Week 8 Watchlist: Atemporal Faves of 2024
Look, it's either this or nothin'
Hello! Happy holidays, and early Merry Christmas to you and yours. If you’d like to avoid reading a 31-year-old white guy’s take on his favorite songs of 2024, I advise CTRL + F and searching “Monday, December 23” to get to the games. Or you can just scroll past this. If you DO want to read about a 31-year-old white guy’s take on his favorite songs of 2024, it’s your time. This is the only post you’ll get this week, as I’m taking a week-long blog vacation. -WW
Back in the day, as in 2014, I had a column for the University of Tennessee’s weekly newspaper where I’d review a couple records a week. Thankfully, most of these are lost to the sands of time, but my editor Jenna noticed a key thing: I gave most of these new albums middling or poor reviews.
Now, this is not necessarily because I am a Hater or looking to be rude; I just don’t think the world needs a 17th Decemberists album or whatever, and I’ve always hated (insert emo band everyone loved in 2005 here). It became a competition of hers to see what album could make me crack the most in a given week. Finally, in January 2015 or thereabouts, she gave me a Fall Out Boy record to play. I made it three songs in, hit the eject button, and began writing. It resulted in this.
It remains the great honor of my writing career to have received this as a column head.
Anyway, before I was a full-time part-time college basketball writer, I was an arts guy and someone who did a bunch of music reviews for various outlets. The long-defunct Knoxville Mercury had a few pieces of mine centered around Big Ears Festival artists, for example. Long-time readers know that every single article I write seems to have at least one reference to a song or artist, almost as a misguided Rockbusters thing if nothing else.
These are my qualifications for forcing you to read a list of the 24 best songs I heard in the year 2024. I whittled this down to 24 from an original list of about 55 options. Why 24? Well, it’s 2024. Simple as.
I don’t get to hear nearly as much new music as I used to and I’m disinterested in forming my opinions based on the lists of a Pitchfork or Stereogum, so rest assured that this list is an attempt to do something somewhat different. This is why I use the phrase Atemporal Faves, which Simon Reynolds coined: if a song came out in 2023 but I didn’t hear it until 2024, I’m counting it. Sue me.
I also like doing this as an exercise to see what I liked in a given 12-month period of my life. 10 months of any year is mostly spent listening to older stuff to build a better base for listening purposes; the other two months are the ones where I try to catch up as best as I can. This year was actually a little different: probably 12 or 13 of these 20 I’ve been listening to for several months now, and there’s fewer December entrants than is my standard. So! On you go. These are in alphabetical order. All links are to YouTube because this year I found out my friends are almost evenly split between Spotify and Apple Music.
Spotify playlist goes here:
Amaarae, “THUG (Truly Humble Under God)”. I think this lady is a future star, or at least I hope she’ll be. This is ideally what pop music will sound like in a couple years to me.
Beyonce, “Texas Hold ‘Em”. This is the best song on her country album, grow up. I saw a lot of people gravitate towards “16 Carriages” (okay but runs out of steam after a minute) or the godawful Miley Cyrus song, come on. This is an instant classic that’s going to age extremely well. I also considered “Riverdance” and “Ya Ya” for this spot. Cowboy Carter is no great record but I liked it and look forward to what she does next.
Zach Bryan, “American Nights”. I can never tell anymore who I’m allowed to and to not like in music circles. I liked The Great American Bar Scene a lot and it’s the best country-ish record I heard in 2024. This song, which is clearly inspired heavily by Bruce Springsteen, is far better than the actual song he did with Bruce Springsteen.
Doechii, “Nissan Altima”. I know very little about this person other than she’s from Florida. This is the best Azealia Banks song of the last few years. (Elsewhere in Top Dawg Entertainment: I didn’t care for the Kendrick album beyond “Luther” and “Dodger Blue”. The best of the diss tracks was the first one.)
Drook, “Humdrum”. This is the most left-field pick of the entire grouping here. Drook are a group from Richmond. I’ve heard a few of their songs; nothing comes close to this one. It sounds like Bjork’s “Hyperballad” filtered through this, which is very high praise. Not sure if I’ll hear of these guys again but I hope so.
