NYC noise rock staples Couch Slut returned this year with their great fourth album You Could Do It Tonight, and vocalist Megan Osztrosits also lent her voice to the new album by former Oxbow leader Eugene S. Robinson’s band Buñuel. You Could Do It Tonight has been landing on some year-end lists, and now guitarist Amy Mills and bassist Kevin Hall have shared their own year-end lists with us.
The picks range from cult rapper Mach-Hommy to the 1971-recorded, newly-released Alice Coltrane live at Carnegie Hall album (with Pharoah Sanders in the band) to ecstatic black metal band Agriculture and Agriculture vocalist Leah B. Levinson’s solo project Cali Bellow to Charli XCX and beyond. See what they had to say about all of their picks below.
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Amy Mills’ (Couch Slut) Favorite Albums of 2024
DITZ – Taxi Man (single)
I can already tell the 2nd LP from DITZ will be an absolute favorite. The first time I heard DITZ I was immediately grabbed and I spent a huge amount of time with their debut LP. It was the first band I’d heard in a very long time that was making sounds with their guitars I couldn’t immediately figure out. They blend noise rock, grooves, pop sensibility, queer themes, and unconventional song structure in an absolutely perfect way. This new single fucking rips, a masterclass in menace and dynamics you can dance to.
Various Artists – I Saw the TV Glow OST / film
Not only was this one of the best films of 2024, but also one of my favorite albums of the year. Many of my favorite artists gathered in one place–Florist, Maria BC, King Woman, Drab Majesty, Phoebe Bridgers, Yeule, Caroline Polachek, among others–no way this could lose. Each artist also wrote a new song for this album, making it a beautifully curated collection of singles that all play off each other.
Charli XCX – brat
I had a brat summer and it was beautiful. Just a flawless pop album–Charli and AG ate down on this one.
Agriculture – Living is Easy
One of the most beautiful albums I’ve heard, made by wonderful people. The melodic writing on this album is flawless, you will cry if you see it live (esp on mushrooms). This album beautifully builds upon their self-titled LP and I can’t wait to hear what they do next.
The Softies – The Bed I Made
One of my favorite bands of all time, this surprise new entry into their catalog builds upon their previous albums seamlessly. Essential sad girl music, Rose will always be one of my favorite singers and the Softies will always be in my top 5 favorite songwriters.
Cali Bellow – Ciao Bella
Leah has created an album that is really unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. Imagine city pop, hyper pop, lo-fi, indie rock, and black metal all came crashing together. This album is incredible and merits many listenings–lock in and get ready for a ride.
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Kevin Hall’s (Couch Slut) Favorite Albums of 2024
Mach-Hommy – #RICHAXXHAITIAN
Mach-Hommy has become one of my favorite rappers over the past several years, distinguishing himself in a crowded field that includes major dudes like Westside Gunn and Boldy James. Top-shelf bars and top-shelf beats. 10/10.
Gloop – Tension
Most of my favorite noise rock makes me feel like it wants to fight me or drive me insane; this EP from a trio out of Baltimore falls into the former category. Hat tip to Joey of Baltimore’s fabulous Bloated Subhumans (whose UNCONSCIOUS is my favorite release of 2023) for turning me on to this.
Alice Coltrane – The Carnegie Hall Concert
A live performance recorded in February 1971 with two saxes (Pharoah Sanders and Archie Shepp), two drummers, two basses, a harmonium, a tambura, and Turiya herself, this is my favorite live recording I’ve yet heard of a band led by Ms. McLeod (I prefer it to the sextet performance recorded in Berkeley in 1972). This record is a gift from the beyond.
Les Rallizes Dénudés – Yaneura Oct. ‘80
The first “official” release (as far as I know) of this recording documents a live performance in October 1980 in Shibuya which occurred during a brief period (like, 6 months) in the band where there were two lead guitarists instead of just Mizutani. Utterly indispensable if you like LRD or psychedelic guitar music in general, and maybe my favorite so far of the ~8 LRD releases The Last One Musique has done over the past couple years.