The Best Albums for Old Heads of 2024, Pt. 1

An overview of how end of year lists work around here (sorry, ranked-list lovers!) and the first installment of excellent new releases.

My brain doesn’t work in numbered lists.

After the first handful, and definitely after the first ten, the distinctions seem laughable to me. How am I supposed to justify the hairline difference between #26 and #43 on a top 50, let alone between #43 and #44?

And if you don’t think it’s that deep… well, on the one hand you’re not wrong. On the other hand, I have personally witnessed (and myself made attempts at keeping) spreadsheets based on overwrought scoring systems with embarrassing amounts of decimal places. It’s very serious business.

I’m sick of it, to be honest with you.

Every week for the next four weeks, I’ll share a list of albums that I think are worth your time and attention.

Every year, the same indie mainstream (my favorite oxymoron!) darlings take all the accolades. There’s a tacit acceptance that the best albums are chosen from the 300 or so that everyone has heard. Virtually every single record that receives any kind of review at all receives a positive one¹. These lists aren’t a talent competition — they’re little more than a popularity contest.

I just want to know what’s worth listening to, don’t you?

The Anti-List List

Here’s my compromise:

Every week for the next four weeks, I’ll share a list of albums that I think are worth your time and attention.

These won’t be ranked, but each week’s list will feature albums that I’m progressively more excited about, culminating in a set of new releases that I could see vying for a #1 slot on a traditional end of year list.

If you need this spelled out more formally…

The End-of-Year Schedule

• Week of November 17th: Noteworthy Releases

• Week of November 24th: Albums Worthy of a Top 50 List

• Week of December 1st: Albums Worthy of a Top 10 List

• Week of December 8th: Albums Worthy of a #1 Slot

Suggestions for More Honest Album of the Year List Titles

I know this might be a bit of a letdown, but think of it this way —

You’re soon going to be inundated with ranked lists from every publication and critic under the sun. You won’t be hurting for numbered lists, I promise you.

Let’s dig in.

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The Best Albums for Old Heads of 2024, Part One - Noteworthy Releases

Look at this as the run-up to the best of the best that will be coming your way in the next few weeks. Don’t get me wrong, though; every one of these records is fantastic and worth every moment. There’s truly just such a surfeit of excellent music being released every year, that I am spilling over with it.

I’ll give the barest of keywords to help you sort of what’s right for you.

Reminder, these are numbered for your reference and convenience only. The numbers are utterly meaningless to me!

1. Pouty - Forgot About Me (Self-aware ‘90s-inspired indie pop for Kay Hanley lovers. Standout tracks: Salty, TV on TV)

2. Omni - Souvenir (Chunky ‘80s style post-punk with Gang of Four vibes. Standout track: Exacto)

3. The Dare - What’s Wrong With New York? (Indie sleaze revival that practically satirizes LCD Soundsystem. Standout tracks: Good Time, Perfume)

4. Chastity Belt - Live Laugh Love (Dreamy, nostalgic indie-pop. Standout track: I-90 Bridge)

5. cumgirl8 - the 8th cumming (Band with joke name is actually a modern-day Siouxsie and the Banshees. Standout tracks: ahhhh!hhhh! (i don't wanna go), simulation)

6. Font - Strange Burden (At times Talking Heads, at times Arcade Fire channeling Jump, Little Children. Hard to pin down! Standout track: Hey Kekulé)

7. Cowgirl - Cut Offs (Jesus & Mary Chain meet the Dandy Warhols, but jangly. More here. Standout track: Against the Night.)

8. Megan from Work - Girl Suit (Yes, you need more bands inspired by Letters to Cleo. Standout track: Loving Me)

9. THUS LOVE - All Pleasure (Pulpy, dark, sexy post-punkers enter their Frank Black era. Standout tracks: Birthday Song, Lost in Translation)

10. Brigitte Calls Me Baby - The Future is Our Way Out (What if Roy Orbison and Morrissey formed a supergroup? More here. Standout track: Pink Palace)

11. Gut Health - Stiletto (Frenetic Aussie new wave/post-punk hybrid, with a big wink to Blondie. Standout track: Cool Moderator).

12. Been Stellar - Scream from New York, NY (Early 2000s-inspired indie rock, blending the Strokes and Stereophonics. Standout track: Sweet)

13. Teens in Trouble - What’s Mine (Weezer, but for the girlies. Standout track: Playlist)

14. PACKS - Melt the Honey (Slacker rock, but also for the girlies. Standout track: HFCS)

15. Revival Season - Golden Age of Self Snitching (Expertly mixed hip hop for the discerning Outkast fan. Standout track: Pump)

16. Home Counties - Exactly As it Seems (Electropop meta-nostalgia of the mid 2020s for the mid 2000s for the 1980s. It’s kind of a lot. Standout track: Bethnal Green)

17. Les Amazones d'Afrique - Musow Danse (West African women’s electronic music collective featuring rich funk grooves. Standout track: Kuma Fo)

18. Big Special - POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES (Lyrically incisive post-punk/folk hybrid. Modern day blue collar spoken word hymnals. Standout track: DUST OFF/START AGAIN)

19. Empress Of - For Your Consideration (Experimental, occasionally Spanish-language dance pop with elements of Bjork or FKA Twigs and lots of high octane collabs. Standout track: Fácil)

20. Good Looks - Lived Here For A While (Heartland rock gone early 2000s indie. Standout track: Self-destructor.)

21. Lime Garden - One More Thing (Slightly sleazy britpop with obvious Strokes influence. Standout track: Love Song)

22. Porridge Radio - Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me (Powerful and poetic melodic post-punk has always reminded me of the Cranberries. Standout track: A Hole in the Ground).

23. cool sorcery - TERRA INVADERS (My favorite Brazilian bedroom/egg punk explores psychedelia. Standout track: ALIEN SKATE-OFF!!!)

24. BODEGA - Our Brand Could Be Yr Life (Power pop musings on capitalism with shades of the New Pornogrpahers. Standout track:Tarkovski, but check out the deluxe version for my favorite, Myrtle Parade)

25. Dark Chisme - Dark Chisme (The latinx darkwave that has been missing from your dance parties. Standout track: Sombras)

Meet me back here next week for much more!

1. Seriously — 87% of the 666 (!) albums released in 2024 that are listed on albumoftheyear.org as of this writing have an aggregate rating of 70/100 or higher, and only eight have a score 50/100 or lower.