Kyle’s finalized list of the best songs from 2024! Only one song per artist.
Honourable Mentions
The Laugh Is In the Eyes – Julia Holter Whiskey – Arooj Aftab Clustercuss – N. SHERMAN head.rap – Saba (feat. Madison McFerrin, Ogi, Jordan Ward) Cards on the Table – Nia Archives Memory Lanes – JARS Atmospheric River – Kindred Mist THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS – Bon Iver Lies – Jobé PACKAPUNCH – Joey Valence & Brae (feat. Danny Brown) Caesar on a TV Screen – The Last Dinner Party Interstellar Peace (The Last Stance) – Kamasi Washington Doing My Best – Sam Lynch Candy – Mk.gee mellowdee – Joel Ross Crispy Skin – Squid No Excuses – Childish Gambino Surrender – Maximilian Life of the Forbidden – Clarissa Connelly A Fragile Thing – The Cure Lost Changes – Beth Gibbons Blackpool Illuminations – Yard Act Insecurities – Shabaka (feat. Moses Sumney) World on a String – Jessica Pratt Life of the Forbidden – Clarissa Connelly Unlistening – Bingo Fury Mushrooms – Skydaddy BABYS IN A THUNDERCLOUD – Godspeed You! Black Emperor Oak Tree – Meaningful Stone
50-41
50. Cards on the Table – Nia Archives 49. Away From It All – Drive Your Plow 48. Exmilitary – JPEGMAFIA 47. Haunt – Lila Gray 46. Take It With You – Cameron Winter 45. Huge Fire – Mount Eerie 44. No Ones Gonna Love You Like I Do – Laura Marling 43. Arrow to the Wind – Wallgrin 42. Black&Blue – Vince Staples 41. Rolling Clouds – Tomato Trader
40-31
40. La Noche – Navy Blue 39. Ghost – Hannah Harlacher 38. Ultimatum Augmentum – Owl Drugs 37. SUR LE PONT d’AVIGNON (Reperation #1) [feat. Sam Gendel] – Mach-Hommy 36. Second Nature – Clairo 35. Thorns In My Mouth – Glasshouse Red Spider Mite 34. Satellite Business 2.0 – Sampha & Little Simz 33. Take What’s Given – BADBADNOTGOOD 32. Variations on a Theme – Wiles 31. Luciferine – Ichiko Aoba
30-21
30. Mastermind Specialism – English Teacher 29. Redwoods (Anxious God) – Haley Heynderickx 28. Wristwatch – MJ Lenderman 27. Mary Boone – Vampire Weekend 26. Weird New Vocation – Computer 25. Do You Feel Free Now? – Sam Tudor 24. Horse’s Mouth – ladylike 23. Parish Café Meetings – Flip Top Head 22. Carry On – mildred 21. BOILED PEANUTS – Doechii
20-11
20. Racehorse Deathwatch – Fruit 19. As If Waltz – Geordie Greep 18. euphoria – Kendrick Lamar 17. Waste – Lily Seabird 16. Margot – Ally Dean 15. Call It Love – Nilüfer Yanya 14. House of Silver – Aga Ujma 13. The Giver – MAVI 12. Sadness As a Gift – Adrianne Lenker 11. St. Chroma – Tyler, The Creator (feat. Daniel Caesar)
10.
Cannon Fodder – Van Zon
Van Zon’s debut single comes at you in waves; trials of a charming serene elegance offset by a crashingly emphatic vocal outpour and harshly stinging violin lines and guitar chords—only to retreat into it’s decorous grace again. These tonal changes lead to a listening experience that of which could only be considered a sprawling saga. Slow builds and monumental peaks create sonic landmarks across the 8-minute epic. Just as you’re settling into a gentler passage, tempestuous instrumental swells surge forward, making for a composition equally unpredictable as it is enthralling.
“I beg time to slow I fear I’m growing old The tether that I dangle from is wearing at my bones”
If you’re looking for a track with a satisfying payoff, Blue Bendy provides that here, as gradual swells lead you towards a high-impact, breathtaking crescendo, driven by a hopeful-cathartic energy that carries an intense bite. Highlighted by the ever-expressive vocal stylings and whimsy of Arthur Nolan, Bendy has an organic knack for crafting sonic journeys that are brimming with personality, with this track being the center piece of that element. Innovative, adventurous, and refreshingly spirited, Darp 2 / Exorcism is an electrifying standout from the young South London band.
