Top Albums of 2024…According to Nathan

I love to wrap up the year later than most, mostly because my real job always has me swimming against the current. But, nonetheless, I’ve got a solid list of the records I loved this year…and you’ll notice a lot of the same stuff as my peers, with maybe a few tweaks here and there to throw my own flare into it. Not really sure how to write an intro into something that seems so opinion-based, so here’s the list of records you should already have purchased if you come to this site frequently!

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Last Week’s Jams (10.21 – 10.25)

It seems like the year is grinding to a slow halt, as there are fewer and fewer trickles of new tracks coming our way, though I’ll admittedly hope that that’s the end of the year preparations not the musical end of times. Still, I fell in love with a lot of great songs, like a new single from the last Mope Grooves LP, which just came out on 12XU. Also, 12XU adjacent is a new single from Austin’s Quin Galavis, which I was digging too. There was a brand new single from The Gentle Spring, which hopefully got you Field Mice fans excited. Plus, RayRay has been busting his ass on getting coverage out for Levitation this week, with new posts up on Pissed Jeans and Acid Mothers Temple.

2nd Grade Share Three New Singles

This Friday you’ll be fortunate to spend some time with the brand new record from 2nd Grade, but we can’t quite get there without opening another bottle of singles to chug down. When matched up with the other tunes on the record thus far, there just seems to be this innate openness to the lyrical work from Peter Gill; there’s an honesty spread across the music that feels like the perfect setting for settling into a late Fall listen. Musically, the tracks all operate between the borders of power pop and huge bedroom alternative rock vibes; it’s as catchy as it is warm, lining up Scheduled Explosions as perhaps the last great album of the year; it drops Friday via Double Double Whammy.

Last Week’s Jams (10.7 – 10.11)

We crushed the coverage last week; we had some ACL coverage as well as some Sigur Ros notes from their Austin show. But, we also covered a solid 28 tracks, 26 of which made the cut on our Last Week’s Jams (the new Boyracer and Rocky Lorelei can only be found on the site). A new track from the Serfs is still living rent-free in my brain, while I discovered just how much I’m enjoying Kim Deal‘s new solo stuff. That doesn’t even scratch the surface, as there were several Texas’ acts like Pets and Trauma Ray getting some new jams out. I will admit, perhaps I overdid it, but eh, you love the new stuff right? Cool. Stream it then.

2nd Grade Share Three New Singles

Every couple of weeks, 2nd Grade are dropping a couple of singles, or in this case, three new singles; I’m hoping we’ll get to hear the entirety of their new record before the whole record drops! “I Wanna Be On Your Mind” employs the modern take on powerpop, albeit the softer version that feels best for headphone listens. That’s not the case for “Like a Wild Thing,” which hits the speakers with a little more emphatic punch; the guitars just have more swagger to them, driving that rock fight into the track. “Uncontrollably Cool” almost feels like its adhering to jangling indiepop, particularly with those crisp guitar notes that circle throughout. All these songs pop up on Scheduled Explosions, available for complete enjoyment on October 25th via Double Double Whammy.

Last Week’s Jams (9.16 – 9.20)

A ton of new music dropped this past week, and as usual, we were on-hand to cover the stuff sliding under the radar of the cognoscenti. We had a few premieres, like the latest from UVTV, which finds the band slowing things down and exploring the shadowy tones of dreampop. I made sure to hype one of my favorite releases of the month, Mo Dotti, which I’m hoping is on the way to my doorstep any day. Still, some of our favorite labels Meritorio and Bobo Integral dropped new tunes from Slack Times and The Psych Fis, and we filled in the gaps with popular favorites like 2nd Grade and Greg Mendez, among many others. Just press play and send a thank you letter.

2nd Grade Announce Scheduled Explosions

If you were looking to wear a bit smile on your face, we’re betting you’ll have a little help if you press play on these fresh set of tunes from 2nd Grade. These three tracks are blasting rays of sunshine right into your living room, brimming with huge hooks and ringing guitar lines. The jam below feels like what you’d get if you allowed Teenage Fanclub a weekend beach getaway; but you’ll be able to hear a few more tunes by clicking HERE. Might I suggest cranking up “Airlift,” as it might be my favorite of the three singles dropping today. Sounds like Scheduled Explosions is going to be a big big hit; it drops on October 25th via Double Double Whammy.

Friday Streams: The Radio Field, 2nd Grade, Matching Outfits, Midwestern Medicine, Eerie Wanda

We tend to cover a lot of stuff, and well, sometimes we don’t get the dedicated album review or streams, but today I had a spare minute, so I wanted to throw up some great album streams for you, all from bands who we’ve covered recently. They’ve al dropped releases in the last two weeks, and this is a great way for you to spend your time, if you haven’t already done so, or planned to do so!

The Radio FieldSimple EP (Subjangle)

FFO: Teenage Fanclub, Boys with the Perpetual Nervousness, Lucksmiths

2nd GradeEasy Listening (Double Double Whammy)

FFO: Deadbeat Beat, Young Guv

Matching OufitsBand Made Out of Sand (Kitchen Leg)

FFO: Dry Cleaning, Blonde Redhead, Broadcast

Midwestern MedicineThe Gold Baton (Website Records)

FFO: Built to Spill, Neutral Milk Hotel

Eerie WandaInternal Radio (Joyful Noise)

FFO: Tess Roby, Aldous Harding

Last Week’s Jams, Today (8.1 – 8.5)

Back to the grind! I’m back at work, getting read to teach the kids and what not! But, looking back at last week, we covered a lot of rad territory I think that’s worthy of you easing into your work week, or just your day. I was stoked to hear Emma Kupa popping up on the latest track from Let’s Whisper, a band she’s joined recently. RayRay dropped new tunes from Sunfruits and Pale Blue Eyes, as well as threw some love towards the new Mall Walker EP. I know there was a lot of love and buzz on the new Peel Dream Magazine and Winter tunes, but personally, the track I couldn’t stop playing was the Enola jam inclued. Anyways, enjoy.

2nd Grade Announce Easy Listening

Some album titles hit the nail right on the head, which appears to be the case with 2nd Grade and their new LP, Easy Listening. Don’t get me wrong, you can hear where those riffs could definitely get charged with power in the live setting, shaking the walls at your favorite venue. But, in the album presentation, the Philly outfit cherishes the pop side of their sound, softening the melody, while still hinting at a constant level of supreme cool. Hooks and soaring vocals are aplenty in this jam, so we’re more than assured the band will bring all that and more when the LP gets released; Easy Listening drops on September 30th via Double Double Whammy.

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