As 2024 comes to an end, and the countdown to the holiday season dwindles to a close, there’s one thing on every college student’s mind – more than all the newfound free time that comes with winter break, more than spending time with friends and family, and even more than finals – Spotify Wrapped (or Apple Music Replay if you’re lame). Unfortunately, at the time of writing this, the neat present that is a reflection of your year’s listening habits and embarrassing guilty pleasure songs that somehow made it into your top 5 most played songs, has yet to come out. So instead, enjoy the staff at A-Line Magazine’s favorite albums of all time.

Sunny Boy - Ritt Momney, 2021

Alternative/Indie, Pop

Reagan French - Events Team

> Why is this your favorite album? Do you have any specific memories or people you attach this album to? Are there any specific parts of this album that make it stand out to you?

Something about this album never gets old to me. I discovered Ritt Momney, specifically the Sunny Boy album, during my senior year of high school. My best friend Cassie loosely listened to this album and asked me to go to his concert in Houston. It was a very small, intimate venue, still one of my favorite concert experiences to this day! It was also my very first concert!! The beautiful, complex music paired with the deep lyricism had me hooked. Ever since that first concert, I have become this man's biggest fan fr. I've seen him live 3 times, and even got to meet him and his band once!! He also responded to my story once #famous

> What was your first impression of the album? What was your first time listening to the album like?

Literally transcendent, hearing an album live before really listening to it digitally was such a surreal experience. Every song felt like it was being sung directly to me, for me. Going back to listen to the album for the first time after the concert made it so much more enjoyable because I could connect it back to the feelings I felt hearing it live!

> Imagine this album is a genre of person, how would you describe them?

Very chill, minimalist, and effortlessly cool. Think thrifted street fashion, a simple chain necklace, and some chunky rings. A cool, practical dad sneaker, baggy clothes, layering. The type of person who feels their feelings deeply, but still knows how to have fun. The type of person who can truly connect with the people they come in contact with. Someone who is effortlessly themself to others, but may question who they are when they're alone.

> What's your favorite lyric or moment off the album? Is there a specific lyric or part of a song that means a lot to you?

From my favorite song, “Show Runner 99”, my favorite lyrics are "And you got better days coming, doesn't mean they're tomorrow." I would say this song is like me in a nutshell lol. It captures the feeling of imposter syndrome so masterfully. 

From the song “HEADSTART”, I love how beautiful, but vibey this song is. The song starts off slow but has a really cool synth beat drop. The lyrics are also SO GOOD. My favorite is the section post "beat drop" that reads, "I've put too much trust in feelings for too much of my life, I convinced myself to love you before you had even tried." Essentially the entire song is about giving too much of yourself to others so you run before they have the chance to leave you.

Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division, 1979

Post Punk, New Wave

Jesse Carrasco - Writing Team

> Why is this your favorite album? Do you have any specific memories or people you attach this album to? Are there any specific parts of this album that make it stand out to you?

This was the album that I listened to the summer going into my first semester of college. I was feeling pretty alone at the time and some of the major themes of the album are alienation and isolation, so it really spoke to me at the time.

> What was your first impression of the album? What was your first time listening to the album like?

I listened to the whole record front to back like 6 times on my way to my dorm my first semester. I cried on the 3rd listen.

> What’s the vibe of the album?

Imagine the saddest album that you can dance to, listen to it in a dark, candle-lit room alone.

> What's your favorite lyric or moment off the album? Is there a specific lyric or part of a song that means a lot to you?

“I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand/Could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man?”

The Divine Feminine - Mac Miller, 2016

Rap, R&B 

Ava Whelan - Writing Team

> Why is this your favorite album? Do you have any specific memories or people you attach this album to? Are there any specific parts of this album that make it stand out to you?

This album is such a piece of art. Every song on it is so interesting and diverse, with many different types of songs (upbeat, slow, rap, instrumentals) but it has a true deeper meaning hidden in the song composition. I think it shows Mac Miller’s genius lyrical skills as he describes the divine feminine a force of energy inside everyone that governs the world, such as mother nature. He describes falling in love and how he views his partner as they grow up.

> What was your first impression of the album? What was your first time listening to the album like?

I first found the album through the song “My Favorite Part” which featured Ariana Grande. I am a huge fan of hers so I naturally listened. The two dated for a while, so the song had true electric chemistry and it immediately hooked me. When I listened to the album as a whole, it was amazing, every song was placed so intentionally and made me want to listen again, and again, and again.

> What are your favorite songs off the album? Why?

“We” - A slower, r&b influenced song about the desire of wanting to date a significant other, talks about emotions/infatuation 

“Congratulations” - Brings me to tears, one of the purest forms of love I have ever heard of in a song, even through distance and financial struggles. Mac’s basically talking about how he can’t wait for his future with his significant other (prob my favorite on the album) 

“Stay” - A more upbeat song and a great switch up to the album, super catchy and has cool production. It has always been a favorite of mine.

> What’s your favorite lyric or moment off the album? Is there a specific lyric or part of a song that means a lot to you?

