Heart and soul, that’s not too much to ask, right? To be honest, I didn’t have an easy year exploring new music. The flood of releases is too much to keep up with—the conscious realization that you continuously miss more than you experience is quite demotivating, while exploring the sonic cosmos should be exciting—and wading through all the copycats and AI disciples makes it increasingly difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Thankfully, just when I thought the journey had become more important than the destination, and the future was finally losing out to the past, it turned out that there were still plenty of raw pearls and creative authenticators to be discovered (I don’t necessarily value perfection or innovation). And so I regained the feeling that blogs like ours actually add some value to all those algorithms around by putting them on display. Regardless, in my forays into the depths of the musical universe, I checked out 2,800+ new albums, resulting in a passionate longlist of 140 wantlist-worthy releases—the ones I liked and played the most, just a matter of taste I guess , are in the Top 50 below. Slightly eclectic, but all as real as it gets.
So here we go, this is my year-end list of 2024 (you can also find it in a playlist on Spotify). For each record I embedded one of the standout tracks as a taster for the whole thing. Links point to Discogs or Bandcamp (the headings), and where available to our previously posted reviews (in the body text). As always: add to your wantlist—or even better: your collection—what you like!
1. Peter Bibby || Drama King
[Underground Rock, Australia || Spinning Top Records] At first I pushed this one aside—are song titles like The Arsehole and Companion Pony, and a voice that regularly goes off the rails, really for me?—but an invisible elastic pulled me back and gradually I came to appreciate this record more and more, precisely because of its idiosyncrasy and raw intensity. The way the musician pairs powerful riffs, emotional gravelly vocals and vivid storytelling, sliding between overdriven chaos and thoughtful restraint, makes this a stirring ride that dazzles me time and time again.
2. Anna Erhard || Botanical Garden
[Chamber Psych, Germany || Radicalis Music] Every now and then I listen to playlists outside my own bubble, to keep a sense of what’s going on in other genres. That’s how I came across Anna Erhard’s Hot Family, and I immediately became a fan when her other songs turned out to be of the same level. Bewitching soundscapes and personal stories that poke fun at modern life, it doesn’t get much cooler than this. If you can write a hit about rating a botanical garden, you can do anything.
3. Fontaines D.C. || Romance
[Post Rock, Ireland || XL Recordings] “My childhood was small // But I’m gonna be big” is how the Dubliners kicked off their 2019 debut album Dogrel (also in my AOTY Top 10 at the time), five years later they’ve lived up to that premise. The eleven cinema-inspired songs on Romance are grand in every way. Boundless and multifaceted, but I’m definitely still on board, singing along: “A long, a long, a long, a long, a long-long // You were my // Favourite for a long time.”
4. Aluminum || Fully Beat
[Indie Rock, US || Felte Records] A striking first full-lengther, mingling a multitude of styles and influences into a singularly captivating sound with surprising twists and turns. The Madchester groove and hazy vocals felt familiar from the start, but the versatility and inventive arrangements of this record are like a bottomless treasure trove.
5. Wunderhorse || Midas
[Crank Wave, UK || Communion Records] Jacob Slater and his band wanted to make a no-frills album, very imperfect, very live and very raw—they recorded ten rock solid songs that approach grungy perfection with hit-making precision. Melancholic rock that excels through charismatic vocals and 90s inspired chords, with the title track as one of the best songs and videos of the year.
6. The Bevis Frond || Focus on Nature
[Post-Psych, UK || Fire Records] I’d been following Nick Saloman’s prolific band—founded in 1986—for some time, yet I was overwhelmed by the allure of this 2-LP. It’s a sprawling 75-minute exploration of life’s beauty, fragility and chaos, wrapped in symphonic crescendos, layered guitar mastery and introspective narratives. I couldn’t get enough.
7. Ducks Ltd. || Harm’s Way
[Jangle Pop, Canada || Carpark Records / Royal Mountain Records] The Toronto-based duo honed their songcraft and expanded their sound in nine fresh tracks that fuse jaunty guitar melodies with introspective themes of struggle and resilience. This is their finest work to date, and that says a lot.
