Best albums of the year so far?

[Entre_Perpetuo]

What are your favorite albums of 2024 now that we’ve passed the halfway point?

 

Here’s the current state of my running list:

 

 

1. Twenty-One Pilots - Clancy

2. Another Sky - Beach Day

3. Willow - Empathogen

4. Charli XCX - brat

5. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - of the Last Human Being

6. Kali Uchis - Orquídeas

7. The Smile - Wall Of Eyes

8. The Decemberists - As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

9. Judas Priest - Invincible Shield

10. The Last Dinner Party - Prelude To Ecstasy

 

11. Mdou Moctar - Funeral For Justice

12. Knocked Loose - You Won’t Go When You’re Supposed To

13. Lake Street Dive - Good Together

14. St. Vincent - All Born Screaming

15. Dua Lipa - Radical Optimism

16. Holiday Death Tribute - Holiday Death Tribute

17. Pallbearer - Mind Burns Alive

18. Jacob Collier - Djesse Vol. 4

19. Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us

20. Glass Beach - Plastic Death

 

21. Big Big Train - The Likes Of Us

22. Arooj Aftab - Night Reigns

23. Conway The Machine - Slant Face Killah

24. Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven

25. Chicano Batman - Notebook Fantasy

26. Tierra Whack - Whack World

27. Outside World - Outside World 3

28. Brittany Howard - What Now

29. Imagine Dragons - Loom

30. Middle Kids - Faith Crisis Pt. 1

 

31. Pearl Jam - Dark Matter

32. Strangers That Clique - The Heavy After Hours

33. Metro Boomin x Future - We Don’t Trust You

34. Maggie Rodgers - Don’t Forget Me

35. Cloud Nothings - Final Summer

36. Green Day - Saviors

37. The Tangent - To Follow Polaris

 

I have also spun Billie Eilish’s new record once but I haven’t been able to return to it and rank it yet. Also planning on getting around to Taylor’s album once I’m ready.

Edited July 11, 2024 by Entre_Perpetuo

[Nova Carmina]

I like to participate in threads because, hey, it's the point of being a forum member, but I'm going to have to punt on this one, as -- to make a representative point -- I have heard 0.0 seconds of even a single track of any of the albums Entre mentioned. I got nothing.

 

I'm getting too old for this sh. . . . 

 

 

[Entre_Perpetuo]

2 hours ago, Nova Carmina said:

I like to participate in threads because, hey, it's the point of being a forum member, but I'm going to have to punt on this one, as -- to make a representative point -- I have heard 0.0 seconds of even a single track of any of the albums Entre mentioned. I got nothing.

 

I'm getting too old for this sh. . . . 

 

 

Well the good news is now you have official reccomendations for what’s worth your time! :p

[Nova Carmina]

14 minutes ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

Well the good news is now you have official reccomendations for what’s worth your time! :p

 

Maybe I'll start with Mannequin Pussy . . .

[Union 5-3992]

In no particular order:

 

• Amigo the Devil - Yours Until the War is Over (Folk album with metal lyrics. Half the album is comedic, the other half depressing, all of it dark)
• Judas Priest - Invincible Shield (spectacular album for a band that's 50+ years old)
• High on Fire - Commeth the Storm (These guys never disappoint. I'm excited to see them play some of this stuff live later this year. There's definitely a cool middle eastern vibe to some of the songs)
• Horseburner - Voice of Storms (Heard this on a whim last week and love it. Awesome stoner metal)
• The Smile - Wall of Eyes 
• Handsome Jack - A Good Thing 
• St Vincent - All Born Screaming

 

[Union 5-3992]

We still got a new King Gizzard and Devin Townsend album coming out. Deftones might also have an album. Plus there may be two Les Claypool albums (one with Sean Ono Lennon and one with Billy Strings) in the pipeline. 

[zepphead]

6 hours ago, Nova Carmina said:

I like to participate in threads because, hey, it's the point of being a forum member, but I'm going to have to punt on this one, as -- to make a representative point -- I have heard 0.0 seconds of even a single track of any of the albums Entre mentioned. I got nothing.

 

I'm getting too old for this sh. . . . 

 

 

I have to admit I have never heard of some of the artists on Entre's list nevermind the albums!!!

[Union 5-3992]

I won't revisit it much, but props to Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats for releasing a 1 hour soundtrack to an Italian movie that doesn't exist.

[Entre_Perpetuo]

1 hour ago, zepphead said:

I have to admit I have never heard of some of the artists on Entre's list nevermind the albums!!!

