THE YEAR IN MUSIC, 2024: Please Go Home (We’ve Had Enough of These People)

CHAPPELL ROAN

2024 was the year Roan jumped the shark, and, for good measure, jumped it again. It was also the first year anyone had ever heard of her, following late 2023’s impressive debut album. So it was a bit early to be the Diva. In August, apparently revolted by her fans’ attention, she released statements rebuking them, and demanding “boundaries.” A month later she canceled sold out concerts in Europe to rehearse for the MTV Video awards, calculating (correctly) that the Awards show was more important for her career, ticket-buying customers be damned! She later canceled two scheduled appearances at festivals, playing the criticism-immune card of needing to “prioritize my health,” after all the internet backlash. That she brought on.

As a musician and performer she’s an ersatz Lady Gaga, without the voice. Maybe she’ll star in Joker 3! (Hahaha, just kidding, there won’t be a Joker 3.)

BGJ

SNOOP DOGG

From Corona and Tostitos commercials to colorful Olympics mascot, he does it all. But when is enough, enough? We’re inundated with all things Snoop. He’s no longer the scowling gangsta rapper introduced by Dr. Dre on 1992’s “Deep Cover.” Now he’s the smiling face of T-Mobile, taking his “fo’ shizzle my nizzle” brand/schtick to corporate America. Not exactly gangsta. Just sayin’.

He’s a family man, youth football coach, on The Voice, a grandfather, actor, sports commentator and once in a while an MC. He’s friends with Martha Stewart. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be friends with Martha Stewart? But it lowers street cred. Snoop, you don’t have to say “yes” to everything. There’s a thinning line between that and caricature.

Kyle Eustice

MORGAN WALLEN

Over the past few years Morgan Wallen has spent more weeks than not at the top of the country charts, which sucks for every other country artist. It’d be one thing if he was making inventive or innovative country music, but his twang is closer to easy listening, as though he’s sapped all personality from his performances to better exploit the algorithm. And while he doesn’t seem inclined to actively seek out crossover opportunities any more than he’s willing to stop himself throwing chairs off of rooftop bars, he gets crossovers just handed to him. He actually had the Song of the Summer with his Post Malone duet “I Had Some Help,” a deeply toxic song whose lyrics are comprised of things an abuser says to justify his behavior.

SD

KANYE WEST, OR YE, OR WHATEVER HE CALLS HIMSELF THIS WEEK

Did you know that a Hitler-loving Nazi had top ten hits this year? Vultures 1, his first collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign, debuted at number 1 back in February, and their follow-up, Vultures 2, peaked at number 2 in August. Neither album would have sounded particularly inspired back before Ye embraced the darkest of dark sides, but in 2024 they sounded… well, I don’t know, ’cause I don’t listen to fucking Nazis. Why the hell are Travis Scott and Playboi Carti even returning his phone calls? And why are people still giving time to a guy who trumpets misogyny and anti-semitism, denies the Holocaust, pals around with white nationalist dweebs, including Donald Trump, and recently made Alex Jones look like a paragon of reason and restraint? His continued popularity is proof that cancel culture doesn’t really exist.

SD

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HOME ALREADY

U2 doing a residency in Las Vegas! They’ve entered their Elvis years…

READ THE REST OF THE YEAR IN MUSIC!

2024: an overview

Don’t call it a comeback (but it is)

Musicians of the year

Thing of the year

Albums of the year

Songs of the year

Breakout artists of the year

The year of the CD

The Fyre Award: crappiest festival of the year

10 albums you should have heard but didn’t

The year in EDM

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