All Life Long: The Top Albums, EPs and Reissues of 2024

I listened to nothing but tinny opera recordings from the 1950s during several glorious days in the past twelve months. Inspired by a few of the reissues listed below, I also went on extended vintage gypsy jazz jags, took deep dives into 1960s free jazz and wallowed in 1970s funk. While I prize each of the 2024 releases ranked here, little of the new music affected me as much as the sounds of the distant past I hadn’t previously encountered. What now? My interests continue to change with such rapidity that I can’t foresee what will capture my attention in 2025.

The Top Fifty New Albums of 2024

1. Kali Malone- All Life Long

2. Jlin- Akoma

3. JPEGMAFIA- I Lay Down My Life for You

4. Pygmalion- Mozart: Requiem

5. Zach Bryan- The Great American Bar Scene

6. Sunny Five- Candid

7. Future and Metro Boomin- We Don’t Trust You and 

We Still Don’t Trust You

8. Grupo Frontera- Jugando a Que No Pasa Nada

9. Caroline Shaw- Leonardo da Vinci: Original Score

10. Bilal- Live at Glasshaus and Adjust Brightness

11. Nduduzo Makhathini- uNomkhubulwane

12. Willie Nelson- Last Leaf on the Tree and The Border

13. Sarah Davachi- The Head as Form’d in the Crier’s Choir

14. Sault- Acts of Faith

15. Philip Glass- Solo

16. Anja Lechner- Bach Abel Hume

17. Brad Mehldau- After Bach II and Après Fauré

18. Fred Hersch- Silent, Listening

19. Oren Ambarchi- Ghosted II

20. Denzel Curry- King of the Mischievous South, Vol. 2

21. Vince Staples- Dark Times

22. Kaitlin Butts- Roadrunner!

23. Borderlands Trio- Rewilder

24. Jack White- No Name

25. Willi Carlisle- Critterland

26. Linda Thompson- Proxy Music

27. Tord Gustavsen Trio- Seeing

28. Moor Mother- The Great Bailout

29. Tomeka Reid, Isidora Edwards and Elisabeth Coudoux- 

Reid/Edwards/Coudoux

30. Blackstarkids- Saturn Dayz and Heaven On Urf

31. Rogê- Curyman II

32. Nala Sinephro- Endlessness

33. Samara Joy- Portrait

34. John Adams- Girls of the Golden West

35. Common and Pete Rock- The Auditorium Vol. 1

36. Betty Bryant- Lotta Livin’

37. The Smile- Wall of Eyes and Cutouts

38. Barbara Hannigan and Bertrand Chamayou- Messiaen

39. Véronique Gens- Paysage

40. Ahmed- Wood Blues

41. Jessica Pratt- Here in the Pitch

42. SML- Small Medium Large

43. Kevin Puts- The Hours

44. Tarbaby- You Think This America

45. SleazyWorld Go- More Than a Shooter

46. Andrew Cyrille, Kit Downes and Bill Frisell- Breaking the Shell

47. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds- Wild God

48. Ryuichi Sakamoto- Opus

49. Kendrick Lamar- GNX

50. The Wiener Philharmoniker with Lise Davidsen- Sommernachtskonzert at the Schönbrunn Palace

The Top 25 EPs of 2024

1. Drug Church- Prude

2. Mike and Tony Seltzer- Pinball

3. Laura Cannell- Firelore

4. Little Simz- Drop

5. Shabaka- Possession

6. Peter Schlamb- Pliable Consciousness

7. Regional Justice Center- Freedom Sweet Freedom

8. Shredders- Serious Dudes

9. Benoît Delbecq- Triple Fever

10. Krystle Warren & The Academy- Extended Play

11. Wilco- Hot Sun Cool Shroud

12. Khatia Buniatishvili- Labyrinth: Ephemera

13. Knocked Loose- You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To

14. Anysia Kym- Truest

15. Leonhard Baumgartner, Svenja Dose, Margarita Pochebut, Oscar Jockel- Mozart: Serenade in C Major, K. 648 “A Very Little Night Music”

