Favorite First-Time Listens of 2024
Hey folks and friends,
Somehow, it's December, which means we've made it to the end of 2024. Since this is the traditional time for retrospectives, end-of-year summaries, and Spotify Wraps, I wanted to share five of my favorite albums I listened to for the first time this year:
5. Heart - Little Queen (1977)
Even though I grew up listening almost exclusively to the local classic rock station (99.9 The Hawk *insert bird screech*), I had never actually listened to a Heart album before. So when my partner and I were talking about how "we should really listen to more Heart," we decided to put on Little Queen. It opens with Barracuda, which I've known and loved for decades, but it was songs like "Dream of the Archer," "Treat Me Well," and the titular "Little Queen" (that bass line!) that really opened my eyes to the glory that is Heart and convinced me Nancy Wilson is one of the best guitarists to ever do it.
4. sakanaction - 834.194 (2019)
Is this album entirely in Japanese? Yes. Do I speak Japanese? No. Do I love this album anyway? Yes. I discovered the band sakanaction after seeing the 80s-inspired music video for their song "Wasurerarenaino" and loved the upbeat, funky, hook-heavy track so much that I went and listened to the whole album almost immediately. The rest of 834.194 is full of certified bangers that I love trying to sing along to while I dance around the house by myself.
3. Terry Callier - The New Folk Sound of Terry Callier (1968)
Sometimes people fall into the trap of over-orchestrating trad folk music, but not Terry Callier. With just an upright bass, a guitar, and his voice, The New Folk Sound of Terry Callier leaves plenty of space for old folk songs to breathe and come to life. (It reminded me a lot of Nina Simone's Folksy Nina, which came out in 1963.) Terry sings a breathtaking version of "Cotton Eyed Joe" on this album that absolutely puts the Rednex version to shame and makes me ask when the Swedes will pay for their crimes.
2. Chappell Roan - The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023)
There is nothing I can say about this album that hasn't already been said better by someone else. But I can say that Chappell Roan has permanently altered my brain chemistry for the better, that I spent several weeks doing the "HOT TO GO!" dance at my deeply confused animals, and that over the summer I threw two of my best friends into my car and forced them to listen to this album while we drove to Maine. And I'll do it again.
1 . Matt Berry - Kill the Wolf (2013)
You may know the actor Matt Berry from Toast of London, The IT Crowd, or What We Do in the Shadows, but did you know he's also a really great musician? I discovered this for myself a few months ago and I've been obsessed with his debut album Kill the Wolf ever since. It's a pastoral, psychedelic, 70s flavored, British folk rock album about the winter solstice and it had me absolutely hooked from the first song to the last. I cannot recommend it highly enough and if you're not careful, I will force you to listen to it on a road trip to Maine.
I'd love to hear what your favorite albums were this year, or what music you think I should listen to next.
Much love,
Sarah