2024 in Review: The Best New Classic Rock Albums

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In part one of our four-installment 2024 holiday gift guide, we looked at the latest classic-rock Christmas music. Part two covered best of the year’s boxed sets, reissues and historical collections aimed at classic rock fans. Part three focused on the year’s best music books.

For this fourth and final segment, we’re focusing on newly recorded albums by classic rockers, including David Gilmour, the Cure, Sheryl Crow, Deep Purple, Pearl Jam and Neil Young with Crazy Horse.

This list is arranged alphabetically by artist—no rankings here because they’re all worthy. All of these are available on CD, many also on vinyl LP and digitally. Many can be found via the handy ordering links at the bottom of this story. In some cases, there’s more information on the albums; click on the artist’s name, where applicable.

Happy listening!

Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks—True—The album harkens back to classic Yes. Now 80, the singer’s voice sounds as strong and confident as ever. The centerpieces are two epic tracks, the 16-and-a-half minute “Once Upon a Dream” and the stunning, nearly 10-minute “Counties and Countries.” Said Anderson about his collaborators, “The first time I heard the Band Geeks I truly freaked out; they sound just like the classic Yes of the ’70s, the Yes that I know and love.” [Available here.]

The Black Crowes—Happiness Bastards—From the band’s announcement: “The Black Crowes are leaving the bullshit in the past. Fifteen years after their last album of original music, the Robinson Brothers present Happiness Bastards, their 10th studio album. In a time where the art form is buried beneath the corporate sheen of its successors, the Black Crowes are biting back with the angst of words left unsaid penned on paper and electrified by guitar strings, revealing stripped, bare-boned rock ’n’ roll. No gloss, no glitter.” [Available here.]

Bon Jovi—Forever—Their latest, their 16th album in all, marks the band’s 40th anniversary. Said Jon Bon Jovi, “This record is a return to joy. From the writing, through the recording process, this is turn up the volume, feel good Bon Jovi.” [Available here.]

Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs—Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits—The third album by the band led by Mike Campbell, former lead guitarist with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, features guest appearances by fellow Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench and drummer Steve Ferrone, as well as Lucinda Williams, Graham Nash and Chris Stapleton. [Available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.]

Sheryl Crow—Evolution—This is the nine-time Grammy-winner and 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s 11th studio album. Said Crow, “This music and these lyrics came from sitting in the quiet and writing from a deep soul place. I said I’d never make another record, thought there was no point to it. But this music comes from my soul. And I hope whoever hears this record can feel that.” [Available here.]

Burton Cummings—A Few Good Moments—The former Guess Who singer’s first new album since 2008 was produced by Cummings, who is backed by his long-time band. Said Cummings, “I believe in these songs because they are the result of having lived more years. At this point I have no interest in writing teenage love songs. Aging has changed the writing and that’s natural. I want this album to stand up when it’s listened to years from now.” [Available here.]

The Cure—Songs of a Lost World—Of the record, their first in 16 years, lead singer and guitarist Robert Smith commented, “It sequences in such a way that I think that it kind of takes you somewhere. You end up somewhere different than where you started out and hopefully people will react to it.” [Available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.]

Deep Purple—=1—Deep Purple is currently fronted by l vocalist Ian Gillan, with bassist Roger Glover, drummer Ian Paice and keyboardist Don Airey. It’s the first DP album for guitarist Simon McBride. As for the unusual album title, the band said, in an announcement, “=1 symbolizes the idea that in a world growing ever more complex, everything eventually simplifies down to a single, unified essence. Everything equals one.” [Available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.]

Dion—Girl Friends—The latest album by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, one of the earliest major rockers still with us, finds him sharing center stage with other artists—in this case, as the title suggests, with female performers, among them Susan Tedeschi, Sue Foley, Shemekia Copeland and Carlene Carter. [Available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.]

David Gilmour—Luck and Strange—From the album announcement: “Luck and Strange was recorded over five months in Brighton and London and is the first Gilmour album of new material in nine years. The record was produced by Gilmour and Charlie Andrew, best known for his work with ALT-J and Marika Hackman…The majority of the album’s lyrics have been composed by Polly Samson, Gilmour’s wife, co-writer and collaborator for the past 30 years.” [Available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.]

