17 January 2025
Hi folks!
Since I have now completed my two countdown radio shows for the Top 50 albums of 2024 — go to bigtakeover.com/radio to hear one song from each over both shows! — here is my complete list of the 200 best albums, 150 best archive/retrospective/reissue releases, and 100 best standalone singles and EPs of this previous year— my best bets on yet another great year for music, old and new!
To any and all of you who will scan this humble rundown, I hope this list inspires you to find, or give a second look to, a few great releases you might miss otherwise that you end up truly loving. Otherwise, such lists are just a whole bunch of navel-gazing time wasting — not my thing at all. But as I listened to all of these 450 selections a great deal this year, perhaps you might like some of them too, or will be glad to see them recognized if you are already enjoying them. And as ever, they form my hopefully helpful suggestions when anyone glumly says, “There’s nothing happening in music anymore.” I’ve heard that every year of my life. It’s never been remotely true. It’s just harder to find unless you look hard, and try loads of stuff!
Cheers to you all and once again—happy new year!
Jack Rabid’s Picks: 2024’s 200 Best Albums (New Recordings!)
1 Nada Surf – Moon Mirror (New West)
2 New Model Army – Unbroken (Attack Attack/earMUSIC)
3 Blushing – Sugarcoat (Kanine)
4 The Effigies – Burned (BFD/The Orchard)
5 Healees – Coin De L’œil (Hidden Bay FRANCE/Safe Suburban Home U.K.)
6 Maxïmo Park – Stream of Life (Lower Third/PIAS)
7 Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band – Loophole (Modern Sky U.K.)
8 Real Estate – Daniel (Domino)
9 The Bevis Frond – Focus On Nature (double) / Live at the Great American Music Hall (Fire)
10 Redd Kross – Redd Kross (double) (In The Red)
11
Pernice Brothers –
Who Will You Believe? (Ashmont/New West)
12
The Decemberists –
As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again (double) (
YABB/Thirty Tigers)
13
The Black Watch –
The Morning Papers Have Given Us the Vapours (Dell’Orso U.K.) /
Weird Rooms (
ATOM)
14
Peter Perrett –
The Cleansing (Domino)
15
Mo Dotti –
Opaque (Mo Dotti)
16
Ride –
Interplay (Wichita)
17
Chime School –
The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel (Slumberland)
18
J. Robbins –
Basilisk (Dischord)
19
Brief Candles –
Unfinished Nature (
MPLS Ltd)
20
T.S.O.L. –
A–Side Graffiti (Kitten Robot)
21
Mammoth Penguins –
Here (
FIKA U.K.)
22
Plush Machine –
Swifton (Plush Machine)
23
Idaho –
Lapse (Arts & Crafts
CAN)
24
Beachwood Sparks –
Across the River of Stars (Curation)
25
X –
Smoke & Fiction (Fat Possum)
26
The Rifles – Love Your Neighbour (
Cooking Vinyl)
27
The Successful Failures –
Enemy Sublime (
FDR)
28
Bill Ryder–Jones –
Iechyd Da (Domino)
29
Torrey –
Torrey (Slumberland)
30
Crystal Canyon –
Stars and Distant Light (Crystal Canyon)
31
Tombstones In Their Eyes –
Asylum Harbour (Kitten Robot)
32
La Luz –
News of the Universe (Hardly Art)
33
DIIV –
Frog In Boiling Water (Fantasy)
34
The Cure –
Songs of a Lost World (Fiction/Universal)
35
GospelbeacH –
Wiggle Your Fingers (Curation)
36
The Linda Lindas –
No Obligation (Epitaph)
37
John Davis – Jinx (
Lost in Ohio)
38
Fontaines D.C. –
Romance (XL)
39
The Reds, Pinks & Purples –
Unwishing Well /
The World Doesn’t Need Another Band (Tough Love/Slumberland)
40
Guided by Voices –
Strut of Kings (
GBV)
41
Bloodstains –
Bloodstains (Bloodstains)
42
The Junipers –
Imaginary Friends (Cuckoo U.K.)
43
Camera Obscura –
Look to the East, Look to the West (Merge)
44
Fastbacks –
For What Reason! (No Threes)
45
Kim Deal –
Nobody Loves You More (4AD)
46
Various –
No Escape From What You Are (D.O.A. Tribute) (Sudden Death
CAN)
47
The Lemon Twigs – A Dream is All We Know (
Captured Tracks)
48
Ducks Ltd. – Harm’s Way (
Carpark)
49
Matt Hunter & the Dusty Fates – Reindeer Soul (
Dromedary)
50
Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, With Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives –
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Sweetheart of the Rodeo (Friday Music)
51
Affiliate Links –
Against Strength (Affiliate Links
CAN)
52
Cliff And Ivy –
Sinister Stars (House of Extreme Darkness)
53
Kelley Stoltz –
La Fleur (Dandy Boy)
54
Susanna –
Meditations On Love (Susannasonata
NORWAY)
55
Paul Collins –
Stand Back and Take a Good Look (
JEM)
56
Bloococoon –
Bloococoon (Little Cloud)
57
Various –
There Must Be A Hole In Your Memory 2; A Tribute to the Sound & Adrian Borland (The Beautiful Music
CAN)
58
Dummy –
Free Energy (Trouble In Mind)
59
Ex Norwegian –
Sooo Extra / Sing Wistle Tunes (John Entwistle tribute) (Think Like a Key)
60
TV Smith –
Handwriting (Easy Action U.K.)
