Our End of Year Lists
LITA Staffers' Top Picks of 2024
It's that time of year again: the season for introspection & hibernation. 'Round these parts, we're apt to hunker down with our favorite records on the turntable and reflect on another year gone by. 2024 was filled with, to borrow a phrase from the late, great Townes Van Zandt, highs, lows, & in-betweens.
But let’s focus on the highs today, shall we? Here at Light in the Attic, we have a long-standing tradition of celebrating the year’s end with our top ten (or twelve, or fifteen) things that really got us going this year. The things that turned us on, changed our lives, and blew our minds, be it music, libations, places, faces, or experiences. So without further ado, we give you our 2024 End of Year Lists!
Matt Sullivan, Founder/Co-Owner
Celebrating Betty Davis in Japan with lifelong friends, Feb 2024
Echo Sullivan (pictured above, left)
Air @ Moody Amphitheater, Austin, Oct 30th
V/A – I'm Glad About It: The Legacy of Gospel Music in Louisville (Louisville Story Program)
Louis Vasnier Genius of the Seventh Ward (Archeophone)
Donnie Emerson w/ Nancy Sophia - “Sister Oh Yeah”
Jake Xerxes Fussell @ Lockhart Arts and Craft, Lockhart - Apr 13th
Croy And The Boys What Good’s The Medicine? (Spaceflight)
Summertime in Wales, July 2024
Free and Modern Jazz Albums From Japan 1954-1988 by Tony Higgins & Mike Peden (BBE)
The Space Lady @ Wizard Rodeo, Austin, Dec 7th
Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted (Documentary)
Southern Screen Film Festival, Lafayette, Nov.
Dust & Grooves Vol. 2: Further Adventures in Record Collecting by Eilon Paz
Victoria Holt, Supply Chain Coordinator
Victoria's favorite parts of 2024 were all the wonderful places she got to DJ, from listening bars to adolescent favorites to rooftops to internet radio. She's always on the lookout for new venues, especially in New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. Give her a follow at @djpepperazzi if you want to catch her sometime!
DJ Pepperazzi's Top 10 Places DJ’d in 2024 (in no particular order):
Steve Lowenthal, Sales Coordinator
Itasca Imitation of War (Paradise of Bachelors)- In a perfect world, Itasca's Kayla Cohen would be selling out small theaters across the globe with her subtle, nuanced contemporary folk originals. Incredible guitarist and singer, presenting her finest recorded work yet.
Fuubutsushi Meridians (Cached Media)- Ambient jazz comes alive with this collection of gentle compositions from this contemporary quartet bringing quiet beauty to every strand of their relaxing tapestry.
Jeff Parker ETA IVtet The Way Out of Easy (International Anthem)- This LA unit is perhaps the finest small group working in jazz today. Deservedly heralded everywhere, they keep reaching new heights of chemistry with amazing consistency.
Bill Orcutt The Four Louies (Fake Estates)- Bill chops up the classic rock and roll anthem into a looped minimal journey that's endlessly entrancing and listenable. Rarely has experimental music conjured so much joyful exuberance.
Myriam Gendron Mayday (Feeding Tube)- Myriam knows from true sorrow. Her powerful voice and slow building acoustic guitar are a balm for troubled souls and true romantics.
Sir Richard Bishop Saginaw Racket (Unrock)- Another winning set of instrumental guitar heat from the great SRB, flawlessly delivered with his trademark splashes of magic and grace. A national treasure regardless of trends.
Mountain Movers Walking After Dark (Trouble In Mind)- New Haven psychedelic stalwarts deliver a sprawling double LP masterwork, surging at the upper echelon of where guitars, electronics, and rhythm intersect. A true must have.
Les Rallizes Denudes Yaneura Oct '80 (Temporal Drift)- Most LRD fans will tell you ‘77 Live is the definitive document, but this newly unearthed live set gives that epic set a run for its money, featuring one of the bands greatest line ups. Best to just buy everything on Temporal Drift.
Usurabi Chita (An’archives)- Can't get enough of this jangly, psychedelic Japanese trio whose third studio album continues to build on their sterling discography. Everything on An'archives is incredible, but this one is also the most listenable and irresistibly catchy.
