December 21, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #739)

8:59 AM John Wesley Harding • Talking Christmas Goodwill Blues • God Made Me Do It • Sire/Reprise

9:02 AM The Persuasions • Merry Christmas, Baby • You're All I Want for Christmas • Bullseye Blues

9:07 AM Drasii • The Voyager • Spirito Celeste • FPE

9:14 AM Madi Diaz • Kid on Christmas • single • Anti-

My favorite albums of 2024

I love making lists, I spend to much time working on this list, and in saying that, don't be put off by the list -- it's just a list. I listened to over 200 albums in full this year, and enjoyed just about all of them. This list ranks them, because I like that sense of order, but I want to be clear about something: the further down you get in the rankings, the more indistinct they become. Once you get down into the upper 20s, the rankings are a bit more vibes-based, and the difference between number 29 and number 41 and number 65 isn't much at all, and if I made the list a month later, they'd swap places. The thing is, I enjoyed all of these releases a lot (and others that didn't make the list). Of course, I don't have enough time to listen to everything, and with only a handful of exceptions, if I can't get a physical copy, I'm not going to spend the time to listen to it (hence, for example, I never spent time with the Cindy Lee album). If nothing else, this is a list of 80 really swell albums.

1. Charli XCX - Brat (Atlantic): This is the album that Charli XCX has been building towards her entire career. Musically, it’s an affirmation of her mastery of contemporary pop. Club music, hyperpop, whatever you want to call it, the beats and hooks and melodies are there on track after track. That alone makes this a fantastic album, but what really elevates it are Charli’s lyrics. For music that, on the surface, screams “PARTY!!!”, there’s a lot of self-reflection, like when she visits a friend with a newborn and wonders whether she should have a baby. Everything But The Girl’s Tracey Thorn noted in a column for The New Statesman that this album encapsulates being a woman at age 32, between youth (and being nostalgic for it) and the rigors of middle age, and that beneath the confident exterior, there’s a lot of doubt here. So compelling.

December 14, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #738)

9:00 AM The Roches • Holidays • can we go home now • Rykodisc

9:03 AM Curtis Mayfield • Love to Keep You in Mind • Roots • Curtom

9:07 AM hemlock • How To Go On Loving (When The Living Breaks Your Heart) • 444 • self-released

9:15 AM El Perro del Mar • Ox and Lamb • single • City Slang

December 7, 2024 CHIRP Radio show playlist (Show #737)

9:01 AM Bob Seger • Brand New Morning • Brand New Morning • Capitol

9:04 AM Allison Russell • Poison Arrow • Outside Child • Fantasy/Concord

9:08 AM Fievel Is Glauque • Transparent • Rong Weicknes • Fat Possum

9:15 AM Tim Finn • Melancholy Girl of the Hour • Long Live Music • Periscope Live Ltd./ORIGIN

November 30, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #736)

8:59 AM Solomon Burke • Diamond in Your Mind • Don't Give Up on Me • Fat Possum/Anti-

9:04 AM Plains • I Walked with You a Ways • I Walked With You A Ways • ANTI-

9:07 AM Kate Fagan • 2 Good 2 B True • single • self-released

9:12 AM Julia Holter • The Laugh Is in the Eyes • single • Domino

November 16, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #735)

9:00 AM XTC • The Last Balloon • Apple Venus • TVT/Idea

9:06 AM Jorja Smith • Home • Be Right Back • FAMM

9:09 AM Delachute • Nausia • CANAL • Courage Holdings

9:14 AM Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens • Have You Seen My Man? • American Railroad • Nonesuch

November 9, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #734)

9:01 AM Indigo Girls • Clampdown • Burning London • Epic

9:04 AM Stevie Wonder • Pastime Paradise • Songs In the Key of Life • Tamla

9:07 AM sponj • New Eyes • The Best EP • self-released

9:15 AM Clairo • Love Songs • Like Someone I Know A Celebration of Margo Guryan • Sub Pop

November 2, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #733)

