Toast w/ Butter and JAMS
by Spenser Vannerson
Music has long been a silent partner at the core of our shop. Our name refers to the amp circuit that uses transistors to convert and amplify an electric signal into an audio wave. If that doesn't help you, know this: they’re reliable, durable, and their sound provides an unmatched crispness. Not unlike the qualities our shop embodies! Whether you noticed or not, we've been curating work sessions, chats with friends, journal entries, first dates, and more. Starting this year we’d like to take it further by making it an official part of our brand.
We hope building a community and conversation through music will only lead to big things. Through album suggestions, artist spotlights, playlists, and more, we hope to connect with the artist in you, or, like me, the fan. Soon we’ll be expanding our website to include these musings, updated weekly, and curated for your listening pleasure.
To kick off this new endeavor, I’m letting you in on my yearly tradition - my personal 50. Each year I make a list of my 50 favorite albums released that year, and while that number may sound like a daunting read (and listen!), fear not! This newsletter only contains the Top 25. With the full post, I’ll get into more detail about the process, grading scale, and how I navigate the endless release schedule. For now? We’ll keep it simple, long-winded, but simple. I hope you all enjoy it, we have a lot more to come!
#1 - Jessica Pratt - Here in the Pitch (5/3)
From the moment I heard the lead single, which is also the album opener, I knew this would be something special. Her style, while not singular, is unique - and one rarely present in today’s music. Minnie Riperton, Labi Siffre, and Carole King are the names that come to mind here. She’s crafted her own world through layered harmonies and melodies from decades past, bringing complexity to simplicity. The warmth of the fuzzy recording that feels like you’re spinning her record even when streaming is a touch that I love, and one that’s in full force with #3 on this list as well! The overall arc feels a touch melancholy, but within that there is a deep peace, and in its joy there is hope and light. Her voice is instantly recognizable, pulled right from the era her sound embodies, and all of it together is something truly special. It was my most listened to album this year, and while my ‘most listened’ doesn’t always translate to my favorite, it’s fitting and deserved when it does.
Taste Test: “Life Is” // “Empires Never Know” // “The Last Year”
#2 - Mk.gee - Two Star & The Dream Police (2/9)
Accessible on the first listen but complex enough to keep finding new elements even after double digit listens, this is one of the great driving records so far this decade. Cruising the streets with your hand out the window on a late night with “How Many Miles” playing and all will feel right in the world. His guitar work on this record is as effortless as it is confounding - pulling a handful of “how’d he get that effect?” before the first half of the album finishes. This combined with a dedication to classic feels and sounds or eras past give us familiarity and comfort that never gets old. This is an album that you know will be with you often and always. He is an artist that sits in his own lane right now, which can’t be said about many working today. He’s a special talent.
Taste Test: “Candy” // “I Want” // “Alesis”
#3 - Cindy Lee - Diamond Jubilee (10/23)
A fever dream of an listen. Normally if there was an album that was anywhere near 90 minutes I’d say it’s not for me, but at 122(!!) this album isn’t enough! Cindy Lee is the alter-ego, or alter-persona, of musician Patrick Flegel. The retrofitted sounds (think Beach Boys, Herman’s Hermits, Helen Shapiro, etc.) touch on a handful of surfaces but mainly lay in rock, surf pop, and country with elements of other genres sprinkled throughout. This album exists in a different time and place and it’s where you’ll escape to the minute you press play. Every aspect of this record will be something you find yourself craving and since its release it was never too far from my side. Set aside the time, let it wash over you - you’ll never look back.
Taste Test: “Diamond Jubilee” // “Kingdom Come” // “24/7 Heaven”
#4 - Kendrick Lamar - GNX (12/6)
If you are one of the few to break into the social conversation, especially if the conversations are being had by people who don’t listen to your music or even the genre at large, you know it’s a year to be celebrated. I don’t know if there was a grand plan, or even an idea of what was to come following his feature on the Future / Metro Boomin collab WE DON’T TRUST YOU but once it released the dominoes that fell couldn’t have been better for Kendrick. Skipping the Drake beef and the song of the year that came from it, Kendrick leaned into his west coast roots in a way that he hasn’t in any of his records prior. He’s always celebrated the west, his home, and the community that emboldened him and his vision - but it was always within a larger story, a larger picture, and the introspective process he went through because of his role in it. While those themes are present here, first and foremost he celebrates the aforementioned heritage, front and center, with glowing admiration and pride. This album’s closest comparison is DAMN. in structure but in style, vibe, and content it’s a completely different animal, and as someone who also hails from Los Angeles county, this has been the gift that has kept on giving. While 2024 belonged to Kendrick, between the Super Bowl and the world tour (with SZA) coming soon 2025 might belong to him too.
