Nothing More

Best Albums of 2024


As with my previous post for best songs/singles of 2024, please remember that I am not a professional music reviewer. I do not have the time or ability to listen to every new album that comes out. So yes, these are really just my personal opinion on the things I managed to check out this past year- but that’s all these kind of lists ever really are anyway, right? Ok, enough babbling- enjoy!

  • As Above So Below by Highly Suspect: I think I have to put this one as number one for a couple of reasons. First, I had never gotten into this band before at all. I’d heard of them but knew absolutely nothing about them. So falling in love with this record was totally unexpected. Everything changed when Summertime Voodoo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP8irm3M9Xc&ab_channel=HighlySuspect) debuted in June. All of a sudden I couldn’t ignore this band any longer. The guitars, Johnny’s soulful voice, just everything about this song felt so right to me. It didn’t take long for me to fall under the spell of Blue Eyed Devil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e4vAn-lu8E&ab_channel=HighlySuspect) for the same reasons. After that, I just knew I had to check out the full album. Another reason this one comes as number one for me is because it is truly an album experience. You cannot just listen to one or two songs here & there. You really have to listen to the whole thing, from top to bottom, to experience it the way it’s meant to be experienced. Yes, I know some folks have said the lyrics here leave a lot to be desired, & that’s probably a fair criticism. However, Johnny has been open about writing all the music first & then later writing all the lyrics in a very short space of time. Basically, he used this album as therapy to deal with some very serious issues in his life, & that is exactly why the album feels so incredibly personal. He is literally baring his soul. So yes, it’s messy & complicated at times. But above all else it is DEEPLY EMOTIVE & that is what keeps bringing me back to this album over & over again, even as someone who is not normally a huge blues rock fan (not opposed to it of course, just more of a metalcore chick). The screams in Run For Your Life (More Pills) give me chills every time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDLBzMw3UO8&ab_channel=HighlySuspect). I was not expecting that the first time I heard it & it was the most glorious surprise. But again, to fully appreciate it, you need to listen to the full album in order. I could go on & on, but I’ll end this by saying that I cannot wait to see Highly Suspect live for the first time in just a few weeks (they’ll be my first show of 2025).
  • Greetings From Suffocate City by The Funeral Portrait: I fell in love with this band the minute I heard Dark Thoughts (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8DP5vhiDTk&ab_channel=BetterNoiseMusic) on Octane in 2023. In fact it was my song of the year that year. I confess I prefer the original version over the one featuring Danny Warsnop that is on this album, but both are fantastic. If you’re not familiar with this band, think a soulful singer, a la Brent Smith of Shine Down, but with the aesthetic of My Chemical Romance. Might sound crazy but trust me, it 100% WORKS. I cannot wait to see them live for the first time next month. But back to the album. Be sure to check out Voodoo Doll (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esy7QoIzZ5s&ab_channel=BetterNoiseMusic). The version on this album features Amanda from Eva Under Fire. The song is about drug abuse & how it impacts the loved one of those who fall under its spell. This is especially poignant since Amanda lost her dad to the opioid epidemic, & her mom was also an addict but thankfully has recovered. Having her feature on the track makes it even more powerful. I didn’t think I could love anything more than Dark Thoughts but Stay Weird (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4LiERdg3ok&ab_channel=BetterNoiseMusic) might be my new favorite. With lyrics like “Perfect isn’t perfect to me/I’d rather go down with the freaks/Than feast with the kings/Stay weird/Don’t ever fake it/Don’t let them take out your heart/Stay weird/So what, they hate you/Their world can’t contain who you are,” this is exactly the kind of song I wish I’d had 20-25 years ago.
  • Popular Monster by Falling in Reverse: Yeah, yeah, I know Ronnie Radke is a controversial figure but I already have a blog post all about why I still think he’s a genius (https://athicketofmusingsblog.com/2023/02/07/10-reasons-why-ronnie-radke-is-a-genius/), despite some of his antics. And yes, I agree he’s been a little extra off the chain lately, but I suspect that may be due to a breakup with his long term girlfriend (I could be wrong of course). Regardless, it does not take away from the absolute genius of this album. Also, who else but Ronnie would take his mug shot from almost 20 years ago & make it the album cover? Yeah, probably no one. He’s a character alright. Anyway, the title track (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jakpo7tj7Qw&ab_channel=EpitaphRecords) is part of what got me into FIR a few years ago. And yes, that song actually came out 5 years ago at this point, but when the songs (& videos) are on the level that FIR puts out, it’s only fair to take your time finally putting them all together in an album. Prequel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX0lhueeib8&ab_channel=EpitaphRecords) hits super heavy with lyrics like “You’re a slave to labor & you praise the fascist/You kiss the hand that takes half in taxes/Faking outrage & being seen, a generation with no self-esteem/It’s time to rise up & stand against them/Break the chains & finally see the vision/We’re post-traumatic from a broken system/Follow me into the chaos engine/It’s time to stand, it’s time to fight/Don’t be afraid to twist the knife/Your sacrifice to break the curse/Prepare to die, prepare to burn/Abandon hope, it’s not enough/’Cause all our gods abandoned us/Your sacrifice to break the curse/Light the match, watch it burn.” Then the high notes he hits afterward? Whew! This man could be on Broadway or in opera, no doubt. Then there’s the insanity of Ronald (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWoQ7PFSYlk&ab_channel=EpitaphRecords) which features Alex Terrible of Slaughter to Prevail & Tech N9ne. I got the pleasure of seeing this one live with Tech N9ne, & let me tell you, it’s a banger. Let’s not forget the country metal breakdowns in All My Life featuring Jelly Roll (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB9jFPUb7HA&ab_channel=EpitaphRecords). Did I mention the videos for all these songs are INSANE?! Forget the movies, just watch FIR videos back to back.
