The Ledge #648: Hudson's Best of 2024
It's that time of year once again. I've spent weeks going through all of the new releases of the past 12 months, and tonight I unveil what I have decided are the 40 best albums of 2024. What a great year! Just like the last few years, my initial list was right around 100 different albums. But I was also more organised than usual. I actually kept a spreadsheet this year of the releases that potentially could make an appearance. Just like Casey Kasem, here are the results in "countdown" order:
40. Bodega, Our Brand Could Be Yr Life.
For a few weeks I had a mistaken idea of what this album was all about. Having individual songs pop up on my shuffled new release playlist I figured this was a concept album about being in a modern rock and roll band, especially given the title of the record. Nope, that’s not the case. It’s actually a wider view of society in general, from online sex workers to youth culture to consumerism, played out to a varied backing that evokes comparisons to Guided By Voices, Yo La Tengo, shoegaze, and mainstream pop.
38. Gustaf, Package, Pt. 2.
Last year saw the rise of a new subgenre of postpunk bands that featured deadpan talk/singing such as Dry Cleaning. Gustaf sort of fits into that category but the backing is a bit more experimental.
37. Split System, Vol. 2.
Australia has once again become a country of fabulous rock and roll, and it’s more than just Amyl and the Sniffers. As Post-Trash recently wrote, this band “is the bouncing, angsty grandchild of bands like The Scientists and Radio Birdman”. I’d buy this based on that description alone.
36. The Yum Yums, Poppin’ Up Again.
The self-proclaimed “Norwegian ambassadors of power pop” are back with their sixth album, and it’s as chock full of hooks as anything they’ve ever previously released.
35. Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds, That Delicious Vice.
Any musician whose bio includes significant stints in The Gun Club, The Cramps, and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds deserves his solo material to be heard. There’s elements of all those bands in his solo albums, but they don’t dominate the proceedings. Instead, this is a record designed to “evoke the desert at dusk”, as New Noise Magazine described.
34. Love Fiend, Handle With Care.
Somewhat funky postpunk full of synths is not usually my cup of tea. But there’s something quite fun about the beeps and bops and guitar blasts that are neither nostalgic or overly-retro. Most importantly, there’s still an edge to their overall sound.
33. Packs, Melt The Honey.
As I was putting together this list I was going through some piles of records and I simply could not remember this album. Obviously, I put it on the turntable and it all came back to me. Packs is led by songwriter Madeline Link, and this eclectic, lofi collection was self-recorded in a Mexican communal house.
32. Charles Moothart, Black Holes Don’t Choke.
Described by the label as “love songs for the apocalypse”, the former guitarist/drummer for various Ty Segall and Mikal Cronin touring bands jumps from genre to genre throughout his first true solo album.
31. Tom Baker, Justine & Me.
In the summer of 2023, Dirty Truckers leader Tom Baker lost his partner, singer/songwriter and Red On Red Records owner Justine Covault. Two years earlier the pair had recorded a remake of Steve Earle’s duet with Lucinda Williams, “You’re Still Standing There”. Turning his grief into a celebration of her life, Baker put together this touching tribute.
30. Shadow Show, Fantasy Now!
This Detroit power trio has taken the noisy psych-garage sounds of their debut album into more elaborate directions on their second album that include flutes, tympani, backwards tapes, and other studio tricks. Yet the record maintains the same energy one would expect from a Motor City band.
29. Old 97’s, American Primitive.
One of the great original alt-country bands has turned up the amps to create one of their rowdiest records in years. It’s loud and raw, and features a little help from friends Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey.
28. Osees, Sorcs 80.
John Dwyer’s main band, which has released records under a variety of different variations of its name, have now released 27 full length albums in their 27 year career. Like Ty Segall, Dwyer prides himself on creating something different with each of his releases. This record actually features no guitars, although one would never guess that on first listen. Instead, a bunch of synth demos were loaded into sampler pads, which were then triggered using drum sticks. Yet somehow it works.
27. The Okmoniks, Afterparty Fever.
Another Slovenly Records banger. Their bandcamp page describes them as “San Francisco's last and only rock and roll band”, and after one listen it’s impossible to argue the point. Reportedly recorded all live in one night, this is good ol’ raunchy rawk!
