Another December has arrived, and with it, Wet Thud's annual survey of our favourite songs of the past year. These are the songs that caught our ear across a crowded room. These are the songs that bought us a shot, and asked us to dance. These are the songs that charmed us, took us to bed, disappeared before we woke up, and never heard from again, except for maybe that one day on the subway a few months later but it was crowded and we didn't get a good listen.
These, dear readers, are Wet Thud's Top 40 Songs of 2024:
040.
Kim Gordon
"BYE BYE"
(Matador)
"eyeliner, dental floss, money for the cleaners..."
I didn't know that one of the things I needed out of 2024 was America's high priestess of indie rock reciting a shopping/packing list over trap beats and grinding distortion but, well, here we are.
039.
SASAMI
"Honeycrash"
(Domino)
"even just an ember can turn into a blazing fire"
"Honeycrash" is the lead single from Sasami's upcoming third album, described by the L.A.-based artist as her shot at writing, "a song with all the drama of a 19th-century classical opera, but with the patience and understanding of someone in therapy in 2024."
038.
Infinity Song
"Sinking Boat"
(Roc Nation)
"no safety in the riches, the glory, or the castle guard"
Infinity Song is a sibling act whose vibe wouldn't feel out of place on a playlist of soul and R&B records from fifty years ago.
037.
Beyoncé
"TEXAS HOLD 'EM"
(Parkwood/Columbia/Sony)
"surviving off red cup kisses, sweet redemption, passing time"
While performing with the Chicks at the 2016 CMA Awards, Beyoncé received a cold reception from some other artists in attendance. Beyoncé does not like cold receptions. If you give Beyoncé a cold reception, she will record an album in your genre, and promptly sell more copies of it in one week than you will sell in your entire career. Be nice to Beyoncé.
036.
Kelly Lee Owens
"Love You Got"
(dh2)
"wanting pure euphoria"
Welsh electronic musician Kelly Lee Owens returned in 2024 with her fourth long-player of ethereal techno-pop, the accurately-named Dreamstate.
035.
Parannoul
"A Lot Can Happen"
(Parannoul/POCLANOS)
"모든게 지나도 마음은 영원히 그리 믿고 싶어"
Territories largely unbothered by the first wave of shoegaze bands in the early nineties now boast their own scenes, thanks in part to the global reach of the internet. With a penchant for layered, distorted guitars, and obscured-but-surely-morose vocals, Seoul-based musician Parannoul is doing his part to bring the (pity) party to South Korea.
034.
Caribou
"Volume"
(Merge)
"i know it's got to change"
On his latest album Honey, Canadian musician-producer Dan Snaith, aka Caribou, revisits one of his earliest personal memories of electronic music with a rework of M/A/R/R/S' seminal 1987 dance hit, "Pump Up The Volume."
033.
Charli xcx x Lorde
"Girl, so confusing featuring lorde"
(Atlantic)
"it's just self defence until you're building a weapon"
While Kendrick and Drake were busy measuring dicks in the back room, Charli and Lorde worked their beef out on a remix, striking a conciliatory tone that came across as depressingly novel in 2024.
032.
The Blessed Madonna x Kylie Minogue
"Edge Of Saturday Night"
(Margeverse/Warner UK)
"six deep in the bathroom stalls"
Kylie Minogue has been at the disco for almost forty years now. So, who better to literally sing the praises of hedonism at the club than her?
031.
LCD Soundsystem
"x-ray eyes"
(Excelsior Equity Management/Columbia/Sony)
"i know you've got nothing to hide"
Like retiree parents that just keep finding new hobbies, LCD Soundsystem cannot be kept down. The NYC collective returned with a new single this year amid a flurry of live shows.
030.
Bleachers
"Tiny Moves"
(Dirty Hit)
"watching my whole world shake"
In between producing music for the likes of Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Florence + the Machine, Nick Cave, Quavo, Lana Del Rey, and Sabrina Carpenter (and that's just a partial resumé of his 2024), songwriter Jack Antonoff somehow also finds the time and energy to front his own band, Bleachers.
