Another year gone, before we really knew it. There were moments to celebrate, threatening to be drowned out by undercurrents of despair. I find it too confusing to analyze, so I’ll stick to simpler things. Like music. It was excellent. Here are my favorite albums of the year.
- Cindy Lee – Diamond Jubilee
The most discussed album in indie circles this year is also the best. Take a two hour drive in the middle of the night to the middle of nowhere and rejoice in this captivating collection of every lost genre you don’t know the name of but know you love.
2. Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us
The new Vampire Weekend album is a perfect blend of the best parts of their four albums, and now it’s my favorite.
3. Foxing – Foxing
Nothing else laid me on my ass this year like this album, a genre-hopping adventure you could call post-screamo. Reminisces on the joys of 1999 with my favorite lyric of the year: Carson MTV / Biskit NYE / Is this all there is? / Fuck Fuck Fuck
4. JPEGMAFIA – I Lay Down My Life for You
Back for another round of schizophrenic beats and whiplash bars, now with 100% more metal riffs.
5. IDLES – TANGK
The songs are slower but the intensity is still hulking. They played my favorite concert of the year.
6. Helado Negro – PHASOR
The smoothest man in indie today. His voice is like a warm embrace, a cosmic butter that drips off the tape.
7. Jamie xx – In Waves
Club bangers for music nerds.
8. Amyl and the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness
Let’s go get drunk at the airport.
9. Xiu Xiu – 13” Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips
I was surprised to learn that I like Xiu Xiu after all these years. This album is a grimy, claustrophobic, riveting adventure.
10. Future Islands – People Who Aren’t There Anymore
Hey, it’s 12 more Future Islands songs. Nothing new here, but I’m always up for another round with dancing Brando.
11. The Smile – Wall of Eyes
It’s not Radiohead. Exactly, it’s not Radiohead. They would’ve never had the freedom to make a song as floating and patient as Bending Hectic, one of my favorites of the year.
12. Starflyer 59 – Lust for Gold
I wasn’t familiar with Starflyer 59, a band that has been cranking out spacegaze for decades. The experience shows here; this feels like an old man gaze album, steady and confident in all the best ways.
13. Adrianne Lenker – Bright Future
The Big Thief singer is equally compelling on her own. I’m not often a folk guy, but she makes me want to be.
14. MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks
Indie rock’s boy of the year. I prefer his more guitar-driven songs from the last album, but there’s little to complain about. Kahlua shooter / DUI scooter enters the pantheon of lexicon.
15. A Place to Bury Strangers – Syntheiszer
Another old band I hadn’t spent much time with. Looks like I’ve been missing out, the aggression on this album is impressive.
16. Heems – Lafandar
Heems is still out here, blurring the lines of joke rap, adding Punjabi influence to his lush NYC beats.
17. Friko – Where we’ve been, where we go from here
Crashing Through was my favorite song from 2023. But it’s on their 2024 debut album, which gives me the excuse to share it again.
18. English Teacher – This Could be Texas
The album is a bit overcomplex; the moments that work the best are often the simplest. (Straining to avoid an English teacher / editor joke) But the highs are very high and the back half is particularly strong.
19. The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
I hope I age gracefully into a seven minute atmospheric shoegaze track.
20. Nilüfer Yanya – My Method Actor
A collection of edgy pop songs that gleam just above the surface, letting in glimpses of shadowy complexity.
21. St. Vincent – Todos Nacen Gritando
All Born Screaming didn’t really resonate with me, but re-recording the album in Spanish made something click, or should I say hizo un clic.
22. Alan Sparhawk – White Roses, My God
You could hear the seeds of this reinvention in the last few Low albums. From tragedy and autotune, a new blown out, feverish and inhuman sound rises from the ashes.
23. Mannequin Pussy – I Got Heaven
Drifting between pop and hardcore, they reach the pinnacle when they seamlessly blend the two.
24. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Wild God
Nick listened to some Soft Bulletin and cranked out lush, cinematic soundscapes.
25. Jack White – No Name
What year is this? Jack showed he can release a classic indie garage album any time he wants. He just doesn’t want to do that most of the time.
Sound off.