6. Sam Evian – Plunge
One of my favourite solo artists of recent years has been ex-Slow Club troubadour, Charles Watson. There’s something about his sound that really speaks to me and I’ve been searching for something similar of late in the absence of any new material from him. I follow Charles on Instagram and I’m pretty sure I discovered Sam Evian through one of his recommendations earlier in the year. At least that’s how I remember it anyway.
Plunge is a sweet little record full of heart and Beatle-y charm. I think it’s an album for fans of Todd Rundgren and Harry Nilsson to swoon over. I love the mix of happy power pop and yearning ballads, and the magic of this album has really grown on me with repeated listens.
The aforementioned Rollin’ In is easily one of my favourite songs of the year, if not THE favourite. It’s certainly been one of the most comforting for me. There’s a moment right near the end of the song (just past the 3 and half minute mark) where Sam holds a high note and his voice blends into the sound of the softest, sweetest saxophone solo that you’ll ever hear. It’s just an utterly gorgeous effect and I want to bottle that feeling and drink it in daily. It’s a medicinal moment for me. Thank you Sam.
Favourite Track: Rollin’ In.
7. Jessica Pratt – Here in the Pitch
Jessica Pratt’s Here in the Pitch is an album for anyone who’s ever complained that “they don’t make them like they used to.” If you’d have told me upon my first listen that this record came from the 1950’s or 60’s I’d have believed you, it’s like a time capsule. I love her voice, the instrumentation, the arrangements, and the apparent utter sparseness and simplicity of it all. It sounds effortless but it must have taken a lot of craft. It’s a sublimely executed, otherworldly album full of magic and wonder.
Favourite Track: Life Is.
8. Bonny Light Horseman – Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free
I’m gonna have to say from the start that Bonny Light Horseman’s Keep Me On Your Side/See You Free is something of a guilty pleasure. I say I feel an element of a guilt as I believe that not a single one of my friends would like this record.
It’s a little bit country, it’s a little bit folk, it’s a little bit long and it’s a little bit gorgeous. There’s 20 tracks here which can be a bit much for a single sitting but the harmonies are absolutely beautiful and wherever I dip into it I find something to admire.
On Lover Take It Easy for example they deliver a gorgeous wordless chorus akin to Paul McCartney’s Every Night and well, My Morning Jacket’s Wordless Chorus, and to be honest with you I could listen to that shit all day.
I always struggle to explain what I think makes a well produced record but I believe Keep Me On Your Mind… is just that. Every note feels right. I think it sounds timeless, and a potential classic if you’re into this sort of thing. One for cozy late nights and a bottle of wine maybe. (Can you tell I’m in my 40’s now?)
Favourite Track: Lover Take It Easy
9. White Denim – 12
I was introduced to White Denim around the time of Fits (2009), and I’ve been a fully fledged fan ever since I saw them live for the first time in 2011. They were touring their incredible album D at the time and that performance absolutely blew my mind. It was so tight, and their playing was unreal. I now try my best to go see them every time they come back to the UK as they really are one of the best live bands going.
Despite the line up changing a fair few times over the years, White Denim’s main man James Petralli always seems to bring with him a well rehearsed band of musicians who LOVE to play. Whenever I see them live I always think to myself that they are the smiliest band in the world and it never seems to matter which line up he has with him on stage, you can tell he likes to have fun and it spreads to the band. A good vibe at a White Denim show can be infectious.
There are two sides to White Denim though. The live sets are always pretty rocking as I’ve suggested but James is a whizz in the studio too. Latest album 12 is a sun drenched collection of easy going, warm sounding grooves. There’s flutes, horns, glockenspiels and a wealth of 1970’s inspired affectations that aren’t as apparent in a live setting. I recently just caught them play an intimate gig at Liverpool’s Rough Trade a day or two after the release of this album and the new songs fit amongst the classics with ease, but there’s a lot more going on with these songs when played on the turntable. I genuinely don’t think they’ve made a bad album. If this one had come out a bit earlier in the year I’d have probably placed it a bit higher in my list. I’m looking forward to many, many further listens anyway.
Make a note that White Denim are coming back to the UK in the Spring. I’ll definitely be there. James Petralli is a proper musician and he’s earned my life long admiration and respect. Best of luck to him and this record. I hope it does well.
Favourite Track: I Still Exist
10. Laika Songs – Slowly Spiraling Towards the Light
I’m finishing my list with an artist I don’t really know that much about. I don’t even recall how I came across Laika Songs now, I think I just stumbled across this album whilst I was trying to find something new from 2024 to listen to. In the Trees was the track that grabbed me first but I was quick to warm to the feel of the whole album.
I’d argue that quite few of the choices from my top 10 this year have quite nostalgic sounds and maybe that isn’t a surprise. If Jessica Pratt is emulating a sound from the 60’s and Father John Misty and Sam Evian are both giving a nod to the 70’s, then Laika Songs is probably the artist on my list who’s most heavily indebted to the 1980’s and ‘90’s. It’s quite an understated and lo-fi record but there’s lots of ingenuity amongst it’s gentle nature. I believe that Slowly Spiralling Towards the Light could easily soundtrack some old high school movie or other. I’m not sure if the girl ends up with the guy in this one though
Favourite Track: In the Trees.
So that’s that then. My 10 favourite albums from the year.
There’s been plenty of other worthy candidates to choose from. It felt special to have The Cure return with such a great album and Fontaines DC seem to be going from strength to strength. I also loved how Brittany Howard (formerly of Alabama Shakes) channeled her inner Prince on What Now. She’s recently just put out a mini live album as well and those songs come across even more purple on stage, it’s fantastic.
Honourable mentions go to two of my old favourites, Jack White and Vampire Weekend. Jack White’s No Name is arguably the best record he’s made since Elephant and some of the tracks from Vampire Weekend’s Only God Was Above Us are as good as anything they ever did at their peak. Hell, even Primal Scream made a half decent record this year with David Holmes behind the desk. Circus of Life is the probably the best song they’ve done in 20 years, I didn’t know they had it in them.
I need to wrap this up and it feels tight not mentioning Chappell Roan in a review of 2024. Sure The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess came out last year, but that album has been huge in our house these past 12 months and it deserves a special mention. I also think you’ll be hard pressed to find a better single this year than Good Luck Babe, it’s an absolute banger.
I’ve slapped a load of this music in a couple of playlists of course, a long one and a more digestible one.
My favourite songs of the year can be found in my first playlist. They’re not in any order of preference, I just tried to pick one song each from the artists I was enjoying the most.
Playlist 1: Songs of the Year (2024)
My second playlist is a bit more comprehensive. If any of what I’ve talked about has piqued your interest then you can find a much more thorough playlist to dip into here. It’s clearly not meant to be listened to in a single sitting but this is what I’ve been listening to the most throughout the year. It’s a long one like I said, but it’s full of good stuff. I like to listen to an hour or so here and there.
Playlist 2: Albums of the Year (2024)
So that’s me for 2024. I think that was probably my only post? I know I say this every year but I’m gonna try and share more next year. Who knows, you might get two posts.
Thanks for reading to anyone who made it this far. I hope you’re well and I wish you all the best.
Here’s to a happier new year.
Cheers
x
Sitting Up Straight 