The Albums That Got Away
We review the best albums of 2024 that we missed first time around.
Every December, we share our Top 30 or 40 albums of the year in a buoyant and celebratory mood. The list is never presented as fact; its aim is to reflect the journey traversed that year.
*banner image courtesy of @cspalton
Then, the inevitable tweets come. What about this…
The shame.
Once we can lift our heads from our hands at having missed something great, we emerge pretending it never happened. Well, this year, we’re going full disclosure. Here are the best albums we’ve discovered from 2024 that slipped through our net:
Another Sky – Beach Day
A record of astonishing power from the London outfit.
Catrin Vincent’s vocals soar with Joan Armatrading's vulnerability and the purity of Christine McVie. As she tumbles through shades of light and dark, the agony rising inside will threaten to spill over.
Through ‘Death Of The Author’ and ‘Uh Oh’, Vincent’s brutal self-reflection makes procedings a difficult listen, but always compelling.
Despite the melancholy, tracks such as ‘The Pain’ and ‘I Never Had Control’ are beset with such beauty that souls will leave their realm cleansed.
Gurriers - Come & See
Dublin’s burgeoning scene continues to thrive on this debut album.
Dan Hoff’s ability to switch from the venom of Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson to the enthralling passion of Shame’s Charlie Steen is breathtaking.
Great post-punk hooks link arms with vitriolic despair leaving them the heirs to Fontaines DC’s throne!
Key tracks: Des Goblin / Sign of the Times
Marpool - Marpool
Hypnotic rock ‘n’ roll links the hazy dreams of Kurt Vile and the awe-inspiring Liam Gallagher.
Gentle and tranquil but always moving and uplifting, Marpool carve out a space to lead us all to the promised land via a defiant stroll rather than a blaze of glory.
Key Tracks: The City Is Waiting / Long Road Home
Matt Edible & The Obtuse Angels - The Optometrist
Great songs. Better lyrics!
The Holy Orders frontman and hired gun for Kingmaker follows up on his 2018 masterpiece ‘Stargazing’ with an album of guitar bangers!
Edible conjures a fresh take on everything from glam to punk to 90s US alt-rock! Edible has evoked the power of guitar hooks to revitalise the guitar scene!
Key Tracks: Mirror Shoes / The Optometrist
Top 40 Albums of 2024
Here’s our Top 40 Albums of 2024.
40. Shambolics – Dreams, Schemes & Young Teams (full review)
A fine debut from the promising Fife outfit.
39. Richard Thompson - Ship to Shore
The folk icon’s consistency is showing no signs of waining.
38. Lime Garden – One More Thing
Brighton’s wonk-pop debut has left an indelible mark.
37. The Smile - Wall of Eyes
Two-thirds Radiohead and one-third Jazz drummer Tom Skinner returned with another fine offing.
36. The Rifles – Love Your Neighbour (full review)
Walthamstow’s cult heroes returned with their first album in eight years. Great melodies throughout!
35. Richard Hawley – In This City They Call You Love
Enchanting Orbison and Duane Eddy songs from Sheffield’s romantic treasure.
34. Paul Weller - 66
Gritty and majestic soul music featuring the likes of Noel Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie, and Richard Hawley.
33. Camera Obscura – Look to the East, Look to the West
Traceyann Campbell’s vocals can still melt hearts from distant galaxies!
32. Jack Jones - Jack Jones
Step aside John Cooper Clarke, Jones is ascending to Albion’s poetic throne.
31. Gruff Rhys - Sadness Set Me Free
Recorded in just three days in Paris, Rhys twists from dark to light with a spellbinding freedom.
30. Beth Gibbons - Lives Outgrown
It beggars belief that a talent such as Gibbons has taken this long to release her debut solo album, but it was worth the wait!
29. Ride - Interplay
Bell, Gardener and co’s run form since reforming has written a joyous technicolour new chapter in their memoirs.
28. Bob Vylan - Humble as the Sun
Their anarchy has come of age on this sonic riot!
27. Junodream – Pools of Colour
Breakout performances on tour with Ride and their debut album have put this band firmly in the hearts of a nation.
26. Fightmilk - No Souvenirs
Blending emo, indie, and pop-punk with life-affirming consequences.
25. Kula Shaker – Natural Magick (full review)
The trippy pop-psyche of the 90s superstars made a surprise and welcomed return.
24. 86TVs – 86TVs
Maccebee’s Hugo and Felix White’s side project brought a fresh take to their familiar indie licks.
23. Desperate Journalist - No Hero
Strip away the album's Gothic, Smiths, and The Cure undertones, leaving you with great pop music. Add them back in, and it’s astonishing pop music!
22. Solar Eyes - Solar Eyes
Serge Pizzorno’s soul oozes through this superb Fierce Panda Records release.
21. The Vaccines – Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations
Great. Indie. Rock ‘n’ Roll.
20. Confidence Man - 3am (La La La)
Weird and wonderful rave-inspired hedonism.
19. Mick Head & The Red Elastic Band - Loophole
Head’s ever-expanding catalogue of excellence keeps the flame of ‘Forever Changes’ burning bright.
18. The Shop Window – Daysdream
Jingle-jangle heaven from the Maidstone outfit.
17. Wunderhorse - Midas
English rock music has been given it’s credibility back!
16. The K’s – I Wonder if the World Knows (full review)
There's an aching amplitude flickering needles and hearts alike throughout this fine debut album.
15. James - Yummy
The mercurial Mancunians continue their tremendous run of albums with another chameleon performance, restoring your faith in the creative process.
14. Bill Ryder Jones – Iechyd Da
The ex-Coral man’s best work since ‘A Bad Wind Blows in My Heart’.
13. Rob Vincent - Barriers
It's an enriching set of songs. Easy to see why Robert Plant took him on tour.
12. Office For Personal Development – Doing. Is. Thinking (full review)
Re-defining all that pop music can be
11. Cast – Love is the Call (full review)
Incredible return to form. On par with ‘All Change’.
10. Fontaines D.C. - Romance
The sound of a band conquering their destiny.
9. Baggio – The Dreadful Human Triangle
Indie-folk steeped in melancholy and the passing of the time.
8. Shed Seven – A Matter of Time (full review)
It is their first UK number-one album. It is a testament to their friendship as much as it is to their anthem-making.
7. Memorial - Redsetter (full review)
It's a pin-drop moment of an album. An alt-folk triumph from Brighton via Texas.
6. Meryl Streek: Songs For The Deceased
Incendiary brilliance from the Irish punk producer. Huge things await!
5. Kasabian - Happenings (full review)
Pizzorno lays the Meighan ghost to rest on this record. Pizzorno owns the record, and the record owns the night!
4. Jake Bugg - A Modern-Day Distraction
Bugg returns to his roots and his very best. Classic songwriting and endless guitars chime, and chime big!
3. Deadletter – Hysterical Strength
Wayward post-punk and feral psyche unite on this fine second album.
2. The Libertines – All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade (full review)
An ode to friendship and staying alive. From the soul-crushing to the envigorating, the likely lads rediscover form and reinvent all they were and could be.
1. The Dream Machine – Small Time Monsters
Modern Sky UK’s golden goose lay another golden egg on their second album. Magical. Whimsical. Perfection!