Tom Hull: The Best Non-Jazz Albums of 2024

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The Best Non-Jazz Albums of 2024

Initial draft collected on Nov. 15, 2024. The file will be updated as additional worthy records are found (although updating may lag behind the official 2024 list). Last year's list was never frozen (OK, let's say it was frozen on Nov. 15, 2023). There also exists a parallel list of The Best Jazz of 2024.

Note: numbering of lists (aside from A/A-) is only temporary, to make it easier for me to tally up stats. I've made no effort to order (other than alphaetical by artist) anything in grades below A-.

Also, several A-list albums below were close enough to Jazz that I duplicated the entries in the Jazz file (sometimes giving them lower rankings there; the year file rank is more authoritative).

[*] indicates that I reviewed this on the basis of an advance, often a CDR copy (a good thing, I might add, for vinyl-only releases). [**] identifies a record that I've only heard via download or through a streaming service like Napster.

For all lists, I've included a few 2022 (and possibly earlier) records that I discovered after last year's freeze date, but I've only included such records if they were released on or after Dec. 1, 2022, or were so little known that they received no mention in the 2022 metacritic file. These are marked, e.g., '22, after the label.

New Music

1.		*Heems & Lapgan: Lafandar* (Veena Sounds) Rapper Himanshu Suri, formerly of Das Racist and Swet Shop Boys, third solo album (first since 2015). Lapgan is a producer with a couple recent albums, draws on Indo-Pak heritage, Lollywood dance beats, and transnational hip-hop. Beaucoup guests celebrate, and flaunt, diversity. I should dig up a lyric sheet, but the many word juxtapositions are exciting enough.
2.		*Kate Nash: 9 Sad Symphonies* (Kill Rock Stars) British pop singer-songwriter, fifth album since 2007, all great, but I was slow getting to this, partly because I was warned off, and partly because it's been a while. Turns out there are ten songs (not 9), averaging a very unsymphonic 3:51 (total 38:30). I don't process sung words fast enough to rule on their sadness, but there's nothing mopey here: her phrasing is sharp and crisp, and most of the music is very sprightly. True that it's dominated by strings with pizzicato fillips, but only one violinist is credited. Nearly everything else comes from producer Frederik Thaae, whose credit reads: "keyboards, orchestra direction, percussion, programming (all tracks); background vocals (track 4), guitar (5, 10)." The effect is more Pet Shop Boys than Beethoven or Wagner. The delirious swirl of synth strings parts for the two songs that Thaae didn't co-write, but they too are remarkable. I don't keep a singles list, but if I did, "Millions of Heartbeats" would be near the top. Also "Vampyre" and "My Bile," and possibly "Ray" and "Misery." And maybe more.
3.		*Hurray for the Riff Raff: The Past Is Still Alive* (Nonesuch) Band but mostly folkie singer-songwriter Alyndra Segarra, from the Bronx via New Orleans, shows no obvious links to either but rather seems totally assimilated into declassé Americana. Ninth studio album. Always seemed like someone I should like more than I did, but this album is the breakthrough, and not just in likability. I'm not good enough at words to recall much of the brilliance I heard, beyond the "Buffalo" lament and the "Ogallala" reference, but they come with great ease.
4.		*Floating Points: Cascade* (Ninja Tune) British electronica producer Sam Shepherd, fifth album since 2015, threw everyone a curve last time when he mixed in Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra. I'd say this is a return to form, but it's much better than that: a relentless stream of dance beats that keeps you moving through thick and thin.
5.		Amyl and the Sniffers: Cartoon Darkness (2024, B2B/Virgin): Australian pub/punk rock band, third album since 2019, Amy Taylor the singer-songwriter. I'm not deciphering (or perhaps I mean remembering?) many words, but after multiple plays this is sounding great -- even the unnecessary change of pace. **
6.		Fox Green: Light Over Darkness (self-released) Alt/indie band from Little Rock, third album since 2020, Wade Derden is the singer and co-writer with Cam Patterson, both on guitar (and mandolin), backed with keyboards, bass, and drums, the production detailed but not cluttered with bits of horns, strings, and backup singers. First take suggests a clear distillation of the Allmans, but that may just be for lack of comparable referents, for what they lack in guitar power they make up for ballad touch and song smarts -- the latter drawing on Jesus, the Devil, and Sleepy John Estes.
7.		*Pet Shop Boys: Nonetheless* (Parlophone) Fifteenth studio album, since 1986. Formula by now, but it's a great formula, dancey and dreamy, clever and profound, their best in some time, most likely.
8.		*The Paranoid Style: The Interrogator* (Bar/None) Singer-songwriter (and culture critic) Elizabeth Nelson's front group, several EPs and albums since 2013. The music is almost perfectly straightforward -- aside from flashes of superior guitar, that is -- so one gets the feeling that lyrics are decisive, but I'm too slow on their uptake to note more than their intelligence and erudition. Not sure if I can ask for more than that.
9.		*Beth Gibbons: Lives Outgrown* (Domino)** English singer-songwriter, voice of Portishead in the 1990s, treats this as her debut solo album, although she has a 2002 duo with Rustin Man and is featured on a 2019 recording of Henryk Górecki's Symphony No. 3. Some remarkable music here. Songs to match. **
10.		*Kali Uchis: Orquídeas* (Geffen) Dance-pop singer-songwriter Karly Marina Loaiza, from the Virginia side of DC, father Colombian, returned there while she was in high school, fourth album, second mostly in Spanish. Ends with a piece ("Dame Beso/Muévete") that would jump out even on a Kenyan guitar paradise album. Multiple plays show it's not alone.
11.		*Dua Lipa: Radical Optimism* (Warner) Albanian, moved to London to model, switched to dance-pop for her multi-platinum 2017 debut, third album preceded by the breakout single "Houdini." Eleven snappy, upbeat songs, just fine for 36:35.
12.		*Bill Ryder-Jones: Iechyd Da* (Domino) English singer-songwriter, co-founded the Coral, seventh album since going solo in 2011, first one I've checked out, mostly because it's currently [03-12] the top-rated 2024 album at AOTY (88/16 reviews, but mostly from UK sources). He's not much good as a singer, but is touchingly vulnerable, and gets help from lush orchestrations and a kiddie choir, which somehow turns in miracles. Nearest similar example I can think of someone I wound up liking despite hardly liking anything about him is Sufjan Stevens. Ryder-Jones seems even more improbable.
