2024, much like the years that preceded it, has been a year. I wrote at the beginning of my year in gigs post (which you can read here) that it has been an eventful one for me personally. I am not here to talk about the reasons why it has been eventful though. I am here to discuss 2024 and the albums that came out in it. Much like last year, I tracked what I’d been listening to and what I thought of it, so I had a bit of an idea when it came to this part of the year what I really liked from the last 12 months. First things first, let's crunch the stats!
New albums listened to - 188
Total listens - 422
Average score - 6.78
New EPs listened to - 29
Total listens - 69
Average score - 6.89
Both albums and EPs saw a significant drop this year from last year. There are reasons for that, but the main one being my music listening focus has been shared between new releases and the big task I set myself trying to find out my favourite album from the first half of the decade. But wait, I don’t hear you say, where can you read more about this big task I set myself that I absolutely don’t regret having done? Well fear not…
Part 5 will follow this post very soon after. This post will confirm the top 20 albums (plus some honourable mentions), which will mean I can then launch into Part 5, my favourite albums of the half decade revealed! Isn’t that exciting y’all? What do you mean no? Anyway…
Favourite EPs of 2024 - Honourable Mentions
Celestial Sanctuary - Visions of Stagnant Blood - An up and coming death metal band who have put out a decent album and followed it up with this EP/single, which was just dropped as a surprise (without any obvious context).
Greg Puciato - FC5N - The first new EP I listened to this year. It is very good, whilst also being very different from other projects (thinking specifically of Better Lovers) and itself being a varied piece of work.
Lockslip - Lockslip - A fine piece of metallic hardcore. Hopefully will see more of this band in the future.
Melted Bodies - The Inevitable Fork, Vol 3 - It seems I haven’t heard volumes 1-2 of this inevitable fork series. No matter though, this is still good.
Favourite EPs of 2024 - The Top 10.
10. Less Than Jake - Uncharted
Is this the best thing Less Than Jake have put their name to? No. Does that matter at all? Also no. This is a fun little EP. This is what I want some bands to do, instead of releasing longer albums which end up having sub-par songs added, release solid EPs.
9. Ben Brown - Blue
I was introduced to Ben Brown earlier this year as he was supporting Frank Turner. However, his EP was getting a lot of love from other artists. I gave it a go, and really liked it.
8. Pest Control - Year of the Pest
I like me a bit of trash metal, and Pest Control are consistently releasing good material. I am excited to see where they go from here.
7. Every Hell - Vertebrate
This band is made up of former members of Black Peaks, as well as people from other bands. I miss Black Peaks, and while this did not scratch that particular itch, it is bloody good.
6. Comeback Kid - TROUBLE EP
Comeback Kid released an album last year that almost cracked my top 20. I don’t know if this was from the same session, or something separate. Whatever the situation is here, the EP is good.
5. Little Simz - Drop 7
Little Simz is ace. This EP is really very good.
4. Ghaul - Down Here Where I Am
This EP is gnarly. I most recently listened to this while working from home, and the idea of me putting this on in the office properly tickled me (I work with people who are not overly receptive to heavy music).
3. GEL - Persona
GEL’s album last year, when redoing the 2023 list, fell out the top 20. The sheer annoyance I felt towards the interlude track (which took up a lot of time on a short album) was the main reason for that. GEL are a great band, and this EP (for want of a better term) does not fuck about. I love it.
2. Serj Tankian - Foundations
This EP made me think of Serj’s first solo album. God I loved that album, and I really like this EP. Yes, I selfishly want new SOAD, and I want it to be good as well (there was an album put out by a SOAD member this year which…was okay). If I can’t have SOAD releasing good music, I hope Serj releases more like this, as this is ace.
1. unpeople - unpeople
Having listened to this, I am pissed that unpeople weren’t widely announced as the replacement opener on the Better Lovers tour. This EP is superb. I really hope to see them live at some point.
When it comes to albums, for the last couple of years, I have really overdone it with honourable mentions. I did look to correct that for this year, and then decided not to. The following list is in alphabetical order
Favourite Albums of 2024 - Honourable Mentions
Ancient Teeth - HUMANIZER - I don’t know what to liken this album to. But it is a very good, chilled listen.
