This is one of my favorite things to do every year with EarToTheGround. I build this list throughout the year and then finally take the time to listen to the best of the best. It’s a stunning, humbling experience. 2024 was another great year for music and I hope you all will enjoy these songs as much as I did. Just a note about methodology here, I think ranking art is a fool’s errand. Think of the numbers as a “like meter,” but the reality is if the song is on this list I loved it.
20) Jordan Whitmore – “Rise Up”
-This song won me over early in the year and I knew it was one that I’d come back to here. The spiritual undertone of the song definitely gets to me. The gospel composition feels familiar and true. Of course Whitmore’s vocal is exceptional. But this is also the kind of song that is greater than the sum of its parts; it’s a wonderful performance that makes you feel like you just might fly away listening to it.
19) Jed and the Valentine – “Mineral”
-If you’re a sucker for folk duos, then you’ll fall for this one like I did. Everything about this song is wonderful; it’s a great genre mashup with aspects we don’t hear together very often. The vocal harmonies are solid, but I’m also a huge fan of the horns as well. The full composition comes together for a sound that feels magical; I haven’t heard anything like this since Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. This is an outstanding track and I’m glad to have found it this year.
18) Sophia Lanuza – “Ben Rector”
-From the first time I heard this song, I knew it would show up on this list. It appeals to me in pretty much every possible way. The upbeat, positive vibes in the face of a bad situation is perfect. I love how the song is even written in a style that is like Ben Rector. The glowing chord work is excellent. I appreciate how Lanuza has this ability to writing flowing verses that feel like choruses and then the chorus is a banger. The whole track has a feel good vibe and if you’ve ever lost something like a music artist in a breakup, this one will be relatable.
17) So Blue – “Milwaukee”
-The beginning of this song, but once the harmony vocal enters this track goes from good to great. I think I probably wrote this in my initial coverage, but these two remind me of what I loved when I first found Mandolin Orange. There’s an authenticity to this recording that absolutely fills my heart with joy. The way the dynamics shift, particularly the rhythm, gives it this living breathing sensibility that resonates deeply with me. It’s a great tune for fans of bluegrass certainly, but even some folk and roots country folks might enjoy this song. It’s really special.
16) Frankie Bird – “23”
-There’s a delightful introspection to this song that I really appreciate. It’s like a girl with a guitar creating a diary entry. By that I mean it is intimate and meaningful, crafted in a way that makes it accessible for others to connect with these deeply personal thoughts. If you’ve ever looked back at an age with confusion and a dash of nostalgia, this song will be relatable. This was one of those songs for me that made me sit back and say, “wow, other people feel this way, too?” It was wonderful; I’m glad to share it again here.
15) Sam Wray – “Stranger’s Kiss”
-I’m not sure the correct musicological term for these types of chord progressions, but I love this sound. Sam Wray writes with passion that is evident with a single listen. This song reminds me of something Elton John or Billy Joel could have produced. I appreciate the way the dynamics roll between the different aspects of the song, all leading to the key lyric about the stranger’s kiss. Wray has a great voice and the songwriting is outstanding. This just feels like a hit and I hope it takes off.
14) Allen Stone – “Memory of You”
-I’ve been a fan of Allen Stone for a few years now and every time I “rediscover” his music I think I should listen to him more. This song is a great example of that feeling. It has everything; it’s a good vibey melody with excellent lyrics landing with a fantastic line about the feeling when you’re only left with the memory of someone after the breakup. This is excellent soul music done well. Maybe more than all of these silly music comments, I just feel cooler when I listen to Allen Stone. He makes me feel like I can sit at the cool kids’ table.
13) Anna Vaus – “Trace of You”
-There’s a delicate energy to this song that I find intriguing. Even when the song picks up a bit instrumentally, there’s a simplicity in the composition style that makes it easy to connect with the vocal. I like the lyrical reference to the classic country song “Gentle on My Mind.” I find this song rather hard to classify in terms of genre. I guess it’s a bit folk and a bit pop, yet it has this spirit that makes it feel a bit country (although it may not be musically). Anyways, Vaus has a wonderful voice and the song has a fantastic delicate energy that I really appreciate. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.
12) Creature Canyon – “Gotta Let Go”
-If you’re a fan of indie rock, there’s a lot to like about Creature Canyon’s music. I knew right when I clicked play on this song that it was one that I’d come back to many more times. There’s something about the space created in the recording that makes it really work. The vocals are expressive yet still remain dynamic. As the song shifts from chilled out folksy rock to more of an energetic indie rock sound, it feels like the kind of song that would be incredible to hear live. Heck, I just want to go hear them live so I can meet a bunch of other people with good taste in music. I love this sound.
11) Clover County – “Under These Conditions”
-This is a wonderful example of the type of folk music that I love to feature. The song has a great melody, a good overall structure, and an excellent lead vocal. The guitars drive the sound and there’s a chill energy to it in places. On first listen the comparison I made was Anna Tivel, but there are a few artists that could be compared here including singer songwriters like David Ramirez and Noah Gundersen. Clover County’s songwriting deserves to be in that company as well. This is an electric sound and it deserves to be widely heard.
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