61
Pointed Sticks –
Beautiful Future (Porterhouse)
62
Whitelands –
Night–Bound Eyes Are Blind to the Day (Sonic Cathedral U.K.)
63
The Jesus & Mary Chain –
Glasgow Eyes (Fuzz Club)
64
Donovan’s Brain –
Fire Printing (Career)
65
Tears Run Rings –
Everything in the End (Shelflife)
66
Cassie Ramone –
Sweetheart (CD–R)
67
Cathedral Ceilings –
La La La… Whatever (Dromedary)
68
The Armoires –
Octoberland (Big Stir)
69
The Jesus Lizard –
Rack (Ipecac)
70
The Junior League –
Our Broadcast Day (Greenleaves Sound/Kool Kat Musik)
71
Melt Citizen –
…But It’s Over Now (Melt Citizen)
72
The BV’s –
Taking Pictures of Taking Pictures (Shelflife)
73
Ryann Gonsalves –
Ouch! (Dandy Boy)
74
Black Books –
Eyes on the Mirror, Head in the Clouds (Shifting Sounds)
75
The Damned –
AD 2022 Live in Manchester (earMUSIC)
76
The Disappearing Act –
An Illusion (Happiness/PSR Music Group)
77
F.O.D. –
The Once a Virgin Club (
SBÄM/Double Helix)
78
The Half Cubes –
Pop Treasures (Big Stir)
79
Hayes Noble –
As It Was, As We Were (2–2–1 Press)
80
Blab School –
Blab School (Fort Lowell)
81
Bright Eyes –
Five Dice, All Threes (Dead Oceans)
82
Various –
Tales of A Kitchen Porter; A Tribute to Cleaners From Venus (Dandy Boy)
83
Forest Fallows –
Palisades (Fort Lowell)
84
SWIIMS –
Into the Blue Night (Mint 400)
85
The Umbrellas –
Fairweather Friend (Slumberland)
86
Various –
JEM Records Celebrates Jagger & Richards (Jem)
87
Collect Pond –
Lightbreaker (Candlepin)
88
Robyn Hitchcock –
1967: Vacations in the Past (Tiny Ghost)
89
Starflyer 59 –
Lust For Gold (Velvet Blue Music)
90
Jane Weaver –
Love in Constant Spectacle (Fire)
91
Mercury Rev –
Born Horses (Bella Union/PIAS)
92
Amy Rigby –
Hang in There With Me (Tapete
GER)
93
Peter Bruntnell –
Houdini and the Sucker Punch (Domestico U.K.)
94
The Dopamines –
80/20 (Bearded Punk/Brassneck/Rad Girlfriend)
95
The Downstrokes and The Prozacs –
Better Late Than Never (split) (Punkerton)
96
The Shop Window –
Daysdream (Jangleshop)
97
Modern Shakes –
A Bolt From the Blue (Double Helix/Disconnect Disconnect)
98
Steve Wynn –
Make It Right (Fire)
99
The Underbites –
Soapbox Agitprop (The Underbites)
100
Sean O’Brien & His Dirty Hands –
The Program Is Morally Good (First Cold Press)
101
Bolts of Melody –
Film Noir (Outer Battery)
102
The Church –
Eros Zeta and the Perfumed Guitars (Easy Action/Red Eye)
103
Nick Kizirnis –
Every Moment (
ATOM)
104
+/– –
Further Afield (Ernest Jenning)
105
Echodrone –
The Curvature of Sound (Echodrone)
106
Sharp Pins –
Radio DDR (Sharp Pins)
107
Mythological Horses –
Sky King (Godless America/Hovercraft)
108
Dry Cleaning –
Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks/Sweet Princess (4AD)
109
Penny Arcade –
Backwater Collage (Tapete
GER)
110
MJ Lenderman –
Manning Fireworks (Anti–)
111
Black Nite Crash –
Signal To Noise (Neon Sigh)
112
Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets –
Indoor Safari (Yep Roc)
113
Alejandro Escovedo –
Echo Dancing (Yep Roc)
114
Sleater-Kinney –
Little Rope (Loma Vista)
115
Swami & the Bed of Nails –
All of This Awaits You (Swami/BMG)
116
Shellac –
To All Trains (Touch And Go)
117
Lucinda Williams –
Lucinda Williams Sings the Beatles From Abbey Road (Lucinda Williams)
118
Iress –
Sleep Now In Reverse (Dune Altar)
119
Recalculating –
Do You Like to Laugh? (Recalculating)
120
The Tyde –
Season 5 (Spiritual Pajamas)
121
Buffalo Tom –
Jump Rope (Scrawny)
122
Arab Strap –
I’m Totally Fine With It Don’t Give A Fuck Anymore (Rock Action)
123
High Violets –
To Where You Are (Comet Rock)
124
Iggy Pop –
Live At Montreux Jazz Festival 2023 (earMUSIC)
125
Gentlemen Rogues –
Surface Noise (Double Helix/Shifting Sounds)
126
J Mascis –
What Do We Do Now (Sub Pop)
127
Quivers –
Oyster Cuts (Merge)
128
Snuff –
Off on the Charabanc (10 Past 12 U.K.)
