Once again thanks to everyone for your passion, perseverance, participation, and patience. 

Without further adieu, we present the readers poll winners for 2024.

Album of the Year

  1. MachineThe Bug, "Machine" (Relapse)
    “Lurching and throbbing industrial dub-crawl brilliance.  I love this series.”—Anthony D’Amico

    "Having followed Kevin Martin’s work since Techno Animal’s Re-Entry, and The Bug since the (very different) Tapping the Conversation on Wordsound, I’m glad to see this one coming in at number one. Without vocalists, the production takes the focus here, different than previous work but still undeniably him. Additionally, having sprung for the vinyl box, the presentation is wonderful." — Creaig Dunton

    "Grateful for the brainwashed review (by AD), without which I'd have bailed before the second half of this album. Equal parts massively impressive, and immensely unloveable, then." —Duncan Edwards

    "There's an OCD part of me saying "but wait, this is just a compilation of the best part of five EPs over the last year," but there's another part of me who is completely on board with the artist's choice of the finest cuts presented in a complete picture. 2024 was the year of The Bug." — Jon Whitney

    "Ageed with the consensus, excellent series. I can't wait to see what The Bug comes up with next in 2025."—Eve McGivern

  2. KRM & KMRU, "Disconnect" (Phantom Limb)
    "Completely unexpected match-up but the two compliment each other exceptionally well." —Jon Whitney

  3. Fennesz, "Mosaic" (Touch)
    “Sublime, smoldering soundscapes that feel like flickering and bittersweet summer memories. One of the finest albums in an already stellar discography.” — Anthony D’Amico

  4. Rafael Toral, "Spectral Evolution" (Moikai)
    “Sounds like hallucinatory field recordings taken from an alien rain forest at dawn.” — Anthony D’Amico

  5. loscil // lawrence english, "Chroma" (Room40)
    “I’m a bit too burned out on ambient music to fully connect with this transformational revisitation of the source material from Colours of Air, but “Indigo” is quite a gorgeous new piece nonetheless.” —Anthony D’Amico

  6. Godspeed You! Black Emperor, "No Title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead" (Constellation)
  7. Water Damage, "In E" (12XU)
    “This shapeshifting collective has found the perfect collision of drone, improv, noisy guitars, and hypnotically heavy grooves. Absolutely killer project. See them live if you can.” —Anthony D’Amico 

  8. Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling and Andreas Werliin, "Ghosted II" (Drag City)
    "I've grumbled in the past about how much I prefer Ambarchi's early albums like Suspension & Grapes From The Estate to his more recent rhythmic/fusion-inspired direction, but this trio album splits the difference between those two sides beautifully.  Appropriately ghostly avant-guitar magic backed by a simmering rhythm section who know how to keep a groove going without breaking the dreamlike spell." —Anthony D'Amico

  9. Klara Lewis, "Thankful" (Editions Mego)
    "An incredible way to honor mentor and label boss Peter Rehberg. A stellar release." —Jon Whitney

  10. Tristwch y Fenywod, "Tristwch y Fenywod" (Night School)
    "If someone told me that this was a demo made by a coven of forest witches in the early '80s and that they were a huge influence on the earliest Dead Can Dance albums, I would probably believe them."   —Anthony D'Amico

    "A nice album of sub-Wicker Man warbling in Welsh, but a bunch of tracks on here are also on their previous release (a concert recording from 2022 which is free on Bandcamp), so I do wonder what's left in the tank."  —  Duncan Edwards

    "The surprise of 2025! I found this to take a huge chunk from the Dead Can Dance playbook, but I'm glad for it. But then, I'm a Ren Faire fan at heart."   — Eve McGivern

  11. Einstürzende Neubauten, "Rampen (APM: Alien Pop Music)" (Potomak)
    "Neubauten are an exceptionally reliable group and this is another solid album. I do wish they would tour the world again, because there's something intimate about the live shows that bring out the character and personality in the music that may get lost in the recordings and minimal visual presentation. COVID and the subsequent skyrocketing of prices was a massive blow (I still have my physical tickets for the Year of the Rat shows that never took place) but Neubauten has bounced back before." —Jon Whitney 

    "I would have been shocked had this not been somewhere in the Top 20—not just because it's EN, but because it's just that good."   — Eve McGivern

  12. Drew McDowall, "A Thread, Silvered and Trembling" (Dais)
    "I could not do reviews this year, but did add a few late choices to the reader's poll, including this beauty. I'm stunned to find it in the upper reaches of the chart, although given its relation to Coil's Time Machines I probably shouldn't be.  —  Duncan Edwards 

