In terms of quality new songcraft, it seems like 2024 is off to a strong start. I’ve already added 12 new albums to my collection and one commemorative re-release — not to mention a pile of old, gap-filler stuff. As is the practice around the ol’ Tinnitist salt mine, the boss likes me to highlight the best albums of the year after the first six, and then the final six months of the year. Here’s the first instalment. Maybe these aren’t the best albums of the year, but they’re ones I’ve liked enough to buy. The first three are technically late 2023 releases which I missed last year. Here’s the list (in order of release):
Dope Lemon
Kimosabe
I grabbed this, the fourth Dope Lemon release by Australian singer-songwriter Angus Stone. It’s a brilliant album — pretty much as good as his first Dope Lemon album, 2016’s Honey Bones. Every song is 5/5 except the title track, which is 3. It also has pretty cool zoetrope picture disc vinyl, as we’ve seen before with previous Dope Lemon releases like 2019’s Smooth Big Cat.
David Axelrod
Song of Innocence
This is actually a 1968 album that I heard about after buying an old copy of Mass in F Minor by The Electric Prunes (1967). Axelrod was brought in by the Reprise label to write material for the band’s third album after their second album flopped. It’s pretty bonkers, but excellent — progressive pseudo Christian psychedelia sung in Latin and Greek. Song Of Innocence was the album Axelrod made himself immediately after. It’s a surprisingly listenable psychedelic rock album which is believed to have been the first record to spawn the term “fusion” by a critic. It was remastered and re-released on heavyweight vinyl in late 2023 and is a must-have, in my opinion.
Elisapie
Inuktitut
When I said earlier that I was late to the party on some things, this is the album I was referring to in particular. Elisapie won a Juno this year for this album — a collection of some of her favourite songs, done in her own style and sung in Inuktitut. Like her, it is stunningly beautiful.
Savage Mansion
The Shakes
This is my favourite album of the year so far. This Glaswegian band has been around for a few years, but this record is absolutely perfect indie rock. They outdo Parquet Courts at their own game. I bought the record directly from the band via their Bandcamp page, and they included a personal note which just makes me love them even more.
Forest Ray
Windfucker
I’d never heard of the Seattle countrified psych-rock band before my Spotify algorithm thrust them upon me. Thank you, Spotify! If these guys took themselves too seriously, it would ruin everything. But, they don’t and I want to be their friend.
Ty Segall
Three Bells
The American multi-instrumentalist has 15 albums since 2008, and it seems like you never know what to expect from him. It could be crazy, it could be sweet, but it is usually pretty cool and definitely gets your attention. This one makes me smile over and over because he’s just so clever, and obviously has an enviable record collection of his own. This is music for music lovers. A little challenging, but in a good way. There’s a bunch of stuff on here you’ll have on repeat and some stuff you might even be a little scared of, but not as often as in the past.
The Big Idea
Tales of Crematie
This French band does modern psychedelic rock, which can be a little weird at times, but if you are one of those people who totally gets why Pretties For You is an amazing Alice Cooper album, this is a treat. Regardless of the outer fringes of your musical palette, there are several tracks on here that are incredibly endearing and accessible. I’ve been stuck on The Council Of The Kings for months.
Brittany Howard
What Now
The former frontwoman of Alabama Shakes proves her genius, yet again. Holy smokes she can — and does — do it all. Howard can make you want to cry, fall in love or smash stuff.
Daniel Romano’s Outfit
Too Hot To Sleep
The prolific Welland, Ontario singer-songwriter is basically two dudes — the leader of a band that can blow the doors off the place, or as a creator of supremely crafted, indelible, moving ballads. This record is one of the former. It’s loaded with bangers.
Catriona Sturton
Night Bell
Ottawa’s Catriona Sturton is a friend of mine and has appeared on my albums (and future albums) several times. The sweet, talented multi-instrumentalist has finally put out an album on vinyl — and did so with some pretty elite company in N.Y.C. This EP is on heavyweight vinyl and spins at 45 rpm. She made it with Ray Angry of The Roots and mixer/engineer extraordinaire James Yost.
George Harrison
Wonderwall Music
This was a Record Store Day re-release I wanted, because I didn’t have a copy of George Harrison’s first solo album. It’s the one the late Beatles guitarist had the most fun making, and it shows. The album is a soundtrack and contains a bit of everything — rock, Indian music, psychedelia and ragtime. The RSD edition comes with a zoetrope picture disc.
Dad Sports
I Am Just A Boy Leave Me Alone!!!
Another friend of mine, actually a co-worker too. Miguel Plante is an Ottawa 20-something who makes catchy, consistently strong dream pop. He has a strong following on streaming services thanks to his music catching fire on TikTok — strong enough for him to ink a deal this year with N.Y.C.’s Grand Jury Records. Plante may be young, but he has an open mind and an insatiable taste for the classics — which sets him apart from the here-today-gone-tomorrow of his genre.
Shannon & The Clams
The Moon Is In The Wrong Place
Shannon Shaw is a renaissance woman — she even designed and illustrated the cover of this, their seventh studio album. They do an accessible brand of garage R&B, which is incredibly well-suited to the production of Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), who was at the console for this record. It’s perfect. So, so good.
The Lemon Twigs
A Dream Is All We Know
This Long Island duo/band have been on my radar for a while now, but they were just a bit too quirky for me to take the plunge. I finally caved, based on the strength of the new album’s debut single — They Don’t Know How To Fall In Place. (The video is awesome, too). Give in. They’re great.
Here’s a playlist of my 2024 picks:
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Area Resident is an Ottawa-based journalist, recording artist, music collector and re-seller. Hear (and buy) his music on Bandcamp, email him HERE, follow him on Instagram and check him out on Discogs.
