Nala Sinephro’s Endlessness was my album of the year. I usually hate generic end of the year lists because they are so subjective or just done for clicks and clout. As much I loved Endlessness there are other albums I will mention after the Endlessness review that I loved too. The criteria for these albums was more how they made me feel and my experience listening to them, like journal entries or a liner note, rather than how I thought of them critically, like a “music journalist.”
Endlessness was just released on September 6th and it is by far the most listened to album I listened to all year. There’s many great reviews of this album out there so let me tell you how this album makes me feel. As you know I am often watching existential sci-fi films and tv shows. All of these wrestle with the concept of how vast the universe is, let alone our own galaxy and planet, and how significant or insignificant we are amongst it all. It amazes me that 99% of the population takes for granted just looking at the moon, planets and stars with our own eyes. This year we had an eclipse and numerous auroras which piqued some interest but all of that too will fade away once there is no more clout to be had.
I find comfort and amazement of looking up and seeing anything that is not of our world. Watching and reading about our galaxy and the universe doesn’t make me feel insignificant like how other humans do. It does the exact opposite. Hairs stand up on my arms. Shivers race through my body when I see the moon during the day. Endlessness wraps me up in that same comfort. Bad day at work? Endlessness. Excited and need to calm down? Endlessness. Going for a walk? Endlessness. Cup of coffee in the morning? Endlessness. Walking in the first snow fall of the year? Endlessness. The album at all points has the headiness of a pleasant high, giving me the encouragement to keep going and even slow down. Whatever I need to be, Endlessness somehow makes it happen.
Nala’s debut album, Space 1.8, is a personal classic as well. There’s been numerous campfires I’ve had the album on loop, sitting alone, feeling the heat of the fire while looking up at the sky. At just the right volume you can get the crackling of the fire and other ambient sounds coming into play with the album. I cannot wait to try the same with Endlessnees.
Endlessness isn’t exactly club jazz or easy listening. Modular synths, harp, saxophone, and drums all add layers that are equally soothing and energetic. Nubya Garcia’s saxophone on Continuum 5 (and the whole album) is just amazing and perfect amongst the chaotic synths. Nubya’s album Odyssey I need to pick up on vinyl. I highly recommend it.
Everything is right with this album and everything gets right when I listen. Thank you to Nana and all the musicians on this epic album. I hope to one day hear it live.
Finally, there many other albums that I truly adored this past year. While some may not fit the Fantastic Voyage radio show music criteria, they are amazing on their own.
Julie Beth Napolin – Only the Void Stands Between Us. This one snuck into the world on November 29, 2024. Spacey cosmic folk that adds some drone here and there, mind boggling finger-picking, and angelic vocals are just word salad when it comes to describing this album. These words do not give them album any justice. Another album I would love to hear live. Sounds great on vinyl too!
Will Veeder – The Lost And Found. I know Will from a couple of my favorite Rochester bands: Muler and Hinkley. Solo, Will goes off the rock and roll grid with some of the best cosmic droney sounds with guitar work that seems to at you like an aura of swirling colors. If you have yet to see Will live, I highly recommend it, with some ear plugs.
Alan Sparhawk – White Roses, My God. Since Mimi Parker’s cancer diagnosis, eventual passing, and time leading up to this album’s release, whenever I listen to Low, I get choked up. To me, this album is about embracing a pain that will never go away while attempting to experience existential joy. The fact that it doesn’t appear on more end of year lists is beyond me.
Cassandra Jenkins – My Light, My Destroyer, Faye Webster – Underdressed at the Symphony. Cassandra and Faye always make great, underrated albums. I’d love to see both live to experience their music in a different setting. How they experience life and make that into music is fascinating to me.
Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood, MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks. How could I not put these two together? I could sing along to both albums. I’d call it modern cosmic country. We got tickets to see them this summer. I cannot wait.
