Favorite Music :: 2024

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Some singles, some EPs and some full-length albums.

These have been 50 of my favorite releases of 2024. Selections are in alphabetical order because you can’t rank music.

Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

  • Wood Blues by أحمد [Ahmed] // BC //

  • Ghosted II by Oren Ambarchi / Johan Berthling / Andreas Werliin // AMZN // BC //

  • Bullets In The Chamber by Arrested Development // BC //

  • Tension by Mulatu Astatke & Hoodna Orchestra // AMZN // BC //

  • This is Basic by Basic // AMZN // BC //

  • Across the River of Stars by Beachwood Sparks // AMZN // BC //

  • Live in Paris 1973 by Can // AMZN // BC //

  • Close Encounters of the Third World by Creation Rebel // AMZN // BC //

  • Songs of A Lost World by the Cure // AMZN //

  • Love Changes Everything by Dirty Three // AMZN // BC //

  • 100% Sahara Guitar by Etran De L'Aïr // AMZN // BC //

  • When I’m Called by Jake Xerxes Fussell // AMZN // BC //

  • Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons // AMZN //

  • Mahal by Glass Beams // AMZN // BC //

  • Goat by Goat // AMZN // BC //

  • No Title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead by Godspeed You! Black Emperor // AMZN // BC //

  • the Collective by Kim Gordon // AMZN // BC //

  • Blu Wav by Grandaddy // AMZN // BC //

  • Dead of Night by Maalem Houssam Guinia // BC //

  • the Handover by the Handover // AMZN // BC //

  • In Waves by Jamie xx // AMZN // BC //

  • Chain of Light by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party // AMZN // BC //

  • Diamond Jubilee by Cindy Lee // AMZN // BC //

  • Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman // AMZN // BC //

  • Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker // AMZN // BC //

  • Drop 7 by Little Simz

  • Two Improvisations by Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock // AMZN // BC //

  • Locust Land by Bill MacKay // AMZN // BC //

  • Funeral For Justice by Mdou Moctar // AMZN // BC //

  • the Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis by The Messthetics // AMZN // BC //

  • Night Palace by Mount Eerie // AMZN // BC //

  • Walking After Dark by Mountain Movers // AMZN // BC //

  • David Nance & Mowed Sound by David Nance // AMZN // BC //

  • Bleed by the Necks // AMZN // BC //

  • The Way Out of Easy by Jeff Parker ETA IVtet // AMZN // BC //

  • Le Rêve de Polyphème by Polyphème // BC //

  • Deep Time by Prairiewolf // AMZN // BC //

  • Bite Down by Rosali // AMZN // BC //

  • Water Still Flows by Rich Ruth // AMZN // BC //

  • Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace by Shabaka // AMZN //

  • Exotic Birds of Prey by Shabazz Palaces // AMZN // BC //

  • Passage Du Desir by Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson) // AMZN //

  • Time Is Glass by Six Organs of Admittance  // AMZN // BC //

  • Small Medium Large by SML // AMZN // BC //

  • Africa Yontii by Tidiane Thiam // AMZN // BC //

  • 5 by Trummors // AMZN // BC //

  • Tiger’s Blood by Waxahatchee // AMZN // BC //

  • In the Running 3 by Wet Tuna / DUNZA by Wet Tuna / DUNZA // BC //

  • Woodland by Gillian Welch & David Rawlings // AMZN // BC //

  • Acadia by Yasmin Williams // AMZN // BC //

2024 Favorite Music (So Far)

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Here are my favorite 20 releases of 2024 so far.

  • Ghosted II by Oren Ambarchi / Johan Berthling / Andreas Werliin

  • Live in Paris 1973 by Can

  • Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons

  • the Collective by Kim Gordon

  • Blu Wav by Grandaddy

  • the Handover by the Handover

  • Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker

  • Drop 7 by Little Simz

  • Two Improvisations by Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock

  • Locust Land by Bill MacKay

  • Funeral For Justice by Mdou Moctar

  • the Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis by The Messthetics

  • David Nance & Mowed Sound by David Nance

  • Bite Down by Rosali

  • Water Still Flows by Rich Ruth

  • Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace by Shabaka

  • Exotic Birds of Prey by Shabazz Palaces

  • Time Is Glass by Six Organs of Admittance

  • Africa Yontii by Tidiane Thiam

  • Tiger’s Blood by Waxahatchee

2023 :: Favorite Music

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Welcome to the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list. There was a lot of great music in 2023, but I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite top 50, presented here in alphabetical order. I hope you see some of your favorites and find something new. I’d love to hear your thoughts. What has been your favorite music of 2023?

the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list:

  • Afro Futuristic Dreams by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • A Trip To Bolgatanga by African Head Charge // BC // FB // Insta //Amzn //

