Usually I have a ‘Top 10’ done and posted in the beginning of the year, but big things happened towards the end of 2024 and into 2025. For starters, back in August I was promoted at work which would have me move back to the East Coast from Arkansas. However, it would become a long process that would include waiting to list our home, finding a realtor, inspecting homes that were not in good order, finding a new realtor, selling our home, living in an Airbnb for a month, fighting with sellers, to finally moving into our new home which leads me to now. Over six months in the making, but finally we have a great home and now all the other aspects of owning a home happen.

Since I have breathing room again, I can finally get back to posting on this site. Lately I’ve been thinking about how much I have accumulated on this site along with all the other posts I need to post. This site is something that still gets hits and views daily and I am always amazed by that. As I think of the current landscape of social media, and the like, I try not to get disheartened over how I post on my social media pages and the traction isn’t there. When I first started using social media for my photography my engagement was very good, but now I’m lucky if I get a good number of likes. Instagram does show how many people saw my posts, but the likes are lower than the views. Either my body of work stinks or the algorithm only caters to select pages. Then again, I haven’t really been keeping my ear to the ground as to how to get better at social media because some days I feel like my generation is past social media or we have other important things going on in life.

This had me come to a few realizations with social media, I just use it to promote bands and my photos and whoever sees it, sees it. Likes don’t really mean much because anyone can like a photo, but I like to think the likes I get are people stopping and really looking at my work which is better than just someone doom scrolling. Even though I will still post on social media, this site is where I will be putting in the real time. This is my little world, and I think when people come here and see all the bands and places I’ve covered, I will let the words and photos speak for themselves. Having this site for over a decade is crazy to think, but when all social media is gone, or new ones come, this will always be here. I am ranting, but after having some months away and dealing with meaningful things you realize social media isn’t what it used to be nor is it all that important unless you are making a living from it.

I think for this year I am going to try and post more here and add older photos and on top of that I need to get this Boyd Theatre in Bethlehem, PA retrospect done. The plans I have for that is bigger than anything else I’ve done, and I hope I can get half of it completed by this year. As for concerts, I will always cover those, but where I live now the distance to a lot is quite far. It will be like when I lived in Arkansas, but now there will be more smaller bands compared to the bigger ones I was covering.

Which brings me to this past year, I got to cover a lot of great bands, and most were covered for New Noise Magazine. I’ve been going through them a lot lately because it is a great publication and some bands I’ve gotten to cover, I don’t think I could’ve on my own. As for the music I listened to in 2024, there were a lot of great albums released and it was tough just picking only ten, but I only go off what I tend to keep going back to. Also, this was the first year that every release in this list was pressed on vinyl, I believe that was a first. Just shows how popular this medium as become. So far for 2025, there has been some great albums released and I have a stack I still need to listen to, but I think 2025 is going to be just as tough to pick a top 10. This has become a longer intro than previous years, but I felt I needed to get it all written down because a lot has happened. With that here are my top 10 albums of 2024.

10. Sammy Kay – July 1960

I have been following Sammy Kay for many years, I can’t remember the exact date or time, but I can say it’s been more than 10 years. Every time he puts something out I am instantly buying it because even though I’ve probably never gone through the same things he’s gone through, his delivery is where it comes through. Weather it is his vocals, lyrics, or music, you can hear and feel the emotion which can’t be said about a lot of musicians. This album isn’t like his previous effort where it shined the most when you could listen to it while going down secluded back roads or road trips. July 1960 is more of a sitting at home with tea or coffee while you have the windows open during the falling of the rain. It is more of a slow, stripped back album that you’d expect from Sammy.

Listen To: “Lovesong”

9. Unwed Sailor – Underwater Over There

Unwed Sailor must’ve had a big spark of inspiration because last year he released an album, this year he released an album, and in 2025 he will release another album. I got into Unwed Sailor on a whim by covering his show in Arkansas and since then I have been excited for what he will release next. Underwater Over There has the similar drive as Mute The Charm, that album became a road trip staple for me, but this album has more of the lo-fi sitting and observing rather than moving feel. His work really gives me the autumn / winter feels or just relaxing and taking in your surroundings. I am not sure if that Johnathon Ford’s intentions for his music, but it really does put one into a different mindset. I don’t listen to many instrumental artists, but I can say Unwed Sailor is my favorite in the genre and I will always remember discovering them at that show.

Listen To: “Underwater Over There”

8. The Tibbs – Keep It To Yourself

The Tibbs are a group that I came across years ago on someone else’s list, maybe a year end or a playlist I can’t remember. I know when I looked up a song, I thought it sounded really good and kept a look out for new releases which would be Keep It To Yourself. This album takes The Tibbs on their soulful journey, but there are some songs on here that fall heavily into the ska, classic rock, and jazz pocket. I’ve since went through The Tibbs’ back catalog and if it hadn’t been for the album photos, I wouldn’t have known the change in singers. This marks the second release with Roxanne Hartog on vocals and she carries the songs gracefully with her voice. I doubt The Tibbs will ever make it over to the States, but if they do, I will be there, there aren’t many female fronted bands with this type of sound here.

