2024 Top 50 Albums

As 2024 comes to a close, here are my 50 favorite albums of the year. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

1. Charli XCX - Brat

2. The Cure - Songs Of A Lost World

3. Phantogram - Memory Of A Day

4. topographies - Interior Spring

5. Hildegard - Jour 1596

6. Nilüfer Yanya - My Method Actor

7. Lesser Care - Heel Turn

8. Trauma Ray - Chameleon

9. Boycomma - Stress Starving EP

10. Voyeur - Something Becomes You EP

11. Molchat Doma - Belaya Polosa

12. Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us

13. Matte Blvck - Vows

14. Two Shell - Two Shell

15. Caribou - Honey

16. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Opus

17. Vitesse X - This Infinite

18. Fontaines D.C. - Romance

19. Empress Of - For Your Consideration

20. RÜFÜS DU SOL - Inhale/Exhale

21. Lola Young - This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway

22. Balance And Composure - with you in spirit

23. Clinic Stars - Only Hinting

24. Jamie xx - In Waves

25. Tinashe - Quantum Baby

26. Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven

27. SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE - YOU'LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING

28. Blushing - Sugarcoat

29. Floating Points - Cascade

30. Metz - Up On Gravity Hill

31. Joe Goddard - Harmonics

32. Kim Gordon - The Collective

33. bdrmm - I Don't Know

34. The Bug - Machine

35. Orlando Voorn - Boom Boom EP

36. Rachel Chinouriri - What A Devastating Turn Of Events

37. Normani - Dopamine

38. Belong - Realistic IX

39. Kneecap - Fine Art

40, Fat Dog. - WOOF.

41. julie - My Anti-Aircraft Friend

42. Ibibio Sound Machine - Pull The Rope

43. Midland - Fragments Of Us

44. Half Waif - See You At The Maypole

45. Depart - Yours Truly

46. Porter Robinson - SMILE! :D

47. Horse Jumper Of Love - Disaster Trick

48. Tender - Flux

49. Erika de Casier - Still

50. Amiture - Mother Engine

Garbage - "Love My Way (The Psychedelic Furs Cover)"

From their Copy/Paste EP of cover songs is Garbage's ghostly interpretation of The Psychedelic Furs' classic song "Love My Way." The original is one of my top ten songs of all time; its message of following the path of your own sexuality is still timeless and relevant. 

2024 Top 50 Songs

2024 was a pretty solid year for music. Below is a link to my Spotify playlist of my favorite songs of the year. Please enjoy!

DIIV - "Raining On Your Pillow (Daniel Avery Remix)"

Producer Daniel Avery remixes DIIV's track "Raining On Your Pillow," taking the pastoral psychedelia of the album version and amps it up with cavernous drums and a snarling bassline that wouldn't feel out of place on Primal Scream's album XTRMNTR. 

Squid - "Crispy Skin"

Brighton, England post-punk act Squid announced its upcoming record Coward. First single is the sprawling "Crispy Skin," which draws inspiration from the dystopian, cannibalistic novel Tender Is The Flesh.

voyeur - "Spirit"

New York indie rockers Voyeur recently released their sophomore EP, the beguiling Something Becomes You. The EP wears its Sonic Youth-inspired sound on its sleeve but adds a unique spin. "Spirit" lends a dream-pop haze to an edgy bass-driven track, with coiled-up guitars ready to attack.

Kassie Krut - "Reckless"

Emerging from the ashes of late-great Philly experimental rockers Palm comes the new trio Kassie Krut. Kasra Kurt and Eve Alpert team up with producer Matt Anderegg for some industrial hyperpop shenanigans on their first single "Reckless." It's super catchy and subtlety menacing.

Boycomma - "MEOWING IN PUBLIC"

Emocore band Boycomma's latest EP, the emotionally cathartic Stress Starving, came out earlier this summer. I am really digging the intense track "MEOWING IN PUBLIC." 

Jabu - "Oceanside Spider House"

Bristol trio Jabu draws inspiration from early 4AD acts like Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, and Dif Juz on the hauntingly exquisite track "Oceanside Spider House." It can be found on their fascinating new album A Soft And Gatherable Star.