Billie Eilish, “Birds of a Feather”. I also considered “The Greatest” from this young artist’s best album yet by a mile. This one is a tremendous use of space on a major pop hit and would be in a personal top five. I love songs like this where every element is allowed to breathe on its own.
Fontaines D.C., “Favourite”. I am a major, major sucker for anything that hits a very specific vein of jangle pop, which is the Sundays’ 1990 record Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. This is the sound of really going for it and should’ve been a huge hit. “I can claim a dreamer from a dream”…hell yeah. Salute.
Fred again…, Four Tet, Skrillex, “Glow”. I heard this for the first time on my friend Nathan’s end-of-year radio show, which was fabulous as usual. This is the one I wish I’d heard many months prior. It’s so good to the point that I took out the (excellent) Four Tet track I had planned for this.
Heems, “Obi Toppin”. I knew I could get in a basketball-specific song here! This is one-half of the fabulous and forgotten Das Racist, who you’d know from this meme song in the late 2000s. Also on here is Kool Keith, which is a nice thing to say again.
How to Dress Well, “No Light”. Serious credit to this group, which is one I have known of for FIFTEEN YEARS NOW, still being around. I can somewhat understand the sound here being abrasive but that guitar line is a real chef’s kiss deal to me. Perfect tone.
Cindy Lee, “Kingdom Come”. The Cindy Lee album is every hipster’s album of the year because they’re obsessed with the story (not on streaming, person running the project shut it down midway through the tour) more than the music (which is okay, but not really fundamentally different than Ariel Pink circa mid-2000s). This is easily, easily the best song on the record of the five or so that sound like 1963.
Magdalena Bay, “Death and Romance”. This one snuck up on me. I hated this group’s first album but really liked the most recent one - sounds like futuristic pop music for people that touch grass. This is the best, most complete one though I personally listen to the shorter “Image” and “Killing Time” more often.
Mk.gee, the SNL version of “Rockman”. I like this kid a lot even if it feels like his album is Grade: Incomplete. There’s some seriously interesting sketches going on the actual record titled Two Star and the Dream Police (GREAT title), the best of which is the opener that sounds like warped Justin Bieber. The live version of “Rockman” is my favorite thing I heard him do this year, and it seems in general his live sound is better than studio.
Momma, “Ohio All The Time”. As of the time of writing, this has under 700,000 plays on Spotify. Now, far be it from me to be a music analytics predictor, but no band with this exact 1995 sound is going to stay this (relatively) unknown for much longer. Buy stock now.
Nia Archives, “Cards on the Table”. This is my song of the year. There’s nothing that sounds like this at all out there right now: mid-1990s jungle/electronica but with a very sweet singer over it and the guitar tone from Meat Puppets’ “Up on the Sun”? You kidding? Instant classic, my God.
Anderson Paak/Knxwledge, “Daydreaming”. You’re either going to immediately smile at the ridiculous 1984 of it all or you’ll hate it. I’m in the former.
Chappell Roan, “Guilty Pleasure”. The average person’s song of the year seems to be “Good Luck, Babe!”, which is fine because that’s a song I liked a decent bit. I would say “HOT TO GO!” is also a great pick for pretty obvious reasons and nearly made this list. But it’s this one that’s stuck with me the most and it’s somehow not one of the various singles. This is the star of the year for good reason.
Taylor Swift, “Clara Bow”. I considered “So High School” for the Taylor Swift Token Track From a Bloated Album of 2024, but this one won me over because it’s the only thing on her entire 31-track album that says a single interesting thing about stardom. Sort of a problem when the entire album is, essentially, about stardom! I was fearful of TTPD when announced and the actual songs did little to shift me from my pre-take of “this is inessential and boring”, but this one is a winner. The only song on the main 16-song LP to have any studio space built into it whatsoever, therefore sounding more like Randy Newman or Harry Nilsson than she might’ve intended but in a good way.
