Top 10 Music for 2024
Top 10 Music 2024
There have been a few years where I look back and think “Man, I don’t think I’ve found a minimum of 10 new interesting acts for my list.”, then proceed to be surprised when I have to pair the list down. Well, I finally did it this year.
Only 7 songs/performers/acts were of interest enough to me to want to share with you this year. Not sure if that’s good or bad, but does make me reflect a little and wonder why. I think I can chalk it up to being busier than usual, not taking the time to actively search for new music, and spending more time listening to the already large list of music I already have.
Of the music that did make the list, most is poppy dance stuff and largely of Asian origins. Not a huge shock though as there have been other years where that genre has featured heavily.
On to the music!
Atarashi Gakko! – Tokyo Calling
I’m not sure exactly how I found them, but I distinctly remember the video, Tokyo Calling. A playful poke at the kaiju genre, and lamenting the loss of creativity in the youth of Tokyo.
Not your normal JPop, I tend to think more along the lines of JDevo. Their music isn’t super radio friendly but interesting enough to me all the same. Their videos are entertaining and once you’ve watched a few, you understand each performers character and what they bring to the table.
Dreamcatcher – Scream
Straight line Kpop dance music that hits all the notes. High energy video production, choreographed dance moves, techno drops… Nothing particularly new but very well done.
K/DA POP STARS
If this were a Japanese act, it would be called “Idoru”. Here, it’s a “Virtual Reality Pop Group”. The singers are actually real people, but the personas are all computer generated. Based on the League of Legends video game series, K/DA stands for Kill, Deaths, Assists – stats from the game.
A great electronic-dance beat that reminds me of Pussycat Dolls and Little Mix, but where this switches things up is the rap component, something I see a lot of in KPop. K/DA features it prominently at the 1:20 mark, giving it a cool street style touch but doesn’t come off as gimmicky or trying to hard.
Kim Dracula – Make me Famous
I purchased tickets to see In This Moment and Kind Dracula was the opening act. I’d never heard of him so Youtub’d a bunch of stuff. I was not disappointed.
Not afraid to mix things up, Dracula hops from metal, trip-hop, jazz, funk, deathcore, industrial, nu-metal, Drum N Bass, trap, and swing. And that’s all in one song. I’ve also learned that Kim played all of the instruments and produces most of the music himself (like Geoff Lyne of OLE) and hires session players for videos and shows.
I’m reminded a lot of Mike Patton from Faith No More/Mr Bungle/et al. Wildly talented over a range of styles. Hoping he continues to put out such interesting music.
And as far as the show went, he was awesome live – it was a great show.
Chaka Kahn – Like Sugar
I think I’ve been listening to this for years but forgot to add it here. One of the funkiest tunes from one of the OG’s of funk herself.
Falling in Reverse – “Ronald”
More deathcore for the list. I’m sure this was suggested by Youtube’s algorithm because of Slaughter to Prevail and Lorna Shore. A more melodic, and “mainstream”, if you will, version of those. This song is all about the drop, quick switched in vocal styles, and featuring Tech9 and Alex Terrible (from aforementioned Slaughter to Prevail).
CHUNG HA – I’m Ready
More electronic dance KPop, and I am not ashamed.
Til next year, all!