Taste Test: “hey now” // “reincarnated” // “tv off”
#5 - Beyonce - Cowboy Carter (3/29)
However you feel about Beyonce, to me she embodies exactly what a superstar should. She constantly challenges her own style, growing and evolving as an artist while still firmly remaining herself. She expands genres, while paying respect to said genres, and brings in producers from all different corners of the music sphere to elevate and diversify her sound. This, in turn, helps her massive fan base grow in appreciation for places they didn’t intend to travel. To me there is no better use of a large platform than that. Now onto the album!
Find me any positive adjective and it will work for this record. The scope of Cowboy Carter matches the aura of her superstardom. Bringing to the forefront the country scene that I grew up with, infusing it with her own brand along with a taste of the future as she lifts up more than a handful of young black country artists, along with a few of her peers (if you believe she has any that is). This has something for everyone, should they open themselves up to receive it. As a concept album, it’s design is to be listened from front to back, however, it also has the gift of countless singles should you want to split it into movements. Either way you spin it it’s another masterful addition to what might be the best discography we’ve ever seen from a star of this magnitude.
Taste Test: “Bodyguard” // “Daughter” // “YA YA”
#6 - Arooj Aftab - Night Reign (5/31)
My love for this record didn’t take shape until the cold weather came. I started an off day slowly and felt myself craving her last solo album, 2021’s Vulture Prince, but when I went to it I was reminded of Night Reign and figured I’d hit play on it again - what a difference a few months can make. Time and location can often completely change your perspective when it comes to albums, and like I said in the intro, sometimes we just aren’t ready to receive something new. The comfort of her sound, both vocally and instrumentally, can often bring me to a dream state. The opening block of tracks are layered and deep but at the same time emit a simple peacefulness that allows us to settle in and let the rest of the album wash over us. While not everything exudes this same energy, the flow is natural so that we don’t mind whatever comes next. Night Reign is a mystical experience, affecting and emotional, and one made for any moment of peace you have, or more specifically a moment of peace you need.
Taste Test: “Na Gul” // “Saaqi” // “Raat Ki Rani”
#7 - Charli xcx - BRAT (6/7)
What a year for Charli, and one that was destined. While the genre of clubby pop doesn’t belong to her, she is definitely at the forefront. The definitive album of the summer carries a kinetic energy that’s infectious and unavoidable, making it so easy to turn off your mind and just feel. The beauty of this record is when you decide to turn your mind back on you realize she’s also made her most vulnerable, honest work. The rollout of BRAT was unlike anything I’ve seen in recent memory and because of that she has finally garnered the attention of those outside her sphere (the crowd that when her name was mentioned would say “the ‘Boom Clap’ girl?”). They’re better off for it. I expected this love after the last release, the brilliant CRASH (CRASH hive rise up!), but we’re all here now, better late than never! The icing on the cake is a remix album that matches the original in almost every way, giving new life to an album that was nowhere near finished spinning. Party on.
Taste Test: “Von Dutch” // “B2b” // “365”
#8 - NxWorries - Why Lawd? (6/14)
The second West Coast entry on this list is also the smoothest! Anderson is the best shapeshifter in the genre and this is his best project since the first NxWorries record in 2016. Given that, the reason should be obvious? Knxwledge. The combination is lethal at its worst and at its best? THE vibe. Just like the first record the album plays best as a single piece of work. There’s no surprises here as the duo dips into the usual base genres of neo-soul, R&B, hip-hop with others sprinkled throughout. This combined with transitions hitting cleanly throughout makes it the easiest 45 minutes on this list. There are few artists as engaging and reliable as Anderson .Paak and anything he releases exudes passion and energy. My suggestion? Hop in the car, press play, and pick any destination 45 minutes away. No matter where you go the ride will be worth it.
Taste Test: “Distractions” into “Lookin” // “FromHere” // “HereIAm”
#9 - Marika Hackman - Big Sigh (1/12)
The first time I heard this album was the first time I felt excited for the new year of music. January is always an odd listening month, you’re still locked into the previous year’s best - an overstimulated period of your personal favorites mixed with anything notable you may have missed. When Big Sigh came out it snapped me right into 2024 and what was to come. Among the genre of notable alternative singer/songwriters (Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Daucus, Soccer Mommy, etc.) my favorite has always been Marika. Her style carries so much atmosphere, so much COOL, while her lyricism and melodies keep you locked as a listener. There is nothing better than when an artist opens and closes their album with can’t miss tracks, it forces you to let it roll and also gives weight to the in-between tracks, rather than powering through aimlessly after your favorite songs have passed. This is her best work. She sifts through rock, folk, electronic, and anything else she can bend to her overall soundscape and bend for her it does.
