2024 was a great year for music; and my good friend Larry Van Cleve and I always look forward to sharing our annual lists of the releases that we felt stood out.
Dr. J’s Best Albums of 2024 (in no particular order)
Best Michigan Albums:
Jack White – “No Name” – The Jack White solo album I’ve been waiting for moves away from the experimentation of his past solo releases and concentrates on heavy guitar crunch. “No Name” draws on his work with The White Stripes, Dead Weather, and The Raconteurs and packs them together in a forty-three-minute tour de force of blues and guitar rock. “That’s How I’m Feeling”
Liquid Mike – “Paul Bunyan’s Slingshot (Deluxe)” – Upper Peninsula punk rock with hooks aplenty, the band was a big hit at this year’s Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival in Bay City. Led by Mike Maple, a mailman in the college town of Marquette, the band’s album is filled with fast, driving, and instantly likeable songs. “Paul Bunyon's Slingshot” 
Greg Nagy – “The Real You” – The album is an excellent blend of blues and soul featuring Nagy’s expressive vocals and tasty lead guitar. The many highlights include the title track with its cool horn section that sounds like it could have been recorded in Memphis with Willie Mitchell, a cover of “Come To Poppa” that tops Seger’s version, and great duet with Detroit's Thornetta Davis on George Harrison’s “Something.” “Come To Poppa”
Bluhm – “Midnight Hill” – The Detroit duo of Claire Bluhm and John Marion have produced an album of dream pop songs that explore human relationships and the complexities of love. Much stronger than last year’s “Garden of Hearts,” the “Midnight Hill” album sounds something like a more danceable version of Beach House. Led by the captivating vocals of Claire Bluhm, their live set at this year’s Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival was very impressive. “Is It True Love?”
Bogue – “How’d You Feel About Talkin’ to Me” – The three-piece band came together in the Cass Corridor in the early 2000s after The White Stripes had put Detroit rock back on the map. With a sound that blended punk, blues, and funk, they were lauded for their live shows. In 2004, Bogue recorded a demo to attract label interest. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen; the band broke up, two members died, and the demo remained unreleased until this year when it was remastered in all its raw and ragged splendor. “Congolene”
The Best of the Rest:
Waxahatchee – “Tigers Blood” – We saw Katie Crutchfield and her band’s awesome show in support of the new album at the Beacon Theater in NYC in August. "Tigers Blood" along with “Saint Cloud,” from 2020, and her collaboration with Jess Williamson in the duo Plains in 2022 have firmly established her as one of the most compelling voices and songwriters in the Americana/alternative country genre. It has been nominated this year for a Grammy as Best Americana Album. “Right Back To It” 
The Cure – “Songs Of A Lost World” – I probably would not have fully appreciated this melancholy collection of songs dealing with loss and mortality thirty years ago, but the passing years and the deaths of family members and friends, not to mention the bleak political landscape, shed a different light on The Cure’s new album. Although there are no instantly appealing tracks like “Friday I’m In Love” or “Just Like Heaven,” and the fact that the album is best appreciated by listening to it in its entirety, it became the band’s first # 1 album since “Wish” in 1992. “A Fragile Thing”
Various Artists – “Petty Country” – I’ve been disappointed in most of the tribute albums I’ve listened to, but I have to admit that this was a job well done. It certainly helped that Tom Petty’s material is strong and adaptable to different genres of music. It was also important that a Who’s Who of country artists, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, and others, wisely added their own touches to his classic songs rather than trying to reinvent them. “I Won’t Back Down”
Mary Timony – “Untame the Tiger” – Mary Timony was rated # 95 on Rolling Stone’s list of the All-Time Greatest Guitarists. I was curious about her since I was unfamiliar with her catalog, and I read somewhere that she used modal melodies reminiscent of European Medieval music in her songwriting. I don’t know anything about that style or mode, but the songs on her first solo album in nearly 20 years brought to mind some of the college radio bands of the 80s that had a kind of folk-rock sound, much like early R.E.M. Timony’s playing is not flashy, and her precise and economical style stands out on the album’s songs. “No Thirds” 
Pearl Jam – “Dark Matter” – It has been over 33 years since Pearl Jam burst onto the scene with “Ten.” Figuring out how to live up to their legendary albums of the past is the dilemma famous bands face when releasing new recordings. To meet the challenge, Pearl Jam worked with producer Andrew Watt, who along with the band members, received writing credit on all the new songs. Their successful approach was to the record quickly as a unit, attempting to capture the energy of the new songs in a manner much like their early band days. “Scared Of Fear”