029.
Victoria Monét x Usher
"SOS (Sex On Sight)"
(Lovett/RCA)
"i am way too sexy to be alone"
This song is so horny, it doesn't even know if it's trying to be explicit or not. The chorus plays it coy with some (admittedly unsubtle) euphemisms, like we're trying to have phone sex while the kids are still in the room, but the verses spell it out in no uncertain terms as the R&B duo let each other know exactly what they're in for the next time they're in a room together.
028.
Mo Dotti
"lucky boy"
(MD)
"it gets old in every way"
Another new band with a nostalgic sound, Mo Dotti is a Los Angeles-based quartet that hovers on a cosmic plane between the beautiful, ear-shredding noise of Dinosaur Jr. and the dense, hazy textures of the Cocteau Twins.
027.
Rosali
"Bite Down"
(Merge)
"keep on walking, putting rocks in my pocket"
Occupying that same vocal space as FM-rock legends like Linda Ronstadt and Karen Carpenter, Philadelphia-based artist Rosali's music evokes an era of wood panelled rec rooms with ashtrays on the coffee table. "Bite Down" is the title track from her fourth album.
026.
Billie Eilish
"BIRDS OF A FEATHER"
(Darkroom/Interscope)
"'til the day that i die, 'til the light leaves my eyes"
Taking home the Best Song Oscar at this year's ceremony for her contribution to last year's 'Barbie' soundtrack, Billie Eilish became the youngest ever person to have won two Academy Awards in any category, at just 22-years-old.
025.
Jessie Ware x Romy
"Lift You Up"
(Jessie Ware/EMI/Universal)
"give me something that keeps me moving on"
2023 saw the releases of both Jessie Ware's fifth album and the debut solo record from The xx's Romy. This year, the two Britons joined forces on this infectious jolt of positivity.
024.
Taylor Swift x Post Malone
"Fortnight"
(Taylor Swift)
"i love you, it's ruining my life"
Considering her recent Eras Tour generated more wealth than some small nations, it's truly impressive that Taylor Swift remains as driven as she does. In between touring for the better part of two years and re-recording the "Taylor's Version"s of her back catalogue, Swift still found time to release this year's The Tortured Poets Department.
023.
Ravyn Lenae
"Love Me Not"
(Atlantic)
"hard to see you but i wish you were right here"
Branching out from the straightforward R&B of her debut, Chicago's Ravyn Lenae returned with Bird's Eye in 2024, incorporating a more varied range of styles into her sophomore collection.
022.
Tunde Adebimpe
"Magnetic"
(Sub Pop)
"we're gonna crash your matrix"
Feels like it's been a banner year for solo efforts from musicians who first rose to fame as members of groups. In addition to the household names like Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake, this year's list sees inclusions from (spoilers!) Beth Gibbons, Jamie xx, Adrianne Lenker, Quavo, Kims Deal and Gordon, and the debut from TV On The Radio frontman Tunde Adebimpe.
021.
MJ Lenderman
"She's Leaving You"
(Anti)
"go rent a ferrari and sing the blues"
Fresh off a high from last year's critically-acclaimed Rat Saw God album with his band Wednesday, singer-songwriter MJ Lenderman returned in 2024 with his fourth solo record, Manning Fireworks.
020.
Addison Rae
"Diet Pepsi"
(ARXOXO/Columbia/Sony)
"fog up the windows in the parking lot"
The cola wars need to chill.
019.
Charli xcx x Billie Eilish
"Guess featuring billie eilish"
(Atlantic)
"try it, bite it, lick it, spit it"
It'd been a while since we had a good, old-fashioned pop song about gitch and eating ass.
018.
Jamie xx x Robyn
"Life"
(Young)
"shitty, pretty, wild"
British DJ extraordinaire meets Swedish pop royalty, with predictably groovy results.
017.
