Lilly Symonds—2024 may have been the strongest year for music of the 2020s so far. We have seen unmatched variety and quality this year as well as an honestly overwhelming quantity. It felt as if every turn there was a new album that was there to blow my mind in a new way. I heard a lot of music over this year, but here is the stuff I consider the best.
- ØKSE – ØKSE
For fans of: Hip Hop with strong Avant-Garde Jazz influence.
2024 has been a year of exceptional unconventional Hip Hop, and this self-titled debut by ØKSE is one in this esteemed club. The band, consisting primarily of Jazz musicians, play a blend of surreal and overwhelming Avant-Garde Jazz, which makes an amazing pairing for the various rappers featured within. As we have learned consistently Jazz and Hip Hop make a great pairing, but when that Jazz is played by the performers making the music, it always gives it a real living breathing feel and the added sampling makes for a fun texture. The various performers, made up mostly of their Backwoodz labelmates of course do good work, but the group’s instrumentals in between these featured tracks are just as good. This is a remarkably talented band, and I eagerly await what they are to do next.
- Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown
For fans of: Portishead, and good music in general.
Beth Gibbons is one of a scarce breed of musicians with a truly spotless record, everything she has ever released has been somewhere between good, and lifechanging. From Portishead to her excellent previous album she has never let us down, so why would she start now? Lives Outgrown is an album of absolutely stunning tracks with exceptional melodies and deeply satisfying progressions all working as a bed for her absolutely stunning voice. The Folk textures she played with in her collaboration with Rustin Man are further explored but with a lusher and bigger palette and it works. This is a work of expected excellence from an exceptional talent and while I am not surprised in the slightest, I was still delighted.
- Khamai Leon – IHATOV
For fans of: Hip Hop being flipped entirely on its head.
Khamai Leon is a unique beast, a fusion of the sounds of 70s Jazz and Prog and Hip Hop and while you would think these sounds would clash, the band are so good at what they do that they make it sound like this is a niche that has existed for years that they are just playing in and not something they invented. We got our first taste of this with their debut Hymn, and the follow-up IHATOV is a further expansion of it. We have exceptional sonic textures explored with a prodigal ability but don’t ever delve into pure noodling. This balance of technicality and song quality is a hard one to manage but Khamai Leon do it with great finesse. I also found this album far more focused than the debut, the debut was excellent because of its sprawl but this proves that the band can still be excellent without it. The rapping is also the usual standard, punchy when it needs to be and melodic when the song calls for it. The band are continuing to show off why they are worth paying attention to and a criminally low amount of people are listening.
- Radical Kitten – Uppercat
For fans of: Energetic and bratty punk music.
Radical Kitten are one of the most slept-on bands right now, their previous record Silence is Violence is one of the best records I have heard and I was awaiting the follow-up. This second album, while not quite as good as the debut, is still an excellent manic and energetic time. The band have a hefty sound that benefits the hyperactive instrumentation and all of it is tied together by the excellent vocalist. If you are in the mood for some high energy with a real weight to it, get stuck in, my only real complaint is I wish it was longer.
- death’s dynamic shroud.wmv and galen tipton – You Like Music
For fans of: Music.
You Like Music exists as a collaboration between two individuals, Keith Rankin and Galen Tipton, both largely known as pioneering voices in Electronic music, and as expected it is insane. Textures pulse and explode relentlessly never stopping for a second. There is an incredible creative spirit at the core of this, constantly finding new ideas. This all spawns from improvisations between the artists which they then edited down to the moments of real genius. This approach leads to this constantly being compelling, like all the best moments of a series of albums condensed into the best package possible. Manic, intense, brilliant, and an exceptional release.
- Bad Nerves – Still Nervous
For fans of: Punk Pop (not Pop Punk).
