After a brief foray using the "written" word of AI for help last year, I wanted to dive back into this technology everyone tells me is going to change mine. As a slight tweak, this time I focused on AI-generated imagery - feeding my digital assistant nothing more than the name of the band and album to see what it created. There is no way this could have turned out better. It reminds me of when you go into a record store, only to find a previously unseen Japanese/European version of an album.
From there, my goal will be to translate what our new robot overloads have crafted, weaving it into a review like these musical Rumpelstiltskin wove beautiful tunes from their consciousness. But before the big list, I've got a few Honorable Mentions (aka bands I knew I liked/loved but didn't get to spend enough time with) and my top EPs of the year. So, before my own job is stolen from me by an algorithm, let's get to the best of 2024:
Honorable Mentions
Blitzen Trapper - 100s of 1000s, Millions of Billions
Right from the get-go, I'm going to have to make a confession that pains me. This is the first BT album that didn't really get its bear claws into me since they started back in 2007. While as perfectly woodsy as the AI cover suggests, it just didn't do enough for me in the hook category - something they usually have in spades. While having Eric Earley is clearly the key ingredient of the band, it seems as if losing 3/4ths of the other members has finally caught up to them. Just felt too weird to leave them off the list completely.
The Hard Quartet - The Hard QuartetThis is a classic "didn't listen to it enough but know it'll be something I return to later" type of album. Apparently, this is a supergroup? I'm only giving it a whirl in the first place based on one Steve Malkmus being involved. Though familiar with other member Matt Sweeney in about 37 different ways, I can't point to a single song of his I know by name and I'm completely unfamiliar with the other two members. As chaotic and seemingly random as the computer art, I don't really even have anything more to say other than this one needs a few more minutes in the oven.
Trace Mountains - Into the Burning Blue Another youngish band I really like, that was birthed from a band I loved, which had split, that transitioned from Americana rock to become a little more electronic. Same ol' story, amirite? It's not even that these forlorn, wistful songs aren't beautifully summed up by the AI artwork as much as it's just the fact that I knew what they were in their previous incarnation(s). They've started to become a nesting doll where every time I open up the next layer, I'm slightly more disappointed. Turn the trend around boys!
EPs
Sheepdogs -
Hell Together Now we're talking! AI mined everything these 'Dogs are and distilled it into the ultimate hairy face-to-face showdown meets Kansas cover. As consistently solid of a band as there is out there right now, this 6 song EP is essentially just an album they chopped in half. Perhaps a little more stripped back than the dual guitar-laden previous album, it's a subtle, folkier version of a band that just can't stop putting out songs that make you feel at home.
CRX - Interiors
Hey! These guys are still alive! Much like its parent band the Strokes, this offshoot of Nick Valensi and crew came along after a long hiatus where no one was all that sure that they were still a thing. Coming out of the gate with three propulsively excellent homages to 80s Power Pop, it quickly loses a little steam for me on the back half. As perfectly angular as the art, at their best, this band high step their way to driving, head-bopping rockers that would make the Cars and Bowie blush at the flattery. On the other hand, the last two tracks show me a little bit about why it took them five years to scrape together five new songs.
Ram - Ram
Now we're cooking with gas! The new project from Matthew Berry (of The Berries fame) is, to use his own words, "a more distortion-focused version" of what he's done in the past. Cascading mountains of hook-filled monster riffs fill these songs in the same way that the AI album cover is a cornucopia of imagery. Easily floating from riff to hook to riff to hook, this four-song treat is as delightful of an EP as I've come across in years - enough so that it would have easily been top ten on my list if it qualified. Whatever he seems to put out these days, Berry has my ears in a chokehold and I hope he never lets go.
Full List
19. Peach Pit - Magpie
Burdened by the unfair expectations of their past work, I was a little thrown as the serpentine guitar lines that made their first two albums so infectious continued to be buried more often than not. When they do dig back into this well ("Every Little Thing" and "Magpie") the music still sounds really good but it's somehow still missing the "back corner of the club" darkness that faded away when they got to From 2 to 3. But while that release was buoyed by infectious upbeat acoustic rhythms, this one has a few too many songs that drift and don't quite find their groove. Much like the AI peaches, this release is a little droopy and definitely not up to the extremely high bar they set in the past.
18. Cloud Nothings - Final Summer
This is a band that has always been on my radar, and it's nice to see them back on my list. Much like this AI cover, there have been a few dark periods between some of my favorite releases of this Dylan Baldi-fronted aural assault. Back in 2020, the pandemic times brought along a shift towards power pop for a crew that previously had buried any sense of melody behind a brutal sonic wall of crushing sound. Thankfully, 2024 brought along another clear sky with the sun bursting through as the group continued to push the type of song structure that kept me coming back. They seemed to mature some as well, crafting tunes in a more polished way and tossing aside some of the snarky lo-fi work of their past.
