It’s that exciting time of year again… time to begin our Album of the Year Awards process! Highlighting and honouring the highest quality DSD music is what we do at NativeDSD. And there is no better way than to let you, our trusted music-loving audiophiles, vote on the top albums from the last year.

Throughout 2024 we have continued our mission of growing the largest DSD music collection. We have started exclusive partnerships with labels and worked hard to continue showcasing the great DSD music being made around the world. We have a lot to celebrate! Next comes the difficult part… 

How do we select the nominees for our anticipated Albums of the Year Awards? As has been our tradition, NativeDSD has asked Senior Reviewer Bill Dodd and Technical Advisor Brian Moura to carefully review the year’s DSD releases and bring our listeners their nominations in several musical categories.

Part 1 contains the following categories:

This is a great way to applaud and reward the excellent music and performances that the music labels and artists have brought us this year. And it also is a guide for our listeners to see what we have selected as the best DSD music in 2024 – also important to mention that all nominated albums are available for

20% OFF until January 3rd, 2025

Vocals – Pop & Soul
(Brian Moura)

Aisyah
Groove Note – GRV1250

Pearls is the debut album from Aisyah Aziz, a new vocalist on Groove Note. She was recommended to the label by singer Vanessa Fernandez. Pearls features a number of well-known songs made famous by Billie Eilish, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Sade, and Roberta Flack, among others. The title track features a tasty sax solo by Fabian Lim. The arrangements are subtle focusing attention on the singer’s fine vocals and unique singing style.

Vanessa Fernandez 
Groove Note – GRV1400

Singer Vanessa Fernandez had one of the year’s most popular albums at NativeDSD with Remember Me. It features a mix of Soul Classics from the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire, Bill Withers and Barry White plus Pop songs made famous by Lenny Kravitz, Prince, and Portishead. Adding to the album are arrangements by guitarist Tim Pierce and an all-star L.A. Studio Session band featuring Jeff Babko, Alex Al, Victor Indrizzo, Luis Conte, and Felipe Melanio. A musical delight from start to finish.

Diana Panton
2xHD – 2XHDDP1125

Canadian singer Diana Panton highlights the music of Brazil including Samba and Bossa Nova on the album To Brazil With Love. But she doesn’t stop there. The album also features Pop, French Chansons and Jazz songs sung in English and French. Nominated for an Independent Music Award, it highlights Panton’s vocals and some wonderful music.

Vocals – Jazz
(Brian Moura)

Holly Cole
2xHD – 2XDAR1015

Jazz Singer Holly Cole reunites with the Jazz duo of Davis & Piltch plus drummer Davide DiRenzo on the album Night. Cole’s cool Jazz vocals are on full display here. She offers new musical insights on familiar, and in some cases unexpected selections, including Viva Las Vegas, You Only Live Twice, Goodtime Charlie’s Got The Blues and You’ve Got A Secret. The album provides an enjoyable evening of cool jazz at its finest.

Aubrey Logan
2xHD & Resonance Records – 2XHDRE1173

Aubrey Logan’s album Where The Sunshine Is Expensive is her musical tribute to the Los Angeles music scene. Logan is a unique Jazz performer who sings lead vocals and plays trombone solos on each song. Here she is joined by sax star Dave Koz and vocalist Casey Abrams, her band and background singers in a live performance with audience recorded at East West Studios in Los Angeles. The album has a mix of Jazz and Pop songs and ranges from ballads to upbeat numbers. It’s a fun musical ride that listeners are bound to enjoy.

Claire Martin
Linn Records – AKD563

Believin’ It brings us singer Claire Martin and her trio with a selection of well known songs including Broken Wings, I’m Not In Love and Come Runnin’. Each has a new arrangement that highlights the singers’ vocals and the trio’s talents. The music is fresh and Martin’s singing shines here. One of the year’s best vocal albums at NativeDSD.

