KCRW’s Top 30 chart: Jan. 22 – Jan. 28, 2024

By Marion Hodges

Justice for all. Photo by André Chémétoff

In a banner week for new releases, two of which — Jordan Rakei’s “Freedom” and Chicano Batman’s “Fly” — premiered during Morning Becomes Eclectic, this chart could have taken any number of shapes. But it was the feverishly anticipated return of French dance dramatists Justice who secured the top spot in a landslide victory. The fact that one of the two new singles they’ve released ahead of their long-awaited LP Hyperdrama (due April 26 via Ed Banger/Because Music) is a collab with Tame Impala (“One Night/All Night”) will certainly continue to help their cause around these parts.

New and notable: Inland Empire soul-jazz masters Brainstory continue their winning streak with new single “Hanging On” ahead of Sounds Good, their sophomore album for Big Crown Records (due April 19). Plus, Hiatus Kaiyote gives us the sonic equivalent of a mood-shifting warm breeze via their new track “Everything’s Beautiful,” and Radiohead side-project The Smile cracks the top five with the release of their nervy jazz-rock LP Wall Of Eyes

Top 30 Albums (01.23.2024)


1 Justice Hyperdrama
2 Chicano Batman Notebook Fantasy
3 Hiatus Kaiyote Everything’s Beautiful
4 The Smile Wall Of Eyes
5 Brainstory Sounds Good
6 Kali Uchis ORQUÍDEAS
7 Brittany Howard What Now
8 Elbow Audio Vertigo
9 Jamila Woods Water Made Us
10 Liam Bailey Zero Grace
11 Thee Sinseers Sinseerly Yours
12 Khruangbin A LA SALA
13 Faye Webster Underdressed at the Symphony
14 Bolis Pupul Letter To Yu
15 Elkka Passionfruit (Feat. John Carroll Kirby) [Single]
16 Thee Heart Tones Forever & Ever [Single]
17 Ana Tijoux Vida
18 Benny Sings Young Hearts (Feat. Remi Wolfe) (Polo & Pan Remix) [Single]
19 Poolside Blame It All on Love
20 Tolliver BOOYABAZE [Single]
21 Future Islands People Who Aren’t There Anymore
22 Jordan Rakei The Loop
23 Fabiana Palladino Fabiana Palladino
24 Eric Hilton Sound Vagabond
25 José James 1978
26 Norah Jones Visions
27 Haux Blue Angeles
28 Helado Negro PHASOR
29 Sofi Tukker Varias Queixas [Single]
30 Vagabon Sorry I Haven’t Called