8:59 AM Norah Jones • Day Breaks • Day Breaks • Blue Note

9:03 AM The Rascals • Groovin' (Italian Version) • It's Wonderful • Now Sounds

9:06 AM Current Joys • Never Seen a Rose • East My Love • Secretly Canadian

9:13 AM Joy Oladokun • Good Enough • Observations From A Crowded Room • Amigo/Verve Forecast/Republic

October 26, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #732)

9:00 AM Cheap Trick • World's Greatest Lover • All Shook Up • Epic

9:05 AM Aaliyah • All I Need • I Care 4 U • Blackground

9:08 AM Vitesse X • Bliss Beat • This Infinite • Music-Website

9:15 AM Laura Marling • Caroline • Patterns in Repeat • Partisan

October 19, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #731)

9:00 AM Terry Callier • Caravan of Love • Speak Your Peace • Mr Bongo

9:05 AM Lykke Li • Ring of Fire • Damsel • Netflix Music

9:08 AM Hannah Frey • Girls Gotta Yearn • Lucky Girl • self-released

9:16 AM Andrew Bird • Long Distance Winner • Cunningham Bird • Wegawam

October 5, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #730)

9:00 AM Marisol La Brava & A Flor de Piel • California Dreamin' • single • self-released

9:03 AM unwoman • Celebrity Skin • Uncovered Volume 8 • self-released

9:06 AM Klaus Johann Grobe • Better Do • Io tu il loro • Trouble in Mind

9:14 AM Faye Webster • After the First Kiss • single • Secretly Canadian

September 28, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #729)

9:00 AM Jeff Tweedy • Pancho and Lefty • Starship Casual orbit one • dBpm

9:04 AM Cherise • My Cherie Amour • Butter • Kartel Music Group

9:07 AM Emily Haden Lee • Anyway • The Woman I Would Be • self-released

9:14 AM Gilbert O'Sullivan • Clair • Songbook • BMG

September 21, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show # 728)

9:00 AM Pops Staples • World in Motion • Peace to the Neighborhood • Point Blank/Charisma

9:05 AM Reb Fountain • How Bizarre • single • Fountain

9:09 AM Sima Cunningham • Your Bones • High Roller • Ruination

9:16 AM Tasha • Good Song • All This and So Much More • Bayonet

September 14, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #727)

9:00 AM Sparks • Sherlock Holmes • Two Hands One Mouth • Lil' Beethoven

9:03 AM Cécile McLorin Salvant • Ghost Song • Ghost Song • Nonesuch

9:07 AM Klaus Johann Grobe • Bay Of Love • Io tu il loro • Trouble in Mind

9:14 AM Muni Long • Superpowers • Revenge • Muni Long Inc/Def Jam

September 7, 2024 CHIRP Radio show playlist (Show #726)

9:00 AM india.arie • Headed in the Right Direction • Voyage to India • Motown

9:03 AM Blood, Sweat, and Tears • Morning Glory • Child Is the Father to the Man • Columbia

9:08 AM Mediavolo • Walk Out • Away Within • AtHome

9:14 AM Stevie Wonder • Can We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart • single • Republic

August 31, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #725)

9:01 AM Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers • Important in Your Life • Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers • Beserkley

9:05 AM Hollie Cook • Move My Way • Happy Hour • Merge

9:08 AM MAITA • almost nothing, keeps me alive • want • Fluff & Gravy

9:15 AM Laurie Anderson • Flying at Night • Amelia • Nonesuch

August 24, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #724)

9:01 AM Dusty Springfield • Welcome Home • The Look of Love • Philips

9:03 AM Blood Orange • Augustine • Freetown Sound • Domino

9:07 AM Skylar Gudasz • Mother's Daughter • COUNTRY • Redeye Worldwide

9:15 AM The Softies • Go Back in Time • The Bed I Made • Father/Daughter

August 17, 2024 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show # 723)

9:00 AM Greg Kihn • For You • Greg Kihn Again • Beserkley

9:04 AM Rhiannon Giddens • She's Got You • Tomorrow Is My Turn • Nonesuch

9:08 AM badsoma • all i wanted to see • kicking and screaming • Dead Comet

9:14 AM Blind Pilot • Faces of Light • In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain • ATO