26. Habibi, Dream Machine.
Like The Shivas, Detroit’s Habibi mixes a ton of influences into a giant blender that ultimately creates a sound unique to themselves. And like The Shivas, this new record adds a few other new tricks, including synths and dance-rock rhythms, to amp up the catchiness.
25. The Shivas, Can’t Stop Coming Around.
The various releases of Portland’s finest band have always been a mishmash of surf, garage, psych and even sunshine pop, with one element maybe getting a more prominent cornerstone on individual albums. Their latest has an increased focus on straight ahead retro pop songs, yet all of their various strengths are still evident.
24. Pinhead Gunpowder, Unt.
Honestly, I’ve come to enjoy Billie Joe Armstrong’s side projects more than most Green Day albums these days, and this band’s first release in 16 years is definitely worth the wait. The story is that during Covid two of the band members began passing around song ideas but decided to wait until the crisis was over to become serious about the creative process. Yes, it’s the same sort of anthemic pop-punk that made Armstrong famous with his other band, but there’s a less fussy production that lends itself to create a raw energy here that’s missing on modern day Green Day albums.
23. Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders, Keepin’ Chaos At Bay.
The former lead singer of the Lazy Cowgirls continues to regularly release powerful blasts of high octane rock and roll.
22. Th’ Losin Streaks, Last House.
Slovenly Records has become one of the greatest garage rock labels around today, and the third album by Th’ Losin Streaks is a perfect example why this is true. But since this album was recorded in their backyard, isn’t it more accurate to describe them as a “backyard band”?
21. The Silent Treatment, Suplex in 10!
I knew that 2024 was going to be a fabulous year for music as this blast of old school punk ‘n’ roll came out on January 1! What a way to start the year!
20. The Courettes, The Soul Of…The Fabulous Courettes.
This married, transatlantic two-piece has managed to retain yet evolve their overall sound from record to record. Their last album, Back To Mono, was a tribute of sorts to Phil Spector’s early 60s girl groups. This album maintains those elements but adds in more than a few nods to Stax soul.
19. Swami and the Bed of Nails, All Of This Awaits You.
Look, you know what you’re getting with any record put out by Swami John Reis (Rocket From the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu) - pure guitar-driven rock and roll. The songs on this album were written with a new Hot Snakes record in mind, but the death of singer/guitarist Rick Froberg caused Reis to record these songs with a different lineup.
18. Dehd, Poetry.
After two pretty great albums, the Chicago trio decided to change their methods on their third. Basically anything goes. If the drummer wanted to sing, he did so. If singer Emily Kempf wanted to try an unknown instrument, then it was brought in. The result is their most ambitious and most expansive album to date.
17. Waxahatchee, Tigers Blood.
Katie Crutchfield first arrived as a gifted songwriter, yet she has somehow grown with each and every album. With the help of fellow songwriter MJ Lenderman, who plays and sings on the record, Crutchfield has created not only her most “alt-country” album but her best album to date.
16. The Cure, Songs Of a New World.
I don’t believe anybody believed that a 2024 album by The Cure would even exist, let alone be as strong as it is. Robert Smith has been promising a new album for well over a decade, and given the track record of the handful of albums that came out before few people were waiting with bated breath. It’s a record of mortality, to be honest, with at least a couple of songs inspired by the deaths of his mother, father, and brother.
15. The Hard Quartet, S/T.
The new supergroup one never expected includes Pavement vocalist Stephen Malkmus with musicians Matt Sweeney (Chavez), Jim White (Dirty Three) and Emmett Kelly (The Cairo Gang). This album works primarily because nobody seems to be fighting to be the leader of the band. There are elements of all four throughout an album that effortlessly flows from genre to genre.
14. Amy Rigby, Hang In There With Me.
Amy Rigby albums always feel like a peek into her diary, and this one is all about life as a 65 year old singer/songwriter. A friendly phone call with a friend concludes with devastating news. A disastrous Bob Dylan show is remembered. There’s the knowledge that maybe still going off on tour is not the best idea. Yet Rigby balances all of this self-reflection with plenty of humor. You never feel sorry for her. You’re happy she’s doing the best she can, especially knowing that her life with husband Wreckless Eric (who assists on this album) can’t possibly ever be boring.
