Best Album Releases (So Far) In 2024

[Duncan Glenday]

I know it's early, what really exceptional albums have been released in 2024 so far?

Please don't post long lists - just the 1, 2, or maybe 3 best albums you're heard to date.

[battema]

Oooooo, fun! Not thinking too hard on this but the ones that spring to mind are

Gogo Penguin - From the North
Slow Dancing Society - Do We Become Sky?
Present - This is NOT the End
Ben Frost - Scope Neglect

[Dunamis]

Viima – Väistyy Mielen Yö
CELESTE - Echi di un Futuro Passato

[Steve983]

Big Big Train.

Sent from my SM-T290 using Tapatalk

[Magic Mountain]

Monkey3 - Welcome to the Machine

[Hobo Chang Ba]

Looking over my list of 2024 releases, it appears I have very few (as is my norm for this time of the year). It also appears I have more non prog than prog at this point.

A no order top 3:

Can - Live In Paris
Present - This Is Not The End
Seaorm - Nekyia

[markwoll]

For starters
Monkey3 - Welcome to the Machine
Gogo Penguin - From the North
Elephant9 - Mythical River

[rdclark]

Big Big Train - The Likes of Us
October Project - The Ghost of Childhood
BrhyM (Bruce Hornsby and yMusic) - Deep Sea Vents

[Sputnik]

I've only bought five 2024 releases so far:

Lost World Band- A Moment of Peace
Luz De Riada - Rizoma
Macroscream - Macrophonix
Penaguin, Tom - Tom Penaguin
Uovo Di Colombo, L - Schiavi del Tempo

Of these, the Tom Penaguin definitely stands out. Sounds like a lost 70s Canterbury album without drowning in nostalgia. The Lost World Band album is also pretty great. I'm thinking all of these will be keepers, though there are a couple of tracks on the Uovo Di Colombo and the Macroscream that I can do without. We'll see what the rest of the year brings.

Bill

[battema]

BrhyM (Bruce Hornsby and yMusic) - Deep Sea Vents

I really really like this one too

[Mascodagama]

Seaorm - Nekyia

Really good record, though I've only listened to it a few times so far. I don't think Angel Ontalva has put out an album that wasn't of at least excellent quality in twenty years - and with a scattering of masterworks among them.

For anyone that digs Nekyia, it's also worthwhile checking out a 2018 album by Rivendel, Sisyfos, that shares a somewhat similar vibe. They both have a lot of improvised / jammed content rather than highly structured compositions, as well as a similar brooding atmosphere prevalent. There is an Ontalva connection with the Rivendel album too - he doesn't play but he painted the cover art.

[Mister Triscuits]

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum: Of the Last Human Being
Mary Halvorson: Cloudward

[Mascodagama]

If I base this on what I’ve listened to the most, then it’s probably:

Eyot- Quindecennial
Hidden Orchestra - To Dream Is To Forget

[Grumpyprogfan]

The Aristocrats - Duck
IZZ - Collapse the Wave
Richard Henshall - Mu Vol. 1

[Splicer]

Azure - Fym. Just released but this is a very good album of symphonic prog with touches of fusion shredding and some metal-ish moments. Nods to its influences without really being imitative.

[Crawford Glissadevil]

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - "The Last Human Being"
Big Big Train- " The Likes of Us
Aquilus- "Bellum II"

[Jimmy Giant]

These all deserve mention:

Big Big Train - The Likes of Us
Jane Getter Premonition - Division World
Emerald City Council - Motion Carries
John Irvine - The Starships Are Gathering
Rick Miller - One of the Many

[Progatron]

So far, the new Agusa album Noir is probably my favourite this year. I like the new Tangent too, although it isn't anything I haven't heard from Andy before.

[boilk]

Really exceptional albums?

Luz de Riada - Rizoma
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis - S/T
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - of the Last Human Being

For me, it's going to be awfully difficult for anything to beat out the new SGM album. Though certainly not to all tastes, that thing is...well, really, really exceptional, to my ears. Unless the new Echolyn (if it ever comes out), is a flat-out masterpiece (which is possible), I'd be surprised if anything other than Of the Last Human Being is my record of the year.

Neil

[JKL2000]

I'll third, or fourth, or fifth Seaorm - Nekyia. I can't keep it out of my CD player.

I'll also add:

Robert Reed & Friends - Sanctuary Live at Newbury (CD/DVD, excellent performance and hi-def video)

[NogbadTheBad]

Only 2 outstanding albums for me so far but a load of very good ones

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Of The Last Human Being
Present - This Is NOT The End

[Zeuhlmate]

Perhaps

Soft Machine - H​ø​vikodden 1971
Scott henderson - Karnevel

[Kcrimso]

Top three so far:

1. Present : This Is NOT The End (BE)
2. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum : Of The Last Human Being (US)
3. Beth Gibbons: Lives Outgrown (UK)

My reviews:

This Is NOT The End https://pienemmatpurot.com/review-pr...-the-end-2024/
Of The Last Human Being https://pienemmatpurot.com/review-sl...an-being-2024/

[boilk]

I'll third, or fourth, or fifth Seaorm - Nekyia. I can't keep it out of my CD player.

I keep coming back to that album too. It's a very sneaky record, and very listenable. You can have it in the background, sort of seeping into your brain, or focus intently on it, and absorb all that is happening.

Neil

[JKL2000]

Another:

Drifting Sun - Veil (Excellent neo-prog that goes beyond the typical neo-prog.)