Justin Timberlake
"Selfish"
(RCA/Sony)
"glad your momma made you"
Much has been written about Justin Timberlake in 2024, although little of it about his music. Between the late 2023 publication of former girlfriend Britney Spears' memoir reinvigorating her fanbases' bloodlust over a relationship that ended badly more than twenty years ago, and Ramen-Head's own tour-ruining DUI incident this June, it kinda got lost in the mix that he also released one of the strongest singles of his career this year.
016.
Quavo x Lana Del Rey
"Tough"
(Quality Control/Motown/UMG)
"just something you're going through"
As if the boundaries defining what constitutes hip hop hadn't grown blurry enough in recent times, the former Migos frontman hooked up with Lana Del Rey on a country-pop joint this summer.
015.
The Weeknd
"Dancing In The Flames"
(XO/Republic/UMG)
"we'll never be the same"
On "Dancing In The Flames," the lead single from The Weeknd's upcoming Hurry Up Tomorrow, the Canadian pop star romanticizes the prospect of dying together in a street race gone wrong. Morbid? Sure, but, like the title says, you can dance to it.
014.
Beth Gibbons
"Floating On A Moment"
(Domino)
"all we have is here and now"
It's been thirty years since Beth Gibbons rose to fame as the vocalist for British trip-hop pioneers Portishead. Now, nearing sixty, the focus of her lyrics has shifted from musings on love and loneliness to headier topics like mortality and grief, as she continues to enthral with the same emotional intensity she did in the nineties.
013.
Ariana Grande
"yes, and?"
(Republic/UMG)
"say that shit with your chest"
Galinda is all out of fucks to give.
012.
Vampire Weekend
"Gen-X Cops"
(Spring Snow/Columbia/Sony)
"each generation makes its own apology"
After 2019's sprawling, and frankly just plain too-long Father Of The Bride, New York trio Vampire Weekend returned to peak form this year with their excellent fifth LP, Only God Was Above Us.
011.
Waxahatchee x MJ Lenderman
"Right Back To It"
(Anti)
"your love written on a blank cheque"
Named for a river in Alabama near where singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield grew up, Waxahatchee released their sixth album, Tigers Blood, this March. The collection of gritty country-folk tunes received a nomination for Best Americana Album at the upcoming Grammy Awards.
010.
Shaboozey
"A Bar Song (Tipsy)"
(American Dogwood/EMPIRE)
"we gon' do this shit again"
Shaboozey recently tied the record for the longest-running #1 song of all time on Billboard's infamous Hot 100 chart, at nineteen weeks. The record was previously set just five years ago by another country-rap hybrid, Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road."
009.
Billie Eilish
"LUNCH"
(Darkroom/Interscope)
"don't want to break it, just want it to bend"
Cannibalism has never sounded so sexy.
008.
Clairo
"Nomad"
(Clairo)
"rather be alone than a stranger"
She's only 26, but folk-pop artist Clairo has already been recording and sharing music online for thirteen years now. This summer, she self-released her third studio album, Charm, which debuted in the Billboard top ten, and has been nominated for a Grammy.
007.
Fontaines D.C.
"Favourite"
(32 County Love Train/XL)
"if there was lightning in me you'd know who it was for"
A swirling, summery melody that, according to band members, had several more verses written for it that remain unrecorded. Will we see "Favourite (10 Minute Version)" on a future deluxe edition?
006.
Sabrina Carpenter
"Espresso"
(Island/UMG)
"switch it up like nintendo"
Every year there's an obscenely popular song with lyrics that cause middle-aged people to question what words even are anymore. This is that.
005.
Kim Deal
"Coast"
(Kim Deal/4AD)
"it's just human to want a way out"
She's been an integral member of some of the most influential bands of the past forty years, but 2024 marks the first time Kim Deal has released a solo album. The wait was worthwhile.
004.
Charli xcx
"Von dutch"
(Atlantic)
"cult classic but i still pop"
Charli xcx's sixth album, brat was almost as ubiquitous this year as its viral, chartreuse-hued ad campaign which saw even those unfamiliar with the British pop star talking about "brat summer." Peak saturation was reached when my dental hygienist informed me flossing was brat.
003.
Chappell Roan
"Good Luck, Babe!"
(KRA/Island/UMG)
"standing face to face with 'i told you so'"
Your favourite pop star's favourite pop star delivers a high-drama kiss off from a scorned lover that's equal parts Kate Bush and Wham!
002.
Adrianne Lenker
"Sadness As A Gift"
(Adrianne Lenker/4AD)
"chance has shut her shining eyes"
Between the five albums she's recorded with her band Big Thief since forming in 2015, singer-songwriter Adrianne Lenker has released a string of solo albums, showcasing her inimitable vocals amid sparser, acoustic arrangements. "Sadness As A Gift" is from her sixth solo outing, Bright Future.
001.
Sabrina Carpenter
"Please Please Please"
(Island/UMG)
"everyone makes mistakes but just don't"
In a year where there was no shortage of songwriters churning out clever but devastating lyrics about relationships and love, Sabrina Carpenter may deserve to be crowned our new pop laureate.
Check out the whole Top 40 on Spotify:
040. Kim Gordon "BYE BYE" (Matador)
039. SASAMI "Honeycrash" (Domino)
038. Infinity Song "Sinking Boat" (Roc Nation)
037. Beyoncé "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" (Parkwood/Columbia/Sony)
036. Kelly Lee Owens "Love You Got" (dh2)
035. Parannoul "A Lot Can Happen" (Parannoul/POCLANOS)
034. Caribou "Volume" (Merge)
033. Charli xcx x Lorde "Girl, so confusing featuring lorde" (Atlantic)
032. The Blessed Madonna x Kylie Minogue "Edge Of Saturday Night" (Margeverse/Warner UK)
031. LCD Soundsystem "x-ray eyes" (Excelsior Equity Management/Columbia/Sony)
030. Bleachers "Tiny Moves" (Dirty Hit)
029. Victoria Monét x Usher "SOS (Sex On Sight)" (Lovett/RCA)
028. Mo Dotti "lucky boy" (MD)
027. Rosali "Bite Down" (Merge)
026. Billie Eilish "BIRDS OF A FEATHER" (Darkroom/Interscope)
025. Jessie Ware x Romy "Lift You Up" (Jessie Ware/EMI/Universal)
024. Taylor Swift x Post Malone "Fortnight" (Taylor Swift)
023. Ravyn Lenae "Love Me Not" (Atlantic)
022. Tunde Adebimpe "Magnetic" (Sub Pop)
021. MJ Lenderman "She's Leaving You" (Anti)
020. Addison Rae "Diet Pepsi" (ARXOXO/Columbia/Sony)
019. Charli xcx x Billie Eilish "Guess featuring billie eilish" (Atlantic)
018. Jamie xx x Robyn "Life" (Young)
017. Justin Timberlake "Selfish" (RCA/Sony)
016. Quavo x Lana Del Rey "Tough" (Quality Control/Motown/UMG)
015. The Weeknd "Dancing In The Flames" (XO/Republic/UMG)
014. Beth Gibbons "Floating On A Moment" (Domino)
013. Ariana Grande "yes, and?" (Republic/UMG)
012. Vampire Weekend "Gen-X Cops" (Spring Snow/Columbia/Sony)
011. Waxahatchee x MJ Lenderman "Right Back To It" (Anti)
010. Shaboozey "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" (American Dogwood/EMPIRE)
009. Billie Eilish "LUNCH" (Darkroom/Interscope)
008. Clairo "Nomad" (Clairo)
007. Fontaines D.C. "Favourite" (32 County Love Train/XL)
006. Sabrina Carpenter "Espresso" (Island/UMG)
005. Kim Deal "Coast" (Kim Deal/4AD)
004. Charli xcx "Von dutch" (Atlantic)
003. Chappell Roan "Good Luck, Babe!" (KRA/Island/UMG)
002. Adrianne Lenker "Sadness As A Gift" (Adrianne Lenker/4AD)
001. Sabrina Carpenter "Please Please Please" (Island/UMG)
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