Various Artists - “Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin” – An all-star group of performers, including Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joe Armstrong, Lucinda Williams, and many others, came together to play on this album that serves as both a tribute and a benefit for Malin who was paralyzed from the waist down as the result of a rare spinal stroke. The resulting 27 performances do a pretty great job of covering Malin’s entire career, including his early recordings with Heart Attack and D Generation, along with his more recent solo work. We were lucky enough to attend one of the two benefit shows at the Beacon Theater in NYC to help pay for Malin’s medical bills. It was very moving to see Malin singing on stage and even standing for a few numbers. “She Don’t Love You Now”
Black Keys – “Ohio Players” – It's always a treat to listen to what Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are up to, and the duo's new album, which has some hip-hop touches, features appearances and shared songwriting credits with guests including Beck and Noel Gallagher. The Trophy Edition of the album contains a different song order and four bonus songs, including one with Alice Cooper. “Beautiful People (Stay High)”
Redd Kross – “Redd Kross (The Redd Album)” – The McDonald brothers, who founded Redd Kross over 40 years ago, were much too young to remember much about 1967. But listening to their new album is like entering a time machine and traveling back to the Summer of Love when psychedelia was a new and shiny thing, and it could be heard in not only rock and pop records but even in commercials. It’s almost uncanny how each of the album’s 18 songs reference, in some way, that rather innocent time period in recorded history. “Candy Coloured Catastrophe” 
Fontaines D.C. – “Romance” – The Irish band’s first three albums were big hits in their home country, along with Scotland, and Great Britain; but “Romance” is the first to chart in the U.S. The band has moved away from the Irish-centric themes of its early albums to embrace a bigger, more universal sound; but there’s no hiding singer Grian Chatten’s charming accent. Easily the band’s most interesting and challenging release, it has been Grammy-nominated for Best Rock Album and its lead single, “Starbuster,” as Best Alternative Music Performance. “Here’s The Thing”
a.s.o. – “a.s.o.” – The duo’s name is taken from the initials of singer Alia Seror-O’Neill; and she and producer Lewie Day have put together a sexy and darkly romantic album that is a standout of the trip-hop genre. The perfect soundtrack for evenings when you are sipping wine in front of a fire with your partner and contemplating moving things to the bedroom. “Go On”
Hurray For The Riff Raff – “The Past Is Still Alive” – Led by Alynda Segarra, the title of the band’s second album for the Nonesuch label was reportedly inspired by the death of her father. Some of the songs deal with the passage of time and the ones left behind, but the overall tone of the album, with its fusion of folk and country, is upbeat. “The Past Is Still Alive’” might be my favorite album of 2024. It was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2024 Americana Music Awards. It didn’t win, but it should have. “Hawkmoon”
Maggie Rogers – “Don’t Forget Me” – I didn’t really care for either of Maggie Rogers' earlier albums, but I liked her new one on first hearing. It might be that she recorded “Don’t Forget Me” in under a week and co-wrote most of the songs with producer Ian Fitchuk. The result of their collaboration is that each of the tracks seem to fit together perfectly. This is a great pop record, and I mean that in the best way possible, with catchy melodies that invite the listener and interesting lyrics to contemplate. “The Kill” 
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers – “Revelations” – Proponents of the raw honky-tonk style, Sarah (a.k.a. River) Shook and company will probably never be a nominee or perform on a CMA broadcast despite consistently recording no holds barred songs of long-time country music subjects like bad relationships, too much drinking, and other questionable decisions. What makes them great without the awards, however, is their fearlessness in pursuing a roots music sound; one that embraces the kind of early hillbilly music that was performed in roadhouses with chicken wire in front of the stage to protect the band from flying bottles.”Revelations”
Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs – “Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits” – As the Heartbreakers’ original lead guitarist, Campbell co-wrote some of the band’s greatest songs with Tom Petty. Although Petty is irreplaceable, Campbell and The Dirty Knobs have managed to keep his spirit alive through their live appearances and albums. The newest release is more of the same, and it’s a little eerie how much Campbell’s voice sounds like Petty’s. We had the opportunity to see the band in concert in Midland, MI, this summer. They were outstanding, and Campbell turned out to be a very engaging front man. “Angel Of Mercy”
Best of the Reissues etc.