16. Thirdface- Ministerial Cafeteria

17. Melt-Banana- 3+5

18. Badbadnotgood- Mid Spiral: Chaos

19. Joan Shelley- Mood Ring

20. Doris- The Saver

21. Carminho- At Electrical Audio

22. Herbert Blomstedt and Gewandhausorchester- Mozart: Serenade in C Major, K. 648 “A Very Little Night Music”

23. Ramona and the Holy Smokes- Til It’s Over

24. Meth Math- Chupetones

25. Snorri Hallgrimsson- Longer Shadows, Softer Stones

The Top 25 Reissues and Reimaginings of 2024

1. Alice Coltrane- The Carnegie Hall Concert

2. funk.BR: São Paulo

3. Paul McCartney- One Hand Clapping

4. Miles Davis- Miles in France 1963 & 1964: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8

5. Charles Gayle, William Parker and Milford Graves- WEBO

6. Emahoy Tsegué Maryam Guèbrou- Souvenirs

7. Robyn Hitchcock- 1967: Vacations in the Past

8. McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Henry Grimes and Jack DeJohnette- Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs

9. Rail Band- Rail Band

10. Sonic Youth- Walls Have Ears

11. Flatland Cavalry- Flatland Forever

12. Jakob Bro- Taking Turns

13. Mal Waldron and Steve Lacy- The Mighty Warriors Live in Antwerp

14. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan- Chain of Light

15. Alejandro Escovedo- Echo Dancing

16. The Ohio Players- Observations In Time: The Johnny Brantley/Vidalia Productions

17. Ron Miles- Old Main Chapel

18. Jack Bruce- Smiles & Grins, Broadcast Sessions 1970-2001

19. William Baskinski- September 23rd

20. Gastr Del Sol- We Have Dozens of Titles

21. Art Tatum- Jewels in the Treasure Box: The 1953 Chicago Blue Note Jazz Club Recordings

22. DJ-Kicks: Honey Dijon

23. Bryan Ferry- Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023

24. Dolly Parton and Family- Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables

25. Charlie Parker- Bird in Kansas City

My fifty favorite performances of 2024 are ranked here. My fifty favorite songs of 2024 are listed here. And my top albums and songs of 2023 are here.

August 2024 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Wiener Staatsoper’s production of Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of August

1. Ryuichi Sakamoto- Opus
Staring down death.

2. JPEGMAFIA- I Lay Down My Life for You
Sonic sacrifice.

3. Jack White- No Name
He’s back in Wichita.

4. Lux Quartet- Tomorrow Land
Future now.

5. Joana Mallwitz- The Kurt Weill Album
Revelations.

6. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds- Wild God
Zeus.

7. Grigory Sokolov- Purcell and Mozart
Elite recitals.

8. Shelby Lynne- Consequences of the Crown
My review.

9. ​​Thee Marloes- Perak
Little bit o’ soul.

