The Un-Herd Music Top 50 of 2024
1. Dangereens - Chic
An unexpected (and very welcome) return that adds some GramParsonics to their already impressive mix of Westerbergianisms and RonnieLanery. If you follow the references - and have no allergy to cowbells and handclaps - you'll undoubtedly appreciate.
The concept here is AI-enhanced grisly death metal lyrics and song titles at the service of British Invasion-era music. Sure, it's a gimmick, but it's a hilarious gimmick. And it wouldn't be anywhere near so entertaining if the music didn't deliver so thoroughly on those classic hooks.
3. The Heats - The Heats
I'll straight-up admit this is my personal nostalgia speaking, but I saw these guys countless times back in the day and have always considered their "Have An Idea" album (and "Hunk Of Burnin' Live") a lost power pop masterpiece so, 40 years later, I'm totally stoked to be able to pimp their equally great new album.
Carlotta Cosials and Ana Perrote have been maturing with each release, and it's a delight to hear where they've landed on this album - unpredictable, vulnerable, confident, quirkily rockin' - without losing their established appreciation for fun.
To suss out the influences of the band, just triangulate their original songs with the two covers (Sylvain Sylvain's "Teenage News" and Eddie & the Hot Rods' "Do Anything You Wanna Do"), which'll give fair warning that the word "dolls" isn't in the band name by accident.
Less stomping on the gas pedal as they hurtle towards a discount Spectorian Wall of Sound opens a secondary route to extra melody and charm in Flavia Couri's vocals - but no need for worry, speedsters: it's still a thrill ride.
Gorgeous set of songs with hints of 50s sock hops and 60s saloon singers swirling amid memories of Roy Orbison, echoed drums and guitar twang. A very singular mood, but if it matches your own state of mind there won't be much better.
I mean, what more do you need? Ramonescore bamalama mixed with classic rock riffs, nasal teenage vocals, over-the-top Beach Boy harmonies, and sugary hooks for days. If it was easy, everybody would do it.
Flirting with the same raggedly perfect imperfection of mid-period Replacements (and fueled with a similar us-against-the-world defiance) may not be a marketing strategy that gets rewarded in these times, but that album title lets us know the band doesn't particularly care.
Few tributes are created with this much care. 27 tracks featuring such indie luminaries as Spoon, Low Cut Connie, Rancid, the Hold Steady and slightly more mainstream names like Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joe Armstrong and Tom Morello. If you're not yet a fan of Jesse Malin, you will be after giving this a listen.
11. Pat Todd & the RankOutsiders Keepin' Chaos At Bay
12. Love Fiend Handle With Care
13. Beth Lee Hardly Matters
14. Amyl & the Sniffers Cartoon Darkness
15. The Peawees One Drive
16. Sheer Mag Playing Favorites
17. Laughing Because It's True
18. Gold Star How To Shoot The Moon
19. Extra Arms Radar
20. Valley Lodge Shadows In Paradise
21. The Jesus and Mary Chain Glasgow Eyes
22. JD McPherson Nite Owls
23. Th' Losin Streaks Last House
24. Split System Vol. 2
25. Marc Valentine Basement Sparks
26. Jordan Jones And I, You
27. Bad Moves Wearing Out The Refrain
28. The Fastbacks For WHAT Reason
29. Emperor Penguin Gentlemen Thieves
30. Bottlecap Mountain Electric Love Spree
31. Swami & the Bed of Nails All Of This Awaits You
32. Redd Kross Redd Kross
33. Naked Giants Shine Away
34. Teenage Frames Everything Has Led To This
35. Los Chicos Never Is Too Much
36. Nervous Eaters Rock 'n Roll Your Heart Away
37. Ceramic Animal Cosmic Eraser
38. Quireboys Wardour Street
39. The BellRays Heavy Steady Go!
40. Colman Gota Don't Stop Playing Guitar
41. The Okmoniks Afterparty Fever!!!
42. Silver Sun Mild Peril
43. Minky Starshine Boozers Gloom and a Pinch of Anxiety
44. Junior League Our Broadcast Day
45. Daniel Romano Too Hot To Sleep
46. Buffalo Tom Jump Rope
47. Good Looks Lived Here For A While
48. The Fleshtones It's Getting Late (and More Songs About Werewolves)
49. Kim Deal Nobody Loves You More
50. Band of the Underhand A Cheap Ride To Heaven
1. Dangereens Fly By Nighter
2. The Heats I Hope You're Wrong
3. Hinds Hi, How Are You
4. The Weirdo11s Teenage Fault
5. The C0urettes You Woo Me
6. Stephie James Five and Dimer
7. The Peawees One Drive
8. The Cheap Cassettes Everyone But You
9. The Yum Yums Vitamin U
10. Pavid Vermin Brutalizer of My Soul
11. C0unting Crows Oh Sheena
12. L0ve Fiend Just For Eddie
13. Beth Lee Wall
14. Laughing Narcissist Blues
15. Sheer Mag When You Get Back
16. JD McPhers0n I Can't Go Anywhere With You
17. Go1d Star Fade Away
18. The Jesus and Mary Chain Pop Seeds
19. Va11ey Lodge Trouble
20. Th' L0sin Streaks I Mean You
21. Marc Va1entine You're One of Us Now
22. Quireb0ys Jeeze Louise
23. Sp1it System Alone Again
24. Bad M0ves Out of My Head
1 comment:
YES!!! the best way to start the week. Thanks one more year!
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