3 days ago

Top 15 Albums of 2024 to Drink Tea To

Hello hello!

Welcome this year's Top Albums of 2024 to Drink Tea To!

This year's post will include 15 albums to drink tea to. These albums were hand-selected, to listen to while drinking tea. I strongly recommend listening to these albums in their entirety, and let the artist's work, and your tea, take you through a meditative tea drinking experience.

Below are the top 15! Let's dig in!

(Photo: Tea Time with Jamie XX's 'In Waves', album cover property of Young Record Label, under James Thomas Smith)

Top 15:

15. The Tortured Poets Department, The Anthology by Taylor Swift

14. My Method Actor by Nilufer Yanya

13. Evergreen by Soccer Mommy

12. Paradise by Purple Disco Machine

11. Ten Fold by Yaya Bey

Top 10:

10: What a Devistating Turn of Events by Rachel Chinouriri

English singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri released her indie-rock deubt studio album in 2024 This album's cohesion with its theme, helps drive home a raw emotion that pairs perfectly with tea time.

Tea Pairings: Sheng Puer or White Taa

9: The Great Impersonator by Halsey

Halsey's 5th studio album is one of the most raw and vulnerable albums released in 2024. The album's focus is on Halsey's coping with being diagnosed with both Lupus and a rare type of t-cell disorder, while also going through a divorce. Halsey's vulnerability is moving, and creates one special pairing with tea time.

Tea Pairings: Shou Puer, Black Tea, or Sheng Puer

8: My Light, My Destroyer by Cassandra Jenkens

Cassandra Jenken's 3rd indie-rock studio album is one of the strongest albums, lyrically, released in all of 2024. One of the highest critically acclaimed albums of 2024, this album's atmosphere and vulnerability makes this one incredible tea pairing.

Tea Pairings: Oolong Tea or White Tea

7: Loss of Life by MGMT

Loss of Light is MGMT's most unique album to date. This alternative rock album takes a large introspective look at the passing of time while growing up in a society that's passing by. The rawness of this album, and uniqueness in alt-rock production, creates a unique and vulnerable pairing with tea time.

Tea Pairings: Sheng Puer, Shou Puer, or Black Tea

6: All Born Screaming by St. Vincent

St. Vincent released her very first self-produced album, and is one massive tribute to classic 90's rock. With contributions from artists such as Dave Grohl and Cate Le Bon, this album creates one effortless and smooth atmosphere to drink tea with

Tea Pairings: Oolong Tea, White Tea, or Sheng Puer.

5: Endlessness by Nala Sinephro

This experimental jazz album uses orchestral and electronic elements. While being one of the most unique and out-of-pocket jazz albums to ever be released, this album creates one of the biggest calming and meditative atmospheres in all of 2024. Out of every album on this list, this album was the best to meditate to.

Tea Pairings: All

4: Imaginal Disc by Magdalena Bay

Imaginal Disc is one of Magdelena Bay's more pop-forward albums. This indie-pop album takes a unique look at pop music, and makes it an artistic experience. While being meditative, this album is also smooth to listen to and makes for light hearted and fun tea pairing experience.

Tea Pairings: White Tea, Sheng Puer, Shou Puer

3: In Waves by Jame XX

After a decade, Jamie XX released is 2nd album. While being one of the most successful breakout stars from indie-rock group The XX, Jamie XX created a senslessly-fun electronic album that borders the line between dance and meditation. Make sure to turn up the bass when listening this album, as it'll create a tea-pairing that will have you moving in your seat.

Tea Pairings: All

2: Girl with No Face by Allie X

Girl With No Face is Allie X's very first self-produced album, and is an ode to 80's goth synth-pop. The 80's have been done to death (in my opinion), however, Allie X brings a fun and unique perspective to the genre that feels like a love letter. This album also alludes to the fact that she feels like an out cast (due in-part to suffering from a chronic illness) and dives head-first "living in a weird world". This album's message is inclusive while being cheeky, emotional, and outright fun.

Tea Pairings: Sheng Puer, Black Tea, and Shou Puer

1: BRAT by Charli XCX

Charli XCX's BRAT consumed the zeitgeist for all of 2024. While this album is a fun pop/EDM album on the surace, the album's lyrics are hard-hitting and deal with depression, anxiety, and existential crisis by the larger-picture of life. This album's lyrical rawness was not only jarring, but also relatable and personable. While this album did hit the mainstream, it's a great indicator that society is ready to hit massive issues head-on -- something that has rarely been seen on such a large scale. The smooth production with the emotional lyrics, makes this for the best tea and music pairing of 2024.

Tea Pairings: All

Conclusion:

2024 was a big year for music. While music is so personable to so many people, hopefully this list will help you branch out into giving your tea time a new and unique experience.

What albums of 2024 have YOU paired with? Continue the conversation on instagram and let me know here!!

I can't wait to see what 2025 brings in terms of music.

Happy steeping!

Best wishes,

~Cody Wade

aka The Oolong Drunk

"Blissfully Tea Drunk"