BEST OF 2024: TOP ALBUMS, EP'S, SONGS, AND SHOWS
the end of my first year on substack~~
Alrightyy. The theme of this year's end-of-year-wrap-up is INDIE ROCK IS NOT DEAD!!!! After Covid, with the rise of Phoebe Bridgers and Faye Webster and that era of indie rock, I kinda felt over the genre -- it felt like a lot of it was starting to sound too similar and sometimes derivative. This year proved that the genre is still continuing to grow and expand and impress me. So many great indie rock records were released this year, and honestly most of my top records are in the genre.
As always, my top 10 albums don't necessarily align with my most highly rated, but they are the ones to which I kept returning over and over; they are also all albums that inspired me a lot. In terms of stats, this year (so far) I listened to 262 albums, 174 of which were released in 2024. I also put out 178 new reviews this year and went to 22 concerts. Not as many as 2023 on all counts, but I was a busy bee in many other realms. Let's get into it, and as always free Palestine.
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2024
1. Diamond Jubilee by Cindy Lee. This album is just so freakin good. Next level. 10/10 for me. Seeing Cindy Lee live also was a life changing event, which I think cemented this as my top album of the year. Luv her forever.
2. brat by Charli XCX. This album singlehandedly got me into the best shape of my life. Walking at around a 4-4.2 mph speed matches perfectly to the bpm of almost all the songs on this album (minus a couple). I do this for about 45 minutes, and itâs been my routine since the album dropped. Iâve tried to listen to other music, and I start walking slower!!! This album also changed the fabric of popular culture forever. And I will just put it here, I have a trans reading of this album lol. Girl So Confusing is obvious. But Apple also? If you listen for I just want to BE A BOY instead of drive to THE AIRPORT. You wonât unhear it. ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ Hereâs my Brat Walk playlist for anyone interested.
3. Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman. No comment required.
4. Emita Ox by Hello Mary. I love this album all the way through and got to see Hello Mary perform it live from front to back. So innovative with moments of pure noise and others that are really restrained and sweet. Had this on repeat for at least two months.
5. Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild by Merce Lemon. I think Merce Lemon and MJ Lenderman are ruling the more traditional indie rock scene right now. This albumâs awesome and I struggled to not put more songs from it on my top songs playlist. Love her voice and songwriting a lot.
6. Box for Buddy, Box for Star by This is Lorelei. I am a Nate Amos STAN. Think he might be one of the most brilliant and innovative artists today as Iâve said before. âWhereâs Your Love Nowâ is my top song of the year and it makes me tear up every dang time I listen to it. Such brutal and raw songwriting. Doing it like no one else. And also so many fun dancey tracks too. Love this record.
7. Way To Be by youbet. Wrote about this in my June wrap-up so wonât repeat myself but luv dis.
8. Mintotaur by Tex Patrello. Same as ^^
9. Lily of the Valley by 22Âș Halo. This record just grew and grew and grew on me. If you donât like it when you first listen, Iâd advise you to come back to it later. <3
10. Full Body 2 on Audiotree Live by Full Body 2. I resisted putting this on the list for a while because itâs a live album of already released songs but ultimately gave in because it truly is one of my top 10 albums of the year. What this band can do live continues to BLOW MY MIND. Also did a lot of poetry writing to this album.
TOP EPâS OF 2024
1. Oxford Gardens by Devon Ross. Was OBSESSED w this whole EP for a long time. So freakin awesome.
2. how it feels by decay. Great shoegaze EP.
FAV LIVE SHOWS OF 2024
1. Jessica Lea Mayfield at Bottom of the Hill (SF), 12/17/24. Thought all year that Cindy Lee would be my #1, but Jessica played almost all of my favs from her entire career. Really noisy rock stuff and also solo heartwrenching songs. Was so so good and got to talk to her after the show. Sheâs so underrated and def one of my favs of all time.
2. Cindy Lee at The Sinkhole (St. Louis), 5/1/24. Tiny venue. She was just AMAZING. So so good I called David after saying my life had changed. Real performance makes you realize that thatâs all life is.
3. Her New Knife, Frost Children, and julie at The Independent (SF), 11/6/24. Usually I hate shows with 3+ bands on the bill, but each band brought so much energy that by the time julie came on, people were ready to rock hard. All three were top notch.
TOP 30 SONGS OF 2024
1. Where's Your Love Now, This is Lorelei
2. Alone, Greg Mendez
3. Baby Blue, Cindy Lee
4. Chemtrails, Chastity Belt
5. Wristwatch, MJ Lenderman
6. Things I Claim, Nina Ryser
7. All I Want Is You, Cindy Lee
8. I Don't Wanna, Devon Ross
9. Backyard Lover, Merce Lemon
10. She's Leaving You, MJ Lenderman
11. Knowing You, Hello Mary
12. Diet Pepsi, Addison Rae
13. Club Classics featuring bb trickz, Charli XCX and Bb trickz
14. Comet, Tobias
15. Vacancy, youbet
16. Slick-Dick's Baby, Tex Patrello
17. Will You Do Me A Kindness, Merce Lemon
18. Turn it up, Pinkpantheress
19. Lego Ring, Faye Webster and Lil Yachty
20. Nurture, youbet
21. I Walk, Mount Eerie
22. Sadness As A Gift, Adrienne Lenker
23. 99Âą, Marni
24. I Said What I Said, The Softies
25. Bird Sanctuary, 22° Halo
26. Never Arriving, Allegra Krieger
27. Three, Hello Mary
28. can't return to (interlude) - Audiotree Live version, Full Body 2
29. This Thread Is a Green Street, The Innocence Mission
30. clairbourne practice, julie
C U NEXT YEAR!!!
xoxoxooxoxoxxoxo, syd