17. Dawes - Oh Brother
The sad truth of this AI cover is that Dawes is a band that didn't listen to themselves. My favorite band didn't stay together. Each of those computer-generated denim and khaki-clad amalgams isn't really in the band and neither are many former members. Losing Wylie on bass and Lee on keys was a massive blow to a band that relies on the incredible cohesion of their live sound. What came to pass on Oh Brother is a mixture of a cautionary tale and what's possible when new blood is added to long-time stalwarts. On the positive side, "Mister Los Angelos", "Front Row Seat" and "The Game" all build on the best of their past. Alternatively, new members can lead people to fall back into old patterns, and all too often, Dawes takes Taylor's admittedly fantastic lyrics and makes them the everything of the song instead of making them a delightful part of the stew. Here's hoping that eventually, the new guys find a way to stand out in the same way the old fellas did to make them so special.
16. Khruangbin - A La Sala
An amorphous floating cloud, with no rough edges whatsoever, and a beautiful horizon off in the distance is exactly what AI and I had in mind when this album came on. Outside of a song or two, this album removes the outright groovy funk of its predecessor and replaces it with a calmer, subtler, albeit still very enjoyable version of three killer musicians who are locked in. I love it, but it also leaves me wanting more. It's perfect background music when I really want a little more foreground. Even as the greatest "get stuff done around the house without being distracted" music that there could be, I'm left feeling slightly disappointed that the tempos don't cook a little more. It feels like keeping a supercar in the slow lane. It still looks gorgeous going down the highway, but you know it's capable of so much more.
15. J Mascis - What Do We Do Now
A hunched-over Mascis walking off into the purple clouds is a perfect look at what his solo work is going to be at this age/time in his life. This 59-year-old real-life wizard has done everything in his Rain Man-like power to give me as much guitar as I could ever ask for in 8 lifetimes. I'm just not convinced at this point that a) he can really create much at this point that I won't like but also b) none of it will end up being ranked much higher than the the 15-20 range on these lists. It's a formula I love, and I have zero complaints, but it all falls into the familiar basket of acoustic strum, plaintive garbled mumble followed by screeching solos. Put simply: if you like what Mascis does, you'll like this as much as any of his other solo work.
14. Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood
The subtle beauty of the AI cover reveals itself the more you look at it the same way the album improves with every listen. I'm going to give a tip of the cap to Mr. Lenderman for getting me to stop and look/listen in the first place. A name I've heard everywhere for years, Waxahatchee whistled for my attention by dropping "Right Back To It" (as a duet with the aforementioned gentleman) out of the gate. This led me to dig a little deeper into the band she crafted for the album with her producer. After finding out MJ played guitar, Spencer Tweedy played drums and Phil Cook was also there with a multi-instrumentalist helping hand, I was sold. A warm hug of Americana, Tigers Blood rewards those who stop for a second look.
13. Late Bloomer - Another One Again
I've never been able to find out less about a band. Apparently, AI felt the same way and just threw some flowers in a meadow before repeating the band name a few times. Apple Music didn't have a write-up, there's no Wiki and even the Bandcamp page has no bio outside of their names and the fact that they hail from Charlotte, NC. IBest I can gather is that this is a crew that allows everyone to have a shot at writing tunes, because each song can sound entirely different than the last, including vocals. The mixture of styles and influences helped to craft an album I returned to much more than I ever would have thought, one that was sprinkled with 90s touchstones that made me feel like I had stumbled on a Clinton Era bargain bin gem. I could be wrong about all of this, but without any verifiable info out there to confirm or deny my thoughts, it really does feel like listening from a different time and place.
12. American Aquarium - The Fear of Standing Still
A local favorite band of my wife, the Aquarium continues to make workingmans Americana bar country albums that upend typical expectations regarding lyrical content. It's like looking at a perfectly rustic AI-created cover of a '70s car heading down a pastoral rural highway only to zoom in and find out the steering wheel is on the wrong side. The same thing happens when you hear "Crier" or "Head Down, Feet Moving" when you realize BJ Barham is singing about the left-leaning idea that it's ok to cry or that he's happy to write songs about whatever he truly believes in as opposed to what people usually associate with his bands' style of music. In the end, this group continues to churn out solid albums that almost always make my list - just as much for the twist as anything else.