  13. The Smile, "Wall of Eyes" (XL)
  14. Läuten der Seele, "Die Reise zur Monsalwäsche" (Hands In The Dark)
    "It is heartening to see Christian Schoppik's latest haunted & hallucinatory sound collage project place so high in the poll. Fans of Bureau B's amazing Gespensterland compilation take note."   — Anthony D'Amico
     
    I don't wish to jinx this guy but he's never put a foot wrong so far, either as a solo artist or as half of Brannten Schnüre. Brilliant.  —  Duncan Edwards

  15. KMRU, "forge" (Seil)
    "The collaboration with Kevin Martin has certainly given KMRU a new audience and well-deserved recognition. I hope the new listeners get a chance to dig back to some excellent works they likely missed the first time around." — Jon Whitney

    "This gets votes but Audrey Riley's Open Signal 5-11 gets the cold shoulder. Hmm. Pleasant enough, if you've somehow never heard any other ambient music. That said, it's not as plodding or grim as his collaboration with KRM, or as crushingly dull as his previous Dissolution Grip."  —  Duncan Edwards

  16. A Lily, "Saru l-Qamar" (Phantom Limb)
    "Archival singing voice messages from Malta set to music. Quite a hauntingly beautiful and inspired album. One of my personal favorites of the year by a landslide."  — Anthony D'Amico

    "An utterly gobsmacking record. Has to be heard to be believed."  —  Duncan Edwards 

  17. Dummy, "Free Energy" (Trouble In Mind)
    "Had me singing along for most of the year." —Jon Whitney

    "So happy to see this in the top 20! Their first album simply blew me away, and this one was a contender for Album of the Year for me."   — Eve McGivern

  18. Colin Stetson, "The Love It Took To Leave You" (Invada)
  19. Midwife, "No Depression in Heaven" (The Flenser)
    "It took a few listens for this one to grow on me, but I am now fully convinced that this collection of hushed and minimal songs about life on the road is an intimate, slow-burning masterpiece. Every single song is a beautifully crafted emotional depth charge."  — Anthony D'Amico

    "2024 was a difficult year for me with the loss of many friends, all way too early, some entirely unexpected. Midwife knows how to provide a safe space for grief and No Depression In Heaven is like an audio hug." —Jon Whitney

  20. BIG|BRAVE, "A Chaos Of Flowers" (Thrill Jockey)
    "Quebecois doomgaze isn't quite my cup of tea at this stage in my life, but my head almost exploded when I first heard the opening "i felt a funeral." Mat Ball unleashes some of the gnarliest, most blackened guitar sounds that I've ever heard in my life."  — Anthony D'Amico

    "A very rewarding listen. Play at maximum volume." —Jon Whitney
     
  21. loscil, "Umbel" ([self-released])
  22. Holy Tongue meets Shackleton, "The Tumbling Psychic Joy of Now" (AD93)
    "A marriage made in heaven. Shackleton's psychotropic tweaking was exactly what Valentina Magaletti & Al Wootton's dub project needed to catch fire."  — Anthony D'Amico

  23. Adam Wiltzie, "Eleven Fugues for Sodium Pentothal" (Kranky)
  24. Ghost Dubs, "Damaged" (Pressure)
  25. Four Tet, "Three" (Text)
  26. Aaron Dilloway, "Rozart Mix" (Hanson)
    "I was not expecting to be so blown away by a punky, choppy John Cage channeling. This is prime Dilloway."  — Anthony D'Amico

  27. Lewis Spybey, "Lewis Spybey" (Upp)
    "Crisp, focused, spacey, experimental grooves; unsurprising as the two collaborators made similar-ish marks with Wire and Zoviet France. If I'm dictator then this is much higher up the poll. Good as they are, it would be intriguing if more words were added to several of these tunes at some point." — Duncan Edwards

  28. Taylor Deupree, "Sti.ll" (Greyfade)
  29. Beak>, ">>>> (Four)" (Temporary Residence)
    "I simply adore this band, and it will be the last with Geoff Barrow. That said, this one did not grab as as solidly as past releases." — Eve McGivern

    "I think the reason why this album sounds so good is that it is so derivative of others music who did it much better, 50 years ago." — Jon Whitney 

  30. Ex-Easter Island Head, "Norther" (Rocket Recordings)
    "I wish this album wasn't quite so clean and well-mannered, but I really enjoyed it anyway. An inspired mix of arty and eclectic influences ranging from Reichian minimalism to gamelan-inspired percussion to early computer music (among other things)."  — Anthony D'Amico

  31. Abul Mogard & Rafael Anton Irisarri, "Impossibly Distant, Impossibly Close" (Black Knoll Editions)
  32. Bill Orcutt, "How To Rescue Things" (Palilalia)
  33. Shellac, "To All Trains" (Touch & Go)
    "Shellac waste no unwanted space, demand no more time than needed, and present only what's necessary. It works very well. To All Trains is another fine statement and eerily prophetic with the closer "I Don't Fear Hell." Well, I don't think Steve ended up there, but wherever he did end up, I'm sure it sounds fantastic." — Jon Whitney

