Best of 2024

Power pop, pop punk, indie rock, and alternative rock blended into ear worms you won't get out of your head.

A band that's hard to pin down, but so damn cool. Parts indie rock, slowcore, dream pop, psych rock and experimental rock.

The Irish post-punk group incorporate more Irish/British/US alternative rock influences to create one of their best records yet.

One of the best female songwriters in indie/alt rock, combining elements of indie rock with R&B/soul. Such a fresh, unique sound.

If Ned's Atomic Dustbin was a hardcore band, they would be High Vis.

A new artist I stumbled upon this year. And this is my fave indie folk record for 2024. So much more confidence than her previous records. Can't wait to see where she goes from here...

My fave hyperpop, art/post punk band right now. I almost forgot about this release as it came out in January 2024. SO catchy, so good.

MJ Lenderman can do no wrong it seems. Not only is his solo work excellent, his band Wednesday made my top list for 2023. He also worked with Waxahatchee this year (see below) and Indigo De Souza (see last year's list.)

Southern/country-tinged slacker rock, like if Pavement was from the south.

Kendrick was busy this year. Beyond the diss tracks and war with Drake, he managed to sneak in a full album. And it's good. My hip hop album of the year.

One of my favorite live bands and one of their best records. Indie rock with a touch of punk and hardcore. So good...

Wishy isn’t just a straight shoegaze band, as you’ll hear power pop, indie rock, and emo influences. If you grew up in the late 80s and 90s (even early 2000s), Wishy is basically your favorite alternative bands all mixed together in a blender. I'm a big fan.

oso oso are one of my favorite bands going right now, combining the best elements of power pop and emo. The new album is definitely more refined musically (less raw, less loud) than prior albums, while retaining the catchiness and lyrical quality they are known for – making for their most well written, consistent album to date.

An excellent debut full length album from this shoegaze band that adds aspects of grunge, Sonic Youth, and other 90s alt rock sounds. Much like English Teacher, they are generating a lot of buzz and it’s well deserved.

Their fifth album is a return to the form of their earlier works, but through the lens of an older/more mature and better (technically) group of musicians. You’ll hear the bass flourishes, the pianos, the familiar drum patterns, and the catchy guitar leads you enjoyed on those early records. But you’ll also hear more orchestral elements, string & horn sections, and jazzy instrumental freak outs that come from more confident songwriters.

Hemlock is the alt-folk project of Carolina Chauffe. Chauffe has released 9 albums as hemlock since 2018, but this is the first I've heard and it's everything I like about this genre. Very similar to one of my other faves Squirrel Flower and Merce Lemon.

A masterful debut from this Mercury Prize winning English post-punk band. Angular, poetic, eclectic. Such a talented group that makes music unlike anything you've heard.

Everyone knows The Cure, so no introduction needed. What you do need to know is this is their best album in a while, probably since Disintegration.

An indie rock/folk/Americana hybrid that writes super catchy songs. They are an excellent live band too, if you ever have the chance.

A fantastic debut full length from this Irish post-punk band that incorporates influences ranging from early Pixies, Bauhaus, Siouxsie Sioux, IDLES and Fugazi.

It’s everything you love about her from Pixies and The Breeders, with added layers. Orchestral elements, noise, synth, ukelele, and more. So good.

One of her best and certainly her most intimate records, as she tackles songs about grief, loss, and change. Musically the songs range from lush, orchestral numbers complete with strings and flute, to acoustic driven folk, and of course the super catchy grungy riffs she's known for...

This talented singer-songwriter/folk artist infuses her music with fantastic storytelling and a unique blend of jazzy elements, setting her apart from her contemporaries.

Waxahatchee has kind of blown up in the last couple years and it's well deserved. I've been a fan since the early 2010s and I always thought she was at her best when she leaned into her southern roots more (though she can write great indie rock tunes as well)... her last two albums have fully grasped those reins and she's putting out her best work.

I took the easy way out on this one. This project is actually a double album, but I don't like the second half at all (which was released two months later), so I am going to consider it a separate album. Super good country tinged folk for fans of Adrianne Lenker, Damien Jurado, and Bonny Light Horseman.

Good Looks blends folk, rock, and emo into super catchy cathartic tunes that you will be singing to yourself for weeks.

Navy Blue is Sage Elsesser, a Brooklyn born rapper, producer, and skateboarder. Memoirs in Armour is his 8th full length and one of his best. Stream of conscious story telling over jazzy melodic loops. Highly recommended if you are into alternative hip hop.

One of rock music's most talented guitar players and performers. All Born Screaming is her best album since her self-titled 2014 album.

I was on quite an alt/indie folk kick this year. If you like Big Thief or Mitski you will dig this superb singer/songwriter that mixes 60s/70s folk with jazz influences.

Gouge Away is a hardcore band from Florida that builds off of influences like Fugazi, Pixies, and Unwound. I don’t follow new hardcore releases as closely as I used to, but bands like Gouge Away and High Vis make me think that is a mistake.

One of my favorite bands from the late aughts. Their first album in seven years and it was a return to form in many ways – at least the sound I loved. So glad they are back together and touring.

I wanted and hoped this would end up higher, but it was a strong pool this year. Still one of my favorite hip hop albums of the year. Tyler's unique style is on full display.