11. Johnny Blue Skies & Sturgill Simpson - Passage Du Desir
AI accidentally stumbled into the best possible version of an album cover here, something that would have been a little too obvious if Sturgill had done it himself. Passage Du Desir is a fascinating look at a man burdened by the pressure of blowing up. He never expected, and seemingly never wanted, the fame that came along with his success. So he took off to France, invented an alter ego, and recorded an album that... sounded a lot like his other work. Don't get me wrong, I like it, it's on this list and it closes with one of my favorite songs of the year, "One for the Road". But much like the men in the image, just throwing on a blazer and flipping over your guitar does not a new man make. Whether the reason be contractual, spiritual, or metaphysical, I'm OK if he wants to keep messing with his name as long as he keeps making great music too.
10. Sam Evian - Plunge
Having a debonair AI Sam literally have his vocal cords turn into smoky goodness/Sienfelds puffy shirt is really on the nose. A tip of the cap to the 1000 or so monkeys who are really behind AI creations because they really nailed this one. This dude just manages to deliver with every single release and Plunge fits beautifully right along with his other work. Layered vocals, funky basslines, and a grooviness that is peaking around the corner at you while wearing a trenchcoat all help to buoy another fine collection. I was lucky enough to get to see him with a very small festival crowd last Sept (with Spencer Tweedy on drums!) and a few of these songs were being previewed, giving me a delightful clue of what was on the horizon. Cheers to you Sir Puffythroat.
9. Rosali - Bite Down
This album rose in my rankings upon the end of year re-listen more than any other. While she's not the only artist on here whose face I doubt I would recognize, the AI album cover couldn't be more perfect because it almost feels better not to know. She's created an album that is a throwback to a time when we DIDN'T know everything about everyone, including millions of photos of what they look like. Sure, I could easily look it up, but why ruin whatever Laurel Canyon flannel-clad rockstar image I have in my head that goes along with her angelic voice and Neil Young-inspired guitar playing. This album should be played in front of a fire and I really loved it.
8. Neil Young - Early Daze
Speaking of Uncle Neil, I cheated a little here. Much like AI, which basically just took what could have been a 1970s Neil cover and superimposed his 2024 face onto it, this album took something old and just pretended to make it new. A collection of 10 songs that have all been released in one form or another shouldn't really be an Album of the Year candidate but this is just too cool and I love Neil too much. All of these original versions are from recordings with the original Crazy Horse throughout 1969 but somehow only "Down by the River" and "Cinnamon Girl" came out that year. The other 8 were released throughout 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1983, and 2009 by Neil, Crazy Horse (solo), CNSY, and via his Archives, all as slightly different versions. It's just amazing when you think about what he DID release in those early days, only to then add these to the mix. What a prolific heater he was on. Rarely has an artist just opened up his past in such a double-barled, all-encompassing way (while still being alive) after repeatedly saying he wouldn't. Thanks for being the most enigmatic, talented musician of my life Neil. Eat a peach.
7. Father John Misty - Mahashmashana
AI just nailed this because FJM is such an incredible mixture of being pretentious while simultaneously winking about being pretentious. In fact, he might actually use this for his next cover. Would anyone be surprised? Sanskrit titles, half the tunes clocking in at over six and a half minutes, and the first time he ever brought his touring band into the studio with him combined to make an album with some incredible highs. It also feels like it could have been so much more with a little editing. "She Cleans Up" rips as hard as anything he's ever done and the first single. "I Guess Time Makes Fools Of Us All" (which was originally/also released as the first single off a greatest hits he also put out this year) grooves in a way that evokes the best of what he can do on stage. "Josh Tillman and the Accidental Overdoes" is silky smooth and sinfully soulful with some great strings. Then there's "Screamland" which is sonically abrasive and wonderful at the same time. The other songs are just solid to middling though, and this album would have made my list any other year too - there's just room to chop a few of these down a bit, and perhaps throw another tune or two on in the space those gaps would provide. As always, the only thing getting in the way of FJM is Mr. Tillman himself.
6. Good Looks - Lived Here for a While
The most pleasant surprise on the list is encapsulated by what AI threw my way - greatness seemingly blocked off. In the same way, the brick wall seems to provide no path to the pristine lake scape in the background, this band almost was walled off from the world thanks to chaos. After their lead guitarist was hit by a car leading to a traumatic brain injury, the band didn't know if they would be able to continue on after their 2022 debut Bummer Year. While the story is much more than this, what it boiled down to was a quote from their website... "While he had difficulty speaking conversationally upon his release, he quickly realized he could still play guitar and sing almost perfectly." (!!!) What came to be was Lived Here for a While, an infectious collection of big hooks, angular post-punk guitars, and soaring solos that all combined to keep me coming back as much as anything else on this list. "If It's Gone" and "Self Destructor" are both song of the year candidates for me. Welcome to my "really paying attention" radar Good Looks, it's nice to have you.
