Dominic's Best of 2024

Greetings Sorry Staters. Happy New Year to you. I can’t believe the holidays came and went already. It feels as if we only just got through with Halloween. Time flies. I hope you all had a good festive period and that 2024 was a good year for you. Totally understand if it wasn’t, or if your Christmas wasn’t so merry. I totally get that. I did my best to distract myself from my lack of Christmas cheer by watching as many holidays themed movies as I could over the festive week. That and all the Premier League games that take place over Christmas and spinning records kept me occupied. Not that I had too much free time as we’ve been busy here at Sorry State and it’s been all hands on deck. Which of course we are not complaining about. It was fantastic seeing so many folks come through the store and be excited about their records. A big thank you to any of you reading that came in or bought online and helped thin out our inventory. As I type, Daniel is out on a used record buy, already working to replenish our supply of good classic rock and pop staples. Always digging.

Okay, so 2024 is done with, but before we get stuck into the new year, it’s customary to take a quick glance back over the previous year and mention some records that we liked. We’re giving you our top ten, but like anyone else doing these types of things there’s always way more than just ten to pick from. I hate to leave so many out. We’ll have to have an honorable mentions section, too. My rules were, it had to be a record I have a physical copy of, even though I have been enjoying several albums digitally, and had I owned a vinyl copy they would have made my list. Probably top of the list for albums that many people rate as one of the best but don’t have a copy of is Cindy Lee’s Diamond Jubilee. That’s because it doesn’t yet exist. A physical vinyl edition will finally see release in a few weeks’ time. I’ll be getting one as I really loved this album. Go investigate if you haven’t heard it yet. It’s a long one, but for those of a certain soulful disposition you’ll dig every minute.

Before I start my list, here are a few other albums that came out in 2024 that I have streamed, don’t yet own a copy of, but enjoyed. Paul Weller’s 66 album continues his run of always interesting records. Tindersticks released another good one this year tilted Soft Tissue which if you follow them you should enjoy. I try to pick up any of theirs that I see on vinyl. They do a lot of soundtracks also, which are good, but this new one is a solid actual Tindersticks album. Another artist that I try to pick up anything they do is Michael Head. His current band is called the Red Elastic Band, and their latest album is Loophole. The city of Liverpool has much to boast about and Mick is someone whose name is praised highly and rightfully so.

Lo-fi Americana group Grandaddy released a new album this year called Blu Wav which I still haven’t fully listened to, but I always had a soft spot for their country-fried electronica lo-fi sound. My radio partner Matt introduced me to French pop group Juniore through our show Worldy on The Face Radio, and 2024 saw them release Trois/Deux/Un. If you like La Femme, you’ll like them just as much. Talking of whom, La Femme released a good one called Rock Machine last year, which follows on with their run of very enjoyable albums. Cool, retro-futuristic Franco pop. Oui, oui.

Lastly, I might have included another French group Alvida in my list, but unfortunately the first two pressings of their album C’est Deja L’Heure sold out before I could snag me one. Third pressing will hopefully be the charm and I can finally own a physical copy.

2024 saw new music releases from a lot of established names, some of whom hadn’t released anything in several years. So, it was a welcome back to them, as across the board, they all came back with strong releases. For fans of 80s and 90s Brit Pop etc. 2024 was a bumper year. My favorites for the year lean heavy in that direction. I’m showing bias towards bands whose music I have known and loved for years. Whatever. Just trying to be honest, but if the records hadn’t been any good, I wouldn’t be including them. It should also be noted that for the most part my year hasn’t been that great and my mood on the downside, so consequently I have found myself listening to more melancholy music and stuff with deeper themes than just let’s get wasted and party. Not that I don’t enjoy loud and dumb rock ‘n roll or pop music, but this year wasn’t the year for too much of that for me personally. No brat summer here. Although I really enjoyed watching the Olympics over the summer and found myself buoyed and feeling more upbeat during that period. I’ve seen a few good shows during the year and Liverpool finished the year top of the league, so plenty to be happy about. I won’t dwell on the sadder aspects of the year. We all know the election results here in America sucked and unfortunately as in any year we lost loved ones and heroes. We just have to keep fighting the fight and keeping the memory of those loved ones alive in whatever way we can. I’ll leave it at that.

In non-ranking order, here are my favorites from 2024.

