Curious what notable personalities in the scene think was great this year? So is TGEFM! So we reached out to some of our favorite luminaries ranging from musicians, label personnel, and more for their “Best of 2024” lists. Now, listen: TGEFM is not a taskmistress. Contributors can write these out however they want. So if it doesn’t actually look or read like a list… and sometimes it really is just a list with no other observations! Who cares?
In October, Pennsylvania’s emo-folk rabble-rouser Condition Oakland delivered their fourth LP, Comedians. It was a delightful folk-emo ride from frontman Tyler Troutman that belongs on lists of top albums this year. Troutman joins us today to share his Albums of the Year for 2024 and a Spotify playlist of top honors.
Alkaline Trio: Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs
The Kings of Horror Emo Punk started out 2024 ready to rock. First things first Skibba brought riffs. Paired with perfectly mixed vocals, and a rhythm section to die for. This album is every thing you love about Alkaline Trio taken up a notch. A strong contender for their best yet.
Hot Water Music: VOWS
HWM couldn’t have picked a better title for this record. This is a wall of sound powered by the sunshine state itself. The album is filled with uplifting tones, anthems about putting your best foot forward, and overcoming demons. Along with a crew of guest appearances. This is the perfect soundtrack for skateboarding after your forty hour work week.
The Dopamines: 80/20
This band rules and the record kicks ass. It’s fast, smart, and brutally honest. The lyrics are both straight forward and aggressive, but easy to find yourself in. The arrangements of these songs keep you guessing. The Dopamines have grown without losing who they are.
The Forecast: Good Journey
The Forecast write great songs. The intros are hype, the verses tell great stories, and the choruses are huge! “Good Journey” has the bands’s classic duel vocals, bar band bass tone over twangy guitars, and rock solid drums. This is Americana Midwest Emo at its best.
Touché Amoré: Spiral In A Straight Line
Spiral in a straight line finds itself feeling a little more pissed then the albums before. It feels less produced, the vocals are raw, and songs are to the point. TA is reinventing their shimmer for a new era.
Bayside: There Are Worst Things Than Being Alive
For over two decades Bayside has been one of the hardest working bands. On TAWTTBA, Raneri reflects on the struggles of life and the sympathy it can sometimes lack. While the rest of the boys continue their onslaught of thrash metal tone mixed with pop punk sensibility. This is a great record to listen to while you’re really pissed.
Sweet Anne Marie: Spent
Sweet Anne Marie bounces us back and fourth between garage band bangers and acoustic sing alongs. The sound works perfectly with her darker lyrics and a more dynamic sound. Driven by nostalgic overtones while seemingly refusing to stay in one place. “Spent” tells a story of a character trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Waxahatche: Tiger’s Blood
Tiger’s Blood is unapologetic with a get the hell out of dodge feeling in the lyrics. The vocals will have you singing along in no time. While 70’s style guitar leads and bouncy folk rock rhythms make great road trip music
Taylor Swift: The Tortured Poets Department
TTPD
TTPD Kinda listens like a “Who Done It?”.
Filled with themes of Murder, Cars, and Florida. While also visiting references of early 2000’s Nostalgia and celebrity drama. The dreamy keyboards and classical guitars provide an easy a listen.
Bleachers: Bleachers
On their S/T effort Bleachers do what Jack Antonoff does best. Give us Lofi Pop Rock bangers. With fun lyrics and the occasional saxophone. It doesn’t matter if you’re late to work or in your kitchen. This one will have you dancing.
Honor Mention:
Tim Holehouse Year
Churches & Trains Songs To Croak Too
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