Listen To – “For Lack Of Better Words”

7. The Kilograms – The Kilograms

Not only did Sammy Kay release a new album, but he also started a new band with none other than “The Bass Fiddleman” Joe Gittleman from Mighty Mighty Bosstones and ex-Bouncing Souls drummer Michael McDermott. The Kilograms brought Sammy Kay back into the ska fold for he hasn’t played in a ska group for some time. First time I saw Sammy Kay was when he was playing with his other ska group, the Fast Four, and since then his solo material featured some ska, but leans more into the singer / songwriter category. Thinking The Kilograms was going to be a short project, the group has become much bigger than I thought, and this EP is a great introduction. For those missing Sammy Kay’s ska songs and Joe Gittleman’s bass lines along with his vocals and lyrics, The Kilograms really scratches that itch. A little bit of ska rocksteady groves and a little bit of ska punk, The Kilograms made a fine first release. I wish it was longer, but I think their 2025 full length release will cover that wish.

Listen To – “Who Am I (To Say)”

6. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – South Of Here

A few years ago, I photographed Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats in Bethlehem, PA and was very impressed with what I saw and heard. I only knew a few songs, but their live show won me over and I told myself to make sure to pick up an album. It wasn’t until they announced a show in Arkansas for the promotion of South Of Here, that I made sure to pick the album up on release day. The album’s artwork and packaging alone are a favorite of mind, but when the music also fits the packaging, or vice versa, I really start to fall in love with the album. I haven’t delved into all of Nathaniel’s releases, but for this album it takes the best of all his worlds in my opinion. There are great soul moments, then somber acoustic moments, to great rock moments. I played this album a good amount this year and expect to play it more in the future.

Listen To – “Time Makes Fools Of Us All”

5. The Dip – Love Direction

I came across The Dip this year on a COVID compilation album and thought they had that St. Paul & The Broken Bones retro soul sound. Once I made the decision to pick up their album, I found out that they just released Love Direction. The album has more than just soul, it has jazz, ballads, and a little rock and roll. The Dip are by no means a new band, they have been putting out music for years and this album seems to have sparked them into new fan territory. I think I’ve seen their single, “Love Direction” show up a few times on viral listening accounts on social media. I can see them getting bigger this year and next year, and even though I am late to the party, it’s better late than never.

Listen To – “Fill My Cup”

4. Joe Gittleman – Hold Up

Since the breakup of the Bosstones, not many of the members continued playing music. If they do, they haven’t been as active in the scene as Joe Gittleman. Joe formed The Kilograms with Sammy Kay and then released his debut solo album Hold Up. Don’t expect this to sound like any of the Bosstones albums, but expect great bass lines, wonderful lyrics, and the gruff vocals that you’d hear occasionally in the Bosstones songs. I think a little scream like in “Dr. D” would’ve been fun, but this album is more of a slow lo-fi sound that has some great grooves. Joe has done a handful of solo shows, but to hear some of these live would be a treat, especially with a full band.

Listen To – “I Shoulda Known”

3. American Aquarium – The Fear Of Standing Still

Once again American Aquarium put out another album personal and straight from the heart. The Fear Of Standing Still reminded me of Things Change, which was my introduction to the band. This album hits hard with the rock songs and hits even harder with the soft songs. BJ and company are the hardworking band out there in my opinion and to put out quality albums year after year it seems is something they can brag about. The other great part about this band is that each album is funded through the fans and probably explains why the final product is always top notch. The fans are there every step of the way, and I think help with the process even though we aren’t there physically. You’d think American Aquarium would slow down since they record and tour nonstop, but they aren’t, they will be in the studio by the end of the year to record the next album. I am guessing that album will be on my list next year too.

Listen To – “The Fear Of Standing Still”

2. Kill Lincoln – No Normal

A surprise release this year was from Kill Lincoln, where they announced their new album No Normal out of nowhere. The best part of Kill Lincoln is they put out releases straight to the point, and No Normal is no different. 11 songs and under 30 minutes, Kill Lincoln takes the ska punk genre and perfects it. This album showcases everyone in the band including other members singing on songs and even having Asian Man Records’ owner Mike Park write a song, “Coming Or Going”. I can’t remember the last album I bought that was under 30 minutes, but once in a while when they come out, they may be short, but they make a huge impact on me.

Listen To – “Little Ghosts”

1. The Violent Hearts – Songs Of Madness And Violence

I was very happy to see Violent Hearts put out another release, their debut is still a favorite of mine, and I always have Sharks on a constant spin. Leading up to this release, they dropped multiple singles, and each one was that classic Sharks / Violent Hearts sound. This time around they incorporated more New Wave sound, but they still have infuse their England punk sound. This album as a whole has a darker tone to it than Everything And Nothing, but still has those light sides to it like “I Know It’s Love”. I know Sharks had a decent following, and when they disbanded, I don’t think people realized that most of the members formed Violent Hearts. Maybe more people will catch onto them because Violent Hearts are one of my favorite new bands and I hope they keep going.

Listen To – “Too Late”