My Favorite Songs of 2024: Aphex Twin, Arooj Aftab, The Cure, Luxury, Pet Shop Boys, Starflyer 59
The year brought us ambient classics, otherworldly jams, the return of goth and synth-pop icons, thoughtful post-punk, existential shoegaze, and more.
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Every year, I try to write a preamble for my year-end mix that explains why these particular songs are being highlighted amidst the countless songs that I heard in the last twelve months. And then couches that selection within broader cultural trends to lend them greater significance alongside some pithy words of wisdom about the modern state of art and pop culture.
I don’t really feel inclined to do that for 2024, however. Obviously, that should not be taken as an indication that I don’t love these songs. Indeed, some of them were lifesavers, especially during the tumultuous and heartbreaking election cycle that we all endured.
Speaking of that election cycle, some might wonder why we should still care about music given the rise of despotism and totalitarianism (both here in the States and abroad). And never mind the rise of corporate greed (and the violence it inspires), growing social and economic disparities, AI bros consuming the best our civilization has to offer in order to make a quick buck and spit out soulless approximations, social networks kowtowing to lies and toxicity, and shall I go on?
It does seem pretty hopeless and pointless, doesn’t it? And yet, I agree with John Scalzi when he writes “If you don’t find time for rest and joy the fire will consume you.” So I guess I’ll just say — and I now realize that I did, indeed, end up writing the sort of preamble I intended to avoid — that these songs brought me rest and joy in 2024 in ways both gross and subtle, and even in some ways that I’ll never be able to fully explain.
“Antichrist” by The Amazing
Piggies, Fashionpolice Records
If you call your band The Amazing, then you better have the skill — and cojones — to back it up. Fortunately for them, this Swedish outfit does, but not in the way you might be expecting. Their name might imply swaggering, boisterous rock n’ roll, but in fact, the band plays the sort of lush, introspective indie rock that made Sun Kil Moon so beloved before Mark Kozelek revealed himself to be a creep. “Antichrist” is a perfect example of that, with muted vocals, rich guitars, and thoughtful arrangements galore.
“#19” by Aphex Twin
Selected Ambient Works Volume II (Expanded Edition), Warp Records
Originally released in 1994, Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works Volume II has achieved near iconic status in the realms of electronic and ambient music. But interestingly enough, one of its most beloved songs wasn’t widely available until the album was reissued in 2024 to celebrate its 30th anniversary. “#19” — also known as “Stone in Focus” by fans — appeared on some vinyl versions of the album, but not on the CD release. The 30th anniversary reissue makes the minimalist masterpiece available to everyone, allowing more listeners to lose themselves in Richard D. James’ haunting and meditative soundscapes.
“Raat Ki Rani” by Arooj Aftab
Night Reign, Verve Records
I discovered Arooj Aftab’s Night Reign via Josh Hurst, who called it an “absorbing” album that “conjures after-hours melancholy, sensuality, and romance.” That’s most certainly the case with “Raat Ki Rani” as Aftab’s rich voice drifts over languid piano melodies, a looming bass line, and sparkling harp notes. When she released the song as a single, Aftab said it was about “a person whose allure, magnetism, and charisma floats through a beautiful evening garden party.” You might not understand Aftab’s Urdu lyrics, but the song’s sense of longing and desire is undeniable and universal.