featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music
December 13, 2024
Scott Foley, purveyor of dust
Songs are the building blocks of all we do here at R&B. Years ago, we declared the same about albums. But we really mean songs. It's been a gradual evolution over the past couple years, but now it's for reals.
For this Episode of our year-end evaluation, we're celebrating the year in songs, calling attention to our thirty (30) favorites from the past twelve months. These are listed in order of favorites, from our very favorite on down, each striking a valued chord in the symphony that has been our 2024. This year, the process of narrowing our initial glob of about 130 to a much more aerodynamic thirty did not prove as soul-wringing as in past years. The proverbial cream rose to the top with little drama, and the resulting candidates demanded no last-minute massaging.
About half the albums represented below will likely appear on our year-end favorite albums list in two weeks. The rest are standout singles, or exceptional bits from a larger collection. In the end, we're at peace with our 2024 lineup (for now). It's eclectic, engaging, and it aptly represents the reach and range of what we do here at R&B HQ week-in and week-out. Like each of our Spotify ROUTES-casts, it's available for streaming or for staring on our dedicated page. We like to think you'll enjoy it while gathered at the hearth with family, friends, and needy passers-by.
WHAT's SO GREAT ABOUT 2024:
FAVORiTE SONGS
^ Adeem the Artist, "Rotations" Anniversary (Four Quarters, May 3)
- Wussy, "Great Divide" Cincinnati Ohio (Wussymusic, Nov 15)
- Waxahatchee, "Right Back To It (ft MJ Lenderman)" Tigers Blood (Anti, Mar 22)
- Why Bonnie, "Rhyme Or Reason" Wish On the Bone (Fire Talk, Aug 30)
- Sean Barna, "Wallflower (ft Mirah)" Internal Trembling EP (Kill Rock Stars, Nov 22)
- Leslie Stevens, "Blue Roses" Leslie Stevens (Leslie Stevens, Feb 23)
- Adrianne Lenker, "Sadness As a Gift" Bright Future (4AD, Mar 22)
- Anna Tivel, "Disposable Camera" Living Thing (Fluff and Gravy, May 31)
- Sophie Gault, "Lately (ft Gabe Lee)" Baltic Street Hotel (Strong Place, Sep 20)
- Hurray For the Riff Raff, "Hawkmoon" Past Is Still Alive (Nonesuch, Feb 23)
- Willi Carlisle, "Higher Lonesome" Critterland (Signature Sounds, Jan 26)
- Sierra Ferrell, "American Dreaming" Trail Of Flowers (Rounder, Mar 22)
- Bonny Light Horseman, "When I Was Younger" Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free (Jagjaguwar, Jun 7)
- Scott Ballew, "Suicide Squeeze" Rio Bravo (La Honda, Mar 29)
- Julianna Riolino, "Against the Grain" single (Riolino, Sep 13)
- Johnny Blue Skies, "Jupiter's Faerie" Passage du Desir (High Top Mt, Jul 12)
- Fantastic Negrito, "I Hope Somebody's Loving You" Son Of a Broken Man (Storefront, Oct 18)
- Leon Bridges, "Laredo" Leon (Columbia, Oct 4)
- Pernice Brothers, "Who Will You Believe" Who Will You Believe (New West, Apr 5)
- Kyle Kimbrell, "Shape I'm In" Easy Truths (Cornelius Chapel, Apr 5)
- Hanging Stars, "Sweet Light" On a Golden Shore (Loose, Mar 8)
- John Moreland, "Blue Dream Carolina" Visitor (Old Omens, Apr 5)
- Yola, "Future Enemies" single (S-Curve, Sep 19)
- Flatland Cavalry, "Three Car Garage" Flatland Forever (Interscope, Nov 8)
- Morgan Wade, "Time To Love, Time To Kill" Obsessed (Ladylike, Aug 16)
- Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, "Hashtag" Woodland (Acony, Aug 23)
- Iron & Wine, "All In Good Time (ft Fiona Apple)" Light Verse (Sub Pop, Apr 26)
- Cassandra Lewis, "I Would" Lost In a Dream (Low Country Sound, Jul 12)
- Sun June, "41 Dollars" single (Run For Cover, Nov 13)
- Justin Wells, "Counting Days" single (August, Nov 20)
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To enjoy any Spotify ROUTES-cast, just open Spotify and search for "routesandbranches" to access this most recent playlist, as well as many others from past months. Or click here for a preview:
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