Arab Strap - I'm totally fine with it 👍 don't give a fuck anymore 👍 - I have no previous with Arab Strap, other than having heard the name on a podcast I used to listen to. I gave the album a go when it came out, and have gone back to it several times since. It is really good.
Better Lovers - Highly Irresponsible - I am genuinely shocked this didn’t make the top 20. I am not in any way disappointed by this album, as I think it is great. I would have guessed when the EP came out, and me seeing them live, that this would be a certainty for the top 20. Life has its little surprises, and this is one. If I had to try to say why...I think it is probably a bit long.
Bob Vylan - Humble As The Sun - Another really good album from the Bobs. The bits I heard live as well were also cool.
Chat Pile - Cool World - I quite like Chat Pile, and do like this album. I almost wanted to like it more than I actually do. Maybe secretly I still want to be cool. That ship has sailed, sadly. Anyway, the album is good.
Chelsea Wolfe - She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She - This album is one of a few on this list that was originally in the top 20 but fell out as the year went on. It is really good though.
Grieving - Everything Goes Right, All At Once - Sometimes, I don’t have anything more to say other than “this album is really good and I really like it”. And that is okay.
Halsey - The Great Impersonator - Halsey’s last album was my, revised, album of 2021. This one is also really good, but I was trying to work out, when I realised I hadn’t included it in my top 20, what happened here. I saw a brief review of it saying “it would be right up there if it was about 20 minutes shorter” and honestly, that could be it. I really like it, but it is a bit long.
Heriot - Devoured by the Mouth of Hell - Heroit are going from strength to strength. This is a great debut album. It did almost crack the top 20, but just missed out.
Hidden Mothers - Erosion/Avulsion - The latest release on the list (I would guess). It is an excellent debut album from Hidden Mothers. I hope to be able to see them live at some point.
Joey Valance & Brae - NO HANDS - This is the second album in as many years for JV&B. I preferred the first one, but this is still very good.
Manga Saint Hilare - Everything Is Under Control - I immediately liked this album, but it just didn't stick with me throughout the year. When I revisited it, I knew why it was on my long list, but I also knew it wasn't in my personal top 20. It is very good though.
Nails - Every Bridge Burning - This album is really short, but Nails are an abrasive band, so it is just the right length for them. It does not fuck around at all.
Saidan - Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic Depravity - This album is really good. It was another one I thought might creep into the top 20, but just missed out.
St Vincent - All Born Screaming - I really like this album. I’ve seen it appear on a few “best of the year” lists. I don’t like it as much as some people, but that is okay, It is still a good album.
The Chisel - What A Fucking Nightmare - Straight ahead punk done in an excellent way. I really like it
Favourite Albums of 2024 - The Top 20.
20. Upon Stone - Dead Mother Moon
This album fell in and out of the top 20. As I was finalising the order of them, I realised I liked this enough to make it in. Whilst by no means a copy, I detected the odd occasional nod to At The Gates on this album, and that is by no means a bad thing.
19. Laura Jane Grace - Hole In My Head
This album is really good. I saw Laura live earlier this year (it might have been mentioned on another post…who knows?!) and the material from this album live fits in seamlessly alongside classic Against Me! material as well as other solo material from her. I really like it.
18. Vredehammer - God Slayer
This album was instant with me. As soon as I heard this, I knew I liked it, it was just a case of how much. I am not surprised it has stayed in my top 20 since it came out earlier this year.
17. Make Them Suffer - Make Them Suffer
Make Them Suffer’s album was sat in my spotify library for ages, waiting to be listened to. They then announced a UK tour (on which they are, amongst others, being supported by Conjurer…madness). I like Conjurer, but can’t justify going out of town just to see them for 25-30 minutes). Anyhow, I listened to the album and it instantly went into my top 20.
16. Wage War - STIGMA
Wage War are great. I missed them at the Wedgewood Rooms the other year because I am a fool. I need to correct this in the new year. This album, whilst in my opinion not as good as their last, is still very good.