129
Daniel Danger –
The Casper Mask (Landland Colportage)
130
The Smile –
Wall of Eyes (XL)
131
Fazerdaze –
Soft Power (Flying Nun U.K.)
132
Corb Lund –
El Viejo (New West)
133
Jake Bugg –
A Modern Day Distraction (
RCA)
134
Bright Like Stars –
Reflection (Bright Like Stars)
135
John Cale –
Poptical Illusion (Domino)
136
Pete Astor –
Tall Stories & New Regions (Tapete
GER)
137
Dez Dare –
A Billion Goats. A Billion Sparks. Fin. (God Unknown)
138
Hinds –
Viva Hinds (Lucky Number)
139
Easter –
Facsimile of A Dream (Scratchy U.K.)
140
The Campbell Apartment –
Under the Influence of Love (Mint 400)
141
Paper Jays –
Paper Jays (
ESP–Disk’)
142
Fastball –
Sonic Ranch (Sunset Blvd.)
143
Underlined Passages –
Landfill Indie (Mint 400)
144
Horace Andy & Jah Wobble –
Timeless Roots (Cleopatra)
145
Downhaul –
How to Begin (Landland Colportage/Self Aware)
146
The Libertines (U.K.) –
All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade (Casablanca/Republic)
147
Hello London –
Patterns /
The Changing Tide (Hello London)
148
The Triceratops –
Charge! (and self-titled EP) (Learning Curve)
149
HYLA –
In the Green Shade (
HYLA)
150
Dead Street Dreamers –
Dead Street Dreamers (Screaming Crow)
151
My Version of It –
Gathering (My Version of It)
152
The Violet Mine – White Night (
The Violent Mine)
153
Pixies –
The Night the Zombies Came (
BMG)
154
The Neutrals –
New Town Dream (Slumberland)
155
Helix.Ext –
Coffee Donuts (North Pole)
156
Grandaddy –
Blu Wav (Dangerbird)
157
Dead Horse One –
Seas of Static (Requiem Pour Un Twister
FRANCE)
158
Latvian Radio –
Off We Go (Belpid)
159
Paul Muldoon & Rogue Oliphant –
Visible From Space (Soul Selects)
160
Willie Nelson –
Last Leaf on the Tree / and
Various –
Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 – Live at the Hollywood Bowl Volume II (double) (Legacy/Sony)
161
Humdrum –
Every Heaven (Slumberland)
162
Never Heavy –
Never Heavy is One Full of Light (Vital)
163
Tulipomania –
Absolution (Tulipomania)
164
DB Edmunds –
Everybody Knows by Now (
DBE Sound)
165
The Weeklings –
Christmas (
JEM)
166
Various –
Collapse the Collectors (
Do the Collapse &
It’s Surrounding EP) (Bert Dax/Silly Moo)
167
The Asteroid No.4 –
Northern Songs (Cardinal Fuzz/Little Cloud)
168
Sid Griffin –
The Journey From Grape To Raisin (Flatiron)
169
Sunstack Jones –
Luminous Hands (AV8)
170
Sun Mahshene –
A Place We’ve Never Been (Sun Mahshene)
171
Thurston Moore –
Flow Critical Lucidity (Daydream Library Series)
172
Milly –
Your Own Becoming (Milly)
173
SAVAK –
Flavors of Paradise (Peculiar Works)
174
Birdfeeder –
Woodstock (Soul Selects)
175
Mary Timony –
Untame the Tiger (Merge)
176
Nick Piunti & the Complicated Men –
Up and Out of It (
JEM)
177
Cast of Thousands –
Third House (Cast of Thousands)
178
Alan Sparhawk –
White Roses, My God (Sub Pop)
179
The Well Wishers –
Just So You Know (The Well Wishers)
180
Jon Snodgrass –
Barge at Will (Barge)
181
The Dandy Warhols –
Rockmaker (Sunset Blvd.)