August 10, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #723)

9:00 AM Terry Callier • Brown-Eyed-Lady • I Just Can't Help Myself • Cadet

9:03 AM Sharon Van Etten • We are Fine • Tramp • Jagjaguwar

9:07 AM Sofi Tukker • Hey Homie • BREAD • Virgin

9:13 AM Milton Nascimento & esperanza spalding • Saci • Milton + esperanza • Concord Jazz

August 3, 2024 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #722)

8:59 AM The Chills • Heavenly Pop Hit • Submarine Bells • Fire

9:03 AM Joy Crookes • Skin • Skin • Speakerbox

9:06 AM The Folk Implosion • Water Torture • Walk Thru Me • Joyful Noise

9:13 AM Marc Almond • Reflections of My Life • I'm Not Anyone • BMG

July 27, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #721)

8:59 AM Roger Miller • Reincarnation • The Return of Roger Miller • Smash

9:01 AM Yuna • Best Love • Chapters • Verve

9:06 AM Cassandra Jenkins • Betelgeuse • My Light, My Destroyer • Dead Oceans

9:13 AM Empress Of • Someone I Know • Like Someone I Know: A Celebration of Margo Guryan • Sub Pop

July 20, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #720)

8:59 AM Big Star • Way Out West • Radio City • Ardent

9:02 AM Prince Fatty • And the Beat Goes On (featuring Hollie Cook) • Prince Fatty Versus the Drunken Gambler • Mr. Bongo

9:06 AM Lupe Fiasco • No. 1 Headband • Samurai • 1st and 15th Too/Thirty Tigers

9:13 AM Michael Kiwanuka • Floating Parade • single • Polydor

July 13, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #719)

9:01 AM Solange • Borderline (An Ode to Self Care) (feat. Q-Tip) • A Seat at the Table • Saint

9:04 AM John Prine • Yes I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You • Diamonds in the Rough • Atlantic

9:06 AM Mabe Fratti • Enfrente • Sentir que no sabes • Unheard of Hope

9:13 AM Cigarettes After Sex • Holding You, Holding Me • X's • Spanish Prayers/Partisan

July 6, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #718)

5:59 AM Sparks • Everybody's Stupid • Big Beat • Columbia

6:03 AM CHAI • Boyz Seco Men • Pink • Burger

6:07 AM CRUMBS • DIY SOS • You're Just Jealous • Skep Wax

6:13 AM Nick Mason • Wervin' • Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports • Columbia

Favorite albums of 2024: the mid-year report

Halfway through this year, I've heard some really great albums, and a lot of very good ones. I've ranked my 10 favorites so far, and follow with an alphabetical list of most of my other favorites.

1. Charli XCX - Brat

2. Les Amazones D’Afrique - Musow Danse

3. Kali Uchis - Orquidas

4. Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter

5. Steve Dawson - Ghosts

June 29, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #717)

8:59 AM Tirzah • Sink In • Colourgrade • Domino

9:03 AM P. Funk All-Stars • One of Those Summers • Urban Dancefloor Guerillas • Uncle Jam/CBS Associated Records

9:07 AM La Luz • Poppies • News of the Universe • Sub Pop

9:13 AM Hiatus Kaiyote • How to Meet Yourself • Love Heart Cheat Code • Brainfeeder

June 22, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #716)

8:59 AM Bob Dylan • Beyond the Horizon • Modern Times • Columbia

9:04 AM Sudan Archives • Confessions • Athena • Stones Throw

9:07 AM Charli XCX • I Think About It All the Time • brat • Atlantic

9:13 AM Richard Hawley • Hear That Lonesome Whistle Blow • In This City They Call You Love • BMG

June 15, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #715)

8:59 AM Cate Le Bon • Shoeing The Bones • Me Oh My • The Control Group

9:03 AM Stevie Wonder • Take Up a Course in Happiness • Where I'm Coming From • Motown

9:06 AM Carlile • Illusion • Human Human • Sooper

9:12 AM John Grant • Zeitgeist • The Art of the Lie • Bella Union

June 8, 2024 CHIRP Radio show playlist (Show #714)