J Spaceman & John Coxon – Music for William Eggleston’s Stranded in Canton. Jason Pierce makes albums that are important to me. I love that man’s mind and have learned a lot about music when he has been interviewed. William Eggleston is an artist who always had a soft for. Beyond his pretty photos, I feel like Eggleston had an appreciation of the here and now, finding wonder in people, places and objects right in front of him. Stranded in Canton, the movie, could have been a movie made by anyone, but no one did, except Mr. Eggleston. The score by Jason Pierce and John Coxon is a sweet accompaniment to Stranded in Canton. It has made me think about my own photographs and how I would make and add music to them.
Johnny Coley – Mister Sweet Whisper. If William Eggleston spoke into a microphone in seedy bars with a jazz band.
Meshell Ndegeocello – Red Hot & Ra – The Magic City. An ambitious and honorable tribute to Sun Ra and the Arkestra.
Nada Surf – Moon Mirror. Matthew Caws is a mystical music character for me, much like Jason Pierce, Alan Sparhawk, J. Mascis and Robert Pollard. Nada Surf just does not make bad albums. I need to see them live.
Guided by Voices – Strut of Kings. Speaking of Robert Pollard, he’s just prolific in music and art in general. I’m in awe of him.
Mannequin Pussy – I Got Heaven. 10 songs, 30 minutes. If you are gonna whine about how short it is, listen to it twice in a row. I feel like this band is going to be very important during the next four years and will continue to define a generation. Each member is so uniquely their own that every song is a genre bending aural treat. If you ever feel guilty for standing your social/political ground, creating boundaries, feeling vulnerable or just being different, Missy Dabice would like to have a word with you.
Arab Strap – I’m totally fine with it 👍 don’t give a fuck anymore 👍. My favorite Arab Strap album. I feel seen.
Osees – Sorcs 80. Punk rock aliens.
The Cure – Songs of a Lost World, Kim Gordon – The Collective, Kim Deal – Nobody Loves You More. Robert Smith, Kim Gordon, and Kim Deal are three people I will love forever. Any cool Gen-Xer looks up to them and realizes that what they do is a treat none of us deserve.
Nubya Garcia – Odyssey. Nubya appears on my album of the year and Odyssey definitely deserves not only a shout out but to be on my favorites list for this year. In 2025, I will be digging into her past releases.
Duster – In Dreams. Duster consistently sends me off into space, to float around in a lucid dream-like state.
Dean McPhee – Astral Gold. One of those no skips albums. If I were to play this on Fantastic Voyage (and I will), it will feel like a sacrilege to not play the song before or after. Instrumental. No overdubs. Wrap your head around the sound of this one.
Mk.gee – Two Star & The Dream Police. Mk.gee has grown on me. I love this album. I never thought I would based on descriptions of his music.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – No Title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead. Music for surviving the apocalypse.
Kevin Coleman – Imaginary Conversation. I often visit a town called Pulaski. That’s how I found about this album; looking up song titles with Pulaski. It’s a great cosmic jam reminding me of hazy memories of seeing the truck stop diner near Pulaski, NY as we raced by on Rt. 81.
Jessica Pratt – Here In The Pitch. 60s, AM radio, beachy cosmic psychedelia.
Dummy – Free Energy. 90s, left of the dial FM radio, loose-fit cosmicgaze.
Color Green – Fool’s Parade. It’s that missing Stone Roses album where they spent 10 years bopping around US desert towns making that third album and playing pop-up live shows in some grungy biker bars. Stuff of legends.
Notes: While I recognize Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter both have excellent albums and some great ear worms, they are just not for me. The new Pixies album is sadly incredibly boring to me. Space themed death metal was an odd genre for me to get into in 2024, but I did. I get to see Slowdive in Toronto in January. I’m excited for that!
Albums I’m Looking forward to in 2025:
Guided By Voices – Universe Room
Saint Etienne – The Night
Frank Black – Teenager of the Year (30th Anniversary Edition)
Mogwai – The Bad Fire
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Perfect Right Now: A Slumberland Collection 2008-2010
Horsegirl – Phonetics On and On
Panda Bear – Sinister Grift
The Lemonheads – Car Button Cloth (Vinyl Reissue)
Monde UFO – Flamingo Tower
My Bloody Valentine?
Thoughts? Leave me a message at 7754ROCKET.
Fantastic Voyage 