10. Nikka Costa- Dirty Disco
Party like it’s 1999.

Top Ten Songs of August

1. Meshell Ndegeocello- "Travel"
Pack your bags.

2. Yolanda Adams- "Church Doors"
Wide open.

3. A$AP Rocky featuring Jessica Pratt- “Highjack”
I miss the old Kanye.

4. Tank and The Bangas featuring Samara Joy and Robert Glasper- “Remember”
Ribbon in the sky.

5. Jhéne Aiko- “guidance”
That little light of hers.

6. Melt-Banana- “Seeds”
Planted.

7. Gel- "Shame"
Hardcore.

8. Willie Nelson- "Last Leaf"
Holding on.

9. Lainey Wilson- "Keep Up With Jones"
The race is on.

10. Post Malone and Luke Combs- “Missin’ You Like This”
Long gone.

Top Ten Performances of August

1. Nick Shoulders and Chris Acker at Knuckleheads
My Instagram video.

2. Childish Gambino and Willow at the T-Mobile Center
My review.

3. Mike Baggetta with Peter DiStefano at the Ship
My review.

4. Aaron Sizemore, Forest Stewart and Mike Warren at the Music House
My Instagram snapshot.

5. Brian Baggett Trio at Green Lady Lounge
My Instagram video.

6. Síomha at the Kansas City Irish Festival
My Instagram video.

7. Smith and Jessen at Charlotte Street Foundation
My Instagram video.

8. Treanne at 90.9 The Bridge
My Instagram snapshot.

9. Clay Kirkland at Theis Park
My Instagram snapshot.

10. Dan Thomas, Harold O’Neal, Forest Stewart and Zach Morrow at the Blue Room
My Instagram video.

The previous monthly recap is here.

July 2024 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for the Royal Opera’s production of Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of July 2024

1. Rakim- G.O.D.’s Network: Reb7rth
Old school freshness.

2. Common and Pete Rock- The Auditorium, Vol. 1
Redemption songs.

3. Sault- Acts of Faith
Expansive gospel.

4. Enrico Rava- Fearless Five
The octogenarian is forever young.

5. Pat Metheny- MoonDial
My review.

6. Jimetta Rose & the Voices of Creation- Things Are Getting Better
Cosmic gospel.

7. Zach Bryan- The Great American Bar Scene
My review.

8. Lava La Rue- Starface
Far out funk.

9. Nathan Bowles Trio- Are Possible
Liege and lief.

10. Childish Gambino- Bando Stone and the New World
Angsty party.

The Top Ten Songs of July 2024

1. Jesse Ware and Romy- “Lift You Up”
Higher.

2. Jorja Smith- "High"
Elevation.

3. Jpegmafia- “Sin Miedo”
Fearless.

4. Caleb Calloway, Cloonee and Alvaro Díaz- "Pe$o"
Undervalued.

5. Charley Crockett- "Visions of Dallas"
Reboot.

6. Miranda Lambert- "Alimony"
Warning shot.

7. Porridge Radio- “Sick of the Blues”
Rebirth.

8. Denzel Curry featuring Armani White- "Wishlist"
Thirsty.

9. Speed- “Caught in a Craze”
Anthrax homage.

10. Wingstop Girl- “I Ate Nothing”
Hangry.

The Top Ten Performances of July 2024

1. Sandbox Percussion, Soowin Kim and Gloria Chien at Lincoln Performance Hall
My review.

2. Jah Wobble at Mississippi Studios
My review.

3. Opus13 at Lincoln Recital Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

4. Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore at the Aladdin Theater
My Instagram clip.

5. Trap Jazz, Divine Essence and Justus West at the Ameri’kana Festival at Concourse Park
My Instagram clip.

6. Sandbox Percussion’s masterclass at Lincoln Recital Hall
My Instagram clip.

7. Soovin Kim, Gloria Chien and Radovan Vlatković at Kaul Auditorium
My Instagram clip.

8. Old-timey jam at Northwest Portland Hostel
My Instagram clip.

9. Kyle Rivera’s composition masterclass at Lincoln Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

10. Miami String Quartet at Yardley Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

The previous monthly recap is here.

We Let the Liquor Talk: The Top Albums and Songs of 2023

Instigating a cappella singalongs of Morgan Wallen’s hit “Last Night” at parties, backyard barbecues and amid crowds of strangers in public spaces was my favorite prank of 2023. It’s the song by which I’ll remember the year. Determining my favorite album wasn’t as easy. A dozen releases listed below spent time at the top of my albums list during 2023. Wallen’s One Thing at a Time might have been a contender, but I elect not to duplicate artists in these tabulations.