9:01 AM Bonnie Koloc • Jazz Man • After All This Time • Ovation

9:04 AM Makaya McCraven • High Fives • In These Times • International Anthem

9:08 AM Nathaniel Russell • Wonderful to Be in Love • Songs Of • Psychic Hotline

9:14 AM Steve Dawson • It Was a Mistake • Ghosts • Pravda

June 1, 2024 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #713)

8:59 AM Sade • Every Word • Lovers Rock • Epic

9:03 AM The Monkees • I Won't Be the Same Without Her • Instant Replay • Colgems

9:06 AM Bill MacKay • Keeping in Time • Locust Land • Drag City

9:13 AM Bat For Lashes • Delphi Dancing • The Dream of Delphi • Mercury KX

May 25, 2024 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #712)

9:00 AM Fountains Of Wayne • Fire Island • Welcome Interstate Managers • S-Curve

9:03 AM Bettye LaVette • Don't Let Me Be Understood • Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook • Anti-

9:07 AM Linda Smith • May 1915 • I So Liked Spring • Captured Tracks

9:13 AM Kim Richey • A Way Around • Every New Beginning • Yep Roc

May 18, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #711)

9:00 AM Tom T. Hall • The Year Clayton Delaney Died • Ultimate Collection • Hip-O

9:03 AM Allison Russell • 4th Day Prayer • Outside Child • Fantasy/Concord

9:07 AM Camera Obscura • We're Going to Make It in a Man's World • Look to the East, Look to the West • Merge

9:14 AM Beth Gibbons • Oceans • Lives Outgrown • Domino

May 11, 2024 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #710)

9:00 AM Robbie Fulks • I've Got to Tell Myself the Truth • Couples in Trouble • Boondoggle

9:03 AM Nina Nastasia • This Is Love • Riderless Horse • Temporary Residence

9:07 AM Bullion • Rare (featuring Carly Rae Jepsen) • Affection • Ghostly International

9:14 AM How to Dress Well • A Secret Within the Voice • I Am Toward You • Sargent House

May 4, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #709)

9:00 AM Judee Sill • Lopin' Along Thru the Cosmos • Judee Sill • Elektra

9:03 AM Gnarls Barkley • No Time Soon • The Odd Couple • Downtown

9:06 AM Salt Cathedral • Cellphone • Before Its Gone • Independent

9:12 AM T Bone Burnett • (I'm Gonna Get Over This) Some Day • The Other Side • Verve Forecast

April 27, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #708)

9:01 AM Lou Rawls • Let's Fall in Love Again • All Things in Time • Philadelphia International

9:05 AM Phoebe Bridgers • Killer • Stranger in the Alps • Dead Oceans

9:08 AM Hour • Island Time • Ease the Work • Dear Life

9:14 AM Iron and Wine • Angels Go Home • Light Verse • Sub Pop

April 20, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #707)

9:00 AM Benny Sings • Sailing • single • Seeker Music

9:04 AM Cher • This Will Be Our Year • Christmas • Warner Records

9:06 AM Bnny • Good Stuff • One Million Love Songs • Fire Talk

9:13 AM Connie Smith • Seattle • Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches • Fat Possum

April 13, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #706)

9:00 AM Against Me • Here Comes a Regular • Covered, a Revolution in Sound: Warner Bros. Records • Warner Bros.

9:05 AM Hazel English • There She Goes • single • self-released

9:07 AM Serengeti • Get the Bag • KDIV • self-released

9:14 AM Shabaka • Kiss Me Before I Forget (feat. Lianne La Havas) • Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace • Impulse!