This is Lorelei, “A Song That Sings About You”. I had four (!) songs to pick from this excellent album titled Box For Buddy, Box For Star that’s well in the alt-country vein that a lot of my subscribers generally like. This won out because of the arpeggiating guitar and because it’s about wandering through cities you’ve never seen before with your closest friend. How could you not enjoy such a thing?
Vampire Weekend, “Connect”. I saw VW in concert in Nashville this year. It was a great time, seeing them on tour for their second-best album. This was my favorite song they did live, which helps it win out over “Classical”.
Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman, “Right Back to It”. It took me a while to give in to this one, but this is the best duet in a good while from the second-best country album of the year. This is also my way out of listening each artist individually, who both made albums I liked this year. (In that event I would’ve chosen “Bored” and “Rudolph” respectively.)
Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign as Y$, “Good (Don’t Die)”. No one wants to give Kanye West space anymore, which is a perfectly defensible decision. I am not of the opinion that much of anything the guy does these days is worth defending. The problem with dismissing him entirely (AGAIN, FULLY DEFENSIBLE TO DO SO) is that this monstrous idiot will still pop out at least one or two “so that’s why we put up with you for so long” moments with every new release. Kanye put out a pair of releases with buddy Ty Dolla Sign this year; this is the song I’ve been coming back to more and more. Naturally, because Donna Summer’s estate perhaps doesn’t appreciate someone like Donna Summer being associated with someone like Kanye West, this song was removed from streaming services four days after release. Alas: a very Kanye way to release your best work of a given year. (FWIW: I also liked “Burn” a lot.)
X, “Big Black X”. X is a band that I guess I’d best describe as punk rock? Maybe early alternative? They’ve been around since 1978. This is only important information to know because from 1993 to 2020, they did not release a single new song, then came back during COVID with their best album in almost 40 years. Then this year, they came back AGAIN with another good record, their final one. They’ve had the same lineup for 46 years, untouched. It’s amazing they still exist, let alone are this good. Imagine if the Ramones were still going, that’s what this is like. I’ll allow the lovely nostalgia this song provides.
Yard Act, “Dream Job”. It bangs. What can I say. 24 for ‘24.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 23
A GAME
Como at Inter Milan, 2:45 PM ET, Paramount+. What? Inter Milan’s pretty good! Como…isn’t, but hey.
B GAME
#126 Charleston vs. #107 Loyola Chicago (-3), 5:30 PM ET, ESPNU. I mean, it’s on and this is the best available game you can get at the Diamond Head Classic. I saw they’re gonna move this event to Thanksgiving, which blows, but honestly I’m not sure what makes it stand out other than its existence.
C GAMES
#136 Middle Tennessee at #3 Tennessee (-23), 7 PM ET, SEC Network. It’s a small sample size but I was indeed curious: 20+ point favorites at home the three days before Christmas post-COVID are 13-11 ATS. I would have figured more in the range of 6-18 ATS because these kids just wanna get home, but apparently not.
#48 Nebraska (-11) at #158 Hawaii, 12:30 AM ET, ESPN2. It is on.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24
A GAME
It’s a Wonderful Life, 8 PM ET, NBC. I mean, obviously.
B GAME
None.
C GAME
Hawaii Bowl, 8 PM ET, ESPN. If you absolutely, positively HAVE to watch a sporting event, this seems to be the only one out there. Please do not watch this.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25
Merry Christmas!
A GAMES
Ravens at Texans, 4:30 PM ET, Netflix. I think the Ravens are starting to emerge as the darkhorse Super Bowl favorite, which makes sense given the Lions’ injuries, the Chiefs’ inability to win a game by more than eight points, and the general distrust of the Eagles/Steelers/Vikings/etc.
Diamond Head Classic Championship, 9 PM ET, ESPN2. No one knows who’ll be in it! How exciting. Yes, this is grade inflation out of desperation, why do you ask?