Robyn Hitchcock—1967: Vacations in the Past—The quirky English singer-songwriter takes a break from performing his own songs on his latest outing, honoring the music of one of his favorite years (he also published a book about his experiences in 1967). Tracks include covers of the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life,” Pink Floyd’s “See Emily Play,” the Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” and Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” [Available here.]

The Immediate Family—Skin in the Game—The tight-knit quintet comprises singer/songwriter/guitarists Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel and Steve Postell, drummer Russ Kunkel and bassist Leland Sklar. Said the latter, “The Immediate Family’s unrivaled musical chemistry comes from years of playing together. We all know each other backward and forward and can play to each other’s strengths in ways that other groups can’t always get to.” [Available here.]

Mark Knopfler—One Deep River—The latest album from the former Dire Straits frontman “offers an unstoppable flow of future Knopfler classics, with their customarily learned lyrics and refined guitar textures,” says an announcement. “They draw on a lifetime of genre-crossing ingredients and influences in blues, folk, rock and beyond.” [Available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.]

Little Feat—Sam’s Place—The veteran California band’s first new release in 12 years, and first-ever blues album, features conga player Sam Clayton on lead vocals on every song. The track list features covers of songs by blues greats Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and others. “Long Distance Call,” one of the Waters tunes, features a guest vocal from Bonnie Raitt. [Available here.]

Nick Lowe—Indoor Safari—The album represents a return to early rock ’n’ roll, with 12 songs, including originals, a couple of deep-cut covers and refitted versions of tracks previously released in nascent form as singles. The title represents a culmination of his decade-long working relationship with the mysterious masked men and Yep Roc Records labelmates, Los Straitjackets. [Available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.]

Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman with Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives—Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Sweetheart of the Rodeo—The live album commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Byrds’ landmark country-rock album, which featured the two founding members, joined by multi-instrumentalist Stuart and his group, performing all of the songs from the LP, along with several Byrds classics like “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Eight Miles High.” [Available here.]

Willie Nelson— The Border and Last Leaf on the Tree—At age 91, with more than 75 solo studio albums and a Rock Hall induction to his credit, Willie Nelson just keeps going. In 2024 he released two albums of new music. The first, The Border, produced by longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon, is titled after a song that “describes the inner life and outer reality of a border guard,” while the second release, Last Leaf on the Tree, is his first with son Micah producing and handling most of the instrumental work himself. [Available here.]

Pearl Jam—Dark Matter—Says a press release for the album, “From the kinetic opener ‘Scared of Fear’ through the optimistic exhale of album closer ‘Setting Sun,’ these 11 tracks find the musicians firing on all cylinders. A surge of energy underscores this body of work amplified by thunderous rhythms, skyscraping guitar solos and vital vocals. Produced by Grammy award-winning producer Andrew Watt, Dark Matter, marks the band’s first release since critically acclaimed Gigaton (2020). [Available here.]

Judas Priest—Invincible Shield—The album is a “raging slab of electrifying metal, brought to you by one of the most iconic bands in the world,” says an announcement. “Critics are raving about Invincible Shield, with universal acclaim pouring for the body of work. The 11 tracks highlight exactly how the band, 50-plus years in, is at the height of their powers in 2024.” [Available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.]

Lucinda Williams—Sings the Beatles from Abbey Road—For the latest installment in her “Lu’s Jukebox” series, the acclaimed singer-songwriter went to London’s Abbey Road and recorded a whole album’s worth of Beatles covers, including “I’m So Tired,” “I’ve Got a Feeling” and “Yer Blues.” [Available here.]

Neil Young/Crazy Horse—Fu##in’ Up—From Neil Young’s sleeve notes: “Why do these old songs live so vividly now? They do to me…The performances of these songs are a true highlight of the long relationship [between young and Crazy Horse]. Nine songs on two LPs, with the original song titles replaced with selected lyrics. (“Farmer John,” being a cover, retains its original title.) The album was recorded in 2023. Said Young, “In the spirit it’s offered…made this for the Horse lovers. I can’t stop it. The horse is runnin’. What a ride we have. I don’t want to mess with the vibe. I am so happy to have this to share.” [Available here.]