182
Wussy –
Cincinnati, Ohio (Shake It)
183
Broken Head –
The Morning Ends (Sunday Drive)
184
Lions of the Interstate –
Strange Empires (Braxeling)
185
Aluminum –
Fully Beat (Felte)
186
36? –
Finding Love//Having Autism (North Pole)
187
The Raft –
Look at the Patterns (Shore Dive)
188
Beth Gibbons –
Lives Outgrown (Domino)
189
Various –
The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed (Light In the Attic)
190
Jon Hyde –
The Sad Lights (Drums And Wires)
191
Waxahatchee –
Tigers Blood (Anti–)
192
93millionmilesfromthesun –
Let Go (93millionmilesfromthesun)
193
For Closure –
Cliffside Serenades (Quiet Panic)
194
Folk Implosion –
Walk Thru Me (Joyful Noise)
195
Hungrytown –
Another Year (Big Stir)
196
Dean & Britta & Sonic Boom –
A Peace of Us (Carpark)
197
Innocence Mission –
Midwinter Swimmers (Bella Union / Thérese)
198
Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds –
That Delicious Vice (In The Red)
199
Greg Lisher –
Underwater Detection Method (Independent Project)
200
Birdie –
Some Dusty (Slumberland)
Jack Rabid’s Picks: 2024’s 100 Best Singles & EPs (Standalone/Non–LP)
1 Antenna – Antenna EP (Urge AUS)
2 The Feeders – The Feeders EP (Eccentric Pop)
3 I Was A King – “Favourite Colours” (Coastal Town NORWAY)
4 Chameleons – “Where Are You?” EP / Tomorrow Remember Yesterday EP (Metropolis/Strange Times Entertainment U.K.)
5 Dropkick – “Dreams Expire” / “Primary Colours” (Bobo Integral SPAIN)
6 Finnogun’s Wake – Stay Young EP (What’s Your Rupture?)
7 Sansyou –– Spaces In Between (Mini LP) (Sansyou)
8 Miki Berenyi Trio – “Vertigo” / “Light From A Dead Star” (Bella Union)
9 Belle And Sebastian – “What Happened To You Son?” (Matador)
10 Dennis Davison – “Invisibilia” (Pretty Plague)
11
Doves – “Renegade” (
EMI North)
12
The Primitives – “I Won’t Care” (
HHBTM)
13
Voxtrot – “Esprit De Cœur” / “New World Romance” / “My Peace” (Cult Hero)
14
The Saints – “Break Away” (The Saints
AUS)
15
Otherworldly Things –
Heavy Dream Cycle EP (Magic Door)
16
Paul Crane & the Overend Watts –
Halfway Home EP (Paul Crane)
17
American Darlings –
Fly Forward EP (American Darlings)
18
The Tubs – “Freak Mode” (Trouble In Mind)
19
The Chills – “If This World Was Made For Me” (Fire)
20
Ex–Void – “Swansea” (Tapete
GER)
21
Dotsun Moon – “Bring Love” / “Give Up the Tears” (Dotsun Moon)
22
Bob Mould – “Breathing Room (Live Solo Electric)” (Bob Mould)
23
Bloodstains –
“Antisocial” EP (Bloodstains)
24
Standing Waves – “Beautiful of Course” / “Let Me See Your Other Hand” (Standing Waves)
25
Carina Messier – “And Then Goodbye” (Carina Messier)
26
David Steinhart – “Did You Say the Words?” / “Row” / “It’s Just Not Setup That Way” (Stonegarden)
27
Blueboy – “One: / “Deux” (Precious Recordings of London U.K.)
28
The Downstrokes –
The Spring Training Sessions EP (The Downstrokes)
29
Boss Martians –
Venus & the Western Sky EP (No Count/Musick)
30
Magnet School –
The Raven EP (Shifting Sounds)
31
Donovan’s Brain –
The Agitated Brain EP (Career)
32
Superchunk – “Everybody Dies” (Merge)
33
Guest Directors – “Keep A Fresh Eye” (Topsy/Snappy Little Numbers)
34
Roach Squad – “Wax & Dust” (Little Rocket U.K.)
35
Danny and the Doorknobs – “49 Cent Movie” (Poison Summer)
36
The Junior League –
Nattering Nabobs EP (Greenleaves Sound/Kool Kat Musik)
37
Circlons – “Farewell Tour” (Poison Summer)
38
Seablite – “Venus In Furs” (Seablite)
39
Rain Parade –
Last Stop on the Underground EP (Label 51)
40
The Alan Milman Sect –
The Alan Milman Sect EP (No Count)
41
Smug Brothers –
Another Bar Behind the Night EP (Anyway)
42
Peter Baldrachi – “Tomorrow” (Peter Balrachi)
43
Nim –
Mushy EP (Shifting Sounds)
44
Kramies – “Social Light” (Vangerrett)
45
Greg Hoy & the Boys –
“Holy Mother of God” EP (30 Peak)
46
The Special Pillow –
The Special Pillow Meets the Space Monster EP (Zofko)
47
Close Lobsters –
Stepping Across EP (Last Night From Glasgow U.K.)
48
Riot For Romance –
Learning To Unburden Myself: Step One EP (Fair Vaux/Steadfast)
49
The Loft –
Riley & Coe Session 09.10.2023 EP (Precious Recordings of London U.K.)
