tracks that defined my 2024

introduction

Music is probably the only piece of media that I feel really passionate about consuming, which is really funny given that I am pretty colloquially known as the “film” person, despite not watching a single feature film on my own volition for the year of 2024 (aside from films I watched for school). It’s quite a fun relationship–I really love consuming music but not too much with its creation, while with film, I love its creation but not consuming. With 2024 ending, I thought it would be fun to put a list together of my favorite tracks I discovered and/or rediscovered this year. If you want a playlist for these tracks or don’t care for my ungrammatical, disjointed thoughts, I’ll have it linked below! All the tracks are in there, with the exception of the track “For Miles” by venturing, as it’s not officially on streaming. Instead, I put the track “sister” by venturing, which came out this year and is also very excellent.

Spotify Playlist | Youtube Music Playlist

For Apple Music users, they don’t allows you to make a public playlist without subscribing. Use a service like tunemymusic to convert the playlist.

IMPORTANT CLARIFICATIONS

These are not tracks that came out in 2024, nor my most streamed tracks this year. I put together this list based solely on one thing–vibes. Vibes in the sense that if I were to put this all into a single playlist and listen to it in the future, they would bring me back to this time in 2024. So here is the list in no particular order. Well it’s ordered on vibes.

Also this page has a ton of embedded media, so if it’s slow I recommend you give the site a second to load.

Laced Up by Tsubi Club (2024)

For those unaware, “laced up” is the second official release from indie pop electronica artist Tsubi Club. This track was teased almost four years ago and was released this year alongside a nearly ten minute short sci-fi film.The track is pretty excellent, but to truly experience “laced up,” you must watch the film. After waiting so long, I did not expect this track to live up to the hype, but oh my god did Tsubi Club manage to not only live up to it, but soar far past it. My favorite piece of media released this year.

365 by Charli XCX (2024)

Right off the bat, I will start with a controversial opinion. I did not really enjoy Brat aside from this track and a couple others. Not because it’s a bad album, far from it, it’s simply an album not for me (which might I add is perfectly fine). A lot of what initially drew me into Charli XCX’s work was with her excellent quarantine album how i’m feeling now alongside the general explosion of the hyperpop micro-not-so-micro-anymore-genre. “365” feels like the follow up to how i’m feeling now, the post quarantine fever dream of clubbing. The production on the track is top notch and I especially love how the track goes from just a more energetic version of “360” into a spiraling PC music inspired acid techno banger.

48 by Sunny Day Real Estate (1994)

Sunny Day Real Estate is one of those legendary midwest emo bands that I just never got around to listening to all that much up until this year. I was on a roadtrip to LA with some friends for a film shoot and finally had some time to listen to their debut album Diary (1994). I see why this album is halted as a emo classic, with the track “48” being one of my favorites. The soft, hypnotic, and almost lullaby-like qualities of the first part of tracks clashes nicely with the more intense visceral chorus. I love the dynamics in this track and found it to be very Pixies-esque with its loud-quiet-loud style.

For Sure by Ethel Cain (2024)

Like many teenage boys-soon-to-be-girls, I found American Football through a shitty two second meme of a random creepypasta-esque creature walking towards the camera with “Never Meant” playing in the background. Looking past the shitposts and memes, American Football (LP1) is an excellent record and was my first introduction to the whole midwestern emo math rock scene, Similarly, I found Ethel Cain’s work through the music video for her song “American Teenager” (which might I add references American Football in the music video thumbnail) and almost instantly fell in love with her work. Come to find out this year that she is doing a cover of American Football’s “For Sure” for the 25th anniversary of the album. She turns the track into a ten minute atmospheric ballad that’s a gut punch in nostalgia and sentimentality, while still maintaining a sound distinctly Ethel Cain and inspired by American Football.

Mona Lisa by Porter Robinson ft. Frost Children (2024)

When I initially saw the tracklisting for Porter Robinson’s SMILE! :D (2024), I was caught off guard by the collaboration between him and hyperpop duo Frost Children, but wow, their collaboration on this track is excellent and to me is the album’s standout moment. Not too much more to say about this track other than it just being a really cute feel good song :D

Practice by Pi’erre Bourne (2021)

Pi’erre Bourne’s exceptional production on Playboi Carti’s debut studio album Die Lit (2018) showcases its way onto this track, but in a far more laid back approach with Bourne on the mic. Bourne is at his best when rapping and producing on these more fun beats. Simply, this track is just enjoyable and bubbly. The Spongebob line in the song might just be my favorite lyric this year.

