RouteNote Team Records of The Year 2024
As 2024 comes to a close, discover the records that shaped our year, inspired endless replay, and reminded us why we love music.
Gio – Songs Of A Lost World by The Cure
Switch off with the world and make sure the rest of your day is absolutely free cos The Cure released a new album which is like sitting down comfortably and opening a new book. A new chapter of this legendary band.
Jacca – I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU by JPEGMAFIA
Peggy never misses and this is his most ambitious album yet. His wild production choices remain some of the most unique in the game but we also see Peggy refine his sound for the most cohesively accessible album yet. Straight bangers, lush orchestral arrangements, and live instrument recordings provide a totally fresh sound for one of the most consistently creative figures in hip-hop right now.
Reece – TIMELESS by KAYTRANADA
I don’t need to talk too much about why Kaytranada is a solid choice for album of the year, and this album is especially good. Listening to this can flip any mood into a dance mood. Give it a crack, and while you’re at it, listen to everything else he’s dropped, it’s all good good good good.
Emily – Frog In Boiling Water by DIIV
For me, it has to be “Frog in Boiling Water” by DIIV. The track has been a defining part of my year, alongside Fontaines D.C.’s Romance. DIIV perfectly delivered the blend of angst and introspective numbness I was craving. With shoegaze experiencing a major resurgence in 2024, highlighted by bands like Slowdive and RIDE touring to devoted fanbases, DIIV stands out. Despite forming in 2011, they’ve masterfully captured the iconic tones and textures that defined ’90s shoegaze, breathing new life into the genre.
Connor C – The New Sound by Geordie Greep
After the unfortunate dissolution of London-based experimental post-punk group ‘black midi,’ frontman Geordie Greep almost immediately announced his debut upcoming solo album, and we couldn’t be more lucky.
Titled ‘The New Sound,’ this debut LP is a perfect follow-up to black midi’s third (and potentially final) album, ‘Hellfire.’ ‘The New Sound’ takes further leaps into jazz fusion, prog rock, and art pop that were hinted at on many ‘black midi’ tracks. This, paired with Greep’s unique vocal style and lyrical content, makes for an album that I can genuinely say is ‘The New Sound.’
Kyle J – Acts of Harm by Outlander
Outlander has been somewhat of an obsession since I discovered them. I’ve never heard a band so adept at perfectly capturing all the emotions of life in each song.
Acts of Harm builds on this, expanding on it with deeper layers of beautiful guitar, crushing bass, and incredibly expressive drumming. The production is outstanding, making you feel like you’re in the room with the band, creating the perfect soundscape to get lost in.
It’s the perfect album to unwind with after a long day, letting time disappear.
Lucy – Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
Short n’ Sweet CARRIED this summer! With the hits Espresso, Please Please Please and Taste keeping us going until the full album came out in late August. What an icon! I still cherish those summer memories of listening to this album with friends and family when it first released—and we remain just as obsessed months later. The Short n’ Sweet tour has completely taken over social media, and the women-supporting-women energy has been, immaculate. This album is a perfect 10/10 for me.
Tom N – ten days by Fred again..
The fourth studio album from the electronic producer, who seems to have exploded onto the scene out of nowhere. While only releasing his own music for the past five years, Fred has been credited for writing and producing chart-topping pop releases from top artists for over a decade.
‘ten days’ is a somewhat softer, more heartfelt release than the past dancefloor-focused ‘Actual Life’ series, but that’s no bad thing. The new album provides the perfect blend of euphoric upbeat house bangers with downtempo ambient vibes, featuring guests appearances from Sampha, Anderson .Paak, Four Tet and Skrillex.
Jack D – Portrait by Samara Joy
Samara Joy has one of the most captivating vocals i have heard through both their recordings and live performances available online, so i was already excited for the release of her third studio album “Portraits”. She has taken a mix of jazz standards, originals and pre-existing jazz melodies she has embellished with her own charming lyrics that left me transfixed throughout the entire album. I encourage every music lover to give it a listen, especially the playful and rich yet heartbreaking “A Fool In Love (Is Called A Clown)” and the unstoppable vocal force shown in “Reincarnation Of A Lovebird.
Tristan – Eye To The Ear by Cosmo Sheldrake
Album of the year for me has to go to Cosmo Sheldrake’s ‘Eye to the Ear’ – I saw him at the Minack Theatre and it was the perfect setting to experience his natural & field-recorded soundscapes. He uses & manipulates animal & nature samples to create a soundtrack you could never hope to acheive with synths, and it’s just an absolute treat for the ears.