Hildegard - "Bach In Town"

Hildegard, the duo of Helena Deland and Ouri, has released their second album Jour 1596. "Bach In Town" is a delicate trip-hop track with whisper-lite voices layered over a minimal beat and chiming guitars.

October Drift - "Wallflower"

Anthemic alt-rock quartet October Drift has a sold record out now called Blame The Young.  Single "Wallflower" is a moving tribute to the introverts.

Jónsi - "Flicker"

No matter how dark things seem, there will always be beauty in the world. 

The Cure - "Endsong"

"Endsong" is the epic closing track on The Cure's first album in over 16 years, Songs of a Lost World. The whole album is fantastic. 

Lady Gaga - "Disease"

Ok, Gaga, I give in. This is catchy as hell. 

SOM - "Everything I Wanted (Billie Eilish Cover)"

2024 is the year of Metalgaze, with many excellent bands releasing solid records. SOM will release their third album next year, and in the interim, they have recorded a hefty, emotional cover of Billie Eilish's single "Everything I Wanted."

Confidence Man - "JANET"

Aussie electro-dance punks Confidence Man's third album, 3AM (LA LA LA), is a confident collection of exuberant dance tracks referencing the 80s and 90s. "JANET" is a furious mix of kinetic beats and rave synths.

Sade Adu - "Young Lion"

Iconic Sade singer Sade Adu has released "Young Lion" a song featured on the Red Hot Organization's upcoming compilation Transa. It's dedicated to Adu's son, Izaak, a trans man. In true Sade Adu fashion, it is exquisitely beautiful. 

Phantogram - "Attaway"

I've been a huge fan of electronic duo Phantogram from the beginning, however, none of their albums have been what I consider perfect; lots of amazing singles with a little too much filler. Not that they listened to me, but with their 5th album Memory Of A Day, they have put together something pretty wonderful. "Attaway" is a standout among many, with its dynamic, soft-loud sonics.

Kylie Minogue & The Blessed Madonna - "Edge of Saturday Night"

Who knew Kylie could go this hard? This is easily becoming my favorite song of hers; it is a match made in heaven. 

Slowdive - "kisses (electronic version 3)"

An achingly beautiful electronic version of the single "Kisses" from Slowdive's latest record Everything Is Alive. 

Charli XCX ft Shygirl - "365"

Charli XCX keeps Brat Summer going with a fantastic remix album. "365" gains new life by sampling "Frequency," the rave classic from production duo Altern-8. 

Fat Dog - "All The Same"

UK buzz band Fat Dog recently released their debut album Woof. "All The Same" is a menacing industrial EBM meets EDM track. 

Orlando Voorn - "Delirium"

Hypnotic techno track from Dutch DJ/producer Orlando Voorn. It can be found on his EP Boom Boom.

Midland - "You Said You'd Be Good"

UK producer Midland (aka Harry Agius) works the dance floor on his electro track "You Said You'd Be Good," which features on his full-length debut Fragments of Us.

 

Lauren Mayberry (Chvrches) - "Something In The Air"

Chvrches lead singer Lauren Mayberry has been teasing solo material for over a year, and even going on tour with solo songs, but an album has yet to be forthcoming. Her latest single is the stadium-ready "Something In The Air." It will apparently feature on an album called Vicious Creature. No release date has been given but it is slated for some time by year's end.

Clinic Stars - "She Won't Be"

Shoegaze/dream-pop act Clinic Stars' album Only Hinting is a solid collection of atmospheric tracks. One of the best tracks is the Just For A Day Slowdive era song "She Won't Be." What starts as a gentle, subtle track, gradually blooms into a wash of heavy, ocean-like guitars. 

Matte Blvck ft. Clan of Xymox - "BTTR"

San Diego industrial darkwave trip Matte Blvck joins forces with goth-pop icons Clan of Xymox on the track "BTTR."  It can be found on the band's sophomore record Vows.

The Cure - "Alone"

Sixteen years after the release of their last album 4:13, The Cure returns with Songs of a Lost World. They have been playing several songs on their most recent tours, whetting the appetites of ardent fans. "Alone" is the opening track and the first single, an elegant and soaring midtempo ballad; a most welcome return. 