50
Another Heaven –
See You Later EP (
MPLS Ltd)
51
Franz Ferdinand – “Night or Day” / “Audacious” (Domino)
52
Flying Vipers – “Show Me” (Easy Star)
53
Jetstream Pony – “Captain Palisade” (Spinout Nuggets/Shelflife)
54
King Husky – “Running” (Hype City
NORWAY)
55
Jeremy Porter & the Tucos – “Five–Foot–Three And Tiger Eyes” (I-94)
56
Wilco –
Hot Sun Cool Shroud EP (
DBPM)
57
Athensville –
Crossed With Lightning EP (Athensville)
58
Pat Todd & the Rank Outsiders – “Down at the End of Your Rope” (I-94)
59
Sandy & Richard Riccardi – “Kiss My Rump, Donald Trump” (Sandy & Richard Riccardi)
60
The Clientele – “Trains in the Night” (Merge)
61
Keyside – “Runaway” (Modern Sky U.K.)
62
Throwing Muses – “Drugstore Drastic” (Fire)
63
Party Battleship – “Sowwhatchaken” / “Out of Nowhere” (Party Battleship)
64
Office Dog –
Doggerland EP (Flying Nun/New West)
65
Outer World –
Who Does the Music Love mini–LP (
HHBTM)
66
Andi Camp –
Extraneous Truths EP (Grafton)
67
The LD Foster Band –
The LD Foster Band EP (No Count)
68
Tetsuians — “Pull the Trigger and Hold” / “Wasted on You” (Tetsuians
AUS)
69
Janus 4–14 –
Ghost From Your Past EP (Janus 4–14)
70
Lea Tucker –
Heart’s End EP (No Count)
71
The Perfect Garden –
A Place Not Far From Here EP (Mpls Ltd)
72
Mercvrial – “Glittering Oblivion” (Mercvrial)
73
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry –
Driving Black EP (
COP International)
74
Tall Poppy Syndrome – “This Time Tomorrow” (Tall Poppy Syndrome)
75
Al Green – “Everybody Hurts” (Fat Possum)
76
thelightshines –
The Dappled Light of Morning EP (thelightshines)
77
The Zambonis – “Skating By Myself” (The Zambonis)
78
SLIP~Ons – “Graystone” (Scamindy
CAN)
79
Lions of the Interstate –
Strange Moods EP (Braxeling)
80
Sungaze – “Lost My Head” (Sungaze)
81
The Stalwart Lovers – “This Love Is Gonna Tear Us Apart” (The Stalwart Lovers)
82
Robin Guthrie –
Atlas EP (Soleil Après Minuit
FRANCE)
83
Mayflower Madame –
Insight mini-LP (Up In Her Room
NORWAY)
84
Parallel –
Flooded EP (Cherub Dream)
85
Meteor Police –
Hallowtide Hymns EP (Atlantic Heavy Industries)
86
Mike Watt // Papa M – Split Tribute Single (Red Parakeet)
87
Redline –
Tongue Tied EP (Steadfast)
88
E.R.I.E. –
The Highs EP (Mint 400)
89
The Lemonheads – “Fear of Living” (Fire)
90
Panda Bear & Sonic Boom –
Reset Mariachi EP (Domino)
91
Chelsea Wolfe –
Undone EP (Loma Vista)
92
Tiger Witch –
Demo 24 EP (Music A.D.D.)
93
Scared of Chaka – “Bated Breath” (Slovenly)
94
Andy Partridge, Chris Braide, Tim Weller –
Queen of the Planet Wow! EP (Easy Action U.K.)
95
Circles Around the Sun & Mikaela Davis –
After Sunrise EP (Kill Rock Stars/Jealou Butcher)
96
Miss Massive Snowflake –
Live at the Filling Station 2022 EP (North Pole)
97
Dogs On Shady Lane –
The Knife EP (Lauren)
98
Cocorosie –
Elevator Angels EP (Marathon)
99
Slow Mass –
Drift Themes EP (Landland Colportage)
100
River City Rebels –
Pop Culture Baby EP (Screaming Crow)
Jack Rabid’s Picks: 2024’s 150 Best Releases of Old Recordings & Reissues
SPECIAL PICK: Springhouse – From Now to OK Deluxe Edition (Independent Project)
1 Royal Headache – Live in America (What’s Your Rupture?)
2 The Saints – (I’m) Stranded (box) (In The Red)
3 Exlovers – Moth (Young & Lost Club U.K.)
4 The Effigies – For Ever Grounded (40th Anniversary Edition) (BFD/The Orchard)
5 Gene Clark – The Lost Studio Sessions: 1964–1982 (Liberation Hall)
6 Sloan – Smeared (box) / Peppermint EP (Murder CAN)
7 Bad Brains – Omega Sessions EP / I Against I (Punk Note Edition) (ORG Music)
8 The Zeros – Don’t Push Me Around (Munster SPAIN)
9 Sam Phillips – A Boot and a Shoe (20th Anniversary) (Omnivore)
10 Swervedriver – 99th Dream (triple) / Doremi Faso Latido (Outer Battery)
11 Idaho – The Devil You Know [1992–1996] (box) (Arts And Crafts CAN)
12 Ramones – The 1975 Sire Demos (Rhino)
13 999 – Emergency at the Old Waldorf 1979 (Liberation Hall) / 999/Separates (Cherry Red U.K.)