13.		Jae Skeese & Superior: Testament of the Times (2024, RRC Music/BarsOverBs): Rapper from Buffalo, fifth album since 2020, producer is Marcos Oviedo (German "with Spanish descents"), his first album 2009. Underground, smart, really nice flow. **
14.		*Thomas Anderson: Hello, I'm From the Future* (Out There) Singer-songwriter from Oklahoma, debut 1989, the first of many finely wrought albums. A dozen new songs here.
15.		*LL Cool J: The FORCE* (Def Jam)** Rapper James Smith, first album (1985) went platinum, second album doubled that, third (Mama Said Knock You Out) probably his peak, got into acting early, landing a long-running role in NCIS in 2009, as the albums thinned out: just one in 2013, now this one. Title an acronym for "Frequencies of Real Creative Energy." Produced by Q-Tip, who really keeps it moving. **
16.		*Kim Gordon: The Collective* (Matador) Sonic Youth's better half, second post-divorce solo album. With beats supposed to be derived from trap (albeit plated with a surface of industrial klang), frayed vocals that could be called rap (but are probably too cryptic). Sonically, it's as distinct as anything her former group rolled out, perhaps more so. Youth? Not really. I have some doubts, but it does make quite the impression.
17.		*Tierra Whack: World Wide Whack* (Interscope)** Rapper from Philadelphia, her own name (after trying Dizzle Dizz), famous for her 13-songs-in-13-minutes mixtape Whack World (2018), followed by a trio of EPs in 2021, and now this debut studio album (15 tracks, 37:47). Same shtick here, short bits with a tasty hook but scant adornment, moving easily from set to set, like in her video. **
18.		*Taylor Swift: The Tortured Poets Department* (Republic)** Tenth studio album, not counting the redundant rerecordings, this one coming on the heels of one of the highest grossing tours ever. Not a lot of glitz here, which must mean she's focused on the songwriting. I'm not quick enough on words to qualify that, but I really like the tone and pacing, and don't note anything amiss. Note that I only listened to the basic album, not the extra disc (The Anthology). **
19.		*Bob Vylan: Humble as the Sun* (Ghost Theatre)** British grime/punk/hip-hop duo, singer/guitarist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan, released a terrific EP in 2018 (We Live Here), later expanded to album length and followed up with a 2022 album (The Price of Life). Back here with 10 songs, 34:44. Title song suggests they're getting nice, but this picks up soon enough, and ends strong with the reminder, "I'm Still Here." **
20.		*Laurie Anderson: Amelia* (Nonesuch)** Spoken word artist, started with Big Science in 1982, the first of several remarkable albums, back here with the story of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart on her ill-fated attempt to fly around the world in 1937. **
21.		*Willie Nelson: The Border* (Legacy) Age 91, 75th studio album, title song (plus an old one) by Rodney Crowell, four originals (with producer Buddy Cannon, who co-wrote one more). Voice seems a bit off, but the songs are first rate, especially the meta "How Much Does It Cost?"
22.		*Kneecap: Fine Art* (Heavenly) Bilingual Irish hip-hop group from West Belfast (Mo Chara, Móglai Bap, DJ Próval), billed as their first album (aside from an 8-song, 31:03, self-released mixtape from 2021). Sounded more post-punk at first, but the cadences eventually signify, and the energy is compounded. Words? Hell if I know, but they have a rep as political.
23.		*1010benja: Ten Total* (Three Six Zero) Rapper-singer Benjamin Lyman, based in Kansas City, first album after an EP, finds a groove and sensibility as original as the early mixtapes of Weeknd and Frank Ocean.
24.		*Nia Archives: Silence Is Loud* (Hijinxx/Island) British jungle DJ/producer, last name Hunt, has several EPs since 2021, first album takes a big step toward turning her into a dance-pop star.
25.		*Manu Chao: Viva Tu* (Because Music) French-born Spanish singer-songwriter, sings in both, English, and several other languages; started group Mano Negra (1984-95), six solo albums 1998-2008 (a couple personal favorites there), returns after a 16 year break (although he's released several singles). First couple songs had me wondering, before he found his old groove, and delighted to the end.
26.		*Jamie xx: In Waves* (Young) British electropop producer James Smith, name from his group (The xx) with Oliver Sim and Romy Madley (three albums 2009-17), second solo album after a 2015 side-project. Dance beats illuminate the world.
27.		*Maggie Rogers: Don't Forget Me* (Capitol) Singer-songwriter, the kind I have trouble with because I don't like having to pay close attention, but the music and voice are agreeable enough to lessen the chore, and the work pays off more often than not. Third major label album, after two self-released efforts that her discography makes an effort to distance from (although they seem to be available in a juvenilia compilation). Probably worth revisiting the earlier work.
28.		*Melissa Carper: Borned in Ya* (Mae Music)** Country singer-songwriter, from Arkansas, plays banjo and upright bass, started in a family band. half-dozen albums since 2015, appeared recently in Wonder Women of Country, along with Brennen Leigh, who co-wrote several songs here. She also pulls out two unexpected covers -- "That's My Desire" and "Every Time We Said Goodbye," and namechecks Hank Williams, Leadbelly, and Hazel Dickens in the title song. **
29.		*Madi Diaz: Weird Faith* (Anti-) Singer-songwriter, born in Connecticut, mother Peruvian, father Danish (Eric Svalgård), home-schooled, went to Berklee, moved to LA, first album 2007, this is her sixth. I'm rarely so captivated by a set of confessional and meditative songs that I pay enough attention to gather in the details. The song that earned the album a replay was "KFM," for "kill, fuck, marry." One might also note the Lori McKenna co-credit, and the Kacey Musgraves feature.
30.		*Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore: TexiCali* (Yep Roc) Country-folksingers from California and Texas, the former starting in the Blasters, the latter in the Flatlanders, both with long and distinguished solo careers, Gilmore with an especially remarkable voice. This starts off rather perfunctory, but gets better, and better still, with "We're Still Here" an applause line, anticipating an encore.
31.		*Miranda Lambert: Postcards From Texas* (Republic Nashville) Country singer-songwriter, debut 2005, probably the most consistent one since, even if you count her Pistol Annies side project. Another batch of good songs.