Bad Nerves are playing to a proud lineage of Punk Pop bands, following in the footsteps of M.O.T.O., Nobunny and a certain Jay, and they do very well. Stellar Pop melodies are delivered via pummeling and scuzzy Garage Punk and it is a delight to hear. There is a real joy to these songs, an atmosphere that the band is having as much fun making as you are listening to it. This is a style of music I have historically loved so it comes as no surprise I had an amazing time with this.
- Jawa – Jawa
For fans of: The next evolution of Punk music.
One thing I am proud of as a music consumer is being able to look at music by friends with a critical eye. I have listened to plenty of music by my friends and music released on the label I run, and not felt it, and been honest about that. So when a friend of mine releases something and I sing its praises, then I mean it. This is the case with this debut demo by Jawa, which is one of the most insane releases of the year. All across this 12-minute demo, we have every idea you can think of, delivered as unconventionally as possible, but still always so melodically and rhythmically satisfying that they burrow their way into your brain. Whether it’s the addicting guitar lines like on tracks like “Nie da się nas zabić” or ridiculous synths like “Railroad Bum” or insane soundscapes like on “Kontrakt”, there is always something grabbing your attention. The vocals are also exceptional, with a constant biting snarling style that makes every song sound like a threat, delivered in the most obtuse way. The highlight of the project however is the incredible “Skok z podestu”, which from the first time I heard it cemented itself as one of my favourite songs of the year, and on relisten it is just as good if not better, a fierce song with an amazing sound that has me looping it over and over. If this is what the band can do on their very first release, then they are en route to becoming one of the premier Punk acts of the decade. Just keep in mind the band have since changed their name.
- Rx Cowboy – COWBOY KILLER
For fans of: Atari Teenage Riot finally fulfilling their destiny of being a Hip Hop group.
If there is one thing I continue to make clear, it’s that I love loud and blown out Hip Hop and my god COWBOY KILLER delivers. Drawing from the stylings of Digital Hardcore Rx Cowboy crafts an intense and menacing collection of tracks that manage to be both texturally fascinating and also just really entertaining. These songs pretty consistently have a great driving groove which allows our rapper to deliver some great verses, he has a flow reminiscent of other lethargic Industrial Hip Hop MCs but with enough unique style to separate him from his contemporaries. This is a must if you are into Hip Hop of this style, this project is delivered with a natural talent and I look forward to what comes next.
- Friko – Where We’ve Been, Where We Go From Here
For fans of: Immaculately constructed Indie Rock.
Back in 2022, I was sent an EP by an up-and-coming band called Friko, I really liked the EP, it showed a hell of a lot of promise and a great aptitude for entertaining songwriting, and since then I have looked forward to where they would go. After a 2 year wait we finally have their debut and they delivered. I had a slight worry that this album would lean too much into lushness and lose some of the songwriting I found exciting but they have not. Each song is packed with intense builds and incredible choruses. It is amazing how much more fully formed they sound on this, they have such a distinct aesthetic here and it works wonders. For a debut project, this is remarkably impressive, they have set forward a clear and distinct sound that shows off their influences while bringing in so much of their own flavour and building from what they have done before, if this is what they can do this early on, this is a band who must be paid attention to. From intimate piano ballads with great driving grooves to intense fiery guitar riffs that fling themselves upon the listener, Friko have a lot going for them, and “Get Numb To It!” is one of the best Indie Rock songs of the decade so far.
- Jesse Welles – Patchwork
For fans of: Old school Singer-Songwriters.
After putting out an excellent album in July, Jesse Welles is spending the rest of 2024 relaxing, and getting songs- what’s that? Okay, so I hear he has just released another album. Contrary to its name Patchwork doesn’t feel like it’s been patchworked together, it feels like a more cohesive album than Hells Welles did. This comes from two factors, the longer song lengths and the tighter tracklist. It feels like an album, whereas the last was more a collection of songs, there is just more intent here. But an improved structure doesn’t mean anything if the songs aren’t as good, and thankfully they are! They are musically just as good as the last records, with gorgeous melodies and Welles’s raspy voice always sounding great over the plucked guitar. There are also some more added instrumentals than in previous times, and a lot of the songs have much fuller soundscapes than any of his earlier work, especially the incredible “Fear is the Mind Killer” which might be his best song yet. His lyrics are also substantially more varied here, moving away from purely social commentary to some more introspection, and thankfully he can explore these topics just as well as he can his usual. If with just 2 months he could make something this good, then I welcome the 6 albums we can expect a year, or I excitedly wait to see what he could put together with some real prep time.
