Another year, another stack of great recordings! From all the records that found their way to my ears and turntable throughout 2024 here’s my attempt at ranking some personal highlights.
Rock & roll is still inspiring and remains the most exciting music on the planet. Here’s proof!
2024 ALBUMS
1) THE COURETTES - "THE SOUL OF THE FABULOUS COURETTES"
The Courettes further expand their palette of sounds and songs, diving deeper into ’60s girl group territory with a bunch of fabulous tracks. Flavia and Martin are spreading the gospel according to the Fabulous Courettes across the planet. Australia’s turn next?
2) LEMON TWIGS - "A DREAM IS ALL WE KNOW"
The Lemon Twigs' best album to date. Tapping the right influences and producing amazing songs! Fantastic harmonies and stellar arrangements across the whole record.
3) FASTBACKS - "FOR WHAT REASON!"
Not only did the Fastbacks return in 2024 but they also released one of their best albums. No change to the template. Great songs played and sung with plenty of enthusiasm and excitement.
4) JOHN DOWLER’S VANITY PROJECT – "EXISTENTIAL FRIEND"
John is in great voice throughout this terrific new album. And the songwriting and playing is ace. Such a wonderful record!
5) CIRCULATORS - "INSUFFICIENT FUN"
This great new band from the US released their debut album which is full of fantastic old school punk rock tunes.
6) PLEASANTS - "ROCANROL IN MONO"
Pleasants are from Perth and if you’re unfamiliar with them this debut album is the perfect introduction. Great punk rockin’ songs abound!
7) SPLIT SYSTEM - "VOL II"
Album number 2 is just as good as album number 1. Another fantastic record from Melbourne’s Split System.
8) ALVILDA - "C'EST DEJA L'HEURE"
Following a killer EP released a few years back, France’s Alvilda released their first LP in 2024. Fabulous guitar pop songs across the entire record.
9) JUPITER 5 - "5TH FROM THE SUN"
Backing up their incredible debut single from a couple of years earlier, and a host of top notch live shows, the "5th From The Sun "album is chock full of great tracks. Could be the best recording these local legends have been involved in.
10) FLEUR - "FILLE SAUVAGE"
This is the third fabulous album by Fleur from the Netherlands. This time supported by the band the Kryng, the album is a more rocking take on Fleur’s ye-ye '60s French pop leanings.
And of course there’s plenty more in the Honorable Mentions:
CLOVER, KATE - "THE APOCALYPSE DREAM"
KUKEN – "KUKEN III"
LOSIN' STREAKS - "LAST HOUSE"
THE DICTATORS - "THE DICTATORS"
OUTFIT - "TOO HOT TO SLEEP"
REDD KROSS - "REDD KROSS"
TROKAN, BENNY - "DO YOU STILL THINK OF ME?"
TWISTED TEENS – "TWISTED TEENS"
2024 SINGLES/ EPs
1) LOOSE LIPS - "LOOSE LIPS" (EP)
While The Prize are still readying their debut album, drummer/ singer Nadine has teamed with Josh from the Unknowns and Ethan from Chubby & The Gang in Loose Lips. This ramshackle and totally rockin EP is their fantastic first release.
2) THE COURETTES - "SHAKE!"
The Courettes released three fantastic singles from their latest LP. They are all great with B-sides as cool as the A’s.
3) THE DAHLMANNS –"LUCKY"
Fantastic return for Norway’s Dahlmanns! This is glorious guitar pop with a couple of excellent Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty covers on the B-side.
4) FLEUR - "TU ES UN ETRE PARFAIT"
Killer single from Fleur’s latest album, with an ace B-side too!
5) PLEASANTS – "LOSING STREAK" b/w "SICK SAD SITUATION"
Fantastic new single from Pleasants released close to year end.
6) DELIVERY – "DIGGING THE HOLE"
This was the first single lifted from the forthcoming second Delivery album. All the pre-release tracks are great and keep anticipation high for the late January release date.
7) SHANG HI LOS – "OP-OPERATOR"
Boston’s Shang Hi Los have a new album on the way. Jen D’Angora and Dan Kopko are a formidable team writing and recording smash hits like this one.
8) KEWPIE DOLLS – "KEWPIE DOLLS" EP
Great new garage punk combo from Canada. Hits the sweet spot very nicely.
9) STREET SWEEPER -" STREET SWEEPER" EP
Second release for Melbourne’s Street Sweeper. A clutch of winners across this EP.
10) KINOCO HOTEL - "WILDERNESS OF NANNA" b/w "OPIUM"
A cool new release and excellent example of the swirling farfisa & fuzz offered by Japan’s Kinoco Hotel across plenty of releases from the past decade plus. They were one of the best bands I saw during my last trip to Tokyo for the annual "Back From The Grave Halloween Ball".
More fab singles and EPs:
HAYLEY & THE CRUSHERS – "UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THE UNDERGROUND" (EP)
KURT BAKER – "INNER DEMONS"
COURETTES – "KEEP DANCING"
MEANIES – "ZAMBONI"
PRIZE/ UNKNOWNS - "ONE DAY AT A TIME" b/w "HEART IN TWO"
STIFF RICHARDS – "GFC" b/w "EMPTY BARRELS"
TAXI GIRLS – "RAINY"
TIGER BOMB – "READY TO GO"
YOUNKER, MICHAEL – "SWEET THINGS"
Ross Nelson's Sonic Stew program airs at 7pm Sydney time every Monday night on 2RRR 88.5FM or streaming at 2rrr.org.au. Find it archived here.
