Every year, we ask artists about their favorite albums of the year, and every year, one of favorite lists comes from Jason Hall, vocalist of the long-running San Francisco punk band Western Addiction. Take it away, Jason…
This is the year I decided I know nothing about music. I usually feel like an alien on this planet, but nothing is making sense. However, I found a lot of great music and I’m thankful. For those who don’t know me, I’m Jason Hall. I play in the punk band Western Addiction (new album out next year), and I also name things for a living through my company, Vespertine. I’ve named everything from the Hulu show This Fool to James Bowman’s new guitar pedal from Bowman Audio Endeavors: ODIOUS.
This is the top 10 records I think are very good and I honestly listened to the most. I made a Spotify playlist with everything below plus a few extra records and songs that caught my ear.
Music is for everyone.
Top 10 – 2024
- Juniore – Trois, Deux, Un
I don’t know what they are saying but it doesn’t matter. They look cool, they sound cool and good songs break through, even with a language barrier. I’m big on lyrics so I’m blissfully ignorant and can just enjoy the songs. I love French pop from the 60s (yé-yé) so this makes sense.
- Hurray for the Riff Raff – The Past Is Still Alive
I like when bands can take a classic genre but not sound cliché. Great songs.
- Sierra Ferrell – Trail of Flowers
“Dollar Bill Bar” is a perfect song. Witty, relatable, great melody. She is magic. I could feel her really pushing for the big time on this one. I don’t know if that happened, but she absolutely deserves it.
- Bright Eyes – Five Dice, All Threes
He never stops making great songs. He knows the magic equation and does it every time.
- Dustin Kensrue – Desert Dreaming
This is the singer of Thrice. It sounds nothing like that band. Similar to Hurray for the Riff Raff, classic country that doesn’t feel cliché. Well done.
- Justin Townes Earle – All In: Unreleased and Rarities
I don’t really like B-sides, extended albums, or deluxe editions but I couldn’t stop listening to this. A great Sunday morning record.
- Idles – Tangk
This record is mellow but incredibly intense. I respect this band. They always feel fresh, and I believe they care. The singer always exudes just the right amount of danger.
- King Hannah – Big Swimmer
Interesting style, great voice, very intimate. It reminds of Dry Cleaning but more song-like vs. abstract art. Sometimes when I find a band, I watch them live on YouTube to see if it translates. They totally pull it off, so does Juniore.
- Spectral Wound – Songs of Blood and Mire
I only went to three shows this year and this was one of them. Show prices are out of control and I won’t participate in that system anymore. However, this type of band usually keeps the ticket prices low and there is a super small service fee. I see most of my shows at Eli’s in Oakland. They sounded great live, just like the record. The singer chugs a big bottle of booze during the songs. I’m hoping it was just ice-tea like David Lee Roth used to do.
- Sturgill Simpson – Outside Lands, SF
I did not go, but I did stream it. I thought it was a weird choice for this festival, but the band was absolutely incredible, and it worked. He doesn’t like to chat; he only plays songs. The guitar player is one of the best I’ve ever seen. He did put out a new record this year as “Johnny Blue Skies,” but it didn’t resonate as much with me, but that’s ok, because he does whatever he wants. He even comments in interviews that he is naturally inclined to do the opposite of what he should do, including changing the band name! That sounds like a punk to me. This interview explains.
I included an older song (“Call to Arms”) that he uses to close out shows. This interview on Guitar Moves explains how it’s basically a sped-up T-Rex style riff.
One more item…
Andrea Mingardi Supercircus – Pus
I can’t put it on my Spotify list because it’s not streaming and it’s not from 2024 (it’s from 1978!). I have never, ever, heard this song. After one listen, I texted around to a few friends who REALLY know music and they had never heard it either, but they all agreed, it totally rips. I heard it on Yesterday’s News (really good punk show on NTS). The drummer of F**ked Up played it. It’s in Italian so I don’t know what he is saying but it’s a comedy type song that makes fun of punks! It’s strange to mention but I really want you to hear it.
Honorable mentions:
- Acid Mass – Worship – good thrash
- Adrienne Lenker – Bright Future – pretty good, almost top 10
- Agriculture – Living is Easy – I love that they don’t use cliché subject matter for the genre
- Black Curse – Burning in Celestial Poison – this is great, the guy from Spirit Possession
- Broadcast – Distant Call, Spell Blanket
- Corpus Offal – Demo – new band from Cerebral Rot members
- Dana Gavanski – Late Slap – sounds like Cate LeBon, but I don’t care
- David Bowie – Rock ‘n’ Roll Star – this is a great collection
- Dolorosa – Summoning Ancient Bleakness*
- Downhaul – How to Begin – nice indie pop
- Glutted Swarm –‘…Of Old’*
- Hinds – Viva Hinds – they keep making catchy songs
- Humdrum – Every Heaven – has a New Order feeling
- JD McPherson – Night Owls
- Jessica Pratt – Here in the Pitch
- Kerkerengle – …From a Dishonoured Grave
- La Luz – News of the Universe
- Loose Choir – Shy Side
- Margo Guyan – Words & Music
- María Dueñas – 24 Caprices… – I tried to understand classical music this year, but I only figured out what I mostly like (chamber, concerto) and what I definitely don’t like (vocals). I listened to this person earlier in the year and the NYT just wrote about her. She is a total ripper. Obviously, the Eddie Van Halen, Prince, Stevie Ray Vaugh, etc. of violin. I think. Young and ready to rule the world. Keep going, champ.
- Mistress – Demo
- Mt. Misery – Love in Mind
- Noeline Hofman – Purple Gas – solid country
- Phosphorescent – Revelator – almost top 10, pretty damn good
- Pissed Jeans – Half Divorced – Junktime is the best song on the album, the Star Wars planet exploding sound at the end of the bridge is so tight, makes me want to pick up a car. Love his lyrics. They make my brain squirm.
- Straw Man Hat – Earthworks – Feels like DC + D.I., kind of interesting
- Thin Lizzy – 1976
- Troughborn Son – Troughborn Son
- Ty Segall – Love Rudiments – this reminds me of those Ken Nordine albums about colors
- Vicious Blade – Relentless Force
- Wampyric Rites – Summoning the Beasts in the Night of the Lycanthropic Moon
- Wolfbrigade – Life Knife Earth
- Wraith – Fueled by Fear
- X – Smoke & Fiction – I feel this record was very overlooked, not fair
- Zorn – Endless Funeral
*Not on Spotify playlist