Monday, December 9, 2024

Favorite Songs of 2024 - Songs 23-33

Since I seem incapable these days of accomplishing regular social media posts - which is in all likelihood a good thing - I've decided to provide you with a window into what I've been listening to this past year solely via three blog posts. Without further ado, here are the first 11 songs that have been my favorites in 2024.

23.    Train Full of Gasoline by Ducks Ltd.

"Here's me thinking that this might have been an all-time low
But you're right to point out that I've always been a dumbass."


Yes, I admit that absent this particular song I would have likely found another to include in this year's list, just so I could have a song from "Ducks Ltd." Fortunately I really like this one, and particularly love the opening stanza above. I was surprised to learn that singer Tom McGreevy and guitarist Evan Lewis are Canadian, not Australian as the accent I detected is more the latter.

24.     800 by Restorations.

"And it's all gone in the middle of the night
When we're all just going by feel.
I wish I knew what it was ...
But it just keeps flying away.
And I wish I knew what it was ...
But I get so carried away."


So, it appears that there is no video that accompanies this song. Best laid plans and all that. Hopefully, though, you can follow the link and listen on Spotify. All is not lost! A good ol' fashioned rock song, from a band that (apparently) has been around for a while now. More along those lines to follow (at number 28 in particular).

25.     kms by Los Campesinos!

"Some golden oldies radio
Plays your first kiss (Later than your friends did)
Binbag blackout, your landlord pinned for curtains.
Two brine-soaked kids."


No, I have no idea what the title means or for that matter the lyrics, other than that they're pretty much depressing. Nonetheless, I like the song and the band (introduced to me by my son), although I admit to being similarly confused by a Welsh pop/rock/indie band with a Spanish name (although to be fair, if truly Spanish then they'd have an upside down exclamation point at the start of their name too).

26.    Roses by Finnian James.

"I'm picking up these roses
I've got blood all over my hands for you.
They've lost all meaning but I'm ...
Never going to find another you."


Based on the number of YouTube views (124) of this song as I write this, I'm going to guess this is the most obscure song on this year's list. That and Finnian James doesn't have a Wikipedia page ... Maybe we're in early on the start of a meteoric rise for Mr. James?

27.    Jesus Is Dead by Bleachers.

"Tell them to grease the wheels
Pull the arrow back, start the appeal
I'm not the man who sold the world."


No I am not entirely comfortable with this song's title, although I believe it a reference to decaying/dead NYC music scenes and bands, and not the historical Savior. "Texas man" and his horn, however, overcame all my trepidation.

28.    Chicago by Japandroids.

"It's a little late for breakfast, but for you two I'll see what I can do
Coffee's coming right up, and two shots of the good stuff too."


The Japandroids' swan song fourth album sounds very much like them when they first burst on the scene more than a decade ago as far as the music goes (I saw them at Bonnaroo in 2013 and can honestly say I've never heard that much quality sound come out of two musicians in my life). But the lyrics sound kind of middle aged and tired. Which I suppose explains why it's their swan song. "Sorry baby, but we call it like we see it in Chicago."

29.     After Hours by Christian Lee Hutson. 

"There's a Diet Coke fountain, 
no good Italian
There's free shuffleboard in the main hall.
Big budget productions
of the lives of your loved ones;
The good stuff is behind a paywall."


The artist behind my second favorite song in 2022 is back, with either a dystopian vision of what heaven might be, or a dystopian vision of our world cast in heavenly terms. 

30.    Highway Queen by Mt. Joy.

"Oh we both left home on that airplane running
We never looked back but you can tell it's coming
My highway queen must be hiding something."


Mt. Joy are an L.A. band, by way of Philadelphia. They sound more like they're from Appalachia or the South (which is a good thing in my estimation).

31.    Sprinter Brain by Wild Pink.

"Help me understand
What the hell has happened
There's just so many things
I can't explain."


We hear you Wild Pink. Loud and clear.

32.    Homesick by Noah Kahan (with Sam Fender).

"Some guy won Olympic gold
Eight years ago, a distance runner.
"And that makes a lot of sense,
This place is such great motivation
For anyone trying to move
The f!ck away from hibernation."


Not the "Homesick" you might think of. "Sick of home" more like. Kind of a cheat, since Noah's "Stick Season" was last year's favorite song and "Homesick" was mentioned in the List. But this is a new version with another favorite artist of mine, Sam Fender, so I gave myself license to include it here.

33.    i like lizzy (but she doesn't like me) by PRONOUN.

"Oh what a shocking turn of events
Stemming from me having no common sense
Lizzy bring your crocodile tears,
let's start this safari
And if I'm not for you, there's no need to say you're sorry."


Frequent List member PRONOUN (or sometimes pronoun, or aka Alyse Vellturo) is (are?) back with another catchy tune about ... ignoring someone who has a crush on you only decide that you like them but too late for them to like you?

No comments:

Post a Comment