BLITZ AWARDS FOR 2024

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Congratulations to beloved veteran composer and vocalist NICK LOWE (pictured above with Blitz Magazine Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell in 2022), whose magnificent Yep Roc label Indoor Safari album with Los Straitjackets was Blitz's decisive pick for Best New Album of 2024. See how your favorites fared in the annual Blitz Awards below.  C&P 2024 Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People. All rights reserved. (Click on above image to enlarge). 

BLITZ AWARDS FOR 2024

By Michael McDowell

At best, factors such as chronology are of marginal consequence in assessing the state of the art.

That said, there have been multiple occasions when the midpoint of a given decade reflected a time of tremendous aesthetic growth in music. To wit, the decades of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s each witnessed considerable innovation and/or the rise of a given movement or genre during their middle years. 

Happily, that pattern has again availed itself here at the midpoint of the decade at hand. 2024 enjoyed a renaissance on all fronts that has not been seen on such a level in quite some time. 

Moreover, for the first time since the previous century, there has been a most  encouraging increase in common ground between the various independent and mainstream sources that champion the art, with good reason. The various categories represented in the 2024 Blitz Awards reflect a high degree of innovaton and diversity that speaks well for musician and musicologist alike.

BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2024:

1). INDOOR SAFARI - NICK LOWE (YEP ROC)

2). Revival - The Cyrkle (Big Stir)

3). Make It Right - Steve Wynn (Fire)

4). One Guitar Woman - Sue Foley (Stoney Plain)

5). I Think I'm Spending Christmas With You - Alicia Witt (AWM)

6). The Unspeakable Milo Binder - Milo Binder (Heyday Again)

7). Resurrection - Brian Gari (Original Cast)

8) The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess - Chappell Roan (Amusement)

9). The Tortured Poets Department - Taylor Swift (Republic)

10). The Secret Of Us - Gracie Abrams (Interscope)

11). Rosie - Roseanne Park (Rose') (Atlantic)

12), Easy As Pie - The Surfrajettes (Hi-Tide)

13). The Flip Side - Monogroove (Tap Tunes)

14). Still Sounds Like The Flirtations - The Flirtations (Cargo)

15). Half & Half - Lara Price (Gulf Coast)

16). New Adventures - The Lemon Clocks (JAM)

17). How To Make Friends By Telephone - Librarians With Hickeys (Big Stir)

18). The Future Is The Past, Promise, et al - Jeremy Morris (JAM)

19). Where I've Been Isn't Where I'm Going - Shaboozey (American Dogwood)

20). Songs For A Nervous World - Tears For Fears (Concord)

21). Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue - Various Artists (Vizztone)

22). Short 'N Sweet - Sabrina Carpenter (Island)

23). Hunting Harmony - Jim Sadler (JAM)

24). The Great Impersonator - Halsey (Columbia)

25). Kingdom - Amanda Fish (Vizztone)

BEST NEW SINGLES OF 2024:

1). APT. - ROSE' WITH BRUNO MARS (ATLANTIC)

2). Good News - Shaboozey (American Dogwood)

3). Pink Pony Club - Chappell Roan (Amusement)

4). Girl On The Beach - The Cherry Slush (No Label)

5). Close To You / Risk - Gracie Abrams (Interscope)

6). Always Time For Coffee - Mungo Jerry (Amazon Music)

7). Hot To Go! - Chappell Roan (Amusement)

8). Are You With Me - Billy J. Kramer (Bootle Music)

9). Hello Miss Johnson - Jack Harlow (Atlantic)

10). It's Not Over Yet - Peggy March (UMG)

11). My Sweet Rose - Billy J. Kramer (Bootle Music)

12). Miss You Blue - Devon Marie (Devon Marie Music)

13). Went To A Party - Nick Lowe (Yep Roc)

14). I Can Do It With A Broken Heart - Taylor Swift (Republic)

15). I Couldn't Have Done It Without You - Billy J. Kramer (Bootle Music)

16). The Girl That I Call Home - Tears For Fears (Concord)

17). Number One Girl - Rose' (Atlantic)

18). Fortnight - Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone (Republic)

19). Stargazing - Myles Smith (Sony Music)

20). Keeping The Show On The Road - The Jive Aces (Golden Age)

21). Santa's Here - Leapy Lee (Leapy Lee)

22). The Door - Teddy Swims (Warner Brothers)

23). Disease - Lady Gaga (Interscope)

24). Luther - Kendrick Lamar And SZA (Interscope)

25). Met Tranen In Je Ogen Ben Je Blind - William Burg (Hit It Music!)

BEST REISSUE / ANTHOLOGY ALBUMS:

1). THE BIRDS, THE BEES AND THE MONKEES - THE MONKEES (FRIDAY MUSIC)

2) Electric Lady Studios - Jimi Hendrix (Experience Hendrix)

3). Father Of The Delta Blues - Charley Patton (Org)

4). The Complete Atlantic Recordings - The Rascals (Now Sounds)

5). Live At Racket NYC - The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)

6). I See You Live On Love Street - Various Artists (Cherry Red)

7). Live At Konsethuset, Stockholm 1968 - The Doors (Rhino)

8). The 1975 Sire Demos - The Ramones (Rhino)

9). Journey To The Center Of The Mind - The Amboy Dukes (Amboy Dukes)

10). Sketches For The Days Of Wine And Roses - The Dream Syndicate (Fire)

11). The Westbound Sound - Various Artists (Org)

12). Psychedelic States: New Jersey In The '60s, Vol. 2 - Various Artists (Gear Fab)

13). Joe Meek: From Taboo To Telstar - Various Artists (Cherry Red)

14). Bill Evans In Norway - Bill Evans (Elemental)

15). He Took Us By Storm - Various Artists (Bear Family)

16). Burnin' In Bordeaux/Poppin' In Paris - Cannonball Adderley (Elemental)

17). I Like It Anthology - Gerry And The Pacemakers (Strawberry)

18). Live In France - Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Deep Digs)

19). Jewels In The Treasure Box - Art Tatum (Resonance)

20). The Remixes - Debbie Gibson (Star Girl)

21). The World Broadcast Recordings 1944-1945 - Ernest Tubb (Org)

22). Pink Elephants On Parade - Sun Ra (Sun Ra)

23). B.B. King In France - B.B. King (Deep Digs)

24). Children Of The Lord - Silver (Gear Fab)

25). All The Good That's Happening - The Leaves (Sundazed)

 

BEST TELEVISION SERIES

(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):

Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Extended Family (NBC) *

Family Feud Canada (CBC)

Georgie And Mandy's First Marriage (CBS)

High Potential (ABC)

Law And Order (NBC)

Name That Tune (Fox)

Night Court (NBC)

Not Dead Yet (ABC) *

One More Time (CBC)

Run The Burbs (CBC) *

Son Of A Critch (CBC)

The Conners (ABC)

The Neighborhood (CBS)

The Rookie (ABC)

The 700 Club (CBN)

This Hour Has 22 Minutes (CBC)

Under The Radar Michigan (PBS)

When Calls The Heart (Hallmark)

Wild Cards (CBC)

* Indicates series whose runs concluded in 2024.