- Clarissa Connelly – World of Work
For fans of: The piano from Mario 64 finding its vision.
Sonically Clarissa Connelly is playing with the sounds and aesthetics of the Folk and Prog Rock of the 70s, readapting it through her own lens and giving us her own vision of the sound, and it is marvellous. As the cover suggests we are greeted with a mostly piano-driven affair but not always, the textural palette is varied and doesn’t restrict itself to one thing, each song taking on the instrumental selection most befitting of the given track. Connelly is also an exceptional vocalist, she isn’t overly flashy but uses her talent to create some impressive vocal runs which make these songs all the more compelling. This one is not getting the love it deserves and if any of this sounds interesting go and listen to it.
- Dos Monos – Dos atomos
For fans of: Hip Hop in general, especially if you like it weird.
I don’t say this lightly but Dos Monos have assembled one of the coolest Hip Hop albums ever here. We have a confident fusion of Progressive Rock, Experimental Hip Hop, and intense and violent Rap Metal and it is exceptional. Unlike many other innovators, the band executes their sound so well that it feels like them playing within an existing sound instead of something new. The group manage these instrumental textures with their excellent interplay, all jumping in and out of the mix. In the spirit of experimentation, the album embodies the band have also got Otomo Yoshihide for a track, the older generation working in tandem with this relatively newer act. Dos Monos are a once-in-a-lifetime act, not just in the studio but also live, and if you haven’t seen them, or listened to them, then this album is more than enough evidence that you need to fix that immediately.
- Space Camp – How Could I Not Be Your Girl?
For fans of: Anger in its most unfiltered form.
Space Camp are back with another collection of intense and suffocating Noise Rock. From the very first second of this album, you are immediately being bludgeoned, thick guitars and uncomfortable percussive elements make for an incredible first song. It keeps going from there, as the smooth transition into the second track leads into a truly manic track, with keys and sax being implemented masterfully. This textural variety continues throughout the whole record, with them never sticking to any lane, the only constant being its unflinching aggression. When the only real complaint I can give is that the album is too short you know the album is good, if you are in the mood for some vicious music, I highly recommend this.
- Arcwelder – Continue
For fans of: Post-Hardcore done by masters in their field.
One of the most overlooked acts in 90s Post-Hardcore Arcwelder have finally returned after a 24-year music-making hiatus and you’d expect after such a long time away, for the band to have lost some of their edge but they haven’t. Songs like “Lafayette” and “Swimming” show off the band’s usual style and they are still the best at it, tight pummeling instrumentation that is played to the boldest capacity. For a band who, while always excellent, tended to stick to their guns, I was surprised by the fact this album deviates and is full of new sounds for the band. “Take it Slow” is different than their usual sound, a slower thoughtful track that the band pull off better than you’d expect. The biggest sonic shift is “Paul’s Song” which has an upbeat feel with a percussion-focused sound. Another surprise is that vocally, they have barely aged a day, Bill and Scott sound as fresh as they did in the 90s and the slight roughness that their voices have acquired adds to the maturity they have been displaying on this record. What hasn’t changed is the tightness of performances, the band have always been a remarkably locked-in group and that hasn’t shifted at all, they are as in sync and tightly manned as ever. In my listening I am so used to being let down by bands who have been gone for decades, so used to having bands put in the bare minimum for a comeback. But that isn’t the case here. After years of being gone, Arcwelder have returned with a diverse, brilliantly written, and tight record that both works as an excellent work on its own, but also stands toe to toe with the band’s best work. Sure it is short, but there is no filler here. Thank you Arcwelder.