8. Lorne Behrman || Blue Love
[Yacht Punk, US || Spaghetty Town Records] As a modern-day street poet, Lorne Behrman stands on the shoulders of Lou Reed, where he paints absorbing NYC vignettes haunted by shadows but illuminated by hope. Across eleven unforgettable tracks—short but wealthy in detail—life’s contradictions are captured with emotional depth and lighthearted doo-wop harmonies. Irresistible.
9. Fantastic Cat || Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat
[Folk Rock, US || Missing Piece Records] This sophomore album elevates the charm and talent of the NYC supergroup—four accomplished songwriters with distinct styles—to new heights. I honestly don’t understand why these guys haven’t broken through to the masses yet (for now, we’re all connoisseurs here), because it’s hard not to fall for the memorable melodies, catchy harmonies, joyful handclaps and earworm choruses.
10. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard || Flight b741
[Psychedelic Rock, Australia || p(doom) records] Their Nonagon Infinity LP topped my 2016 AOTY list, but I got a little lost in the endless stream of new material in a variety of genres and ambitions that followed. With Flight b741—studio album no. 26—I’m fully on board again. It’s a collaborative and spontaneous effort by six friends in a joyous atmosphere. The concept this time was “no concept” and in practice that means a lot of fun.
11. Jack White || No Name
[Blues Rock, US || Third Man Records] The Detroit-born/Nashville-based songwriter, musician, producer and label owner doesn’t have to prove himself anymore, but he sounds hungry and yearning here, like a man on a mission to put his standing back on fire. He succeeds with thirteen strong songs—no fillers—with big hooks, mean guitar riffs and biting vocals. Multiple reviewers called this his best work since The White Stripes, and I can only agree.
12. Doctor Velvet || New Breed
[Rhythm & Blues, The Netherlands || Wap Shoo Wap Records] A cool debut album with swaggering anthems, bluesy slow-burners and dancefloor-ready hipshakers. The vintage sound shifts seamlessly between energetic grooves and introspective moods, even exploring darker themes without losing its infectious allure. Very tasty.
13. Joe Jennings MVPs || Nothing Wrong With Giving Up
[Power Pop, US || Rum Bar Records / Sweet Grooves Records / Take The City Records] Joe Jennings and Matt Rendon, seasoned American rockers, teamed up for eleven electrifying hits defined by catchy hooks, thumping beats, and loose, inspired harmonies. A thrilling, rewarding listen.
14. Benny Trokan || Do You Still Think Of Me
[Garage Soul, US || Wick Records] Twelve tracks that blend 60s-inspired soul, garage rock and freakbeat, featuring contributions from notable collaborators. It’s sweet yet raw, subdued yet energetic, tied together by Trokan’s gritty vocals and stellar production. An unexpected and timeless gem that always scores on my turntable.
15. Roots Architects || From Then Til Now
[Reggae, Switzerland || Fruits Records] A dream project realized in Kingston, Jamaica, uniting over fifty legendary reggae session musicians (aged 60 to 85) for nine sun-soaked instrumentals. Despite its star-studded cast, the album feels like a cohesive (and lasting) summer soundtrack.
16. Des Demonas || Apocalyptic Boom! Tree!
[Eclectic Rock, US || In The Red Records] The Washington, DC-based supergroup weaves organ grooves, dynamic guitar riffage and phenomenal rhythms into thirteen tracks of urgent and inimitable music. Hypnotic beat poetry and raw energy in boundary-pushing soundscapes continue to intrigue me.
17. Neutrals || New Town Dream
[Indie Pop, US || Slumberland Records / Static Shock Records] The sophomore album from the Bay Area trio is a collection of thirteen irresistible tunes with sharp observations of everyday life from another era and area, through distinctive vocals over irresistible jangling guitar melodies. Commonplace yet unique.
