Kim Gordon's record rips. Listening to Magdalena Bay always felt like I was at a resort in the Caribbean somewhere (or at least somewhere that was always sunny).
I actually liked Cutouts more than Wall of Eyes, but what a time to be alive for two Radiohead-ish albums in the same year. And thank you!! finally someone brings up Heems, will be in my top 10.
Daddy's home does have some excellent tracks and I loved the concept in theory...I never want to discourage an artist from experimentation obviously. but yeah it didn't land for me
Excited to explore where your list converges with my usual go-to lists (Pitchfork, Stereogum, NPR, et. al.) - helps narrow the field! Missed the boat on Magdalena Bay, Geordie Greep, and Nilüfer Yanya in particular. 🙌
to be honest, you should probably expect my list to be the most mainstream of all of those ... I tend to gear my recommendations towards a "missed the boat" audience 😅 so those publications are much more esoteric in their picks! I certainly missed the boat myself on a ton of amazing records this year
Hysterical Strength is so good! Easily one of my favourites this year. I’m intrigued as to why you think it’s divisive as opposed to anything else on this list. What have I missed? The Fontaines and English teacher albums are both great too but I still prefer Yard Act 🤷♀️
I was actually surprised to learn that DEADLETTER was divisive (unlike Geordie Greep, where it's pretty obvious). I can tell they have a somewhat acerbic sound, but it's one that I think we've developed a taste for over the last few years of UK post punk bands rising in popularity, and they are putting a cool spin on the formula. But it turns out they have very mixed reviews, with many finding the vocals and lyrics annoying, and the songs too unvaried.
Love Nilüfer Yanya, The Smile, and St Vincent! I may revisit Chelsea Wolfe and English Teacher but my "2nd Chance Pile" playlist is out of hand and I'm still catching up on things I haven't listened to at all yet. Looking forward to the Lauren Mayberry album that's coming out under the end of the year wire.
oh god it's truly impossible to keep up, isn't it? it's pure luck usually what ends up landing on my end of year lists. I end up with regrets every year!
Solid list. Been looking at a lot of best albums of the year lists from various websites and there are so many obscure picks this year I’ve never heard of before and I follow new releases each week and what’s popular pretty closely. Apart from a handful of albums that pop up on a lot of lists, there seems less consistency on what the top 10 are. Just wondering when we look back on 2024 in a few decades, whether some of the choices on these lists will become better known or will be obscure still for most people
well I'm not done yet! but yeah I'm not really one for obscure music listening, which I actually beat myself up for quite a lot. but I already listen to about 500 albums a year and have a full time non-music job so how much can one person do?! I try to be a bit more accessible to the general interest listener. and yes, about staying power, it's why I always refused to give a 10/10 album score to a brand new record...I think part of that equation needs to be how lasting an impression an album makes
I really really liked Deadletter and St. Vincent. I also liked English Teacher and Geordie Greep. And you gave me a couple new ones that sound promising (Nilüfer and C Wolfe). I'm recognizing more of the albums as you climb up your not-a-list, which makes me even more excited for the last installment! I'm also glad I'm not on the same ruling deadline as you. Me and my friend don't share our Top 20 finds until the end of December or early January.
I was thinking it was just because we have overlapping tastes for what's good! I do get a thrill out of finding something I know I like that almost everyone else has overlooked or dismissed or forgotten. Isn't that one of the things that drives is into exploring a band's back catalog, or their influences, or their influences' back catalogues, etc.?
absolutely! and I also know my perspective is skewed now as somebody that others are looking to for recommendations, instead of just a casual listener. it's a little trippy.
i'm still kind of stuck in my ways of recommending more "expected" albums as i climb higher into these lists. i think it's decades of being indoctrinated into some odd, tacit agreement that there are rules for what can qualify as BEST, and notoriety is part of it. i'm hoping to get better at extricating myself from that as i continue to develop my own platform (and continue to learn about new music, myself -- not just the stuff that's fed to *me* by the usual suspects and/or algorithms!). it's true i love this reflects my actual taste though, but i think it means my listening has to expand.
I was thinking, wasn't that English Teacher album from last year? Looked it up, and the single for World's Biggest Paving slab came out in August of 2023. Feels like a long time ago now. Fantastic record, as are all the ones I've listened to on this list (Helado, Nilüfer, Chelsea, St. Vincent). Can't wait for Number(s) One!
generally speaking i find standout tracks on albums to be a very subjective thing and totally up to personal tastes. on that album, though, it's absolutely not debatable. those are the 3 best tracks.
Mustard loves the Tyler mention! One of their favorite albums this year. These anti-lists are inspiring Mustard to sharpen theirs up before they go out.
Wow, The Smile - Hectic. Vintage Suede but 30 years on. Brilliant.
I can’t thank you enough!!!!
I miss new music in my life and your picks are amazing!
Kim Gordon's record rips. Listening to Magdalena Bay always felt like I was at a resort in the Caribbean somewhere (or at least somewhere that was always sunny).
Glad to see Kim Gordon's on here -- got a lot of rotation for me this year!
I actually liked Cutouts more than Wall of Eyes, but what a time to be alive for two Radiohead-ish albums in the same year. And thank you!! finally someone brings up Heems, will be in my top 10.
