Do men still make music? I don’t know and honestly don’t care. 2024, the Year of the Main Pop Girl, you will always be remembered. I shall miss the extensive list of upcoming albums in my notes app and the rush of all those precious Friday midnight listening sessions. (You’re a fake stan if you go to sleep and listen during normal hours. Sorry.) We went from Ariana Grande, to Beyoncé, to Taylor Swift, to Billie Eilish, to Charli XCX, to Sabrina Carpenter… what a thrilling, transformative ride. I’m a new woman now — one who’s empowered to embrace my me espresso and become a 365 party girl.

As we reach the end of this historic period of pop, I’m pleasantly exhausted, full of gratitude, and eagerly anticipating the two albums we might get in 2025: Chappell Roan’s sophomore album and Olivia Rodrigo’s third album. After all, these heroes of mine are pretty much the only pop girls who didn’t release this year. My whole personality is worshipping these people, so without further ado, here’s my official ranking of the 2024 Main Pop Girl albums.

2024 Pop Girl Albums, Ranked

1. BRAT – Charli XCX

Best Song: “Sympathy is a knife”

Objectively speaking, BRAT is the album of the year. I cannot wrap my head around how she used inspo from family trauma, complex female relationships, jealousy, anxieties about having a kid, and more sensitive topics to craft some of the catchiest club hits ever written. Still recovering. BRAT fall, here we come.

2. Eternal Sunshine – Ariana Grande

Best Song: “intro (end of the world)”

Thank the lord she took a break from Glinda for three seconds to make this album because holy fuck. From top to bottom, this record is so purely Ari — it’s inspired by her favorite movie, the intro is the most beautiful sound you’ve ever heard, the vocals could save lives, her Nonna makes an appearance, and she has both playful and brutally honest tracks. No notes from me.

3. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT – Billie Eilish

Best Song: “LUNCH” & “L’AMOUR DE MA VIE” tie

This woman is a living legend at 22 years old. Do you realize how insane that is? In Billie and Finneas’ latest dazzling album, they expand their signature, dark sound palette, take advantage of Billie’s under-appreciated vocal range, and get real about fame, body image, sexuality, and more.

4. C, XOXO – Camila Cabello

Best Song: “I LUV IT (feat. Playboi Carti)”

My review: I luv it, I luv it, I luv it, I luv it, I luv it, I luv it, I luv it! Seriously though, you people can hate all you want, but you’re missing out on some truly fire experimental pop. The deluxe version of this album minus Drake and the other random interludes is near-perfect. Give it a try.

5. Quantum Baby – Tinashe

Best Song: “Getting No Sleep”

Is somebody gonna match her freak? It’s the most pressing question of 2024. As a woman who’s plagued by insomnia, “Getting No Sleep” speaks to my soul. In this concise pop/R&B masterpiece of an album, Tinashe’s falling in love, she’s telling off men, she’s partying, she’s feeling herself… I’m obsessed.

6. Short N’ Sweet – Sabrina Carpenter

Best Song: “Sharpest Tool”

Jesus was a Carpenter and so am I. “Sharpest Tool,” “Taste,” and “Slimpickins” are on repeat, but I do prefer Sabrina’s last album, emails I can’t send. As Sab once said, “Sue me.”

7. Cowboy Carter – Beyoncé

Best Song: “RIVERDANCE”

It’s obviously challenging to group Beyoncé in with “main pop girls” because she’s in a category of her own, but I’m certainly not gonna not include her. (Glaring at you, CMAs.) While this album has epic moments, it’s a little too lengthy and sonically all over the place for me. I’m a Renaissance girlie through and through.

8. TYLA – Tyla

Best Song: “Jump”

Tyla, you were born to be a superstar. This self-titled project full of pop, afrobeats, and R&B vibes is a fierce debut! There are a few skips for me, but I’m excited to see her grow as an artist and explore more subject matter.

9. The Secret of Us – Gracie Abrams

Best Song: “Tough Love”

Gracie, Gracie, Gracie. You definitely would “waste [your] 20s on random men,” but if Paul Mescal is the random man in question, that’s so valid. TSOU is a solid batch of melancholy pop songs! *Whispers* Would love to see her work with a non-Aaron Dessner producer next time.

10. The Tortured Poets Department – Taylor Swift

Best Song: “Guilty As Sin?”

I love this song. Did I need the other 5,000? Not necessarily. She’s in an unfortunate habit of trying to cram the whole dictionary into one album.

11. Deeper Well – Kacey Musgraves

Best Song: “Cardinal”

Personally, I’m more of a fun and sassy Kacey girl than a quiet, reflective Kacey girl, so I find the majority of this album beautiful but underwhelming. That being said, “Cardinal” is chef’s kiss!

12. Radical Optimism – Dua Lipa

Best Song: “These Walls”

Now, Dula Peep couldn’t possibly top Future Nostalgia, and this was a failed attempt at FN Part 2, but still love her and “Walls” and “End of an Era” do absolutely slap.