Hit Parade | The Bridge: Slate Music Club 2024 – In-Depth Summary

Release Date: December 27, 2024

In this special episode of Hit Parade, hosted by Chris Melanphy, listeners are treated to an insightful recap of the year in music through the lens of the Slate Music Club. Joining Chris are esteemed colleagues Ann Powers, Julianne Escobedo Shepard, and Carl Wilson. This roundtable discussion delves into favorite albums, emerging trends, and the evolving landscape of pop and protest music in 2024.

1. Introduction to the Slate Music Club

Chris Melanphy opens the episode by introducing the Slate Music Club, a panel of critics that convenes annually to discuss the year's musical highlights, cultural trends, and standout albums and singles. This year marks the club's return to a podcast format after a brief hiatus, featuring both returning members and new voices like Julianne Escobedo Shepard.

2. Favorite Albums of 2024

Ann Powers kicks off the discussion by highlighting two albums that provided her solace and inspiration during a tumultuous year:

• Cassandra Jenkins' "My Light, My Destroyer"
  Timestamp: [03:09]
  Quote: "This album really carried me through this very complicated year... I found so much solace, and not just solace, but like imaginative life in this album."

  Jenkins' work is praised for creating "little luminous worlds" that explore themes of romantic loss and life's magical moments, enhanced by innovative soundscapes and personal elements like field recordings of conversations with her mother.

• Fabiano Donas Minto and Sam Gendel's "The Room"
  Timestamp: [05:46]
  A collaboration that strips down typical saxophone effects to deliver "beautiful, spare, highly vulnerable music," offering a refuge through its minimalist and emotionally charged compositions.

Julianne Escobedo Shepard introduces her picks with a focus on diversity and depth:

• Lolise's "I Hit the Water"
  Timestamp: [05:58]
  An adventurous fusion of South African bubblegum, Kwaito, high life, drum and bass, punk, and new wave, reflecting Lolise's migration experience and multifaceted career as a scientist, handbag designer, and musician.

• Nemesis' "Verbatim"
  Timestamp: [06:25]
  An alt-pop album blending guitar pop, new wave, and folk, created amid political turmoil following the artist's split from her label after October 7th incidents, providing solace and hope through its versatile sound.

Chris Melanphy shares his top choices, showcasing both mainstream dominance and hip-hop prowess:

• Charli XCX's "Brat"
  Timestamp: [09:45]
  Celebrated for its cohesive album structure and a plethora of hits like "360," "Apple," and "Girl So Confusing," which features collaborations with Lorde and Billie Eilish. Chris emphasizes its unprecedented dominance in critics' polls, likening its impact to legendary albums like Nirvana's "Nevermind" and Bob Dylan's "Time Out of Mind."
  Quote: "It's like you pick your favorite, right? Sympathy is a Knife... It's just banger after banger after banger and they all qualify as the hit."

• Dochi's "Alligator Bites Never Heal"
  Timestamp: [15:35]
  A standout in the hip-hop scene, blending lyrical prowess with pop accessibility. Described as a "bars album and a pop album and a mixtape," Dochi's work is lauded for its conversational flow and theatrical energy, highlighted by a stunning performance on the Late Show.

Carl Wilson adds to the mix with a blend of established and genre-blending artists:

• Hooray for the Riff Raff's "Past is Still Alive"
  Timestamp: [18:12]
  An evolution for the New Orleans band, this album serves as an auditory memoir, weaving Alinda Segarra's personal experiences with broader American narratives, delivering a "beautiful handmade, anthemic quality."

• Soundtrack for "I Saw the TV Glow"
  Timestamp: [20:22]
  A compilation that captures the trans allegory and horror fantasy of Jane Schoenbrun's film, featuring artists like Jace Frances Quinlan, Phoebe Bridgers, and Carolyn Polchek. The soundtrack mirrors the film's exploration of identity and survival, reminiscent of iconic soundtracks like "Pulp Fiction."

3. Trends in Pop Music Throughout 2024

The panel reflects on a year marked by contrasting phases in pop music:

• Early Year Excitement and Diversity
  Timestamp: [24:58]
  The first half of 2024 was described as vibrant, with fresh faces like Sabrina Carpenter, Chapel Ron, Charli XCX, and Shaboozi bringing energy and variety to the charts. Chris notes the presence of genre-blending hits, such as Hozier's "Too Sweet" and Teddy Swims' "Lose Control," which maintained longevity in the top 10.

• Mid to Late Year Saturation
  Timestamp: [24:58]
  As the year progressed, certain tracks, particularly Charli XCX's "Brat," began to dominate, leading to a perceived stagnation in variety. Chris attributes this to radio's strategy of "running [successful songs] into the ground," highlighting the tension between maintaining chart diversity and capitalizing on hit momentum.

  Quote: "Once something tests as well as Shaboozi's A Bar Song... they just kind of put it on autopilot, and that's your year right there."

4. The Role of Political and Protest Music

The discussion shifts to the landscape of political expression in music:

• Limited Presence of Protest Music
  Timestamp: [31:15]
  Ann Powers observes a scarcity of explicitly protest-oriented music, suggesting that identities and personal narratives have taken the forefront in lieu of direct political statements. She cites Palestinian artist Saint Lavent's album as an underrepresented example of music addressing geopolitical conflicts.

• Media and Market Influences
  Timestamp: [32:48]
  The panel contemplates whether media hesitancy and societal divisions have stifled the rise of protest music, despite ongoing global tensions. Julianne emphasizes the challenges faced by artists like Saint Lavent in gaining media traction for politically charged work.

  Quote: "I do wonder, what about Speaker Box, the love below... It was a huge... I think we've found out there were others that were some of the others."

5. Conclusion and Teaser for Part Two

As the conversation wraps up, Chris Melanphy hints at an upcoming Part Two of the episode, promising discussions on:

• The year in Taylor Swift's career.
• The crossover of country music into mainstream pop.
• The high-profile feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
• The evolving state of music journalism.

Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to Slate Plus for early-access episodes, bonus content, and ad-free listening.

Notable Quotes:

• Ann Powers on Cassandra Jenkins' Album: "It's just this is the album that really carried me through this very complicated year... I found so much solace, and not just solace, but like imaginative life in this album." [03:38]

• Chris Melanphy on Charli XCX's "Brat": "It's like you pick your favorite, right?... It just banger after banger after banger and they all qualify as the hit." [09:45]

• Julianne Escobedo Shepard on Lolise: "It's absolutely original, absolutely deep. And her voice is beautiful. And because she's a fashion designer, her videos are fantastic to watch." [06:25]

• Ann Powers on Protest Music: "I do think we see that there wasn't a lot of coverage of artists making protest music... it's really interesting... nobody covered this record." [32:48]

This episode of Hit Parade | The Bridge offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the musical milestones and cultural shifts that defined 2024. From intimate album appreciations to broader industry trends, the Slate Music Club provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the year's sonic landscape.