Gold Soundz: The Best of June 2024
Highlighting the best music releases from June 2024
At the half-way mark of the year, it’s clear that we’ve been in for a hell of a ride already in 2024 and June’s albums only continue to hype up the feeling. As summer kicks in, we’ve been hit with some true pop bangers and some behemoth metal records, both of which excel in this extreme heat. Whether you’re looking to spend the next few months on the dance floor or in the mosh pit, June delivered some really wonderful new music that can soundtrack any of your upcoming activities. From Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter racing up the pop charts to 200 Stab Wounds and Alcest bridging the spectrum of metal or dance-club jams from Jamie xx, Caribou and Floating Points or the long-hoped for return of The Jesus Lizard, it’s been an intense month.
Album of the Month:
CHARLI XCX | Brat
As popularity and noise around Charli XCX really took off over the first half of the year, I must admit I was a little perplexed. Why now was Charli the it girl? She’s had plenty of bangers and bops over the years and well respected albums from both critics and fans. Yet for some reason her Boiler Room set and surprise pop-up at the Lot Radio nearly sent people into hysterics. I’m not saying this is well deserved, just rather delayed. Now with Brat out in the world, the hype feels somehow under blown. Hard hitting, 2000s-inspired, club-pop tracks bombard with bass and glitchy beats ready to ignite the rave. The jams are without question going to be the soundtrack to all the best parties all summer long.Charli has finally hit a level of popularity she’s probably deserved for years and as the album cover generates countless memes and becomes the color of the season, it’s becoming more and more clear that the songs themselves are becoming modern classics and will be around long past this moment.
EP of the Month:
WILCO | Hot Sun Cool Shroud EP
It recently occurred to me that Wilco might be the American band of the past 30 years. I know that’s a mighty statement, but over the course of their stunning discography, there’s really no bad album and one of them actually stands out as one of the all-time greats. After a career that spans over four decades, they’ve finally given us an EP that can stand on its own amongst some of their full lengths. These songs don’t feel fragmented or like they stem from scattered sources, but actually make for a compact recording that could pass as an amuse bouche for a band that can be known to go long. It’s a quick entry, but there’s no wasted seconds, each song intentional and precise.
Reissue of the Month:
NEIL YOUNG / CRAZY HORSE | Early Daze
Are you really surprised to see a Neil Young record here? In fact, are you actually annoyed? I get it, he’s put out a lot of reissues over the past few years (just check my credit card statement and record collection), but the most recent is still one to gush over and even if you’re not a ride or die Uncle Neil fan, there’s some stuff on here that will surely entertain you. Featuring unreleased versions of some of his most classic early hits like “Cinnamon Girl” and a take one recording of “Down By the River,” it’s never gotten old to hear Neil play through these gems and anything that gives more exposure to “Dance Dance Dance” is always something that’ll get me excited.
Don’t miss:
200 STAB WOUNDS | Manual Manic Procedures
ALCEST | Les Chants de l’Aurore
NORMANI | Dopamine
PEGGY GOU | I Hear You
SUMAC | The Healer
Concerts (in review)
NOURISHED BY TIME at Bowery Ballroom // 6.11.24
ARMAND HAMMER at Union Pool // 6.23.24
WILCO at The Beacon Theatre // 6.24.24
MDOU MOCTAR at Bowery Ballroom // 6.25.24