Best albums of 2024 (so far)
30 Alt/Indie albums that I'm loving from the first half of this year!
I’m currently reading (well, listening via audiobook) to Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture (written by the New Yorker staff writer Kyle Chayka). In a world where algorithms rule the world, and determine the shape of culture itself; it is more important than ever to have human curators. Which is why I think Substack is so awesome. Anyways, allow me to help you discover some new music outside of an algorithm. I feel like often times; as we get older, that joy in discovery of new music gets left behind in adolescence. We end up just listening to the same bands and artists that we liked a decade ago. So, in some ways; engaging with new music is a gateway to inner-child (or inner-teenager) joy =)
Also, I feel like engaging with an album as a body of work is also a lost art. Part of our world being ruled by algorithms; is that we live in a generation of playlists, and of an algorithm feeding us what other artists or songs we may like based off of what we just listened to. So, my hope is that you use this as an opportunity to explore these albums in whole; as a body of work. You can click on each album title to be linked to the album on Spotify. Enjoy =)
This is just Part 1, and focusing on Indie/Alt releases (I’m using the term “Indie/Alt” VERY loosely lol). Later this week I will email out Part 2, with my favorite Jazz/Jazz-adjacent/Avant-garde/Ambient albums of 2024(so far). And then Part 3, with my favorite Underground Hip Hop albums of 2024(so far). So stay tuned.
Without further ado; 30 “Indie/Alt” albums from the first half of 2024 (Jan - June) that I’m absolutely LOVING (in no particular order - well, other than the first few hehe)….
Still House Plants - If I don’t make it, I love u
This might be the most interesting album I’ve heard this year! Free-jazz drumming, mid-west emo or like, no-wave guitar, and late 90s R&B house vocals. 3 genres that shouldn’t go together, BUT IT DOES!!!
Maybe I’m weird, but sad music makes me very happy. This is probably one of the saddest albums this year. But also, it feels…cinematic? I just love this one so much. It brings up ALL the feels for me!
Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Past Is Still Alive
This album came out in Feb, and was probably the first album of 2024 that I became obsessed with. Real deal Americana folk-punk train hopper hobo music!
Hannah Frances - Keeper of the Shepherd
My other favorite sad record of 2024. Dark folk record; really intimate.
Really gorgeous folk-jazz record. Really a work of beautiful art. Kinda giving Sade; in a good way, of course
Faye Webster - Underdressed at the Symphony
Sad girl music, but so damn vibey! But Not Kiss is probably in my top 5 songs of 2024. And the Faye Webster x Lil Yachty collab on Lego Ring was prob my least expected collab of 2024. On paper I feel like it shouldn’t work as good as it does, but really fantastic!!
Jessica Pratt - Here in the Pitch
1970’s Psych/Freak Folk vibes. Pratt is such a unique voice, and this is her best work yet. Beautiful album!
The Lostines – Meet The Lostines
I honestly don’t know how I came across this one. I was previously familiar with the band. But I am obsessed with this album. It’s giving 1960’s country-soul. In fact, I loved this album so much hat I listened to every “related artist” hoping to find something similar. No luck, so thank God this one exists at least
Avant dance pop. Love this record so much!
If you follow any other music critics; you’ll no doubt also see this one on their best albums of the year lists. Cindy Lee is the project of musician Patrick Flegel; whereas he performs in drag. This is his 7th album as Cindy Lee, but this one is a really special one. A masterpiece. unfortunately, this one isn’t on streaming; so you have to listen to it on YouTube. I hope they release this one on vinyl. Anyways, a 60s psychedelic-pop sounding 2-hour long magnum opus.
English Teacher - This Could Be Texas
Fantastic UK indie album. There isn’t a skippable track on the entire album
Laetitia Sadier - Rooting for Love
Laetitia Sadier of Sterolab’s first solo record in over 5 years! Sweet sounding pop songs; that are actually really radical socio-political songs.
Beth Gibbons of Portishead with a huge bummer of an album; in the best way possible!!!
Eliza McLamb - Going Through It
Ok, this album isn’t probably particularly meant for 40 year old dudes, but it’s def channeling my angsty 20 year old teenage/early 20’s girl lol. I saw one review call it “young adult poetry”, but I actually think the songs about the experience of being a young woman in the world were really profound and insightful.
Really dope and original/unique! Danish composer & viola player making off-kilter singer-songwriter/experimental R&B; which also sometimes goes into really nasty bass-heavy Hip Hop inspired beats. Very cool!
I am definitely late on the Khruangbin train. I know the Texas Sun record with Leon Bridges got a lot of buzz few years back, but I wasn’t particular drawn towards it. But man, I love this album. It’s just so damn vibey. I read they recorded it in a barn while listening to nature sounds on headphones. VIBES!
Psychedelic indie-folk by way of Atlanta. I was familiar with her previously, but I am loving this record!
Sierra Ferrell - Trail Of Flowers
Fantastic and heartfelt roots/bluegrass/alt-country record.
Such a wide-ranging album; from indie-folk, to art-pop, to pop-punk. Very sincere music.
Jane Weaver - Love In Constant Spectacle
Really cool electro-pop record; at times reminiscent of Stereolab/Broadcast
Julia Holter - Something in the Room She Moves
Experimental ambient freak-pop
Big fan of Katie aka Waxahatchee. This is her most mature album to date. What a fantastic song writer!
Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven
Admittedly, I haven’t spent much time listening to “harder” music, but this album did draw my attention, and I think it’s fantastic.
Really interesting record. Bedroom sad-core emo for fans of 100 Gecs; I meant that in the best way possible btw!
I Saw the TV Glow (Original Soundtrack)
A soundtrack wouldn’t normally make a best-of list for me, but this really is fantastic. Sad girl indie music lets gooooo!
The Felice Brothers - Valley of Abandoned Songs
I still need to sit with this album a lil longer; as it just came out last week (on Conor Oberst’s new label, at that). I do really enjoy this record, and know it’ll grow on me. This is real deal heart-break Americana music.
Really great folk-rock record!
For fans of Faye Webster
Babehoven - Water's Here in You
Dreamy introspective indie-folk
Just a 6 song EP, but man I wish it was a full length. Female-fronted San Francisco shoegaze band. Really loving this EP
Look out for part 2 with my favorite jazz/jazz-adjacent/avant-garde/ambient releases of 2024(so far) in a couple of days ;)