Well it was another excellent year for music, as years ending in a ‘4’ tend to be, in my experience. Here are my favourite ten tracks, and as is now customary on this feature, the Top Ten of the year from my son Brandon, who is now 15, follows afterwards…
10. Chris Cohen – Sunever
Every few years, Cohen returns with a beguiling selection of songs. This is a highlight of his fourth solo record, Paint A Room.
9. Anna Erhard – Botanical Garden
An intriguing song built around a review of a botanical garden that Erhard came across, the playful lyrics quote directly from said review (“There were not enough koi carp / It was not rewarding”). I’ve always thought that there aren’t enough songs about botanical garden reviews, so this one goes some way towards redressing the balance.
8. The Jesus and Mary Chain – jamcod
The best thing the band have come up with since 1998’s ‘Cracking Up’, the lead single from their excellent Glasgow Eyes brings back the energy and fizz of the beloved JAMC of old.
7. Maximo Park – Quiz Show Clue
As is often the case with artists who have been around for a while, Maximo Park’s eighth album Stream Of Life perhaps didn’t get all the plaudits it deserved. This track showcases Duncan Lloyd’s sparkling guitar alongside Paul Smith’s self-deprecating and ever-wonderful lyrics.
6. Haircut 100 – The Unloving Plum
Amazingly, the classic line-up of Haircut 100 (i.e. the one that included Nick Heyward) released only one album, 1982’s Pelican West, which after all these years probably gets more critical respect and love now than it did at the time, recognised rightly as a classic. The band have waited just the 43 years for the follow-up, which is due later this year. ‘The Unloving Plum’ is the perfect taster, an irresistible ear worm of a single that at one time would have propelled them towards the top of the charts.
5. Brigitte Calls Me Baby – The Future Is The Way Out
Technically, it could be argued that this is a 2023 release as it appeared at the end of that year in the USA on a limited 12” single, but I’m claiming it as a 2024 track as it came out in the UK on the This House Is Made Of Corners E.P. in February and then featured on the band’s glorious debut in August. Despite being from the States, their sound is very British, with notable influences of The Smiths and perhaps Pulp or even the fantastic Rialto.
4. Pet Shop Boys – The Secret Of Happiness
This key track from the duo’s 15th album Nonetheless is classic ‘symphonic mode’ Pet Shop Boys, and could easily fit onto 1990’s Behaviour. There are fewer greater compliments than that!
3. Katy J Pearson – Those Goodbyes
The Bristol-based songwriter’s third album Someday, Now was instantly memorable, filled with brilliant tracks like this one (which narrowly beat ‘Maybe’ to attain its position on this list!)
2. Freya McKee – Blue
Thanks to the magic of the BBC Sounds app, living in the West Midlands does not preclude me from listening to Gary Crowley’s fabulously heartwarming BBC London show each weekend. I have discovered lots of great new tracks and artists from the show, none better this year than Freya McKee’s excellent dream-pop song ‘Blue’, which comes from her debut release, the Lychee Juice E.P.
- Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Frogs
I have surprised myself with this choice of Number 1 – I like a lot of Nick Cave’s music but am hardly someone who rushes out to buy all his records when they come out. But this song from the 18th Bad Seeds record just clicked with me immediately on first listen; I would say it’s the best thing he has ever released. It’s definitely my most-played song of the year, so here it is in its rightful place in my list.
And now, by contrast, the choices of my son Brandon Levi Page…
10. girl in red – ‘Too Much’
9. Alfie Templeman – ‘Hello Lonely’
8. Tommy Richman – ‘DEVIL IS A LIE’
7. Rosé and Bruno Mars – ‘APT.’
6. Fred Again.., Anderson .Paak & CHIKA – ‘places to be’
5. Blossoms – ‘Gary’
4. Jason Derulo & Michael Bublé – ‘Spicy Margarita’
3. Eminem – ‘Houdini’
2. Post Malone (featuring Blake Shelton) – ‘Pour Me A Drink’
- Jake Bugg – ‘Zombieland’
Happy New Year everyone, and thanks for reading. Here’s to another year of super sounds!