Taste Test: “No Caffeine” // “Vitamins” // “The Yellow Mile”
#10 - Nala Sinephro - Endlessness (10/6)
More than a listen, this is a 45 minute experience and easily one of my favorite first listens of the year. While the natural flow of the record is seamless, its movements allow a swell of emotion to take hold. It had me in a small neighborhood bar listening to jazz one minute and under the stars listening to an electronic orchestra the next. It invoked the feeling I had when I first took on The Seatbelts soundtracking Cowboy Bebop (give “Space Lion” a listen). There is so much depth and wonder here, it’s a treat to focus on but even more of a treat to get lost in. This is a beautiful piece of work, close your eyes and enjoy.
Taste Test: “Continuum 1-3”
#11 - Tyler, The Creator - CHROMAKOPIA (10/28)
And so continues the west coast dominance - album 3 of 5 on this list. And tThe now four album run that Tyler has given us (Flower Boy, IGOR, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST) is stronger than any rapper (primarily) currently working. This is a beautiful amalgamation of the aforementioned 3 albums preceding CHROMAKOPIA while still infusing new elements, themes, and flows. He is a music historian with the love, respect and talent to bring together so many moving parts and make it sound like they were always supposed to be fused in this way. He is as dynamic as any HOF status players in the game and by the time his career finishes I think he'll be lauded as a singular, all time talent. I don’t know who sits in the 3rd spot but if there’s a “Big 3” then Tyler and Kendrick are cemented in two of them.
Taste Test: “Rah Tah Tah” // “Sticky” // “Balloon”
#12 - Future Islands - People Who Aren’t There Anymore (1/26)
It’s a rare and beautiful thing for a band to put out their best work almost 20 years into their career and that’s exactly what Future Islands has done with their latest. I never mind a band being steady in their work, consistency is reliable. This doesn’t mean they don’t evolve and improve, but at their core the sound is what you know and love. With that said, this album has been the pinnacle of the synth driven alternative sound that has been their staple since the beginning. Samuel Herring’s affecting lyrics paired with his raspy vocals and emotion inducing delivery are all lifted to new heights giving this album an energy that, at its peak, is unmatched. I wondered if my love would wane, given its January release. I’m happy to report it’s only grown - when it’s right, it’s right.
Taste Test: “King of Sweden” // “Give Me The Ghost Back” // “The Garden Wheel”
#13 - Ravyn Lenae - Bird’s Eye (8/9)
A trio of phenomenal EPs followed by an incredible debut album meant the expectation for her sophomore record was high, and boy did she deliver. The R&B base is only a starting point as her shapeshifting style makes for an energized listen even when the tempo slows. From the first trio songs alone you can recognize the virtuosity; nothing sounds the same while still complementing each other with ease. Her voice is genuinely unique, as is her style, with lyrics that are easy to take in but still carry depth. The album’s bounce makes it a quick ride, easy to start right back up again (and again and again and again)! Few things are more satisfying than an artist that no matter where they take their sound you can trust it will be a place you want to go too.
Taste Test: “Genius” // “Love Is Blind” // “Love Me Not”
#14 - A Song For You - Home (06/21)
Possibly my favorite first listen on this list; this dreamlike, organic, soulful debut album from A Song For You, the massive vocal ensemble operating out of Berlin, grows in beauty with each passing listen. Even in its quiet moments the sound enveloped me, weaving its way through R&B, jazz and Neo-soul effortlessly. Though many of the featured vocals are familiar voices (duendita, Madison McFerrin, Annahstasia, etc.) they only act as vessels to further the larger picture, a testament to the work of Noah Slee and Dhanesh Jayaselan, who crafted and curated this beautiful exploration of sound, soul, and heart.