  34. The Legendary Pink Dots, "Chemical Playschool Volumes 23 & 24" ([self-released])
  35. Shackleton & Six Organs of Admittance, "Jinxed by Being" (Drag City)
    "Yet another Shackleton triumph. Other Six Organs albums may have stronger songs or more dazzling guitarwork, but this is probably Ben Chasney's zenith as far as pure deep psychedelia is concerned."  — Anthony D'Amico

  36. Skee Mask, "Resort" (Ilian Tape)
  37. Seefeel, "Everything Squared" (Warp)
    "Not a particularly groundbreaking or bold return, but a pleasant and welcome one nonetheless. I am not immune to the pleasures of nostalgic escapism."  — Anthony D'Amico

  38. Pan•American & Kramer, "Reverberations of Non-Stop Traffic on Redding Road" (Shimmy-Disc)
    "Another completely unexpected collaboration that I had no idea how much I really needed." —Jon Whitney

  39. Jessica Pratt, "Here in the Pitch" (Mexican Summer)
    "If you took Broadcast and swapped out the more experimental bits for a bossa nova influence, it would probably sound a lot like this.  Jessica Pratt has definitely recorded some truly great songs over the years, but this is the first time that I've ever loved an entire album from start to finish."  — Anthony D'Amico

  40. Jeff Parker ETA IVtet, "The Way Out of Easy" (International Anthem)
  41. Sarah Davachi, "The Head As Form’d In The Crier’s Choir" (Late Music)
  42. Mary Lattimore and Walt McClements, "Rain on the Road" (Thrill Jockey)
  43. Windy & Carl, "Heavy Early & The Creation of Venus" (Blue Flea)
    "Heavy Early is pure jangling, shimmering zone-out bliss."  — Anthony D'Amico

  44. Dirty Three, "Love Changes Everything" (Drag City)
  45. Alva Noto, "Xerrox 5" (NOTON)
  46. Seefeel, "Squared Roots" (Warp)
  47. Craven Faults, "Bounds" (Leaf)
    "I have never heard a bad Craven Faults. It's just hard to choose which one is best. I think this was a good choice."   — Eve McGivern

  48. Rafael Anton Irisarri, "FAÇADISMS" (Black Knoll Editions)
  49. Murcof, "Twin Color (vol. I)" (InFiné)
  50. Soft Kill, "Escape Forever" (Cercle Social)
  51. Mo Dotti, "Opaque" ([self-released])
    "Cool shoegaze that I was made aware of way too late in the year."   — Eve McGivern

    "Sure, anyone can buy a bunch of distortion pedals and call it shoegaze but the songs on this LA-based band's debut full-length album are delightful earworms." —Jon Whitney

  52. Andrew Chalk, "Songs of the Sea" (Distant Impression)
  53. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, "Wild God" (Bad Seed Ltd.)
    "I basically worship this man, but his works have not enamored me in the past few years. It's solid, as would be expected from a master craftsman, but requires multiple listenings."   — Eve McGivern

  54. Mabe Fratti, "Sentir Que No Sabes" (Unheard of Hope)
  55. Seabuckthorn, "this warm, this late" (Quiet Details)
  56. Edward Ka-Spel, "Heksescapes" ([self-released])
  57. SHXCXCHCXSH, ".​.​.​.​.​.​t" (Northern Electronics)
  58. Nala Sinephro, "Endlessness" (Warp)
  59. James Blackshaw, "Unraveling In Your Hands" ([self-released])
    "If I had any doubts that Blackshaw would be rusty after his long hiatus, there were immediately erased by the 27-minute technical tour de force of the title track. That said, the sublime and guitar-free Charlotte Glasson collaboration ("Dexter") arguably still steals the show." — Anthony D'Amico

  60. Joy Guidry, "Amen" (Whited Sepulchre)
    "This could be my favorite album of the year. Guidry's talents as a performer, composer, and arranger are massive. I only wish it was a bit longer. The collaboration with Niecey Blues on the TRAИƧA comp was a welcomed collaboration. I would love to hear a full-length collaboration between the two." —Jon Whitney

    "An emotional tour-de-force moving across the landscape of gospel, ambient, spiritual jazz, soul, and zydeco, as a way of embracing change, trans identity, and healing." — Duncan Edwards 

  61. Nídia & Valentina, "Estradas" (Latency)
    "Two of my favorite things unexpectedly collided here: ubiquitous underground percussionist Valentina Magaletti and one of the leading lights of Principe's killer Tarraxinha/Batida milieu. Predictably wonderful, but also surprisingly fun, libidinous, and viscerally dancefloor-targeted."  — Anthony D'Amico