13. Meatbodies, Flora Ocean Tiger Blood.
Here we go with yet another double album in the top half of this year’s list. Meatbodies leader Chad Ubovich is a part of the Ty Segall universe of musical collaborators, so it’s probably no surprise that he’s a prolific creator of fuzz-driven psych-rock. This record came about after a series of personal and health issues, and it’s also his first set of creativity since he became sober in 2019.
12. Amyl and The Sniffers, Cartoon Darkness.
The crucial moment for almost all bands is that time when they have to transform/mature. One can’t make the same album over and over, and it’s safe to say that the vast majority of bands fail to successfully navigate that moment. So on their third album, this snotty Australian band manages to keep their integrity while simultaneously expand their sound to include not only some more melodic moments but rather surprising utilization of saxophone, vocoder, and harp.
11. Jack White, No Name.
I'll be honest here. While I was a big fan of the White Stripes, Jack White’s previous solo efforts never really worked for me. They were a bit too precious, full of gimmicks but light on actual songs. So I was shocked when I first checked out this surprise album that was initially handed out to customers at his Third Man record store. It’s not a return to the White Stripes sound, but it’s as loud and immediate as that band’s first few records.
10. Ty Segall, Three Bells.
It’s insane that one of today’s most prolific artists somehow rarely repeats himself. Every record has major differences in sound, production, and instrumentation, yet they are all unmistakably Segall releases. This double album features almost as much acoustic as electric guitars, along with prog elements and other surprising sounds. It’s never predictable but somehow everything flows together perfectly.
9. The Darts, Boomerang.
2023’s Snake Oil set the template for the greatness of this all-female rock and roll band. Driving garage rock with late 60s farfisa organ and intense, in your face vocals.
8. UltraBomb, Dyin’ To Smile.
UltraBomb are my kind of supergroup - one member each from Husker Du (Greg Norton), The Mahones (Finny McConnell), and UK Subs (Jamie Oliver), and the anthemic punk-inspired indie rock sounds like it was a blast to record.
7. X, Smoke & Fiction.
Supposedly their final album, Smoke & Fiction carries on their tradition of combining classic rockabilly and country sounds with a punk thrust and enthusiasm. Lyrically, it is the perfect last testament, as a good percentage of the lyrics look back to their trailblazing early years when they really were unlike any band to come out of the LA punk explosion.
6. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Glasgow Eyes.
Some bands can do no wrong in my eyes, and The Jesus and Mary Chain certainly are in that category. Their second album since the Reid brothers settled their personal difference and reunited in 2007, the band continue to mix noisy guitar with pure pop melodies, although this record sees them experimenting with electronic sounds.
5. The Bevis Frond, Focus On Nature.
I must admit that while I’ve seen this band reviewed and profiled in my music magazines for decades I’ve never checked out their music. I can’t explain why this is the case but I guess I have some catching up to do. I also never thought I’d see the day where my top five albums include three double albums, but here we go. Led by Nick Solomon, the band combines 60s psychedelic pop with the guitar noise of the likes of The Wipers, Dinosaur Jr and Husker Du. Yeah, it’s definitely time to search for earlier albums.
4. Peter Perrett, The Cleansing.
The leader of The Only Ones lost almost 30 years due to a drug addiction that on multiple occasions almost led to his death. Yet here he is with his third solo album in the last decade, and each of these albums has been a winner. But despite the fact that this is a double album, The Cleansing is the strongest of the three. Perrett’s voice may be a bit of a shell of what it once was, but it’s to his advantage as the lyrics are quite morbid. Morbid but also full of humor and hope.
3. Redd Kross, S/T.
The question I raised shortly after first hearing this sprawling double album is one I’ll repeat here. What band has created their absolute classic in their 45th year of existence? I’ll wait. Nobody, right? The completion of the “Red Album” was rushed to coincide with both a book and documentary, and it’s quite possibly the power pop album of the decade.
2. Memo PST, S/T.
What happens when a couple of veteran garage rockers combine for a brand new band? You get the sort of raw and primal punk-ish rock and roll record full of crunchy riffs that is the perfect album to air right after you’ve finished that Sleeveens record.