B GAMES
Chiefs at Steelers, 1 PM ET, Netflix. Boy, I wonder what will happen this time the Chiefs have a chance to lose a football game! Surely it won’t result in a 1-7 point win. I’m working overtime to not let fatigue of excellence color my view of the Chiefs, their fans, and Patrick Mahomes…but it’s hard. I understand why NBA fans grew to hate the Warriors, I guess.
Timberwolves at Mavericks, 2:30 PM ET, ABC. I think this is the one NBA on Christmas game I’ll watch, which is kind of sad. The NBA is probably more watchable on aggregate than it’s been at any other point in my lifetime but I’m not super-inclined to watch when, well, I have no idea who will or won’t play in a given game. Even here, in a game that should VERY OBVIOUSLY BE GOOD, Luka Doncic is questionable with a heel injury.
C GAMES
Spurs at Knicks, 12 PM ET, ABC.
76ers at Celtics, 5 PM ET, ABC.
Lakers at Warriors, 8 PM ET, ABC.
Nuggets at Suns, 10:30 PM ET, ABC. These are all on. Lakers/Warriors is probably the second-best game?
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26
Happy Boxing Day!
A GAME
Aston Villa at Newcastle United, 10 AM ET, USA Network. The battle at the top of the Premier League is more or less down to three teams - Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal - but Villa and Newcastle are both in the fight for the final Champions League spot, or alternately, the Europa League. Neither are terrible outcomes for a season.
B GAMES
Fulham at Chelsea, 10 AM ET, Peacock. God, I am jealous of the Brits owning Boxing Day. Instead we get people begging us to watch bowl games where half of the names you know are opting out. Thanks!
C GAMES
Leeds United at Stoke City, 3 PM ET, Paramount+. Knew I could sneak in my idiot soccer club once this year.
Rate Bowl: Rutgers vs. Kansas State, 5:30 PM ET, ESPN. I mean, I guess. I don’t understand why these still exist. What is the issue with just shoving these to Week One of next year? Wouldn’t you be far more interested in two Top 25-y teams playing on Week One next year instead of on the Diamondbacks field on Boxing Day? And if you tell any college football fan this, they look at you like you have six heads and send you a Josh Pate clip about how wrong you are. You’re not a good enough little piggy if you’re not eating up all the slop! Otherwise, you might stop and see that this system isn’t fun for literally anyone involved. Anyway, enjoy the Rate Bowl.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27
Please go see your friends or your grandmother or something. There is nothing worth watching on Friday, December 27.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28
Okay, a real day of sports. Lock in.
A+ GAME OF THE WEEK
#6 Gonzaga (-2) vs. #16 UCLA, 8 PM ET, FOX. I do think it’s a little silly to play this at an NBA arena but the Clippers’ new arena is very cool, so no serious complaints here. I LOVE strength-on-strength matchups; this one is no exception. Gonzaga is #3 offensively and #8 in offensive TO%. UCLA: #4 defensively, #1 in defensive TO%. This is an Oops All Backcourts game, at least when Gonzaga has the ball. I’m sure UCLA hopes that’s the case, because if Gonzaga gets going inside I don’t think UCLA can keep up with their own spotty offense.
A GAME
NCAAW: #24 Oregon (-1.5) at #34 Illinois, 2 PM ET, BTN+. I like this one because I’m not sure how good or not-good Oregon might be. They’re 2-3 against top-50 opponents. The two wins, versus Baylor and Auburn, were both at home and both by two points. The three losses to Georgia Tech (neutral), South Dakota State (neutral), and USC (home), were by a combined 34 points. Illinois hasn’t played a single close game all season, which is intriguing in its own right. Fun, fun, fun!
B GAMES
NCAAW: #30 Creighton (-3.5) at #57 St. John’s, 1 PM ET, FOX. Two teams with solid W-L records, but Creighton’s 9-3 is much more impressive than St. John’s 10-2. Why? Nine of their 12 games have come against top-100 competition, against which they’re 9-3. St. John’s, meanwhile, has played four games against top-100 teams and is 2-2.
