Readers Pick the Songs That Defined Their Year
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5. Devo: “Gates of Steel”
“I had never heard the song before this year and it has stuck with me for two reasons. First, it’s absolutely ferocious and shows Devo to be a super tight rock ’n’ roll band, far beyond ‘Whip It.’ The second is how the opaque meaning of the song captures how I feel about so many things that happened in 2024. Are the lyrics part of Devo’s de-evolution theory, and we’re all just doomed to go hopelessly backward? Or is the line ‘twist away the gates of steel’ about hope, and we really do have it within us to overcome the worst aspects of who we are? I still don’t know.” — Chris Orcutt, Wayland, Mass.
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6. PJ Harvey: “Rid of Me”
“The song is older than I am, but for some reason on a recent listen it stuck with me and filled a gap that newer music is struggling to approach. With everything going on in the world, it feels like the perfect time for angry, grungy music to make a comeback, but a lot of recent attempts feel too restrained or too scared of straying from prevailing pop formulas. There’s nothing restrained here. The song simmers, and then explodes. It’s so satisfying.” — Shereen Shafi, Baltimore
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7. Joni Mitchell: “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire”
“This song has always resonated with me because it describes so excruciatingly the struggles of those with addictions. It’s also just one of the best songs from one of the best albums ever. I got to see Joni in Hollywood this year, so that added a layer of resonance.” — Gabriel Lawson, Dayton, Ohio
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8. Sonny Rollins: “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise (Afternoon Take, Live at the Village Vanguard 1957)”
“For decades, this iconic performance could only be heard from a subpar tape source — until now. Rudy Van Gelder’s second, superior tape machine captured the stunning sound of that night in breathtaking detail. In July 2024, Blue Note released these recordings and gave them the reissue they deserve, with every note as alive as the moment it was played. You’ll hear the intimacy of the room, the texture of Wilbur Ware’s bass, the fire and quiet complexity of Elvin Jones’s drums and Rollins’s tenor saxophone as if he’s playing just for you. Listen and feel the Vanguard come alive.” — Walter Gross, Brooklyn
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9. Wormy: “Big Mountain”
“After 21 years in a demanding and rewarding career, this year I set the course for a change: a life immersed in nature and small community, being an adventurer instead of a success. This song makes me yearn toward horizons with every fiber of my being. In a world where normal is disintegrating, it is grounding.” — Kyle Campbell, Berlin
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10. Jackson Browne: “For a Dancer”
“I heard it when watching ‘A Man on the Inside.’ The song, words and melody touched my heart. It’s about life, death and the dance in the middle. I live in chronic pain, and I found these words comforting. The violin solo sounds so soulful. Beautiful song. Wish I had heard it before. I’ve long been a fan of Jackson Browne.” — Laurie Leroux, Hermiston, Ore.