The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World
The world needed a new Cure album. We’ve been waiting years for one and now just like buses, three are apparently on the way. Robert Smith has told us that Songs is the first in a trilogy with the second album due before summer of this year. Give thanks. What a great record it is and sounding like classic Cure from the 80s. They haven’t missed a beat or lost any of their magic. There’s a reason they are so well loved by several generations of fans. The wait was worth it. Favorite song? End Song.

Gruff Rhys – Sadness Sets Me Free
If he puts out a record, then chances are it will be in my best of the year list. For 2023, he featured with a soundtrack and for 2024 his album Sadness Set Me Free became an early contender for the best of the year. Coupled with the privilege of seeing him and his band perform the record live here in town made for a good start to the year. Or was it springtime already? Maybe, but that doesn’t matter. This is a great record that deals with melancholy and heavy subject matters in some cases, but with lightness and a pop sensibility that is uplifting and comforting. Long time fans will find his usual sense of humor and wordplay in full effect. Another fine addition to his discography.

Primal Scream – Come Ahead
The group’s twelfth album and one that some fans liked, and others didn’t. I’m in the former camp, obviously. This one has production from David Holmes, an artist and producer I have a lot of time for and takes in rock, gospel, funk and pop in equal measures. It’s no Screamadelica (what is?) but it has enough merits to make it a worthy addition to their catalogue. As with my other picks, I just connected to the lyrics, politics and vibe of this one.

Bill Ryder-Jones – Lechyd Da
Former Coral man Ryder-Jones has been releasing solo music for several years now. Those earlier albums have been hard to find here stateside on vinyl, and as a result I haven’t listened to them much, but when this record was released at the beginning of the year, I was determined to get a copy as the pre-release buzz was extremely positive. That praise was deserved. This is a beautiful record that has been tugging on my heart strings all year. It’s no surprise that it has topped many best of the year lists. Any record that can begin with incorporating Rita Lee singing Baby has my immediate attention. I’ve read people comparing the album to Mercury Rev’s Deserter’s Songs from 1998 and I certainly get that, especially on songs like This Can’t Go On. If I had to pick just one record that soundtracked my year this would be it.

The Hamiltones – In Space
These upstate New Yorkers play a retro space-aged 60s surf sound a la The Ventures, etc., and released this “concept” album that was a soundtrack to a movie not yet made about moon missions, aliens and Elvis. It came packaged with secret CIA documents, a bonus 45, and ticked all the right boxes for my sci-fi geek self. These guys aren’t reinventing the wheel, but deliver an authentic take on the genre that if you told me was released fifty years ago, I probably would believe you. That is meant as a compliment to them btw.

Neutrals – New Town Dream
San Francisco based Post-Punk DIY Indie band Neutrals have a bunch of great singles and a previous album to their credit and are the perfect band for anyone wishing that Television Personalities, The Jam, and Belle And Sebastian were making records together. Smart and witty pop songs that recall late 70s and early 80s Indie and Punk with a UK slant. Another hit from the great Slumberland Records label.

The Smashing Times - Mrs. Ladyships And The Cleanerhouse Boys
Ploughing a similar turf to Neutrals are Smashing Times from Baltimore. This was their third album and again, if you dig 80s UK DIY and indie, then this should appeal. Their sound takes cues from 80s bands in love with 60s culture and comes with a Psych and Mod edge. If you like Comet Gain you would like these guys. I do and I do.

Fontaines D.C. – Romance
I still remember a cool friend and Raleigh musician telling me years ago to look out for these guys and sure enough, over the years their stature has risen to headliner status. No need for me to run down their resume as hopefully these Irish lads have appeared on your radar by this point. Romance saw them moving to XL Recordings and working with producer/artist James Ford, known for many credits but perhaps mostly as being Arctic Monkeys’ producer. Romance is more of a polished pop record than their previous, but has lost none of the wit and charm. Elton John gave them his thumbs up and endorsement, proclaiming them the best band currently around. So there you go. Certainly, the audiences at Glastonbury and Reading agreed. I just love the track In The Modern World. Massive tune.

Nala Sinephro - Endlessness
We were big fans of her first album Space 1:8 here at Sorry State, and the followup did not disappoint. Ambient Electro Jazz on Warp Records? Absolutely. Sign me up. This has been a great record to put on and read to, meditate to, and do the dishes to in equal measure. Just good mood music that would appeal to lovers of Music Library records and fans of labels like ECM from the 70s. File somewhere between your Pharoah Sanders records and Aphex Twin.