18. Best Bets || The Hollow Husk of Feeling
[Power Pop, New Zealand || Melted Ice Cream / Meritorio Records] The twelve tracks of Best Bets’ second long-player have a drive that you normally only hear on debut records. The characterful vocals, jangly guitars, nervous rhythms, perfumed hooks and lyrical sophistication (“Last night in the letterbox was something important to read // This world is squandering the only things that we need”) are a golden mixture.
19. Humdrum || EveryHeaven
[Jangle Pop, US || Slumberland Records] It was another good year for fans—like us—of chiming guitars, and this debut from the solo project of Chicago’s Loren Vanderbilt III deserves a high-ranking mention in that regard. I really like the dreamy new wave with breezy vocals over a haunting cadence, rooted in the 80s but completely up to date.
20. American Culture || Hey Brother, It’s Been A While
[Alternative Rock, US || Convulse Records] Musically and vocally as dynamic and engaging as their previous work—a must-have for that reason alone—but it’s the lyrics that really make this album unforgettable, dealing with the harrowing period when co-singer/guitarist Michael Stein was missing and presumed dead. Thankfully, he emerged alive from the tunnels beneath Las Vegas, with the added bonus of songs that are powerful in every way. The most understated one here, Lost Puppy, hits me the hardest.
21. Micah Schnabel || The Clown Watches The Clock
[Folk Punk, US || Self-Released] The tales here are incredibly imaginative and fascinating—the Columbus, Ohio singer/songwriter/guitarist is also an author who wrote an accompanying novel—but musically it’s just as characterful and engaging, not least because of the wholehearted vocals. An enthralling travelogue of learning to embrace a loss of hope.
22. Abes Bones || Strafed By All God’s Angels
[Folk Rock, US || Coyote Oak] The Tucson-based trio explores themes of loss and growth through ten intimate, live-recorded tracks. It feels like a musical collage—diverse yet cohesive—merging folk, rock, psych and blues. Rich instrumentation, thoughtful orchestration and inviting harmonies create a unique sound that belies its living room origins. A truly extraordinary listening experience.
23. Oh Boland || Western Leisure
[Garage-y Power Pop, Ireland || Meritorio Records / Safe Suburban Home Records] This self-produced third record blends punk energy, country motifs and 70s-inspired rock riffs into a compelling narrative full of vivid characters. It all exudes a spontaneous and authentic live feel—great fun to see it come to life even more at the Left of the Dial festival.
24. Sheer Mag || Playing Favorites
[Funk Rock, US, Third Man Records] The idiosyncratic Philadelphia four-piece have made some remarkable strides since their indestructible hit Fan The Flames a decade ago. What they do on their third album—Thin Lizzy-indebted rock meets Jackson 5-like disco—shouldn’t really work, but the raw energy of their hook-laden anthems with arena-sized choruses unapologetically strikes the right chord. Those riffs! That voice! When Sheer Mag is playing favorites, they can get away with anything—a notion confirmed by the bagpipes in their Tiny Desk Concert.
25. Penza Penza || Alto E Primitivo
[Garage Psych, Portugal || Funk Night Records] On their fourth LP, prolific composer/multi-instrumentalist/producer Misha Panfilov and his friends deliver fourteen original instrumentals dominated by heavy grooves. A stimulating rock fest with a stylistic funk flavor—tripped out and fuzzy, hypnotic and cool.
26. The Ar-Kaics || See The World On Fire
[Garage Psych, US || Bachelor Records / DIG! Records / Feel It Records] Ten years older and wiser since their debut album, the Virginia four-piece came up with more subdued, more stretched out and more psychedelic portraits than their previous output, also gloomier than you would expect based on the sunny cover photo from singer-guitarist Johnny Ward’s bedroom/garage, where the eight new songs were written and recorded. A mesmerizing trip of 39 minutes.
