Well, hello and happy hump day!
It’s been a while. Three months since my last post, to be exact.
I didn’t intend to be away so long and definitely wasn’t expecting the piece on Beck to be my last post. However, life… well… it happened.
Without getting into all the gory details, let’s just say I had some unexpected health issues, some of them quite scary, involving an extended gig in the hospital. I have had to make a number of lifestyle changes, including slowing things down quite a bit. And though not all yet resolved, things have been improving and I am slowly on the mend, hopefully on track to a full recovery. I am grateful for the love of my life and partner in all things, close friends, and professional support, all of which have kept me going.
Of late, I’ve been slowly trying to get back to doing some of the things I used to enjoy and, of course, one of the first things that helped bring some solace was listening to music. Limited reading followed, and I’m just now returning to some writing, intending to slowly get back to this regular blogging fun.
While in the hospital, I had lots of time to think about the greats of 2024. So let’s begin with a sampling of great albums from last year worthy of honourable mention, followed by my next post, the first handful of those ten favourite albums for the year. Enjoy.
Camera Obscura “Look to the east, look to the west”: The Scottish indie pop band’s sixth studio album and first since the death of keyboardist, Carey Lander in 2015, shows the group in fine form and chock full of that twee magic.
Check out: “Big love”
The Decemberists “As it ever was, so it will be again”: The Portland-based quintet keeps on doing things in their own particular way – esoteric subject matter dressed up in indie folk, informed by a myriad of world musical styles – on their 9th studio album and we continue to love them for it.
Check out: “Burial ground”
Desperate Journalist “No hero”: To my ears, these post punk revivalists from London, England have firmly grasped the torch let drop by Canada’s The Organ when that band split after only one great album back in the early 2000s.
Check out: “Unsympathetic parts 1 & 2”
Elephant Stone “Back into the dream”: The sixth album by the Montreal-based psych-rock quartet fronted by bass and sitar player Rishi Dhir, is more Beatlesque, jangle pop that is as equally relevant on a Saturday night, as it is on a Sunday morning.
Check out: “Going underground”
James “Yummy”: One of my favourite all-time bands celebrated their 40th anniversary year in 2023 with a compilation of orchestral reworkings of many of their much-loved classics and followed it up in 2024 with their 18th (!) studio album – future classics that feature the Manchester group’s signature “big”
sound and frontman Tim Booth’s inimitable lyric work and vocal style.
Check out: “Is this love”
Linn Koch-Emmery “Borderline iconic”: Unlike her 2021 debut, “Borderline iconic“, the Sweden born and bred singer-songwriter didn’t quite crack my top ten with her sophomore effort… but it was darned close – just over 30 more minutes of spiky and catchy, power pop attitude.
Check out: “Ebay armour”
The Vaccines “Pick-up full of pink carnations”: London, England’s The Vaccines are sadly one of those bands that I tend to forget about* – until of course, they release a new album, like this, their 6th LP offering, and I am immediately caught back up in the wave of their angular, fun, and anthemic indie-pop.
Check out: “Heartbreak kid”
*Not because they deserve to be forgotten- they just fall victim to my too much music, too little time” syndrome.
I’ll be back very soon with albums #10 through #6 for my Best albums of 2024 list. In the meantime, you can check out my Best Albums page here if you’re interested in my other favourite albums lists.
My (life in) music lists 