April 6, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #705)

8:59 AM Mark Mulcahy • My Love Mine All Mine • The Tinsler • self-released

9:01 AM Katie Alice Greer • Wolf Like Me • More Barbarism • FourFour

9:07 AM Jon Langford & the Bright Shiners • Old Lost Dog • Where It Really Starts • Tiny Global

9:13 AM Pernice Brothers • Ordinary Goldmine • Who Will You Believe • New West

March 23, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #704)

9:02 AM Eartheater • Chop Suey • Powders • Chemical X

9:06 AM Curtis Mayfield • We've Only Just Begun • Curtis/Live! • Curtom

9:09 AM Cheer-Accident • Postmarked • Vacate • Cuneiform

9:16 AM Julia Holter • These Morning • Something in the Room She Moves • Domino

March 16, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #703)

9:00 AM World Party • She's The One • Egyptology • The Enclave

9:05 AM Raspberries • I Saw the Light • Raspberries • Capitol

9:07 AM goodkitty • Better • Picture Albums • self-released

9:14 AM Kacey Musgraves • Jade Green • Deeper Well • MCA Nashville/Interscope

March 9, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #702)

9:00 AM The Housemartins • Think for a Minute • London 0 Hull 4 • Elektra

9:03 AM Cleo Sol • Promises • Mother • Forever Living Originals

9:08 AM Laura Jane Grace • Hard Feelings • Hole in My Head • Polyvinyl

9:12 AM Norah Jones • I Just Wanna Dance • Visions • Blue Note

March 2, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #701)

9:01 AM Jorge Ben • Que Nega E Essa • Ben • Phonogram

9:04 AM cub • I'm Your Angel • Come Out Come Out • Mint

9:06 AM Muireann Bradley • Green Rocky Road • I Kept These Old Blues • Tompkins Square

9:12 AM Faye Webster • eBay Purchase History • Underdressed at the Symphony • Secretly Canadian

February 24, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show # 700)

9:00 AM Blood Orange • Hadron Collider • Freetown Sound • Domino

9:04 AM Julien Baker • Appointments • Turn Out the Lights • Matador

9:08 AM Minor Moon • The Light Up Waltz • The Light Up Waltz • Ruination

9:14 AM Hurray for the Riff Raff • Dynamo • The Past Is Still Alive • Nonesuch

February 17, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #699)

9:00 AM Laufey • Everything I Know About Love • Everything I Know About Love • AWAL

9:03 AM Ultravox • Reap the Wild Wind • Quartet • Chrysalis

9:07 AM Naomi Ashley • Keep My Secrets • Love Bug • self-released

9:13 AM Grandaddy • Jukebox App • Blu Wav • Dangerbird

February 10, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #698)

8:59 AM Costello & Nieve • Temptation • Live at The Troubadour Los Angeles • Warner Bros.

9:03 AM FKA twigs • mary magdalene • MAGDALENE • Young Turks

9:08 AM Tractor Beam • Thinking of You • Early Reflections • Tractor Corp

9:14 AM Madi Diaz • God Person • Weird Faith • Anti-

January 27, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #697)

9:01 AM Sinéad O'Connor • He Prayed • Throw Down Your Arms • That's Why There's Chocolate and Vanilla

9:05 AM Prince • La, La, La Means I Love U • Emancipation • NPG

9:08 AM Etherwolf • A Perfect Storm • Etherwolf • self-released

9:14 AM Pernice Brothers • December in Her Eyes • Who Will You Believe • New West

January 20, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #696)

9:00 AM Jim Croce • Time in a Bottle (demo) • Lost Time in a Bottle • Cleopatra

9:02 AM SZA • Love Language • SOS • Top Dawg Entertainment/RCA

9:05 AM See Jazz • Laika • Is This Anything? • Flower Sounds

9:12 AM Kali Uchis • Tu Corazon Es Mio... • Orquídeas • Geffen

January 13, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #695)

8:59 AM Gina Birch • Wish I Was You • I Play My Bass Loud • Third Man

9:03 AM Romy • Love Her • Mid Air • Young

9:07 AM Mode Hexe • MARZ18 • Norphonic • Love All Day

9:14 AM Elephonic • Wonderin' • Elephonic • Get Hip

January 6, 2024 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #694)

9:01 AM Feist • Borrow Trouble • Multitudes • Interscope

9:05 AM Jorja Smith • GO GO GO • falling or flying • FAMM

9:07 AM Chicken Happen • My Turn • Chicken Happen IV • self-released

9:14 AM Yusuf/Cat Stevens • Pagan Run • King of a Land • BMG/Cat-O-Log/Dark Horse