  • Made From the Dirt by Kassi Ashton: Kassi came on my radar in 2023 when I fell in love with the incredibly well written Drive You Out Of My Mind (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ipRfLf79WU&ab_channel=KassiAshtonVEVO). It made my 2023 list of best songs of the year, but I’ll confess I did not seek out any more of her music until this year when I heard the title track (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIc3HyiTnew&ab_channel=KassiAshtonVEVO) while driving to my hometown one day. The fact that I first heard it in the middle of nowhere made it even more special to me. With lyrics like “If you see me blazing trails instead of taking the highway/Leaning into love even when it hurts/I never fit the mold so I did it my way/I may be fighting but I didn’t swing first,” this song feels like it was written for me. After that, I knew I had to check out more by Kassi. I soon found an interview in which she was talking about her hometown (California, Missouri) & how she loves that she’s from there but she loves just as much that she learned how to leave. I’m not a touchy person but when I heard that I wanted to hug her & say “Yes, yes! You get it! Thank you for speaking for girls like me!” Soon after that I got the album & it’s been on frequent replay ever since. Yes, it’s a country album but think the jazz/blues sound of Bonnie Raitt combined with the country grit & sass of Reba McIntire. The Straw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4xrAeWGV0o&ab_channel=KassiAshtonVEVO) is my favorite on this album. The pain in Kassi’s voice is so powerful that it almost brings me to tears every time I listen- which is a lot. In fact I wrote a whole blog post about how this song was inspired by a toxic romantic relationship but for me it’s about my relationship with conservative America (https://athicketofmusingsblog.com/2024/11/08/dear-conservative-america-im-breaking-up-with-you/.). As I’ve said with other albums, I could go on & on but let me end by saying you shouldn’t miss the sass in Called Crazy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsCoOfzAKzs&ab_channel=KassiAshtonVEVO). I think most every woman can relate to the line “I’ve never been called crazy by a man who didn’t come back for more.” Ha!
  • Fission by Dead Poet Society: I have Ben Anderson, the drummer from Nothing More, to thank for introducing me to this band. I’d heard of them before but never paid attention to them until I heard Ben introduce one of their tracks on Octane just a few weeks ago. As much as I love Nothing More I figured if they had toured with this band & recommended them, they had to be worth a listen. Turns out they are worth a whole lot of listens! The song Ben recommended was Hurt (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-hrEMw4V4Q&ab_channel=DeadPoetSocietyVEVO) which has become my favorite off of this album. I assumed the song was written about drug/alcohol addiction but vocalist Jack has stated it’s actually about being a musician & how difficult it is to stay in the industry these days & actually make a living. But like any great song, it’s written in such a way that it could be applied to multiple scenarios. Interestingly this band, while being very American, had a lot of their early success in Mexico. Anyhow, other stand out tracks are the groovy opener 5:29:45 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84wcWetvCTo&ab_channel=DeadPoetSociety-Topic) & Running In Circles (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-6H8udEpiw&ab_channel=DeadPoetSocietyVEVO). However, like the Highly Suspect album, I strongly recommend listening to this one from top to bottom to truly appreciate its full essence. In fact, this band has some similarities to Highly Suspect, but is perhaps a bit more danceable (is that word?).
  • One Assassination Under God by Marilyn Manson: Yes, I realize Manson is an incredibly controversial figure & I’ll confess that I almost didn’t include this album for fear of people verbally bludgeoning me over it. Let me just say this- I do believe in innocent until proven guilty as well as in separating the art from the artist. Having said that, due to the very serious nature of the allegations against Manson, at this time I do not plan to buy his merch or see him live again. However, I will still listen to his music, since I can stream it on a service I’m already paying for. Now that that’s out of the way, I have to say this album is a fantastic piece of art. You can hear in his voice how much healthier he is these days. In fact he recently announced he’s almost four years sober, which is huge for someone who has struggled with addiction like he has for much of his adult life. In fact Manson sings about his addiction on this album, saying “A reason for me, for me to get by/Became a need, a need to get high/Then into a life that was no life at all,” in standout track As Sick As The Secrets Within (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOd8hE-xTDY&ab_channel=MarilynManson). Sacrilegious (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo-lcU0xrRQ&ab_channel=HajastaryAquimOficial) is incredibly catchy & danceable while Raise The Red Flag (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckIQOTduNbI&ab_channel=MarilynManson) captures some of Manson’s anger from his earlier years.
LEADTOOLS v20.0
  • Find the Beautiful (EP) by Plush: I have Disturbed to thank for introducing me to the powerhouse ladies of Plush. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see these two bands touring together but thanks to David Draiman’s Instagram I got to see/hear Moriah singing with David as she performed Ann Wilson’s part in Don’t Tell Me during that tour. Immediately I knew I had to hear Moriah’s own band because she has a seriously powerful voice- think Lzzy Hale or Joan Jett. I don’t know their exact ages but I’m pretty sure all the ladies in this band are under thirty, but, like The Warning, their talent & professionalism is miles ahead of what you’d expect for their age. My favorite tracks here are Hope It Hurts (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9JTA8ECJbU&ab_channel=PLUSHROCKS) & Left Behind (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgLvQlqc-Xw&ab_channel=PlushRockVEVO). If the latter doesn’t get your heart racing a bit, you might need to see a doctor. Run (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywr9RBxnFGU&ab_channel=PlushRockVEVO) is also a standout track that showcases Moriah’s incredible range, but really every song here is a winner. I cannot wait to see these ladies live someday.

