Favorite Music :: 2024
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.
Tidiane Thiam :: Africa Yontii
Not everyone in my life gets my many musical obsessions.
I grew up in Phoenix, which means that I didn’t have a whole lot of cultural options, but Bob Corritore and the Blues was always a constant in my life. I remember sometimes thinking: “How can this guy play five hours of Blues every week and not get tired of it?”
Years ago, I also knew someone that hosted a regular Reggae radio show that was 3-hours each week and I remember thinking: “How can this guy play five hours of Blues every week and not get tired of it?”
And here I am having professed my love for Tuareg guitar music and music from the Sahel region in general recommending yet another album. I could easily play five ours of Tuareg music, and no, it’s doesn’t all sound the same. In addition to the newest album album by Etran De L'Aïr :: 100% Sahara Guitar, the fabulous Sahel Sounds label recently put out the newest album from Tidiane Thiam :: Africa Yontii.
This one is laid-back.
Relaxing.
Meditative yet driving.
Exquisite interplay. With overlapping melodies.
Enjoy.
Watch “Yewende”:
2024 Favorite Music (So Far)
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
2020 Year-End Music Round-Up Wrap-Up Extravaganza
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:
Live at Tubby's by 75 Dollar Bill Little Big Band
Shaman! by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids
Time is A Gift Which We Share All The Time by Afriquoi
Rejoice by Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela
Live by Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood
Fu Chronicles by Antibalas
Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple
Roy Ayers JID002 by Roy Ayers, Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Ex-Voto by Jamie Barnes
Please Advise by Beauty Pill
Crash Test Kid by Sammy Brue
Long In The Tooth by the Budos Band
Regresa by Buscabulla
Shadow Talk by Café Racer
Echo Mine by Califone
Gold Record by Bill Callahan
Have We Met by Destroyer
I Just Wasn't Made For These Set Times by Dire Wolves (Just Exactly Perfect Sisters Band)
Rough and Rowdy Ways by Bob Dylan
Afternoon Tea at Six by Eishan Ensemble
Acoustic Storm Sessions by Elkhorn
Kahil El’Zabar’s Spirit Groove by Kahil El'Zabar & David Murray
Wake Up! by Hazel English
Shore by Fleet Foxes
A Hero’s Death by Fontaines D.C.
Peoples Motel Band by Chris Forsyth and Garcia Peoples
SOURCE by Nubya Garcia
Nightcap at Wits' End by Garcia Peoples
Big Dark Bright Futures by Growing Concerns Poetry Collective
Women In Music Pt. III by Haim
Infinity Of Now by the Heliocentrics
National Freedom by Lonnie Holley
Muerto, Carcel o Rocanroll by Huntingtons
Beginners by Christian Lee Hutson
Reuinions by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Babani Koné by Babani Koné
Mutation by Les Freres Smith
2020 by Magik Markers
Eno Axis by H.C. McEntire
Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock by Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock
Microphones in 2020 by the Microphones
Circles by Mac Miller
Dimensional Stardust by Rob Mazurek/Exploding Star Orchestra
Annual by Modern Nature
Getting Into Knives by the Mountain Goats
Staunch Honey by David Nance
Three by the Necks
Rob Noyes & Sam Moss by Rob Noyes & Sam Moss
We No Be Machine by Onipa
Jams From The Sun by Oregon Space Trail of Jazz
High Upon The Mountain by Pacific Range
Suite For Max Brown by Jeff Parker
Summerlong by Rose City Band
RTJ4 by Run The Jewels
Landwerk demos by Nathan Salsburg
Acoustic by Oumou Sangaré
Untitled (Black Is) by Sault
We Are Sent Here By History by Shabaka and the Ancestors
The Don of Diamond Dreams by Shabazz Palaces
Ocean Bridges by Archie Shepp, Raw Poetic & Damu the Fudgemunk
Companion Rises by Six Organs of Admittance
Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? by The Soft Pink Truth
Optimisme by Songhoy Blues
Swirling by Sun Ra Arkestra
Oh Yeah? by Sunwatchers
Wooden Flower by Tambourinen
Folklore by Taylor Swift
Nomad by Tengger
Sun Racket by Throwing Muses
Siftorde by Tidiane Thiam
New Vanitas by William Tyler
The Great Mountain by Waterless Hills
Eau’d To A Fake Bookie Volume 3 by Wet Tuna
Strange to Explain by Woods
Homegrown by Neil Young
Holiday At The Sea's Favorite 2020 Music Mix (Volume 03)
Volume 03 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:
“Houses of the Holy” by H.C. McEntire
“Low to the Bird” by Jamie Barnes
“It Gets Easier” by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
“Santa Monica (Through the Canyon)” by Pacific Range
“The 101” by Six Organs of Admittance
“Howard St. & The Beach Nov. 1988 After 11” by Califone
“Maestranza” by Fleet Foxes
“(Our Life Could Be Your Van)” by Garcia Peoples
“The Law Of Hospitality” by Waterless Hills
“Four Corners” by William Tyler
“Protest Song” by Bill Callahan
“Crystal Doorknob” by Lonnie Holley
“Landwerk 03” by Nathan Salsburg
“Love Is The Main Thing” by Fontaines D.C.
“Find You Ride” by Magik Markers
“Fadjamou” (Acoustic) by Oumou Sangaré
“St. Charles” by Throwing Muses
“Nenamev” by Tidiane Thiam
“Bon Bon” by Songhoy Blues
“Love Paste” by Sunwatchers
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