My best music of '24 long list

BFD. And a handful of new jams in heavy rotation.

We’re a couple weeks away from what will appear to be an endless barrage of best of the year music lists. As usual, I’m certain there will be some “general” consensus amongst the music media about what will be the “best of the best” for the year. And then there’s kind of like everything else, and the stuff you/me probably don’t know about - that we’ll want to explore more of - will be towards the middle or bottom of those lists.

I’ve been asked to write up some stuff for NPR Music (sorry I can’t say who it is you’ll just have to fucking wait), and I’ve submitted my no more than ten albums of the year list to what will be a mega-reveal of WXPN’s programming staff’s “best of the year” towards the end of December.

But I had to start somewhere - here’s the chicken scratch long list. Probably missing at least a few. Like Yard Act. And Peso. Shoulda put those on the list, too.

Back in July I pulled together a “halftime report”. On close inspection you’ll notice that some of the lps on that list in July didn’t make the long list cut. The reason, simply put, is because some of these records haven’t quite held up over time in my personal listening, as more music has been released. I mean, they’re still good, but it’s simple (at least to me, anyway). I guess it also depends on how you define “best of.”

I’ve always argued that sustained listening to a record is an important factor in “calculating” what “best of” means. I once was discussing with a music journalist I know the various merits of whether or not an album should make a “best of” list if that person didn’t actually listen to it - even tho said journo claimed it was a “best of” nominee because of it’s “sonic relevance, cultural importance, blah blah blah.” Hmm. ok. Big fucking deal I could put any relevant hipster records that I rarely listen on my best of list that would raise my social currency, but whatever.

So, this whole “albums” thing. It’s kind of interesting. Yeah, I grew up during a time with proper lps (two sides, maybe 10-11 songs) and those are the ones whose complete track listings I’ve had burned into my musical memory & DNA. While the impact of streaming clearly has pointed to the death of listening to full lps (i have no data to back this up, just lots of conversations with music fans who talk about how they don’t listen to albums as much), I myself have been listening to full albums less, except of course at least the ONE FULL LP I listen to each day.

Even tho I’ve been (by and largely) listening to full lps less, and just cherry picking songs to put onto playlists, I made an album list anyway. And I still do crave full, proper albums. As a fan, I actually do like the barrage of best-ofs. Especially by those of you who love music as much as I do. So bring it on. Let me know what I’m missing.

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Next: Here’s some new stuff I’m digging and you might too.

Snowmen - I mean, what can be bad about something that reminds you of LCD, The Strokes and Gang of Four. I’m a sucker for this stuff, especially when it’s this good.

Josaleigh Pollett - Ok, so this came out in July 2023 but it’s new to me. The Salt Lake City SSW reminds me sort of Beth Orton on her first few lps. Pollett writes the songs and plays guitar and collaborator Jordan Watko is responsible for lots of the other sounds. Their songs are tender, hypnotic, self-reflective. In The Garden, By The Weeds has become a companion listening piece to Merce Lemon’s incredible Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild. They’re similar in that they both showcase storytelling-within-songwriting craft, yet lean musically into different sides of indie-rock.

This delicious record by Sheffield based singer-songwriter Gia Ford recently fell into my lap. It hits like late period kd lang X a slightly more popier side of Phoebe Bridgers. Gia’s vocal range is warm and welcoming and her work allows the dark edges of her lyrics and stories into your life with open arms. Gia might have listened to some Fleetwood Mac over the years, maybe some Nick Cave, too. Tony Berg, who has touched more than his share of amazing records over the years, produced.

Finally (hope you’re not bored yet). I’ve been a lifelong Grand Funk Railroad fan, ever since my cousin Marc sat me down to play for me the self-titled Red album when i was 11. I had just started to play guitar and I would listen to that album every chance I got, studying Mark Farner’s solos. I did pretty good, although I wouldn’t necessarily say I mastered them.

It was grand Funk’s third album however, Closer To Home, that came out in 1970 when the band hit the big time with “Closer To Home.” There were other great songs on the album, including “Sin’s A Good Man’s Brother,” and “Mean Mistreater.” It’s the latter song title that the Austin metal/hard rock band mostly take their name from (there’s a Muddy Waters song by the same name). In February of this year they released Razor Wire, and it’ll rock you like a hurricane if you’re into this stuff. MM deliver classic 80s metal, with some tasty, giddy-up speed riffage galore.

Thanks for reading. See you next time. Go Birds.