"Literally gave TTPD a 100"— Fans react as Rolling Stone releases 100 Best Albums of 2024 list

On December 2, 2024, Rolling Stone released its list of top 100 albums of the year in an article titled “The 100 Best Albums of 2024.” The list mentions artists from around the world who made a considerable impact in the music industry this year.

However, users online are now focusing on the top 10 albums in the list. Charli XCX’s Brat secured the top spot, followed by Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter and MJ Lenderman’s Manning Fireworks.

The others in the list include (in chronological order): Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish, Tyla’s self-titled album Tyla, We Don’t Trust You by Future and Metro Boomin, Eternal Sunshine by Ariana Grande, Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii, and Tigers Blood by Waxahatchee.

Amid Rolling Stone’s now-viral list, many netizens are pointing out how Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department missed the top 10 mark. Notably, TTPD was ranked at number 23.

X user @iThinkSamKnows responded to chart data’s post on the platform revealing Rolling Stone’s top 10 albums of 2024 and wrote:

“Rolling Stone literally gave TTPD a 100 but somehow it’s not included in this list?? Something fishy is going on for sure.”

The netizen also shared a screenshot of Rolling Stone’s review of TTPD dated April 18, 2024, with a clear rating of 100.

Many people joined the conversation and shared similar reactions on the platform.

“The media is really turning on Taylor, she is too successful and they can’t handle it so they punish her… no way in hell ‘Brat’ and ‘Cowboy Carter’ should be here. Some of these I’ve never even heard of before,” a person wrote.

“Where’s TTPD respectfully?” one person asked.

“The TTPD was ROBBED,” wrote another.

Others continued to weigh in with general remarks about the Rolling Stone list.

“Perfect example that sales don’t always equate to quality,” a user wrote.

“No shade to any of these artists, but I am genuinely wondering what Rolling Stone’s ranking system is,” another user wrote.

“This is definitely a choice (a tasteless one),” an individual wrote.

“WTF is wrong with you @RollingStone,” another individual wrote.

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Rolling Stone called TTPD “wildly ambitious”

In its 100 Best Albums list earlier this week, Rolling Stone ranked The Tortured Poets Department at 23. The publication further claimed that Taylor Swift’s songwriting in this album was “wildly ambitious” even by her standards.

“Taylor Swift might be the self-proclaimed “Chairman of the Tortured Poets Department,” but judging by these songs, business is booming,” the description read.

It continued by sharing that TTPD "has the intimate sound of Folklore and Evermore, but with a coating of Midnights’ synth-pop gloss."

"The songs go for that detailed Folkmore style of story craft, yet instead of fictional characters, she’s pouring her heart into her own deeply personal exorcisms," the publication said, adding, "Even by Swiftian standards, she gets wildly ambitious with her songwriting here."

Additionally, in the introduction to the article, RS shared, “Taylor Swift devised a 31-part song cycle in her spare time.” Last month, U.S. music outlet Billboard crowned Taylor Swift as the second greatest pop star of the 21st century, right after Beyonce, which also caused outrage among her fans.

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Other names who made it to Roling Stone's 100 Best Albums of 2024

Some of the notable mentions in RS’ top 100 albums of the year include the only metal release, From Hell I Rise, placed at number 93. It is a solo debut album from the Slayer band’s guitarist, Kerry King.

Meanwhile, four African albums also made it to the list. Tyla’s eponymous album was ranked 6, followed by Rema’s HEIS at 11, Tem’s Born in the Wild at 37, and Ayra Starr’s The Year I Turned 21 at 53.

Shaboozey, Zach Bryan, Young Miko, Alvaro Diaz, Lainey Wilson, Halsey, Arooj Aftab, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, RaiNao, Jack White, Mannequin Pussy, and Tyler the Creator are some of the others who made it to RS 100 best albums of the year.