  • Tony Allen JID018 by Tony Allen, Adrian Younge, & Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Jazz Is Dead) // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • New Blue Sun by André 3000 // site // Amzn //

  • My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross by Anohni & The Johnsons // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Love In Exile by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily // site // Amzn //

  • Black Duck by Black Duck // BC // Amzn //

  • Sun Arcs by Blue Lake // BC // Amzn //

  • Sahel by Bombino // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You by Bonnie “Prince” Billy // BC // Amzn //

  • Dimanche à Bamako by Bounaly // BC // Amzn //

  • the Record by boygenius // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) by jaimie branch // site // BC // Amzn //

  • Nocturnal Country by Sammy Brue // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Villagers by Califone // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Chitinous Mandible by Chitinous Mandible // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Hostile Environment by Creation Rebel // BC // Amzn //

  • Shadow Kingdom by Bob Dylan // site // FB // Amzn //

  • & the Charm by Avalon Emerson // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Some Kinda Love Performing The Music Of the Velvet Underground by the Feelies // site // BC // Amzn //

  • A River Running To Your Heart by Fruit Bats // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Let the Moon Be a Planet by Steve Gunn & David Moore // BC // Amzn //

  • Philanthropy by Hauschka // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Days In The Desert by High Pulp // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Oh Me Oh My by Lonnie Holley // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • James and the Giants by James and the Giants // BC // Amzn //

  • Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey // site // FB // Amzn //

  • New Future City Radio by Damon Locks & Rob Mazurek // BC // Amzn //

  • No Fixed Point In Space by Modern Nature // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • the Age of Pleasure by Janelle Monae // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Since Time Is Gravity by Natural Information Society // site // BC // Amzn //

  • Travel by the Necks // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Jump On It by Bill Orcutt // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Switched-On by Pachyman // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • After the Magic by 파란노을 (Parannoul) // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • The Times by Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Drag On Girard by Purling Hiss // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • the Window by Ratboys // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Garden Party by Rose City Band // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Live at Third Man Records by Rich Ruth // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Robed In Rareness by Shabazz Palaces // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Everything Is Alive by Slowdive // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Javelin by Sufjan Stevens // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Music Is Victory Over Time by Sunwatchers // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Secret Stratosphere by William Tyler And The Impossible Truth // BC // FB // Amzn //

20 Songs That Make Me Happy

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Many of you have probably seen the “Name 20 songs that make you happy” thing going around the social medias. Well, I took the time to make a quick playlist of 20 songs that make me happy. Listen/stream/download below.

Hope you enjoy.



  1. Manchester by Kishi Bashi

  2. I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Time) by Jaimie xx

  3. Funky Kingston by Toots and the Maytals

  4. Love, Love, Love 2 (Reprise) by Akron/Family

  5. Mustt Mustt (Extended) by Kiran Ahluwalia

  6. Konkon by Oki Dub Ainu Band

  7. Scenario by A Tribe Called Quest

  8. Baba O’Riley by the Who

  9. Here Comes Sunshine by Grateful Dead

  10. Sweet Jane by the Velvet Underground

  11. Sun Hands by Local Natives

  12. Reality Used to be a Friend by P.M. Dawn

  13. Swerve . . . The reeping . . . by Shabazz Palaces

  14. Bam Bam by Sister Nancy

  15. Lalo Schifrin by Blue Scholars

  16. I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  17. Baby Baby by the Vibrators

  18. Love of My Life Worldwide by Erykah Badu

  19. Boogie on Reggae Woman by Stevie Wonder

  20. Ooh La La by Faces

  • Download a PDF of some pretty bland CD artwork

2020 Year-End Music Round-Up Wrap-Up Extravaganza

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No one could have predicted a year like 2020. The live music industry is on life support. Bandcamp came through just about better than anyone else to support music. And there was a ton of great music released this year.

Per the norm, I do not rank albums. Music is not a competition and my taste is not your taste. So, after lots of thought and list-shuffling and winnowing, these are the 75 albums that really stood out for me. My original list was quite a bit longer (and you can always keep up in real-time by following the Yearly Bookkeeping page), so I can tell you that this list provides a great overview of my music listening for this crazy year.

Here are my favorite 75 albums of 2020.