Taste Test: “Not Your Man” // “Innervisions” // “A Song For You”
#15 - IDLES - TANGK (2/16)
Above all else this album is COOL. Though it’s less heavy than some of its predecessors and a bit more polished, I’m happy to say the grime is still there, and the polished side that exists only highlights that grime in full. The guitars rip, the drums hit heavy, the bass shakes and grooves, making their sound as alive as it’s ever been. Best of all? When they decide to slow it down, you welcome it. Not because it’s a break from the noise but because it’s just as good, making it that much better when they return to their bread and butter. I loved the first listen of this record and its effect hasn’t worn off one bit, 11 months later. I have been leaning into rock and all its subsections more as the years go by and it’s because of bands like IDLES (and a few others you’ll see on this list). They ignite a fire, and just as important, they have something to say. Once the sounds have settled in, the lyrics will be waiting to reignite you.
Taste Test: “Gift Horse” // “A Gospel” // “Dancer”
#16 - Ezra Feinberg - Soft Power (05/31)
It’s rare for an album’s title to encapsulate the listening experience so succinctly but I can’t think of a better one than Soft Power, composer-guitarist Ezra Feinberg’s third LP. Even at its most complex there is room for each instrument to breathe; warm melodies over ambient backdrops giving way to true magic (especially with Mary Lattimore’s harp playing on the closer “Get Some Rest”) adding a magical backdrop as your eyes close and you drift away. Even as the energy increases on “The Big Clock” there is comfort in the sound, albeit a cool comfort, but comfort nonetheless! This is an immersive, transportive work and it’s executed masterfully.
Taste Test: “Future Sand” // “Flutter Intensity” // “The Big Clock”
#17 - Astrid Sonne - Great Doubt (1/26)
The transition from the peaceful beauty of the opening track to the drum beat that opens the second track feels like someone slammed a door in your face, in the best way. After that it opens you up to letting this album hit you, as preconceived notions have been tossed away in lieu of excitement. “What will this be?” The answer? A unique experience that, even after countless listens, I still come back to with a smile on my face. The album is beautiful, mixing in classical elements to a synthy, bass heavy environment. Even when it’s heavy it still soothes, as the tempo keeps things slow and steady. It’s an intimate album, which makes sense considering most of my listens came from pressing play, laying on my bed and staring at the ceiling. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bonus Bit. This is a GREAT album to test headphones with. Lots of pronounced isolated sounds and crisp layers make for a wonderful high quality focused listen.
Taste Test: “Do you wanna” // “Everything is unreal” // “Say you love me”
#18 - Erika de Casier - Still (2/21)
There is something about this album, and her brand of R&B in general, that makes me crave it on a cold, overcast day. These sounds that mimic shades of blues and grays bring me to a state of relaxation, even when the BPMs are high (re: “Lucky”) I still feel a sense of peace. The album is easy to hit in a sitting at just over 40 minutes and even easier to start it all over again as there is little to compare it to this year, or in general as the list of songstresses that do this niche side of the genre (the queen, Tinashe, will appear on the extended version of this list) is short. The softness of her voice doesn’t mean it takes a backseat - she sings as almost a whisper and yet you hear every word (for those that remember Made In Heights, the tonal similarities are uncanny). She’s clearly in the zone here and thankfully we get to be along for the ride. When day turns to night make sure this is your next move.
Taste Test: “Test It” // “Twice” // “Someone”
#19 - Vince Staples - Dark Times (5/24)
Our 4th entry from the West Coast’s hip hop scene! There are few release dates I look forward to more than Vince’s, we’re 8 albums into his career and not a miss in sight. One of the most consistent artists not just in the genre, but in the industry. This sentiment carries even more weight considering the progression of his sound. His consistency is in the quality, not in the product he churns out; which, to me, is what you can hope for as a fan. His flow is always laid back and velvet-y, mirroring (but never copying) the most famous Long Beach native, Snoop Dogg. While the vibe always works, whether or not you’re paying attention, Vince’s story telling and his ability to paint a picture force you to focus before long - giving his insight and perspective the ear it deserves. Vince represents the best of the west and the consistent connection to home that becomes more important to me as years go by.
Taste Test: “Étouffée” // “Radio” // “Little Homies”
#20 - 070 Shake - Petrichor (11/15)
Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one listening to 070. Especially in the months following her third, and most ambitious, release of her career. While there are a few contemporaries (maybe Dua Saleh?) ,when I want to hear 070 there really isn’t anyone else that meets that need. Though her start was years earlier she came into focus for many as a feature on a few of the Kanye produced projects of 2018. Two years later her debut solidified what we thought we heard - a genuine, unique new voice. Now, four years later, she is still growing and crafting her dynamic voice with a concept album that brings her genre bending blend to a free flowing album that rarely pauses to reflect, giving us a continuous experience for 40 minutes. It’s aggressive and cinematic, sometimes in the same track (“Pieces Of You”) only to give us a doo-wop / surf rock combo pack (“Winter Baby / New Jersey Blues”) five tracks later. Any release after November limits our time spent before the year is up, but heading into 2025 this is one that I’m looking forward to getting much more familiar with.