- Glad I Didn’t Get My Stupid Wish – Self Titled
For fans of: Bands who blow your mind and then immediately break up.
This self-titled release by Glad I Didn’t Get My Stupid Wish is exactly the kind of over-the-top excessive nightmare project that appeals to me. Inspired by the manic and intense Synth Punk of the 2000s, the band comes equipped with some of the gnarliest textures and some of the catchiest hooks they can, and it is a joy to listen to. The album will hit you with a wonderful Pop cut like “Living Rooms” and then immediately afterwards hit you with walls of jarring noise like on “SIX WHITE ROOMS” and it means that over its 67-minute runtime, it never gets boring, it is always keeping you engaged. The songs themselves play with repetitive structures in the best way, they will often work off a single loop or repeated refrain, but as the songs play they will constantly layer on and exchange flavour textures, and manage to recontextualize these loops into even stronger forms of themselves. If the band doesn’t charm you with their skills at composition then maybe their sheer mania will, “Waiting on the Birdman” is a song I can best describe as a lashing out through the medium of synths, that manages to work out far better than it has any right to. If an album that shows you everything a band has to offer, no matter how ugly, sounds at all appealing to you, do not miss this. Even with the news that this band have apparently split up, this is just an incredible project.
- a Slight Threat – SILLYROCK
For fans of: Extremely fun Pop music.
a Slight Threat makes the fact that she is heavily inspired by the Johns of They Might Be Giants very apparent throughout SILLYROCK, yet she manages to craft an album so good that it feels wholly original. This jaunty and wonderfully hooky collection of pop songs marches along with a thumping rhythm broken up by giggles and shouts. These songs are also packed with sonic variety, the delightfully cheesy Halloween textures on “Henry”, the thick New Jack Swingesque bass on “Various Artists – Topic” and the thick razor-sharp synths of “M.D. SEEGER”, the album definitely lives up to its name with its commitment to silliness. The highlight for me though is the Pop genius of “This Song Is Unavailable” which always seems to switch up or escalate at the exact moment my brain wants it to, and the stuttery-stabbing rhythm is ever so satisfying. The album also closes off perfectly, as the closing track manages to up the stakes to deliver a satisfying close while not coming off as pretentious (though with the silliness at play, I believe feeling pretentious may be completely out of the question). I also highly recommend exploring the webpage for the album linked on Bandcamp, it is packed with loads of interesting info and is wonderfully put together while also being very funny and in keeping with the spirit of the record. This further proves that all of the best Pop music is made for, or by, nerds.
- Kim Gordon – The Collective
For fans of: Artists who refuse to stop innovating.
I am firm in my belief that Kim Gordon is the best member of Sonic Youth and one of the only legacy artists who has a genuine interest in experimentation and The Collective is proof of this. It seems the goal for this record was to develop the concept explored on “Paprika Pony” off No Home Record and I am so glad because this is a sound she pulls off well. Here we have an album of absurdly blown-out Hip Hop instrumentals supplemented by Kim Gordon’s signature deadpan, which you’d think would be an ill-fitting sonic touch, but they contrast each other better than you’d think. However, it isn’t all one thing, songs like “The Believers” are insane Industrial cuts which lessen the Hip Hop influence to explore new ideas and they work. Two proper albums deep and Kim Gordon is still pushing boundaries and presenting new and amazing ideas.
- Harry Gorski-Brown – Durt Dronemaker After Dreamboats
For fans of: Albums that take over every single inch of your attention.
It’s not often I feel an album in my full body, but this sole project by Harry Gorski-Brown truly consumed me. Made up of intense droning tones and traditional and untraditional Folk Music, this album elicits the type of physical and emotional response that I have only felt with records by the late Arthur Russell up to this point. Many of the songs here will threaten or discomfort the listener, but there inlies their strength, they hold your full mind until the second it is over, and it is a truly marvellous experience. For a first statement this is a triumph, full mastery of the traditional and the avant-garde, and if an artist can hold this level of power on their first outing, what will they possibly make next?