The Top Fifty Albums of 2023

1. Karol G- Mañana Será Bonito

2. Sebastian Rochford- A Short Diary

3. Bad Bunny- Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana

4. Kassa Overall- Animals

5. Billy Woods and Kenny Segal- Maps

6. Jason Moran- From the Dancehall to the Battlefield

7. Grupo Frontera- El Comienzo

8. Elle King- Come Get Your Wife

9. Hilary Hahn- Eugène Ysaÿe: Six Sonatas for Solo Violin

10. JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown- Scaring the Hoes

11. Young Fathers- Heavy Heavy

12. ANOHNI and the Johnsons- My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross

13. Sylvie Courvoisier- Chimaera

14. Lonnie Holley- Oh Me Oh My

15. Kelela- Raven

16. Joe Lovano, Marilyn Crispell and Carmen Castaldi- Our Daily Bread

17. Buddy and Julie Miller- In the Throes

18. Matt Otto- Umbra

19. Atmosphere- Talk Talk

20. Henry Threadgill- The Other One

21. Cécile McLorin Salvant- Mélusine

22. The Art Ensemble of Chicago- The Sixth Decade: From Paris to Paris

23. Armand Hammer- We Buy Diabetic Test Strips

24.Wilco- Cousin

25. Aja Monet- when the poems do what they do

26. Killer Mike- Michael

27. Bonnie “Prince” Billy- Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You

28. Laura Schuler Quartet- Sueños Paralelos

29. The Clientele- I Am Not There Anymore

30. Irreversible Entanglements- Protect Your Light

31. Sampha- Lahai

32. Tyshawn Sorey- Continuing

33. Mike Dillon & Punkadelick- Inflorescence

34. Willie Nelson- I Don’t Know a Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard

35. Zoh Amba, Chris Corsano & Bill Orcutt- The Flower School

36. Rudy Royston’s Flatbed Buggy- Day

37. Christian McBride’s New Jawn- Prime

38. Mette Henriette- Drifting

39. Kali Malone- Does Spring Hide Its Joy

40. Johnathan Blake- Passage

41. King Krule- Space Heavy

42. The Necks- Travel

43. Ambrose Akinmusire- Beauty Is Enough

44. Cleo Sol- Gold

45. Jaimie Branch- Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))

46. Tilo Weber- Tesserae

47. Lana Del Rey- Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

48. El Michels Affair and Black Thought- Glorious Game

49. Ingrid Laubrock- The Last Quiet Place

50. Bertrand Chamayou- Letter(s) to Erik Satie

The Top Fifty Songs of 2023

1. Morgan Wallen- “Last Night”

2. Jamila Woods and duendita- “Tiny Garden”

3. Joshua Redman featuring Gabrielle Cavassa- “Chicago Blues”

4. L’Rain- "Pet Rock"

5. Meshell Ndegeocello featuring Brandee Younger and Julius Rodriguez- “Virgo”

6. That Mexican OT featuring Paul Wall and Drodi- “Johnny Dang”

7. Shirley Collins- “High and Away”

8. Military Gunn- “Do It Faster”

9. The Streets- “Gonna Hurt When This Is Over”

10. Danny Brown- “Tantor”

11. Austin Plaine- “Turn It Around”

12. Yahritza y Su Esencia- “Rositas”

13. SZA- “Kill Bill”

14. Jessie Ware- "Pearls"

15. 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne- "Presha"

16. Turnstile and BadBadNotGood-  "Underwater Boi"

17. Stik Figa with the Expert and Blu- "Uknowhut?"

18. Lauren Watkins- "Grain of Salt"

19. Carin Leon- "Primera Cita"

20. Brent Cobb- "Devil Ain't Done"

21. Joanna Sternberg- "I Will Be With You"

22. SexyyRed- "SkeeYee"

23. Tokischa- "Candy"

24. Kali Uchis- "Te Mata"

25. Cultura Profética- "Para Mí"

26. Snoh Aalegra "Wait a Little Longer"

27. Tech N9ne and the Popper- "They Know Meh"

28. Alien Nosejob- "Split Personality"

29. Camilo and Diljit Dosanjh- "Palpita"

30. Raheem DeVaughn- "Let's Fall in Love"

31. Don Omar- "Carcelero"

32. Peso Pluma- "Bye"

33. Ice Spice- "In Ha Mood"

34. 100 gecs- "Dumbest Girl Alive"

