Favorite Songs of 2024 - Songs 1-11

Overcoming a number of obstacles, at long last here are my 11 favorite songs of 2024.

1.    She's Leaving You by MJ Lenderman.

"You can put your clothes back on,

She's leaving you.

No time to apologize

For the things you do.

Go rent a Ferrari

And sing the blues.

Believe that Clapton was the second coming."

So this was going to be the year that we finally had a repeat artist with the "best song" on the List. From likely my favorite band ever, and certainly since the inception of the List. With a new album out and a song on it (actually several) that I loved. 

Then along came MJ Lenderman and kicked that plan right in the butt. The Ashville, NC native is a critical darling following his release of "Manning Fireworks" (along with his previously mentioned duet with Katie Crutchfield "Right Back to It" and his work in the band Wednesday). While I might pump the brakes a little on comparisons to The Boss, Manning Fireworks in general and "She's Leaving You" in particular are chock-full of great lyrics and excellent musicianship. Also highly recommended from the album are "Wristwatch" (with likely my favorite lyrics of 2024: "I've got a houseboat docked at the Himbo Dome; And a wristwatch that's a pocket knife and a megaphone; And a wristwatch that tells me I'm on my own") and the eponymous "Manning Fireworks." By all means, have a listen.

2.    Burial Ground by The Decemberists (with James Mercer).

"This world's 

All wrong

So let's go where we belong

Pack up the stereo

Meet at the burial ground."

The aforementioned favorite band, and favorite song from their latest album "As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again." The addition of James Mercer (of The Shins fame) clinched the deal. Until it didn't. At the very least, also check out the salsa beat and horns on "Oh No!" from this excellent latest effort from our Portland friends.

The Decemberists in Durham in 2024.

3.    Weak In Your Light by Nation of Language.

"Funblin' friend and foe, we're in rotten light

Starin' down the simple somethin' that'll shape my whole life.

Breathin' and burnin' beleaguered and overthrown

I can feel myself come undone ... yet there's more ..."

Spotify tells me that this was my most-listened to song of 2024. Which makes sense, seeing that it came out in 2023 and was on my playlist from the start of the year. Not to mention that I really like it. I was curious to see if lead singer Ian Richard Devaney's voice was heavily overdubbed (as I suspected) or was really as pure live as on the recorded version. After viewing the above video, count me as convinced: he has a great voice.

4.    Ice Cream Piano by Vampire Weekend.

"Armistice, we never tried it

You're the soldier, I'm police.

Listen baby, we can't deny it:

You don't want to win this war

'Cause you don't want the peace."

Doesn't exactly sound like a healthy relationship, but love how we get there musically and lyrically. More songs to recommend from "Only God Was Above Us" than any other album released in 2024, including "Prep School Gangsters," "Capricorn," "Classical," and "Mary Boone" in addition to my favorite, Ice Cream Piano.

5.    Ain't No Love in Oklahoma by Luke Combs.

"I keep chasin' that same old devil

Down the same old dead end highway.

Riding that storm runnin' through my veins

Like a shot down, tail spun airplane."

Yup, a movie song. And a CMA Awards video. Deal with it. And rock out while you do.

6.    Snake Plant (The Past Is Still Alive) by Hurray For The Riff Raff.

"Tattoo with a needle and thread

Most of our old friends are dead

So, test your drugs, remember Narcan

There's a war on the people, what don't you understand?"

Just a guess that Hurray For The Riff Raff will not darken the CMA Awards' door anytime soon. But hey, that's what we're here for - variety! HFTRR's lead singer, Alynda Segarra, however, would certainly fit in well with the likes of Boxcar Willie.

7.    Sick Sweet by Wishy.

"Well it's a sick sweet life

and I'm gambling it all tonight

With every shade of me flying

like freaks on a free ride."

The kind of song this List was built on: straight ahead power pop. Wishy are apparently from Indianapolis, which is completely consistent with the previous sentence.

8.    Rewind by Rosali.

"I'm a gold light made of rhythm and space

She's a soft wind, you'll meet her someday.

I feel my whole life blowing away

Wanna be with you someday."

A pretty love song with some excellent horns. The video, however, is rather ... inscrutable.

9.     Fair Shake by Hanover.

"There's courage at my window

and doubt at my door

But it's the way you keep me guessing

that makes me so sure."

Another solid power pop song that puts me in mind of '90's groups like Matchbox 20, or even '70's rock like BTO. Apparently, Hanover have yet to be discovered by ... just about anyone but me, judging by the number of views of this song on YouTube.

10.    Sunshine Getaway by JD McPherson.

"Oh neighbor, drag me out of the state I'm in

I need a tropical breeze over sun-kissed skin.

In the crystal blue seas where the palm trees sway

I'm stuck in the middle of the USA."