5. Matt Duncan - I Will Write a Song for You
There is literally no way to be upset listening to Matt Duncan. AI really nailed that with the Egon Spangler dressed as Bill Nye working as an ornithologist creation. Just try not to smile as you look at his face. Lol. Within these final 5 releases, we are also entering into the territory of music that is connected to my musically inclined son. This was a repeated request from PJ and a classic one to listen to on the way to school - something that was sure to put us both in a great mood to start the day. Duncan is a literal hook/melody monster, seemingly picking them out of thin air like leaves drifting down on a breezy fall day. This could have more hummable moments on it than any album I've ever heard. Whether it's "NYC Kids", "Captain Chrome", "Nora and Rowan", the PJ fav "Supernova Disco Queen" or, aw hell I could just list every song, I'd be shocked if you're not jamming along after a listen or two. Delightful horns abound and synths bounce about, happily playing off the always buoyant basslines. It's smooth, it's croony and it's perfect.
4. Jack White - No Name
The BIGGEST surprise on the list has to be Jack White's decision to release a straightforward, hard-hitting rock album that very easily could have been the follow-up to Icky Thump. Most of his solo work hadn't resonated with me—in fact, the only one that did was the more acoustic-driven Entering Heaven Alive. As enigmatic as the AI cover, this seemed like someone who purposely avoided creating the kind of music that initially made him famous. Whatever caused him to change his mind, this release emerged slowly as it was initially only released as a surprise gift to Third Club Records members. With no digital version (and no press), word trickled out slowly, YouTube clips began to pop up of people spinning their vinyl and suddenly excitement began to build. Once things got rolling though (and a digital release finally dropped a few weeks later), the truth of how killer this garage rock return-to-form was began to fully emerge. If I pop on "That's How I'm Feeling" or "Archbishop Harold Holmes" and I'm thrown back to 2005 driving around Western NY. Music at its best can transport you like a time machine. Here's to you Mr. White for being Doc Brown.
3. Pearl Jam- Dark Matter
AI did a masterful job of taking Pearl Jam's interest in space imagery and combining it with the ubiquitous "2000s touring release" that fans would immediately recognize. What's borne is something as unusual and unexpected as a good 2024 Pearl Jam album. I can honestly say I had completely given up on them being anything other than a touring band at this point. Their last 3 releases had all been mediocre to good at best, and often they ended up on my list based on nostalgic bias rather than true excellence. Dark Matter is different. It's legit good! Bringing along Andrew Watt (who helped make the most recent Vedder solo album, Earthling, much better than expected as well) as a fresh-faced producer who required the band to be together in the studio ripping things up like the old days paid off huge dividends. The rockers hit really hard, the ballads soar, and Eddie sounds as good as he has in years. Plus, I'm finally getting a chance to see them again (in the pit!) in May after an 8-year hiatus. I'm honestly shocked and I don't think there's anything else that needs to be said.
2. Liquid Mike - Paul Bunyan’s Slingshot
Man, I WISH this was the actual album cover. AI really outdid itself with this one and Liquid Mike did too. What if Blink 182 actually got laid in high school and wrote songs that were slightly more serious but still about youthful debauchery you ask? Well, this is what would happen! Absolute head-banging power poo-punk chock full of riffs for absolute days, this is not the kind of album with specific tunes that you're going to recognize and or be able to differentiate from one another. The pummeling relentlessness of the guitars is as delightful as the locked-in bottom end of the bass/drums. Their previous work all fits into a similar vein but the production level is a little higher here and the songs are a little tighter this time around. It may not be for everyone, but for me, all I need to do is sit back, hit play, rock out, and then do my best not to repeat the process all over again once it gets to the end.
1. MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks
So this picturesque love affair actually begins with the review I wrote last year for Live and Loose. Oddly enough, it consists of songs from the 2022 Honorable Mention Boat Songs as well as (the didn't even make my list) Ghosts of Your Guitar Solo, two records I hadn't really dove into. But man oh man did it prime the pump for Manning Fireworks. While I knew and loved "Rudolph" (the only track to appear on Live and Loose), I knew this was going to be my album of the year the minute "She's Leaving You" was released. An immediate hit, it resonated with my son too, and suddenly he was asking to listen to MJ. Soon enough, the album proper was released and he began requesting "Wristwatch" each morning. Lenderman helped lead me to other albums on this list, has delivered 3 straight years of being on my list in some way, and perhaps most impressive of all, did something I've been waiting for for 11 years now... got my son to want to go to a concert with me. So that's what we are going to do. January 29th. I'm loading him up with 2 other concert buddies of mine and we're driving to the dive bar/amazing venue that is the Cat's Cradle and we're going to watch MJ Lenderman together. It's going to be surreal, it's going to be awesome and I hope it's going to be the tip of the iceberg for what becomes something I continue to look forward to every day - sharing music with those I love.