  62. somesurprises, "Perseids" (Doom Trip)
    "A smooth, silky, magnificent sound, with great songs to latch on to. Natasha El-Sergany has been recording as somesurprises for years, however the band aspect certainly brought this project to the next level this time around." —Jon Whitney

    "I sincerely wish that has been ranked higher. Most people need to hear this slice of magical shoegaze."   — Eve McGivern 

  63. Diamanda Galás, "Diamanda Galás In Concert" (Intravenal Sound Operations)
    "It's an excellent selection of live recordings from recent shows but the fanboy in me wants the entire shows." —Jon Whitney

  64. Actress, "Statik" (Smalltown Supersound)
  65. Earthen Sea, "Recollection" (kranky)
  66. Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld, "Christian & Mauro" (Specula)

    "Blixa can sing me to bliss, but this album is simply gorgeous, 2 masters bringing their talents together."   — Eve McGivern

    "Another great gift of superb music received after reading a fine review at brainwashed. Music which utterly transcends the grim backstory." — Duncan Edwards

  67. Clinic Stars, "Only Hinting" (Kranky)
    "This is a strong debut from Detroit-based quintet. Loved seeing them live with Windy & Carl in October and I hope they get out and about more." —Jon Whitney

  68. Alan Sparhawk, "White Roses, My God" (Sub Pop)
  69. KMRU, "Natur" (Touch)
  70. Total Blue, "Total Blue" (Music From Memory)
  71. Concepción Huerta, "The Earth Has Memory" (Elevator Bath)
  72. Six Organs of Admittance, "Time is Glass" (Drag City)
  73. Big Blood, "Electric Voyeur" (dontrustheruin)
    "Not a exactly a fan favorite but I absolutely love the songs constructed from electronics Colleen and Caleb made at home. Barely squeaked in for this poll as it got released on December 29th but absolutely worth the attention." — Jon Whitney 

  74. Monolake, "Studio" (Imbalance Computer Music)
  75. Kim Gordon, "The Collective" (Matador)
    "This album wasn't quite as great as everyone was making it out to be, but I'm definitely a fan of Gordon's recent run of inspired post-Sonic Youth collaborations in general. I thought her "ECRP" and "razzamatazz" singles were stronger than many of the songs that wound up on the album." — Anthony D'Amico

  76. ØKSE, "ØKSE" (Backwoodz)
  77. Kelly Moran, "Moves in the Field" (Warp)
  78. Xiu Xiu, "13″ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto With Bison Horn Grips" (Polyvinyl)
    "I take Xiu Xiu in small doses, but this one is seriously solid. Memorable and passionate."   — Eve McGivern

  79. Donato Dozzy, "Magda" (Spazio Disponibile)
  80. Hypnodrone Ensemble, "The Problem Is In The Sender — Do Not Tamper With The Receiver" (Wolves and Vibrancy)
  81. Jan Jelinek, "Social Engineering" (Faitiche)
  82. Ariel Kalma, Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer, "The Closest Thing to Silence" (International Anthem)
  83. Ak’chamel, "Rawskulled" (Akuphone)
    "I didn't love this one as much as the duo's other Akuphone releases, as it felt like more like a stitched together collage than a focused statement, but I remain a passionate and devoted fan of these unsettling masked weirdos. If Sun City Girls had formed in the jungle from Cannibal Holocaust rather than in Phoenix, Arizona, they probably would have sounded a lot like this." — Anthony D'Amico

  84. Phill Niblock, "Looking for Daniel" (Unsounds)
  85. Pye Corner Audio, "The Endless Echo" (Ghost Box)
  86. Melt-Banana, "3+5" (A-Zap)
  87. Klara Lewis & Yuki Tsujii, "Salt Water" (The Trilogy Tapes)
  88. Mulatu Astatke & Hoodna Orchestra, "Tension" (Batov)
    "I was definitely not expecting one of my favorite artists from the Éthiopiques series to drop a fire new record in 2024." —Anthony D'Amico

  89. Blood Incantation, "Absolute Elsewhere" (Century Media)
  90. William Ryan Fritch, "Adhesion" (Lost Tribe)
  91. Laetitia Sadier, "Rooting for Love" (Drag City)
  92. Maria W Horn, "PANOPTIKON" (Xkatedral)
    "Another great gift of superb music received after reading a fine review at brainwashed. Music which utterly transcends the grim backstory."  —  Duncan Edwards 

    "The album version of Maria W Horn's multichannel sound & light installation in Sweden's former Vita Duvan panopticon prison. Heavy, disturbing, and immersive as fuck. An absolutely singular work and my favorite release yet from the XKatedral milieu. This one properly floored me." — Anthony D'Amico