1. The Sleeveens, S/T.
Every so often, but not often enough, a band and an album comes along that perfectly scratches an itch that you don’t even realize you have. So here we go with the perfect combination of tense verses leading up to explosive, singalong choruses that perfectly appropriate power pop catchiness, late 70s British punk intensity, and Rolling Stones/Heartbreakers-ish riffs. It’s the record that has been constantly pulled out ever since its release way back in February.
The next 40:
41. La Luz, News Of The Universe. 42. Mo Troper, Svengali. 43. IDLES, TANGK. 44. Kate Clover, The Apocalypse Dream. 45. Cock Sparrer, Hand On Heart. 46. The Lemon Twigs, A Dream Is All We Know. 47. The Chesterfield Kings, We’re Still The Same. 48. Guided By Voices, Strut of Kings. 49. Lorne Behrman, Blue Love. 50. Buffalo Tom, Jump Rope. 51. Micah Schnabel, The Clown Watches The Clock. 52. The Mystery Lights, Purgatory. 53. J. Mascis, What Do We Do Now. 54. Soul Asylum, Slowly But Shirley. 55. Hillbilly Moon Explosion, Back In Time. 56. Cheap Cassettes, They’ll Never Forgive You. 57. Jeremy Porter, Dynamite Alley. 58. Drahla, Angel Tape. 59. Wand, Vertigo. 60. Pernice Brothers, Who Will You Believe. 61. Fastbacks, For What Reason. 62. The Coward Brothers, S/T. 63. Rhinestone Pickup Truck, Self Deprecation At Hourly Rates. 64. 2nd Grade, Scheduled Explosions. 65. The Cynz, Little Miss Lost. 67. The Bug Club, On the Intricate Workings Of the System. 68 Andrew Gabbard, Just Like Magic. 69/ Chime School, The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel. 70. Local Drags, City In a Room. 71. Steve Wynn, ,Make It Right. 72. Dog Party, Dangerous. 73. Ducks Ltd., Harm’s Way. 74. The Peawees, One Ride. 75. JD McPherson, Nite Owls. 76. Yobs, S/T. 77. Nervous Eaters, Rock & Roll Your Heart Away. 78. The Dictators, S/T. 79. Daniel Romano, Too Hot To Sleep. 80. Mala Vista, S/T.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SHOW!
(Note: The broadcast was supposed to play one track from each of the 40 records. However, the player had a mind of its own, so 1 track did not air and 3 or 4 others were not in the proper place. I apologize for the error. This is the actual order they were braodcast.)
1. BODEGA - Cultural Consumer III
2. Pavid Vermin - Desecrate the Cathedral
3. Gustaf - Statue
4. Split System - The Wheel
5. The Yum Yums - Got Me Good
6. Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds - A Beast, a Priest
7. Love Fiend - Just For Eddie
8. PACKS - Honey
9. Charles Moothart - One Wish
10. Tom Baker - Category 5
11. Shadow Show - Your Fantasy
12. Old 97’s - American Primitive
13. The Okmoniks - Ain't Comin' In
14. Thee Oh Sees - Pixelated Moon
15. Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders - Why I Sing
16. The Shivas - Through The Day
17. Pinhead Gunpowder - Unt
18. Th' Losin Streaks - I Mean You
19. The Silent Treatment - Bored Teenagers
20. The Courettes - You Woo Me
21. Swami John Reis - Ketchup, Mustard, And Relish
22. DEHD - Necklace
23. Waxahatchee - Right Back to It
25. The Cure - A Fragile Thing
25. The Hard Quartet - Chrome Mess
26. Amy Rigby - Hell-Oh Sixty
27. Meatbodies - Hole
28. Amyl and The Sniffers - Chewing Gum
29. Jack White - That's How I'm Feeling
30. Ty Segall - Wait
31. The Darts - Are You Down
32. UltraBomb - Never Better
33. X - Sweet Til the Bitter End
34. The Jesus and Mary Chain - Venal Joy
35. The Bevis Frond - Gods' Gift
36. Peter Perrett - I Wanna Go With Dignity
37. Redd Kross - Stunt Queen
38. Memo PST - Dog Meds
39. The Sleeveens - Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls
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