Sherwyn - "Infinity High"

If you've ever wondered what Talking Heads would sound like if The Cure's Robert Smith was their lead singer, then look no further than this fun single from Sherwyn. 

The Knocks ft. Yelle - "All The Time/Tous Le Temps"

New York production duo The Knocks team up with French singer Yelle (Julie Budet) on the infectious dance-floor banger ""All The Time/Tous Le Temps."

 

Nelly Furtado ft. Gray Hawken - "Better For Worse"

After a lengthy absence, Nelly Furtado returns with her album 7. It's quite a solid album with many great collaborations, especially the moving ballad "Better For Worse." 

Metronomy ft. Porij - "Petit Boy"

Metronomy takes Porij under their wing for this poptastic dance track. 

Maeta - "DJ Got Me"

A subtle, sultry re-imagining of Indeep's "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life."  

Ain't - "Oar"

London five-piece Ain't revel in angular guitar rave-ups like the propulsive track "Oar." 

Nilüfer Yanya - "Just A Western"

London musician Nilüfer Yanya's latest record My Method Actor is another sublime collection of excellent tracks. "Just A Western" is a subtle, smoky song whose dark, emotional palette slow burns to a devastating conclusion. 

FKA twigs - "EUSEXUA"

FKA twigs offers the title song to her upcoming record, a fluttering, hypnotic techno-influenced track co-produced with Koreless and Eartheater. 

Bonobo - "Expander"

UK electronic producer's latest single is the thumping, club-floor-filling banger "Expander." 

Fontaines D.C. - "Here's The Thing"

From Fontaines D.C.'s latest record Romance, "Here's The Thing" is a hooky, grunge rock charmer with a killer chorus. 

Cold Gawd - "Duchamp Is My Lawyer"

Sludgegaze band Cold Gawd's new record is the excellent I'll Drown On This Earth. I enjoy the heavy and grungy track "Duchamp Is My Lawyer."

Annie - The Sky Is Blue”

 

Norwegian pop star Annie returns with the trance-house track “The Sky Is Blue.”

Theo Bleak ft. The Twilight Sad - "Don't Borrow Grief From Later"

Gorgeous and dramatic collaboration between Scottish artists Theo Bleak and The Twilight Sad. Their intertwining vocals are sublime. 

Phantogram - "Happy Again"

Phantogram returns with the hopeful track "Happy Again," which feels like a natural continuation of their classic song "16 Years." 

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - "GREY RUBBLE - GREEN SHOOTS"

Post-rock legends Godspeed You! Black Emperor will release their latest album NO​ ​TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28​,​340 DEAD in October. The first preview of the record is the rumbling seven-minute song "GREY RUBBLE - GREEN SHOOTS."

Bryan Ferry ft. Amelia Barratt - "Star"

 
Bryan Ferry's first brand new music in 10 years is a track that began as a sketch from NIN's Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. This collaboration with Amelia Barratt will feature in Ferry's upcoming Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023. It's a minimal, pulsating song that sounds exactly what a Bryan Ferry/NIN collaboration should sound like.

The Smile - "Zero Sum"

The Smile announced the release of their second album of 2024 Cutouts, which is set to drop in October. The track "Zero Sum" is a hyperactive guitar workout.

 

The Bug - "Buried (Your Life Is Short)"

UK producer The Bug unleashes his first new music in a while with the bracing "Buried (Your Life Is Short)" which features metallic, industrial percussion awash with menacing, air raid siren synths. 

London Grammar - "Into Gold"

London Grammar returns next month with its new album The Greatest Love. "Into Gold" is a slow-burning ballad about heartbreak and loss. 

SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE - "1/500"

Philly art-pop punks SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE's new record YOU'LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING is a true sonic wonder and one of the year's best albums. Individually, the 12 songs are stylistically all over the map but collectively gel into something sublime. I love the moments of quiet tenderness, like the pastoral, meditative "1/500." It's achingly beautiful.

 

Tinashe - “Thirsty”

 

From Tinashe’s latest album Quantum Baby, “Thirsty” is a sultry mid-tempo ballad about sexual dynamics. 

ANIMA! - "Personal"

Indie electronic duo ANIMA! goes for maximalist pop a la Sylvan Esso on this infectious track.