Can you believe we’re at the end of December? You know, the part where those discerning tastemakers put thinking caps on and pens to paper about their favourite records of the year? Yep, it’s happening, and we’d like to think that, here at Record Weekly, we could land in that category. So counting down to number one, these are our top 20 albums of 2024…

20. ‘HEAVY JELLY’ — SOFT PLAY

Formerly known as Slaves UK, a duo who played my end-of-uni ball almost ten years ago, SOFT PLAY burst back into my eardrums just a few months ago. Their thrashing, crashing, somewhat Streets-esque punk blend has retained all credentials, and ‘HEAVY JELLY’ was pierced with tonnes of rebranded fun. 

19. ‘Still Willing’ — Personal Trainer 

Seven Dutch indie rockers who go under the Personal Trainer monicker are responsible for the superbly joyful, upbeat ‘Still Willing’. It was a debut that captured the ears and minds of many at Deer Shed Festival back in July, and their Bella Union signing gives them extra authority — if you weren’t sold enough. 

18. ‘Same Mistake Twice’ — The Howl & The Hum

Seeing Sam Griffiths play an acoustic solo set to open for Elanor Moss last year was a real treat — in the stunning Mill Hill Chapel, too, no less. But when in full band mode, Griffiths truly takes the music to another level. And Hanglands gave me the opportunity to review this newest album, which meant enjoying ‘Echo’ and ‘No Calories In Cocaine’ over and over again.

17. ‘The Joy of Sects’ — Chemtrails

I’d never listened to Chemtrails until receiving info about their singles, ahead of the record dropping. Instead of being enthralled by what I was seeing in a festival capacity and learning about a new band that way, I was all too happy to devour the post-garage-punk and psychedelic sounds via email. And although the pink whale on the artwork didn’t do it for me, the DIY style of ‘Bang Bang’ and ‘Join Our Death Cult’ did.

16. ‘Exactly As It Seems’ — Home Counties

Home Counties were another act I first experienced at Deer Shed, and they brought all the vigour and vibrancy you’d want from a set in the middle of the day. It really revitalised things. This album offers indie-pop in the main, with ‘Bethnal Green’ being the funky one that soared the band’s career to new melodic heights. 

15. ‘In Waves’ — Jamie xx

We welcomed back the techiest of The xx mere months ago, who brought with him an arsenal of brand-new grooves. High-octane electro bangers designed to turn up the voltage to any workout or dancefloor, and with assistance from his former bandmates, plus Honey Dijon, The Avalanches and more, ‘In Waves’ was some feat. 

14. ‘Ohio Players’ — The Black Keys

While on the subject of major returns, did someone say The Black Keys? Yes, you read that right — ‘Ohio Players’ became the band’s slickest offering since 2020’s ‘Brothers’. I still rate ‘El Camino’ as their biggest and baddest (in a good way), but there are some sick licks and chunky riffs that make this well worthy of its position. 

13. ‘IGNORE THIS’ — Dead Pony

The Glaswegian four-piece gifted us their first album in 2024. Although it was long-awaited, it seriously delivered on the impactful scale. It’s feisty, supercharged and about as electronic as you could want from a mighty, heavy rock record. No wonder they’ve been blowing tent roofs off at festivals throughout the summer. ‘IGNORE THIS’ won’t dislodge from my head. 

12. ‘Trust The Stars’ — The O’My’s

It wouldn’t be right to put together a round-up of the year’s musical highlights and miss something jazzy and soulful from the list. Embellished with hip-hop to tie each track into neat, can’t-stop-listening-to packages, The O’My’s have served just what their name suggests they might. ‘The Finest Rum’ is a real highlight! 

11. ‘Dark Rainbows’ — Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes 

I caught Frank, Dean and co performing ‘Dark Rainbows’ and previous behemoth belters on tour back in February. It was just before my 30th, so it created some welcome hype for the event. They were outrageously deft again, and they brought The Mysterines along for support (who smashed it, of course). This new album was the outfit’s swan song before hanging up their collective boots. Not over it. 

10. ‘SELF HELL’ — While She Sleeps

Stabbing, bludgeoning electronics fuel the pedals of every string operator in While She Sleeps. ‘SELF HELL’ is simply more evidence of how their majestic metal sound is sculpted through intense chords, riffs and shredding solos from guitars and the bass. They’re easily a band I’ve become more and more obsessed with over time, for that reason, so props to them for another whopper. 

9. ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’ — Kid Kapichi

Unapologetically opinionated and politically perturbed, Hastings’ Kid Kapichi stuck to their guns on album three. The trifecta has now been hit, some may say, and they haven’t strayed from their noisy, homegrown punk one bit — thank god. Between having an axe to grind and a few to shred, they serve up lashings of delicious government-heckling fodder, rhetorically asking, ultimately: what the hell’s wrong with the UK? It’s often satirical, always sensationally riffy. Bravo. 

8. ‘Honey’ — Caribou 

I’m a sucker for a bit of Caribou. It started in 2010 with ‘Kaili’ and I’m unsure as to when it’ll stop. Watch this space. Though it’s unlikely they’ll ever come out of rotation. The title track from this recent release, ‘Honey’, is as delectable as it presents, yet ‘Come Find Me’, which dropped as a single before the album, was infectiously good then. Still is now, mind you. Catch me boogying around my kitchen.

7. ‘Fear Life For A Lifetime’ — STONE

Witnessing Liverpool’s STONE perform acoustic renditions of their full debut records, ‘Fear Life For A Lifetime’, was one of my coolest press experiences in 2024. Among the tamest, sure, but certainly cool. They were instrumentally and vocally on-point, while still bringing bags of energy to the small stage at The Vinyl Whistle. They did themselves justice. 

6. ‘Don’t Forget Me’ — Maggie Rogers

There’s something about a select few pop artists that just have my attention — and they don’t have to do much to work for it. Maggie Rogers is one of those individuals. Her utterly charming, melancholic vocals have this angelic quality so undeniable that I leapt at the opportunity (from Chuff Media) to review her latest album. ‘Don’t Forget Me’ draws on more of her experiences, set to a pace of HAIM-ish, soft guitar rhythms. It’s refreshingly new yet nostalgic. 

5. ‘Midas’ — Wunderhorse

A lot of you may know Wunderhorse as the band that recently supported Sam Fender at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, but most should really know them for ‘Leader of the Pack’. That insanely catchy, jangly rock bop exudes cool-as-a-cucumber vibes and has all the classic sensibilities the ‘70s guitar gods would bring. But here on ‘Midas’, some tracks are bolshier and heavier, like the grungy ‘July’, catchy title track and fast-paced ‘Rain’. The subtle darkness of ‘Emily’ gets my vote as well.

4. ‘Afraid Of Tomorrows’ — The Mysterines

Like the well-matched good-looker who ghosted you for no reason, The Mysterines just up and did a runner from the music scene this year. They left a note, in fairness, on the socials, to say they’d be cancelling upcoming shows and they were very sorry. But after honing and refining the suave Americana rock ballads on ‘Afraid Of Tomorrows’ and then being, yet again, one of my festival faves over the summer, it seemed cruel for them to simply leave. Lia’s vocal style will forever be one of my favourites. 

3. ‘Business As Usual’ — The LaFontaines

Just when I thought the lump in my throat might clear, I went and read that The LaFontaines were calling it a day, too. I’m sorry, WHAT? It simply isn’t on. Having had such an epic revival this year, and performing such a killer comeback show at The Wardrobe, I was hoping the 17-year-strong trio would be here to stay. Instead, the gifted us ‘Since You Made A Move’, ‘Where They Know My Name’ and a new fave, ‘Keep Me On The Outside’. I’m so grateful for the parting tunes, and for having the chance to interview them this year. A pleasure of the most immense kind. 

2. ‘Sundiver’ — Boston Manor

Boston Manor have more musical swagger in their little fingers than a lot of modern outfits I listen to. Fact. They may know it, but they’re bloody appreciative of the stature they’ve earned. Roaring my lungs out in September as they played old rippers and newer material from ‘Sundiver’ was one of my peak 2024 moments. Thumping, rumbling rhythm sections and ferocious guitars, all sewn together with Henry’s impossible vocal clarity? It’s just a recipe for greatness. BRB, off to spin ‘HEAT ME UP’ again…

1. ‘Letter to Self’ — SPRINTS

It feels like a million years ago that SPRINTS set the rock world alight with the devilishly divine ‘Letter to Self’. After first hearing ‘Up and Comer’ on the radio in the car on a Scottish road trip to seeing the Irish band perform raucously at Live at Leeds, wowing everyone with ‘Heavy’ and ‘Literary Mind’, it feels full-circle to dub their album number one on Record Weekly’s coveted list for 2024. We knew we were listening to greatness on course for the history books when it arrived in January; now, we look forward to what they bequeath us next.