The Visual List:

The Alphabet List:

  1. Live at Tubby's by 75 Dollar Bill Little Big Band

  2. Shaman! by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids

  3. Time is A Gift Which We Share All The Time by Afriquoi

  4. Rejoice by Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela

  5. Live by Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood

  6. Fu Chronicles by Antibalas 

  7. Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple

  8. Roy Ayers JID002 by Roy Ayers, Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad

  9. Ex-Voto by Jamie Barnes

  10. Please Advise by Beauty Pill

  11. Crash Test Kid by Sammy Brue

  12. Long In The Tooth by the Budos Band

  13. Regresa by Buscabulla

  14. Shadow Talk by Café Racer

  15. Echo Mine by Califone

  16. Gold Record by Bill Callahan

  17. Have We Met by Destroyer

  18. I Just Wasn't Made For These Set Times by Dire Wolves (Just Exactly Perfect Sisters Band)

  19. Rough and Rowdy Ways by Bob Dylan

  20. Afternoon Tea at Six by Eishan Ensemble

  21. Acoustic Storm Sessions by Elkhorn

  22.  Kahil El’Zabar’s Spirit Groove by Kahil El'Zabar & David Murray

  23. Wake Up! by Hazel English

  24. Shore by Fleet Foxes

  25. A Hero’s Death by Fontaines D.C.

  26. Peoples Motel Band by Chris Forsyth and Garcia Peoples

  27. SOURCE by Nubya Garcia

  28. Nightcap at Wits' End by Garcia Peoples

  29. Big Dark Bright Futures by Growing Concerns Poetry Collective

  30. Women In Music Pt. III by Haim

  31. Infinity Of Now by the Heliocentrics

  32. National Freedom by Lonnie Holley

  33. Muerto, Carcel o Rocanroll by Huntingtons

  34. Beginners by Christian Lee Hutson

  35. Reuinions by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

  36. Babani Koné by Babani Koné

  37. Mutation by Les Freres Smith

  38. 2020 by Magik Markers

  39. Eno Axis by H.C. McEntire

  40. Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock by Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock

  41. Microphones in 2020 by the Microphones

  42. Circles by Mac Miller

  43. Dimensional Stardust by Rob Mazurek/Exploding Star Orchestra

  44. Annual by Modern Nature

  45. Getting Into Knives by the Mountain Goats

  46. Staunch Honey by David Nance

  47. Three by the Necks

  48. Rob Noyes & Sam Moss by Rob Noyes & Sam Moss

  49. We No Be Machine by Onipa

  50. Jams From The Sun by Oregon Space Trail of Jazz

  51. High Upon The Mountain by Pacific Range

  52. Suite For Max Brown by Jeff Parker

  53. Summerlong by Rose City Band

  54. RTJ4 by Run The Jewels

  55. Landwerk demos by Nathan Salsburg

  56. Acoustic by Oumou Sangaré

  57. Untitled (Black Is) by Sault

  58. We Are Sent Here By History by Shabaka and the Ancestors

  59. The Don of Diamond Dreams by Shabazz Palaces

  60. Ocean Bridges by Archie Shepp, Raw Poetic & Damu the Fudgemunk

  61. Companion Rises by Six Organs of Admittance

  62. Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? by The Soft Pink Truth

  63. Optimisme by Songhoy Blues

  64. Swirling by Sun Ra Arkestra

  65. Oh Yeah? by Sunwatchers

  66. Wooden Flower by Tambourinen

  67. Folklore by Taylor Swift

  68. Nomad by Tengger

  69. Sun Racket by Throwing Muses

  70. Siftorde by Tidiane Thiam

  71. New Vanitas by William Tyler

  72. The Great Mountain by Waterless Hills

  73. Eau’d To A Fake Bookie Volume 3 by Wet Tuna

  74. Strange to Explain by Woods

  75. Homegrown by Neil Young

  • Browse Volume 01 of my 2020 favorites playlist

  • Browse Volume 02 of my 2020 favorites playlist

  • Browse Volume 03 of my 2020 favorites playlist

  • Browse Volume 04 of my 2020 favorites playlist

  • Browse Volume 05 of my 2020 favorites playlist



Holiday At The Sea's Favorite 2020 Music Mix (Volume 04)

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Volume 04 of some of Holiday at the Sea’s favorite 2020 music. I chose 75 albums this year and the playlists total 74 songs since “Microphones in 2020 by the Microphones” is 45 minutes long and I didn’t want to include the whole album as part of a mix.

Anyways, enjoy!



Tracklisting:

  1. “Solace” by Adrian Younge And Ali Shaheed Muhammad

  2. “Theme For Cecil” by Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids

  3. “Venom” by The Heliocentrics

  4. “Slow Bones” by Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela

  5. “Eurasia” by Tengger

  6. “Galaxy 1000” by Rob Mazurek and the Exploding Star Orchestra

  7. “Two” by Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock

  8. “The Message Continues” by Nubya Garcia

  9. “Makoma” by Onipa

  10. “Ju$t” by Run The Jewels

  11. “The Coming Of The Strange Ones” by Shabaka and the Ancestors

  12. “Wet” by Shabazz Palaces

  13. “No Talk Talk” by Les Freres Smith

  14. “Strange To Explain” by Woods

  15. “Go Away” by Jeff Parker

  16. “Pray Up Stay Up” by Sault

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