Taste Test: “Sin” // “Elephant” // “Pieces Of You”
#21 - Jerome Blazé - Living Room (10/11)
Crafted beautifully, this full bodied folksy-jazzy record brings to mind many of the artists I’ve loved in years past and present (San Fermin, Sufjan Stevens, Patrick Watson). The project feels focused and free at the same time, making it appropriate for almost any occasion (I might not play it to get your friends ready for a night out…or during the night out). It lends itself to a warm space on a cold day, keeping the energy positive but never loud enough to drown anything out. While this is his second LP, Living Room served as my introduction to his work, so as far as personal debuts go, I am LISTENING and I can’t wait to see what’s to come.
“Let Your Heart Fill Up” // “Is This What I Have Missed” // “Rosella Blessing”
#22 - Washed Out - Notes From a Quiet Life (6/28)
Consistently in my end of the year ‘most listened’ regardless of if there is a new album or not, I would say that my appreciation of Ernest Greene, who is Washed Out, creates a bit of bias. He is on the Mount Rushmore of the chill wave movement and to my ears no one does it better. It invokes a feeling of freedom and peace - floating in the water, cruising down an open road, settling under the stars. It provides me a place to think when it’s on in the background and a place to vibrate when it’s my focus. This album switches things up a bit from his prior releases, relying less on a hazy backdrop and opting for a clearer approach; and while it may be a learning curve as he heads into this new phase head on, it still provided me with the satisfaction of the waking dream he’s so adept at creating.
Taste Test: “The Hardest Part” // “Running Away” // “Wait On You”
#23 - Yard Act - Where’s My Utopia (3/1)
I could listen to James Smith’s vocals all day, music or not. Luckily, the music side of things is just as engaging, a 43 minute special delivery. Still in the early stages of their promising career, this post-punk outfit hits us with the follow up to 2022’s The Overload, a spectacular debut. I am happy to report that Where’s My Utopia nails it, rising to the challenge by way of a more carefree approach; with that comes a more open, more fun, and at moments - more vulnerable project. Lyrically they’re sharp, funny, and poignant, oftentimes delivering words like poetry, other times like bullets. I had a ton of fun with this album, which can’t be confused with enjoyment, as I enjoy quite a bit of music that isn’t “fun” at all. All that to say, this album felt like a welcomed break when I needed to turn off and that type of escape is invaluable.
Taste Test: “We Make Hits” // “Dream Job” // “A Vineyard for the North”
#24 - Allie X - Girl with No Face (2/23)
It took a suggestion from a friend for me to know this came out and considering its place on this list you can see I am beyond grateful. Since that moment it’s been on a steady rotation and that’s not stopping any time soon. Her last release (Cape God) was 4 years ago, almost to the day! Aside from a few hindsight is 20/20 moments, this is where the similarities end. Though still in the pop realm, she previously employed a lighter, dreamier pop sound - minimalist in design and delivery. This is a complete 180. An 80’s inspired synth driven goth-pop explosion. The louder I play it the better it sounds. It’s bigger, faster, and darker than anything she’s done before - and her voice has never sounded better. Even after countless listens I still find myself smiling when I listen. There hasn’t been a time when I pressed play and changed my mind, it always hits. Who knew she had this in her? All I can say is - lucky us.
Taste Test: “Off With Her Tits” // “Galina” // “Black Eye”
#25 - Fontaines D.C. - Romance (8/23)
It’s been a busy few years for lead singer Grian Chattan. After the band’s most successful album, 2022’s Skinty Fia, he released his debut solo album, the spectacular Chaos for the Fly in 2023. Now, in 2024, we’re gifted Romance. With all eyes on them, no longer an underground phenomenon, they released a beast of an album. Larger in scope and with sharper production they deliver what might be their best work to date. When they rock, they ROCK, but it’s their softer side that really seemed to connect this time around. The work feels inspired, which is saying something after 3 straight years of new music. They’ve evolved with each album and you can hear the growth. It’s most present when channeling the great acts of the 80’s (think The Smiths and The Cure) but even with this in mind they always remain firmly in their own lane, as all great bands do.
Taste Test: “Starburster” // “Bug” // “Favourite"