I think you might dig these ones if you haven’t heard them yet:

 

The Smile - Wall Of Eyes

Judas Priest - Invincible Shield

Mdou Moctar - Funeral For Justice

Lake Street Dive - Good Together

Pallbearer - Minds Burn Alive

Glass Beach - Plastic Death

Big Big Train - The Likes Of Us

Outside World - Outside World 3

 

Edited July 11, 2024 by Entre_Perpetuo

[zepphead]

1 hour ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

I think you might dig these ones if you haven’t heard them yet:

 

The Smile - Wall Of Eyes

Judas Priest - Invincible Shield

Mdou Moctar - Funeral For Justice

Lake Street Dive - Good Together

Pallbearer - Minds Burn Alive

Glass Beach - Plastic Death

Big Big Train - The Likes Of Us

Outside World - Outside World 3

 

The Priest album is excellent!! I'm also a long time fan of Big Big Train. The others I will give a spin!!!

[TheAccountant]

9 hours ago, Nova Carmina said:

I like to participate in threads because, hey, it's the point of being a forum member, but I'm going to have to punt on this one, as -- to make a representative point -- I have heard 0.0 seconds of even a single track of any of the albums Entre mentioned. I got nothing.

 

I'm getting too old for this sh. . . . 

 

 

Loved the Judas Priest album.  However, like you, I have not heard any of the other albums.  Heck, most of them belong to groups I have never heard of.

[zepphead]

I've been racking my brain to think what new albums i've been listening to in 2024 and if truth be told it is not many.

Some that spring to mind are -

 

Judas Priest - Invisible Shield

Bruce Dickenson - The Mandrake Project

Steve Hackett - The Circus and The Nightwhale

The Black Crowes - Happiness B*stards

Magnum - Here Comes The Rain

Big Big Train - The Likes Of Us

Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace

The Decemberists - As It Ever Was, So It Will Be again

 

There must be more but these are the first to mind.

Edited July 11, 2024 by zepphead

[Entre_Perpetuo]

2 hours ago, zepphead said:

I've been racking my brain to think what new albums i've been listening to in 2024 and if truth be told it is not many.

Some that spring to mind are -

 

Judas Priest - Invisible Shield

Bruce Dickenson - The Mandrake Project

Steve Hackett - The Circus and The Nightwhale

The Black Crowes - Happiness B*stards

Magnum - Here Comes The Rain

Big Big Train - The Likes Of Us

Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace

The Decemberists - As It Ever Was, So It Will Be again

 

There must be more but these are the first to mind.

Oh shoot there’s new Caligula’s Horse??? I love those guys! See this is why I made this thread, lol. I’m so not plugged into new prog and metal stuff right now.

[TheAccountant]

Interesting, did I miss it or has nobody mentioned Saxons album?  Or did that come out last year?  What about Accepts album?  More quality from metal geezers.

[yyz305]

Have to think further, but number 1 so far for me is 

 

Black Country Communion  - V

[BigBob]

Glad to see Big Big Train being mentioned. I just discovered them this year and absolutely love them!

[zepphead]

8 hours ago, TheAccountant said:

Interesting, did I miss it or has nobody mentioned Saxons album?  Or did that come out last year?  What about Accepts album?  More quality from metal geezers.

 

6 hours ago, yyz305 said:

Have to think further, but number 1 so far for me is 

 

Black Country Communion  - V

Totally forgot about both these albums!! 

[J2112YYZ]

I've heard five new albums so far this year.

 

Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project 

Judas Priest - Invincible Shield 

Witherfall - Sounds Of The Forgotten 

Unleash The Archers - Phantoma

The Warning - Keep Me Fed 

 

I enjoy all of them very much.

 

[Segue Myles]

In order of preference:

 

1. Pearl Jam- Dark Matter

2. Fleet Foxes- Live On Boston Harbor

3. Taylor Swift- The Tortured Poets Department 

4. Saxon- Hell, Fire And Damnation 

5. Judas Priest- Invincible Shield 

[Union 5-3992]

On 7/11/2024 at 8:59 PM, yyz305 said:

Have to think further, but number 1 so far for me is 

 

Black Country Communion  - V

 

Oh shit, I didn't realize they released a new album!

[yyz305]

6 hours ago, Union 5-3992 said:

 

Oh shit, I didn't realize they released a new album!

Another great album, shame they don't spend some time on the road.

[Segue Myles]

On 7/12/2024 at 3:05 PM, J2112YYZ said:

I've heard five new albums so far this year.

 

Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project 

Judas Priest - Invincible Shield 

Witherfall - Sounds Of The Forgotten 

Unleash The Archers - Phantoma

The Warning - Keep Me Fed 

 

I enjoy all of them very much.

 

I like Witherfall a lot! They remind me of Iced Earth, Blind Guardian and Demons and Wizards. Shall definitely explore them more!!

 

Also, their album artwork is achingly beautiful. Just a band that delivers the goods on all levels for me so far.