Talking Heads – “Talking Heads 77 (Deluxe Edition)” – This great box set includes a remixed version of the band’s debut that literally jumps out of the speakers, an interesting disc of rarities that has some unreleased songs and interesting alternate versions of “Psycho Killer,.” The best part of this reissue, however, is a beautifully sounding capture from 1977 of their previously unreleased final appearance at CBGB’s.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Long After Dark (Deluxe Edition)” – Some fans were apparently a little disappointed with the album when it first came out in 1982; but aside from the opening song, I always felt it was one of the band’s strongest collections with classics like “Straight Into Darkness,” “You Got Lucky,” and “Change Of Heart.” This excellent reissue contains 12 rare tracks, 7 of which had been unreleased.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse – “Early Daze” All the songs on this collection from Young’s archives were recorded in 1969. They feature the original lineup of Crazy Horse, and the late Danny Whitten’s vocals and guitar are prominent. I’m a big fan of Neil Young’s early music, and this 10-song collection that includes different versions of classics like “Helpless” and “Down By The River” is fun from start to finish. 
NewBorn Kings – “From The Pavement” (2004) and “Up Above The Madness” (2020). These are not reissues, but seeing the band’s name on a flyer at a New Jersey coffee shop led me to discover their two albums on Apple Music. We then had a chance to see them play at a bar in Rahway, NJ, and later at a more prestigious gig at Arlene’s Grocery, a popular music venue located in New York’s Lower East Side. It is uplifting to know that there are little-known bands out there producing great, original rock and roll songs, but it also saddens me to see that they’re doing it with scant recognition. The NewBorn Kings’ two albums are chock full of cool, guitar-driven rock with interesting lyrics and deeply felt vocals. “Happy By Now”
Best CDs of 2024 by Larry Van Cleve
Yow. In previous years (the pandemic era) the pickings for the “Best of” was a bit thin. This year I could have made a list after the first quarter. There is so much good music out there. Hard to pare down the list. Around 22 releases made the list, a grouping of great box set releases, and a first-rate tribute album follows. I’ll try as much as possible to keep this short(er).