  93. DIIV, "Frog in Boiling Water" (Fantasy)
  94. Sault, "Acts of Faith" (Forever Living Originals)
  95. Wand, "Vertigo" (Drag City)
    "I first heard these songs live, and wondered if this was an attempt to gather a more mainstream audience. The songs are still wonderful, but the garage sound of their earlier works have been smoothed somewhat."   — Eve McGivern

  96. X, "Smoke & Fiction" (Fat Possum)
  97. Madeleine Cocolas, "Bodies" (Room40)
  98. Grand River and Abul Mogard, "In uno spazio immenso" (Light-Years)
  99. As One, "Requiem" (De:tuned)
  100. White Poppy, "Ataraxia" (Not Not Fun)
    "A beautiful conclusion of the Paradise Gardens trilogy begun by Crystal Dorval in 2016." – Jon Whitney 

Single of the Year

  1. KRM & KMRU, "Otherness" (Phantom Limb)
  2. Vanishing Twin, "Life Drummer" (Sub Pop)
  3. The Bug, "Machine V" (Pressure)
  4. The Legendary Pink Dots, "The Legendary Pink Hallowe’en Special 2024" ([self-released])
  5. Liquid Liquid, "Bellhead / Optimo (Remix)" (DFA)
  6. FACS, "North America Endless" (Sub Pop)
  7. Water Damage, "Reel LE" (Longform Editions)
    "Yet another hypnotically groovy and roiling gem of droning guitars from the masters of the form. On a related note, I am absolutely inconsolable about the end of the Longform Editions series. A truly incredible run." — Anthony D'Amico

  8. Vanishing Twin, "Tell Me Not Here" (State51)
  9. MJ Guider, "Youth and Beauty" (Modemain)
  10. Edward Ka-Spel, "The Irritant" ([self-released])
  11. Burial / Kode 9, "Phoneglow / Eyes Go Blank" (Hyperdub)
  12. Klara Lewis, "Thankful Remixes" (Editions Mego)
  13. Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore, "Canyon Lights" ([self-released])
  14. Mary Lattimore, "I Spent the Day Inside" ([self-released])
  15. Front 242, "Endless Riddance (Remastered) EP" (Alfa Matrix)
    "After over 40 years and a (still ongoing at this point) final tour, it makes sense that this EP, their first released in the US on Wax Trax, be the one to get the reissue treatment. Compared to the previous releases, this was the point where their sound started to solidify into what they became so known for." —  Creaig Dunton

  16. Djrum, "Meaning's Edge" (Houndstooth)
  17. jesu, "Hard To Reach EP" (Avalanche)
    "Originally part of a split release with Envy, the two core songs here make for some of Justin Broadrick's earlier electronic-centric jesu material, and he balances that with the guitar work excellently. The previously unreleased material included here is interesting, but doesn't overshadow the original two songs." — Creaig Dunton

  18. Ghost Dubs, "Damaged Versions" (Pressure)
  19. Jules Reidy, "Rave Angels" (Longform Editions)
  20. Maria Somerville, "Projections" (4AD)
    "It has now been six years since her debut. If this is any indication how her full-length album from 4AD may turn out, I'm excited." — Jon Whitney 

    "It was an unexpected treat to get a new Maria Somerville single last year, especially one as gorgeous as this one." — Anthony D'Amico

  21. Einstürzende Neubauten, "Ist Ist" (Potomak)
  22. Zola Jesus, "Plyve Kacha" (Sacred Bones)
    "YES! Please, more like this. I love the videos she has been sharing of her noise forays and warmly welcome a full album of Ukrankian piano noise." —Jon Whitney

  23. Patrick Cowley, "Kickin In" (Dark Entries)
  24. La Sécurité, "Stay Safe! REMIXED" (Mothland)
    "Sad I missed them on tour opening up for the Go Team! but I hope they get their own headlining shows soon. This was a pleasant counterpart to the Stay Safe! album but not entirely necessary." — Jon Whitney 

  25. Benoit Pioulard, "Op. 448, Adagio (Hallucination archive)" (Whited Sepulchre)

Compilation of the Year

TRANSA

  1. "TRAИƧA" (Red Hot Organization)
    "The Red Hot Organization may have outdone themselves this time: over 100 musical artists paired  together for this astounding nearly four-hour collection spanning six LPs. It's a collection three years in the making and the physical copies are still being made. It features plenty of brainwashed mainstays like ANOHNI, William Basinski, Mary Lattimore, and Alan Sparhawk alongside many newer acts like Joy Guidry, Niecy Blues, and Ana Roxanne and some veterans like Sade Adu and Arthur Baker. It's a very rewarding listen but can't be done in a single sitting." —Jon Whitney 

