I am fortunate to experience daily exposure to new music. As a result, my annual breakdowns become rather eclectic. However, I love being that person who “listens to everything” and genuinely means it. This breakdown includes things I covered in 2024 and stuff I found simply due to the personal enjoyment of it all. Hopefully, one of these 10 records will become your favorite, too.
10. Ultra Q – Empty Eddy: This local Bay Area four-piece band has been touring like maniacs this year. I was fortunate enough to catch them on three occasions, twice at 924 Gilman in 2024 alone. My peers are constantly surprising me with their creativity; Ultra Q has essentially curated a genre of their own, mixing techniques from their favorite bands and then finding what sticks for them. Empty Eddy is a culmination of these efforts and a callback to their old band name, Mt. Eddy. Standout tracks include “Peace Of Mind” (which could have been a lead single) and “Some Dice” (which is finally receiving its flowers).
9. I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME – Gloom Division: Dallon Weekes’ brainchild blossomed into a cult classic. His legion of diehard fans is well-earned, as Weekes goes above and beyond with each new album. Gloom Division sees Weekes at his strongest; his knack for political and social commentary creates intuitive compositions. Moreover, his bass playing is exceptional. Consequently, there are a few “greats” that feature bass at the forefront (Fall Out Boy, Midtown), and it always scratches an itch in the brain. Standout tracks “GLOOMTOWN BRATS” and “SATANIC PANIC” are constantly playing in my head.
8. Footballhead – Overthinking Everything: The rerelease of Overthinking Everything sees Footballhead at their absolute best. After being granted a few extra resources, they could fully breathe life into their 2023 vision. Overthinking Everything includes powerful lyricism, catchy bass lines, and garage rock goodness. Thankfully, the combination of musicians in Footballhead’s lineup allows each element to shine at specific points. There are some bass-heavy songs and some guitar-heavy songs; drumming is always prominent, though. Standout tracks “Tightrope” and “Talking Nonsense” showcase Footballhead’s strengths.
7. Drive By Cinema – Over It!: SoCal heroes Drive By Cinema are here to save the hearts of pop punk fans. Their 2024 album is an instant classic; Over It! takes notes from heavy hitters like Blink-182, assuring fans that pop punk is here to stay. However, it’s the group’s earnest thirst for self-expression that puts them at the forefront of local scenes. Sure, they do well at dive bars, but 2025 will see Drive By Cinema expand at rapid rates, given their already-impressive drive for success that shines through each new track. Standout tracks “Flatline” and “Spider Eyes” insinuate a bright future for DBC.
6. Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet: Pop music is officially fun again. The rise of this Disney Channel starlet to mainstream fame has been a pleasure to watch. Her tongue-in-cheek lyricism adds a fresh take to the current landscape, asserting her presence at the forefront of the music industry for years to come. It was a bit of a bumpy road to the top; Carpenter’s earlier work felt disconnected from her as a person and an artist. However, Short n’ Sweet perfectly encapsulates everything she is good at. Her sense of humor marks her charm and is further solidified by her Old Hollywood aesthetic. Standout tracks include “Slim Pickins” and “Juno.”
5. Destroy Boys – Funeral Soundtrack #4: I’m always going to root for a) local bands and b) artists who incorporate their culture into their work. Destroy Boys’ continual efforts to incorporate Spanish into punk music will always grant them a spot in my favorites lists. I had the pleasure of covering their set at The Independent in San Francisco earlier this year, and seeing them live adds tons of context to their music. This is a group of my peers who live what they write, uplifting causes they care about along the way. Standout tracks “Amor Divino” and “Boyfeel” explore the band’s ethos.
4. Origami Angel – Feeling Not Found: Origami Angel have been a favorite of mine since their pandemic-era rise to fame made them a scene staple. This year’s release only solidifies my deep appreciation for their lyrics, composition, arrangement, and overall incredible mixes. Feeling Not Found is a deeply profound effort, culminating in a cohesive and resonant body of work. Ultimately, Origami Angel has the power to break through sonic restrictions, generating fans across the board because they are just that dang good. Standout tracks “AP Revisionist History” and “HM07 Waterfall” reaffirm my love for album tracks.
3. SeeYouSpaceCowboy – Coup de Grâce: This year, several new artists made it into my regular rotation, but, few were as impactful as SeeYouSpaceCowboy. Their 2024 album became one of my all-time favorites, encapsulating everything I love about hardcore, in a broad yet specific sense. Coup de Grâce went triple-platinum … at my house. The combination of melodic hardcore and “emo” was so fascinating. It was enough to transport listeners (me, specifically) into an entirely new plane of existence. It isn’t every day that a record can completely reinvigorate your love for a genre, but SeeYouSpaceCowboy make it seem effortless. Standout tracks are hard to pick for this one, but they include “Subtle Whispers To Take Your Breath…” and “Red Wine And Discontent.”
2. Chappell Roan – The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess: It has been incredible to watch a pop girl rise to superstardom in ways we have not seen since Lady Gaga in the 2000s. Furthermore, back then, I was far too young to appreciate what was happening to its fullest extent. Fittingly, this concept album is packed full of goodies, from the first few notes in “Femininomenon” to the fade out in “Guilty Pleasure,” which shares a title with a favorite Cobra Starship track, further instilling the pop greatness of it all. Culturally, mainstream media embracing an openly lesbian drag queen is enough to warrant praise. Standout tracks “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” and “My Kink Is Karma” deserve as much love as the breakout singles.
1. The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World: I feel so fortunate to exist at the same time as Robert Smith. His musical ear is outstanding; few artists can say they have been revolutionizing their genre for decades. The best part about this album is that it’s obviously not a nostalgia-bait cash grab—a rarity these days. Instead, Smith intends to create for the joy of it, and it shows in each note. Songs Of A Lost World revisits Smith’s creative genius, like a fantasy book for the ears. To quote South Park, “Disintegration is the best album EVER!”—but Songs Of A Lost World captures that same magic. Standout tracks “Alone” and “I Can Never Say Goodbye” reaffirm my stance as a true fangirl.