Freak by feeble little horse (2023)

I adore how absolutely distorted, loud, and fuzzy the guitars are and how that’s mixed with the more laid back but still prominent vocals. I find that music in this genre tends to have vocals just drown out in the sea of noise, but with this track the vocals are super sharp and crisp (especially the six foot fiveeee part). If you are into indie rock, you should put feeble little horse on your radar.

Celibate by Danny Brown ft MIKE (2023)

Danny Brown is an artist I haven’t explored much of, but from what I’ve listened to so far, he’s pretty stellar with his incredibly unique production and vocal style. With this track, he takes a much more laid back approach to both his delivery and production, talking pretty candidly about sobriety and maturing. But to me, the standout moment of this track has to be MIKE’s verse on the second half. Some of MIKE’s features on past songs have all been relatively good, if not a little forgettable, but my god, does he deliver on this song.

gold by 2hollis (2024)

I am admittedly a bit out of the loop when it comes to the new era of underground rage rappers minus a few songs, artists, and (mostly) shitposts, but god damn, is this song infectious. The heavy influences of hardstyle and hyperpop mixed with rage make me want to jump, mosh, and headbang in the rain. It’s a really excellent track. On a side note, the Minecraft firework sound effect as a producer tag is cool.

clairbourne practice by Julie (2024)

Julie is a prominent band when it comes to the rise of modern shoegaze among Gen-Z music listeners. This song is pretty rad. The blaring hypnotic guitar riff with the frenetic drumming and vocal stacking makes this track absolutely stellar. I really like how cleanly Julie tends to mix and master their newer songs, as I find their older ones to be a bit muddy with their distortion; I can presume they are using their label money well.

For Miles by venturing (1991/2023)

Venturing is an indie rock inspired by the early 2000s and is a side project by my current favorite musician, Jane Remover. There are a plethora of demos, songs, and lore on the venturing SoundCloud page, with “For Miles” being one of my favorites from the project. It’s a nice, incredibly low-fidelity indie rock tune that is lush with texture and a strong vocal performance from Jane. I’m excited for the new venturing release, and I hope that this track, or at least elements of it, makes its way onto the record. Probably not, but a girl can hope for a CDQ version of the song. I am a little disappointed with how Jane is retconning the lore behind venturing, which I really loved, but whatever, it’s her project.

Crank Heart by Xiu Xiu (2004)

I rediscovered Xiu Xiu’s work this year with their second studio album, A Promise, alongside some of their more popular tracks. The track “Crank Heart” is probably the song I listened to the most just because it’s more approachable for everyday casual listening. I really love the contrast of Jamie’s wailing humanist vocals alongside the whole electro-punk drums and synths. If you are looking for something a bit depressing, experimental, and gut-wrenching, listen to A Promise.

Coelacanth by glass beach (2024)

This track definitely snuck up on me. On the first listen, I wasn’t all too thrilled with it, but this is the glass beach track I am constantly returning to this year. The way this track builds in intensity, the colorful abstract lyrics, and the way the song just explodes and collapses in on itself at the end is pure perfection.

Like That by Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar (2024)

This song goes so unbelievably hard. After the Drake and Kendrick rap beef, people forgot about this song, but this is the track from the beef with the most replay value. Everyone on this track is just putting on their A-game, and it shows. Beat so good it had a verse.

The Lung by Dinosaur Jr. (1987)

Dinosaur Jr. is another band I’ve been getting into this year, and this song is my favorite from them. It may be tied with “Little Fury Things,” but I just love that beginning vacuum guitar sound on that track. But to me, “The Lung” just exemplifies what makes Dinosaur Jr. so great: just three dudes who are just incredibly talented with their own instruments just absolutely shredding.

Planet Telex by Radiohead(1995)

The Bends is slowly becoming one of my favorite Radiohead albums, with a much more mature early 90s rock sound and some early elements of their future work. “Planet Telex” exemplifies all these elements into one banger of an album opener. I love the delayed keyboard in the intro of the song. Radiohead is one of my favorite bands of all time, but if I am being completely honest, I’ve been distancing myself from Radiohead, given their pretty contradictory political views. It’s so funny to create an album like Hail to the Thief and then go on to explain why playing shows in a country actively committing genocide is perfectly fine. Like, did you not listen to your own album babes?

talk by beabadoobee (2022)

I am a sucker for beabadoobee’s early 2000s pop-punk sound, and her track “Talk” is a perfect example of this. Beabadoobee’s vocals are always super beautiful, and combined with the pop-punk, this track is fun and danceable! Can you tell that I am running out of words to describe songs? Look, the track is good, and if you dig older rock and alternative stuff, you might dig this more modern pop-inspired track (and really most of beatopia).

