Owen Ashworth put out his latest Advance Base album, Horrible Occurrences, in the final month of this year (via Run For Cover), and it already landed on at least one of the year-end lists we’ve seen so far. Now he’s told us about his favorite albums of the year, which include Cindy Lee, Jeff Parker, Arooj Aftab, The Cure, This Is Lorelei, 22° Halo, and more. As we also saw when he broke down the influences behind Horrible Occurrences, Owen’s as great at writing music as he is at writing about music, and this list is no different.
Take it away, Owen…
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Owen Ashworth’s 10 Favorite Albums of 2024
I find these kinds of lists tricky to make because so much of my favorite music is made by my friends, and it doesn’t seem fair to mix those albums whose makers I’m privileged to have a personal connection to with the albums that just exist in my life as regular music. I decided not to include any albums on this list that were made by people I know personally, though I easily could have made a parallel list of equally wonderful albums made by dear friends. Ok, disclaimer over. On with the strangers:
Diamond Jubilee by Cindy Lee
Of all of the albums on this list, this is the one I listened to the most in 2024. The guitar playing is beautiful and there is a wonderful looseness and a wild creativity to the whole endeavor that I find very inspiring.
The Way Out of Easy by Jeff Parker ETA IVtet
I love Josh Johnson’s saxophone playing. This music feels so nice and just right. I like to play it when nobody’s home and I’m just silently doing my little housekeeping things like laundry and dishes and sweeping and whatever.
Mayday by Myriam Gendron
There is a steadiness to Gendron’s music that just transfixes me. So much strength and restraint in her guitar playing and her singing, so much focus on keeping the message clear and simple. I feel like she is staring straight at me when I listen to these songs.
All Life Long by Kali Malone
Kali Malone’s organ drones can feel like the deepest dread and despair. Sometimes that is exactly what I want out of music. A classic laying-down-when-you’re-feeling-overwhelmed-by-life-and-letting-the-music-overwhelm-you-instead album.
Night Reign by Arooj Aftab
Her voice is unreal and the arrangements float around it so nicely. This was a late discovery for me but I’ve been listening to it a bunch this week & it has really taken over my life.
Songs of A Lost World by The Cure
This band is just a huge inspiration. I’m so grateful that they’re still going strong and Robert Smith is still singing absolutely crushing songs.
Box for Buddy, Box for Star by This is Lorelei
A real delight. Great for the kitchen.
Art of the Unseen Infinity Machine by Allegra Krieger
I really loved Allegra Kreiger’s 2023 album I Keep My Feet on the Fragile Plane & I’m loving this one too. I like the way she writes and I like the way she sings and I’ll be excited to listen to whatever she does next.
Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker
This is a special album for my 11 year old daughter and me. I think I’ve only listened to it when we’re doing things together. A great soundtrack for Uno games and snacking on apple slices and peanut butter.
Lily of the Valley by 22° Halo
My friend Kenny from the terrific Toronto band Little Kid recommended this one to me and it really got under my skin. Lovely and heartbreaking tunes, heavy on the birds and plants. I like the way he sings and there are some really fun guitar surprises in there.