9 Feel-Good Music Albums to Listen to in 2024

2024 has undoubtedly been an incredible musical experience. People witnessed long-running singers finally come into sight (we see you, Chappell Roan), new niche discoveries, and grand comebacks. Here’s a roundup of the best feel-good music albums this year, plus a few solo releases that deserve a spotlight on this list.

1. “BRAT” by Charli XCX

BRAT is easily one of the best albums of the year. It’s a collection of hard-hitting, dance-pop hits that overtook pop culture and politics. At this point, it’s a cultural movement — brat aesthetic, brat summer and feral girl summer — whatever you call it, this trend quickly dominated TikTok. The remix album was released last October. It seems like the brat era is showing no signs of slowing down.

Must-listen songs: “Apple” and “Von dutch”

2. “Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter

This album’s songs — particularly “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” — launched Sabrina into a new level of stardom. Short n’ Sweet is her second “big, sexy girl” album, containing sparkly pop-rock, semi-sapphic and R&B hits — everything you’ll want in a feel-good music album.

Must-listen songs: “Bed Chem” and “Juno”

3. “Buzz” by NIKI

Imagine waking up on a Sunday morning in a city — this album would be the ideal music to energize you throughout the day. Aside from the funky, pop and jazz influences, enjoy Niki’s witty metaphors about how she’s falling deeply in love with her partner. This album will get you obsessed if you’re into alternative indie pop.

Must-listen songs: “Buzz” and “Too Much Of A Good Thing”

4. “Radical Optimism” by Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa feels like a part two of Future Nostalgia, starting strong with a song reminiscent of a psychedelic summer. The funky, dance-pop and electropop traces — paired with catchy and danceable lyrics — make it a perfect feel-good music album that’s worth dancing to.

Must-listen songs: “Houdini” and “Illusion”

5. “eternal sunshine” by Ariana Grande

2024 is a great year for Ariana Grande’s music and acting career. This emotional album draws inspiration from the 2004 film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and has amassed more than 120% in sales. While many songs are about reminiscing about a breakup or moving on, some hits deserve a place in your feel-good music playlist.

Must-listen songs: “the boy is mine” and “yes, and?”

6. “The Tortured Poets Department” by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s album perfectly encapsulates her soft-rock, synth-pop, country and folk influences. While it’s not as upbeat as Dua’s releases or as modern as Charli xcx’s BRAT hits, the album’s feel-good aura comes from the raw lyrics and beautiful melodies. 

Also, if you’re simultaneously looking for a song for a breakup playlist, “How Did It End?” is a great addition.

Must-listen songs: “Down Bad” and “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys”

7. CHROMAKOPIA by Tyler, The Creator

If hip-hop music is your jam, CHROMAKOPIA will have you ascending. It’s one of the 33-year-old rapper’s best releases after IGOR. Expect lots of bass and synth sounds that’ll make you want to jump and bang your head. Give the whole album multiple listens and you’ll appreciate how cohesive everything is.

Must-listen songs: “Sticky” and “Rah Tah Tah”

8. “Deeper Well” by Kacey Musgraves

Country music has a conservative reputation. However, if you define feel-good music is chill and relaxing, this album might be perfect for you. Listening to the songs feels like a warm hug or therapy due to Kacey’s positivity and motivational messages in the songs — just pure perfection.

Must-listen songs: “Flower Child” and “Too Good to Be True”

9. “GUTS (spilled)” by Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia is best known for her killer vocals, catchy hooks, unbeatable bridges and stellar storytelling. Get all of these and more in her GUTS (spilled) album. A caveat — she does use some language — which can be too much for her age — but her songs are truly enjoyable and good for occasional headbanging.

Must-listen songs: “get him back!” and “pretty isn’t pretty”

4 Mood-Boosting Solo Releases of 2024

Not all mood boosters come in carefully curated albums. Hit play to these bops today:

1. “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars

This has got to be the most random collaboration of the year, but boy, they delivered. Whatever type of serotonin they poured into this catchy song has us hooked and yearning for more.

2. “Nasty” by Tinashe

We bet this song has been stuck in your head for some time. It’s a perfect song for a bachelorette party or when you feel alone.

3. “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan

Chappell has had a spell on many people this year. If there’s the Best Bridge Award, it should go to this song. It’s fun, quirky, explicit and has a Talking Heads vibe. It has such an 80s teen movie vibe. Seriously, the Chappell era is just about to begin.

4. “Touch” by KATSEYE

This cute, catchy song has equally adorable choreography that’s easy to memorize. Although the TikTok-coded structure may be a bit repetitive to some people’s liking, it will give you major LSS vibes.

3 Feel-Good Albums of 2023 That Are Still Worth Listening to

We can’t deny it — some albums do age like fine wine. Here are some records that are still making waves in the music industry to this day:

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

Chappell has been a star in the making for the past few years, and although this album was technically released last year, it reached its peak in 2024. From synth-party-anthem vibes of HOT TO GO! to the Lana-Del-Rey-esque nostalgia of “Picture You,” this album reflects Chappell’s fun, tear-jerking and flirty anecdotes.

Must-listen songs: “Femininomenon” and “HOT TO GO!”

2. “Something To Give Each Other” by Troye Sivan

This is one of the biggest pop albums of 2023. It showcases the healing Troye has found in the people around him. He’s more confident and the songs are more upbeat than the hits in Bloom and Blue Neighbourhood. 

Must-listen songs: “Rush” and “Got Me Started”

3. “Get Up” by NewJeans

K-pop girl group NewJeans is fairly new to the industry but has already cemented itself as a force to be reckoned with. The girls released a bop after bop after bop, and the public has well-received everything. The Get Up album is a collection of feel-good tunes, making them an ideal gateway to K-pop.

Must-listen songs: “Super Shy” and “ETA”

Complete Your Feel-Good Music Playlist Today

As 2024 ends in just a few days, the fun doesn’t have to end. This year has brought us some fantastic music, and now’s the perfect time to celebrate and enjoy it.