Stars by Hum (1995)

There is not much to say about this track; it is just an excellent all-around mid-90s emo song.

Take Me Down by Smashing Pumpkins (1995)

This song tends to draw a lot of criticism from more hardcore Smashing Pumpkins fans because of James Iha’s more boyish and admittedly awkward vocals, but to me, that is precisely what makes the song work. Iha’s performance has an incredible tenderness, alongside the beautiful atmosphere and orchestration. It’s a lovely song. Definitely a left-field song for the Smashing Pumpkins, but I do really love this tune.

Petal Dance by Gingerbee (2024)

I may be biased with this track because I live with the creature in this band, but this track is so good. The production and instrumentation is so beautifully lush and touches on so many different genres and sounds. This track actively wants to make me dance like a Charlie Brown character and mosh in a pit with a bunch of queer people. The album cover perfectly encapsulates the overall tone and mood of this song. When asked for a quote from Gingerbee frontcreature Gustavo, they pulled out dried ground poisonous mushrooms and started putting them on their pizza (this actually happened, this isn’t a bit).

CCTV by underscores (2024)

Underscore’s monumental album Wallsocket was my favorite album released last year. Now, she’s expanded on it by including four bonus tracks that improve an already perfect album. I was debating between including this track and “Northwest Zombie Girl,” but “CCTV” very narrowly takes the spot. The eight-minute track feels like you’re a ghost after dying a very lonesome death in the cold winter, exploring the world as it moves on without you. It’s an absolutely haunting track.

09-15-00 (cont.) by Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2002)

Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a legendary post-rock band, and this is one of my favorites from them. I don’t listen to them all too much, but it’s a treat when I do. It’s pretty short, given that most of their songs are in the fifteen-plus minute range, but it makes it super approachable. Much of GY!BE’s work comes from a very anti-war and anarchist mindset, with this track/album being a response to US involvement in the Middle East post 9/11. The track is haunting and feels like the soundtrack for the aftermath of something destructive. Another track with incredibly fitting album art–US propaganda of napalm bombs dropping on a field.

Nanou 2 by Aphex Twin (2001)

Aphex Twin’s piano tracks are always a treat, with “Nanou 2” being a personal favorite of mine. Something about the composition makes me feel incredibly emotional.

Vin Skully by Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist (2023)

I was initially really put off by this album from the lame NFT bullshit they tried to do with its release, but have come to really enjoy this record as a whole once it came to streaming (minus the fact that some of the best songs on the album are exclusive to the NFT platform, lame). The album as a whole might be my next favorite Earl Sweatshirt album right after Some Rap Songs and Solace. The Alchemist’s production on this track is excellent; it’s pretty stripped back and meshes very well with Earl’s rapping style. The way Earl is able to just effortlessly flow from bar to bar while also having some of my favorite lyricisms is just a classic Earl Sweatshirt.

The Magician by Geordie Greep (2024)

If this track had come out earlier in the year, this may have been my most streamed. This track is crazy good, and the crescendos are so lovely. I have not listened to much of Black Midi since Schlagenheim (2019) however, I think “The Magician” is a much more mature sound for Geordie Greep. The lyrics are witty but desperate, and the production is clean.

Husk by your arms are my cocoon (2024)

This was my most streamed song this year and for good reason: this track is fucking beautiful. It’s super stripped back and minimal with only Tyler Odom’s raw vocals, an open tuned acoustic guitar, and static. Tyler’s songwriting and storytelling here is immaculate and gut-wrenching. It’s easily my favorite track of the year.

HONORABLE MENTION - THAT ONE SNIPPET KENDRICK LAMAR PUT ON HIS GNX ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO

Look, I am happy we finally got a full release of “Squabble Up,” but oh my god, is this snippet excellent? I dig this snippet more than any other track on GNX. I hope we get this on a future release, and it doesn’t end up like the “Alright” music video snippet.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

I should go outside. I hope you enjoy this list! If you have any reccomendations, feel free to text or DM me on instagram or whatever.