32.		*Elucid: Revelator* (Fat Possum) Rapper, from Queens, mixtapes back to 2002, half-dozen albums but better known as half of Armand Hammer. Too dense to decipher easily, but worth the effort.
33.		*Serengeti: KDIV* (Othar)** Chicago rapper David Cohn, many records since 2003, looks like he's released several since the last I noticed in 2021. KD is his recurring character (or alter-ego?) Kenny Davis (this 18-track album is also available on Bandcamp as Kenny Davis IV). **
34.		*Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft* (Interscope) First two names, skipping Pirate and surnames Baird (mother) and O'Connell (father), also discarded by brother Finneas, who seems to be the composer in their songwriting team, but she's undoubtedly the persona, an artist with a knack for seeing the wonder of the peculiar world she lives in: home-schooled, DIY-recorded, Grammy winner at 17, third album here at 22, most likely another smash -- but once again, I'm slow on the uptake, nudged on by nuggets of genius peeking out from soft and sly but seemingly unremarkable pop schist. Not totally sure here, but I'm probably saving myself some paperwork on down the line (like I had to do last time).
35.		*Awon x Phoniks: Golden Era 2* (Don't Sleep) Rapper Antwan Wiggins, goes back to 2013 with the producer "known for his vintage-90's boom bap production style and melodic jazz and soul samples." Flow reminds me of Digable Planets.
36.		*Amy Rigby: Hang in There With Me* (Tapete)** Singer-songwriter, started in the 1990s in a group called the Shams, went solo, released a series of brilliant albums, including duos with pub rock veteran Wreckless Eric (who produced here), although they've been spread out since 2005's Little Fugitive. I'm glad to have this one. **
37.		*Kacey Musgraves: Deeper Well* (MCA Nashville) Country singer-songwriter, sixth album since 2013, including a couple that went platinum. This was mostly written with two collaborators (Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk), fourteen songs simply produced, frames her voice nicely, well thought out with surprising depth.
38.		*Coco & Clair Clair: Girl* (Nice Girl World) Atlanta duo of Taylor Nave and Claire Toothill, third album since 2017, synthpop with some rap, most sung, short (9 tracks, 24:03) but nearly every song tantalizes, confirming the line "my girl and I just made a hit."
39.		*Leyla McCalla: Sun Without the Heat* (Anti-) Folk singer-songwriter, born in New York, raised in New Jersey, parents from Haiti, played cello and banjo in Carolina Chocolate Drops and Our Native Daughters, fifth solo album. But doesn't folk music need some roots to locate itself? I'm not sure I recognize any here, which may make it more interesting but less immediately satisfying. For that, you need the message. Title expands to "you want the crops without the plow/ you want the rain without the thunder/ you want the ocean without the roar of its waters, can't have the sun without the heat"; also: "And there's so much wrong/ only we can change ourselves." And finally: "I want to believe in the light/ I have been given."
40.		*Lyrics Born: Goodbye, Sticky Rice* (Mobile Home) Rapper Tom Shimura, originally from Tokyo but grew up in Salt Lake City and Berkeley, started as half of Latyrx, has a superb string of albums going, with an exuberant beat and extra vocals that appeal to me the same way Parliament did in the 1970s. He's billed this as his "final album." At 52, he may feel he's "cooked," but even if this feels offhanded, he's still got a lot going on.
41.		*Chris Smither: All About the Bones* (Signature Sounds) Folk singer-songwriter, released two albums 1970-71, one in 1984, then every couple years from 1991 on. I've heard most of them, and enjoyed many, but never got excited about him. Not about this one either, but it's going down so easy and pleasantly that I'm pretty satisfied.
42.		*Dylan Hicks & Small Screens: Modern Flora* (Soft Launch)** Singer-songwriter (and novelist) from Minnesota, plays piano, called his first self-released cassette The New Dylan in 1990, has one album I've A-listed (2012's Sings Bolling Greene), a couple more that high in Christgau's estimation, though not quite in mine. I was surprised to receive this, but found it opens with a slow jazz instrumental, with horn section and cello, setting the mood before easing into a song. He sustains the jazzy vibe, reminding me of Donald Fagen, while interesting bits of songs sneak into your subconscious.
43.		*Hinds: Viva Hinds* (Lucky Number) Spanish indie pop band, started as a duo of Carlotta Cosials and Ana Garcia Perrotte as Deers, expanded to a quartet for their 2016-20 albums, back to a duo (with touring support) now. Includes a couple songs in Spanish, which surprise me as high points.
44.		*Tucker Zimmerman: Dance of Love* (4AD)** Singer-songwriter, b. 1941 in Sonoma County, California, debut album Ten Songs in 1969, more through 1983, with a couple revivals since. I'd never heard of him, but evidently David Bowie was a fan, as is Adrienne Lenker, whose Big Thief backs him here, with perfectly unobtrusive music he can talk or sing over, with Lenker and Marie Claire backing.
45.		*Halsey: The Great Impersonator* (Columbia) Pop star, fifth album since 2016, all charted US 1-2, still not much glitz here, mostly mid-tempo introspection, some muscled up, with more than a few lyrics breaking through, like "I think I'm special because I cut myself wide open," "I'm not old but I am tired," "I still believe in heaven, if they'll never let me in," and "is it love or a panic attack?"
46.		*Ive: Ive Switch* (Starship Entertainment, EP) Korean girl group, six women, two listed as rappers, first single 2021, has a 2023 album, second EP (if I'm parsing this correctly), six songs, 18:13. They all sound like hits.
47.		*Sprints: Letter to Self* (City Slang) Irish garage punk band, singer-guitarist Karla Chubb, has a couple EPs before this debut album. Substantial songs, has the sound down perfect.
48.		*Beabadoobee: This Is How Tomorrow Moves* (Dirty Hit) Filipino-born, Beatrice Kristi Ilejay Laus, grew up in London, pop singer-songwriter, third album, opened on top of UK charts, limited US breakout. Girly voice, has a soft touch that I find rather appealing, but don't quite trust, until she delivers some substance.
49.		Morgan Wade: Obsessed (2024, Ladylike/RCA Nashville): Country singer-songwriter, fourth album since 2018, last couple albums have been most impressive. This one sounds fine, but the preponderance of slow ones lulled me into apathy -- until I realized how many different songs caught my attention on one spin or another. **