Vocals – Folk
(Brian Moura)

Corrie Lynn Green & Her Band with Hazelrigg Brothers
Outer Marker Records – OM08100h

Time To Be Brave was one of our weekly # 1 Best Sellers this year at NativeDSD. It features singer and songwriter Corrie Lynn Green, Her Band, and the Hazelrigg Brothers. All of the songs on the album were written and sung by Corrie Lynn Green. They are delivered in a heartfelt and passionate way that looks at life in Appalachia. The mix of Folk, Americana and Appalachian genres is very moving, and the musicianship is top notch. Resulting in an album that is a memorable listening experience.

Paul Stephenson
Stockfisch Records – 0132110

Wireless Days is the second album at NativeDSD from acoustic guitarist Paul Stephenson. Here he is accompanied by guitarist Jens Kommnick and a musical ensemble as they play 11 songs that he wrote. The album has a singer-songwriter folk music style. Making for a mellow and enjoyable listening experience.

Vocals – Classical Soloist
(Bill Dodd)

Goulda Schultz, Kammerakademie Potsdam, Antonello Manacorda
Alpha Classics – ALPHA1026

Golda Schultz, supported by seven other fine soloists, takes us on a delightful excursion through Don Giovanni, Le nozzi di Figaro, and Cosi fan tutti. The album is dedicated to the five strong female characters in these three Mozart/da Pointe operas. She brings strength to each, navigating the sometimes difficult arias perfectly. A recital? Yes, but so much more. These are also portraits of fascinating women. Highly recommended!

Magdalena Kozená, Czech Philharmonic, Sir Simon Rattle
PENTATONE – PTC5187077

This lovely, haunting album of Czech orchestral songs is a real winner. It’s a followup to last year’s Folk Songs, winner of Album of the Year in the vocal category. This new one from Magdalena Kozena, backed by the Czech Philharmonic with Sir Simon Rattle is even more attractive to me because many of these art songs are from Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959), a composer whose works I have fallen in love with over the last few years. The peacefulness and beauty that flows from this album is amazing!

Valeria La Grotta and Quartetto Vanvitelli
Arcana – A564

Here are Four previously unrecorded Cantatas for Voice with Violins by Scarlatti! Suddenly you’re in the nobleman’s or a bishop’s court in the late around the turn of the 18th Century. Valeria LaGrotta and the Quartetto Vanvitelli are perfect in these works. The complete texts in Italian and English are in the downloadable booklet.

Veronique Gens, Hervé Niquet, Munchner Rundfunkorchester
Alpha Classics – ALPHA1030

This is a beautiful album of French Orchestral melodies by soprano Veronique Gens, with Herve Niquet conducting the Munchner Rundfunorchester. Although Gens and Niquet became well known for Baroque music, they seem perfect for these melodies. Gens’ voice and execution are flawless. Everything and everybody is working as a single instrument to create something that is simply and gently moving. There are so many different feelings in this music, but absolutely no bombast! Even if you’re not a fan of vocal recitals I think you may love this!

Orchestral
(Bill Dodd)

Rafael Payare, Orchestre symphonique de Montreal
PENTATONE – PTC5187218

Once again Rafael Payare shows that he is a rising star as a conductor as he brings marvelous life to these works. Both the Pelleas und Melisande and the Verklarte Nacht are beautifully presented by Payare and the OSM.

Paavo Jarvi, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
Alpha Classics – ALPHA1068

Paavo Jarvi conducts the Suisse Romande Orchestra to bring this “unfinished” Bruckner symphony home in a totally complete manner. I have never heard another performance I like better than this one. Jarvi’s Bruckner is leaner and stronger than most. Overall I also find it superior to his RCA recording of the 9th from a few years back.