15. Kendrick Lamar - GNX
Confession time - I know very little by Kendrick Lamar. I know the name, and the song Humble, but that is about it. This was a surprise release, and people seemed to like it, so I gave it a crack…and I really liked it as well. I haven’t yet gone back to his older material but I am sure that will follow soon. This is great.
14. Seeyouspacecowboy - Coup de Grâce
I listened to this album recently for the first time, and then wanted to punt myself into the sea for not seeing them in Southampton in August. This is a quality album.
13. Soccer Mommy - Evergreen
Fun fact - I was out for a walk the first time I listened to this album, and listening to this made me very emotional (I may have shed a tear or two). That was a real surprise. Anyway, I really like this album.
12. Job For A Cowboy - Moon Healer
Listen, I am as surprised as anyone that a Job For A Cowboy album is here. Historically, I have been unkind to this band (and for justified reason, I’d argue). The album came out, and I thought “I’ll give it a quick listen and see how long it takes before I click away”. Reader, I didn’t click away. This album is bloody great.
11. Opeth - The Last Will and Testament
Opeth for a little while now went full prog, and while they were good at it, I don’t really go for prog too much. As a result, I didn’t really keep up with Opeth too much. This album was released and there were mentions of Mikael Åkerfeldt “growling” again. This got my attention, so I decided to give the album a bash and see if I liked it. As you can probably tell by the fact it is quite high up in this list, that I did.
10. The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy
I really like this album. As the year has gone on, and I’ve listened and relistened to albums to figure out the ordering for this list, it has fallen down the list a little bit, but it is a great album.
9. Poppy - Negative Spaces
We’re now getting into the realms of excellent albums, and this album is just that. I knew after one listen this would be high on this list, it was just a matter of how high. I love it.
8. Ihsahn - IHSAHN
I was blown away by this album. There is so much going on it, and yet none of it feels forced. It is an excellent bit of work by Ihsahn. I hope he tours supporting it, as I’d look to go. (I mean, if he wants to also tour properly with Emperor…I could be persuaded to go see them as well, but that is not relevant to this album).
7. Gaerea - Coma
This is my favourite black metal release of the year by some way. I have a ticket for Damnation, and I really hope I’ll be able to see Gaerea. This is great.
6. Kneecap - Fine Art
This album is so much fun. I don’t speak Irish, so I could not tell you what they are saying for the bits they rap in Irish. For me, that just doesn’t matter. This album is excellent, and I suspect will be one of those from this list that I keep going back to.
5. Touché Amoré - Spiral In A Straight Line
Touché Amoré are a band who I don’t revisit all that often, and yet when they put out albums as good as this, I really don’t know why they aren’t on frequent rotation for me. This album is excellent. I don't know if I will make it to their Southampton show, as there is a gig round the corner from my flat I also really want to go to. Argh! That isn’t relevant, this album is great.
4. Knocked Loose - You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To
This album doesn’t overstay its welcome at all. It gets in, does everything it needs to, and then finishes. It is no wonder this band are on the rise when they are putting out albums this good. I love this, and hope to hear some of it at Outbreak next year (if they clash with Turnstile, I may do a cry).
3. Lucifer - Lucifer V
I had never heard of Lucifer before this album came out. I haven’t gone back to check them out at all either (I will, probably). This makes me think a lot of Ghost, and I say that with love. This album is superb.
2. Soft Play - Heavy Jelly
Soft Play with this album have absolutely made a fan out of me. The album has been one I’ve gone back to multiple times, the song Punk’s Dead is one I play all the time just because (6th on my Spotify Wrapped). It truly is an excellent album, and if not for one other album released this year, it would be my favourite of 2024.
1. Frank Turner - Undefeated
When one of your favourite artists releases a new album, I think we all hope for the best. The first singles from this album certainly made me think this was going to be a great album. I listened to it on release day and immediately loved it. As I listened more, I knew it would be towards the top. When I revisited it again for this, I knew it was my favourite album of the year. There is so much to like about it, and I am looking forward to hearing more from it at Show 3000.
And there we are. That has been a year in albums and EPs. Another pretty damn fine year, on that front at least.
No comments:
Post a Comment