There are some years where my pick for album of the year is obvious; something stands out so clearly amongst the crowd, something that takes a hold and doesn’t relent for a sustained length throughout the year. For me, 2024 was not one of those years.
There are a few worthy contenders that came close to clinching it, each having their time dominating my Spotify listens. There’s Pearl Jam rolling back the years with their highly energetic and driven Dark Matter, a heaping dose of solid, earnest alternative-rock. Or, there’s Bring Me The Horizon and the second instalment of their Post Human series, Post Human: NexGen, an eclectic, captivating range of genre-defying metal fused with heavy helpings of hyper-pop and emo.
Meanwhile, nestled among the bigger names, there was also lo-fi indie-rock cult heroes, Cloud Nothings, who returned to a sound closer to their acclaimed Attack On Memory, with latest Final Summer. Full of drive and snappy guitar melodies in hand, it was a welcome escape through their nostalgia draped ninth album.
In the end, it is in fact Everything Everything who edge out the rest and are my personal pick for the year. In part, they are admittedly helped by the fact that Mountainhead came out in early 2024, so it has literally been the album I listened to the longest through the year. But once again, the groups experimental and, arguably, unmatched creative vision meant it didn’t grow old and I stayed hooked all year.
In typical Everything Everything experimental fashion, Mountainhead is written upon an unusual and distinct concept that is built upon and brought to life throughout. Here, they envisioned a society that was focused upon building a giant mountain, with the twist being that to do so requires them to dig a deep hole. It is a simple setup, but one that allows the band, in particular vocalist Jonathan Higgs, to comment on different aspects of culture. From religion, to economic and class systems – true to its name, Mountainhead goes deep, and coupled with the bands mastery of layering and texturing sounds – its the most rewarding listen of the year by far.
Personal highlights are the incessantly catchy lead single “Cold Reactor”, which jaunts along steadily with a pleasing, driven bass line, and album deep cut “Daggers Edge” which builds and crescendos with lusciously warm guitar tones.
Two More Essential Albums of 2024
Pearl Jam – Dark Matter
Bring Me The Horizon – Post Human: NexGen
Musical Experience of the Year
Once again, I was only able to enjoy one gig this year – in my defence, this past year has been rather busy away from music in my personal life! However, the gig I did get to experience was Foo Fighters on their first night at the London Stadium in June. It was the second time getting to see the titans of modern rock, and they were just as euphoric and barn-stormingly explosive as the first. Although things have since taken an unexpected turn, and the future of the band still remains uncertain, it would be an understatement to say that Foo Fighters are the masters of anthemic stadium rock. All topped off with a firework display as “Everlong” rounded off an emotional, enthralling night of no-nonsense rock and roll.
Track of the Year
Everything Everything – "Dagger's Edge"