27. Swamp Dogg || Blackgrass: From West Virginia To 125th St
[Country Blues, US || Oh Boy Records / Thirty Tigers] I already had Swamp Dogg’s 1970 debut album Total Destruction To Your Mind in my record collection, quite special that I could put a record next to it that was made 54 years later, but sounds just as vital. It’s a mishmash of new originals and vintage classics, of folk, roots, country, blues and soul, sliding between reverent and raunchy, delivered with nods to tradition without ever being bound by it. The magnificent track Songs To Sing is possibly his most beautiful production ever—a new soul classic for the ages—but just as easily there are quirky tunes (Mess Under That Dress, Ugly Man’s Wife) and successful collaborations with Margo Price (To The Other Woman ), Vernon Reid (Rise Up) and Jenny Lewis (Count The Days).
28. Ka || The Thief Next to Jesus
[Hip Hop, US || Iron Works Records] When it comes to hip hop, I’ve been stuck in the old school section, but sometimes there are new rhymes so authentic and samples so soulful, that I just have to fall for them. That’s certainly the case on these fourteen gospel-tinged tunes from Kaseem Ryan, known as Brooklyn rapper/producer Ka, who passed away shortly after the release—may he rest in peace (his music lives on forever). It’s no light manner, but ambitious and meaningful. Goosebump-inducing.
29. Tindersticks || Soft Tissue
[Chamber Pop, UK || City Slang / Lucky Dog] There are some voices in music that I can’t resist, and that’s certainly true of Tindersticks’ frontman Stuart Staples. Add wonderful, introspective lyrics and gorgeous, melancholic soundscapes, and there’s another album I can’t ignore.
30. Nervous Nikki and the Chill Pills || St. Anthony’s Fire
[Headstrong Rock, US || Interdope Records] The roller coaster ride that is life is captured here in nine genre-blurring tracks that never cease to amaze me. As far as I’m concerned, this is a colorful triumph brimming with emotional depth and creativity, carried by Nicole Bauza’s profound vocals (effortlessly shifting between singing and rapping), complemented by a dynamic setup (ranging from sensitive to groovy). It deserves way more listeners (but I guess that applies to almost every entry in this list).
31. The Wendy Darlings || Lipstick Fire
[Garage Pop, France || Influenza Records / Lunadélia Records] Standout track Ridicule—sung in French—was one of the highlights of Prefect Records’ must-have Two Two Seven compilation, but the other songs—in English—that the Clermont-Ferrand trio collect on their third DIY album are just as spellbinding (you’re sold, no matter what I embed below). Ramshackle charm for the win.
32. Holiday Ghosts || Coat Of Arms
[Indie Rock, UK || FatCat Records] The Falmouth four-piece’s fifth full-lengther took a little longer to land on me than their previous ventures, but my doubts quickly melted away when we saw the likeable band perform live again, and I’ve since embraced it as one of their best so far. The mix of weighty themes with boisterous rhythms and appealing harmonies is as delightful as it gets.
33. The Sleeveens || The Sleeveens
[Pub Rock, US || Dirtnap Records] Armed with razor-sharp guitars, charismatic choruses and classic punk fire, Stef Murphy, Jamie Mechan, Ryan Sweeney and Eli Steele stormed onto our wantlist with a street-tough debut—bold and loud.
34. Teenage Tom Petties || Teenage Tom Petties
[Indie Rock, UK/US || Repeating Cloud / Safe Suburban Home] The band name and cover photo could lead you to underestimate Tom Brown’s music, but anyone who has listened to these eleven crisp and unpolished summer tunes a few times knows that they will linger in the back of your mind for a long time—hooks galore, that’s why.
35. The Reflectors || Going Out Of Fashion
[Power Pop, US || Neon Nile] Contrary to the premise of the title, I think you and I can agree that this masterful punk-infused power pop is ever lasting. There is a lot to enjoy in the fourteen unstoppable songs here, a vintage sound with fresh variety.
