As another solstice passed by a few weeks back, the cool weather, dark mornings, and scents of pine in the living room and hot cocoa on the stove provided a pungent reminder that I haven’t actually done anything with my “blog” since last year’s song list. Nevertheless this list was even further delayed as holiday activities took center stage, followed by a trip to Wisconsin that ended in a blur of norovirus and flight delays. So even though 2025 is now well under way I hope you enjoy this opinionated tour through a few of the most significant songs that were new, new-to-me, or newly-appreciated-by-me in 2024.
Here is the tracklist!
The Dream of the 90s is Alive… in South Korea, on Youtube, and various other places
1. The Volunteers - Violet
As soon as the massively reverbed drums and dirty guitar chords fire up, there’s so much 90s in the air you’ll probably smell cigarette smoke coming from your speakers. The band leader Yerin Baek is actually super nice. After a brief stint in a Kpop duo, she left that world behind, got tatted, and started putting out all-English singer-songwriter albums inspired by Amy Winehouse, netting the first English song by a South Korean to top the South Korean charts. That wasn’t enough so then she started the best grunge band of the 20s, featured here. I saw them at a bar in Roseville this summer that was so small that she chatted with the audience at conversational volume between songs. Priceless.
2. Luli Lee - Drop Drop
Ah, the wonders of sidebar recommendations. How else would I have found this grungy disco-punk banger with sub-12k views that was entirely written, sung, performed on all instruments, recorded, mixed, and mastered, with a video selfie-filmed and edited all by one person? It's like if Trent Reznor was reincarnated as a Korean woman with a stronger penchant for funkiness. As she explained in the behind the scenes video, she's a bassist first and constructed the whole thing around the bass line, which probably explains why it clicked with me immediately.
3. Descartes a Kant - After Destruction
Devo and Bleach-era Nirvana had a baby! Yes, that buzzsaw guitar riff will go down in the books as an example of simple perfection. Riffs don't really need more than 2 notes do they? This Mexico-based band intrigued me immediately with their name referencing the canon of modern philosophy and their focus on visual performance (choreo while playing instruments?). The deft incorporation of electronics, tempo changes, and unforgettable lyric “There'll be creation after destruction, you'll see” sealed the deal.
4. Mondo Grosso - Stranger
Ethereal noise rock from a techno producer. I’m pretty sure this is what it sounds like when you're ascending to heaven but still clinging to tragic memories from your earthbound existence.
Howlin’ Wolves and Screamin’ Saints
5. St. Vincent - Broken Man
St. Vincent's All Born Screaming album is a masterpiece all the way through, fusing elements as disparate as rock, funk, country, choral, and ambient into a dramatic goth package. With that musical pedigree and flair for dark storytelling it's no surprise that she's opening for Nick Cave on his tour this year. The album is full of highlights I could've picked, but this one kept me coming back with its compelling depiction of a mental breakdown that somehow makes you want to bop to the beat.
6. Anna Von Hausswolff - The Mysterious Vanishing of Electra
Well, this literally sounds like the summoning of a demon. The minute I heard that satanic, operatic shriek laid over a pulsating guitar dirge, I knew this would be a song that will stick with me for a good while.
Some House and Funk to Heal Your Soul
7. St. Germain - Pont Des Arts
Sometimes music comes to you at the right time, and sometimes it needs to wait. In this instance, 2000, when this album came to the KCSB stacks to rave reviews, was the wrong time for me, and 2024 was the right time. I’m not sure what sinuous pathways led to “jazz house” becoming part of my search vocabulary, but as soon as it did all roads led back to this now-classic album. It’s worth many spins all the way through, but this track’s combo of chill beats and understated, meandering sax was the standout for me.
8. Tokyo Groove Jyoshi - What is Hip? (orig. Tower of Power)
Given the number of times I praise songs for their funkiness in this write-up, one might wonder, how about some actual funk? Completely out-of-this-world bass playing is the highlight here, with the shamisen (Japanese stringed instrument) providing an intriguing traditional touch. The mixing is perfect, with each instrument clearly balanced against the others throughout the track, and the solo section from 2:25 to 4:40 is outstanding!
(K) Pop Goes the World
9. Heize - Lyricist
KRnB is a close cousin to Kpop and Heize is the cream of the crop. This song oozes melancholy, with lyrics about a “lyricist” who is cursed (or blessed?) to keep writing her feelings even as her truth will inevitably hurt others. Dreamy, sad and nostalgic cocktail party ambiance and Heize’s exquisite singing voice carry the song.
The music video is a double feature, also tacking on half of the next song on the EP, Things Are Going Well. Wow!
10. NMIXX - Dash
NMIXX rocked my world with Soñar (Breaker) at the end of last year and followed up in January with this spicy funk-pop delight. The performance video included here is my preference to the MV, with possibly the best outfit change of all time at 2:10. I gotta think someone is deliberately trolling the haters of NMIXX’s “mix-pop” (mashing together multiple genres) concept.
11. Aespa - Zoom Zoom
As usual Aespa had a banner year, with their first full album, an EP, and Japanese debut single. The Supernova, Hot Mess, and Whiplash music videos were treats to sensory overload connoisseurs such as myself, and Bahama and Live My Life were fine b-sides, but for musical pleasure somehow it was this ending credit song for the Beyblade X anime that topped my list. It's just pure unadulterated fun, what can I say? See ya @ Oakland Arena Jan. 30!
