Musical Obsessions of 2024

By Null

Here I am, the day after x-mas, trying to get my Musical Obsessions of 2024 list together. As I stated in previous years, I feel that my consumption of music has slowed dramatically. I still bought a few records though, well, more than a few. The biggest event this year was that I bought some Space Saving Sleeves, as my CD collection was bursting at the seams. I had no other choice but to get rid of some of my jewel cases and transfer about half of my CDs to Space Saving Sleeves. Originally, this caused me great anxiety, but I feel much better about it now. While doing this, I was reintroduced to many CDs I had not listened to in a long time. Thus, my list here reflects that. A lot of the selections below are from the early 1980s. 

The coolest thing this year was that I finally collected all the Dead Moon and Joy Division records on vinyl. I love to hold them, look at them, and, on occasion, lick them. 

Here’s the damage from 2024:

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Somewhere in Afrika (Bronze, 1982).

I picked up The Best of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band this year for the sole reason that their cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Blinded by the Light” is a masterpiece for the way in which it was mixed, let alone all the other great things about the track. At any rate, I was taken aback by all the different styles and sounds on The Best of. For whatever reason, this led me to pick up their album Somewhere in Afrika. I listened to this record repeatedly. It is quite near a perfect 1980s synth record except that there is great musicianship throughout the work. Great guitar solos, rhythm sections, and oddball covers. The entire record is an anti-apartheid declaration smattered with unusual cover songs and African musicians. Though many people would probably find this record cheesy, it brought me endless smiles this year.

Black Dots, EP2/EP3 (Rabbit Rabbit, 2024).

This is punk rock for the soul from Denver, Colorado. See my review on this website: 

https://tickleyourtaint.blogspot.com/2024/06/black-dots-ep2ep3-lp-rabbit-rabbit.html.

The Cure, Faith (Fiction, 1981).

I’ve been listening to this album for over 35 years. How does it retain its power? Why do the synths and bass lines still sound cooler than anything I’ve ever heard? I listed to Faith a lot this year.

The Cure, Songs of a Lost World (Fiction, 2024).

I suspect that this album will be on my musical obsessions list for next year too. This is because I feel that I still need to spend some more time with the record to internalize it. It is one of The Cure’s best albums. It’s yet another masterpiece. As a meditation on mortality, it hits home for many of us old fucks, but it is not as if it is the first time I, or Robert Smith, has explored these subjects. Muddy and moving.

Phil Collins (in general).

I’m pretty sure Phil Collins has become my “safe space” from a world I barely understand or relate to anymore. His work is endless, from Brand X to Genesis to solo albums. He’s weirder than people think. Also, the free documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First came out in December and is available on YouTube. It’s a detail-oriented drummer nerd fest. I loved it.

Songs From Under the Floorboard, Vol. 1: A Compilation Benefiting Planned Parenthood (Accident Prone Records, 2018).

This is simply one of the greatest compilations I have ever heard. See my review from earlier this year: https://tickleyourtaint.blogspot.com/2024/07/great-soundtrackscompilations-vol-2.html.

Billy Bragg, The Roaring Forty (1983–2023) (Cooking Vinyl, 2023).

This box set contained 14 CDs that covered the last 40 years of Billy Bragg’s brilliant output. Though I already own the vast majority of what is contained here, it has been a sheer pleasure to revisit his work. His politics are solid, and his storytelling is often nuanced and heartbreaking. I adore Billy. Meeting him in person is still one of my favorite moments. Viva la Revolution!

Majestic Crush, Butterflies Don’t Go Away (Numero Group, 2024).

This is a beautiful 2 LP release from the Detroit “shoegazing” group which recorded from 1991–1995. Here you get an album, singles, rarities, etc. They had a cool and unique sound. I dug this record a lot.

Ozean (Numero Group, 2023).

Like Majestic Crush above, this is another “shoegazing” group from the Midwest, which recorded only 3 demos. They appear on this release. I find the bulk of “shoegazing” groups fairly boring, but these 3 demos, originally recorded in 1993, are simply beautiful. It’s 15 minutes of dreamy bliss. The bass player took a few hints from Peter Hook. Apparently, they are recording new music to be release in the coming year.

Shostakovich: The String Quartets (‎Deutsche Grammophon, 2023).

Performed by The Emerson String Quartet between 1994-1999, this box set was originally released some 20 years ago. I have two copies of it from back then, as it is one of my favorite sets of recordings I own. I saw this new repackaged box set this year and jumped on it. Finally, they got rid of the horrific multi-disc jewel case and replaced the packaging with singular paper sleeves in a carboard clam shell box. This is one of the greatest pieces of music I own.

Motorhead, Under Cover (WEA, 2017).

Once I heard Motorhead’s cover of Bowie’s “Heros,” I had to get this record. Though some of these tracks I have on other Motorhead albums, I really enjoyed this covers album because it has all the weirdness in one place. I never really thought their cover of The Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” was very good, yet when I hear it in combination with these other covers, it seemed to sound better. A Motorhead covers record...a fun novelty in its own right. I dig this record just because it’s a weird one. Also, their version of “Cat Scratch Fever” is better than Ted Nugent’s. 

Alcest, Les Chants de l'Aurore (Nuclear Blast, 2024).

The music has been called “blackgaze” meaning, a combination of black metal and shoegaze. All I know is that this album is beautiful. Imagine sleeping in a hut on the beach while listening to the power of the ocean all night. That’s what this album sounds like.

Night Ranger, Dawn Patrol (Boardwalk, 1982) and Midnight Madness (RCA, 1983).

I am fully aware that Night Ranger’s first two albums are not chockfull with life-changing poetry; however, they are filled with catchy-ass guitar pop tunes. Though I was never a fan at the time of these releases, somehow, I found intense comfort in listening to these albums in 2024. I always had a deep sentimental love for ‘Sister Christian,” and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” is up there with some of the best Rick Springfield/Pat Benatar classics. It may be that I am just in my 50s now and look to escapism through nostalgia. Some people binge on Netflix. I listen to old records.

The Cars, Heartbeat City (Elektra, 1984).

Like the Night Ranger records above, Heartbeat City was in heavy rotation for me this year. Some of the singles used to drive me crazy in the early 1980s, as they were in constant rotation on MTV and the radio. However, enough time has passed that I can see them in a new light. This album is a masterpiece with the desperate loneliness of “Drive” as its centerpiece.

Big Country, The Crossing (Mercury, 1983).

SoDak has been singing the praises of Big Country for years. I have heard several of their albums and have fallen in love with the powerful lyrics and music. I just never felt that I gave them enough time. However, this year I spent a considerable amount of time with their big hit record from 1983, The Crossing. It’s so good. The song “Chance” became one of favorite songs of this year.

Immediate Family Documentary (Mongolia Pictures, 2023).

Immediate Family is a great documentary about a group of studio musicians who played on half of the songs you know. It is highly recommended. I am in love with Leland Sklar.