Earlier this year, melodic hardcore supergroup Love Letter (members of Verse, Defeater, and more) released their debut album Everyone Wants Something Beautiful via Iodine Recordings, and now three members of the band have told us about their favorite albums of 2024, including guitarists Jay Maas (ex-Defeater, prolific producer) and Matt Spence, and bassist Dave Alcan. Their picks include Iodine labelmates NØ MAN (members of Majority Rule), Touché Amoré, Drug Church, Cursive, Knocked Loose, Kendrick Lamar, fellow melodic hardcore supergroup Be Well (members of Battery, Fairweather, Darkest Hour, Bane, etc), and more, and they commented on each pick.
Read on for what they had to say…
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Love Letter’s 10 Favorite Albums of 2024
Jay’s picks:
1) NØ MAN – Glitter and Spit
Punk rock has always served as a creative outlet for people whose frustrations and emotions are in need of a tangible translation layer. Glitter and Spit exuded this from the first second I heard it. Sonically, it perfectly walks the razors edges of attitude and aggression without sacrificing its ability to be absolutely CRANKED in my car. This is arguably the most important band in all of punk and hardcore right now and I’m honored to not only be on the same amazing label as them (Iodine Records) but also that we’ve now been able to share a stage on multiple occasions.
2) Drug Church – Prude
This band just gets it. For me it’s a perfect combination of ’90s inspired grunge with modern production which keeps it from feeling too much like Nirvana worship or something. Pat’s vocals while borderline atonal are authentically delivered as are the often irreverent tongue in cheek lyrics. I’ve known Pat for a LONG time now and hearing his unique perspective on different subjects in musical form always brings a smile to my face as it reminds me of just hanging out and being able to unpack things going on in the world intelligently without fear of judgement or emotional overreaction. A breath of fresh air to say the least.
3) Cursive – Devourer
I’ve been listening to Cursive since Domestica back in 2000. Cursive is a band that has always taken chances, both with composition as well as production. Tim Kasher’s ability to tell stories in the lyrics from different characters’ perspectives is a master class in narrative delivery. Devourer isn’t afraid to be explosive one second, subdued the next, and then just legitimately “zany” the next for lack of a better term. Regardless of the compositional mechanism being used at any given moment, it all feels distinctly “Cursive” which I mean in the best possible way, fearlessly ducking and weaving to support the tensions required to translate the emotional context of the songs to the listener.
4) Be Well – A Tap I Can’t Turn Off
Be Well is my favorite current punk band. Honestly, I keep waiting for them to release a stinker but literally every single song they release I absolutely love. It shouldn’t be surprising as Brian McTernan fronts the band but has also been producer of so many of my favorite records. There are all these little melodic motifs I would hear on records from Strike Anywhere, Circa Survive, Balance and Composure, etc that are all over the Be Well songs. It’s now clear that the genesis of these come from Brian, and it’s been really cool to hear that played out from the source. All of my favorite bands inflect emotionally lock in step with the lyrical content and Be Well certainly doesn’t disappoint on this front either. A lot of bands can be raw but few can do it with a level of self accountability that I find in these songs and it’s something that resonates with me very deeply.
5) Touché Amoré – Spiral In A Straight Line
To be a Touché Amoré fan is to feel like growing up alongside a life long friend. Jeremy has let the rest of us in on so many aspects of his journey through his life over the years and this latest entry is filled with the kind sobering reality that we are left with when relationships drift apart. The key line for me was “Sometimes things just don’t make sense” from the opening track “Nobody’s”. I think most of us have had to deal with this exact feeling in our lives, it’s not dramatic, it’s not explosive, but it’s just reality. As always the musical backdrop on Spiral In A Straight Line is masterfully dynamic, somber, and perfectly paced. I had the honor of playing many many shows with Touché Amoré in my time, but if I’m being honest I think the band just keeps getting better and better. I was able to see them twice within a month this year and both of the sets were some of my favorites ever, and I really do think that has everything to do with the connection they have made with their fans over the years.
Matt’s picks:
6) Kendrick Lamar – GNX
GNX feels like a refreshing mix of raw energy and introspection, showing he’s still at the top of his game. The album dives into themes like loyalty, rivalry, and legacy, with Kendrick’s signature sharp lyricism nearly always being the first thing I hook on to. It might not be as heavy on storytelling as his earlier albums, but GNX was definitely a surprise I didn’t know I needed this year.
7) Microwave – Let’s Start Degeneracy
Microwave’s Let’s Start Degeneracy is a wild ride that feels raw, messy, and totally unapologetic – in the best way. The album jumps between grungy riffs, melodic hooks, and chaotic energy that keeps you on your toes. Lyrically, it’s like reading someone’s unfiltered journal, full of existential dread and frustration with the world, but also oddly relatable. It’s not afraid to get a little uncomfortable, but that’s part of what makes it so memorable.
Dave’s picks:
8) Night Fever – Dead End
This LP is a full body experience for me every time I play it and I often have to play it twice. For me it’s this perfect place where old school hardcore meets my favorite metal and rock and roll from the same era. There are plenty of cross-over bands who have done this but none of them make me feel like the earth is going to explode and I’m happily hoping it does. I don’t have a bucket list but if I did I’d put “See Night Fever” near the top. Dead End is one of my favorite records, ever.
9) Hot Water Music – Vows
Anyone who knows me at all will tell you how crazy I am for this band. The Ragan/Wollard vocal thing will NEVER get old for me and the rhythm section of Black/Rebelo is as perfect as it ever has been. Additionally, no one but Cresswell could step up and fill what I would have genuinely believed to be impossible shoes, again. As far as production goes, I personally keep Brian McTernan’s up as high as anyone and still I’m shocked how perfect this record sounds. Vows brings 12 more entries into the soundtrack of my life and as a record has knocked me out harder than anything at least going back to their record Exister (2012).
10) Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To
You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To is pure chaos in the best way possible. It’s heavier, darker, and more experimental than anything they’ve done before, with eerie soundscapes and transitions that make the whole thing feel like a spiraling nightmare. The breakdowns are absolutely crushing. It’s the kind of record that leaves you a little speechless. They’re pushing their sound in new directions and it absolutely works.