Katie – Light Entertainment by Ciaran Lavery
This was a very happy late-in-the-year discovery for me. I sometimes go through my Release Radar on Spotify of a Friday, not always hoping to find anything exciting but just to have some nice new tunes on in the background while I get on with other bits. I saw on the playlist that Joshua Burnside, who I have enjoyed casually for a while, was listed on a track called We’re Looking for a Hit on this album. I hadn’t heard of Ciaran Lavery before, but I listened to that song maybe 5 times in a row before chucking the full album on, which I then listened to 3 times in full before excitedly messaging a couple people I thought this would speak to in the same way. It’s a stunning journey from start to finish with a story to tell, and subsequently checking out the related short film of the same name made it even more magical.
Tom M – The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams
It would be rude not to pick my most played album for the year, which was Gracie Abrams: The Secret of Us (Deluxe). A late shoutout to the Wicked Soundtrack, as I have been listening to this non-stop since seeing the film. But, I won’t let recency bias get in the way as Gracie’s album is definitely one I’ve enjoyed listening to.
Despite only first listening to this album in September, it was my most played album of the year, beating out the likes of Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 2 and Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft. This shows how much replay value I’ve found in the album over a short period of time without getting bored, with the deluxe offering fun new tracks, as well as live versions of original tracks which I love.
It’s a typical pop record with themes of love, but what stands out to me the most is the fun and cheery acoustic guitar instrumentals that are laced throughout the album. Stylistically this year I have definitely found myself more drawn towards songs with these acoustic guitar instrumentals and this album does that perfectly.
K – To All Trains by Shellac
An unintentional swansong. Shellac’s final studio album, To All Trains, was released merely 10 days after Steve Albini’s sudden death, which caused the cancellation of the band’s promotional tour through the UK (though thankfully I got to see them live twice in 2022).
Many bands don’t survive a 32 year long career, and if they do, the quality of their output usually drops off a cliff. Maybe this has something to with the fact that Shellac only managed 6 albums and a few EPs and compilation releases in their career, but to not only maintain the quality of their prior releases and in fact potentially surpass them and put out the best album of their career? It’s frankly unheard of.
To All Trains, removing the context of Albini’s untimely death, would have been a near-perfect exercise in cathartic release. With groovy, mathy, skronky tracks about mortality, scrap metal salvaging, the overabundance of masculinity within rock music, karaoke, and many other disparate topics, it perfectly sums up the mission statement of Shellac. With the added context of Albini’s death? It becomes a haunting epitaph of a man so deeply in touch with getting older, although one who perhaps wasn’t ready to go just yet.
Requiescat Steve. Alternative music will never be the same. Long live Shellac.
Posy – Silence Is Loud by Nia Archives
“Silence Is Loud” is the perfect blend of old-school vibes and fresh, modern energy that demands to be played loud. Bursting with raw energy and infectious melodies, the album is a full on experience that seamlessly blends elements of drum and bass, jungle, and pop. Her live performance at Boardmasters showcased her incredible talent for creating a high-energy, dancefloor-filling experience
Lawrence – SMILE! 😀 by Porter Robinson
Porter Robinson is an artist that has come back into my heavy rotation over and over, releasing his three albums at exactly the right point in my life to get me listening to him again each time. This latest outing has a lovely blend of the harder early-teens electronic influence of his 2014 debut Worlds, against the more organic and songwriter-focused sophomore album Nurture, while also pushing forward into new territory, all the while retaining an unabashedly melody-focused writing style.
SMILE! 😀 brings a combination of high-energy DJ-ready bangers, electropop earworms and stripped-back-singer-songwriter tracks, seeing Porter grapple with the pressures, expectations and harsh realities of sudden internet fame and fleeting stardom, and the mental toll of the endless horrors and affirmations alike provided by the innately parasocial nature of being a 21st century popstar, in a world where it feels as if nothing means anything anymore. Yet despite it all, Porter Robinson continues to provides plenty of heartfelt lyrics set to ridiculously catchy hooks, all with a production sense only possible from the mind of the terminally online.
It’s been really cool to watch this artist develop into his own distinct style over the years and, if nothing else, I doubt ‘Cheerleader’ will be coming off my party playlist any time soon.
Nick – CHROMA 004 (Ep) by BICEP
I always listen to BICEP and think about how I’d love to hear a rougher, dirtier (less polished) version of this; along came CHROMA.
