2024 was the year Dadrock went pop.  Much to the horror of my children, who never had a Taylor Swift phase or anything like that, I found myself listening to the latest pop earworms like they were anthems penned by the voices of their generation.  This is confirmed by the Spotify algorithm, which suddenly was serving me playlists with the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and Dua Lipa.  Even writing that sentence makes me feel like a skeezy old man.  

Speaking of the algorithm, it’s funny how we diligently opt out of the strictly unnecessary cookies, unsubscribe from the unsubscribable and make every other attempt to live off the digital grid, but when it comes to Spotify Wrapped, we’re like HERES MY SOCIAL, BANK ACCOUNT AND ROUTING NUMBER.  I will make the case that I am the most Spotify-pilled data whore you know.  For one thing, last year my Spotify Wrapped was topped by the Rolling Stones, Beatles and Springsteen.  I found this to be abhorrent and unacceptable.  For the love of god, I spend a majority of my listening time checking out new bands and the latest releases – how the fuck did I wind up with the Stones on the top of my listens?!  So I did what any deranged Spotify Wrapped data would do – I deleted the Stones, Bruce and the Beatles from my most listened to playlists.  That’ll show them…

Also, when I listen to an album on vinyl I also play it on Spotify, not to hear it from both sources, but to get the spins entered into the “Permanent Record.”  Who does this?  Me.  I’m the problem.  It’s me.

Well I’m happy to report that this year’s Wrapped reflected my listening more accurately.  My top 5 artists were Vampire Weekend, The Avett Brothers, R.E.M., Grateful Dead, and Beyoncé.  Mission accomplished. And yeah, that’s not a misprint – I spent 122,755 minutes of the year listening to Spotify. About 85 full days worth of listening. Humblebrag?

Let’s move on.  2024 was an excellent year for new music.  Here are the lists of my favorite albums and songs.  Hold onto your wigs and keys.

Albums

1. Vampire Weekend, Only God Was Above Us
2. Beyonce, Cowboy Carter
3. MJ Lenderman, Manning Fireworks
4. Jamie xx, In Waves
5. Kendrick Lamar, GNX
6. Jack White, No Name
7. Fred again…, ten days/USB
8. Billie Eilish, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
9. Norah Jones, Visions
10. St Vincent, All Born Screaming
11. Remi Wolf, Big Ideas
12. Waxahatchee, Tigers Blood
13. Brittany Howard, What Now
14. Adrianne Lenker, Bright Future
15. Charli xcx, BRAT
16. Marcus King, Mood Swings
17. The Smile, Wall Of Eyes/Cutouts
18. Sleater-Kinney, Little Rope
19. Helado Negro, Phasor
20. Hurray For The Riff Raff, The Past Is Still Alive
21. Tyler, The Creator, CHROMAKOPIA
22. Mannequin Pussy, I Got Heaven
23. Amyl and the Sniffers, Cartoon Darkness
24. Faye Webster, Underdressed at the Symphony
25. Nathaniel Ratliff & The Night Sweats, South of Here
26. Kacey Musgraves, Deeper Well
27. Leon Bridges, Leon
28. IDLES, TANGK
29. Floating Points, Cascade
30. Kaytranada, Timeless

Songs (*Limit One Track Per Artist)

1. Kendrick Lamar, Not Like Us
2. Beyoncé, Texas Hold ‘Em
3. Waxahatchee + MJ Lenderman, Right Back To It
4. Vampire Weekend, Classical
5. Hozier, Too Sweet
6. Billie Eilish, Birds of a Feather
7. Remi Wolf – Toro
8. Helado Negro, Best For You and Me
9. Jungle, Let’s Go Back
10. Marcus King, Fuck My Life Up Again
11. MJ Lenderman, Wristwatch
12. Iron & Wine w/Fiona Apple, All In Good Time
13. Leon Bridges, Laredo
14. Father John Misty, I Guess Time Makes Fools of Us All
15. Jamie xx, Honey Dijon, Baddy On The Floor
16. Adrianne Lenker, Ruined
17. Sabrina Carpenter, Espresso
18. Fred again…, adore u
19. Jack White – That’s How I’m Feeling
20. Norah Jones, Running
21. Hurray For The Riff Raff – Alibi
22. Sleater-Kinney, Say It Like You Mean It
23. Tyler, The Creator, Noid
24. Eminem, Houdini
25. Nathaniel Ratliff & The Nightsweats, Heartless
26. Tierra Whack, SHOWER SONG
27. Brittany Howard, Prove It To You
28. IDLES + LCD Soundsystem, Dancer
29. Faye Webster, Thinking About You
30. Childish Gambino, Lithonia
31. Michael Kiwanuka, Floating Parade
32. Pearl Jam, Wreckage
33. Charli xcx + Lorde, Girl, So Confusing
34. Mannequin Pussy, I Don’t Know You
35. Amyl and The Sniffers, Jerkin’ 
36. Beth Gibbons, Floating On A Moment
37. The Smile, Zero Sum
38. Fontaines D.C., Starburster
39. Dua Lipa, Houdini
40. Johnny Blue Skies/Sturgill Simpson, Mint Tea
41. Yard Act – We Make Hits
42. James Blake, Thrown Around
43. The Avett Brothers, Cheap Coffee
44. Chappell Roan, Good Luck, Babe!
45. Medium Build, Crying Over U
46. Slimdan, Nosebleeds
47. English Teacher, The World’s Biggest Paving Slab
48. Mk.gee, ROCKMAN
49. MGMT, Nothing To Declare
50. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Empty Trainload Of Sky

Link to THIS IS 2024: my top 50 songs on Spotify