  2. "Outer Spaceways Incorporated : Kronos Quartet & Friends Meet Sun Ra" (Red Hot Organization)
    "If the other collection isn't enough, the Red Hot Organization has issued four collections in their Sun Ra series over the past year. They are certainly on a massive roll." —Jon Whitney

  3. "Across the Horizon Vol​.​1" (Across the Horizon)
  4. "Deep Entries : Gay Electronic Excursions 1979-1985" (Dark Entries)
  5. "Subliminal Skull Palace, Vol. 5" (Utech)
    "This is one of those compilations that feels like it was beamed in from an infinitely cooler alternate reality. In this case, that alternate reality is Japan's psych guitar underground. There are admittedly a few familiar names from Acid Mothers Temple, White Heaven, and Boredoms, but damn near everyone on this comp came up with something memorably wild, hypnotic, slow burning, or mind-frying (especially Kohhei Matsuda)."  — Anthony D'Amico

  6. "Flux Gourmet Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" (Ba Da Bing!)
    "An admirably weird and boldly original soundtrack featuring folks from Nurse With Wound, Stereolab, and Broadcast, but not nearly as amazing as the film itself. Peter Strickland is a mad genius."  — Anthony D'Amico

  7. "Harkening Critters" (forms of minutiae)
    "It's a beautiful four-hour collection of conversations amongst the animal kingdom with proceeds going to Friends of the Earth Organization. We live on such a magnificent planet where so much life continues to face increasing challenges. As long as the collection is, the recordings often seem all too short, and I just want to stay a while." — Jon Whitney 

  8. "Nigeria Special Volume 3: Electronic Innovation Meets Culture And Tradition 1978-93" (Soundway)
  9. "Future Sounds of Kraut Volume II" (Compost)
  10. "Pale Shades Of Grey: Heavy Psychedelic Ballads and Dirges 1969​-​1976" (Now-Again)
  11. "Nippon Acid Folk 1970-1980" (Time Capsule)
    "A compilation which, in a metaphorical sense, transported me to a particular time and place, and then had me pining to be literally transported to that  time and place, walk down that street, hang with those people."  —  Duncan Edwards 

  12. "Super Disco Pirata - De Tepito Para El Mundo 1965-1980 (Analog Africa No.39)" (Analog Africa)
    "A characteristically great & inspired idea for an Analog Africa compilation (a freewheeling dive into the bootleg international LPs sold at Mexican City markets). Sadly, I didn't find the actual music as quite as revelatory as that of other Analog Africa comps, but I certainly enjoyed learning about that scene anyway." — Anthony D'Amico

  13. "Ayo Ke Disco: Boogie, Pop & Funk from the South China Sea (1974-88)" (Soundway)
    "I'm usually an absolute fiend for Soundway and Analog Africa compilations, but 2024 was kind of a light year in that regard. This fun window into the discotheques of Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines was definitely my favorite of the lot." — Anthony D'Amico

  14. "Herdersmat part 41​-​44" (Mord)
    "I've been on a bit of an industrial techno bender lately and the Herdersmat series has been a consistent source of total bangers.  The Roll Dann and Nørbak tracks on this one are especially great."  — Anthony D'Amico

  15. "Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds In The Diaspora, 1980-93" (Soundway)

Vault/Reissue of the Year

Temple IV

  1. Roy Montgomery, "Temple IV" (Kranky)
    "As a huge Roy Montgomery fan, I was stoked to see this released on vinyl for the first time after wishing for years. This album is dear to my heart and still gives me chills."   — Eve McGivern

  2. Diamanda Galás, "Saint of the Pit" (Intravenal Sound Operations)
    "The Masque of the Red Death trilogy was my introduction to Galás' work, and still remains a favorite, so of course I am glad to see it available again, and especially by the hand of Diamanda herself. The changed cover art is also more fitting for the sound."  —  Creaig Dunton

  3. Bark Psychosis, "Hex" (Fire)
    "Made available again and then gone in a blink of an eye, one of the most important formative 'post-rock' albums." — Jon Whitney

  4. Broadcast, "Spell Blanket - Collected Demos 2006-2009" (Warp)
  5. Broadcast, "Distant Call - Collected Demos 2000​-​2006" (Warp)
    "A collection of short sketches that would have eventually blossomed into Broadcast's fifth album if Trish Keenan were still with us. Based on "Greater Than Joy," "Mother Plays Games," "Running Back To Me," and "Follow The Light," it seems like we missed out on a pretty fucking wonderful album, but these intimate fragments of what might have been make a surprisingly satisfying consolation prize nonetheless." — Anthony D'Amico