It’s a new project from the duo with content that they thought might be less at home with the labels they usually work with. CHROMA 002 L.A.V.A and CHROMA 004 ROLA are the standouts for me (with 7 singles released so far in 2024 under the project.
Stan – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To by Knocked Loose
2024 brought another huge effort from the boys in Knocked Loose! It feels like the band has really honed in a their own brand of hardcore more than ever with this album, using less-conventional song structures and textures than you’d usually find in the genre. Partnered with some excellent features from prominent figures within the wider metal community such as Poppy and Chris Motionless, this neat, sub-30-minute package is exploding with elements that’ll appeal to fans of heavy music new and old.
FFO; dissonance, breakdowns and being a little bit cross
Taylor – Love Heart Cheat Code by Hiatus Kaiyote
The best band in the world?? Yes, and this album encapsulates everything that is great about the Aussie group.11 tracks, 36 concise minutes – Hiatus aren’t wasting any time here. From start to finish you will gently be lifted away, spun around, flipped over backwards. By the time you get to Cinnamon Temple you’ll have completely lost yourself. Plus a feature from BMO… Come on.
Rich – Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii
After a solid year for variety, with highlights for me including “Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal” and the simply magnificent “Chelsea Wolfe – She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She” my choice was always going to be difficult. Chelsea Wolfe undoubtedly grabbed my attention most of all with her incredible record. This said, right at the eleventh hour in came Rival Sons with “Pair Of Aces”. Now, Rival Sons are not reinventing the wheel by any means here, but.. Its been a very long time since I’ve seen a true rock n roll band release such a brave and transparent live record. Rival Sons are connected by creative forces only known to them, and fronted by one of the greatest vocalists of our time. Criminally underrated at times, but always rising to the challenge. Tracks like “Lucky Girl” give us a dose of their fire, while tracks like “Soul” showcase their unique understanding of dynamics and the art of the “Jam”. Rival Sons get my vote for their spectacular live recording “Pair Of Aces Pt. 1”
Zoë – Temps de Flors by Tora
Tora, the Byron four-piece absolutely consolidated 2024’s big year of music with their second album Temps de Flors which swiftly became my release of the year this September.
Stand-out tracks include Jigglypuff with its chillwave/ indie-electronica vibe, Afterlife featuring mellow vocals from Tobi Tunis – a former band member – as well as the title track of the album Temps de Flors bringing a peaceful, eclectic energy through an instrumental downtempo interlude style.
This band embody their name, with the Greek meaning of Tora (τώρα) being “now”. Bringing ever-changing genre switch ups, the album offers trip-hop beats, psych pop vibes and ethereal soundscapes to soothe the soul.
Layton – Olympics! by Shalfi
Beautiful instrumental EP inspired by anime music, the guitarist utilises complex guitar techniques like tapping to fill the song with quirks, I’ve been massively inspired by this EP and been making similar stuff as of late. Very niche artist but amazing music with a lot of character to it.
Si – Absolute Elsewhere by Blood Incantation
Absolute Elsewhere by Blood Incantation is a stunning showcase of the band’s mastery in blending technical death metal with expansive, atmospheric elements. The album takes listeners on a cosmic journey, weaving intricate, mind-bending compositions with haunting, ambient passages that evoke a sense of vastness and mystery. The musicianship is unparalleled and it fills me with a strong desire to build and operate a stargate.
Chrissie – Heavy Jelly by Soft Play
The resurgence of sardonic, abrasive, aggressive punk rock in recent years has scratched an itch I didn’t even realise I had. Heavy Jelly is a raucous mix reminiscent of Gang of Four, Dead Kennedys and The Clash, sprinkled with classic Britpop influences like Blur and Oasis.
Punk’s Dead has been playing on repeat in my headphones for the last few months, and I have no plans to retire it any time soon.
Let’s face it, punk is non-conformist at its core. From the raw brutality of Act Violently (which, for all its ferocity, is just about e-scooters), to the celtic-inspired sounds of the final track, Everything and Nothing, Soft Play somehow tick all the boxes without being put in a box themselves.
Sam – Transforming Sorrow by Kaya Project
Seb Taylor’s Kaya Project has been a longtime favourite of mine, and this latest release absolutely lives up to expectations. The production is polished to perfection, and the tracks exude a beautifully chilled vibe that has resonated deeply with me this year. Standout track: Kaya Kaya—pure bliss!
A huge thank you to all the staff who contributed to this article and shared their favorite records of the year. To the entire RouteNote team—thank you for your hard work. Here’s to another year ahead!