Favorite Music of 2024! – Gregs Guitar Lessons

If you’re in the position to, try the music on Spotify, but please please please….

BUY THE MUSIC ON BANDCAMP.COM!

Ideally, on the first Friday of a month, in which the artists get 100% of their sales.
Another great option is your local record store…like my personal favorite…Andy’s Records.

As always, here are the previous lists:
2023, 2022, 2021,2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 , 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

Playlists
Feel free to subscribe!
There is WAY more music in the playlists than posted on here.
Go exploring!

My Favorite Records of 2024

Just a collection of the top records in one place.

Everything I listened to (on Spotify)

Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. I post the things I dug, or left a mark, but there is so much more on there.

Favorite Records of 2024
(In no particular order)

Amblare – Amblare

Members of Hum & Mock Orange doing a rad, heavy, riffy, melodic record. Mixed by Mario of Spotlights, and features the late Bryan St. Pere with an absolute crushing drum performance.

DIIV – Frog In Boiling Water

As good of a modern shoe gaze record as there is. Dense layers, moody atmosphere, and just incredible songs. Love it.

Dustin Kensrue – Desert Dreaming

The incredible singer from Thrice, back with a throwback western record. He is such a remarkable songwriter. I celebrate the man’s entire catalog, and this record is no different.

Electric Hawk – III

One of my absolute favorite Chicago bands. 3 piece instru-metal record that absolutely rips. Every song is a banger. The production is massive. It lives somewhere between Tool, Mastodon, Zeppelin, VH, and Unsane. Just incredible.

J Robbins – Basilisk

One of my favorite songwriters / producers back with another solo release. Such articulate indie rock, and just one of my all time favorite voices.

The Jesus Lizard – Rack

We had no reason to doubt them. But when you can measure the time between releases in decades, I get nervous. But hot damn, they’ve still got it. The riffs. The energy. Just incredible that they’re still doing this, and it still rips.

MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks

I feel like this on everyone’s list, and rightfully so. A youthful Neil Young indie folk rock record, with just perfect songs. I swear, this was the only thing I played for like 2 weeks.

Novo Amor – Collapse List

You know me. I’m not going to play favorites. I’m not going to call one album a definitive favorite over the rest. That’s not how this works. But if it were…..god I love this record. It’s easy to say it’s Welsh Bon Iver….but that is really minimizing how wonderful and unique his writing style is. His writing partner Ed Tullett is incredible as well, with his other band Hailaker, and solo outlet lowswimmer, all listed below.

Owen – The Fall Of Sioux

Chicago legend, and one of the faces on the Mount Rushmore of midwest emo has returned with another chapter of indie folk catalog. I’d never call an Owen album positive or uplifting, but there is a silver lining in his smart, snarky, sarcastic lyrics this time around. We are genuinely lucky to have him locally.

Pedro The Lion – Santa Cruz

I mean, if Dave Bazan releases a record, it’s probably going to end up on this list. The third indie rock release in his autobiographical telling of his life. I am blown away by the scope of the project, and can’t believe these records have such incredible songs.

Queen Of Jeans – All Again

I have to thank my bud Into It Over It for repeatedly introducing me to such incredible bands. QOJ opened for them last year, and I was just floored. This record is produced by Will Yip, who has the golden touch. Perfect indie pop with one of the best female singers in the genre. Unbelievable. The song “Karaoke” is literally perfect to me.

The Supervoid Choral Ensemble – Live From The Downwhen Terminal

Ben Sharp from Cloudkicker and what must be a mutant drummer (Vinny Roseboom) absolutely ripping through mathy, chaotic, yet somehow grooving & melodic instru-metal. Between this record, and electric hawk, I don’t think this genre needs anything else. It’s done. It’s been perfected. Let’s enjoy it.

Friends Records Released in 2024
(In no particular order)

Becoming The Lion – Turning Point

Ohpen Ahrms – Lying Beside You

Lightleak – Heads / Tails

Leaves Of Iron – Earth Is Shrinking, We Are Sinking

Jesk – Boombox Oddesy

Other Great Records That Could Be Listed Above

Seriously. This are absolutely incredible. They could be in my top list of the year, but on the day I wrote this, those other albums felt right. It doesn’t make these any less amazing, and I’m grateful to have listened to them (a lot).

Adrianne Lenker – Bright Future

Bartees Strange – Say Goodbye To Pretty Boy

Better Lovers – Highly Irresponsible

Bleachers – Bleachers

Bon Iver – Sable,

Cigarettes After Sex – X’s

Cusp – Thanks So Much

Cursive – Devourer

Fontaines DC – Romance

Foxing – Foxing

Hailaker – Serenity Now

The Hard Quartet – The Hard Quartet