Happy 2024! I’m writing this on the middle seat of a plane because when else am I going to, I guess? While my Spotify listening minutes were down once again y/y, 2024 held some of my most rewarding musical experiences of my life in the live setting! Part of the reason that my Spotify minutes might have been down was that I spent a month of the year preparing my children for a matinee Joanna Newsom concert in Los Angeles, and she is not on Spotify.
Anyway, that concert was great. Waxahatchee with my dad was great. Madi Diaz was great. Death Cab/Postal Service was great the 2nd time also. Seeing Christian Lee Hutson in NYC was great. Being out of town when MJ Lenderman was in St. Louis was one of my big bummers of the year.
In my most active group chat for musical discussion, I had jokingly dubbed 2024 the #YearOfTheMan because in the past few years my musical taste had skewed so heavily towards females. (8/10 spots on this list in 2023 and 2022) and wouldn’t you know it… the boys are back comprising 5/10 entries on the list. Were they able to take the top spot? Read on to find out!
10. Illuminati Hotties – POWER
Indie Super Producer Sarah Tudzin helps others makes great music. She produced last year’s #1 album, boygenius – the record. She also produced Eliza McLamb’s 2024 album “Going Through It” which almost made this list. If Sarah’s involved, I’m gonna give it a listen!
She also makes great music in her great band, Illuminati Hotties. This is the 2nd funnest album on this list, with some great pop-punk hooks.
9. Japandroids – Fate & Alcohol
I thought we would never get another Japandroids album, and I’m thrilled to have this one. The loud Vancouver dude rock duo is back for one last album 7 years after their last release. Is it their best album? No! But it really scratches the itch for more songs, and also perfectly encapsulates the #YearOfTheMan mentality.
8. Katy Kirby – Blue Raspberry
I liked Katy Kirby before I saw her live for the first time opening for the Mountain Goats in April – And I loved her after that! Truly an engaging performance from someone who knew how to make the best out of the 30 minutes she was given… and she did just as well with a full set when I saw later in the year headlining at Off Broadway!
Anyway, this album is great. Tender songs of love & loss.
7. Christian Lee Hutson – Paradise Pop. 10
I mentioned in the intro that I went to Los Angeles for a concert this year. I also saw one in New York! I just happened to be in town for work for the Paradise Pop. 10 release show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. What a great show! Phoebe Bridgers (who produced the album and sang on a few tracks) performed a few songs but never revealed her face. CLH played his new (and best!) album start to finish. A great time was had.
In terms of favorite lyrical phrases of the year, “Embarrassed in Paris, to fuck on the terrace” from the phenomenal track After Hours is up there. Maybe #2.
6. Kendrick Lamar – GNX
I don’t know where to put this. It came out like 2 weeks ago and I’m still wrapping my mind around it, but I think I like it a lot? I never figured out a way to get into Mr. Morale but this is a much more straightforward album. Tell ’em Kendrick did it.
5. Madi Diaz – Weird Faith
Couldn’t STOP listening to this album after it came out in February. Madi Diaz was not on my radar at all but this album hit me over the head. At this point a lot of the new music I’m excited about is being put out by people significantly younger than me (37) but Madi Diaz is my age (ish). And that’s neat. Her show at Off Broadway was also one of my most musically enriching experiencing of the year.
This also seems like as good a place as any to mention that as much as this was the #YearOfTheMan, 2024 was also the Year of ANTI records, who released HALF of this Top 10 list, including the top 2. Men make up half the population and so it makes sense that they make up half this list. ANTI records does NOT make 1/2 of all recorded music, so their thing is more impressive.
4. Cheekface – It’s Sorted
This was the #1 album of the year for my children (Ages 7, 4) and it was, as is evident by its place on this list, one of my favorites as well. Can something be silly, insightful, fun, extremely online and enjoyable to listen to? Cheekface says YES!
My kids will never spell the word “Fringe” correctly though, and so I have some gripes about that. (Listen to the first track.)
3. Adriene Lenker – Bright Future
How is Adriene Lenker so prolific and so consistently amazing? Her band Big Thief’s double-album was my 2022 album of the year and he came back in 2024 with a solo project filled start to finish with touching songs. The first 6 tracks of this album are immaculate and the rest is also very good.
Upon hearing “Free Treasure” for the first time, I knew I had to learn all the words so that I could add it to the Kid Bedtime Song rotation. I did, and it’s been in the mix ever since.
2. MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks
Well, the Year of the Man ends here at number 2, and I think this is appropriate because MJ Lenderman’s Manning Fireworks (He has MAN in HIS name and the ALBUM name) is an album of stories about loser-ass dudes. The stories are sympathetic to their loser subjects but also unrelenting.
I told you my 2nd favorite lyrical phrase of the year up top and here’s my favorite: Kahlua shooter, DUI scooter.” What a vivid and specific picture told in only 4 words.
I’m not a big Guitar Guy, but I’d remiss if I didn’t mention that the instruments are doing a lot of the work filling out this 9 track 38 minute album. There are 8 minutes of feedback at the end of the last track. But also (and more importantly) some of the best tracks on the album (Wristwatch) are pretty light lyrically but the tone & style of guitar playing really help inform the rest of the track.
I’ve never sent an album to my father more quickly than this one – All of the alt country influences he raised me on are right here in the open. Lenderman himself has mentioned Neil Young
1. Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood
When you save your best song & title track for last, the rest of the album has to be good enough that the listener gets there. Tigers Blood (song) is my favorite song of the year, and Tigers Blood (album) is my favorite album of the year.
Katie Crutchfield (also about my age!) is on a tear right now releasing some of my favorite albums. Her 2022 duet album with Jess Williamson, Plains, came in #3 that year and this one is better in almost every way.
In some ways this album is ALSO a duet (and in that same way the #YearofTheMan did NOT end at #2) as MJ Lenderman (that guy again?) provides phenomenal backup vocals throughout. My one gripe of the Waxahatchee show (perhaps my favorite show of the year) was that the guy doing those parts in the live band wasn’t quite as good.
So, that’s my list. I’ve embedded a mix below and a playlist which contains all 10 of the albums below. Thanks for reading. Go see live music, support the bands you like, etc. See ya next year!
mangosquash 