Peace De Résistance - Lullaby For the Debris
I think I included the first album by Moses Brown of Institute’s side project Peace De Resistance in a previous year’s best of list, and the follow up makes the top ten cut again this time around. I just love the 70s New York/Berlin inspired gritty Art-Rock Glam sound that is in the grooves here. Coupled with the sharp, smart lyrics, it’s an all-win situation. Lou Reed is smiling.

Honourable Mentions

I really could have chosen one of at least another two dozen records to be in my top ten, and it was hard to decide which made the cut (purely for space). Here are some more that I have been enjoying throughout the year.

Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown – Portishead frontwoman came out with a mature and personal album. Ten songs written over the last decade. Don’t expect a Trip-Hop album here. If you love her voice though, you’ll be drawn in and connect with this record.

Lady Blackbird – Slang Spirituals – Her sophomore album and a cool collection of Modern Soul-Jazz. Real name Marley Munroe, she made an impact with her debut album Black Acid Soul. I loved her version of the song Collage, a Joe Walsh composition that The Three Degrees covered so well back in the day. In fact, she has a knack for covers and even took her name from the Nina Simone song Blackbird. Although no one can compare to Nina, Lady Blackbird deserves your attention if you seek a contemporary soul voice who channels the spirit of the greats like Nina Simone.

De()t – Think Of Your Future – Raleigh/Richmond all-star band that finally came out with their debut record. Snappy synth-punk, good songs and a nice sounding record. Cool.

Kula Shaker – Natural Magick – Britpop stars reformed and releasing a fun “classic” sounding Kula Shaker album. That being, a 90s take on 60s Eastern influenced psych with a pop edge. This is a good record. Nothing “new” maybe, but good tunes and true to their original style and spirit.

The Libertines - All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade – The second album of the reunion period. The Likely Lads returned with a decent, if not great record. Worth checking out if you are a fan. Perhaps not the best endorsement, but it was never going to be like it was twenty-five years ago. A lot of drugs have gone under the bridge and pies eaten since then. Still, for those of us who loved the early ‘Libs and Babyshambles and Dirty Pretty Things, it was good to hear the lads back together again. Again, my biases showing through. Perhaps I’m too forgiving. I didn’t think it was such a poor record despite less than stellar reviews. Not sure about Pete’s tash though.

The Jesus And Mary Chain – Glasgow Eyes – Another strong album late in the game for these guys. I was on the fence about whether to include this record over fellow Glaswegians Primal Scream’s album. I love both groups equally and as Bobby Gillespie started in JAMC back in the day, they still kind of got my vote.

Jack White – No Name – This was another good album. I admit to getting diminishing returns from some of his solo albums but still love the man. He’s truly a national treasure and has done more for the good of music than can be listed here. This album had more of the straight-ahead garage rock sound of the White Stripes, and I liked it. Favorite track – That’s How I’m Feeling.

Straw Man Army – Earth Works – The third in a trilogy of albums from this NYC duo that takes a good look at the state of America. It’s post-punk in a 90s vein that could well have been released on Dischord back in the day. That’s a very simple description, but the music and lyrics are far from simple. There’s a lot going on here. This is a mature and accomplished album, and if I had been living with it a little longer probably would have made my top ten.

Johnny Marr & The Healers – Boomslang – Technically not a new record, it originally came out in 2004, but never received a vinyl pressing. That was corrected in 2024 with a nice deluxe double disc release that included equally strong tracks that were left off the album. I can’t praise Johnny Marr enough. He’s the coolest dude ever, and this record is a good one. Check it out if you haven’t heard it.

Okay, I had better end there. Apologies for everyone that was left out. Like I’m sure Billy Strings is crying because I didn’t include his album or Thee Retail Simps are going to be mad because I forgot them. Doubtful, but just in case, sorry chaps, I liked your records too. 2024 was a great year for music. Just too much to include all of it, and we didn’t even get in to the ton of great albums and music on compilations that saw a reissue.

Thanks for reading, thanks for supporting us and all the artists and bands and labels that helped produce these records. Music is the great healer and will always be one of the most important non-important things in life. Enjoy whatever you enjoy and if between all of us here at Sorry State we steered you towards some good stuff, then we’ll consider our jobs well done.

Cheers to you all and here’s to 2025, whatever that may bring.

Dom