Welcome back to Tales from the Turntable! We wrapped up the Woodstock trilogy last week, and since this is the final edition of this column for this year, I’ll be going through some of the best music that has dropped in these last few months. This won’t be a comprehensive list, and I’ll hopefully still give a more in-depth look at the music of 2024 when the time comes in December.
Right off the bat, I won’t be talking about Taylor Swift’s new album here. “The Tortured Poets Department” has only been out for a few days, but it has quickly become one of the most divisive albums of the past few years. There’s been a lot of arguing back and forth between diehard Swifties, casual fans and those who hate all her music around this record. Personally, I haven’t gotten around to listening to it yet, so I have no opinions.
I’d also like to take a moment to highlight some of the musical events held here at the University of Connecticut, as there have been quite a few. Moon Club, an organization dedicated to celebrating the full moon every month, has regularly hosted concerts around campus for their meetings, featuring several different local bands. WHUS Radio hosted its “Battle of the Bands,” featuring six local groups, with indie pop group Ruby Leftstep emerging victorious, and awarded with the opportunity to open for WHUS’ “Spring Fling,” headlined by bands Teethe and Momma.
With that being said, my personal favorite album that’s come out since January has probably been Ducks Ltd.’s “Harm’s Way.” Their infectious blend of classic jangle pop a-la early R.E.M. mixed with modern pop sensibilities and songwriting has made this record one of my favorite albums of the past few years. The twangy guitars on tracks like “Hollowed Out” and “Train Full of Gasoline” create an aural soundscape that sounds just as retro as it does modern.
Mary Timony’s “Untame the Tiger” dropped in late February and is one of the more underrated albums of this year. Timony has developed a cult following in the past 30 years due to her involvement in classic underground punk and grunge bands like Ex-Hex and Helium. “Untame the Tiger” is a softer, acoustic take on her sound that showcases her unique voice and impeccable songwriting skills.
New York City based post-punk outfit Gustaf released their third album earlier this month, “Package Pt. 2.” The record is full of anxious energy, harking back to early new wave bands like Talking Heads and Joy Division. The album’s lead single, “Standing and Staring,” perfectly encapsulates the neurotic sonic landscape Gustaf has painted with this album.
Philadelphia based group Sheer Mag’s “Playing Favorites” draws upon classic disco and glam rock, delivering an upbeat, danceable record with piercing guitar licks and soulfully soaring vocals. Tracks like “All Lined Up” and “Don’t Come Lookin’” are equal parts Cheap Trick and Thin Lizzy mixed with a heavy dose of psychedelia. This was the band’s first album on Third Man Records, making it their debut on a massive commercial record company.
The last record I’d like to highlight is “I Got Heaven” by the woman-lead hardcore punk band Mannequin Pussy. Despite this group’s jarring name, their latest effort features more mellow cuts, showcasing their capability for songwriting and melodic ability as well as blistering hardcore punk. The album’s title track and “I Don’t Know You” are two standouts, however the entire record is all killer, no filler.
Going forward into the summer, there are numerous releases to look forward to. 2024 has already proved itself an outstanding year in music and hopefully it continues that way. May your summer be filled with outstanding music and a ton of fun!