An Exhausting Year
by Rob Hakimian
Is it just me, or was 2024 the most exhausting year ever? Almost a week into 2025 and I feel like I’ve still got jet lag from it. Of course, it could just be that we’re all getting older, but there are so many other things going on (to put it perfunctorily). You don’t need me to tell you what they are – they’re already lurking in the back of your consciousness.
Thankfully, one area that continues to provide an escape is pop culture, which has not slowed down. In fact, trying to keep up with it all has become an exhausting effort in itself. There is a narcotising effect to just knowing that there will always be more stuff to take your mind off the things going on.
To that end, here’s a few brief, unbothered lines about my favourite stuff from 2024.
Favourite album:
Sentir que no sabes by Mabe Fratti
The Mexico City-based Guatemalan cellist is on a hell of a hot streak with albums, but her latest is a full-throated leap into becoming one of the most vital voices in modern independent music. Equal parts gorgeous, confrontational and indefinable, this record hasn’t left me alone since the moment I heard it.
Favourite album that nobody else seemed to love as much:
Blue Raspberry by Katy Kirby
Intelligent, fiercely honest and devastatingly witty lyricism set to light and playfully melodic indie rock – what’s not to love? While it might not have the cutesy hooks of her debut record, Katy Kirby’s second album revealed a songwriter to be admired.
My full Top Albums of 2024 list is here.
Top 10 live shows of the year (in chronological order):
Adrianne Lenker @ The Barbican, 27 April
Lankum playing False Lankum @ Hackney Empire, 18 May
Grace Cummings @ The Lexington, 24 May
Katy Kirby @ Moth Club, 11 June
Mannequin Pussy @ Scala, 20 June
ANOHNI @ The Barbican, 2 July
Big Thief @ Green Man Festival, 16 August
Caribou @ The Waiting Room, 9 September
Nala Sinephro @ The Barbican, 18 October
Mabe Fratti @ Earth Theatre, 6 November
Top 30 Songs of the Year:
My fairly swiftly selected Top 30 songs of the year (limited to one per artist) is in the playlist below – although it’s missing Cindy Lee’s “Stone Faces” as that is not on Spotify.
Top 10 Films of the year (UK release date):
- Poor Things
- Dune: Part Two
- All Of Us Strangers
- The Zone of Interest
- Blink Twice
- Emilia Perez
- The Substance
- Anora
- The Holdovers
- Love Lies Bleeding
Top 10 TV shows of the year:
Baby Reindeer (limited series)
Hacks (season 3)
Mr. & Mrs Smith (season 1)
Only Murders In The Building (season 4)
The Penguin (limited series)
Shogun (season 1)
Somebody Somewhere (season 3)
Squid Game (season 2)
The Traitors UK (season 2)
We Are Lady Parts (season 2)
Podcasts that keep me going
Comedy: Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Flagrant Ones, Hollywood Handbook, How Did This Get Made?
Football: Arsecast, Arsenal Vision, Counter Pressed, Stadio, Totally Football
News: The News Agents, Pod Save America, The Rest Is Politics
Other: Kermode & Mayo’s Take
If you think you have similar taste to me and maybe have some recommendations – find me here on Bluesky.
