80 Favorite Songs of 2024 - Part 5
Punkish, Indie-ish, British-ish, and full of attitude and humor
When I was compiling this playlist segment, I had no idea that nearly all the bands and artists I chose were from Europe. Of the 13 songs here, 8 are from UK bands, one is from Ireland, one from Italy, one from Sweden, and two from Australia. None are from the U.S.
Clearly, I am a bit of a Europhile (and Australiaphile) when it comes to my rock and roll.
This probably says more about my musical tastes than a dearth of quality post-punk and alternative rock from the U.S. and Canada.
For part 6 next week, the Americas will feature more prominently.
For those of you who’ve been waiting for me to rock out a bit more, here you go. For those nursing a hangover or a headache, feel free to replay an earlier playlist or do some breathwork (it really helps!).
Let’s get to it!
1. The Bug Club - Quality Pints
God bless Sam Willmett (guitar, vocals) and Tilly Harris (bass, vocals). AKA The Bug Club. This Welsh duo (their original drummer left the band early this year; from what I can tell, they haven’t found a permanent replacement yet) keeps it simple, loud, and hilarious.
Again, my love for he/she (or whatever pronouns they prefer) lead vocals brings this ode to excellent beer to the top of the list. Also, when a band spells out the song’s title - it makes me ridiculously happy. Jump to 1:41 for that lovely bit of garage/pub joy.
2. IDLES - Gift Horse
IDLES is one of those bands that seems to live in the intense present at all times. Listening to them is the same thing. This is no background music. When the rumbling bass comes in at the start of “Gift Horse,” then two bars later the drums and then the vocals join, you know you’re in for another epic IDLES jam.
Look at ‘em go, indeed.
3. SOAPBOX - Yer Da
I know literally nothing about SOAPBOX. I’m not even sure if their name should be in all caps. But when I first heard the opening bass riff (do do do do do, do do do do do, do do do do, do do do do, do do do do do) that starts “Yer Da” I’m pretty sure I stopped whatever I was doing and paid attention.
There’s been a ton of speak-singing bands getting accolades lately (English Teacher, Dry Cleaning, Yard Act, etc.), but I haven’t seen SOAPBOX listed on any best-of lists yet. I also have a thing for a strong Glasgow accent, which has not been altered to sound more “universal” at all. This is old-school punk rock, just how I like it.
4. Girl and Girl - Call a Doctor
Another band I didn’t know of before 2024 (and know very little about) is Girl and Girl. This Australian (Brisbane) four-piece grabbed me on first listen. I was struck by the entire album Call a Doctor, but especially the title track.
Lead vocalist Kai James has a warbly voice that sounds like he’s got marbles in his mouth and is about to cry. It’s an acquired taste, but I love it. This song (and the album) explores mental illness, hypochondria, delusional thinking, death, and so much more. It’s kind of impressive how much gets covered in this fun 5-minute track!
5. Fontaines D.C. - Starburster
Fontaines D.C. has gotten a ton of (deserved) praise for their 2024 album Starburster. My favorite song has to be the title track. The use of heavy breathing as a form of intensity and percussion is fantastic, as is the accompanying video.
6. Egyptian Blue - Contain It
I have to thank
who writes the newsletter for turning me on to Egyptian Blue last summer. I listen to all of Matt’s playlists and have discovered tons of great bands and artists from him. But Egyptian Blue has remained a constant presence in my earbuds for the past six months. I love their angular post-punk sound, a sort of blend of Arctic Monkeys and Gang of Four (and that descriptions sells the band short).7. Gut Health - Juvenile Retention
As someone who has awful gut health (don’t get me started), I was immediately attracted to the name of this kick-ass Australian post-punk outfit. The off-kilter rhythms and frenetic propulsion kept me coming back again and again. The up-front bass will have you pogoing out of your seat.
8. The Peawees - Banana Tree
This top-notch Italian rock band has been around for decades, yet I hadn’t become aware of them until 2024. They probably get lumped into the power-pop genre, which many songs do fit, but what I hear touches on many rock-oriented sounds from the mid-1960s to today.
Check out “Banana Tree” and if you’re not immediately hooked, I think you should check your pulse to see if you are alive.
The chorus reminds me a bit of Smithereens, which is always a good thing.
9. Astrel K - Heavy Is The Head
I wrote about Astrel K for my top 10 albums post a couple of weeks ago, which you can check out below:
https://earworm.substack.com/i/152772627/six-vi
To sum up, Rhys Edwards (who is Astrel K), writes melodic yet non-traditionally structured lo-fi pop, with elements of math rock and late-era Pavement among other influences that blend their way perfectly in “Heavy is the Head.”
10. Lola Young - Wish You Were Dead
Lola Young is a powerhouse. She gets compared vocally to Adele, which I can sort of see, but it feels lazy to me. Young writes mostly about troubled relationships, of which “Wish You Were Dead” is especially fucked up. She says, “We can pretend we’re in love” and then in the chorus says, “You call me a cunt, and that tips me over the edge/…and I wish you were dead.”
Her backing band is especially noteworthy, with perfectly placed guitar lines and licks melding with tasty bass notes, while the drums blast away behind them.
I have a feeling Young will be a household name before long.
11. Lucy Rose - Could You Help Me
We’re quieting things down a bit now, but thematically there’s a similarity to Young’s tune, but with a more sad, less angry energy.
Lucy Rose also has a monster backing band, that fits perfectly behind her plaintive lush vocals. It’s all about wishing someone would pay attention to you in your time of need and not getting it.
12. Beth Gibbons - Floating on a Moment
If you don’t know Beth Gibbons by name, you most likely know her from the band she fronted, Portishead. You won’t get much trip-hop in Gibbons’ latest album, Lives Outgrown. If she’s outgrown her trip-hop roots, it’s only because Gibbons has expanded her palette ten-fold. Lives Outgrown is an album that reveals new sonic treats upon each listen. She performed my favorite track on Later…with Jools Holland recently, which is the version I am sharing above.
13. Porridge Radio - God of Everything Else
It took me a couple of listens to fully connect with Porridge Radio’s 2024 album, Clouds in the Sky…. Some songs are immediately catchy and easy to latch onto, and others, including my favorite, “God of Everything Else,” took a few plays to find its jewels.
Vocalist and leader Dana Margolin has a voice that can’t help but express raw emotion. Sometimes the emotion is joy but quite often it’s pain or sorrow. Often it’s both at the same time. She starts off the song saying:
Been trying to forgive myself
For wishing I was somebody else
For wanting you to love me back
But it's worse than that
But then in the chorus she turns the loss onto her ex-lover:
Don't need to know where you are
You'll be hit by a wave of me
I'm the God of everything else
You're the God of losing me
Are you familiar with any of these songs/artists? If not, did any songs stand out for you?
Do UK bands have a special ability to connect sonically and emotionally in music (in this case, louder music), compared to other countries or is this just me?
Next week you’ll get more American artists included in the playlist for part 6.
Just heard that Girl and Girl song earlier today when it made a friend's Top Ten. Such an interesting tune and video!
Some nice picks here! I was familiar with about half of these with a few making my top 40 (IDLES, Fontaines DC, Beth Gibbons) and a couple just missing the cut (Lola Young and Lucy Rose). I liked the sound of Egyptian Blue, Gut Health and The Peawees. I really enjoyed some of the Porridge Radio songs but didn’t connect with the whole album. I didn’t spend as much time with it as I would’ve liked, which was the case for a lot of albums last year.