Pete's Log: 2024 Music
Entry #2589, (Music)(posted when I was 46 years old.)
It's that time of year: what new music have I added to my collection in 2024?
This year I've decided to break things up in categories. The first is "New to Me" - music I've discovered this year and decided to purchase. Everything listed here is an album.
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Horsegirl - Versions of Modern Performance
Released June 2022
A Chicago band I'd never heard of before. YouTube recommended them to me, and the song Anti-Glory is probably my favorite new (to me) song of the year. They have a new album coming out in February and based off the singles they've dropped already, I am excited for it. -
Hot Water Music - VOWS
Released May 2024
I haven't bought a Hot Water Music album since 2002, despite really liking that album. When I saw they were releasing a new album this spring, I decided to get it, and I'm glad I did. It's a solid album that sounds very much like Hot Water Music. -
Los Abandoned - Mixtape
Released September 2006
Heard "Vannuys (Es Very Nice)" on WLTL (a radio station run by the high school JB will someday attend) and decided to get the album. No idea how I never heard of this band before, really like the album. -
Maria Iskariot - EN/EN
Released April 2024
Andrew introduced me to this band, which seems backward since they're a Belgian punk band that sings in Flemish. But I'm glad he introduced me to them, they rock. -
Mustard Plug - Where Did All My Friends Go?
Released September 2023
So on Friday, Bert asked me if I had any Saturday plans. I did not, so I went to "Home for the Skalidays" at the Bottom Lounge with him: Mustard Plug with special guests The Crombies, The Operators, and Something To Do. It was an excellent show. Hours before the show, I discovered Mustard Plug released a new album last year. I gave it a listen since I figured I should be ready for the show, and it was fun enough to be worth buying. Sounds very much like Mustard Plug. My third album of theirs that I own. -
Polkadot - ...to be crushed
Released May 2024
Another random YouTube recommendation. I only just bought it, but it's a solid indie rock album. -
Sincere Engineer - Bless My Psyche
Released September 2021
Sincere Engineer was probably my favorite act at Riot Fest this year, and I'd managed to never hear them beforehand. So I had to invest in some of their discography. -
Sincere Engineer - Cheap Grills
Released September 2023
See above. - Sofia Kourtesis - Madres
Released October 2023
I bought Fresia Magdalena by Sofia Kourtesis in 2021 and then forgot about it for a while before really getting into it. So when I saw she had a new release, I had to get it. Madres hasn't quite drawn me in the same way Fresia Magdalena did, but it's good and needs a few more listens. - The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
Released November 2024
Very much a Cure album. There's no track that stands out to me, but to be fair I've only given it a couple listens so far. Recommended for fans of The Cure. - The Drowns - Blacked Out
Released February 2024
Bought a Drowns album last year and liked it, so why not buy another Drowns album this year? This one on vinyl. - The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms
Released April 1980
Never heard of them before, but I saw that Horsegirl listed this band as an influence, so I decided to check them out and learned that R.E.M. cite them as an influence. It feels very underground early 80s indie rock, but with interesting percussion thrown into the mix. Crazy Rhythms indeed. - The Vaughan Building - Sockin' It To Ya!
Released August 2024
The Vaughan Building played a show at Kiwanis Park for Brookfield's summer concert series, and JB was really into them, so we picked up their CD they had for sale.
The next category is albums I bought when making Garden of Velvet Clouds. Half the songs on the playlist I already owned and for the other half that I bought, I bought the entire album. And while I have listened to my playlist dozens of times since making it and quite enjoy it, I must admit that I have yet to listen to any of the rest of the below albums.
- Alpha Rhythm - Wardenfell EP
Released September 2020
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Guerilla Welfare - Guerilla Welfare
Released 1986
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Public Service Broadcasting - The War Room
Released May 2012
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STRFKR - Reptilians
Released March 2011
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The Avalanches - Since I Left You
Released November 2000
A small category, but significant: albums I bought solely so I can play them for JB
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Europe - The Final Countdown
Released May 1986
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Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll
Released November 1981
When I left netViz in 2006, Jason made a mix CD for my travels. I liked it so much I bought all the songs on iTunes, where they remain locked away. Since then I bought the albums that three of the songs are on, and this year with the topic on my mind again, I bought two more such albums, getting me to halfway point of recreating the mix. A few of the songs I'm not sure I want the entire album, leaving me with the dilemma of trying to decide if I pay again for a song I already "own". Anyway:
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Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
Released January 2006
From the Ritz to the Rubble off this album was the opening track of Jason's mix -
The Rakes - Capture/Release
Released August 2005
Strasbourg off this album was the sixth song of Jason's mix. I really like this album and have been putting a lot of thought into making a playlist based on 22 Grand Job off this album and 18,000 Lira by Art Brut.
The remaining two categories I'm not going to list out. One is music I already knew that I finally decided should be in my collection (e.g. albums by Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac, and Paul Simon) and the other is more CDs of Jamie's that I discovered and ripped. There are 16 albums in the former category and 19 albums in the latter, meaning The Collection grew by 57 albums in 2024. By percent of total songs, my 2024 acquisitions represent 10.57% of the collection, so a pretty significant year.