#30 Ole Miss at #42 Memphis (-2), 2 PM ET, ESPN2. Hope you sold high on Memphis while you still could. I don’t have quite as much of a Sell High Opportunity on Ole Miss, though I think they’re more accurately rated at Memphis’s #42 than 30th.
#45 Utah State at #36 San Diego State (-5), 4 PM ET, FOX. Say you’re like me, and you’re a guy who just says “I want as many Mountain West teams in the NCAA Tournament as possible.” If so, you want San Diego State to win this game, as Utah State’s non-conference resume has them top-20 in Wins Above Bubble.
C GAMES
NCAAW: #50 Penn State at #33 Minnesota (-7), 3 PM ET, BTN. We’re way too early for must-win territory, but both teams really need this one. Penn State’s 9-3 was against a very weak non-conference slate; same for Minnesota’s 12-1.
NCAAW: #133 Western Kentucky at #39 Kentucky (-18), 3 PM ET, SECN+. WKU is probably best-positioned to take advantage of an MTSU slip-up in CUSA this year, though Kentucky should win this in-state battle.
#67 New Mexico at #96 Colorado State (-1), 4 PM ET, MWN. Referring back to our earlier “who do I want to win” prompt, you want New Mexico to take this one and better their resume/overall metrics a bit.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29
A GAME
NCAAW: #22 Michigan State at #25 Maryland (-1.5), 12 PM ET, BTN+. A serious bummer they’re tossing a top-25 versus top-25 matchup on a service that very few people subscribe to, but welcome to 2024. If you can watch it, you’ll be treated to a terrific offensive battle between a variety of stars. Julia Ayrault for MSU is downright tremendous as a two-way star and I enjoy every chance I get to watch her play.
B GAMES
Packers vs. Vikings, 1 PM ET, FOX. Boy, I can’t wait to see what garbage the Knoxville FOX affiliate signs up for this week instead of an actual good game. Last week: Giants/Falcons. The week before: Bengals/Titans. Maybe this week we’ll get Raiders/Saints.
NCAAW: #51 Middle Tennessee at #46 Princeton (-3.5), 1 PM ET, ESPN+. What a wonderful mid-major affair this is! Love that it exists. The rough comparison here is, like, Saint Mary’s playing San Diego State, which most of CBB Twitter/Bluesky would go pretty nuts for. Watch this game if you can.
NCAAW: #36 Nebraska at #4 UCLA (-20), 4 PM ET, BTN+. Another one sent to the BTN+ dungeon, though I have personally heard better things than expected about the production quality. This is likely a blowout but in the event it isn’t, it’s likely because Nebraska’s star freshman Britt Prince went nuts.
NCAAW: #28 Michigan at #7 USC (-12.5), 9 PM ET, BTN. USC hype is in overdrive after their road win at UConn. While I’m personally a fan of it and tip my cap to it, this is the same team that had to sweat for a full 40 with a 7-seed Ole Miss and lost by 13 at home to Notre Dame. Probably pretty darn good! Also probably not the title fave.
C GAMES
NCAAW: #90 Virginia at #6 Notre Dame (-32), 11 AM ET, ACC Network. Uh…it’s on.
NCAAW: #43 Louisville (-1.5) at #66 Boston College, 1 PM ET, ACC Network. Same as above.
#129 Belmont at #78 Drake (-9), 2 PM ET, ESPN+. Yes! Yes!!!!!! Real ball.
NCAAW: #10 North Carolina (-12.5) at #72 Miami FL, 3 PM ET, ACC Network. I mean, again, it’s on. One of these ACC games that looks just okay will end up being pretty good, as is standard.
#118 South Dakota State at #9 Alabama (-19), 3 PM ET, ESPN+. Alabama is very interested in tempting fate by trying to play as many Dakota schools as they can.
#111 Western Kentucky at #22 Michigan (-16), 8 PM ET, BTN. Actually, both of these are good test cases of another theory: does the last pre-NYE/pre-conference game by a 15+ point home favorite result in more upsets? I’m not sure. Put a pin in this one and get back to it later.
Have a great Christmas, everyone. See you on the 30th.