36. The Dictators || The Dictators
[Punk Rock, US || DEKO / Valley Entertainment] Can we call 2024 the year of comebacks? We hadn’t heard from veteran heroes like The BellRays, The Fleshtones, Nervous Eaters, The Okmoniks, Fastbacks, The Hollywood Stars, Scared of Chaka and The Dictators in a while, but they all came home with brand new productions. The latter put it best: “Get off the couch, dust off the gear // Screw the kids, get the calendar clear // We’re gonna show ’em how to do it right // We’re gonna do a little rockin’ tonite.” And that’s exactly what the New York City proto-punks do. Mighty as ever.
37. The Tambles || In The Hive
[Garage Rock, The Netherlands || It’s a Gas! Records] Four pairs of skilled hands in a Czech farm-turned-studio, whose thoughts went out to the rhythm & blues and psychedelic rock of the 60s and 70s, came up with 15 lively floor-fillers bursting with unbridled Nederbeat joy. This one blasted out of my speakers many times last summer.
38. Les Breastfeeders || La Ville Engloutie
[Garage Rock, Canada || Bonsound] The voguish band from Montreal returned after thirteen years with a vibrant album—sung in French—that journeys through twelve rhythmic and stylistic realms, creating vivid musical neighbourhoods. Garage rock, psychedelic folk, pop, punk and yéyé blow through the invitingly lit streets—an exhilarating vibe.
39. Scott Lavene || Disneyland In Dagenham
[Crank Wave, UK || Nothing Fancy] An engrossing, endlessly engaging ride through the British songsmith’s inventive artistry. Recounting vocals—very amusing lyrics—with eclectic sounds, that is. The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn guests on beautiful opener Paper Roses , and there are more noteworthy stripped down songs, but while it’s an outlier, I can only go with the dancefloor-ready Sadly I’m Not Steve McQueen as the choice cut here.
40. La Perra Blanco || Get It Out
[Rhythm & Blues, Spain || Folc Records] Fronted by the fiery vocals and explosive guitar playing of Alba Blanco Sánchez, alongside a swinging rhythm section, we get animated performances of rockabilly, blues and country with a modern twist. Frantic and feverish.
41. The Peacocks || And Now What?
[Psychobilly, Switzerland || Concrete Jungle Records] Hasu Langhart (guitar, vocals), his brother Simon Langhard (double bass) and Jürg Luder (drums) once again delivered an electrifying mix of rockabilly, garage punk and roots rock, with weathered vocals, bewildering riffs and winning lyrics.
42. Tramhaus || The First Exit
[Post-Punk, The Netherlands || Subroutine Records] The Rotterdam five-piece have made a name for themselves as a live sensation, but on their first studio album they also know how to impress, with nine tracks exploring themes of liberation and self-discovery, full of semi-nonchalant vocals with bursts of urgency, mesmerizing guitar interplay with explosive energy, and a dynamic sound with changes in tempo.
43. The Ekphrastics || Make Your Own Snowboard
[Indie Pop, US || Harriet Records] I remember walking to the bakery on a Saturday morning, with this release on my headphones for a first listen, where I quickly got lost in the fabulous songwriting. You can picture it right there: “I traded my Mountain Goats records for a small sailboat // Swapping one pursuit for another just as remote.” A musical audiobook as a carriage to other environments.
44. Tom Cheshire Band || Everything Is New Again
[Folk Punk, US || Self-Released] New York-born/Atlanta-raised artist/musician/writer Tom Cheshire’s first solo album feels like a band effort firmly established in indestructible friendships. The hard-hitting but deeply comforting tracks—never-before-recorded tunes alongside reimagined cult classics—exude raw emotion and live vitality, showcasing a lifetime of underground music and art.
45. Half Deaf Clatch || An Unquiet Mind
[Blues, UK || Speak Up Recordings] Almost every month brought a new release from British singer-songwriter Andrew McLatchie aka Half Deaf Clatch, without a single miss, always with those trademark sandpaper vocals and profound guitar strumming. I especially love this one, because of the symbiosis between the subdued blues chords and the beautiful poetic lyrics about its genesis: “Every song begins as an echo in silent space // An idea on a canvas made of air // Painting sound every colour is a frequency // The lows the highs, emotions flow right outta me.”
