BRANDON’S TOP ALBUMS OF 2024
- Peter Gabriel – i/o
The man in question was the lead singer for likely the greatest prog rock band of all time, Genesis. His string of albums with the group before leaving is maddeningly brilliant: Foxtrot, Selling England by the Pound, and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Gabriel went on to a successful solo career including the blockbuster, So, which featured “Sledgehammer” and “In Your Eyes”. He currently runs a successful recording studio called Real World Studios whose clients include Harry Styles, Amy Winehouse, Pixies, Robert Plant, New Order, Idles and King Crimson. The album builds steam over its twelve tracks and features production from Brian Eno. It also features its entirety complete in two separate mixes.
- The Smile – Wall of Eyes
Well those hoping for a new Radiohead album have been severely teased with both the band admitting to having gotten together to play their songs and Thom Yorke saying they’ve earned the freedom to focus on their own projects. Besides the Smile, bassist Colin Greenwood is currently playing with Nick Cave. A reunion seems a matter of eventuality with Radiohead drummer Phil Selway saying the group “is still a band”. Regardless, Wall of Eyes proves the Smile is more than just an afterthought of Radiohead. With the pace they work it’s exciting to see what else the group will come up with this decade.
- Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us
Packed with lyrical sociology, the album is a more experimental affair than Father of the Bride. That album played as almost a jam band record with input from former member Rostam Batmanglij and the Internet’s Steve Lacy. Only God Was Above Us is another immense stand out in one of the best track records in indie.
- Jamie xx – In Waves
This producer finally delivers the follow-up to the superbly influential In Colour nine years later. The album features an A-list of collaborators including Robyn, the Avalanches and Panda Bear. A release of booming positive vibes.
- Camera Obscura – Look to the East, Look to the West
The band is arguably the most twee of all twee pop groups. Standouts from their discography include Underachievers Please Try Harder and Let’s Get Out of This Country. This is their first record since keyboardist Carey Lander passed. The group seemed to be in an abyss of inactivity after the death until intervention at the behest of Belle and Sebastian. Hugely mellifluous.
- Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown
This decidedly mystic album shows Gibbons exiting the ether to deliver sounds as fine as her work with Portishead. Portishead were one of the great trip hop acts which was a type of experimental and atmospheric electronica; Portishead’s sound in particular focused on emulating spy soundtracks. All three of their albums are classics. Lives Outgrown was produced by James Ellis Ford.
- Yard Act – Where’s My Utopia
Yard Act is part of a line of the brave new British acts to emerge in the 2020s that include Dry Cleaning and Jockstrap. The band’s witty version of post punk includes sounds of afrobeat and hip-hop. The band is an immensely talented and powerful live act as well.
- Cooper-Moore, Hamid Drake and William Parker – Heart Trio
This thoroughly melodic jazz release features a plethora of unorthodox instruments for the genre: frame drums, ashimba, donsó ngoni, bass doumbek, shakuhachi, ney, Serbian flutes and even self-built instruments which all calls to mind the avant-grade instrumentation of Eric Dolphy. William Parker is likely Richard Davis’ most well known student; Parker was featured extensively on Thirsty Ear’s Blue Series which had electro-jazz contributions from Matthew Shipp, DJ Spooky and Spring Heel Jack to name a few. Drake and Parker worked together formerly with Peter Brötzmann. To say the least, Drake and Parker are two of the most exciting artists in jazz.
- Metz – Up On Gravity Hill
The hardest hitting band in music delivers a surprisingly tuneful album proving the abrasive genres of hardcore punk and noise-rock can resonate universally. Artist Owen Pallett makes contributions; he both worked with Arcade Fire on The Suburbs and won the first ever Polaris Prize. Check him out as Final Fantasy.
- Real Estate – Daniel
The New Jersey indie rockers retreat to Nashville to record their most focused, deliberate and catchy work since 2014’s Atlas. Sounding at times like the Byrds, the Feelies, R.E.M. and Yo La Tengo. It’s a masterful record that shows the players have honed their craft to perfection. Their clever homage to all the Daniels of the world was a social media must-see especially the culmination in the cover of Elton John’s song by the name. Oh and Daniel Tashian produced the release.
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