Also added (or promoted) the following older albums after freezing the 2023 year-end file:

1.		*Chappell Roan: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess* (Amusement/Island '23) I played this last year, wrote virtually nothing on it, so must not have been paying much attention, losing the single "Red Wine Supernova" after the later ballad fare, which on closer inspection turns out to be pretty good, too.
2.		*Nat Myers: Yellow Peril* (Easy Eye Sound) Roots-blues singer-songwriter-guitarist from Kentucky, happens to be Korean-American, an irony that is not lost on him. First album. Good songs throughout, but "Pray for Rain" is exceptional.
3.		*Ren: Sick Boi* (The Other Songs '23) Welsh rapper/beatmaker Ren Gill, formerly of Trick the Fox and The Big Push, third album. Quick off the mark, but in for the long haul.

Honorable Mention

Additional non-jazz rated B+(***), listed alphabetically.

Allie X: Girl With No Face (Twin Music) **
Anitta: Funk Generation (Republic) **
Anycia: Princess Pop That (United Masters) **
Awon & Parental: Sublime (HHV) **
Bacchae: Next Time (Get Better) **
Bad Moves: Wearing Out the Refrain (Don Giovanni) **
Ashtyn Barbaree: Sent Through the Ceiling (Artists 3 60)
Bruno Berle: No Reino Dos Afetos 2 (Psychic Hotline) **
Yaya Bey: Ten Fold (Big Dada) **
Big Freedia With the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: Live at the Orpheum Theater (Queen Diva) **
Carsie Blanton: After the Revolution (self-released) **
Carsie Blanton: The Red Album Vol. 1 (self-released, EP) **
The Buoys: Lustre (Sony) **
John Cale: POPtical Illusion (Domino) **
Sabrina Carpenter: Short n' Sweet (Island) **
Charli XCX: Brat (Atlantic) **
Chief Keef: Almighty So 2 (43B) **
Rachel Chinouriri: What a Devastating Turn of Events (Elektra) **
Clairo: Charm (Clairo) **
Common & Pete Rock: The Auditorium Vol. I (Loma Vista) **
Confidence Man: 3AM (La La La) (Chaos/Polydor) **
Charley Crockett: $10 Cowboy Chapter II: Visions of Dallas (Son of Davy) **
Guy Davis: The Legend of Sugarbelly (M.C.) **
Ekko Astral: Pink Balloons (Topshelf) **
English Teacher: This Could Be Texas (Island) **
Etran De L'Aïr: 100% Saharan Guitar (Sahel Sounds) **
Jeff Evans Porkestra: Willow Pillow (self-releaed, EP) **
Everliven Sound & Slimline Mutha: Echo Chamber (self-released) **
R.A.P. Ferreira & Fumitake Tamura: The First Fist to Make Contact When We Dap (Ruby Yacht) **
Sierra Ferrell: Trail of Flowers (Rounder) **
Sue Foley: One Guitar Woman: A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar (Stony Plain) **
Four Tet: Three (Text) **
Margaret Glaspy: The Sun Doesn't Think (ATO, EP) **
GloRilla: Ehhthang Ehhthang (CMG/Interscope) **
Ciara Grace: Write It Down (self-released) **
Laura Jane Grace: Hole in My Head (Polyvinyl) **
Sahra Halgan: Hiddo Dhawr (La Région/Danaya Music) **
Heems: Veena (Veena Sounds) **
Ice Spice: Y2K! (10K/Capitol/Dolo) **
Jlin: Akoma (Planet Mu) **
J.U.S X Squadda B: 3rd Shift (Bruiser Brigade) **
Kaytranada: Timeless (RCA) **
Jim Kweskin: Never Too Late: Duets With Friends (Storysound) **
Kendrick Lamar: GNX (PGLang/Interscope) **
MJ Lenderman: Manning Fireworks (Anti-) **
Adrianne Lenker: Bright Future (4AD) **
Les Amazones d'Afrique: Musow Danse (Real World) **
Corb Lund: El Viejo (New West) **
Brady Lux: Ain't Gone So Far (6483357 DK) **
Mach-Hommy: #Richaxxhaitian (Mach-Hommy) **
The Taj Mahal Sextet: Swingin' Live at the Church in Tulsa (Lightning Rod) **
Rose Mallett: Dreams Realized (Carrie-On Productions)
Eliza McLamb: Going Through It (Royal Mountain) **
Megan Thee Stallion: Megan (Hot Girl) **
Mdou Moctar: Funeral for Justice (Matador) **
Monolake: Studio (Imbalance Computer Music) **
Kelly Moran: Moves in the Field (Warp) **
John Moreland: Visitor (Thirty Tigers) **
Megan Moroney: Am I Okay? (Columbia Nashville) **
Navy Blue: Memoirs in Armour (Freedom Sounds) **
Fabiana Palladino: Fabiana Palladino (Paul Institute/XL) **
Carly Pearce: Hummingbird (Big Machine) **
Pest Control: Year of the Pest (Quality Control HQ, EP) **
Bolis Popul: Letter to Yu (Deewee) **
John Primer & Bob Corritore: Crawlin' Kingsnake (VizzTone) **
Pylon Reenactment Society: Magnet Factory (Strolling Bones) **
Revival Season: Golden Age of Self Snitching (Heavenly) **
Moses Rockwell Featuring Plain Old Mike: Regular Henry Sessions (Hipnott) **
Jeff Rupert: It Gets Better (Rupe Media)
Shakira: Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Sony Latin) **
Ballaké Sissoko/Derek Gripper: Ballaké Cissoko & Derek Gripper (Matsuli Music) **
Skyzoo: Keep Me Company (Old Soul Music) **
M Slago/Homeboy Sandman: And We Are Here (Fly 7 Music) **
TV Smith: Handwriting (JKP/Easy Action) **
Snotty Nose Rez Kids: Red Future (Savage Mob) **
Omar Souleyman: Erbil (Mad Decent) **
Split System: Vol. II (Legless) **
Squarepusher: Dostrotime (Warp) **
Vince Staples: Dark Times (Def Jam/Blacksmith) **
Swamp Dogg: Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St (Oh Boy) **
Rosie Tucker: Utopia Now! (Sentimental) **
Tyler, the Creator: Chromakopia (Columbia) **
Verraco: Breathe . . . Godspeed (Timedance, EP) **
Kelsey Waldon: There's Always a Song (Oh Boy) **
Waxahatchee: Tigers Blood (Anti-) **
Gillian Welch/David Rawlings: Woodland (Acony) **
Conchúr White: Swirling Violets (Bella Union) **
Lainey Wilson: Whirlwind (BBR) **
Norma Winstone/Kit Downes: Outpiost of Dreams (ECM) **
Nilüfer Yanya: My Method Actor (Ninja Tune) **
Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Fu##in' Up (Reprise) **

Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2023 year-end file:

Muireann Bradley: I Kept These Old Blues (Tompkins Square '23) **
Mackenzie Carpenter: Mackenzie Carpenter (Valory Music '23, EP) **
William Lee Ellis: Ghost Hymns (Yellow Dog '23) **
Robert Connelly Farr: Pandora Sessions (self-released '23) **
Jon Langford: Gubbins (self-released '23) **
Jon Langford & the Men of Gwent: Lost on Land & Sea (Country Mile '23) **
Wimps: City Lights (Youth Riot '23) **

Reissues/Historic Music

The standard for historic music is a record where everything was recorded 10+ years ago, regardless of whether it's ever been in print before. Some past lists may have treated previously unreleased music as new (regardless of actual age), but I've never been able to manage that distinction consistently. This category also includes compilations of previously released music, including straight reissues, although my selection is very erratic.

1.		*Unholy Modal Rounders: Unholier Than Thou 7/7/77* (1977, Don Giovanni, 2CD)** Village folkies Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber started recording old folk songs as Holy Modal Rounders in 1964, releasing two albums on Fantasy that are now beloved classics. Weber played guitar and straight man, while Stampfel's antic vocals were even scratcher than his fiddle, and they just got weirder, even altering their name in 1976 when they joined with Michael Hurley and Jeffrey Fredericks for one of the greatest albums ever, Have Moicy!. This live date picks up some songs from there, plus a nice mix of older tunes, some trad, plus covers given their unique spin -- "Goldfinger" I've heard before, but "I Must Be Dreaming" (the Coasters or Robins, not Neil Sedaka) is even better. **
2.		Kampire Presents: A Dancefloor in Ndola (Strut) "Up-and-coming" DJ Kampire spins fourteen East African grooves, some dating back to the 1970s, others "present day," details hard to come by, although influences include Congo and Zambia -- home to Ndola, where the Kenya-born DJ grew up before landing in Uganda, where his parents started. **
3.		Johnny Cash: Songwriter (1993, Mercury Nashville) Just his vocals, scraped from a demo tape from the void between Cash's Mercury albums (1987-91) and his 1994 work with Rick Rubin, with new instrumentals constructed by John Carter Cash and his crew. A couple of new songs appeared later (like "Drive On"), and some go way back (like "Sing It Pretty, Sue"). Short (11 songs in 30:53), very nicely done. **
4.		*Franco & OK Jazz: Franco Luambo Makiadi Presents Les Editions Populaires (1968-1970)* (Planet Ilunga) Like James Brown, Franco's earliest recordings date from 1956, but he didn't really hit his stride until the 1970s, so this late-'60s compilation can still be considered early, rough, not quite ready, but it's pretty exciting nonetheless. Belgian label looks to have much more worth checking out.
5.		*África Negra: Antologia Vol. 2* (1979-90, Bongo Joe) Band, established in the early 1970s by Horacio and Emidio Pontes, in the formerly Portuguese colony of São Tomé and Principé, islands in the Atlantic of the west coast of Africa, fitting midway between Nigerian highlife and Congolese soukous.
6.		*Mixmaster Morris/Jonah Sharp/Haruomi Hosono: Quiet Logic* (1998, WRWTFWW)** The former is Morris Gould. Discogs only credits him this one album, but also lists DJ Mixes and Compilations with titles like God Bless the Chilled, Abstract Funk Theory, and Calm Down My Selector (but not Give Peace a Dance?). Sharp is younger, from Scotland, also has a rep for UK chill rooms. Hosono's name wasn't on the original release, but this was crafted in his studio. Definitely chill, but a lot of fascinating detail rarely revealed in ambient. **
7.		*Rail Band: Buffet Hotel De La Gare, Bamako* (1973, Mississippi)** Band from Bamako in Mali founded 1970, lead singer to 1982 was Salif Keita, who went on to Les Ambassadeurs and a successful solo career, at least through 2018. The band carried on as Super Rail Band, but their 1970-83 period is best documented on three 2-CD Syllart/Sterns sets. Both Discogs and the label list this LP reissue as Rail Band, but Christgau reviewed it as Buffet Hotel de la Gare, which is how I parsed the cover, adding the smaller-print Bamako -- it is a venue they played regularly at -- but I stopped short of other splotches of print. **
8.		*Merengue Típico, Nueva Generación!* (1960s-70s, Bongo Joe) From the Dominican Republic: "Curated by Xavier Daive, aka Funky Bompa, the compilation unveils rare '60s and '70s gems, providing a glimpse into a transformative period following the fall of the Trujillo regime." The genre dates back to the 19th century, when accordions came over on German trade ships. Just ten brief singles, 32:13, hard to resist, like polka or cajun played dizzyingly fast. **

Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2023 year-end file:

None.

Honorable Mention

Additional non-jazz rated B+(***), listed alphabetically.

Congo Funk: Sound Madness From the Shores of the Mighty Congo River: Kinshasa/Brazzaville 1969-1982 (Analog Africa) **
In the Beginning There Was Rhythm (1978-84, Soul Jazz) **
Love Child: Never Meant to Be 1988-1993 (12XU) **
Sonic Youth: Walls Have Ears (1985, Goofin') **

Also added the following older albums after freezing the 2023 year-end file:

Afrika Muye Muye! Tanzanian Rumba & Muziki Wa Dansi 1968-1970 (Recordiana) **
A Moi La Liberté: Early Electronic Raï, Algerie 1983-90 (Serendip Lab) **

Notes

Additional new non-jazz records rated B+(**) or below (listed alphabetically by artist).