Manfred Honeck, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Reference Recordings – FR757

Over the decades I have heard conductors try to impart the greatness of Bruckner’s music, and here’s one is completely successful. Honeck knows Bruckner inside and out. He writes, “Just as a human being consists of spirit, soul and body, I see Bruckner’s symphonic music in a similar light: Spirit — The art of designing compositional relationships, Soul — The grasping of a boundless depth of spirituality, and Body — The love of Austrian folk and dance music”

Budapest Festival Orchestra, Ivan Fischer
Channel Classics – 46524

The BFO with Ivan Fischer conducting brings us a full modern orchestral rendition that is never heavy or plodding. The textures and details are crystal clear. This Eroica is one everyone should hear. Ivan Fischer with the BFO is always a top tier choice in Beethoven– and most everything else!

Christmas Music
(Brian Moura)

Various Artists
NativeDSD Presents – NDSD021

NativeDSD Presents adds to their impressive collection of music samplers with the Holiday Music Sampler. Featuring some of the best Christmas Music available in the NativeDSD music catalog. Here you will find selections performed by True Concord Voices & Orchestra, Oscar’s Motet Choir, Ensemble Galilei, Norwegian Girls’ Choir, Bolshoi Theatre Moscow, Jasper String Quartet and Skylark Vocal Ensemble to name but a few. It’s a wonderful collection of Christmas Music that offers an enticing taste of the many Christmas Music albums to choose from at NativeDSD.

Diana Panton
2xHD – 2XHDDP1130

Christmas Kiss is a new addition to the NativeDSD collection of Christmas Music albums. Diana Panton and her Jazz Trio bring listeners an interesting set of 15 tracks that feature not only holiday favorites but also some lesser known tunes and some original songs. Panton’s warm and gentle vocals compliment the songs wonderfully. Just the thing to put you in the Christmas spirit.

Donald Vega Trio
Anderson Audio New York – AANYIR22024

Jazz Pianist and Composer Donald Vega’s second album at NativeDSD is his contribution to Christmas Music with All Is Merry and Bright. With his trio, they bring us 11 songs of Christmas cheer played with musical style. Featuring musical treatments that include solo piano, Jazz and Latin rhythms this album hits just the right notes for the holiday season ahead.

Film Music
(Brian Moura)

Ivar Anton Waagaard
LAWO Classics – LWC1380

Taking a different approach, pianist Ivar Anton Waagaard brings us Film Music For The Piano. Rather than Film Music with a full orchestra, conductor, and soloist, here we have classic movie music played by a pianist solo. In most cases, arranged by the pianist himself. It’s a generous selection of 17 film classics including music from Forrest Gump, The Sting, On Golden Pond, The Piano, Romeo & Juliet, and The Apartment.

José María Moreno Valiente, Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga
IBS Classical – IBS82024

The Year 2024 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of famed composer Henry Mancini. To celebrate this musical milestone, IBS Classical brought us the album Henry Mancini Centennial featuring the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga conducted by José María Moreno Valiente. The album is a celebration of Mancini’s many contributions to Film and TV music during his career. Theme From The Pink Panther, Peter Gunn, Moon River, Charade, The Days of Wine and Roses, Two For The Road, Dear Heart, Baby Elephant Walk and many more bring back fond memories of the music and the movies and TV shows that featured them.

Andrea Morricone, Marco Serino, Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano e Trento
Arcana – A495

An album of the classic Film Music composed by Ennio Morricone including Once Upon a Time in America, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, The Untouchables and Cinema Paradiso. Performed by violinist Marco Serino, the soloist that played these songs with Ennio Morricone for 20 years and the Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano e Trento conducted by Andrea Morricone, Ennio’s son. Andrea and Marco have a personal connection and familiarity with this music, and it shows. Each song is played to perfection as listeners enjoy a journey through one of the genre’s top composers.

Enjoy discovering some of the best DSD albums released in 2024. And remember: all of the nominated albums are 20% Off until January 3rd, 2024!

The NativeDSD Team would like to thank Bill Dodd and Brian Moura for having spent an eternity listening to all of the albums released in 2024, and for selecting the albums they believe you should not miss.