14 The Yardbirds – The Ultimate Live at the BBC (box) (Repertoire)
15 Talking Heads – Talking Heads ’77 Super Deluxe Edition (Rhino)
16 A Girl Called Eddy – A Girl Called Eddy (Last Night From Glasgow U.K.)
17 Sandy Denny – Early Home Recordings (Earth /Fire)
18 The Adverts – The Rehearsal Tape (2.13.61/In The Red)
19 Iggy Pop – San Francisco 1981 (Cleopatra)
20 Eyelids – No Jigsaw (Jealous Butcher)
21
The Go-Betweens –
G Stands For Go-Betweens: Anthology Volume 3 (box) (Domino)
22
Tobin Sprout ––
Waxwings/Sentimental Stations (Petrified Fish)
23
The Dishrags –
Four (Supreme Echo
CAN)
24
Minor Threat –
Out of Step Outtakes (Dischord)
25
Elvis Presley –
Elvis Presley at 706 Union Ave: the Sun Singles 1954–55 (Third Man)
26
U.K. Subs –
The Albums 1979–82 (box) (Cherry Red U.K.)
27
Toilet Rats –
Toilet Rats IV (Deluxe Edition) (Steadfast)
28
Various –
Roots Rock Rebels: When Punk Met Reggae 1975–1982 (box) (Cherry Red U.K.)
29
American Darlings –
It’s All Been Said: 2010–2024 Retrospective (American Darlings)
30
Jesse –
Complete Discography (double) (Rad Girlfriend)
31
Flamin’ Groovies –
Let It Rock: Live From the San Francisco Civic Center 1980 (Liberation Hall)
32
The Scenics –
New Part in Town: 1976 (Supreme Echo/Dream Tower
CAN)
33
M.I.A. –
Murder In A Foreign Place (40th Anniversary Edition) / “Just A Dream” (Modern City/Alternative Tentacles)
34
Lou Reed –
Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964–65 (Light in the Attic)
35
Various –
Having a Rave Up! The British R&B Sounds of 1964 (triple) (Cherry Red U.K.)
36
Louis Armstrong –
Louis in London (Live at the BBC) (Verve)
37
Ex Norwegian –
Sketch (Extra Sketch Edition 2024) /
House Music (Less Tiësto Edition 2024) (Think Like A Key)
38
Dead Boys –
Return of the Living Dead Boys – Halloween Night 1986 /
Ignorance In Action (The Rarities) /
Younger, Louder And Snottier (Cleopatra)
39
Gerry & the Pacemakers –
I Like It! Anthology 1963–1966 (triple) (Cherry Red U.K.)
40
Wednesday Week –
Fan Club Edition EP #1 (Spacecase)
41
David Bowie –
Rock ’n’ Roll Star! (box) (Parlophone)
42
Charlie Patton –
The Father of the Delta Blues: Selections From the Paramount Recordings (
ORG Music)
43
The dB’s –
Repercussion / Stands For Decibels (Propellor Sound Recordings)
44
Rockpile –
Seconds of Pleasure (Yep Roc)
45
The Blasters –
Over There, Live at the Venue London: The Complete Concert (Liberation Hall)
46
The Vibrators –
Pure Mania/V2 (double) (Cherry Red U.K.)
47
Ernest Tubb & His Texas Troubadours –
The World Broadcast Recordings 1944–1945 (
ORG Music)
48
Temptations –
Cloud Nine (Elemental Music)
49
Ivy –
Long Distance (25th Anniversary Edition) (Bar/None)
50
Hugo Largo –
Huge, Large and Electric (box) (Missing Piece)
51
George Harrison –
Living in the Material World 50th Anniversary (box) (Dark Horse)
52
Velocity Girl –
Ultracopacetic (Sub Pop)
53
Screaming Urge –
Screaming Urge (Hozac)
54
John Lennon –
Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection (Standard Deluxe) (uME)
55
The Didjits –
Strictly Dynamite (double) (Touch & Go)
56
The Young Fresh Fellows –
The Fabulous Sounds of the Pacific Northwest (Omnivore)
57
Galaxie 500 –
Uncollected Noise New York ’88–’90 (double) (Silver Current/20/20/20)
58
Can –
Live in Paris 1973 (double) /
Live in Aston 1977 (Mute)
59
Juliana Hatfield –
Become What You Are /
Bed /
How to Walk Away (American Laundromat)
60
Various –
Cut Me Deep – A Story of Indie Pop 1985–1989 (box) (Cherry Red U.K.)
61
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles –
Make it Happen (Elemental Music)
62
Elliott Smith –
XO (Expanded Deluxe Edition) (Interscope Vinyl Collective)
63
The Long Ryders –
Native Sons Expanded (triple) (Cherry Red U.K.)
64
Nancy Sinatra –
Nancy in London (Light in the Attic)
65
Stiv Bators –
Disconnected (Munster
SPAIN)
66
Detention! –
Dead Rock ’N Rollers (Left For Dead)
67
The Rolling Stones –
Singles 1966–1971 (box) (
ABKCO)
68
Various –
People Funny Boy — The Upsetter Singles 1968–1969 (Cherry Red U.K.)