21 Savage: American Dream (Slaughter Gang/Epic) ** [B+(**)]
Actress: Statik (Smalltown Supersound) ** [B+(*)]
Adeem the Artist: Anniversary (Four Quarters) ** [B+(**)]
Africatown, AL: Ancestor Sounds (Free Dirt) ** [B+(**)]
Okaidja Afroso: Àbòr Édín (Chechekule) ** [B+(*)]
Apathy: Connecticut Casual: Chapter 2 (Dirty Version) ** [B+(**)]
Arrested Development: Bullets in the Chamber (Vagabond Productions) ** [B+(*)]
Bab L' Bluz: Swaken (Real World) ** [B+(*)]
BbyMutha: Sleep Paralysis (True Panther) ** [B+(**)]
Jazmin Bean: Traumatic Livelihood (Island) ** [B+(**)]
Beans: Zwaard (Tygr Rawwk) ** [B+(*)]
Evan Nicole Bell: Runaway Girl (Humingbird, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter (Parkwood/Columbia) ** [B+(**)]
Eric Bibb: Live at the Scala Theatre Stockholm (Repute) ** [B+(**)]
Blu & Evidence: Los Angeles (Bigger Picture Music/New World Color) ** [B+(**)]
Aziza Brahim: Mawja (Glitterbeat) ** [B+(**)]
Britti: Hello, I'm Britti (Easy Eye Sound) ** [B+(**)]
Brother Ali: Love & Service (Travelers Media) ** [B+(*)]
Zach Bryan: The Great American Bar Scene (Belting Bronco/Warner) ** [B+(**)]
Burial: Dreamfear/Boy Sent From Above (XL, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Cedric Burnside: Hill Country Love (Provogue) ** [B+(**)]
Cakes Da Killa: Black Sheep (Young Art) ** [B+(**)]
Willi Carlisle: Critterland (Signature Sounds) ** [B+(**)]
The Castellows: A Little Goes a Long Way (Warner Music Nashville, EP) ** [B+(**)]
Cavalier: Different Type Time (Backwoodz Studioz) ** [B+(**)]
The Chisel: What a Fucking Nightmare (Pure Noise) ** [B+(*)]
Chromeo: Adult Contemporary (BMG) ** [B+(**)]
Cindy Lee: Diamond Jubilee (Realistik Studios) ** [B+(*)]
Gary Clark Jr.: JPEG RAW (Warner) ** [B-]
A.G. Cook: Britpop (New Alias) ** [B+(**)]
Greg Copeland: Empire State (Franklin & Highland, EP) [B+(**)]
Charley Crockett: $10 Cowboy (Son of Davy) ** [B+(**)]
The Cure: Songs of a Lost World (Fiction) ** [B+(*)]
Buck Curran: One Evening and Other Folks Songs (Obsolete/ESP-Disk) [B+(*)]
The Dare: What's Wrong With New York? (Republic) ** [B+(*)]
George Dearborne: Lotta Honky Tonkin' Left in Me (Wingate) ** [B+(**)]
Ani DiFranco: Unprecedented Sh!t (Righteous Babe) ** [B+(*)]
DIIV: Frog in Boiling Water (Fantasy) ** [B+(*)]
Divr: Is This Water (We Jazz) ** [B+(*)]
DJ Anderson do Paraiso: Queridão (Nyege Nyege Tapes) ** [B]
Djrum: Meaning's Edge (Houndstooth, EP) ** [B+(**)]
Doechii: Alligator Bites Never Heal (Top Dawg/Capitol) ** [B+(**)]
Ducks Ltd.: Harm's Way (Carpark) ** [B+(**)]
El Khat: Mute (Glitterbeat) ** [B+(*)]
Elbow: Audio Vertigo (Polydor) ** [B]
Tinsley Ellis: Naked Truth (Alligator) ** [B+(**)]
Eminem: The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope) ** [B+(**)]
Empress Of: For Your Consideration (Major Arcana/Giant) ** [B+(**)]
Joe Fahey: Andrea's Exile (Rough Fish) ** [B+(**)]
Flo Milli: Fine Ho, Stay (RCA) ** [B+(**)]
Fontaines D.C.: Romance (XL) ** [B+(**)]
Hannah Frances: Keeper of the Shepherd (Ruination) ** [B+(*)]
Fred Again . .: Ten Days (Atlantic) ** [B+(**)]
Future & Metro Boomin: We Don't Trust You (Epic/Freebandz/Republic Boominati Worldwide) ** [B+(**)]
Future & Metro Boomin: We Still Don't Trust You (Epic/Freebandz/Republic/Boominati Worldwide, 2CD) ** [B+(**)]
Future Islands: People Who Aren't There Anymore (4AD) ** [B+(*)]
Gangrene: Heads I Win, Tails You Lose (ALC) ** [B+(**)]
Myriam Gendron: Mayday (Thrill Jockey) ** [B+(**)]
Claudia Gibson: The Fields of Chazy (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Girl in Red: I'm Doing It Again Baby! (Columbia) ** [B+(**)]
Glass Beach: Plastic Death (Run for Cover) ** [B-]
Gossip: Real Power (Columbia) ** [B+(**)]
Grandaddy: Blu Wav (Dangerbird) ** [B]
Ariana Grande: Eternal Sunshine (Republic) ** [B+(**)]
The Gringo Pistoleros: The Rise and . . . Subsequent Fall of the Texas Alien (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Mickey Guyton: House on Fire (Capitol Nashville) ** [B+(*)]
The Hard Quartet: The Hard Quartet (Matador) ** [B+(*)]
Hawkwind: Stories From Time and Space (Cherry Red) ** [B]
Helado Negro: Phasor (4AD) ** [B+(**)]
Julia Holter: Something in the Room She Moves (Domino) ** [B+(*)]
Home Counties: Exactly as It Seems (Submarine Cat) ** [B+(*)]
Homeboy Sandman: Rich II (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Hovvdy: Hovvdy (Arts & Crafts) ** [B+(*)]
Brittany Howard: What Now (Island) ** [B+(**)]
Ibibio Sound Machine: Pull the Rope (Merge) ** [B+(**)]
Idles: Tangk (Partisan) ** [B+(**)]
Illuminati Hotties: Power (Hopeless) ** [B+(**)]
Arushi Jain: Delight (Leaving) ** [B-]
Boldy James/Conductor Williams: Across the Tracks (Near Mint) ** [B+(**)]
Colin James: Chasing the Sun (Stony Plain) ** [B]
Cassandra Jenkins: My LIght, My Destroyer (Dead Oceans) ** [B+(*)]
The Jesus and Mary Chain: Glasgow Eyes (Fuzz Club) ** [B+(**)]
Johnny Blue Skies [Sturgill Simpson]: Passage Du Desir (High Top Mountain) ** [B+(**)]
Karen Jonas: The Rise and Fall of American Kitsch (self-released) ** [B+(*)]
I. Jordan: I Am Jordan (Ninja Tune) ** [B+(*)]
JPEGMafia: I Lay Down My Life for You (AWAL) ** [B+(*)]
Julie: My Anti-Aircraft Friend (Atlantic) ** [B+(*)]
Ka: The Thief Next to Jesus (Iron Works) ** [B+(**)]
Katy Kirby: Blue Raspberry (Anti-) ** [B+(**)]
Lola Kirke: Country Curious (One Riot, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Anysia Kym: Truest (10k, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Lady Gaga: Harlequin (Interscope) ** [B+(*)]
Dawn Landes: The Liberated Woman's Songbook (Fun Machine Music) ** [B+(*)]
Jon Langford & the Bright Shiners: Where It Really Starts (Tiny Global Productions) ** [B+(**)]
The Last Dinner Party: Prelude to Ecstasy (Island) ** [B+(*)]
Les Savy Fav: Oui, LSF (Frenchkiss) ** [B+(**)]
The Libertines: All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade (Casablanca/Republic) ** [B]
The Linda Lindas: No Obligation (Epitaph) ** [B+(**)]
Liquid Mike: Paul Bunyan's Slingshot (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Little Simz: Drop 7 (Forever Living Originals, EP) ** [B+(**)]
Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets: Indoor Safari (Yep Roc) ** [B+(*)]
Lucy Rose: This Ain't the Way You Go Out (Communion) ** [B+(*)]
Old Man Luedecke: She Told Me Where to Go (Outside) ** [B]
Lupe Fiasco: Samurai (1st and 15th Too) ** [B+(**)]
Shelby Lynne: Consequences of the Crown (Monument) ** [B]
Magdalena Bay: Imaginal Disk (Mom + Pop) ** [B+(**)]
Kali Malone: All Life Long (Ideologic Organ) ** [B+(*)]
Mannequin Pussy: I Got Heaven (Epitaph) ** [B+(**)]
Roc Marciano: Marciology (Marci Enterprises) ** [B+(*)]
Laura Marling: Patterns in Repeat (Chryalis/Partisan) ** [B+(**)]
Abbey Masonbrink: Rising (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Masta Ace & Marco Polo: Richmond Hill (Fat Beats) ** [B+(**)]
Mavi: Shadowbox (Mavi 4 Mayor Music) ** [B+(**)]
James McClaskey & the Rhythm Band: Later on Blues (BigTone) ** [B+(**)]
JD McPherson: Nite Owls (New West) ** [B+(**)]
Midnight Sons: Money Has No Owners (Chong Wizard) ** [B+(**)]
MIKE & Tony Seltzer: Pinball (10k, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Mk.gee: Two Star & the Dream Police (R&R Digital) ** [B+(**)]
Moby: Always Centered at Night (Mute) ** [B+(*)]
Moor Mother: The Great Bailout (Anti-) ** [B+(*)]
Thurston Moore: Flow Critical Lucidity (Daydream Library Series) ** [B+(**)]
Gurf Morlix: In Love at Zero Degrees (Rootball) ** [B+(**)]
Ms. Boogie: The Breakdown (self-released) ** [B+(*)]
Willie Nelson: Last Leaf on the Tree (Legacy) ** [B+(**)]
Ngwaka Son Système: Iboto Ngenge (Eck Echo) ** [B+(**)]
NLE Choppa: Slut Szn (Warner, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Che Noir: The Color Chocolate, Volume 1 (Poetic Movement, EP) ** [B+(**)]
Normani: Dopamine (RCA) ** [B+(**)]
Nuse Tyrant: Juxtaposed Echoes (M25) ** [B+(**)]
O.: WeirdOs (Speedy Wunderground) ** [B+(*)]
Old 97's: American Primitive (ATO) ** [B+(*)]
Old Mountain: Another State of Rhythm (Clean Feed) ** [B+(**)]
Sam Outlaw: Terra Cotta (Black Hills) ** [B+(*)]
Charlie Parr: Little Sun (Smithsonian Folkways) ** [B+(*)]
Peter Perrett: The Cleansing (Domino) ** [B+(**)]
Kate Pierson: Radios & Rainbows (Lazy Meadow Music) ** [B+(**)]
Pissed Jeans: Half Divorced (Sub Pop) ** [B+(*)]
Porij: Teething (Play It Again Sam) ** [B+(**)]
Pouty: Forget About Me (Get Better) ** [B+(**)]
Jessica Pratt: Here in the Pitch (Mexican Summer) ** [B]
Katie Pruitt: Mantras (Rounder) ** [B+(**)]
Tutu Puoane: Wrapped in Rhythm, Vol. 1 (SoulFactory) ** [B+(*)]
Alvin Queen Trio: Feeling Good (Stunt) ** [B+(*)]
Rapsody: Please Don't Cry (Jamla/Roc Nation) ** [B+(**)]
Real Bad Man & Lukah: Temple Needs Water. Village Needs Peace. (Old Soul Music/Real Bad Man) ** [B+(**)]
Gruff Rhys: Sadness Sets Me Free (Rough Trade) ** [B]
Zach Rich: Solidarity (OA2) [B+(*)]
Ride: Interplay (Wichita) ** [B+(*)]
Terre Roche: Inner Adult (self-released) ** [B+(**)]
Rosali: Bite Down (Merge) ** [B]
Claire Rousay: Sentiment (Thrill Jockey) ** [B+(*)]
Taliba Safiya: Black Magic (self-released, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Sault: Acts of Faith (Forever Living Originals) ** [B+(*)]
A. Savage: The Loft Sessions (Rough Trade, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Ann Savoy: Another Heart (Smithsonian Folkways) ** [B+(*)]
Schoolboy Q: Blue Lips (Interscope) ** [B+(*)]
Shaboozey: Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going (Republic/Empire) ** [B+(*)]
Nadine Shah: Filthy Underneath (EMI North) ** [B+(*)]
Sheer Mag: Playing Favorites (Third Man) ** [B+(**)]
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers: Revelations (Abeyance) ** [B+(**)]
ShrapKnel: Nobody Planning to Leave (Backwoodz Studioz) ** [B]
Shygirl: Club Shy (Because Music, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Sisso & Maiko: Singeli Ya Maajabu (Nyege Nyege Tapes) ** [B+(*)]
Skee Mask: ISS010 (Ilian Tape) ** [B+(*)]
Sleater-Kinney: Little Rope (Loma Vista) ** [B]
The Smile: Wall of Eyes (XL) ** [B]
Connie Smith: Love, Prison, Wisdom and Heartaches (Fat Possum) ** [B+(**)]
Soccer Mommy: Evergreen (Loma Vista) **
Vera Sola: Peacemarker (Spectraphonic/City Slang) ** [B+(**)]
Daniel Son & Futurewave: Bushman Bodega (WavGodMusic) **
Sophie: Sophie (Transgressive) ** [B+(**)]
St. Vincent: All Born Screaming (Virgin) ** [B+(**)]
Peter Stampfel/Eli Smith/Walker Shepard: Wildernauts (Don Giovanni) ** [B+(**)]
Ayra Starr: The Year I Turned 21 (Mavin Global Holdings) ** [B+(**)]
Still House Plants: If I Don't Make It, I Love U (Bison) ** [B-]
Moses Sumney: Sophcore (Tuntum, EP) ** [B+(*)]
This Is Lorelei: Box for Buddy, Box for Star (Double Double Whammy) ** [B+(**)]
Fred Thomas: Window in the Rhythm (Polyvinyl) ** [B+(*)]
Linda Thompson: Proxy Music (Storysound) ** [B+(*)]
TiaCorine: Almost There (South Scope/Interscope, EP) ** [B+(**)]
Mary Timony: Untame the Tiger (Merge) ** [B]
Tinashe: Quantum Baby (Nice Life) ** [B+(**)]
Zach Top: Cold Beer & Country Music (Leo33) ** [B+(**)]
Tropical Fuck Storm: Tropical Fuck Storm's Inflatable Graveyard (Three Lobed) ** [B+(*)]
Tyla: Tyla (Epic) ** [B+(**)]
The Umbrellas: Fairweather Friend (Tough Love) ** [B+(*)]
Vampire Weekend: Only God Was Above Us (Columbia) ** [B+(**)]
Alan Walker: A Little Too Late (Aunt Mimi's) [B+(*)]
Faye Webster: Underdressed at the Symphony (Secretly Canadian) ** [B+(*)]
Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties: In Lieu of Flowers (Hopeless) ** [B-]
Jack White: No Name (Third Man) ** [B+(**)]
Cecily Wilborn: Kuntry Gurl Playplist (self-released) ** [B+(*)]
Wilco: Hot Sun Cool Shroud (dBpm, EP) ** [B+(*)]
Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand: Willson Williams (One Little Independent) ** [B+(*)]
Kelly Willis/Melissa Carper/Brennen Leigh: Wonder Women of Country (Brooklyn Basement, EP) ** [B+(**)]
Luke Winslow-King: Flash-a-Magic (Bloodshot) ** [B+(*)]
Chelsea Wolfe: She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She (Loma Vista) ** [B+(**)]
WoochieWobbler: Is My Future Bright? (3455092 DK, EP) ** [B+(**)]
X: Smoke & Fiction (Fat Possum) ** [B+(*)]
Xaviersobased: Keep It Goin Xav (34Ent) ** [B+(*)]
Yard Act: Where's My Utopia? (Island) ** [B+(**)]

