I’m dealing with a refractory migraine and Ehlers Danlos syndrome flare, so this edition is simply my picks. It’s still early in the year, so most are pre-orders.
There was so much brilliant music that came out in 2024! I’m having the worst time narrowing down my list of faves. Luckily, my two cats, Candy O. and Ada Monroe, have been assisting me.
It’s my hope that at least one person finds something they dig through this post. If you’re a Spotify person, do check out my “Best of 2024” playlist. Then go buy some music and/or merch. Or go out and see some live shows! Or do a shot every time I’ve written “dream” or “shoegaze.”
Without further ado, here’s my top 36 releases of 2024. Why 36? Why not?
36. fifi knifefight – I’m Not Mad, Just Disappointed Self-described “glam punk” from Austin, TX that channels a mighty ferocity.
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35. Camera Obscura – Look to the East, Look to the West A confection of twee goodness. Recommended for fans of Isobel Campbell and Belle & Sebastian.
34. Mo Dotti – Opaque These Los Angelenos are one of my favorites in a new wave of dream pop/shoegaze. Opaque was even mastered by Mark Gardener of shoegaze godfathers Ride.
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33. Ride – Interplay Speaking of Ride … Some of the newer generation of shoegazers sound more like early Ride than current Ride does. But that’s not a bad thing. I think it’s good for bands to expand their repertoire.
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32. Bryce Dessner – Solos Dessner (guitar/piano/keyboards for The National) has created an album of sublime, elegiac, neo-classical pieces.
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31. Chrystabell & David Lynch – Cellophane Memories This album feels like dream. Chrystabell’s vocals dance hypnotically around haunting soundscapes.
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30. Wishy – Triple Seven Power pop mixed with shoegaze! I can’t wait to see the Indianapolis band at February’s “Something In the Way” festival at Roadrunner in Boston.
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29. Jack White – No Name To quote the great Huey Lewis, “The heart of rock and roll is still beating,” and Jack White’s blues-rock No Name is the proof.
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28. Conan Gray – Found Heaven I’m a sucker for this pop opus despite my age.
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27. Charli XCX – Brat My top pop/dance album of the year. It’s filled with ear worms.
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26. Beabadoobee – This Is How Tomorrow Moves Charming pop that reminds me of Frente and Natalie Imbruglia.
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25. The Marías – Submarine A lush and dreamy album. Perfect for bedtime.
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24. deary – Aurelia EP Pretty much anything from British label Sonic Cathedral is a winner in my book! Aurelia is some pretty swell, shimmering shoegaze.
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23. Gift – Illuminator Sweet, swirling dream pop that’s reminiscent of The Primitives with a dash of Curve.
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22. Phantogram – Memory of a Day It has a good beat and I can dance to it. But seriously, it’s a damn fine album and I’m upset that I still haven’t seen the New York duo live.
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21. Redd Kross – Redd Kross Power pop at its finest with this double album.
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20. Attic Ocean – Retriever EP Lovely shoegaze from Germany.
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19. Idles – TANGK Alt-rockers Idles sucked me in with the bop “Dancer” (featuring LCD Soundsystem).
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18. Pet Shop Boys – Nonetheless Another fantastic album from the duo that’s been generating hits since 1981 (!).
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17. Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology Swift ventures into synthpop with delicious results.
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16. Old 97’s – American Primitive “You’ve got to dance like the world | Is falling down around you | Because it is” – Old 97’s, “Falling Down” The alt-country rockers’ 13th (!) album is a barn burner full of vim and vigor.
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15. NewDad – MADRA Dream pop with a hint of goth. Right up my alley.
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14. The National – Rome I’m a little obsessed with The National. I listen to them A LOT. I’m in the Sad Dads Book Club. I saw El Vy (IYKYK) at The Sinclair in Boston by myself in 2015. This past fall, I went and saw The National by myself in the middle of nowhere in New Hampshire (Hey-Neal Katyal was there!). In Massachusetts, I braved the Great Woods parking lot with my husband and friend. To have a career-spanning live album from The National is a dream come true. Rome does an excellent job of capturing how brilliant they are live.
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13. Ekko Astral – pink balloons Driving punk/garage/noise rock from Washington, DC.
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12. Billie Eilish – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT Billie Eilish’s third album does not disappoint. It’s wistful, it’s hopeful, it’s sublime.
11. Francis of Delirium – Lighthouse Gauzy, soaring dream pop from Luxembourg’s Jana Bahrich. Check out “Blue Tuesday” to get hooked.
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10. Sprints – Letter to Self Honest to goodness anthemic, alt-rock from Dublin. I got reeled in by the pulsing “Heavy.”
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9. Chalk – Conditions II EP Industrial, gloom pop from Belfast that has flashes of The Final Cut. Would’ve fit in perfectly on the Wax Trax roster in the nineties.
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8. Emma Anderson – Spiralée: Pearlies Rearranged The reimagining of Anderson’s Pearlies is effervescent and beautiful. It’s my favorite reworking since Nine Inch Nails’ Further Down the Spiral (1995).
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7. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross & Boyz Noize – Challengers [Mixed] I haven’t heard an album that’s such a seamless dance gem since Donna Summer’s On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II (1979). With touches of Pet Shop Boys and New Order, I recommend this as an exercise companion. Which is not something I ever thought I’d say about Reznor’s music!
6. English Teacher – This Could Be Texas I love this stellar debut album from the British group. Something about them reminds me of more rockin’ Black Box Recorder. Another fave from this year is their Live From BBC Maida Vale EP, which includes a great cover of Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather.”
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5. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Woodland When I younger, I got to work with this pair and it was an honor. Woodland is timeless and haunting. If you get the chance to see them, go!
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4. Mannequin Pussy – I Got Heaven The Philadelphia outfit is a force to be reckoned with. I Got Heaven straddles pop and rock with aplomb.
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3. Garbage – copy/paste On this Record Store Day Black Friday exclusive, Garbage collects ten gorgeous covers (nine of which were previously released). A favorite is their cover of The Jam’s “Butterfly Collector.” Something I really appreciate about this record is that Garbage includes detailed information about the original versions. An abridged digital version with six of the tracks was made available after Black Friday.
2. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Wild God This is such a joyous album. Some Bad Seeds fans may take umbrage at its joy, but I love it and need it.
1. The Cure – Songs of a Lost World I think this is The Cure’s finest release since 1992’s Wish, which is interesting because the album has this “Edge of the Deep Green Sea” vibe to it, with a lovely dash of 1987’s Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.
It’s Bandcamp Friday! All proceeds go directly to the artists. Buy some tunes that you streamed on Spotify! (Note: This month’s wrap-up is short because I’ve been wicked sick with pneumonia. But I’m almost all better!)
Deary – Aurelia Gorgeous dream pop.
Fifi Knifefight – I’m Not Mad, Just Disappointed You know how people are like, “Check out my friend’s band!” And you’re like, “Sure!” And then the band is mediocre? That is soooo not the case with Fifi Knifefight! I’m Not Mad, Just Disappointed is a fun, sonic romp.
Attic Ocean – Retriever Indie tunes from Germany.
American Hi-Fi – “I’m Still In Love With Rock ‘N’ Roll” Boston’s American Hi-Fi is back with an ear worm of a new single produced by Butch Walker.
Phantogram – Memory of a Day Another fetching album from the duo.
Pale Waves – Smitten I’m a sucker for the British outfit.
Pop Culture Omnivore 