Mellodeath Tapes Vol. 1 were in my top albums of the year and no one has the same energy as Svdden Death. I will see the DEATH CVLT at Decadence AZ!
There are few artists who can say that they have ever had a year that compares to the year that Subtronics is having. The influence that Subtronics has had across the internet as well as the music world is nothing short of astounding. It is easy to see why Subtronics has taken over the dubstep scene when you take a listen to his newest album, Tesseract. This album is song after song of unique anthems which Subtronics has been playing over the last few years. The energy and unique design in each of its 16 songs.
Chase Courtney
My pick for favorite album of 2024 is I Contain Flashing Images by No Mana. This album was my first time hearing No Mana’s music and I was impressed from the first track. The intro and album title establish the album as a visual experience. A unique creative decision that lives up to the hype. I Contain Flashing Images is a digital wonderland and features notable guest appearances including SOFI, Feed Me, and Voicians. The album is beautifully mixed and sounds like an eclectic video game. Every song on the album is magnificent and creates a live experience unlike anything else. My favorite standout tracks are “Roadburn,” “Digital Friends,” and “Hopeless.” My favorite hook on the album is from “Digital Friends.” It captures the excitement that one feels from connecting with someone new in our texting, social media based culture. I highly recommend this album! It will take you on an unforgettable journey through it’s vivid color pallet and chunky basslines. ENJOY!
Hana Hamdan
It’s not a secret that 2024 was the year of BRAT. Charli XCX’s innovative blend of electronic beats and pop sensibilities created an electrifying soundscape that resonated with listeners worldwide. The album’s infectious energy and bold production choices set it apart, offering a fresh take on dance music that kept fans moving from start to finish. Her collaboration with top producers and artists in the industry added layers of depth and variety, making BRAT a standout in a year filled with remarkable dance music releases.
John Summit’s album Comfort in Chaos gave us an immersive listening experience that has lasted all year long. The album seamlessly blends high-energy tracks with introspective moments, reflecting the duality of comfort and chaos in a way that resonates deeply. Summit’s impeccable production skills and ability to create infectious grooves ensured that each track was a dancefloor anthem. His unique approach to blending different house music subgenres made Comfort in Chaos a standout release, setting a new standard in the dance music scene.
Perfectly capturing the essence of their signature sound, RÜFÜS DU SOL’s Inhale/Exhale gave us a mesmerizing journey through lush soundscapes, emotional lyrics, and unforgettable rhythms. Each track flows seamlessly into the next, creating a hypnotic experience that feels both intimate and expansive. Their ability to blend organic and electronic elements makes the album stand out, offering something fresh and deeply resonant. It’s the kind of album that you can get lost in, whether you’re dancing at a festival or just chilling at home.
My personal favorite release of this year, Gorgon City’s Reverie, masterfully blends deep house grooves with catchy melodies, creating a vibe that’s both dance-heavy and emotionally engaging. The duo’s production skills shine through each track, offering a perfect balance of high-energy and introspective moments. Listening to this album is like being lost in an endless daydream, surrounded by the most incredible soundscape.
Dayne Harris
LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND by ATLiens took the cake for me this year. I hadn’t listened to them too much prior, but seeing them for the first time at Apocalypse this year completely blew my mind. They played a few songs from the album, and I loved every single one. So many songs were far more euphoric than I expected, with “Black Sheep” being my favorite by far.
Calvin Witmer Jr.
CAN YOU SEE ME? was absolutely groundbreaking for Rezz. Highly collaborative and extremely diverse, this project allowed her to dive into her heavier bass sounds and explore a new realm of production. Dark, hypnotic, and industrial, this album still possesses all of the signature elements Rezz is known for, while diving deeper and harder than ever before. An absolute spooky soul-shaker that will have you dancing down to your bones.
Jonathan Lee
As LSDREAM and Clozee enter 2025 with a pure focus on their LSZEE project (which will be the last year of the project), I cannot help but look back in 2024 and consider LSZEE for album of the year. Two titans in the bass community joining forces has produced something arguably bigger than the sum of the two parts, and their technical skills and styles have merged extremely well. With their combined minds, everything on this album has such intention, intricate detail, and a wow factor. With chiller, mood setting songs such as “EMPYRE, Pt. 2” and “MOTHER EARTH,” funky spacey masterpieces such as “French Dream” and “Wook Whistle,” and huge powerful pieces such as “DESTINY,” this album has something for everyone. The album is a journey through bass music, creating worlds of art at every turn.
Courtney Longhurst
Although it’s already been mentioned in this list, I think my favorite album of the year would have to be John Summit’s Comfort in Chaos. It’s hard to deny that Summit’s debut album was probably the most anticipated release of the year, given the magnitude to which he’s risen in just a few short years. This album lived up to the hype, including festival favorites like “Where You Are” with HAYLA, “Shiver” with HAYLA, and “Go Back” with Sub Focus as well as innovative originals like “Stay With Me” with Of The Trees and “Tears” with Paige Cavell. John Summit continues to defy genre boundaries and I’m so excited to see what this next era of this career will look like in 2025 and beyond.