46. Bottom Shelf || There Will Be Chicken Wings
[Roots Rock, US || Self-Released] Southern rock brilliance packed with heartfelt lyrics, gritty vocals and grooving rhythms, which bring both smiles and tears—perfectly paired with a drink and a moment of reflection.
47. The Wylde Tryfles || Outta Tyme
[Garage Rock, France || Soundflat Records] A raucous homage to the wild 1960s, yet still feels completely contemporary. Fuzz to the max, a bouncing organ, an unstoppable beat, sing-along harmonies and gritty screams, ready for the dance floor.
48. The Bacarrudas || Pool Party
[Party R&B, US || Mom’s Basement Records] This finely crafted BBQ soundtrack completely lives up to its title. Sun-kissed organ melodies, uplifting guitar licks and infectious vocals—a fun time guaranteed.
49. Shirese || Hardy Cricket
[Garage Rock, US || C/Site Records / Grapefruit Records] The tightly-knit Connecticut six-piece inject 70s-style dual guitar riffs reminiscent of Cheap Trick into their lo-fi garage psych, with unexpected detours into doo-wop, country and experimental madness. Pretty cool rock ‘n’ roll glory with keen lyrics.
50. Cindy Lee || Diamond Jubilee
[Avant-Garde Pop, Canada || Superior Viaduct / W.25TH] Even without a streaming presence you can create a breakthrough, as was proven when Cindy Lee, the songwriting/performance moniker of Patrick Flegel, shared these thirty-two songs as a full album—over two hours—via YouTube. My curiosity was also aroused, and I was certainly not disappointed by what I heard. Although I still cannot fully comprehend it, I can only admire these accomplished sketches of love and longing—idiosyncratic and extraordinary—and so you’ll understand I’ve added the 3-LP vinyl version, due out in early 2025, to my wantlist.
You want more? In addition to the Top 50 above, these are 50 honorable mentions bubbling under (in alphabetical order; links point to previous write-ups where available):
Henrik Appel || Shadows [Alternative Rock, Sweden || PNKSLM Recordings]
The BellRays || Heavy Steady Go! [Rock ‘n’ Soul, US || Sweet Gee Records]
Big Special || Postindustrial Hometown Blues [Post-Punk, UK || So Recordings]
The Bug Club || On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System [Garage Rock, Wales || Sub Pop Records]
Johnnie Carwash || No Friends No Pain [Garage Pop, France || Howlin Banana Records]
Chime School || The Boy Who Ran The Paisley Hotel [Jangle Pop, US || Slumberland Records]
Closet Mix || 04 CD [Indie Rock, US || Old 3C]
The Courettes || The Soul Of…The Fabulous Courettes [Garage Soul, Brazil / Danmark || Damaged Goods Records]
Dangereens || Chic [Action Rock, Canada || Alien Snatch! Records]
The Eggmen Whoooooo! || Fuzzy Eggs, Please [Garage Psych, Wales || Strangetown Records]
Extra Arms || RADAR [Power Pop, US || Setterwind Records]
Fastbacks || For WHAT Reason! [Punk Rock, US || No Threes Records]
Faulty Cognitions || Somehow, Here We Are [Punk Rock, US || Cercle Social Records / Dirt Cult Records]
Fleur || Fille Sauvage [Nederbeat, The Netherlands || Harry Records / Soundflat Records]
Futurebirds || Easy Company [Country Psych, US || Dualtone Records]
Good Looks || Lived Here for a While [Indie Rock, US || Keeled Scales]
Grapes of Grain || Painted Windows [Indie Pop, The Netherlands || Drag Days Records]
Hutch Harris || Not Everyone is Loved [Indie Rock, US || Royal We Publishing]
