MRR Top Ten 2024
State violence, genocide, cancer, all the hits and more. The unpredictable nature of the details of our future as we navigate this shit buffet brings me a deep appreciation for the punks. The storytelling and legend making, the culture and organizing, and no bullshit - leaning into all that for the future. This list is the songs that got me through another year with humor and rage. Now Songs for Now Times. I didn’t include reissues in this list, but if I did the most recent Peel Sessions by The Fall, Hans-a-Plast, and Los Saicos would be included. Also, records are great but live music is where it’s at. Alphabetical Order.
AD/DC - Ordinary Souls LP (Let's Pretend)
Tender and defiant. A catchy record that’s not overproduced, or slick or in any way dishonest. Ghost Ship is easily the song of the year, a real soundtrack to how we live and how some of us died. AD/DC write songs about real life and I love hearing my experiences and thoughts reflected this well.
I was listening to the Cherry Blossom Clinic, the best show on WFMU, and Terre T played Lost. Nothing like hearing an amazing song on the radio for the first time. Straightforward punk music and soulful painful vocals. An attention grabber. This record hasn’t let go all year.
ATOMIC PREY - s/t LP (Iron Lung)
This record is as great, ferocious, raw, lean - true hardcore. It’s a reverse garbage disposal of a sound, where all the shit they try to shove down our throats is spewed up and exploded. Perfect catharsis.
BLACK BUTTON - Internal Life EP (Dynastic Yellow Star Label)
I love the ranty and aggressive vocals (maybe at us, maybe with us), with unpredictable riffs and rhythms. They scratch the same itch as NO MEANS NO, but the straightforward parts are meaner and grosser. It’s a meaner and grosser time and I appreciate their reflection of our society.
CANAL IRREAL - Someone Else's Dance LP (Beach Impediment)
Sonically there’s a lot to tap into here. The energy and catharsis of the best punk with moments when you can just groove. It’s like the show when you’re engaged with the people around you, not just the people on stage. The perfect record to feel less lonely.
THE CIRCULATORS - Insufficient Fun LP (Total Punk)
A perfect mix of garage and power pop that makes me forget all responsibilities! I love this catchy and energetic record that builds in the best way. They’re not afraid to insult or flirt, blow us off or blow us away. Wired over this record!
COPY WRIGHT- Compilation Tape Series (Escape Cassettes)
I think we got tapes 13-16 this year. My fav was the one dedicated to MINOR THREAT versus ROBERT JOHNSON. Pat played their songs back to back and took callers discussing the various merits of each. No spoilers here, you gotta listen. This tape series is the ongoing memorial of Pat Wright made out of the raw material he left behind of a life lived deep and well and recorded on radio shows and answering machine messages mostly, but other sources are present, too.
MARCEL WAVE - Something Looming LP (Feel It)
Swaying mid pop music that fakes you out with the coating of twee affectation to keep out the squares and people who don’t listen. The pop hooks are more like barbed wire. Talking and singing, sharp and edgy.
NEGATIVE GEARS - Moraliser LP (Static Shock)
Sly and side eye post punk that’s got energy and attitude. It’s sonically thick and dynamic, a soundtrack that may motivate you to break windows and yell at strangers. This record is the sound of fighting on even though giving up makes so much sense.
PETER PERRETT - The Cleansing LP (Domino)
I was listening to The Brian Turner Show on East Village Radio, and heard I Wanna Go With Dignity. It was vocally forward and intriguing, and haunted me. I finally looked up the playlist and found out it was Peter Perrett from The Only Ones and this was off his new double album. Midtempo mostly and equally reflective and observant. There’s a sweetness of surviving in these songs, and an example of a way to face the death and pain that’s coming for us.
V/A - No Occupation: Another Benefit for Mutual Aid in Gaza cassette (The Dissidents)
This 16 band international benefit compilation benefits Gaza Soup Kitchen. All in for providing support to help the people survive war profiteering and genocide. Also, the music is great! It’s a strong comp all the way through with the variation and flow of a good radio show, and I’m thankful that I was introduced many good bands (BLESSURE and TIIKERI) and proud of some of my favs (MISS ESPANA, COLLATE, INTERROBANG).