35. Big Freedia- "Gin In My System"

36. Luke Combs- "Love You Anyway"

37. Robert Glasper featuring SiR and Alex Isley- "Back to Love"

38. esperanza spalding- "Não Ao Marco Temporal"

39. Sleaford Mods- “So Trendy”

40. Noname with $ilkmoney, Billy Woods and Stout- "gospel?"

41. Maria Elena Silva- "Love, If It Is So"

42. PJ Harvey- “I Inside the Old Year Dying”

43. Sam Hunt- "Walmart"

44. Fuerza Regida and Becky G- "Te Quiero Besar"

45. Slauson Malone 1- "New Joy"

46. Bizzy Banks- "Ok Ok Ok"

47. SleazyWorld Go- "Off the Court"

48. DJ Lucas- "The Climb"

49. Megan Moroney- "Kansas Anymore"

50. Mireya Ramos & the Poor Choices with Los Texmaniacs- "There Stands the Glass"

There Stands the Glass’ top 50 performances of 2023 are listed here.

There Stands the Glass’ top albums and songs of 2022 are listed here.

July 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Bayerische Staatsorchester’s production of George Frideric Handel’s Semele by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of July (as of July 25)

1. Anohni and the Johnsons- My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross

Sacral.

2. Zoh Amba, Chris Corsano and Bill Orcutt- The Flower School

Superlative skronk.

3. Hilary Hahn- Eugène Ysaÿe: Six Sonatas for Solo Violin

Sublime scraping.

4. African Head Charge- A Trip to Bolgatanga

Positive vibration.

5. Immy Owusu- LO-LIFE!

Goofball Afrobeat.

6. Mahalia- IRL

Back to life, back to reality.

7. Shapednoise- Absurd Matter

Dank discord.

8. Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band- Kings Highway

Scenic.

9. Black Milk- Everybody Good?

It remains to be seen.

10. Charif Megarbane- Marzipan

Lebanese lounge.

Top Ten Songs of July (as of July 25)

1. Joshua Redman with Gabrielle Cavassa- “Chicago Blues”

All things go.

2. Jamila Woods- "Tiny Garden"

Watered and weeded.

3. Robert Glasper featuring SiR and Alex Isley- "Back to Love"

Slow jam.

4. claire rousay- "Sigh In My Ear"

I hear a symphony.

5. Ryan Castro and Peso Pluma- "Quema"

Fiery.

6. Aluna featuring Tchami and Kareen Lomax- "Running Blind"

Rhythm is gonna get you.

7. JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown- "Guess What B*tch, We Back H*e!"

Knock knock.

8. PJ Harvey- "Seem an I"

Might a you.

9. Colter Wall- "Honky Tonk Nighthawk"

Swinging doors.

10. That Mexican OT featuring Lefty sm- "Barrio"

Still tippin’.

Top Performances of July (as of July 25)

1. The Smile and Robert Stillman at the Midland Theater

My review.

2. The Salvation Choir at Theis Park

My Instagram clip.

3. Henrique Eisenmann and Eugene Friesen at the 1900 Building

My review.

4. Rob Magill with Marshall Trammell, Alber with Alex Mallett, and Krista Kopper, Aaron Osborne and Evan Verplough at Farewell

My review.

5. Final Gasp, Persona and New Obsessions at Howdy

My Instagram clips are here, here and here.

6. Eli Wallace with Ben Baker, Seth Andrew Davis, Aaron Osborne and Evan Verploegh at Stray Cat Film Center

My Instagram clip.

7. The American Legion Band of Greater Kansas City at American Legion Post 370

My Instagram snapshot.

8. Mike Horan and Scott Tichenor at the Market at Meadowbrook

My Instagram snapshot.

9. Natalie Prauser and Marty Bush at Mike Kelly’s Westsider

My Instagram clip.

10. Lee Walter Redding at Volker Park

My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly survey is here.

March 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Deutsche Oper Berlin’s production of Richard Strauss’ Arabella by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of March

1. JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown- Scaring the Hoes

Noise devolution.

