Kicking off a personal website with an end of year list on the last day of the year feels fitting, who doesn’t like to make lists. It’s what inspired me to create my first ever website back in ‘96, and it seems to be what I still enjoy doing in 2024. In terms of music when I started to reflect back I thought I hadn’t listened to much and the year wasn’t so memorable, mostly because my wife and I have been deep into a Country/Americana speedrun ever since we started watching Yellowstone—of which only John Moreland made it on this list though. But when I started going back through the albums I have listned to each month, I found out it was a great year of music.
The year began with a wonderfully record by Danish-born Astrid Sonne, who also has a fantastic show on NTS which is a great way to discover new music. Looking at the list now, it’s clear 2024 was a great year for experimental, ambient-leaning sounds, with great releases from Kali Malone, Mica Levi1 and Laurel Halo amongst others. It was also the year Justin Vernon, as Bon Iver,2 returned to his roots, but with the layered textures of complexity of someone 15 years older.
My favorite record this year if you look at my most played charts is Psykos by Yung Lean and Bladee, just ahead of Eiko Ishibashi’s soundtrack for Evil Does Not Exist. Which incidentally is another soundtrack of hers I love for a movie I haven’t seen—Drive My Car. People keep recommending it to me and one day I will watch them. The best bass line of the year goes to Wu-Lu, and arguably, the track of the year is MJ Lenderman’s “Wristwatch.” While you’re at it, listen to Boat Songs by him as well.
I’ve rambled long enough for a list-style post, so you’re better off just clicking play and enjoying some sounds.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
November
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