Does absolutely everything have to get more difficult with each passing year? Apparently so. The amount of time I’ve spent deciding which of the many truly excellent albums I’ve reviewed this year should get the ‘top prize’ has, frankly, been ridiculous. I’m not an indecisive person. And, for God knows that reason, I feel personally loyal to the artists upon whom it would have been easier to bestow this huge honour (Nadine Shah, Elbow, Joan as Policewoman, see below). I am choosing the road less travelled. Sort of.
Get over yourself, I hear you cry. And you’re right. The reason I’ve plumped for the delicious Prelude to Ecstasy is because it is absolutely NOT the sort of music I would expect to enjoy. On so many levels. What has been described as “baroque-post-punk” is definitely not (usually) my bag. Nor is glam rock, grandiose anthem-making, art rock etc etc. The nepo babies/industry plant furore seemed a tad misogynistic to me and I was deeply aware that being annoyed by their slightly plummy accents and rock-solid self-confidence was reverse snobbery at large. In February I described it as “bombastic, melodramatic, opulent, cinematic”. And returning to it yet again, it’s still all of those things and more. In a nutshell, this album is packed with bloody good, memorable, moving pop tunes. And for its sins (there’s a lot of Catholic imagery knocking about on here), it became the UK's biggest first week-selling debut album in nine years (another fact that would usually make me wary). So, really, it would be a heart-wrenching, catastrophic travesty for it not to be on the AOTY list. Try listening without prejudice.
Three More Essential Albums of 2024
Nadine Shah - Filthy Underneath
Joan as Police Woman - Lemons, Limes and Orchids
Musical Experiences of the Year
Witnessing the sensation that is Rebecca Lucy Taylor play Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Twice. Worth every one of those many, many pennies (and Jake Shears was a revelation).
Track of the Year
It’s a toss-up between "Parful" by Knee Cap and Fontaines DC’s "Starburster". To be sure. Oh, hold on – maybe it’s "Big Man" by Self Esteem and Moonchild Sanelly after all?
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