Aphex Twin Selected Ambient Works Vol 2, Special wooden box edition (Warp)- One of the most beautifully presented special sets I've ever seen. A perfect high-end art edition of one of the greatest electronic albums of all time.
Emilee Booher, Head of Sync & Creative Licensing
Many Pasta Platter nights at the Garibaldina Society in Los Angeles
Enjoying running for the first time in my life
Seeing Michael Hurley in Los Angeles (again)
Road-tripping (and island-hopping) around the PNW and British Columbia (including finding the best fish tacos on Galiano Island)
Passing the one-year mark of Muay Thai training
Having the immense honor of hearing stories from Lou Reed’s family and friends at the NYC release party for Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65
V/A Someone Like Me (Efficient Space)
Discovering the very thorough and surprisingly hypnotizing podcast: The History of Rock Music in 500 Songs by Andrew Hickey
Watching (and attending) many, many baseball games
Travis Ritter, Light in the Attic Record Shop Manager
Top 3 favorite Seattle-area releases of 2024:
somesurprises perseids (Doom Trip)
J.R.C.G. Grim Iconic (Sub Pop)
Favorite drummer/percussionist:
Valentina Magaletti (Vanishing Twin, Moin, V/Z, Tomaga). Everything she touches is gold to my ears. The V/Z record floored me!
ENDLESS LOOP (MOST PLAYED NEW RELEASES IN 2024)
Nala Sinephro Endlessness
Seefeel Everything Squared
Shabaka Perceive Its Body, Acknowledge Its Grace
Glass Beams Mahal
V/Z Suono Assente
Amaro Freitas Y'Y
Beak >>>>
Burial Dreamfear/Boy Sent From Above
Tristwch Y Fenywod Tristwch Y Fenywod
Previous Industries Service Merchandise
Laetitia Sadier Rooting For Love
Favorite reissues of 2024:
Aphex Twin Selected Ambient Works Vol II 4LP Wood Box Set (Warp)
Colin Newman Bastard (swim)
Butthole Surfers Locust Abortion Technician/Psychic Powerless/Rembrandt Pussyhorse (Matador)
Vanishing Twin Age of Immunology (Fire)
Broadcast Spell Blanket and Distant Call demos (Warp)
Lafayette Afro-Rock Band Soul Makossa, Malik (Strut)
GAS GAS (1996) (Kompakt)
Mixmaster Morris and Jonah Sharp Quiet Logic (We Release Whatever The Fuck We Want)
Roy Montgomery Temple IV (Kranky)
Cocteau Twins and Harold Budd The Moon and the Melodies (4AD)
Jungle Brothers Done By The Forces of Nature (Get On Down)
Blue Note Tone Poet series (ANY)
Roots Manuva Run Come Save Me (Big Dada)
Saâda Bonaire Saâda Bonaire (Captured Tracks)
LITA FAVES (obligatory)
Pete Jolly Seasons
Shin Joong Hyun Beautiful Rivers And Mountains: The Psychedelic Rock Sound Of South Korea's Shin Joong Hyun 1958-74
Nancy Sinatra How Does That Grab You?
Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65
LITA Distro HEAT
H-Street 35th Anniversary Skateboard Video Compilation
Virtual Dreams Vol. 2 (Music From Memory)
Anything/all YMO-related (Sakamoto, Takahashi and Hosono FOREVER)
ALFA/YEN Records 1980-1987: Techno Pop and Other Electronic Adventures in Tokyo
Biggest pet peeve:
People ignoring NO DRINKS signs posted in at least three dozen places around the shop
Most asked question:
TIE:
"Do you have (KEXP) stickers?" (KEXP does by their vending machine)
"Do you have KEXP merch?" (we don't but KEXP has a vending machine that does)
Best coffee, nicest crew:
Cafe Vita
Favorite shoes:
Clarks Wallabees (FOREVER)
Strangest gifts that arrived via post:
A squished doughnut
numerous doll heads/doll parts
Macho Man Randy Savage LP sleeve
fake pet puke (THANKS ED!)
Habit I had to kill/cut back on:
Going to Dick's 2 or 3x a week
Habit I formed:
TIE:
Every Warm Day Deserves a Kevin Cole Slushie at Cafe Vita
Ordering vermicelli or bahn mi from COBA once a week