Additional reissued/archival non-jazz records rated B+(**) or below (listed alphabetically by artist).

William Basinski: September 23rd (1982, Temporary Residence) **[B+(*)]
Broadcast: Spell Blanket: Collected Demos 2006-2009 (Warp) ** [B]
Brian Calvin and Devin Johnston: Some Hours (1999, Corbett vs. Dempsey, EP) ** [B+(**)]
DJ Notoya: Funk Tide: Tokyo Jazz-Funk From Electric Bird 1978-87 (Wewantsounds/Electric Bird) ** [B-]
Electro Throwdown: Sci-Fi Inter-Planetary Electro Attack on Planet Earth 1982-89 (Soul Jazz) ** [B+(**)]
Ghetto Brothers: Power-Fuerza (1972, Vampisoul) **[B+(*)]
B.B. King: In France: Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival (Deep Digs/Elemental Music) [B+(**)]
Les Belgicains: Na Tango Ya Covadia 1964-70 (Covadia) ** [B+(**)]
Miami Sound: More Funk & Soul From Miami, Florida 1967-1974 (Soul Jazz) ** [B+(**)]
Microstoria: Init Ding + _Snd (1995-96, Thrill Jockey, 2CD) **[B+(*)]
The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed (Light in the Attic) ** [B+(**)]
Lou Reed: Hudson River Wind Meditations (2007, Light in the Attic) ** [B+(**)]
Todd Snider: Songs for the Daily Planet (Purple Version) (Aimless) ** [B+(**)]
Todd Snider: Viva Satellite (Purple Version) (Aimless) **[B+(*)]

New non-jazz records I haven't heard estimated to have a 2% (or better) chance of making the A-list if/when I finally hear them (limited sampling grades appear here, but 2% chances drop significantly under ++):

Reissued/historical non-jazz records I haven't heard estimated to have a 2% (or better) chance of making the A-list if/when I finally hear them: