16 Comments
⭠ Return to thread

Nice to see this collaborative end of year feature returning! Many of these albums made their way to my ear this year, but there are definitely some previously unknown albums here for me to enjoy!

Aluminum’s “Fully Beat” definitely feels worth exploring based on the selected song.

Wow, the inclusion of Fastball really made me sit up and take notice. I was one of those that always considered them a one hit wonder (in the same way that I’d incorrectly labeled Nada Surf) and I enjoyed the track I heard here, more investigation required!

Five of my top forty albums are reflected here as well, a couple of which are in my top ten.

Stay tuned for my lists, the first one’s right around the corner!

Looking forward to reading/hearing the top five!!

Expand full comment

Happy to reunite Fastball with the masses, as they were unfairly relegated to the has-been bin. They know their way around a curveball or two. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

I take it that you saw that my post has song links added?

Just read your list, Mark. Will respond soon after I check some of the artists I've never heard of out...

Expand full comment

I did see the song links on your post, but thanks for checking! Looking forward to hearing the whole album. Presumably you all see my comments so it didn’t make sense to comment on everyone’s posts. Interested in your thoughts on my picks whenever you have a chance to work your way through them.

Expand full comment

I’m looking forward to seeing your list Mark! ❤️

Expand full comment

I posted my Honorable Mentions last night: https://open.substack.com/pub/joyinthejourney/p/2024-honorable-mentions

Expand full comment

This is such a great list Mark! I also have Khruangbin on my honorable mentions and also had considered Idles and Hurray for the Riff Raff. Your list is thorough with some ones I'm looking forward to doing a deeper dive on. Thanks for sharing!!

Expand full comment

If I really wanted to go buckwild, I'd have 20 albums on my honorable mentions. It was pretty much my top 3 were solid with 27 albums vying for my bottom 7 spots in my top 10.

Expand full comment

I might F around and do this. You know, just for a little chaos.

Expand full comment

2025: The year of weekly album power rankings, ESPN style

Expand full comment

Ha! You know Jared Smith (The Wax Museum) already does something like this on his 'Stack?

Expand full comment

No but I'd like to get in on this

Expand full comment

Yep! I just wanna take it to the next level.

Expand full comment

That is kind of hilarious

Expand full comment

Here for it.

Expand full comment

Thanks Jami, glad you enjoyed it! That Khrangbin album is lovely. They’ve been pretty consistent and most of their albums have made my top 50. Probably their high water mark for me was 2022’s “Ali”, a collaboration with Vieux Farka Touré, the son of legendary Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré. If you’ve never listened to that album, I’d highly recommend it.

Expand full comment

This group project is a blast. As much as i'd like to portray myself as cool and detached, the truth is I was really excited to see the email from Steve asking about doing it again.

Your Honorable Mentions list was a great read! Looking forward to seeing what your other picks are.

Expand full comment