“It’s the car, it’s the planet; it’s everything Come along if you’re sad to be seen In Ferryhill there is nothing I can believe Don’t make me beg”
The opening track of Magdalena Bay’s Imaginal Disk has everything. It’s truly a pop epic with its catchy lyrics, almost glitchy-touchy production, booming industrial drums, twinkling keys, prolific horns—again, it has everything. There is an undeniable depth and bite to this tone setting introduction that you can never get enough of.
“Kid hears ghosts singing his name Likes guns and is pistol-ready That’s his curse, that’s my name He sings up to the moon unchaining”
A dire sense of urgency across the board curates a palpable, atmospheric, and mysterious intrigue. Maruja pummels you from all angles; there is no escaping the clasps of the unrelenting drumwork, masterful siren-like saxophone riff, or haunting bellow-like vocal stylings. Together, Maruja tells the tale of one’s fleeting identity, in a style that could only be described as poetically frantic. The Invisible Man is technically astounding, while also providing a sincere look into isolation and the struggle to find oneself.
“The gaze you cast was absent, when you were there it wasn’t you A shell of who who you were before the hurt inside there grew Chew down on your emotions, volcanic ruptures brew”
Exertive, pleading vocals intertwine with beautifully layered harmonies and lush instrumentation to underscore the weight of longing and transformation in Hope Slide’s poignant lone offering in 2024. “Something Changed” features stunning string arrangements, delicate piano lines, and inspiring layered/group vocals, resulting in a resplendent, must-listen record. The beauty and complexity of this track are undeniable, complemented by potent and evocative lyrics that grapple with regret and the challenges of change, adding further depth to the song.
“Something changed As quick and muddy as a memory There’s only one true answer And I keep it buried”
This was a long awaited debut offering from arguably the most exciting live band coming out of the London music scene right now. An 8 minute odyssey that showcases an unparalleled precision, The Orchestra (For Now) provide an implacable tension from start to finish in the form of exquisite violin play, indefatigable drum work, dazzling piano lines, and everything you could ask for in between. Lead vocalist, Joe Scarisbrick complements the undulating tones that pulse around you as the track continues to progress, ominously shifting between elegance and urgent intensity, making this one of the most captivating listens of 2024. Their upcoming debut EP, Plan 75 is one of the most anticipated records on the slate for 2025.
“There is a world out there I’m too scared to look Beyond the palisade I mistook A life beyond fear of climb”
The explosive introduction to Friko’s comprehensive debut LP, “Where We’ve Been” is gritty and enduring, immediately throwing you into the record. Clenching a quivering, emotional aggression, the Chicago duo carry a compelling spirit as they invite you to come along for what is the unwritten story that lies ahead. Nothing short of inspiring, it is a track that feels like you’re rooting for the home team through a dynamic and challenging series of looks over their shoulders.
“A life of only errands will make a fool out of ya”
Endearing, enchanting, and expansive, there is a fulfilling wholeness found within Gympnopédie (frankly, found across the whole album). Whether it is the warmth of Ike Gray’s vocals and storytelling, gentle accents of horn throughout, or the payoff from the understated builds, the track grasps you from start to finish. It also features a considerably evocative essence, holding an otherworldly and whimsical element. This is only elevated by the other songs across the record, all providing a piece of the pilgrimage that is Tapir!’s debut album.
“‘Cause I’ve been told in heaven The rooms are filled with mice There’s breadcrumbs in the bedsheets And Jesus had headlice”
The stunning lead single from Bock’s sophomore LP, Gentle is a reflective and stifling look into the expectation of gender roles and conformity. Topically potent, and only further driven home by the South London by-way-of Brazil’s singular vocals, the track is additionally underscored by subtly swelling, yet grand orchestral arrangements. A special track that serves as an introduction to one of the best albums of 2024.
“You want me to be gentle, fragile You want me to stay young I pray that I stay gentle, fragile I pray that I stay”
An all encompassing epic from Ugly, the song of the year feels like a story told in three parts. A clear tonal shift in their Twice Around the Sun EP, the penultimate “Hands of Man” is a resonant and astonishing change of pace. Featuring contemplative and melancholic lyrics from Samuel Goater, a highlight of this track is his near-spoken delivery during a stripped down mid-section of the song. Subtle swells build into a cathartic crescendo transitioning into the final leg of the record, further emphasized by powerful group vocals that finally set up the summit. Powerful and poignant, all elements converge, colliding and crashing in the emotional final movement.
“And passing by is just an accurate Depiction of the ties You were so sure would last eternity So sure would last awhile”
Soundwave Society Music Club 
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