This Sunday will mark the 67th annual Grammy awards, and what better way to celebrate than with a personally ranked list of all eight nominations.

8. “The Tortured Poets Department” by Taylor Swift

To be clear, I am not a Swift hater. If anything, I am a Swift lover, and that is why this album kind of felt disappointing to me. Lines like “I was a functioning alcoholic till nobody noticed my new aesthetic” and “You wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me” just feel so flat compared to her usual writings. I also feel that unlike most of the albums on this list, The Tortured Poets Department feels very safe and almost formulaic, especially compared to Folklore and Evermore, which only came out a few years ago. That being said, it’s not all a dub. Taylor still has a way of making great earworms with songs like I Can Do it With a Broken Heart being stuck in my head for months now. 

→ READ MORE: What were our editors’ favorite songs of 2024?

 7. “New Blue Sun” by André 3000

It’s now been 17 years since the group broke up, so when band member André 3000 finally announced his first solo album, expectations were high for what the Atlanta rapper had cooked up. To be blunt, this album sounds almost nothing like previous hits “Ms Jackson” and “Hey Ya”, but does a full 180 and is rather an ethereal instrumental 86 minute long art piece. With songs entitled I swear, I Really Wanted To Make a ‘Rap’ Album But This is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time, it’s clear that this has been a passion for André 3000. This album makes for fantastic ambient or background sound, and every song is truly beautifully arranged. Just don’t go in expecting anything you’ve come to associate with André 3000.

6. “Djesse Vol. 4” by Jacob Collier

Going into listening to this album, I was not familiar with Jacob Collier or any of three previous volumes of Djesse. However, I left this album more than surprised with how much I liked it. Collier’s songs are layered and arranged with such care that even when he covers a song like “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, it feels so special and unique. The RnB stylings are something that pairs really well with his large sounds, and is only amplified by the plethora of guest stars, including John Legend and Lizzy McAlpine. Jacob Collier is definitely someone who should be on your radar.

5. “Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter

Don’t lie, “Espresso” is probably playing in your head right now. The sixth album by this former Disney Channel star brought Carpenter to mega stardom. This album is just pure pop mixed with fun catchy lyrics to match; She sounds like this generation’s Taylor Swift. If you somehow didn’t listen to them, songs like “Please Please Please” and “Bed Chem” should be on your playlist ASAP.

4. “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” by Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish has been at the top of her game since her debut album in 2019, with angsty pop ballads and amazing vocals, and this latest outing is by no means an exception. At ten tracks long, this album has no fat or wasted moments. The breakout song “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” is a perfect example of the earworms Eilish is so great at crafting. If you ever find yourself with a free 45 minutes, this album should be listened to in full.

3. “BRAT” by Charli xcx

Few shades of green have quite the impact as BRAT’s, and there is a good reason for that. From “Apple” to “Club Classics” this album is the dance album of the decade. The beat of BRAT is hypnotizing- pulling listeners in to just start dancing a bopping in a way I haven’t felt since Kesha. Speaking of Kesha, very rarely does a remix album have the same impact but BRAT is most certainly an exception with “Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat”. Having arguably better versions of already amazing songs, “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish is a great example. It may have been a BRAT summer, but there is no reason not to have a BRAT winter too.

2. “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” by Chappell Roan

Almost out of nowhere, this Springfield Missouri native came on the scene blasting what could only be described as a “Femininomenon”. From “Red Wine Supernova” to “Pink Pony Club”, it’s hard not to want to take every one of these songs “Hot To Go” with just how catchy and poppy they are. There is very little left to say about this album that Chappell Roan hasn’t said for herself, and if you haven’t listened to it yet, then what are you even doing?

1. “Cowboy Carter” by Beyoncé

This ain’t no country album, this is A Beyoncé album. There is a reason that Queen Bey is the most Grammy award winning artist ever. However, there is absolutely no reason for her to have never won the coveted Album of the Year award. This album features the likes of Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Miley Cyrus, alongside a handful of up and coming stars and a wide range of songs including pop, country, rock, a Beatles cover, Brazilian funk, and just about everything in between. Her songs don’t just exist in a void, rather they lead into each other seamlessly. Put on your cowboy hats and enjoy some of the best production and songs of the past decade, if you ain’t converted to the BeyHive after listening, then I don’t know what to say.

By Cash Navarro