  6. Harold Budd • Simon Raymonde • Elizabeth Fraser • Robin Guthrie, "The Moon and the Melodies" (4AD)
  7. Fennesz, "Venice 20" (Touch)
  8. Aerial M, "The Peel Sessions" (Drag City)
    "Lovingly packaged release that almost perfectly matches the fonts and texture of those classic Strange Fruit Peel Sessions. It's lovely to hear these full versions with the first incarnation of David Pajo's live ensemble. I hope more follow in this template. (Looking at you Thrill Jockey and Kranky.)" — Jon Whitney 

  9. Kristin Hersh, "Hips & Makers" (4AD)
    "Amusingly, I was first turned onto Kristen Hersh's harrowing and intense solo debut by the long-forgotten Angelina Jolie-starring 1996 adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates' Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang. Somehow The Cramps and Mazzy Star wound up on that soundtrack too. Girl gangs have great taste in music, I guess." — Anthony D'Amico

  10. Can, "Live In Aston 1977" (Spoon)
  11. Throbbing Gristle, "The Third Mind Movements" (Mute)
    "Sleaz's absence is definitely felt as numerous reissues of numerous projects he contributed to in his lifetime suffer greatly from an embarrassing lack of quality control. Interrupting TGCD1 in a halfway point rather than a naturally occurring audio gap was a miserable choice, which is likely why that one didn't chart here." — Jon Whitney

  12. Can, "Live In Paris 1973" (Spoon)
  13. Faust, "Blickwinkel" (Bureau B)
  14. Black Rain, "Neuromancer" (Room40)
  15. Current 93/HOH, "Island" (HomAleph)
  16. Lawrence English, "A Colour For Autumn" (Room40)
  17. Songs: Ohia, "Live: Vanquishers" (Secretly Canadian)
  18. Current 93, "In Menstrual Night" (HomAleph)
  19. Windy & Carl, "Consciousness" (Kranky)
  20. Ike Yard, "1982" (Dark Entries)
  21. Celer, "Engaged Touches (Expanded and Remastered)" (Two Acorns)
  22. Alan Lamb, "Night Passage" (Room40)
  23. Can, "Live In Keele 1977" (Spoon)
    "I'm ever grateful to the powers that be who have been making these archives available. Some are considerably better sounding than the others, however." — Jon Whitney

  24. Von Schommer, "dc15" (DeepChord)
  25. Lee Underwood, "California Sigh" (Drag City)

Boxed Set of the Year

SAWII

  1. Aphex Twin, "Selected Ambient Works Vol. II (Expanded Edition)" (Warp)
    "A lavish and long-awaited reissue of a visionary album by a visionary artist. Alien harmonies, alien moods, and two of my favorite pieces of all-time ("Rhubarb" & "Blur")." — Anthony D'Amico

  2. Coil, "Moon's Milk (In Four Phases)" (Dais)
  3. Section 25, "Always Now" (Factory Benelux)
    "Painstakingly faithful to the original design, this gorgeous set of five albums includes the mostly improvised Key of Dreams LP, the Illuminus Illumina cassette, and other recordings from the time. It is a thing of beauty both visually and aurally."—Jon Whitney

  4. Gastr del Sol, "We Have Dozens of Titles" (Drag City)
  5. The Magnetic Fields, "69 Love Songs" (Merge)
    "This set is timeless. Was amazing to see the 25th anniversary concerts and people who weren't even alive the first time around singing along to every word." — Jon Whitney

  6. Celer, "It Would Be Giving Up" (Two Acorns)
    "Easily one of the strongest and most immersively beautiful releases in Celer's entire discography. If my stereo broke and could only play "“Imagined Settlement” in an infinite loop forever, I would probably just shrug and never bother fixing it." — Anthony D'Amico

  7. His Name Is Alive, "How Ghosts Affect Relationships" (4AD)
    "An incredibly packaged set of music lovingly remastered by Warren Defever himself. The sound bathes the room so beautifully on each album. The accompanying book entertainingly reveals much of the history of the mysterious Warren and his early years. I can only hope 4AD hire him on future sets by other acts in their vault long overdue for a revival." — Jon Whitney

  8. Stereolab, "Switched On Volumes 1-5" (Duophonic)
    "Plenty of Stereolab's finest songs are lurking in this career-spanning collection of non-album tracks. Screamingly essential series for any self-respecting fan of the groop." — Anthony D'Amico

  9. Throbbing Gristle, "TG Berlin" (Mute)
  10. Man or Astro-Man?, "ROYGBIV (Recordings From The BBC)" (Chunklet)
  11. [V/A], "The K&D Sessions™" (!K7)
  12. Muslimgauze, "The Extreme Years 1990-1994" (Other Voices)
    "Easily my favorite period of Muslimgauze, lovingly presented and packaged and sounding amazing." — Jon Whitney

