Noots Letter 2024: Music got weirder and I liked it more
December 2024
B-B-B-BIG STATS TIMEEEEEE
One thing I love almost as much as music is Keeping Track Of Things. I love living in a time where I can catalog my little songs and rank them in my little spreadsheets. I love my Virgo Sun. And boy was there a lot to keep track of! I listened to almost 400 albums this year, and 92% of those albums were released in 2024.
I started listening to an album a day in 2023, and it’s been especially fun to analyze this year’s results against last. In comparison to 2023, I listened to 45 more albums in 2024, and I rated them a whole point more on average. I rarely stopped an album midway through if I didn’t like it, instead persisting to the end or finding a more preferable choice as soon as possible.
Overall, I really did enjoy music much more this year! As I ranked these listens, I switched around the order too many times. The frontrunners were not clear—I’ve adored everything too much. And who am I to judge someone who has poured out their heart into a project and shared it publicly to the world???? Nevertheless I did pit them against each other because that’s showbiz baby.
Finding and listening to an album per day, which once felt like a chore, has now become an exciting necessity. I attribute this to two factors: 1) Music has gotten better? One positive about the oversaturation of the industry these days is that an increase in songs, generally, equals an increase in songs I like. Production and tech and distribution are so accessible. Favorite indie/alternative sounds I once found rare have now become very mainstream. There’s literally just more out there. 2) Listening to any and all types of music everyday will make you appreciate them all. Even if something is not my personal favorite, I can almost always understand why others would like it. Forcibly broadening your horizons is good!
Out of all albums from 2024, I had previously listened to over half of the artists, as was the case last year as well. I listened to less new-to-me artists this year, but more artists that I had heard about by name only. While I’m always going to be more comfortable listening to someone I already know I’m going to enjoy, this also indicates a willingness to give a chance to artists I had heard of but initially dismissed.
My month-by-month distributions were comparable between 2023 and 2024, dipping in January and December, as well as the generally more busy end of summer. Listening peaked in October, and I owe that to the change of season and the yearning/nostalgia that comes with it.
Among my top 100 this year, Pop was the genre most represented, followed by a near even split of Americana, R&B, and Rock. 7 were Hip Hop, 3-4 were Global and Electronic, 1 was Jazz, and 1 was Soundtrack. At this link, you can find how my top 100 albums correlate with genre, as well as a list of all ~300 albums I rated 5/10 or above. To read more about how I rank them, how I categorize genre, and how I did last year, check out ‘23 And Me (And Graphs).
People often ask how I find new music and the answer, as much as possible, is not Spotify. Especially after the debacle of this year’s Wrapped (it said my longest day of listening was 1400 minutes; that’s literally a full day), it became clear to me that Spotify does not know me, is almost exclusively pushing big artists, and cannot contain my multitudes. I have been riding for Spotify for over 12 years, but I am considering switching platforms for the first time. Convince me!
The actual answer is that I follow a lot of publications which, who knows, are maybe also exclusively pushing big artists. But I pay most attention to the weekly release lists from NPR music (although it’s never been the same since Bob Boilen left) and Pitchfork. I also look at what’s set to come out on literally Wikipedia.com and put them in my dated spreadsheet ahead of time. Pre-saving is so fun too, it’s like a surprise treat you forgot about in your pocket. I deleted TikTok (phone out of space), so have resorted to IG music pages like @SavingConnie and @Gee_Derrick, as well as the Medium Sized Backyard series on YouTube. I love when EOY lists come out from any and every big media group and close friend, as it allows me to visit what I may have missed. Even as I’m writing this, I’m stumbling across new albums from list upon list that I can now add to my 2025 to-listen list. It’s a party that never ends!
I do this all for me, obviously, to feel cool and knowledgeable and auditorily entertained. But I also do it for you, so that you can feel the same. I love giving recommendations, I love hearing your recommendations, I love when you randomly come up to me and tell me you’ve read this, and I especially love the people who pay me for a subscription!!!!! You rock truly, and I’m endlessly appreciative.
Finding new music gets harder and harder in this day and old age. I’ve said it since I started this Substack four (!!!) whole years ago, but listening intentionally is so worthwhile. The best part is that there are zero downsides—only more possibilities to fall in love with something new. It’s a free menu where you can order every dish and every flavor. How delicious is that!
Dobrze że jesteś moja kochana Stygi 🧡