OG Charles' Best of 2024

It’s been a bit since I’ve written for the blog, but I was pretty good this year staying up with new releases, so I’d like to pass on my favorites.

[Editor’s Note: new feature for 3A60G in 2025, thanks to OG Brian - Spotify Playlist for the albums listed below - find it here]

Top 10 Albums (Alphabetical Order)

• Chat Pile, Cool World – I loved their debut and their follow up sticks to the same pummeling grindcore beats with just a bit of an update for 2024.

• The Cure, Songs of a Lost World – Good news and bad news -- it’s Disintegration Part 2. From its title through every track, it captures the current malaise.

• MJ Lenderman, Manning Fireworks – It’s on everyone’s list for a reason. We already knew MJ could write a catchy song. Now he’s added compelling storytelling lyrics, bringing this album to a whole other level—and I’m not a lyrics guy.

• Mannequin Pussy, I Got Heaven – The title song was my favorite of 2023 and the rest of the album matches the fury but also provides some well-crafted quiet moments.

• Mdou Moctar, Funeral for Justice – I was late to the bandwagon on this one, but the beat and musicianship made it an immediate favorite.

• Nick Cave, Wild God – I’ve been trying to become a Cave fan for a while and this album finally let me in. The songs are just more accessible and directional.

• Porridge Radio, Clouds in the Sky They Will Always be There for Me – I’m new to the band but this quickly became a favorite. The singer’s intensity pulls you in.

• Sabrina Carpenter, Short ‘n’ Sweet – I’m a sucker for a perfectly crafted pop song and this album is full of them. Hot take -- better than Brat.

• Touche Amore, Spiral in Straight Line - They don’t deviate their formula much, but I don’t mind. It’s more post-hardcore with tempo changes, curly reverb guitar lines, and screamo hyper-confessional lyrics.

• Xiu Xiu, 13” Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips – Xiu Xiu albums swing between catchy pretentious art pop and inscrutable pretentious art pop. This album was the former with a bunch of great songs, including “Common Loon” and “Veneficium.” Their live shows are solid, though it’s so quiet between songs you can hear the singer gargle.

Top 10 Songs released in 2024 (Alphabetical Order)

• “Alone,” the Cure

• “City Bus” – Tanukichan

• “clairbourne practice,” Julie - My Bloody Valentine should sue, but, hey, it’s pretty catchy.

• “Common Loon,” Xiu Xiu

• “Espresso,” Sabrina Carpenter – There was no more infectious pop song in 2024.

• “Enough for You,” Wisp – The kids like shoegaze too.

• “Girls,” The Dare – LCD Soundsystem should probably sue, but, hey, it’s pretty catchy.

• “Nobody’s,” Touche Amore

• “Right Back to it,” Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman

• “Wristwatch,” MJ Lenderman – Is the MJ stan-ing on this blog too much?

Top 10 Songs not released in 2024

• “Holland, 1945,” Neutral Milk Hotel - For a long time I knew I was supposed to love this album. It finally clicked in 2024. I credit Bandsplain credit for making me give it another go. And then I listened to this song a hundred times in a row.

• “Hit the City,” Mark Lanegan, PJ Harvey – Concert prep for PJ Harvey reintroduced me to this song. The melding of Lanegan’s rasp with Harvey’s ethereal voice set over a menacing, fuzz-beat makes this probably the best song either of them have done.

• “I Don’t Want to Get Over You,” Magnetic Fields – A perennial favorite that popped into my rotation after seeing them in November 2023. Stephin was super grumpy, but would you want it any other way?

• “This is Acid,” Maurice Joshua - Sometimes you need some good, simple 80s Chicago House to make you move.

• “Red Wine Supernova,” Chappell Roan - Like the rest of the world, I fell in love with Chappel Roan in 2024.

• “Seizure of Assets,” Militarie Gun – Big, dumb, and catchy rock in the vein of Turnstile. The worst part of the song is it’s too short.

• “I Got Heaven,” Mannequin Pussy – The single came out in late 2023 and quickly became a favorite.

• “Here Today and Gone Tomorrow,” Ohio Players – Great soul track.

• “Punch Drunk,” Uncle Tupelo – When I listen to this song I think about what a lie every song released by a member of Uncle Tupelo after this is.

• “Headhunter,” Front 242 -- I would have been happy if for their farewell concert, Front 242 only played a 90 minute remix of this song.

Top 5 Concerts

• Mdou Moctar at 9:30 – Face melting solos and trance-like beats built the crowd into a frenzy.

• Peter Hook at 9:30 – Is Peter Hook basically doing New Order karaoke at this point? Maybe. But watching him march through both Substance albums took me to some places. I’ve seen New Order twice at Merryweather and the energy at 9:30 blew those shows away.

• Mannequin Pussy at Atlantis – Catching such a powerful, talented band destined for bigger audiences at the Atlantis was a rush. Unbelievable energy and power.

• Front 242 at Metro (Chicago) – I traveled to Chicago for one of their farewell shows. Yeah, it was kinda weird as they all look like (are) middle-aged dads, but the visuals and beats were undeniable.

• Jesus Lizard at Black Cat – The band was as tight as ever; David Yow was as deranged as ever.