Skylar Sarkis was busy this year with his solo project Growing Stone, with which he released his great new album Death of a Momma’s Boy and did some select touring, and also his punk band Taking Meds, who released the three-song EXT MEDS EP, which features two outtakes from last year’s Dial M For Meds and a genuinely cool cover of My Bloody Valentine’s “Drive It All Over Me.” He also listened to a bunch of new records and now he’s made us a list of his 10 favorites.
His list includes Jimmy Montague (aka his Taking Meds bandmate James Palko, who also produced the new Growing Stone album), recent Growing Stone tourmates Public Opinion, the new album from one of Growing Stone’s biggest influences, Mount Eerie, and more. Skylar is a musician who always has a lot of interesting stuff to say about music, and his commentary on this list is no different. Read on to see what he had to say.
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Skylar Sarkis’ (Growing Stone, Taking Meds) 10 Favorite Albums of 2024
Christian Lee Hutson – Paradise Pop. 10
James (Jimmy Montague) put me on to this guy by showing me his 2020 album Beginners, which, like Paradise Pop. 10, is a truly great record. Excellent lyrics–he has a lot of punchlines and threads the needle between “poet” and “normal, relatable guy” really well. James told me he didn’t like this record but he was probably just in a bad mood. He will text me in six months and say “fuck, you were right about Paradise Pop.” This is music for your friend’s friend from college who is just fine but you have to be nice to him for a whole night. Luckily it was discovered by a really cool guy and shared with all of you.
Advance Base – Horrible Occurrences
This is what I’m fucking talking about. This album isn’t even all the way out yet but I heard six tracks on a premiere and I already like it more than everything else on this list [Ed. – Skylar sent us this list before this album came out]. I’m always looking for music like this and I always found it in Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. I haven’t spent as much time with Advance Base and now I know I was fucking up. It seems like the album is literally a bunch of stories about horrible occurrences. The six songs I heard give you everything you need and nothing you don’t. Masterful. Can’t wait for the whole record.
Jimmy Montague – Tomorrow’s Coffee
YOU KNOW HIM, YOU LOVE HIM, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, JIMMMMMYYYYY MONTAGUUUUUEEEE!!! Tomorrow’s Coffee sounds like the name of a CD by the local jazz instructor in a small town in New Hampshire. Luckily, it’s actually the new album from the most talented guy I know. James was the first guy I ever met who genuinely wanted to make records where he hires all the musicians and sort of directs the vision (like Steely Dan), and I think Tomorrow’s Coffee is his most realized work yet. The lyrics are understated and excellent. James is a great vocalist and a brilliant musician. Check out his shit and check out Casual Use when you’re done.
Liquid Mike – Paul Bunyan’s Slingshot
It goes without saying that there has definitely been a little boom in the power pop / ’90s alt thing as of late, but Liquid Mike are doing it on a level that’s undeniable and this album is extremely consistent. AND they’re from the Upper Peninsula, where no one ever goes on tour. AND when I played with them in NYC it was their first tour and the room was packed full of people that had been waiting to see them. Crazy style.
Public Opinion – Painted On Smile
Probably the most rocking record I listened to this year. This album has my favorite PO songs on it, which is saying a lot because I really loved Modern Convenience. Most of the album is bangers like “Drawn From Memory” and “Dry Clean Only” (my favorite), but it’s broken up with two slow and pretty tracks, which I am personally a big fan of. “Scene Missing” is one of them, and a standout to me.
Tarantula – If You’re Sideways, I’m Upside Down
This is a really cool record. I’ve noticed a lot of people stumbling over what to compare it to, which is probably what I like so much about it. There’s a pretty wide variety of elements at play here and I like it all. I remember the first time I put on the title track, I was waiting for a whiny, reverb-laden voice to come in and ruin it, but the vocals are full and effortless and blend perfectly. The riffing is super intentional, heavy in energy but not oversold. The electric piano sound on “Gone Fishing” is the best shit ever. This record can’t be lumped into any trending sound that’s happening right now or compared to any seminal singer-songwriter. It is better than that; it stands on its own.
Adrianne Lenker – Bright Future
I’ve weirdly always followed Adrianne’s solo stuff closer than Big Thief, though I think both are great. The first song on this record happens to be my favorite. It’s devastatingly beautiful and it makes me want to write. Like I said of the Advance Base record, I’m always looking for music like that. The rest of the record leans farther into the country thing, and I dig her particular flavor of that. It reminds me of Mark Olson, specifically his record December’s Child.
Mount Eerie – Night Palace
Obviously I love this. In a lot of ways, this feels like a marriage of Real Death and A Crow Looked At Me to the older Mount Eerie/Microphones stuff, but I think a lot of new territory is explored here as well. I’m talking in particular about some of the more traditional rock arrangements, which Elverum unsurprisingly does well. He can do no wrong in my book, even when he makes an 80 minute record.
Prize Horse – Under Sound
Meds toured with Prize Horse a few years ago and I went in totally cold. At the end of the run I called them “Red House Painters with balls.” Now that I am a listener and fan, I still SORT OF stand by that. They have a similar ability to hit the weirdest, most unsettling key changes and you’re still totally engaged. Everything is tasteful and it’s never predictable, which is what I love about bands like them and Downward. This is their best material yet. Go see them live they are loud as fuck and there’s only three of them.
Greg Mendez – First Time / Alone
Not a full length but I need an excuse to talk about Greg. This is such a great follow up to the LP because the songs are somehow even prettier. I love Greg’s voice and it takes a lot to be as captivating as he is live with just a guitar. He also makes awesome music videos with my dear friend, director Luke LeCount.
That’s all I got. In reality I mostly listened to the Adam Sandler cover of “Like a Hurricane” this year. If you like gambling, check out my friend’s Instagram @victor_gambling.