I think I might actually just be annoyed with artists putting out more than one record a year. give it a rest! let us breathe!
Magdalena Bay never let me down. I love that album so much. And yes, as a long time St. Vincent fan, this was such a step up from Daddy's Home.
Daddy's home does have some excellent tracks and I loved the concept in theory...I never want to discourage an artist from experimentation obviously. but yeah it didn't land for me
Currently obsessed with this: https://youtu.be/ffBI5Zj9VDw?si=SDpTTqj5BYSpwpTJ
absolute banger
plenty of great picks here from Magdalene Bay, and just started listenig to Nilüfer Yanya a week ago and really digging it!
Excited to explore where your list converges with my usual go-to lists (Pitchfork, Stereogum, NPR, et. al.) - helps narrow the field! Missed the boat on Magdalena Bay, Geordie Greep, and Nilüfer Yanya in particular. 🙌
to be honest, you should probably expect my list to be the most mainstream of all of those ... I tend to gear my recommendations towards a "missed the boat" audience 😅 so those publications are much more esoteric in their picks! I certainly missed the boat myself on a ton of amazing records this year
Hysterical Strength is so good! Easily one of my favourites this year. I’m intrigued as to why you think it’s divisive as opposed to anything else on this list. What have I missed? The Fontaines and English teacher albums are both great too but I still prefer Yard Act 🤷♀️
I was actually surprised to learn that DEADLETTER was divisive (unlike Geordie Greep, where it's pretty obvious). I can tell they have a somewhat acerbic sound, but it's one that I think we've developed a taste for over the last few years of UK post punk bands rising in popularity, and they are putting a cool spin on the formula. But it turns out they have very mixed reviews, with many finding the vocals and lyrics annoying, and the songs too unvaried.
I am shocked! I think it’s a pretty varied offering actually. Oh well!
Love Nilüfer Yanya, The Smile, and St Vincent! I may revisit Chelsea Wolfe and English Teacher but my "2nd Chance Pile" playlist is out of hand and I'm still catching up on things I haven't listened to at all yet. Looking forward to the Lauren Mayberry album that's coming out under the end of the year wire.
oh god it's truly impossible to keep up, isn't it? it's pure luck usually what ends up landing on my end of year lists. I end up with regrets every year!
Solid list. Been looking at a lot of best albums of the year lists from various websites and there are so many obscure picks this year I’ve never heard of before and I follow new releases each week and what’s popular pretty closely. Apart from a handful of albums that pop up on a lot of lists, there seems less consistency on what the top 10 are. Just wondering when we look back on 2024 in a few decades, whether some of the choices on these lists will become better known or will be obscure still for most people
well I'm not done yet! but yeah I'm not really one for obscure music listening, which I actually beat myself up for quite a lot. but I already listen to about 500 albums a year and have a full time non-music job so how much can one person do?! I try to be a bit more accessible to the general interest listener. and yes, about staying power, it's why I always refused to give a 10/10 album score to a brand new record...I think part of that equation needs to be how lasting an impression an album makes
I really really liked Deadletter and St. Vincent. I also liked English Teacher and Geordie Greep. And you gave me a couple new ones that sound promising (Nilüfer and C Wolfe). I'm recognizing more of the albums as you climb up your not-a-list, which makes me even more excited for the last installment! I'm also glad I'm not on the same ruling deadline as you. Me and my friend don't share our Top 20 finds until the end of December or early January.
That would make it a lot harder to be completely subjective.
I was thinking it was just because we have overlapping tastes for what's good! I do get a thrill out of finding something I know I like that almost everyone else has overlooked or dismissed or forgotten. Isn't that one of the things that drives is into exploring a band's back catalog, or their influences, or their influences' back catalogues, etc.?
absolutely! and I also know my perspective is skewed now as somebody that others are looking to for recommendations, instead of just a casual listener. it's a little trippy.
i'm still kind of stuck in my ways of recommending more "expected" albums as i climb higher into these lists. i think it's decades of being indoctrinated into some odd, tacit agreement that there are rules for what can qualify as BEST, and notoriety is part of it. i'm hoping to get better at extricating myself from that as i continue to develop my own platform (and continue to learn about new music, myself -- not just the stuff that's fed to *me* by the usual suspects and/or algorithms!). it's true i love this reflects my actual taste though, but i think it means my listening has to expand.
I was thinking, wasn't that English Teacher album from last year? Looked it up, and the single for World's Biggest Paving slab came out in August of 2023. Feels like a long time ago now. Fantastic record, as are all the ones I've listened to on this list (Helado, Nilüfer, Chelsea, St. Vincent). Can't wait for Number(s) One!
singles typically come out before the full record. the ET LP came out april 2024! it does seem ages ago...
Hehe, we are on the same wavelength...I also liked these same songs from St. Vincent's album.
"Holy, Holy" is just almost the song of the year for me. Just amazing songwriting and delivery:)
generally speaking i find standout tracks on albums to be a very subjective thing and totally up to personal tastes. on that album, though, it's absolutely not debatable. those are the 3 best tracks.
Hehe, 100 percent 😁
Mustard loves the Tyler mention! One of their favorite albums this year. These anti-lists are inspiring Mustard to sharpen theirs up before they go out.
you flatter me, mustard!