69
Dot Dash –
16 Again (Country Mile U.K.)
70
The 23rd Turnoff –
Michael Angelo; The Complete 1967 Recordings (Think Like a Key)
71
The Ladybug Transistor –
The Albermarle Sound (25th Anniversary Expanded Edition) (
HHBTM)
72
Various –
Pushin’ Too Hard: American Garage Punk 1964–67 (triple) (Strawberry/Cherry Red U.K.)
73
Purple Hearts –
Extraordinary Sensations — Studio and Live 1979–1986 (triple) (Cherry Red U.K.)
74
Neon Leon –
1979–84 Singles Collection (Hozac Archives)
75
Various –
Pour a Little Sugar On It; The Chewy, Chewy Sounds of American Bubblegum 1966–1971 (triple) (Cherry Red U.K.)
76
Skip James –
The Complete 1931 Sessions (
ORG Music)
77
Wall of Voodoo –
Wall of Voodoo /
Live 1979 (Jackpot)
78
Is/Ought Gap –
Sua (
HHBTM)
79
Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells –
Together (Elemental Music)
80
Bob Dylan and The Band –
The 1974 Live Recordings (Columbia/Legacy)
81
Nico –
The Marble Index /
Desertshore (Domino)
82
Delroy Wilson & Ken Boothe –
Sarge & Unlimited (double)
83
The Dream Syndicate –
How Did We Find Ourselves Here? /
Live Through the Past (Label 51) /
Sketches For the Days of Wine and Roses (Fire)
84
Paul McCartney & Wings –
One Hand Clapping (double) /
Band on the Run 50th Anniversary (double) (
MPL/uME)
85
Various –
Les Cousins – The Soundtrack of Soho’s Legendary Folk & Blues Club (box) (Strawberry/Cherry Red U.K.)
86
Plan Nine –
“I Ain’t No Robot” EP (Supreme Echo
CAN)
87
Drop Nineteens –
Delaware (Reissue/Remastered) (Wharf Cat)
88
Niney and the Observer –
King Tubby’s Wants the Channel Dubbing With the Observer 1976–1978 (double) / (Cherry Red U.K.)
89
Element 101 –
Stereo Girl (Burnt Toast Vinyl)
90
Various –
You Can Walk Across It on the Grass: The Boutique Sound of Swinging London (triple) (Grapefruit/Cherry Red U.K.)
91
The Flesh Eaters –
A Minute to Pray a Second to Die (Jackpot)
92
Nina Simone –
Blackbird – The Colpix Recordings (1959–1963) (box) (Cherry Red U.K.) /
Nina’s Back (Verve)
93
Green Pajamas –
Just to This; Forty Summers of Lust, Love, Heartbreak And Madness (double) (Sound Effect)
94
Dinosaur Jr. –
Black Session; Live in Paris 1993 (Cherry Red U.K.)
95
Johnny Marr + the Healers –
Boomslang (
BMG)
96
The Vamps –
The Vamps (Saustex)
97
Oasis –
Definitely Maybe 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (box) (Big Brother)
98
Pete Townshend –
Live in Concert 1985–2001 (Ume)
99
Spoon –
They Want My Soul: Deluxe More Soul Edition (Matador)
100
Broadcast –
Spell Blanket (double) (Warp)
101
John Cale –
Paris 1919 /
The Academy In Peril (Domino) /
Ship of Fools (Cherry Red U.K.)
102
David Kilgour –
A Feather in the Engine (Merge)
103
Curve –
Unreadable Communication — Anxious Recordings 1991–1993 (box) (Cherry Red U.K.)
104
The Contractions –
1980 (Liberation Hall)
105
Afterimage –
Faces to Hide (double 12” + CD) (Independent Project)
106
The Web –
Slivers, Shards & Tell–Tale Hearts (Artifix)
107
Ennio Morricone –
Orca: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Craft)
108
Susanna Hoffs –
The Lost Record (Baroque Folk)
109
Mystery Dates –
Who Are the Mystery Dates (Saustex)
110
Lloyd Charmers and Friends –
Salvation Train — The Splash Singles 1971–1973 (double) /
Reggae Is Tight & Reggae Charm (double) (Cherry Red U.K.)
111
14 Iced Bears –
John Peel Session 26.11.86 EP /
John Peel Session 27.07.87 EP (Precious Recordings of London U.K.)
112
Flying Burrito Brothers –
Live in Amsterdam 1972 (Liberation Hall)
113
Fanny –
Fanny /
The Reprise Years 1970–1973 (box) (Cherry Red U.K.)
114
The Fall –
Live at the Witch Trials (box) (Cherry Red U.K.)