- Joey Valence & Brae – No Hands
For fans of: The Beastie Boys and the internet as it was 15 years ago.
Joey Valence & Brae certainly aren’t slowing down, after a great album last year they are following it with an excellent one! While the previous record felt like the duo locking down their musical identity, this album feels like them perfecting it. Everything here is an upgrade, they seem more confident on the mic and their punchlines hit way harder, and the production, my god. The production here is exceptional, basically every beat is better than anything on the debut, so satisfyingly punchy while packing in some really addicting melodic hooks. They are also throwing in some eclectic influences, like the full-on Big Beat homage on “LIKE A PUNK” which is just excellent, it feels like such a love letter to the genre while also being a fantastic track in its own right. From Jazz to House, the duo show they can explore all sorts of sounds while making them their own with ease. The debut proved that these two were ones to look out for but after this, they have nothing to prove anymore, this is it, a potent ball of pure fun.
- LustSickPuppy – Carousel From Hell
For fans of: The Saw movie franchise.
I have been very excited for this one, the singles had me feeling LustSickPuppy had finally perfected their sound and the album confirms this. Not one to do anything to convention, this 18-minute album is just constantly blasting with digital violence. Musically this is the vicious blend of Digital Hardcore and thick Hip Hop beats that we have come to expect from LustSickPuppy but here more so than previous releases it just feels evil, the album is toying with the listener while also battering them with a hammer. Vocally they remain as charismatic as ever, and their range from melodic singing to visceral screeching has them prepared for every turn the record takes. Each song flies past at a speed that leaves you wanting more but not too short that they don’t leave an individual impact. The songs also just, end, without any warning, it gives the feeling of switching through radio stations but being taunted by the same artist over and over. I do wish the album had a few more songs but I appreciate this is how the album is and what we have is exceptional, very excited for more.
- Armand Hammer – BLK LBL
For fans of: Rappers who refuse to put out even mediocre music.
How do they do it, genuinely how do they do it? Even on this vinyl-only release they pack in some of the most mind-melting, skullcrushing, inventive production ever and supplement it with their usual lyrical excellence. This thing is also packed with highlights, “Girl Dinner” features this beat with this incredible pulsing synth that seems to breathe as they just go off on top, “Gripewater” is based on this unnerving beat with an amazing appearance from dreamcrusher, “Zaire” has a phenomenal beat, one of the best the duo have ever appeared on, and “Read Ur Bible” is utterly hectic in the best way. Even with a release like this Armand Hammer continue to prove themselves as the best duo in Hip Hop today and I am as always beyond excited for what they pull off next.
- The Hellp – LL
LL (2024)
For fans of: Electropop who have been waiting for someone to do something exciting in the genre again.
Of all the artists I’ve been meaning to check out, The Hellp are probably the one I’ve been putting off the most, and after listening to this newest album by them, I have realised that this reluctance was a grave mistake. This is everything I look for in Pop, a gleeful and intense synth-heavy sound with a desire to innovate. “Go Somewhere” feels as if it is falling apart on top of itself through thick glitchy textures, the thick club stomp of “Rllynice”, the murky production of “Halo”, the whispery verses on “Kill4Me”, the duo always have another idea to surprise you with. However, my favourite song might be the sneering and thumping “Caustic” which has a perfect hook. The vocals either speak to a specific period of 2000s Indie Rock that you think wouldn’t pair with the music and a more fitting scene brattiness but they do both styles wonderfully and they are the perfect match to the sound. LL feels like it is pandering to me specifically, and well, it did a good job of doing that.
- Crizin da Z.O. – Acelero
Acelero (2024)
For fans of: Nightclubs that want you dead.
