That first Monday of the year.
HA.
Let’s not even go there – It’s time to give one last look behind before moving on with 2025.
2024 has been a true blessing when it comes to my musical world. A few favs releasing long awaited new albums, the discovery of new artists that make my heart beat just a tiny beat faster (and happier) and obviously the gem on the crown that has been this year in the glorious return of one of the band of my life to the scene – and not a simple walk back in my life, but a full force resurrection with some of their most powerful work yet.
I’m more often than not turned to the future. The next tune, the next gig, the next beat that will get me through the days ahead, but I also learned in my old age that it’s nice to stop for a hot minute and acknowledge the good that you’ve been given. And this post might well just be my top 10 albums of the year in disguise with a little bit of sentiment on top, as grateful I am for the music, I am even more about what it makes me feel and I’ve got a few artists to thank that for. It’s tradition after all. What do you mean I’m a few months late? Oh well, there’s no bad day in my book to be thankful so you’ll have to bear with it.
A special thank you then to my forever favs, St Vincent and Fontaines DC for releasing such banger albums this year and tunes that will stick with me and my regular playlists for a long long time. Big Time Nothing and Starburster are definitely some of my favourite songs of the year without a doubt.
It’s always a pleasure to get new Greenday, and the holy fucking trinity didn’t disappoint. Cherry on top with the bi anthem Bobby Sox, it’s been a hot minute since such earworm made me feel so seen.
2024 also delivered just the right amount of rock which is always more of it of course. Kudos to Stand Atlantic, Wunderhorse and Towa Bird for feeding that obsession so well with their amazing work and to The Linda Lindas for adding that fresh sprinkle of necessary punk rock on top of it.
Discovering The Last Dinner Party and getting to see them live so unexpectedly and soon after that was definitely one of the highlights of my year. An absolute privilege to get to hear live the masterpiece that is Prelude to Ecstasy in its entirety. I can only hope the party keeps going in 2025 for the amount of genius this band has clearly needs to be savored.
Speaking of musical genius, I couldn’t wrap up my year without a shoutout to yer girl Billie Eilish. Hit me hard and soft, hit me hard and soft indeed. One of the few that manages to make me listen to pop music on loop. Flawless production, lyrics that make your own heart sing and just the right amount of sweetness to put a smile on your face without falling on the verge of diabetes.
A lot of new old, and old new, but it’s also been a year of new new for me and my neverending quest for a sound that will drown out the world, and in terms of new artists on my radar this year, I’ve been well served.
I obviously can’t skip that band from LA that came in late this year and still made it on most of my year stats recap. I may have overindulged on their revigorating rock and roll a bit much but you know what, I’m glad I did and I feel like it’s just beginning. If you care for a soul shaking sound, definitely give Dead Sara a listen.
A very special mention to another one from LA, Illuminati Hotties, who showed up in my recommended playlists some day last summer and never left – and may they never do. Sarah’s album Power brought me so much comfort and joy it feels like the little gem of my 2024 collection. It’s very close to being the album I’m most grateful for this year. It’s the little things that make you happy and heal you – and IH knows exactly how to remind you of that.
Very close indeed. If it wasn’t for the miracle – half miracle? – I don’t know but there’s definitely something divine about it and I’m not only talking about the tall blonde and gorgeous for once.
The absolute flawless return of Linkin Park. I had a fairly good year in music but they still rescued it on some level, taking the roaring fire of passion up a (lot of) notch(es).
Being a music fan sometimes feels like relationships. You’ve got the one night stands, the monthly long flirtatious exchanges, the love at first sight but also the friendships that grow apart, the bad break ups,damn even the toxic exes you run back to because you can’t help it. It hurts sometimes to be a music fan, and yet brings you so much joy. Art mimicking life in every aspect amirite? Yeah, it can hurt but then, ah then, you’ve also got the loves of your life and it makes it all worth it. And the feeling one gets when one that seems forever lost comes back to you. There’s no words to describe it really.
Linkin Park definitely falls in that last category for me, and they didn’t just casually strolled back onto our year as I was saying earlier, they did everything they could to win us over just in case we had moved on. Rest assured guys, the attraction has never been more fire than right now. Flawless promo, incredible new additions to the band – Colin and Emily definitely reignite that unique fire this band excels at – and of course, an absolute masterpiece of an album with From Zero. I’ve blabbed enough about it, blame the butterflies in my stomach, so you probably get what I mean by now, and if you don’t I kinda feel sorry for you but hope you’ll find your own.
Maybe that’s what we all shall do for this new year, take it From Zero and start fresh. The past shapes you but you’re the one doing the shaping for what’s next after all.
Bring it on 2025, I wish you all the best year – and may you find all your favourite songs you haven’t heard yet.
In the meantime, here’s a little playlist of my fav tracks that made my 2024 brilliant as fuck. Who knows, maybe some will brighten up your 2025 too.