115
Little Richard –
Right Now! (Omnivore)
116
The Bottle Rockets –
The Brooklyn Side (Real Gone)
117
Xmal Deutschland –
Early Singles (1981–1982) (Sacred Bones)
118
Butthole Surfers –
Locust Abortion Technician /
Hairway To Steven /
PCPPPEP /
Psychic…Powerless…Another Man’s Sac /
Rembrandt Pussyhorse (Matador)
119
Longwave –
The Strangest Things (Bodan Kuma)
120
The Brat –
Straight Outta East L.A. (Liberation Hall)
121
Dr. John –
Gris–Gris Gumbo Ya Ya: Singles 1968–1974 (Omnivore)
122
Archie Bell & the Drells –
The Albums 1968–1979 (box) (Robinsongs/Cherry Red U.K.)
123
The Dandy Warhols –
Live at Levitation (2014) (Reverberation Appreciation Society)
124
The Darling Buds –
Killing For Love: Albums Singles Rarities Unreleased 1987–2017 (box) (Cherry Red U.K.)
125
Procol Harum –
Shine On Brightly (Cherry Red U.K.)
126
The Mighty Lemon Drops –
Ricochet (Real Gone)
127
Various –
I See You Live on Love Street; Music From Laurel Canyon 1967–1975 (triple) (Cherry Red U.K.)
128
Big Boys –
Where’s My Towel/Industry Standard /
Lullabies Help the Brain Grow /
No Matter How Long the Line Is at the Cafeteria, There’s Always a Seat (Touch & Go)
129
Acetone –
I’ve Enjoyed as Much of This as I Can Stand (New West)
130
SSD –
The Kids Will Have Their Say (Trust)
131
Sonic Youth –
Walls Have Ears (Goofin’)
132
James Grauerholz –
Life’s Too Good to Keep (double) (Lotuspool)
133
Times Beach –
Step in Time: The Legendary Snakefinger Sessions/Original 1980s San Francisco New Wave (Liberation Hall)
134
Tom Robinson Band –
The Albums 1978–79 (double) (Anagram/Cherry Red U.K.)
135
Blue Oil –
Blue Oil (1981–1983) (Supreme Echo
CAN)
136
Torn Boys –
1983 (Independent Project)
137
Betty Davis –
Nasty Gal 12” (Light in the Attic)
138
Dicks –
Kill From the Heart (Superior Viaduct)
139
Bill Evans Trio –
Everybody Digs Bill Evans (Riverside/Craft)
140
Melanie –
Neighbourhood Songs 1965–1978 (box) (Easy Action U.K.) /
The Lost 1979 Album (Cleopatra)
141
Various –
Lee “Scratch” Perry Presents Soulful I – The Jamaican Singles 1969-70 (double) (Dr. Bird/Cherry Red U.K.)
142
The Durutti Column –
Vini Reilly (London)
143
Nat King Cole –
Live at the Blue Note Chicago (Iconic Artists Group)
144
Various –
Do the Strum! Joe Meek’s Girl Groups & Pop Chanteuses 1960–1966 (triple) (Cherry Red UK)
145
Pearl Harbour –
Don’t Follow Me, I’m Lost Too (Liberation Hall)
146
Various –
Blow My Mind! The Doré Era Mira Punk & Psych Legacy (double) (VampiSoul
SPAIN)
147
Sun Ra –
Outer Spaceways Incorporated (
ORG Music) /
Sun Ra at the Showcase: Live in Chicago 1976–1977 (Jazz Detective/Deep Digs Music)
148
David J –
Embrace Your Dysfunction (Cleopatra) /
Tracks From the Attic (triple) (Independent Project)
149
…Man Or Astro–Man? –
Roygbiv (Recordings From the BBC) (box) (Chunklet)
150
Alice Coltrane –
The Carnegie Hall Concert (Impulse!)
Finally, Some 2024 Music Books I Enjoyed Perusing, in No Order!
Cary Baker – Down on the Corner: Adventures in Busking & Street Music (Jawbone)
Eric N. Danielson – Electric Medicine: The Story of Greg Sage & the Wipers (Eric N. Danielson)
John Einarson – Forever Changes; The Authorized Biography of Arthur Lee & Love (Jawbone Press)
Glen E. Friedman – Just a Minor Threat: The Minor Threat Photographs of Glen E. Friedman (Akashic/Burning Flags Press)
Simon Heavisides – Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland (Amazon Digital Services)
Greg Jacobs – Hell On Wheels—Tour Stories: Remembered, Remixed, Remastered (University of Hell Press)
Peter Jesperson – Euphoric Recall (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Johnnie Johnstone – Through the Crack in the Wall; The Secret History of Josef K (Jawbone Press )
Sal Maida, Mitchell Cohen & Friends – The White Label Promo Preservation Society Vol 2: More Flop Albums You Ought to Know (Hozac Books)
Mike Magrann – Miles Per Gallon (Diwulf Publishing)
Daniel Rachel – Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story – Rude Boys Racism and the Soundtrack of a Generation (Akashic)
Ira Robbins – Zip It Up! The Best of Trouser Press Magazine 1974–1984 (Trouser Press)
Bill Sassenberger – Toxic Shock Records: Assassin of Mediocrity (Fluke Publishing)
Paul Simpson – Revolutionary Spirit: A Post–Punk Exorcism (Jawbone Press)
Katherine Yeske Taylor – She’s A Badass (Backbeat)