We’re asking artists for their Best of 2024 lists and here we have Yard Act frontman/wordsmith James Smith, who has offered up his favorite songs of this year. They include one of the biggest, most unavoidable pop songs of 2024, Geordie Greep’s “Holy Holy,” and everything in between, including a few songs that were not actually from this year (or decade or century). As he writes regarding one of them, “There’s so much new music and I really don’t know or care about most of it. I’m just not designed to consume current culture at the rate that it’s happening. I sometimes wish I was. But I’m not. If something moves you deeply, it doesn’t matter when it was made.”
Check out James’ list and commentary on each below.
Yard Act released the ambitious, terrific Where’s My Utopia? this year (and a lot of amazing videos for singles from it) and toured all over the world, including a few visits to North America. Listen to Where’s My Utopia? and watch those videos below.
YARD ACT’S JAMES SMITH – TOP 10 SONGS OF 2024
10. “Holy, Holy” – Geordie Greep
I thought this was brilliant. He clearly knows his craft so well, but it’s really playful at the same time. It kinda rubs it in your face how good the band and the arrangement are but then there’s a nod and a wink to the self-seriousness of it all. It’s so dramatic and funny, this mini musical unfurling. If people have got something to say, they don’t need to know music theory or be sick on their instruments, but this tune makes me really glad Music Colleges exist.
9. “The Art Teacher” – Rufus Wainwright
This is phenomenal storytelling. I’ve never really listened to Rufus Wainwright before but a friend played me this and I just listened over and over. He keeps doing these sharp inhales through his teeth between lines and the whole thing is heartbreaking. A deeply moving piece.
8. “Watermelon Woman (Dub)” – Yu Su
Our Chinese tour manager recommended this to me. It’s one of those deep universal grooves but then the dubbing of the traditional chinese instrumentation really lifts you out of that, you feel like you’re in two worlds at the same time and that’s where you always want to be.
7. “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter
I want to write a song this good.
6. “Topdown” – Channel Tres
Compton House! He’s taken all these classic elements and just fused them into something so pure, raw and effortless. The whole thing is blissful but you’re completely engaged by his voice. There’s an edge to it where you’re completely settled in your seat but your eyes are still darting round the room.
5. “Hell of a Ride” – Nourished By Time
I just think Nourished By Time is one of the best songwriters going at the moment. The chord changes are really interesting and the melodies almost feel like they’re about to fall off, but they never do. I love his voice and how the production is a bit all over the shop. I get the impression he has this innate sense of knowing when to leave a song and not overcook it. He’s definitely tuned into his own frequency and we’re just lucky enough to be listening in.
4. “Say Yes” – Asha Puthli
Remi who produced “Where’s my Utopia” sent me this. One of those incredibly lush breakfast records. It brings a me a lot of hope to know stuff this good has been existing for 50 years or so and I’m only just hearing about it. New music that’s just been released is very exciting of course, but the good stuff always bubbles up eventually.
3. “Field Trip” – Mudd The Student
I picked this up in South Korea. I was looking for the Balming Tiger record but they’d sold out. The guy behind the counter recommended this as BT affiliate. I took a punt and it paid off. I don’t know what the fuck is going on. It’s clearly incredibly crafted and hooky hyperpop but also he’s just making loads of left turns that go against the grain constantly.
2. “Baby Where You Are” – Ted Lucas
Actually, I want to write a song this good.
1. “What’s Going On?” – Marvin Gaye
There’s so much new music and I really don’t know or care about most of it. I’m just not designed to consume current culture at the rate that it’s happening. I sometimes wish I was. But I’m not. If something moves you deeply, it doesn’t matter when it was made. Equally it’s fine to let somebody else’s cherished expression wash over you. We don’t all like the same things or connect and engage with music in the same way at the same pace. But fuck me, if this isn’t the most important song you’ve ever heard, still. I cry every time.
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Yard Act only have a couple dates on their 2025 schedule, both in the UK in May: the Bearded Theory Festival on 5/21 and Live at Leeds on 5/24.