IT’S THE FINAL EPISODE OF 2024!
Join Planet LP host Ted Asregadoo and Popdose's Keith Creighton as they wrap up an incredible year of music! In this jam-packed episode, Ted and Keith dive into their favorite songs and albums of 2024—not with a ranked list, but with thematic categories that make for a thoughtful and entertaining retrospective.
In the first segment, Keith and Ted talk about bigger music trends like:
-- The deluge of streaming content.
-- The impact of AI on music creation -- and how Spotify reaps the profits from these non-human-created songs.
-- The importance of human creativity in cultural expressions like music.
Keith talks up the music by and film about Kneecap -- a hip-hop trio whose raps are entirely in Galic. Their current album Fine Art is available now.
Fat Dog also tops Keith's breakthroughs and debuts this year. If you're into the early Ministry and that whole industrial genre, you'll love Woof by Fat Dog.
Finally, The Waeve, a UK duo featuring singer-songwriters Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall. Keith said that if he did rank his albums this year, City Lights by The Waeve would top his list.
Ted's Single Play picks are:
"The Flood" by Allie Sandt. If you're a fan of Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Paul Simon, or Madison Cunningham, Allie's music is a must-listen. With songwriting that reflects the depth and wisdom of an old soul, Allie weaves timeless influences into a sound that's uniquely her own. Her heartfelt lyrics and melodic craftsmanship show incredible promise, and Ted is rooting for her career to take off— because she truly deserves it.
The second song is As For The Future's track "The Mob" -- a sly, samba-infused commentary on populism that's as counter-cultural as it is catchy. If you're a fan of Sergio Mendes and Brazil '66 or were hooked on Swing Out Sister back in 1987, this song will strike a chord. With its smooth grooves and clever lyrics, "The Mob" blends nostalgia with a fresh, modern edge—proof that As For The Future knows how to make a bold musical statement.
The Last Dinner Party is a UK band that formed during COVID-19. Surprisingly, before they had a single out, they opened for The Rolling Stones. The Last Dinner Party is what Keith called a total "buzz band" that entertained the public and press with their live shows, fashion, and visual style. Their album, Prelude To Ecstasy did deliver the goods -- as it were -- and lived up to its hype.
Irish shoegaze band NewDad, which Keith describes as "very sweet, tender, dark, shoegazing music," reminds him of Lush -- which made him spin the album many times since its release.
And while Brigitte Calls Me Baby are not from the UK (they are from Chicago), Keith connected with their music because their style reminds him of The Smiths crossed with Elvis Presley. Their debut album is
The Future Is Our Way Out.
Ted's sort of Single Play picks for this segment are:
A Planet LP favorite! Ward White's "Continuity" is a masterclass in wit, quirky storytelling, and exceptional musicianship. The opening line is irresistibly catchy—it sneaks into your head and stays there, a sure sign the song is working its magic. Ward's sharp sense of humor shines throughout, making "Continuity" both clever and captivating. It's a standout track that showcases his unique charm and talent. Though Ward is not from the UK, he sure sounds like he could be -- kind of like the band Brigitte Calls Me Baby.
It Leads to This by The Pineapple Thief has been Ted's most-listened-to album of 2024—and for good reason. He was hooked after seeing them live in San Francisco on December 9th. While he admits to unfamiliarity with their older work, It Leads to This completely won him over. It balances heavy guitar riffs with a meditative, Pink Floyd-like, immersive, and introspective vibe. It might not be for everyone, but if atmospheric, thoughtful rock is your thing, It Leads to This is absolutely worth a listen.
When it comes to power pop, think The Knack's "My Sharona," or Rick Springfield, and Cheap Trick. But what's when it comes to power pop in 2024 sometimes what's old is new again. Keith recommends a band that opened for The Beatles during the final tour and shared the same manager. That band is The Cyrkle -- whose unusual spelling was suggested by John Lennon. Their 2024 release on Big Stir Records is called Revival, and it's among Keith's most-played albums this year. Fun fact: Band member Tom Dawes (alas, he died in 2007) was a successful jingle writer after The Cyrkle disbanded. He wrote "Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz" for Alka-Seltzer, which ran in their ads from 1975-1980.
Another power pop gem is The Half-Cubes, whose album Pop Treasures is a carefully curated album of cover songs that mine some tracks from 10cc, OMD, Del Amitri, and Trashcan Sinatras.
Ted's Single Play picks are:
Kula Shaker's "Indian Record Player" is a catchy pop anthem that seamlessly blends Western pop music sensibilities with a nostalgic nod to the golden age of Bollywood in the lyrics. Check out their latest release, Natural Magick.
Galantis, David Guetta, and 5 Seconds of Summer team up for "Lighter," a feel-good anthem that’s pure pop perfection. Clocking in at just 2:52, the song is packed with infectious hooks and an upbeat vibe that’ll have you dancing from start to finish. It doesn’t overstay its welcome or try to be overly complicated—it’s simply a joyful, high-energy track with a great beat that’s impossible to resist. Sometimes, all you need is a song like this to brighten your day and get you moving.
Keith's first comeback record is from The Libertines, All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade -- which is an astonishing comeback considering the substance abuse problems of some of the band members, like vocalist and guitarist Pete Doherty. Check out the single "Run, Run, Run" which excels at presenting what a good pub band sounds like when they are sober.
Guess who's back? The Zutons! Best known for writing Amy Winehouse's most famous cover song ("Valarie"), their latest album The Big Decider is such a strong album from a band that was on hiatus for years that most folks probably thought they broke up for good. Nope.
Ted's picks center on bigger names like The Cure's Songs Of A Lost World. While the album is light on hooks, it's pretty heavy on misery, which, considering Robert Smith world view is not a surprise. While The Cure's music is not for everyone, those who loved their 1989 release Disintegration will find The Cure's latest album a very familiar experience.
Pearl Jam knocked it out of the park with Dark Matter. The title track and the song "Won't Tell" are two that stood out in this incredibly strong collection of songs. Keith notes that a good amount of credit goes to producer Andrews Watt, who has a knack for bringing out the best in older acts like Pearl Jam, The Rolling Stones, Ozzy, and the like.
Single Play highlights not related to comebacks:
Paper Citizen's "Car Stereo"-- a song dedicated to the importance of friendship in one's life and right up there in Ted's top singles of 2024.
Linkin Park's "The Emptiness Machine" is a welcome return to form. Now that they have a new singer, it has brought to the forefront a very 20-something energy that recalls Paramore back in the day.
While the boys like Kendrick Lamar and Drake dissed each other in 2024, the girls like Charlie XCX (brat), Ariana Grande (Eternal Sunshine and Wicked), Sabrina Carpenter (Short n' Sweet), Dua Lipa (Radical Optimism), and Chappell Roan where all about community and supporting each other's music and careers.
And finally, as the Eras Tour came to a close, Taylor Swift showed what spreading the wealth means. She's now a billionaire, but she gave back to her employees with $100,000 bonuses after the tour ended.
Now, as the year is winding down, Keith said he's going to spend a lot of time with Swift's The Tortured Poets Department, while Ted is going to spend more time looking for rock bands with whom he is unfamiliar -- you know, if we're being grammatically correct here.
