Joseph Grillo of Garrison, Gay For Johnny Depp, and more has most recently been busy with his band Her Head’s On Fire, which also includes members of Saves The Day, Small Brown Bike, and more, and they released their sophomore LP Strange Desires this year. They then capped off 2024 by teaming with Maha Shami of their Iodine labelmates NØ MAN and Jawbox-related cellist Gordon Withers to release a Bandcamp-only cover of The Jesus and Mary Chain’s “Just Like Honey” to raise money for gun control measures, and now Joseph has also made us a list of his favorite albums of the year. His list includes the aforementioned NØ MAN, fellow labelmates Love Letter (members of Verse and Defeatre), Jawbox drummer Zach Barocas, Nada Surf, Superdrag’s John Davis, and more. Read on to see Joseph’s full list with commentary on each pick.
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Joseph Grillo’s 10 Favorite Albums of 2024
1) Acid Rooster – Wall of Mirrors (Little Cloud Records) exceptionally well-executed driving, energetic psych-rock from Germany.
2) Zach Barocas – New Freedom Sound: Two Freedoms (Sweet Cheetah Records) Fela Kuti/Miles Davis inspired classical fusion with some of the finest players in the post hardcore world getting their jazz on.
3) Bolts of Melody – Film Noir (Outer Battery Records) aptly titled cinematic guitar waves and washed from Adam Franklin (Swervedriver) sonic bliss.
4) John Davis – Jinx (Lost In Ohio Records) a masterclass in pop sensibility and lo-fi guitar goodness from this former/current front man from Superdrag.
5) FireFriend – Decreation Facts (Little Cloud Records) Brazil’s finest sonic psychedelic painters with laid back, Velvet Underground cool.
6) Her Head’s On Fire – Strange Desires (Iodine Records) Damn fine guitar rock masterpiece. Am I not your girl?
7) Love Letter – Everyone Wants Something Beautiful (Iodine Records) Dense, evocative and savage hardcore rock from members of Defeater and Verse. Boston’s finest.
8) Magic Shoppe – Down The Wych Elm (Little Cloud Records) dreamy shoegaze pop from Boston. Super cool.
9) Nada Surf – Moon Mirror (New West Records) Power pop, song writing wizards create another gem of an LP.
10) NØ MAN – Glitter and Spit (Iodine Records) Passionate political, noise core from Washington, DC. Brutal and brilliant.