12. QWER - TBH
QWER busted onto the scene bringing a fresh rock band approach with a decidedly upbeat J-rock inspired sound, and pioneering a new Twitch-streamers-to-Kpop career path. TBH keeps the energy level at 100% all the way through with a bit of drum and bass infusion to top it off.
13. QWER - Ferris Wheel
Showing another side, Ferris Wheel harkens back to a lighter “jangle pop” sound of late 80s and early 90s alternative. As you frolick in fields of yellow flowers, don't forget that the bass line is the secret weapon that carries this one to greatness.
Here's a fun bass cover as well!
SM’s Vocal Prowess Through the Years
SM Entertainment arguably started Kpop as we know it today with the group H.O.T. in 1996. Like the other major companies, SM would be more accurately understood as a giant creative factory with various groups at various times acting as the “face” than the label/artist dichotomy common in other genres. SM is known for trying the most experimental musical ideas as well as scouting and training the top singers, so it's not much of a surprise that's where my interest gravitated. Following SM’s roster backwards through the decades, and forwards through the years, has been one of the most rewarding musical journeys I've taken in a good while, and here are a few highlights:
14. F(x) - Butterfly (2014)
It's summer, you're driving the coast highway with the top down. Pure bliss.
15. Red Velvet - Don’t U Wait No More (2015)
Kraftwerk meets Zap Mama? It could be none other than Red Velvet.
16. Exo - Monster (2016)
Exo turning the drama up to 11 as usual. They can bring the high notes, they can bring the low notes, they can harmonize. ‘Nuff said!
17. Taeyeon - Blur (2024)
“Broken and painfully put together, What on Earth was I for?” Taeyeon has been putting some devastating breakup songs into the world lately and this one was the topper this year. The section from 2:45 to the end is jaw-dropping.
The OTY’s
18. Video Of The Year (VOTY): Mondo Grosso - Labyrinth
Admittedly, this came out in 2017. But, since it was “new to me” in 2024 and was far cooler than anything else I saw this year, I'm shoehorning it in. This is high art, fun, silly, dark, and liberating all at the same time.
The camera pans down a U-shaped apartment canyon at night. Into this dark, urban scene, enters a woman comically-outfitted in red, orange, and yellow, like a McDonald's character. It's the track’s singer, Hikari Mitsushima, who proceeds to lead the viewer on a romp through Hong Kong streets, restaurant back rooms, and warehouses, all while dancing fluid, freeform moves like it's the last day of her life. She doesn't even bother lip syncing after the first couple lines, but who cares, her movements express the music more than words ever could. It's only towards the end that the viewer realizes this entire tour-de-force was filmed in a single take.
Thankfully the song is a banger on its own, so those playing the audio-only playlist aren't entirely missing out.
Hikari Mitsushima - Shadow Dance is another astonishing music video.
19. Performance of the Year (POTY): Nami Tamaki - Believe (The First Take)
Jpop is a bit of a harder nut to crack than Kpop, what with the lack of English lyrics and song titles and far less content available outside Japan. One channel that provided a pathway into this world for me in 2024 was The First Take, which like the name would imply, offers vocal performances in a single take with no overdubs. The effect is raw and electrifying, and my favorite of the series was this reboot of a 20-year old track about the soaring feeling of new love. Tamaki’s palpable gratitude at having nailed the performance is the cherry on top and, well, that sweater and earrings?? Rock on sister.
20. Song of the Year (SOTY): IU - Holssi
I knew this would be my SOTY and as I relisten to it, I gotta admit it’s probably just that killer low bass note that repeats every measure that locked it in 😛. OK yeah, the 90s triphop vibe (producers listening to Tricky a bit much?), mysterious lyrics about sprouting and/or floating away to seek freedom (or something?), and those extra hard-hitting drums and chanting that come in at the second chorus probably helped too. Also, the music video is hella cool and I got to see the extended rock version in concert last summer. So yeah, there’s reasons.
21-22. Album of the Year (AOTY): Younha - Growth Theory
Growth Theory was my most highly anticipated release of the year, and it did not disappoint. The stats tell the story: although Younha didn’t make the top 5 of my first three quarterly Youtube Music recaps, she ended the year as my top-played artist due to my repeat plays of this from when it came out in September to November. This album is a bit of an easier listen than End Theory and true to the name, more upbeat and optimistic, with an overall mood of soaring adventure. I can’t say there’s anything here that quite hit me with the same feeling of epic gravitas of Event Horizon or Stardust, but the album is enjoyable from start to finish with superb flow nonetheless.
21. Younha - Silverfish
Younha adds Celtic violins to her sound on this foot-tapper that describes an earnest journey of love. The flute solo that comes in at the 2-minute mark is the chef’s kiss.
22. Younha - Life Review
A song about the many lives you’ve lead, or could’ve lead, or could still lead. A great song for existential ponderings, with powerful backing music evocative of embarking on a great adventure - life’s great adventure, of course.
Bonus Full-Length Live Video (Youtube Version Only)
- NMIXX - Live on Tiny Desk Korea, Sept. 9, 2024
NMIXX are born performers and are known for their top tier live vocals - as such it's no surprise they were the first Korean vocal group ever to appear on NPR’s Tiny Desk. The intimate setting with freeform dancing, chats between songs, and expertly-played jazz fusion backing music somehow works perfectly and provides a welcome contrast to the usual Kpop fanfare. And they make it look like so much fun! Highlights are when they all brought out instruments for the “NMIXX change up” of See That? at 15:20, and the closing rendition of Love is Lonely that is more haunting than the original at 22:00.
Laufey and Kwon Jinah were two other Tiny Desks that caught my attention this year!
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