2. Morgan Wallen- One Thing at a Time

My review.

3. Cécile McLorin Salvant- Mélusine

Peculiar chansons.

4. Eddie Chacon- Sundown

Quiet storm.

5. London Brew- London Brew

Restorative.

6. Slowthai- Ugly

Life is hard.

7. Willie Nelson- I Don’t Know a Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard

Nor do I.

8. Laura Schuler Quartet- Sueños Paralelos

My review.

9. MSPAINT- Post-American

Punk progression.

10. Wadada Leo Smith- Fire Illuminations

Conflagration.

Top Ten Songs of March

1. Shay Lia- "Takutá'"

Hopscotch.

2. RP Boo- "B.O.T.O."

Fancy footwork.

3. Baaba Maal- "Freak Out"

Chic.

4. Kassa Overall featuring Nick Hakim and Theo Croker- "Make My Way Back Home"

Prodigal.

5. Meshell Ndegeocello- "Virgo"

Back to the stars.

6. Moor Mother- "We Got the Jazz"

From strength to strength.

7. Las Marias- "Ismael"

Spring has sprung.

8. EST Gee- “Pray You Die in Surgery”

Cursed.

9. Sleaford Mods featuring Perry Farrell- "So Trendy"

Shouty.

10. Atmosphere- "Bigger Picture"

The relentless march of time.

Top Ten Concerts of March

1. Ghais Guevara, Tricky Youth, Student 1, Midwestern, Tabby, Defo, Laaee Uzumak and Young Mvchetes at Farewell and Howdy

My review.

2. Boston Camerata’s “Dido & Aeneas” at Community Christian Church

My Instagram photo.

3. Bill Frisell at 1900 Building

My impressions.

4. Artemis at the Gem Theater

My review.

5. Austin Plaine, Katie Toupin and the Pinkerton Raid at the Monarch (Louisville)

My Instagram clip.

6. CRAG Quartet, Joshua Gerowitz with Vinny Golia and the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society of Kansas City at the Bunker Center for the Arts

My review.

7. Cynthia van Roden at the Market at Meadowbrook

My Instagram photo.

8. Te Deum’s “Solemn Vespers” at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

My Instagram photo.

9. Electronic Music Midwest Festival at Kansas City Kansas Community College (concerts one, five and eight)

My review.

10. Kristina Gaddy, Nadia Ramlagan and Blakeley Burger at Carmichael’s Bookstore (Louisville)

My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly survey is here.

Concert Review: Ghais Guevara, Tricky Youth, Student 1, Midwestern, Tabby, Defo, Laaee Uzumak and Young Mvchetes at Farewell and Howdy

Original image of Midwestern by There Stands the Glass.

JPEGMAFIA, the cult artist responsible for the possible album of the year, performed at the Granada in Lawrence, Kansas, on Wednesday, March 29.  I opted for a different rap show.  Two rap shows, actually.

I paid $15 for admittance to the serendipitously titled Farewell to Rap tour at Farewell.  The cover charge for a bill of noise-rappers a few steps away at Howdy was $10.  My quick impressions of all eight acts in the order of their appearances:

• Young Mvchetes- Good ideas. Iffy execution.

• Laaee Uzumak- Mainstream Kaycee rap.

• Defo- Even before he told me he was from Minneapolis, I detected Doomtree vibes from the rapper.

• Student 1- Ingratiating Minnesotan.

• Tricky Youth- Industrial shock rapper replete with an incense incantation and a literal blood ritual.

• Tabby- Slick pop.

• Midwestern- The only act I’d previously seen and a factor in my decision not to go to Lawrence, the duo’s manic performance floored me.

• Ghais Guevara- The leftist Philly rapper merits consideration from Top Dawg Entertainment.

Four rap enthusiasts drove 50 miles from JPEGMAFIA’s concert to catch the final 20 minutes of Ghai Guevara’s gig.  Their dedication inspired me.  Yet no matter how good Peggy was, I’m confident I made the right choice.