Wow Richard, that was, seriously, several articles in one. You are a deep thinker and listener and I have happily transferred your Top 100 to my Qobuz account and look forward to upping my 210+ from 2024 by many more. I do kind of wish this had been broken up into separate articles as there is plenty to observe also here about artwork and themes and more. I guess that, just as I made the point that we have more good music on tap than ever, a platform like Substack ensures that we have more good writing about good music than ever. Here's to more happy listening in 2025.
Thanks, Tony. I, too, was surprised how long my post ended up being, even given my previous form at going over the ideal word count! I had my reasons for putting it all in one place, but I take (and welcome) your point that it might be better broken into more digestible chunks. All the best to you for a new year of listening and writing. (And running: I really enjoyed your pieces on running last year, having recently come back to the pleasures of long-distance running after a three-decade break)
I thoroughly enjoyed this write-up, Richard. I know, yet don't know, a lot of the albums and artists on your playlist, if that makes sense. The names of many are familiar, but I haven't explored their music. While others are new to me. I have saved your playlist to spin, however. It's refreshing to see a lot of different stuff on your list compared to many others I have seen these past few weeks!
And, on that note… curiously, I have limited myself to making playlists the same length as a cassette (no longer than 120 min), and I tell myself I can't repeat artists; they only get one song. Silly rules I set myself when I made tapes. Strange that I still hold myself to these arbitrary and silly rules.
I have enjoyed reading your pieces this year and look forward to your work in 2025. Happy New Year from Vancouver, BC (my wife and I are currently in the city to see in the New Year).
Thank you, Michael. I have total respect for that discipline of keeping the playlist to a briefer time, equivalent to a cassette or a CD - not silly at all! I at least still try to keep to the one song per artist rule, apart from occasional instances where a musicians may be in a collaboration on a different project different to their main one. Even prolific favourites like Willie Nelson only get one!
Thanks again for engaging with my writing this year. I've really appreciated it. I've also thoroughly enjoyed following your posts too, and I look forward to what comes in 2025. Hope you and your wife have a great New Year in Vancouver. We're down in Cornwall for ours.
Thanks Richard for a most thoughtful and wide-reaching piece about 2024's musicscape. I've enjoyed listening to the examples you include in the text, none of which were picked up by my radar (probably because I am in denial about the algorithms). I was at that Jason Isbell concert in Stockton and rated it one of the best gigs of the year. Let's hope there'll be similar treats in the North East in 2025! Regards, Steve.
Thanks Steve, glad to hear there were some things to enjoy there. Yes, the Isbell was a standout. I’m looking forward to Cat Power at the Glasshouse in 2025 and, as you say, hopefully plenty more.
This is such a great piece. I can see the evolution of music, as this year I started using the AI DJ on Spotify, which I love and hate in equal measure. Music is the backdrop to the lives of many people, which highlights this. Thank you for sharing.
Wow Richard, that was, seriously, several articles in one. You are a deep thinker and listener and I have happily transferred your Top 100 to my Qobuz account and look forward to upping my 210+ from 2024 by many more. I do kind of wish this had been broken up into separate articles as there is plenty to observe also here about artwork and themes and more. I guess that, just as I made the point that we have more good music on tap than ever, a platform like Substack ensures that we have more good writing about good music than ever. Here's to more happy listening in 2025.
Thanks, Tony. I, too, was surprised how long my post ended up being, even given my previous form at going over the ideal word count! I had my reasons for putting it all in one place, but I take (and welcome) your point that it might be better broken into more digestible chunks. All the best to you for a new year of listening and writing. (And running: I really enjoyed your pieces on running last year, having recently come back to the pleasures of long-distance running after a three-decade break)
I thoroughly enjoyed this write-up, Richard. I know, yet don't know, a lot of the albums and artists on your playlist, if that makes sense. The names of many are familiar, but I haven't explored their music. While others are new to me. I have saved your playlist to spin, however. It's refreshing to see a lot of different stuff on your list compared to many others I have seen these past few weeks!
And, on that note… curiously, I have limited myself to making playlists the same length as a cassette (no longer than 120 min), and I tell myself I can't repeat artists; they only get one song. Silly rules I set myself when I made tapes. Strange that I still hold myself to these arbitrary and silly rules.
I have enjoyed reading your pieces this year and look forward to your work in 2025. Happy New Year from Vancouver, BC (my wife and I are currently in the city to see in the New Year).
Thank you, Michael. I have total respect for that discipline of keeping the playlist to a briefer time, equivalent to a cassette or a CD - not silly at all! I at least still try to keep to the one song per artist rule, apart from occasional instances where a musicians may be in a collaboration on a different project different to their main one. Even prolific favourites like Willie Nelson only get one!
Thanks again for engaging with my writing this year. I've really appreciated it. I've also thoroughly enjoyed following your posts too, and I look forward to what comes in 2025. Hope you and your wife have a great New Year in Vancouver. We're down in Cornwall for ours.
Thanks Richard for a most thoughtful and wide-reaching piece about 2024's musicscape. I've enjoyed listening to the examples you include in the text, none of which were picked up by my radar (probably because I am in denial about the algorithms). I was at that Jason Isbell concert in Stockton and rated it one of the best gigs of the year. Let's hope there'll be similar treats in the North East in 2025! Regards, Steve.
Thanks Steve, glad to hear there were some things to enjoy there. Yes, the Isbell was a standout. I’m looking forward to Cat Power at the Glasshouse in 2025 and, as you say, hopefully plenty more.
This is such a great piece. I can see the evolution of music, as this year I started using the AI DJ on Spotify, which I love and hate in equal measure. Music is the backdrop to the lives of many people, which highlights this. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for commenting, Jon, and all the best for 2025.