The entire intro to the album is perfect. I think that the first verse in “Congratulations” captures a true feeling of being deep in love (“This sun don’t shine when I’m alone, I lose my mind and I lose control, I see your eyes look through my soul, don’t be surprised this all I know”) while the second verse talks about the solidifying of their relationship through hard times (financial/distance/insecurity) which ultimately makes Mac fall deeper in love with his s/o (“It’s my only chance, I better get it right, take your time, I’ll be waiting for you). It’s a perfect example of how strong a bond of love can be

Census Designated - Jane Remover, 2023

Shoegaze, Alternative Rock

Anonymous - Writing Team

> Why is this your favorite album? Do you have any specific memories or people you attach this album to? Are there any specific parts of this album that make it stand out to you? 

I listened to Census Designated for the first time in my first semester of college, a couple of weeks after it came out and I didn’t have a lot of close friends yet, especially because I came here from out of state. A lot of the lyrics are extremely personal to Jane, but I related to them on an intimate level, especially the songs about codependency, as I struggle with that a lot and tend to keep people at a distance as a result. Everything about this album feels like it was made for me in that way. I think I take a lot of inspiration from Jane as a musician and a writer, so I always end up relistening to this album whenever I need inspiration, as the way she’s able to write a song with extremely vivid and kinda uncomfortable imagery is something I find myself emulating whenever I write. Her production style is absolutely insane to me, I’ve watched the livestream where she broke down every song on her debut album Frailty an unhealthy amount of times. 

I think the most specific memory I have with this album is when I was able to  see Jane Remover live when she was opening for JPEGMafia’s tour in 2024. I saw her in Houston on my birthday with a bunch of my close friends which made her whole set even more special, and being able to scream the lyrics for “Backseat Girl” and “Fling” with my friends and random strangers was honestly one of my highest moments in college, I think I went harder for her set than I did for the main act.

> What's your favorite song off the album? Why?

“Backseat Girl” is really beautiful to me, her vocal runs and the drums never get old no matter how many times I listen to it, and the ending of the song is gorgeous, I never skip it when it comes on.

> Is there anybody you associate the album with?

As corny as it sounds, I think of myself in high school a lot whenever I listen to Census Designated. I had really bad self-esteem issues and I was super introverted in high school, so the general angst of the album reminds me of what it felt like to be trapped in a graying, monotonous suburb with what felt like a never-ending cycle of waking up, going to school and not talking to anyone, then going home and going to bed. I don’t feel that sad whenever one of the songs comes on though, in a way it serves as a reminder that things can only get better.

Harry Styles - Harry Styles, 2017

Soft Rock, Pop

Sheyla Hidalgo - Styling Team

> Why is this your favorite album? Do you have any specific memories or people you attach this album to? Are there any specific parts of this album that make it stand out to you?

This album is my favorite because every time I listen to it, it takes me back to pre-covid time. I listen to it and feel warm and cozy inside. I was in high school and one of the first few concerts that I attended with my high school best friend. We bonded over this album especially because it was his very first solo album. Harry was still not as popular as a solo artist within the mainstream music industry so having been able to attend his very first concert for his solo career was very special.

> Imagine this album is a genre of person, how would you describe them?

A vibrant and eclectic soul who radiates confidence and creativity. They're the friend who pulls off bold outfits effortlessly, mixing vintage flair with modern aesthetics. This person has an aura of playfulness, yet there's a depth to their energy that suggests they've lived through their share of ups and downs. They love a good party but also cherish quiet moments of contemplation. They're charming and magnetic, with a knack for making people feel seen and celebrated for who they are. This person is the life of the room and the poet of their own story, unafraid to be unapologetically themselves.

> What was your first impression of the album? What was your first time listening to the album like?

I was surprised by the different vibe he had compared to what he had been doing while in One Direction. I really liked it, though. It felt like he was able to express himself well and bring out a more sentimental side to him in this album. It was during the summer that I first listened to it but it made it feel like it was fall time. I remember listening to it and feeling so cool and edgy. Since his album had a mix of sad and somewhat rock music to it, I was able to tap into a different genre of music that I liked.

> What’s your favorite moment off the album?

The intro for “Only Angel” takes me back to the opening of his concert. The excitement of seeing him come out behind the screen and knowing the concert is about to begin. It's my favorite part of the album because it brings me chills every time I listen to it.

Hit Me Hard and Soft - Billie Eilish, 2024

Alternative Pop, Bedroom Pop

Kyla Hooper - Events Team

> Why is this your favorite album? Do you have any specific memories or people you attach this album to? Are there any specific parts of this album that make it stand out to you?

I have been a fan of Billie for a very long time and I have followed her throughout the years, and this album is my favorite because I feel like she has found a different side of herself recently and really showed that through this album and let the world know who she is. 

>What was your first impression of the album? What was your first time listening to the album like?

At first, I thought it was different and I didn’t know how to feel but when I really went through and listened I was like wow this is powerful.

> What's your favorite lyric or moment off the album? Is there a specific lyric or part of a song that means a lot to you?

“I try to live in black and white but I’m so blue”. It just goes to show that even though we are all always trying to not let certain things in life affect us we do have feelings and those are meant to be felt

> What's your favorite song(s) off the album? Why?

“BITTERSUITE”.

Wyoming (Piano Works) - Elijah Fox, 2023

Modern Classical, Jazz

Nathan Brooks - Editor

> Why is this your favorite album? Do you have any specific memories or people you attach this album to? Are there any specific parts of this album that make it stand out to you?

Best modern piano album hands down. Elijah Fox has such an insane ability to run up and down the register, creating such delicate and complex inner harmony and melodies. His chord structures pierce right through you but feel so natural at the same time. I’ve been sleeping to this album consistently for like a year now and it always calms me down when I put it on.

>Who introduced you to the album/ How did you find the album?

I listen to a lot of ambient music and Spotify pulled it out of its ass one day.

> What's your favorite song(s) off the album? Why?

The top song is “Crystal Palace”, but it’s only so perfect in context. Given the highly arpeggiated and sparse nature of so much of the album, the steady dance of the 8th-note chords of this song stand out as a beacon in the sea.

> Imagine this album is a genre of person, how would you describe them?

Shy, elusive, ethereal. Someone who everybody knows of but nobody knows

Folklore - Taylor Swift, 2020

Indie Folk, Alternative Rock

Anonymous - Writing Team

> What was your first impression of the album? What was your first time listening to the album like?

The first time I listened to the album, I was taking a walk around my neighborhood on a cloudy day, which in hindsight, was the perfect backdrop to experience this album. I didn't know what to think the first time I listened to it, as it was such a different sound from all of Taylor Swift's previous albums. The lyrics were so deep and the vocabulary was so diverse that I didn't fully comprehend it. However, every time I listen to it (even to this day), I hear something different each time and pick up on another detail of the stories.

> If you had to recommend this album to a friend, how would you describe it to get them interested?

It's non-autobiographical, meaning none of the songs (with the rumored exception of 3 of the tracks) are about Taylor Swift's life. She writes about different scenarios from different people's perspectives. There's even a love triangle that's told through 3 different perspectives in 3 separate songs.

> Describe the album in one word.

Escapism.

> Imagine this album is a genre of person, how would you describe them?

A wallflower, someone who likes to read, who has good yet subtle style, prefers tea over coffee, never cries in front of others but will cry in their bedroom, loves their mom to a fault, probably has a sister, probably drives silently in their car when something bad happens, likes the rain, and has love and lost.

> What’s your favorite lyric or moment off the album? Is there a specific lyric or part of a song that means a lot to you?

From “this is me trying”: "They told me all of my cages were mental, so I got wasted like all my potential". While I don't feel comfortable fully explaining my connection to this lyric I will say that it absolutely tore me up the first time I heard it.

Born to Die: The Paradise Edition - Lana Del Rey, 2012

Alternative Pop

Juliet Ziauddi - Social Media Team

> Why is this your favorite album? Do you have any specific memories or people you attach this album to? Are there any specific parts of this album that make it stand out to you?

To me this album is almost haunting, it feels very nostalgic and captures this unique feeling of intense romantic longing. There’s a melancholic beauty to it that is so unique

> What was your first impression of the album? What was your first time listening to the album like?

I was a middle school girl lol I don’t remember but I was dramatic and this album was a perfect match because it’s so dramatic

> What’s your favorite lyric off the album? Is there a specific lyric or part of a song that means a lot to you?

Corny, but the lyric “I think I’ll miss you forever like the stars miss the sun in the morning sky” in the bridge of summertime sadness is so poetic and captures the feeling of longing and nostalgia so beautifully

> What's your favorite song(s) off the album? Why?

“Off to the races”, “diet Mountain Dew”, “Lolita” — they’ve withstood the test of time with me. Each track on this album feels like a movie as opposed to just a song. Been listening to these songs for a decade and I still love them even more now

What Could Possibly Go Wrong - Dominic Fike, 2020

Rap, Rock, Pop

Thea Findlay - Writing Team

> Why is this your favorite album? Do you have any specific memories or people you attach this album to? Are there any specific parts of this album that make it stand out to you?

This album came out right about the time my friends and I were getting our driver's licenses. Three of my best friends and I would all pile into someone’s car, roll the windows and sunroof down, and just blast this album through the rolling hills of Austin. We played it when we road-tripped to swimming holes; we played it on our way to cross-country meets; we played it any chance we got. I so heavily associate this album with my later teenage years, and the excitement around our newfound freedom together as a group of friends.

> What's your favorite song(s) off the album? Why?

“Wurli” is the absolute perfect song for summer! I played this song on repeat for three years and never got sick of it. It feels like when you’re nostalgic for a moment that is currently happening and you never want to forget it. To me, it’s just smiling and laughing with my best friends!

> Who introduced you to the album/ How did you find the album?

One of my best friends played “Joe Blazey” in her car and after we heard it, all of us were immediately hooked and the whole album became basically the theme of our friendship. It’s an absolute staple to my upper-year high school memories.

Written by Zeeshan Khan, Social Media: Chelsea Rainwater, Event: Lucy Copa