Hooray! It’s Bandcamp Friday again! My favorite semi-monthly holiday. Here’s what I’ll be picking up:
Sunlight Echoes (Pre-Order) by Whitelands – This album is scheduled for release on Sonic Cathedral in January 2026, which seems like forever away, but it’s actually not! Backing vocals on their track “Sparklebaby” by Emma Anderson, formerly of Lush and Sing-Sing, make this album a must for me.
THE BPM (Pre-Order) by Sudan Archives – Due for release on October 17, I’m pre-ordering THE BPM and also getting Sudan Archives’ previous release Athena. The intriguing Sudan Archives is the brainchild of violinist Brittney Denise Parks.
Songs For Switches (Pre-Order) by ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄʀᴏss ʜᴏᴛᴇʟ – This sumptuous industrial/darkwave album is being released on the perfect day: Halloween. The Chicago group features former members of Stabbing Westward and The Atlas Moth.
“Girl, so confusing” by Hinds – Once a quartet and now a duo, Hinds take their lo-fi brand of garage pop and put a unique spin on the Charli XCX hit.
Pratts & Pain by Royel Otis – I’m over a year behind on this one. “Sofa King” is so infectious, I have to get Pratts & Pain in addition to this year’s (Hickey), which, unfortunately, isn’t available on Bandcamp.
Caramel by Coach Party – Synthpop crossed with your favorite industrial-gloom-pop band. Maybe She Wants Revenge? With a dash of The Killers for good measure.
Is It Now? by Automatic – If you ever wondered what Ladytron would sound like if they were from Los Angeles, here is your answer and it is gorgeous!
“Little Black Dress” by Francis of Delirium – A new single from my favorite artist from Luxembourg.
“Doldrum Days” by Miki Berenyi Trio – If it’s new music from a former member of Lush, I’m going to buy it. Lush is pretty much my all-time favorite band. 🤷🏻♀️
Bury the Key by TOPS – My friend, Phillip, made me curious about this album when he described it as “breezy.” (If you knew Phillip, you’d realize how good an artist would have to be for him to be into a “breezy” sound.) Indeed, Bury the Key is lovely! It sounds like dream pop with a hint of yacht rock.
Dance Called Memory by Nation of Language – Upon first listen, I was like, “This sounds incredible.” And then I realized that I was bewitched by the nostalgia of my goth days in college. I’m fine with that. Recommended for fans of Future Bible Heroes.
All That Is Over by Sprints – If you haven’t heard the Sprints’ debut, Letter to Self, you need to fix that. After you’ve bought that barn burner, put your headphones on and listen to their sophomore effort. They manage that soft-loud-soft angst so well. And do try to catch them on tour. I’ve already got tickets for their February 3, 2026 show at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA.
Adult Romantix by Winter – It’s shimmering-twee-shoegaze-indie pop and that’s for me!
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.
Ada Monroe looking mad because I wasn’t playing Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at the time
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Matt Berninger of The National at BankNH Pavilion in Gilford, New Hampshire
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.
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.
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).
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.”
David Rawlings and Gillian Welch at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, NH
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!
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.
Nick Cave at the Harvard Book Store in 2023
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.
My brother, Robert Smith, and me on the Bloodflowers tour in 1999
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.
Francis of Delirium – LighthouseI’m obsessed with this debut album of bittersweet alternative rock from this Luxembourg act. Check out the featured track “Blue Tuesday.”
Lovina Falls – Ellery Wayand Tragedy Two tasty new singles from the brainchild of Valerie Forgione (Mistle Thrush).
Glaring – DR666Lovely and lux ambient darkwave from Germany.
Ekko Astral – pink balloonsHigh octane punk rock to get your blood flowing. Catch them opening for Deerhoof on tour now.
GIFT – IlluminatorHarkening back to dream pop, Illuminator is a treat, reminiscent of The Primitives, Adorable, and Lightning Seeds with a healthy dose of shoegaze.
Emma Anderson – Spiralée: Pearlies RearrangedJust announced, this remix album of Anderson’s (Lush/Sing-Sing) brilliant solo debut is available for preorder.
Pop Culture Omnivore 