1.) “No Name” – Jack White. Generally, the “best of” list is in no order. That said, this year the first two albums battle it out for “best of the year” honors. They represent totally different music, but they are the best of their genre. Jack White? Straight ahead rocking guitar-based music. The kind of stuff I really loved with the White Stripes. Solid rock songs with a pedal to the metal, take no prisoners attitude. Highly recommended. “Old Scratch Blues” 
2.) “Songwriter” – Johnny Cash. He did 11 demos in his stepdaughter’s studio in 1993. Eight of those songs have never been heard before. Thirty years later, his son, John Carter Cash took those demos and put together a band (including Marty Stuart on guitar, and the Black Keys Dan Auerbach on one cut) to back up Johnny’s songs. This is the result. Impeccable production, great songs, amazing band. A classic for the ages. “Hello Out There”
3.) “The Interrogator” – The Paranoid Style. The husband-wife duo of Elizabeth Nelson and Timothy Bracy have been making music as the Paranoid Style since 2012. Elizabeth is the singer/songwriter of the group. Their style is pop punk garage, and they do it well indeed. Other multiple players have been in the band and the current album includes the dB’s Peter Holsapple on lead guitar. Give it a try…you’ll be pleased. “The Interrorgator”
4.) “Happiness Bastards” – Black Crowes. The Crowes (or should I say the Robinson brothers) have been doing their blend of hard rock and blues on albums since 1990. All their music has been lauded by blues and rock fans. Alas, the brothers are also known for much contention throughout their existence. This led to several breakups between 2001-2008 and 2010 until current. They seem to be working well together lately, and this album backs that up. The album sold well, and the tours are doing great. If you like their kind of music, they do it as well as anybody. I’ve heard several people mention this as their favorite album of the year. “Wanting and Waiting” 
5.) “Glasgow Eyes” – Jesus & Mary Chain. Through the 80’s and 90’s they were known as one of the better primal goth rock synth guitar bands in the alternative scene, especially their first three or four albums. Well, the Scottish Reid brothers are back, and the sound contains the same sensibility as the 80’s work but with the newer sound and production values. In addition, there seems to be a tribute to the sounds of older bands like the Stones, Beatles and Lou Reed. Not a bad idea. “jamcod”
6.) “Revelations” – Sarah Shook & the Disarmers. Good country rock with an edge. If you’re a fan of their earlier work this one is recommended. “Criminal”
7.) “Ohio Players” – The Black Keys. Every Dan Auerbach and Patrick Larney release seems to be a worthy addition to the rock world. Multiple guest stars from other bands including Beck and Noel Gallagher, this album rocks out in the soulful, bluesy vintage rock groove that they’re known for. There is also a “Trophy version” of the cd featuring four extra songs, including one with Alice Cooper. “This Is Nowhere”
8.) “All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade” – The Libertines. Sound goes back to the late 70s to the mid-80s. Punk, garage rock all with a particularly British rave-up attitude. Gives me a bit of a Kinks vibe at times…a good thing indeed. “Night of the Hunter”
9.) “American Primitive” – Old 97’s. Reliable favorite rock band delivers again. Usually, they get together to make a new album with weeks of rehearsals. Not this time, they went into the studio and did it to get a more immediate feel. It works. “Where The Road Goes”
10) “To All Trains” – Shellac. Sigh. The last album by producer, guitarist Steve Albini. Shellac was his hard rocking trio that delivers minimalist guitar rock at its hardest. Quite the legacy this guy left. “WSOD” 
11) “Kate Hudson” – Kate Hudson. Yes, the actress daughter of Goldie Hawn. It is shocking how good an album this is. Great full voice and a variety of tunes from rock to pop. First rate production. I did not expect this. “Voices Carry”
12.) “Dark Matter” - Pearl Jam. A return to form. Just about all that needs to be said. “Dark Matter”
13.) “Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits” – Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs. Well, if you liked Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, this is for you. The tunes are good, and the vocals are almost like Tom is still there. Also, Graham Nash, Lucinda Williams and Chris Stapleton are featured. “Dream to Dream”
14.) “Red Kross” - Red Kross. Since 1979 (when they first released a “Red Kross” titled album), this rock band has been around a long time and gone through a lot of styles. This may be one of their best featuring their rock, metal, punk, bubblegum ethos. Recommended. “Jimmy’s Fantasy”