One of my biggest blindspots in music is Hip Hop in languages I don’t speak, and I don’t know why. Practically every time I motivate myself to listen to it I find something excellent, but that worry that I’m missing out on the lyricism always gets to me. This album is further proof that I really need to get past this barrier. This album is packed with some of the most imaginative Hip Hop production I have ever heard, texturally manic and anxiety-inducing while also being extremely danceable. The whole album has the energy of being stuck in a nightclub where if you stop dancing you will die. On the topic of production, there are incredible moments. The intense hypnotic percussion on “De Repente” collides with a horrifyingly dense soundscrape leaving the listener gasping for air. The thick bass on “Festa da carne” feels as if it is rattling the earth beneath you and it gives the song a really unique feel. These two were my favourites but practically every beat here was phenomenal. The album is also paced so well, nothing overstays its welcome and it keeps the listener on their toes waiting for the next incredible idea. The one area I haven’t touched on yet is our amazing rapper, he has an appropriately menacing delivery that adds to the atmosphere of the record wonderfully. If you are a fan of unconventional Hip Hop this is essential.
- Xiu Xiu – 13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto With Bison Horn Grips
For fans of: Bands hitting their peak decades after their debut.
Xiu Xiu are perhaps the most divisive band I love. Well, maybe divisive is the wrong word. A large part of their discography is widely agreed to be good, but there seems to be a common perception that they are rarely great, which I very strongly disagree with. This perception does not apply to this new album, as the reception has been immediately and widely rapturous, and for a good reason, this is phenomenal. This is their best work in years (and in my view ever), and that is saying a lot considering their last record made my top 5 in 2023. This is such a masterfully crafted collection of songs, that is satisfyingly psychedelic while having so much going on in every song that you will be finding new details in the mix for years to come. Somehow this is maybe their most direct album ever and doesn’t sacrifice a single thing about what makes them so good. The synth work is stellar throughout, and whether it is a wobbling texture to cause background discomfort or a crushing shrieking lead, it is always incredible. Stewart and Seo are masters of their craft that you struggle to find aspects of this record that aren’t incredible. Even when they find themselves playing in some unusual places on this record they manage to stick the landing with style. Most notable is the Stoner Rock epic of “Veneficium” which immediately ranks itself among the upper echelon of the genre. Frequent collaborator John Congleton also does perhaps the best mixing job of his career, every single element of the mix feels exactly where it should be, and at the exact volume it should be. Never count a band out, especially when they are one that so often delights. Make me a list of bands who can make what is perhaps their best album 22 years after their debut, your list reads “Xiu Xiu”.
- Fat Dog – WOOF.
For fans of: Music that is unapologetically fun in all aspects.
I cannot describe how excited I had been for this album. Of all the emerging bands from the UK, Fat Dog had been the one I have been watching most excitedly. Incredible live clips and mind-blowing singles had firmly placed them at the top of my list. They absolutely delivered. WOOF. is packed with some of the thickest synth lines and best melodies I heard all year. Though drawing heavily from EBM, Fat Dog have a very unique sound, blending in an equal mixture of organic and synthetic textures to create a sound that feels as if it is living and breathing. Every song is moving at a breakneck pace, while allowing the melodies they have to thrive, always introducing new textures but not abandoning the previous in doing so. Joe Love is also such a perfect vocalist for this band, a gruff and thick delivery that doesn’t deny melody, there is no monotone here, he does exactly what every song needs. The band are running a tight balance between direct bangers and experimentation and they always pull it off. From the direct EBM thump of “All the Same” to the intense textural journey of lead single “King of the Slugs”, to just about every other song having a mixture of these two sides, they pull this balance off with grace. Even the slower cuts here “Clowns” and “I am the King” are marvellous, they add so much to the atmosphere of the record while managing to feel like substantial works of their own above just being connecting interludes. I’ve heard complaints that the production is too compressed, and while I can understand where that is coming from, to me it benefits the sound far more than it subtracts, it just sounds so filthy. This is the sound I have been begging for for so long now, as a long-time fan of EBM and a great enjoyer of New Rave, I have been hoping for a band to take the sounds and create something truly special in the 2020s and Fat Dog have done it.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
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