Albums of the Year 2024
Good year for music without any stone cold classics. It was notable that many of the years acclaimed works came from artists over 50. My favourite albums, listed in chronological order.
Debut album from the six-piece out of London. Indie Folk. Favourite tracks are 'Untitled', 'The Nether' and 'On A Grassy Knoll'.
Tapir! - On A Grassy Knoll (Music Video)
The English singers first album since her attempted suicide. Art Pop. Favourite track is 'Twenty Things'.
The music video is set in a church pew. Not quite a confessional, but not far off. Shah makes more uncomfortable eye contact as the song goes on, as if she's a ghost haunting her own funeral. The video ends with her staring directly into the camera.
Nadine Shah - Twenty Things (Music Video)
The best rapper in 2024. Hip Hop. Favourite tracks are 'Union 2's', 'Ksubi Tags' and 'Mothers and Gods'.
While Griselda and Mach Hommy have garnered a degree of mainstream recognition in recent years, their best efforts are clearly behind them. Mach today can't compare to the Mach of 2017 and Conway's work from this year doesn't touch his classics from the last decade such as 'Reject 2'. Jae Skeese is another east coast, outside New York city guy. He's from Buffalo, but that's selling him short. He has the same hunger both of the aforementioned rappers had when they were coming up, as well as the pedigree to back it up and he isn't shy when it comes to showing it.
A lot of rappers spit their bars in front of rented out Bentley's to show clout, but in the video for 'Union 2's', Jae raps in front of a guy playing guitar. A money saver to be sure, but it also represents music as being more important than money. Also, you have to be proud of your lyrics to have them voluntarily printed across the bottom of the screen.
Jae Skeese & Superior - Union 2's (Music Video)
Debut album from the daughter of notable session musician Pino Palladino. Her dad produced two of the tracks. Pop. Favourites are 'In the Fire' and 'I Can't Dream Anymore'. Eighties revival.
The video for the latter is Fabiana staring wistfully across the sea from a lonely boat. She's plays records in the hope of finding a kindred spirit who will hear her tune. 'I Can't Dream Anymore' is about someone determined to find love.
The song starts with the lyric 'I know you're with me' as the singer sets off. It's an expression of faith, in the same way as setting foot in the dating pool is. The cynic wouldn't risk it, while the romantic braves the waters regardless. At the the end of the video, Fabiana's face is met with the strobe of a lighthouse. She has found land again, which represents hope and glory. She has successfully navigated the seas of loneliness to find her love.
Fabiana Palladino - I Can't Dream Anymore (Music Video)
The latest effort from the veteran Scouse singer moves away from the psychedelia of her recent work. Co-produced by PJ Harvey's long-time collaborator John Parish. Art Pop. Favourite tracks are 'Love in Constant Spectacle' and 'Emotional Components'.
Jane Weaver - Love in Constant Spectacle (Music Video)
Introspective effort from the English singer-songwriter. Favourite songs are the title track and 'Sail Away'. Water is again a theme because of its changeable, emotion-like quality.
The video for 'Sail Away' is hilarious because it features the emotionally-stunted Danny Dyer traversing the seven seas and experiencing his feels. It's amusing to see him playing up to his hard man image and inverting it at the same time. Maybe there's more to him, or his publicist, than I give him credit for. Even though the video for 'Sail Away' is unmissable, it's the raw emotion of the title track that makes This Aint the Way You Go Out special.
Lucy Rose - Sail Away (Music Video)
Fourth and best album from the American singer-songwriter. Favourite track is 'By Hook or By Crook'. Props to the professional bongo player in the video below. Forgive my meandering, but how does one get good enough at the bongos to go pro? I suppose that in 'professional circles' he's referred to as a percussionist, but if I needed someone to play bongos in my band this guy is top of the list.
Also, it's weird to me that Jessica Pratt looks both 30 and 60 at the same time.
Jessica Pratt - Better Hate (Live on KCRW)
The Portishead vocalist released her debut solo album at the age of 59. It's a moody, contemplative record full of orchestral swells and Gibbons signature, wounded shrew vocal stylings.
Beth Gibbons - Floating On A Moment (Live on Jools Holland)
Concept album from the veteran Midwest rapper. Favourite tracks are 'Samurai' and 'Palaces'. Samurai is, famously, an alternative present in which Amy Winehouse is a battle rapper with Lupe performing the deceased singers parts.
The inspiration for the album came from a voicemail the Amy left on producer Salaam Remi's phone in 2010; on the call, Winehouse claimed to be a samurai who would "slice up" her opponents in a battle rap. She was probably drunk.
Lupe Fiasco - Samurai (Music Video)
Second, and much improved album, from the Los Angeles based synth act. Favourites are 'Killing Time', 'Image' and 'Angel on a Satellite'.
Magdalena Bay - Image
Another great album from the remarkably consistent Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. If anything, the band have improved with age. Favourites are 'O Wow O Wow' and 'Long Dark Night'. Cave wears tragedy like a well-fitting suit.
From out of nowhere the 80's rap icon, LL Cool J, returned with his best album in three decades. It's arguably his best ever and he released it at the age of 56. Favourites are the title track, 'Passion' and 'Post Modern'. LL's rhyme schemes are crazy and Q-Tip's 80's but modern production just works. In 2024, two legends who have been in hip hop for four decades plus put the younger guys to shame by keeping it strictly bars and beats... as well as all-star guest appearances.
LL Cool J - Passion (Music Video)