Hinds || Viva Hinds [Garage Pop, Spain || Lucky Number]
The Hollywood Stars || Starstruck [Garage Rock, US || Rum Bar Records]
The Hypos || The Hypos [Garage Pop, US || Self-Released]
Jr. Juggernaut || Another Big Explosion [Alternative Rock, US || Mindpower Records]
Sammy Kay || July 1960 [Punk Folk, US || Engineer Records / Sell The Heart Records]
Langkamer || Langzamer [Slacker Rock, UK || Breakfast Records]
Late Slip || I Love You [Garage Pop, US || Party Mermaid Records]
Laughing || Because It’s True [Indie Rock, Canada || Meritorio Records]
His Lordship || His Lordship [Maximum Rock ‘n’ Roll, UK || Psychonaut Sounds]
Th’ Losin Streaks || Last House [Garage Rock, US || Slovenly Recordings]
J Mascis || What Do We Do Now [Alternative Rock, US || Sub Pop]
The Mocks || Do You Want Me Too? [Nederbeat, The Netherlands || Wap Shoo Wap Records]
Mooon || III [Garage Psych, The Netherlands || Excelsior Recordings]
The Mystery Lights || Purgatory [Garage Psych, US || Wick Records]
Naked Giants || Shine Away [Indie Rock, US || DevilDuck Records]
Nervous Eaters || Rock n Roll Your Heart Away [Garage Rock, US || Wicked Cool Records]
Nice Biscuit || SOS [Psych, Australia || Bad Vibrations / Fuzz Club / Greenway Records / The Reverberation Appreciation Society]
Peace de Résistance || Lullaby For the Debris [Art Rock, US || La Vida Es Un Mus / Peace De Records]
The Rifles || Love Your Neighbour [Britpop, UK || Cooking Vinyl / Right Hook Recordings]
Shehehe || Namedroppers [Punk Rock, US || Say 10 Records]
The Shivas || Can’t Stop Coming Around [Garage Psych, US || Tender Loving Empire Records]
Sin City || Another Round [Country Soul, US || Self-Released]
Bette Smith || Goodthing [Rhythm & Blues, US || Kartel Music Group]
Sprints || Letter To Self [Garage Noise, Ireland || City Slang]
Subterranean Street Society || Bleep [Alternative Rock, Denmark / Netherlands || Earth Works]
The Surfrajettes || Easy as Pie [Instrumental Surf, Canada || Hi-Tide Recordings]
A. Swayze and the Ghosts || Let’s Live a Life Better Than This [Post-Punk, Australia || Self-Released]
Richard Tripps || Between The Morning [Indie Folk, US || Perpetual Doom / Plume Records]
The Umbrellas || Fairweather Friend [Indie Pop, US || Slumberland Records / Tough Love]
Us || Underground Renaissance [Garage Rock, Finland / UK || Krautpop!]
Wah Wah Wah || Burnt Crispy Beats [Garage Psych, South Korea || Good Boy Records]
Tucker Zimmerman & Big Thief || Dance Of Love [Folk, US || 4AD]
From 99 of these 100 albums you’ll find a track in this Spotify playlist.
Niek will publish his AOTY list the day after tomorrow, with—as usual—mostly other choices (UPDATE: here it is, for those who think that my list contains too little power pop and punk). Click here for more year-end lists, including those from some of our favorite other blogs.
PS Finally, I also want to touch on five of my dearest various artists compilations that were released in 2024 (in alphabetical order):
Blow My Mind – The Doré Era Mira Punk & Psych Legacy [Munster Records, 2-LP]
Come To My World – A Brief History Of Indie Pop 1985-2023 [Two-Piers, 2-LP]
Perpignan Burning [Staubgold, 2-LP]
Eddie Piller Presents The Mod Top 100 [Edsel, 4-CD] / Top 40 [Demon, 2-LP]
Two Two Seven [Prefect Records, LP]
Benny Trokan is an acquaintance and is also a super sweet dude which make it even better.
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