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Dear John (Part 2): Men Can Be Victims Too


A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post entitled Dear John about one of my favorite rock stars who I found out had done something truly terrible. At the time, he & the band had not yet addressed it, so I hadn’t heard his side of the story, but the facts of the case were pretty damning nonetheless. But because I hadn’t heard his side & because he hadn’t publicly addressed it at the time, I didn’t name him or his band. However, now he HAS addressed the issue, as has his band, & thus I now feel like I need to either revise my original post or write a new one, because this “case” has now taken on a whole new light. You’ll also now I understand why I used the title Dear John. Writing a new post seemed easier, so here we go…

The rock star in question is Jonny Hawkins of the band Nothing More. The band is based out of San Antonio, TX, & I’ve been following them for almost a decade. All three of their major label albums have been absolute bangers with incredibly well written & thought-provoking songs. In fact their 2017 album was nominated for several Grammys. Jonny is the main lyricist & he has been very open about the experiences in his life that have shaped the band’s music, everything from his sister’s struggle with mental illness & addiction to his mother’s death from cancer to his divorce. He’s only a few years older than I am & the way he has described his childhood sounds very similar to my own (same for his bandmates actually). The band’s music is full of incredible insights about love, death, the meaning of life, religion (including how it can be weaponized), & the importance of free speech & thought. The band is not so much “sex, drugs, & rock & roll” as “philosophy, wisdom, & rock & roll.” It goes without saying that I love their music. (Duh!)

With that in mind, perhaps you can see why I was so shocked & disappointed to find out that Jonny had tossed his ex-girlfriend out of his truck, while driving drunk, & then proceeded to drive over her body in the road. I wish I were making this up but sadly I’m not. There is public record of these events from December 2021 in Louisiana, & it’s truly amazing in the age of the internet & social media that this incident is only just now coming to light. Naturally, there have been lots of calls to “cancel” Jonny & the band, as perhaps is only fair.

HOWEVER, what’s also come to light is that the relationship Jonny had with this woman was incredibly toxic & abusive- & had been for YEARS prior to the tragic events discussed here. And by most accounts it was SHE who was the abuser! Even many of his ex-girlfriend’s friends have come out in support of him, saying they’ve watched her spiral out of control for years now. Of course, there may be no way of knowing for sure everything that happened that night, but Jonny & many others have stated that his girlfriend was beating him with a beer can while he was driving when he stopped the truck & forced her to get out. Now, obviously he shouldn’t have been driving drunk & he probably shouldn’t have pushed her out as hard as he did, but the fact of the matter is that most reasonable people wouldn’t allow someone to stay in their vehicle who was beating them with a beer can (or anything else). I sure wouldn’t! Supposedly the girlfriend reached under one of the back tires to retrieve something she dropped & that’s when he accidently ran over her arm. It goes without saying that Jonny made some horrific mistakes here, but the fact remains that he was already arrested for this & already served his time in the eyes of the law. Furthermore, he has confessed to these events, admitted his incredible errors that led to this very unfortunate incident, & has sought therapy to ensure he never makes these kinds of grave mistakes again. Reading through the lyrics from the band’s latest album, it is now so apparent the guilt & misery he endured because of this incident- & no doubt he will live with that for the rest of his life.

