Ladies and gentlemen, itâs time once again for the biggest night in niche music curation! Welcome to the Second Annual Waxies, where we present our coveted Waxy trophies to the albums and artists who captured the spirit of the past year in music, culture, and that sweet, sweet wax.
Before we begin, this is LAST CALL to save any songs from our two ever-evolving playlists â Album of the Year Leaderboard (Spotify | Apple) and The Best Songs of the Year (Spotify | Apple). Theyâll be completely refreshed for 2025 soon, so grab your favorites now while you can.
Last week, we revealed our top 10 albums of 2024 and, for the truly dedicated among you, released an entire book documenting the top 100. Now weâre delving further into that list (and beyond) to shine a spotlight on the yearâs best.
Youâll find the 30-song Waxies playlist at the end of this newsletter, featuring every winner weâre about to honor. Turn it up and letâs celebrate the records that made 2024 one for the ages!
Rookie of the Year
The Waxy goes to: Wishy - Triple Seven
Get Vinyl: Tomato Red | Jackpot Gold | Black
2024 was bursting with incredible debut albums â artists like Mk.gee, Friko, English Teacher, The Last Dinner Party, Sprints, Been Stellar, and julie all made waves and earned their spots on our 100 Best Albums list. But the standout for me was Indianapolis rockers Wishy.
Triple Seven is a nostalgia-soaked love letter to the â90s, brimming with shimmering guitars and hopelessly romantic lyrics. With Kevin Krauter and Nina Pitchkites splitting vocal and songwriting duties, theyâve nailed a sound that feels timeless yet fresh.
Sophomore Slump Buster of the Year
The Waxy goes to: Being Dead - EELS
Get Vinyl: Speckled Dragon Egg
The sophomore album can be a daunting hurdle, forcing artists to either refine their debut sound or boldly reinvent it. For Austin duo Being Dead, the choice was clear: crank up the weirdness. EELS is a chaotic, genre-hopping fever dream thatâs as ambitious as it is unpredictable.
From lush, Beach Boys-inspired harmonies to Animal Collective-esque bursts of experimental chaos, EELS revels in its beautiful messiness. Itâs an album that refuses to sit still â if youâre looking for something that constantly surprises, EELS is a must-spin.
Double Stuffed Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to: Cindy Lee - Diamond Jubliee
Get Vinyl: Black
Cindy Lee (Patrick Flegel of Women) has delivered a monumental achievement with Diamond Jubilee: a sprawling, 32-track, two-hour double album that seems daunting to many in our TikTok-length-attention-span era.
But once you track it down and hit play, youâre hooked. This lo-fi, psych-rock masterpiece expertly balances the accessible and the avant-garde, weaving lush, nostalgic tales of love and longing into a kaleidoscopic soundscape. Itâs bold, immersive, and worth the effort.
Itâs no surprise that Pitchfork already crowned Diamond Jubilee the third-best album of the decade. And for those who want to dive deeper, donât miss Sam Westpyâs song by song breakdown.
All Killer No Filler Album of the Year
The Waxy goes to: Glitterer - Rationale
Get Vinyl: Orange | Black
Not everyone has 2 hours for a lo-fi opus. Sometimes you just have 20 minutes, which is the enough time for Ned Russinâs Rationale, under his Glitterer moniker.
With 12 tracks in 21 minutes, Rationale packs a punch. Think '90s grunge infused with the dreamy, ethereal haze of fuzzed-out noise pop. The lyrics are simple yet strikingly vulnerable, cutting straight to the heart and giving Glitterer a distinctive edge in a crowded field.