Sounds like our rockabilly friend JD needs a ... getaway.

11.    Dreams by Hana Vu.

"And every night is beautiful

And every song's your favorite one

And no it doesn't hurt to be alive

And love doesn't fade away

And everyone stays the same

And no it doesn't hurt to be alive."

A lovely, wishful song about the way things will never be. The song I heard latest in 2024 to make the List. On a t.v. show of all places ("High Potential" which I highly recommend).

That's it, at long last. I should say something about trying to be more diligent in posting the 2025 List, but it seems like it would be a hollow promise at this point. Hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!

Favorite Songs of 2024 - Songs 12-22

 On with the List ...

12.    Bored by Waxahatchee.

"Armed with a safety pin

Overly confident

My skin is airy thin

But my game is rigged to win."

Waxahatchee (aka Katie Crutchfield) returns with a half-spoken, half-sung single about ... complacency? Also look for her duet with MJ Lenderman "Right Back to It," full of banjos and Southern angst. You'll hear from Mr. Lenderman again, soon.

13.    Another good year for the roses by Kurt Vile.

"These days I ... man, these days I do whatever I want,

Tone out the rest

'Til something wakes me from a rest.

Tone out the rest."

Kurt's doing his best to try to stay positive. To which I say both thank you and good luck.

14.    The Death Of The Punchline by The Hold Steady.

"Now I'm trying to manage some bands.

Looking for sad kids writing anthems for the big time.

Hands in the air and a flag at half mast on the grapevine.

Mourning the American dream and the death of the punchline."

Our Midwest poet Craig Finn and friends are back again, telling us a tale of gambling, drinking, possibly drug pushing ... and a band manager. Carry on, good sir.

15.    Mint Tea by Johnny Blue Skies/Sturgill Simpson.

"So put another band-aid on my bullet wound

Pour us both another cup of that mint tea.

Sit down by my side underneath the moon

Tell me why you're so afraid of little ol' me."

A song about (mostly) comfortable, well-worn love. I think. With his nom de plume Johnny Blue Skies, Sturgill takes a more direct country route, with the little (but restrained here) blues and rock flourishes we've come to enjoy.

16.    Maestro (Tears Don't Lie) by Wilder Woods.

"I can tell that you're tryin'

I can tell that you're scared

Trail of fears and a face for denyin', baby

But I'm still here."

Sounds as if it's the end of this relationship for Wilder Woods' Bear Rinehart (also the frontman for NEEDTOBREATHE). But man, the way he takes us there is a joy: his voice, the background vocals, that chorus. 

17.    Love Of A Girl by The Avett Brothers.

"So I sneak out, peace out, peek out the curtains

Of a blacked-out bedroom passed-out cartoon 

Version of a person with a whole herd of sheep

Just floatin' in a circle with come capital z's."

What meaning is the in this daily grind? It's all for the love of a girl. Maybe it's an oversimplification, but I have to think the Brothers' interchanging vocals would be much more difficult to accomplish if they weren't ... brothers.

18.    Breakfast for Dinner by Winnetka Bowling League.

"It's when I picture us in forever

Wrinkles matching, layering up

For cozy winters

And a lifetime of breakfast for dinner."

A fun little love song from a group that I must admit I was somewhat disappointed to learn is not from a Northern suburb of Chicago but, rather, was named after a real bowling league in Southern California.

19.    The Place That Makes Me Happy by The Moss.

"My baby got a twist like you've never seen

Shakin' her ass in the grass, she's a dancin' queen."

Demographically and life outlook wise, I'm sure I have little in common with The Moss. But I do appreciate their attitude, and this song.

20.    anything you wanna get! by Katie Billes.

"And what did your father say?

'If you hit it with your pure emotion

You can get it,

Anything you wanna get.'"

Another obscure one judging from the YouTube views, but a fun, positive song that the dad of a bright, successful daughter has to like.

21.    I'll Be Ur Friend by Rigby Picnic.

"One day I'll be growin' older

Being bolder, puttin' out the flame

I'll have picked my poison

Made my noise 'n given up the game."

Yet another little heard song, which warms my heart. A lovely end-of-love song. Rigby Picnic are (is?) Philidelphia-based musician Jake Hoffpauir (according to its/his Facebook page).

22.    Up All Night by James Bay (with The Lumineers and Noah Kahan).

"Let's talk about dreams

Let's talk about lies

Let's talk about all the things that keep us up all night.

Let's talk about who

Gotta talk about why

Let's talk about all the things that keep us up all night."

A fun stomper. If insomnia can be fun, that is. While they're not present on the video, the contributions of list favorites The Lumineers and Noah Kahan are unmistakably present in the music.

A pretty strong middle 11 this year, if I do say so myself. On to the next batch!