In fact, it was because of the abuse Jonny endured from this woman over the years- which was both physical & emotional- that he recently chose to finally end things with her for good. He was tired of the constant fighting (& probably the drug use, as many of his friends have referenced), the inappropriate conversations she would have with his own friends & family, & many other issues that had become apparent over their time together. The very day he finally ended things is the day she posted about the incident with the truck, conveniently leaving out a lot of relevant details of course! She has since accused any man who doubts her of having small- uh- anatomy, & various other absurdities, & has generally made herself incredibly difficult to trust. I am by no means saying she deserved what happened to her or that Jonny didn’t make some major mistakes here. But the fact remains that if the genders were reversed, we would be treating this situation entirely differently. People are saying “Why didn’t Jonny leave? Why would he stay with a woman who abused him? Didn’t he know he deserved better?” It’s become politically incorrect to say such things to female victims of domestic violence- as it should be. But when it happens to men, somehow we think it’s ok! We don’t stop to think that saying such things holds other men in abusive relationships further captive to their abusers.

The truth is men can be victims too. Just because they’re physically stronger than women doesn’t mean they can’t be abused, both physically & emotionally. Perhaps they’re actually just as easy to abuse because they know they can’t fight back or they’ll be deemed the aggressor. Men are also far more easily manipulated by sex- sorry, y’all, but it’s true- which can make them tolerate things they would never tolerate otherwise. In this situation, Jonny had also become very close to the woman’s daughter & may not have wanted to leave because of the relationship they’d built together. Furthermore, once the truck incident happened, he had to have known she’d blast it all over the internet the minute he left her. And- shocker- that’s exactly what happened!

My point here is that despite his mistakes, I don’t think Jonny & his band actually deserve to be “canceled.” I’m obviously biased but it seems clear to me that Jonny is full of regret for what he did & is actively working to ensure he never goes down that dark path again. It would be different if this had been shown to be a pattern of violence on his part, but it seems to be quite the opposite. Obviously the events of December 2021 should never have happened. But what good is it going to do to cancel Jonny now? He’s already lived with the consequences for almost two years now. He’s served his time in the eyes of the law, & he’s moved on from the toxic relationship that set those events in motion. Perhaps the best outcome here would be for society to take a step back & acknowledge that it isn’t only women who can be victims of domestic violence- men can be victims too. It’s also a good cautionary tale of the dangers of toxic relationships in general, especially when combined with alcohol. Put all three of those things together & you’ve got a recipe for disaster- which is exactly what happened!

The greater point here is that cancel culture has been dangerous for many reasons- one of which is that we seem to have forgotten about the concept of grace & redemption. Obviously there are people for whom we cannot afford to show much grace because they are too great of a danger to society (pedophiles, serial killers, etc). But I’m not talking about those folks. And, don’t get me wrong, I DO believe people should face consequences for their bad behavior. But Jonny has DONE that, as we’ve already discussed. His music has helped countless people over the years, & I don’t think one night of horrible decisions (in which no one was killed or maimed for life) should determine the rest of his life. If he can admit to his mistakes, show regret for them, & that he’s actively working to ensure he doesn’t repeat them, who are we to say he doesn’t deserve a second chance? Is he really irredeemable? And if so, aren’t most of us? Maybe we haven’t done something “as bad” as he did, but I can guarantee we’ve all made mistakes- & if the worst of them were showcased on social media or the internet, we’d all look like monsters! We are all capable of a lot more evil than we’d like to admit if put in the right- or rather WRONG- circumstances. It’s the sad truth, like it or not.

So Dear John- or rather Jonny,

I forgive you. I am disappointed in some of your actions, but I know you are too. And you have to live with that, which must be an incredibly difficult burden to bear. I’m sorry you were drawn into such a toxic relationship that encouraged the worst in you. I’m sorry you now have to live with so much pain, guilt, & regret. But you’re not irredeemable. You still have so much to offer the world. Please don’t let this crush you. The world still needs your voice. Whenever you’re ready, we’ll still be here, ready to listen.

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