Tilly's albums of 2024 awards!

Hello everyone! 2024 is in the review-mirror and we are almost through the first month of 2025. 2025 I'm both excited (for personal reasons) and a little fearful of (from a worldwide view). This blog is to talk about music though so let's get comfortable, have your hot beverage at the ready, and get into the Tilly awards! It's a pretty simple concept, I will give out 10 awards to albums that have stuck with me in 2024. I've found this more fun then typing out a top 10 list. There's no particular order here and there's a mix of bands with 47 million monthly listeners to bands with just over 800 monthly listens (on Spotify). Hopefully there's something new or overlooked for you here! Also, if you want too see what individual songs caught my attention, here's a playlist.

The gratitude towards Blink-182 award: The Story So Far-I Want to Disappear 

So the story goes that Blink-182 offered the Story So Far an opening spot for their 2023 European tour, but the catch was that the band needed to have new material to perform while on the tour. Before this, it sounded like the band was on a lull, while Parker Cannon was getting back into playing shows through his new band No Pressure (also highly recommended to check out). Without this fire under their butts, they may never have come out with an awesome new album that I haven't been able to get out my head since it released. So thank-you Blink for your service, oh, and your own good new material too. 

The nothing butt rock award: Footballhead-Before I Die

This award name I doubt folks would get, unless you deep dive into the word of butt rock like I have. Either way this album got me to appreciate a genre that I have mostly looked over since the 2000s and for that it deserves an award. Read more about my thoughts on this album here!

The Militarie Gun x Title Fight award: Heart to Gold-Free Help

This is my best attempt to describe the latest album from Heart to Gold. It's got the sounds of the latest hardcore upcomers Militarie Gun but also the elements of Shed era Title Fight, a great example being the transition of "Pandora" to "Blow Up The Spot", which is eerily similar to the transition of "Safe in Your Skin" to "Where Am I?". As soon as I heard Free Help I was hooked and haven't stopped listening.

The it was meant for this mega fan award: Linkin Park-From Zero

I actually have not mentioned Linkin Park in my blog yet, as to be honest, it was hard to do. Let's get it out of the way now, I am a mega fan. One of my takes is that Hunting Party is a top 3 LP album. I was supposed to see them live in concert, just before the tragic news of Chester, and since then I've never had hope for new material. Even with the rumors of a new singer I wasn't too hopeful, who can replace Chester? When we did finally get to see Emily and hear the single "Emptiness Machine" at their release party, I was floored and honestly did tear up a little. It was just so amazing to see the band playing live again with a renewed spirit.  From Zero gave us elements of old Link Park, from Hybrid Theory to One More Light, that honored their roots and Chester, while showing a new path forward. 

The Vancouver representation award: Smush-If You Were Here I Would Be Home Now

Time to rep a new band from my province, which is Smush. They were phrased as Dave Norman's (of Zegema Beach Records) band of the year, which is a significant badge of honor within the local scene. Smush have crafted a stunning debut shoegaze album and I look forward to seeing what they create next. Read more about the band here.

The best album release award: Jack White-No Name

Jack White is known to be an eclectic guy and one of my most enjoyable music moments of 2024 was the album release of No Name. When news came out of folks getting a secrete Jack White album from Third Man Records, with only the title No Name on it, hype started online. I followed a whole Reddit thread of fans trying to figure out the track titles, following rule 3, and creating their own art work. You bet I followed rule 3 and shared my ripped songs with 7 friends! It was reminiscent of discovering an album through your best pal ripping the album onto a CD or tape, and writing the album and song titles onto the case, with a sharpie, just for you. 

The spontaneous forecast mega implosion effect award-The Forecast-Good Journey

Good Journey is an album that came out by a band that hasn't really been in the scene since 2012. I've been rocking this album since February and think the band hasn't lost their spark one bit. It's a breezy 24 min hit that crept into my top list. If you like duel female and male vocals with a southern indie rock vibe, this is the album for you! Check out this YouTube video for a good overview of the band (also to see where I got my award name from). 

The best track listing award: Barely Civil- Coasting Mostly 

I've already done a blog about this album (click here) but I was a huge fan of how Coasting Mostly was laid out as an actual album, where the track listing was done with an order and intention. It kept with me all year and is deserving of a Tilly award!

The most 90s album award- Be Safe-Unwell

Just look at the artwork and you be transported to the likes of Mineral's The Power of Failing or Texas is The Reason's Do You Know Who You Are?. Not only that but I hear echoes of what made these underground bands so appealing, like the quiet/loud dynamics and earnest introspective lyrics. It's cool to see these small underground bands carrying the DIY banner forward. I would recommend this interview to see what they are about and why I gave them the coveted award. 

The Steven Hyden recommendation award-MJ Lenderman-Manning Fireworks

Thought I would give some love to the other half of the Indiecast podcast, Steven Hyden (I have usually given an Ian Cohen recommendation award in the past). Steven's been praising this fellow, called MJ Lenderman, for a couple years now and it finally clicked with me on this album. The storytelling of loser characters, that one can still emphasize and relate with, caught my imagination and the lyrics are teaming with wit and snark. It's been a joy to sit with this album passively on a road, or with intent to read and dissect the lyrics. I now get the hype of this profound young twenty something man that can create this type of musical magic. 

Best skanking new tone album- Kill Lincoln-No Normal

Kill Lincoln have been creating ska music since the late 2000s and haven't slowed down one bit. Just look at this live clip from 2023 if you need convincing. What I love about this album is it sounds like a live set, you can even hear hype-man Drew Skibitsky's sneakers in the songs! Front man Mike Sosinski started a record label, called Bad Time Records, just to help promote the new scene of ska, including his band, and it's inspiring to see all the hard work pay off for him and the band. 

With a sad note, here's a couple bands that have decided to good-bye: Tokyo Police Club, Japandroids, Gulfer, Sum 41

No award for this category, just a reflection of the great music these bands have given us over the years, from Tokyo Police Club's Champ, Japandroid's Post-Nothing, Gulfer's self-titled, and Sum 41's All Killer No Filler. These bands and albums will be on my rotation for years to come and I hope for all best on their endeavors past this period of their careers.