The Top 10 Post-Punk Albums of 2024

 It's that time of year again. It might seem a little early to begin sorting through the year's best post-punk albums, but record labels have already sent me most of what this year has to offer. After I sort through sorting through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of the year. 2024. Perhaps it was marginally better than the previous year, though given the current climate of the world, we are progressing on a downward spiral, making dark music more important as a soundtrack for this.   As far as 2024 goes for post-punk, there were strong albums, especially those in the top 5, though the influx of new material from the genre is beginning to slow.  The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list; and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 post-punk albums of 2024.

10-New Model Army- "Unbroken" 

At 67 Justin Sullivan is keeping New Model Army going. With their 16th album "Unbroken" they are going with great vigor. Powerful anthemic choruses that ring out. It does not take you back to their punk days, though they come close at times. The guitars have more jangle to them here. There is plenty in the world for Sullivan to angrily ponder and these songs express that in full. The key to their success is not the sound they have cultivated, which is distinct to them as much as their songwriting chops.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/01/new-model-army-unbroken.html

 

9-Rosegarden Funeral Party- "From the Ashes" 

This band might have dialed up the Siouxsie influence on this album, but they did it oddly.  Rather than just pay tribute they pondered what if Siouxsie fronted Roxy Music during the Brian Eno years. It's dramatic and glammed out while basking in the indulgences of cocaine-fueled art rock, almost to the point of taking them out of the post-rock revival,

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/rosegarden-funeral-party-from-ashes.html

 

8-Fourth Dominion-"Diana's Day" 

This New York-based band's sophomore album feels like a cross between AFI and older REM. This means we are combining organic jangle along a more 90s-influenced goth rock. Lyrically there is a great deal of occult metaphor. The production works for what they are going for here as it gives this more of a rock edge. The bass rumbles harder on their more palm-muted grooves to add a bit of balls. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/06/fourth-dominion-dianas-day.html

7-Negative Gears -Moraliser" 

Dark moody punk from Australia. They are big on the tension and the vocals are more punk, though not yelled in the typical fashion.  One of the things this album is mad about is how Sydney wants to be America which has turned it into a shit hole.  I am fine with not really into political punk unless it's just focused on anarchy. There are some early Cure-sounding guitar melodies in the mix. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/negative-gears-moraliser.html

6- the Chameleons- "Tomorrow Remember Yesterday" 

As long as both Mark Burgess and guitarist  Reg Smithies then this is the Chameleons. Having formed in 83, it puts them behind other British bands like the Cure or Joy Division as the forerunners of post-punk. This album puts melody before punk tension. Burgess's voice sounds great, and it captures who they were and who they are now in a genuine manner. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/gothtober-chameleons-tomorrow-remember.html

     

5-Vision Video - "Modern Horror" 

 2022's "Haunted Hours" took the top spot in our end-of-the-year post-punk top 10, so the bar is set high for this one. The 3rd album from this Athens, Ga, based band finds, them opening things up with the moodier organic sound that earned them their place here. All of this comes together thanks to the smooth melodies and great vocal performances of  Dusty Gannon. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/gothtober-vision-video-modern-horror.html

4-Louse -"Passions Like Tar" 

The album is crisp. It pays tribute to the era this music evolved from without being a straight-up tribute band to it.  There is a hopeful brightness to the shimmer of their sound and the vocals are not totally despondent. They marry the sound of two of my favorite bands, the Smiths and the Cure, so how can I complain about that, is. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/gothtober-louse-passions-like-tar.html

3-the Jesus and the Mary Chain -"Glasgow Eyes"

The Reid Brothers are back for the 8th album of their 40-year career. This album does touch on their more depressive side at times but finds them employing a wide range of moods. An upbeat pulse lasks the melancholy,  It is experimental in different ways, as they toy around with synths and effects. Jim's voice sounds ageless, with his hushed dusky muttering. Lyrically things are brilliant. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/03/jesus-and-mary-chain-glasgow-eyes.html

  2-Metz - "Up On Gravity Hill" 

 The band once again shifts the sonics of their attack, and amid its weirdness, the album proves to be accessible to a wider audience. Woozy guitar counterpoints punk-inflected vocals smoothed out by overdubbed harmonies. The normally rough edges of noise-rock, are less abrasive thanks to the refined nuances of their songwriting to create a more 90s style atl-rock not unlike the bar-room brooding of the Afghan Whigs.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/metz-up-on-gravity-hill.html

 

1- Crippling Alcoholism - "With Love From a Padded Room" 

This band beautifully captures a darkly honest misery, that has not been done this well since  Planesmistakenforstars was a band. The singer's raspy voice makes you imagine what it might sound like if Tom Waits fronted Interpol. It took the top spot because not only are the song uniquely engaging, but this album can be played countless times without getting tired of it. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/06/crippling-alcoholism-with-love-from.html

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Gothtober - Negative Gears : "Moraliser"

 Goth as we know it came from the punk scene. So here is some dark moody punk from Australia. They are big on the tension and the vocals are more punk, though not yelled in the typical fashion. The first song does pick up the pace as they are prone to step on the gas. One of the things this album is mad about is how Sydney wants to be America which has turned it into a shit hole. This perspective is interesting  "Room With the Mirror' does not reflect this as it seems more self-deprecating, but "Ants' certainly does offer this social commentary, Which I am fine with not really into political punk unless it's just focused on anarchy. It's also a really well-written song which helps. There are some early Cure-sounding guitar melodies in the mix. 

"Attention to Detail' is punk coming from a more Joy Division-like place. They are lamenting the state of things and getting more into specifics, but the tension-building works well enough to balance out the lyrics. It wanders off following the bass line into the ambiance which is an odd place for it to go.  The way they let the backbone of the bass charge in to establish a stark groove is more post-punk than not. The space they create with "Lifestyle Damages' also fits this bill. In fact, they do these things in a pretty impressive manner.  The vocals are capable of holding a melody or spitting the lyrics out with defiance. 

"Pills" keeps their frantic burst of downtrodden obsessing in motion. The guitars know when to sit back and let things simmer which gives these guys the edge over most punk. The vocals keep the chanted hooks coming. "Connect' is another with more of a Joy Division edge. It is not as dynamic as some of the other songs though the chorus works well and it's a little darker.     The last song summons a stormy gray sonic charge. They pick up the pace but do not discard what has been working for them up to this point,  This is another strong punk album that leans in the post-punk direction. It seems this sort of thing is not coming from America these days. Great songwriting. 

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