🎧 SS Sounds #39 - Best Albums of 2024

Walk across the Shibuya Scramble into this week’s issue of Shibuya’s Scrambled Sounds !

Hi everyone, I hope you had a nice week. It’s end of the year list time!

Most of the albums on this list are ones I’ve talked about before so I won’t go into too much detail, but there is one album I missed earlier in the year that was good enough to make it to the top.

If y’all are interested in a top songs or top EPs list let me know! This time I felt just that albums would suffice. Also remember, this is like my opinion and stuff.

This week’s episode includes:

• Uhmmmmm, the list??

🎉 Best Japanese Albums of 2024 🎉

I love lists!!!!

Honorable Mention:

South Penguin - South Penguin

Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Indie Rock, Soul-Inspired
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

This album kinda faded into the background for me throughout the year, not visiting it again for a long time.

But then I saw South Penguin live, and I can genuinely say they are one of my favorite local live acts I’ve seen in Japan, ever! Seeing them live made me realize that the retro slightly flat production of this album doesn’t really catch how tight and talented Akatsuka’s funky collective is.

While this didn’t make the top 10, if you’re ever in Japan and have a chance to see South Penguin, I highly recommend it.

10.

Dos Monos - Dos Atomos

Genre: Experimental Hip-Hop, Rap-Rock, Experimental Rock
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Oops, somehow missed this one when it came out.

Rarely can an album be so hard to pinpoint exactly what’s going on, yet simultaneously be so coherent. While this is a Hip-Hop album at heart, one of this album’s strongest influences is Boredoms. In addition, the infamous Otomo Yoshihide has a guest appearance on the track “QUE GI”.

It’s one part Rock/Metal, one part experimental electronic, all brought together by the fact that they are indeed rappers. Their mesh of genres is heard to describe but should be heard. A great album where you never know what is coming next.

9.

HYPER GAL - After Image

Genre: Experimental Rock, Noise Rock, Minimal
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

I definitely have to be in the right mood for this one, but when I am, this hits so hard. HYPER GAL’s second album sounds like a slightly more mature sequel to their first one, with a bit more diversity but still just as pummeling and unforgiving as the first one.

If you’re looking for songs with lots of textures and unexpected twists, this might not be the album for you. But if you’re a huge Krautrock fan or just like when a song drives the same rhythm into your brain over and over again, this is the PERFECT album for you. Literally the opposite of the number 10 spot on this list.

8.

Von Spar, Eiko Ishibashi, Joe Talia & Tatsuhisa Yamamoto - Album I

Genre: Improvisation, Free Jazz, Electronic
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

This one’s for the real freaks out there.

For real though, it’s actually not THAT out there, but rather just an amazing collection of jams from obviously talented musicians. If you missed the review, you might not know that Eiko Ishibashi is the creator of the Drive My Car soundtrack. If that doesn’t convince you enough to check out freeform Jazz explorations of various themes from a group of musicians who sound like they live together (but don’t), I don’t know what will.

7.

Melt-Banana - 3+5

Genre: Noise Rock, Experimental Rock
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Gimme a hell yeah!

Woo, hell yeah!

6.

Yuta Orisaka - 呪文 (Jumon)

Genre: Indie Rock, Chamber Rock, Singer-Songwriter
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

While I could be wrong, I feel any year Orisaka puts an album out, it will probably be on my top 10 list. An amazingly consistent songwriter who is not afraid to make bold moves in any direction.

While not quite as steady as his modern classic album Heisei, it’s highs are dare I say even higher than the highs on that album.

5.

Tempalay - ((ika))

Genre: Psychedelic-pop, Indie Rock, Soul-inspired Pop
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Take out some of the goofier moments on this album, and I think this literally would have been my first or second favorite of the year. Still a great album from front to back, but the songs that are good are the best in Tempalay’s career so far.

While consistency is the name of the game, number 5 still ain’t half bad ain’t it?

4.

COR!S - TAKE FAKE LAKE

Genre: Drum and Bass, Pop, Synth Pop, City-Pop Inspired
Spotify | Apple Music

This album feels like the logical conclusion to Especia’s Gusto, an album where I always felt like the idol-ness took away from the amazing aesthetics and songs.

And so this here feels like those post-vaporwave aesthetics being pushed to a simultaneously new and familiar domain. Basically Vaporwave-inspired Drum & Bass/Juke Pop. I love how some songs and melodies literally sound like your favorite video game soundtracks (you know, Bomberman Hero, Chrono Trigger, Donkey Kong Country, etc.).

Also didn’t even know this was a concept album until today… I mean the are no lyrics on over half the album so I guess it’s all left up to interpretation. It’s also worth noting this album had the biggest growth factor for me throughout the year, I didn’t think it would make the Top 5 but here it is.

I feel like this and the next 3 albums on this list are essential listens so you know what to do. *raises eyebrows up and down furiously for a really long time.

3.

Manami Kakudo - Contact

Genre: Chamber Folk, Avant-Folk
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Ayy my first review ever on this newsletter. Back when I was young (kinda) and too ambitious. However, I think it’s easy to tell I put a lot of thought and love into that review so it has a special place in my heart.

Enough about the review, Kakudo has created an album of stunning and beautiful tunes, with every track taking you on an adventure. Kakudo’s multi-instrumental talents really show, making it obvious why she is the perfect choice for Hosono’s modern version of his live band. The performances and little textures sprinkled throughout the record are legendary, with this being some of the tightest instrumentation in the entire list.

2.

Satoko Shibata - Your Favorite Things

Genre: Indie Pop, Soul, R&B
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Dazzling. Beautiful. Heartbreaking.

Three words that perfectly describe this album. While Shibata was already a legendary presence in the Japanese Underground Singer-Songwriter scene, I feel like this album simultaneously elevates her and humanizes her. These songs feel so personal and have so much passion, yet there is a fairly large sound shift and somber mood present here when compared to her previous albums.

I think this is Shibata’s magnum opus, and the perfect showcase of how much amazing music from across pond (or multiple ponds depending on where you live) came out this year.

1.

Hakushi Hasegawa - 魔法学校 (Mahōgakkō)

Genre: Experimental Pop, Electronic, Jazz, Brainfeeder
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

If you’ve been following this newsletter for a while, this should come as no surprise. Literally the first and only album I’ve given the slightly legendary 4 pie score to.

What a trip this album is. Not only is the songwriting extremely tight, but the instrumentation is always interesting and the mixing is frantic. As time passes, all of these songs still stick in my head, which shows just how unique Hasegawa’s melody writing is. Only they could hide beauty inside some of the most chaotic Electronic-Influenced Jazz (??) you could imagine.

I don’t have much more I can say about this one except for suggesting that you listen to it. I feel like this album would definitely have haters but for me, it remains the crown-jewel of 2024, a year that will forever remain special to me for many reasons. One of them being that I got to start this newsletter. I’ve been able to talk with people I never would have met otherwise and am so thank for the continued support. Here’s to 2025 and another year of Shibuya’s Scrambled Sounds. 🎊

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