15.) “Rack” - Jesus Lizard. 24 years since their last album this alt rock group returns with David Yow on vocals and the same guys from the late 80s. Straight ahead guitar rock from an alternative point-of-view. If you’re not familiar, check out their first albums “Head” and “Goat”. Glad they came back. “Hide & Seek” 
16.) “A Modern-Day Distraction” – Jake Bugg. Lost track of Jake after 2011’s “Jake Bugg” and 2012’s “Shangri La”. Both recommended. This new one is a tribute to those early albums. Pop rock with lots of hooks and crunchy guitars. Yum. “Zombieland”
17.) “No Obligation” – The Linda Lindas. Back again on my list. Same sort of punk pop garage rock as their first full release. Rock on! “All In My Head”
18) “Rogue to Redemption” – Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts. Tuk is kind of a hard luck guy. Signed to an album contract and an opening tour slot for a national touring band, it was all cancelled when that group was dropped and so was Tuk. The first album was released but received no promotion and disappeared. This is his second album and it’s good. His guitar work is amazing, and the tunes are remarkable. Guy should be a star. “Take The Long Way”
19) “Viva” – Lone Justice. If you like Lone Justice and Maria McKee, this album is a gift. It’s their first album in 40 years. A tape, unfinished, from the 90s, was discovered and the group reassembled to finish it. Country folk rock…very downhome and hooky. Also, it contains their take on the MC-5’s “Sister Anne”. “Jenny Jenkins”
20.) “Songs of a Lost Land” – The Cure. First studio album since 2008. Very moody, awash in the great Cure sound. Tracks all build with the usual Cure approach then Robert Smith comes in and does his thing like no one else. “Alone” 
21.) “Brighter Days” – Dwight Yoakam. Surprising, but hard to pass on this one. An authentic county sound with great production and it does rock out as needed. Dwight never sounded better. Very listenable. “I Don’t Know How To Say Goodbye”
22.) “Old Habits Die Hard” - FM. Their 16th album! FM, a British AOR rock band since 1984. Where have these guys been? Not on my listening devices. They are very much in the “classic rock” mode with excellent tunes and good production. Like me, jump onboard here. “Out Of The Blue”
Box Sets and special re-releases:
First a couple of CDs that were around in the mid to late 60s that should have received a bit more notice (and are now reissued):
“Frustration” – The Mystic Tide. 1965-67 garage rock band from Long Island, NY. Some of the earliest “psychedelic” music, they released four singles but had little airplay for whatever reasons. All their music is here and worth checking out.
“Ellie Pop” – Ellie Pop. 1968 Beatlesque sound from Roseville, Michigan (!). Power pop release…their only album. A collector’s classic is now available.
“The Complete BBC Concert & Session Recordings 1970-73” – The Faces. 8 CDs and a live performance Blu-ray. Nothing like this band from those years. Rod Stewart, Ron Wood and the boys doing their thing. Love that crunchy rhythmic Ron Wood guitar (wish he did more of that with the Stones).
“Rock N’ Roll Star” – David Bowie. 5 CD set. Covers his “Ziggy” years with many demos and alt takes. Some of my favorite Bowie music, I’m also a big fan of Mick Ronson’s guitar work. So damn listenable! 
“The 1974 Live Recordings” – Bob Dylan and the Band. 27 CDs of all existing recordings of the 1974 Bob Dylan and the Band tour. Alas completely sold out. But there is a “Sampler” CD that exists with 20 tracks from the shows. Collector’s stuff.
“Live At the Fillmore East 1969” – CSNY. Single CD acoustic/electric release of this show not long after Woodstock and well before “Déjà vu”. Good show. A must if you’re a fan.
“Talking Heads: 77” – Talking Heads. Super deluxe edition. 3 disks including an excellent October 77 show at CBGBs. Again, a must for fans.
There’re also so many releases of major bands and artists classic albums that contain an abundance of unreleased and alternative tracks and all kinds of special things. Search out your favorites
“Silver Patron Saints” – A Jesse Malin Tribute Album. May be the best Tribute album I’ve heard. Jesse has a long history of many styles (hardcore to hard rock to singer/songwriter). He’s worked with Springsteen, Billie Joe Armstrong, Ryan Adams…I could go on and on. The hard rock band D Generation from the 90s was one of my favorites. Coming upon the new century he went solo. He’s quite an admired songwriter. In 2023 he had a spinal stroke (very rare) and has put much effort into being able to stand up and walk. “Silver Patron Saints” was released this year and was a tribute to Jesse’s work. 27 tracks covered by a wide variety of rock stars including Bruce Springsteen, Billie Joe Armstrong, Dinosaur Jr., Counting Crows, Lucinda Williams, Wayne Kramer, Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, Ian Hunter…I could go on and on. Great songs, great performances…not to be missed.