  13. Creation Rebel, "High Above Harlesden 1978 - 2023" (On-U Sound)
  14. Celer, "There Were More Failures Than This" (Two Acorns)
  15. Current 93, "The Long Shadow Falls" (Dirter)
    "A lot of Current 93's recent activities test the limits of my fandom and this boxed set is a prime example of that trend, but I am legitimately impressed by the jaw-dropping hubris of releasing nearly nine hours of variations of the same bleary choral ambiance. Also, the packaging was quite beautiful for this one." — Anthony D'Amico 

  16. The American Analog Set, "New Drifters" (Numero Group)
  17. Robbie Basho, "Snow Beneath the Belly of a White Swan : The Lost Live Recordings" (Tompkins Square)
  18. Meredith Young-Sowers, "Agartha: Personal Meditation Music" (Important)
    "This collection is an absolute revelation. Meredith Young-Sowers' long-forgotten '80s New Age tapes deserve a place in the same illustrious pantheon as other visionary drone artists like Éliane Radigue and Catherine Christer Hennix." — Anthony D'Amico 

    "I feel dirty listening to this on CD or digital and want that warbly old cassette which reeks of incense that burned in those crystal shops." — Jon Whitney

  19. [V/A], "Celebrate Yourself! The Sonic Cathedral Story 2004-2024" (Sonic Cathedral)
  20. Curve, "Unreadable Communication: Anxious Recordings 1991-1993" (Cherry Red)
  21. Roland Kayn, "Simultan" (Die Schachtel)
  22. The Shadow Ring, "The Shadow Ring (1992-2002)" (Blank Forms)
    "I've been impatiently waiting around for Shadow Ring's discography to be reissued ever since I failed to snap up 2009's Life Review. This was a legitimately exciting event for me. Endearingly baffling and broken-brained music made by visionary maniacs."  — Anthony D'Amico

  23. Ahmed, "Giant Beauty" (fönstret)
  24. Terre Thaemlitz, "Tranquilizer EPs 1 - 3" (Comatonse)
  25. Cranes, "Collected Works Volume 1 (1989-1997)" (Cherry Red)

Artist of the Year

  1. The Bug
  2. Water Damage
  3. Klara Lewis
  4. Fennesz
  5. Einstürzende Neubauten
  6. The Legendary Pink Dots
  7. Vanishing Twin
  8. KMRU
  9. Seefeel
  10. Rafael Toral

Label of the Year

  1. Drag City
  2. Room40
  3. Thrill Jockey
  4. Phantom Limb
  5. Mute
  6. Dark Entries
  7. Kranky
  8. Touch
  9. 4AD
  10. Brawl

New Artist of the Year

Ghost Dubs

Ghost Dubs

  • "Definitely an aptly named project. Sounds like Rhythm & Sound was sucked dry by a vampire to leave behind only a husk of skeletal grooves, hiss, and echoes." — Anthony D'Amico

Lifetime Achievement Recognition

Steve Albini

Steve Albini

  • "Readers probably saw this one coming from a mile away, but he is truly deserving of this recognition. Much has been said about his production work, ethics and his willingness to work with a wide spectrum of bands (Whitehouse and Bodychoke always come to mind for me there). His social media presence in recent years was especially noteworthy though, holding himself accountable for projects he was involved with decades ago that was at best problematic even then and doing his part to advocate for marginalized groups he was previously accused of mocking. Plus, he incited a rather entertaining beef with Steely Dan fans that even resulted in Donald Fagen calling him a “putz” via his rarely used Twitter account." — Creaig Dunton

  • "Looking at the list of Brainwashed Readers Poll winners over the years, there's an awful lot of music that he recorded in the top spots. He knew how to capture the sound that made these artists great and would often work at discounted rates for those who couldn't afford the big studios. On top of all that he wasn't afraid to call the major labels out for their destructive practices, something we need to continue to do as the industry continues to engage in unfair practices. His presence will be missed and his sound will linger in the ears of listeners for years to come." — Jon Whitney

  • "I was never a particularly passionate Big Black or Shellac fan, but Albini was the engineer for at least three albums that dramatically reshaped my taste when they came out (Joanna Newsom's Ys, Jawbreaker's 24 Hour Revenge Therapy, and Palace Brothers' Viva Last Blues) and was also involved in all of my favorite Wedding Present albums, so that is quite an impressive lifetime achievement in its own right. However, Steve Albini's actual influence was much larger than the incredible list of albums that he helped shape, as he was an unbudgeable champion of integrity, honesty, and the DIY/underground music ethos in a world of greed, corporate soullessness, and taste-shaping algorithms. He admittedly had some egregious lapses in taste in his earlier edgelord years, but he eventually transcended that shit and unexpectedly blossomed into one of independent music's most reliable moral compasses. He would probably hate to be described as a role model, but the contemporary music landscape could definitely benefit from some more scathingly funny champions of underground culture who are also blessed with vision and an incredible work ethic." — Anthony D'Amico