So we're four months from the end of 2024 and my thoughts are already turning to my Albums of the Year list. Is it too soon to even be talking about this? Probably, but I've really got to start writing blog posts for the brand-spanking new Tallbird website and this was the first subject that sprang to mind....
To be honest I don't think 2024 has been a classic year...so far. It's a far cry from 1974 (Diamond Dogs / Court & Spark / Autobahn) or 1984 (A Walk Across The Rooftops / A Hatful Of Hollow / Rattlesnakes) or 1994 (Grace / Dummy / Parklife) and not even close to 2022 which was the year the world was blessed with the debut album from Wet Leg. Nothing has excited me as much since that particular gem was released and if you haven't got it in your collection already then I pity you, really I do.
That said, this year got off to a gloriously noisy and angry start with the debut release from Sprints. They're a Dublin-based band and the album is called “Letter To Self”. It's punky, it's shouty and every track on it makes me want to jump into the nearest mosh pit and get down with the kids (not advisable at my creaky old age, sadly).
February saw another debut release that got heavy rotation on the shop sound system – The Last Dinner Party's “Prelude To Ecstasy” grabs hooks from many of the top acts of the 1970s (Bowie, Kate Bush, Sparks, Queen, Abba) and rolls them all up into one fantastical and fancy fandango of highly romantic and slightly saucy camp rock, with plenty of great tunes, expertly performed by bunch of extremely talented young women. I'm looking forward to seeing them live next month in Sheffield.
Another February release that stirred the collective Tallbird loins was the sophmore release from local Chesterfield musician and heartthrob Icahbod Wolf who brought us “Too True To Be Good”, a collection of songs that are both true AND good, in fact so good that they really do make me weep with joy and sorrow, whilst simultaneously chuckling at the witty wordsmithery. Ichabod genuinely should be a megastar, he is at least the equal of John Grant or Richard Dawson and I prefer him to both. He's also a lovely fella and has done some stonking in-stores for us over the years.
Now I come to think about it properly 2024 has been pretty decent after all 'cos I've only written about 3 of this year's releases and looking at the many other titles on my list I realise this blog is going to turn into a rather long essay if I carry on writing about all of them. So - I'm going to leave it here for now and leave you guessing about the rest...until December when I'll publish the full list. Let us know what you've been loving this year and more importantly what you're looking forward to (I am living in hope of a new Wet Leg album but no sign of one yet...)
Maria
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