Contenders: Part 2
Great listens that didn't make this year's Top Album Countdown
It’s December 23. Christmas prep is full out as I bake and coat things in chocolate today. LOL.
But before I get elbow deep in butter, sugar, and chocolate, here’s the second batch of albums that I really enjoyed this year, though they didn’t quite make it into my Top Albums of 2024 countdown!
The Contenders - Part Two
Once again, there’s no single reason these albums failed to make my Top 50. It could be that I felt the need to skip more songs than I deemed acceptable. It might be that I love the artist, but 2024’s album didn’t match up in my opinion to previous recordings. It could be LOOOOOOOOOOOONG intros, not something I’m a fan of. It could be any number of little things that stood out to me.
The Albums & Artists
Jonny by The Drums
Letters To Self by SPRINTS
Once Upon A Weekend by Corella
Harm’s Way by Ducks Ltd.
As Ever It Was, So It Will Be Again by The Decemberists
Still Nervous by The Nerves
A Stranger Desired by Bleachers
The Forest Is The Path by Snow Patrol
Frogs In Boiling Water by DIIV
Medium True by Tristan Dolce
Participation Trophy by China Bears
Call A Doctor by Girl & Girl
Deeper Well by Kacey Musgraves
Only God Was Above Us by Vampire Weekend
100’s of 1,000’s, Millions Of Billions by Blitzen Trapper
The Playlist
Here’s one of my favorite songs from each of the albums listed above. Again, great releases with great songs. They just didn’t quite rank in my Top 50.
Were any of these amongst your favorite releases this year? Want to hash it out with me for my failure to recognize the brilliance? Hit me up in the comments!
Love that Tristan Dolce is getting some love here!
I *really* wanted to like Deeper Well--and to an extent, I did-- but it never really hit that next level for me the way some of Musgraves' earlier records have.
Harm’s Way, Still Nervous and Call A Doctor are all in my top 40. They are all bands I’ve seen live this year and I think that has a big effect on how I relate to an album. I saw Bad Nerves again on Saturday and they are definitely one of my favourite bands. I don’t think I like this album quite as much as the first but it’s a close run thing.