Top Albums and Singles of 2024

 

In the last few decades, most musical acts have had to support themselves primarily through touring.  Post-pandemic though, most artists have struggled to make ends meet through live music.  How are 99% of acts supposed to survive financially in this desolate landscape?  Hell if I know.  

Unfortunately, I don't have any answers, but I do have some killer albums and singles to share with you!  Let's keep the discussion going and let me know who you've been listening to this year - whether on vinyl or in-person.  

Top Albums

1.  Only God Was On Our Side - Vampire Weekend

 

2.  Prelude to Ecstasy - The Last Dinner Party

 

3.  All Born Screaming - St. Vincent

 

4.  Here in the Pitch - Jessica Pratt

 

5.  Mahashmashana - Father John Misty

 

Top Singles

1.  Prep School Gangster - Vampire Weekend

2.  Patterns - Laura Marling

3.  I Guess Time Makes Fools of Us All - Father John Misty

4.  Sweetest Fruit - St. Vincent

5.  My Lady of Mercy - The Last Dinner Party

6.  Wild God - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

7.  One Night/All Night - Justice, Tame Impala 

8.  Payback - Aaron Frazer

9.  My Fun - Suki Waterhouse

10. All in Good Time - Iron and Wine, Fiona Apple

11.  Life Is - Jessica Pratt

12.  All to the Good - John Cale 

13.  God Gave Me Feet for Dancing - Ezra Collective ft. Yazmin Lacey

14.  Burial Ground - The Decemberists, James Mercer

15.  Missing Out - Maya Hawke 

16.  Lovers' Leap - Elbow

17.  Floating on a Moment - Beth Gibbons 

18.  Time Flies When You're Having Fun - Dent May, Pearl & the Oysters 

19.  Sweet Smile - The Eels

20.  Worthy - Mavis Staples 

21.  Peaceful Place - Leon Bridges

22.  But I Did Not - Jesca Hoop, John Parish

23.  Step Into Your Power - Ray LaMontagne 

24.  Mom Does the Washing - Joshua Idehen

25.  Renegade - The Doves

26.  Green Ivy Tapestry - Claude Fontaine 

27.  Let's Go Back - Jungle

28.  Metropolis - Kit Sebastian 

29.  Don't Let Me Down Again - Andrew Bird, Madison Cunningham 

30.  Fear When You Fly - Cleo Sol

31.  Tie Your Shoes - Beatrix 

32.  Back 4 More - Tuxedo

33.  Cinderella - Remi Wolf

34.  Workin' On It - Brijean

35.  Big Feelings - Willow

36.  The Moon Is In The Wrong Place - Shannon & the Clams

37.  We're Gonna Make It In a Man's World - Camera Obscura 

38.  A Love International - Khruangbin 

39.  Bodyguard - Beyonce 

40.  Afterlife - Sharon Van Etten

See also: 

Top Albums and Singles of 2023

Top Albums and Singles of 2022

Top Singles and Albums of 2021

Top Albums and Singles 2020

Top Albums and Singles 2019

Favorite Albums and Singles of 2018

Top Albums and Singles of 2017

Top Albums and Singles of 2016

Top Albums and Singles For 2015

Top Albums and Singles of 2014

Top Albums and Singles of 2017

Another year, another music blog post reflecting on the most prominent albums of the past 12 months....

Of course, 2017 wasn't exactly like any other year though.  Given the year's volatile political climate, it's easy for us to assume that music may have taken a backseat for record enthusiasts.  Or perhaps, on the contrary, music may have been the binding force that provided hope for many music geeks during a bleak turn of events.

The alcohol industry knows that customers are going to drink during both good times and bad.  Music is no different.  Whether we turn to music for celebratory or cathartic purposes, we are always lending our ears.  Here are my favorite albums and singles of 2017 that have either served as a form of escapism or solace: 

Albums

1.  Semper Femina - Laura Marling

2.  Drunk - Thundercat

3.  Painted Ruins - Grizzly Bear

4.  American Dream - LCD Soundsystem

5.  Soul of a Woman - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Singles

1.   Ballad of a Dying Man - Father John Misty

2.   Everything Now - Arcade Fire

3.   Soothing - Laura Marling

4.   American Dream - LCD Soundsystem

5.   Die 4 You - Perfume Genius

6.   Just Wasn't Made For These Times - Jim James

7.   Los Ageless - St. Vincent

8.   The Strange Effect - The Shacks

9.   Third of May/Odaigahara - Fleet Foxes

10.  Catherine the Great - The Divine Comedy

11.  Dreams Tonight - Alvvays

12.  Losing All Sense - Grizzly Bear

13.  Crawl - Gabriel Garzon Montano

14.  Summer Girl - Jamiroquai

15.  Magnificent (She Says) - Elbow

16.  Dum Surfer - King Krule

17.  Name For You - The Shins

18.  Anymore - Goldfrapp

19.  Apocalypse - Cigarettes After Sex

20.  Deadly Valentine - Charlotte Gainsbourg

21.  Young Adult - Inara George

22.  I Want To Prove To You - The Lemon Twigs

23.  Cherrybomb - Dan Auerbach

24.  J-Boy - Phoenix

25.  Sleeping Powder - Gorillaz

26.  My Old Man - Mac DeMarco

27.  Over Everything - Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile

28.  Truth - Kamasi Washington

29.  Dear Life - Beck

30.  Replica - The XX

31.  I Miss That Feeling - Tennis

32.  Inferno - Thundercat

33.  Goose Snow Cone - Aimee Mann

34.  Tinseltown Swimming in Blood - Destroyer

35.  Never Know - Dhani Harrison

36.  Whiteout Conditions- New Pornographers

37.  When I Saw Your Face - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

38.  Talisa - Daniele Luppi & Parquet Courts ft Karen O

39.  Darling - Real Estate

40.  Freedom is Free - Chicano Batman

See also: Top Albums and Singles of 2016

               Top Albums and Singles for 2015

               Top Albums and Singles of 2014

Music Discovery Mondays

I didn't catch the Grammys this year.  In fact, I probably haven't watched the Grammys since 1998 when Paula Cole flashed us with her unshaved armpits.  It makes me sad when the Grammys instill nearly everything I despise when it comes to the music industry: lack of class and artistry.  To further my point, in what world is it acceptable for a singer to gracelessly interrupt an acceptance speech inferring that the winner isn't deserving of their craft?

Despite my hatred of the Grammys, I was elated when I heard that St. Vincent won for Best Alternative Album, as well as Beck's win for Album of the Year.  Below I have included some tracks from artists that deserve proper recognition either from the Grammys or elsewhere.

1.  British folkster Laura Marling already has three critically acclaimed albums under belt all at the tender age of 25.  Despite her youthful glow, her voice speaks as a woman with enough sage to command our attention and contemplation.




2.  Kitty, Daisy & Lewis is a sibling trio responsible for reviving the old timey genres of R&B, Rock n Roll, Western swing, and country....but with a modern edge.  In fact, The Clash's Mick Jones has stepped in as the band's first producer.  Listen to their latest track here:

 


3.  Fleet Foxes fans may be scratching their heads wondering when they can expect a new album from their favorite mountain men.  In the meantime, fans can revel in the fact that Foxes' drummer known publicly as Father John Misty has steadily maintained a solo career of his own with two hauntingly beautiful albums to show for it.