Music: Kitty Empire’s 10 best albums of 2024
Americana’s classiest duo weather the storm, Kendrick Lamar has the last word, UK jazz soars – and Charli xcx unleashes the power of Brat
Paul McCartney review – a dizzying, bittersweet, life-encompassing journey through time
An eras tour of a different kind finds the 82-year-old former Beatle on tremendous form, packing a three-hour show with hits, flashbacks and real emotion
Paul McCartney review – extraordinarily sublime and humblingly beautiful
Stretching an almost three-hour set from the Quarrymen through to the ‘final Beatles single’ this is like an arena-sized Last Night at the Proms, with Beatlemania
Slipknot review – metal mammoths deliver exhilarating sonic brutality
Heads bang, moshpits burst into life and riffs eviscerate every corner of the room as the band tear through their debut album 1999 in a visceral sensory haze
Lauren Mayberry: Vicious Creature review – a solo statement of intent
The Chvrches singer’s debut album skips from punk to pop, wilfully unbothered about current notions of cool
Angel Olsen: Cosmic Waves Vol 1 review – intriguing half compilation, half covers
Five rising artists each perform one of their songs, then the US singer-songwriter covers another one of their tracks in a set of woebegone elegance
TV on the Radio review – NYC art-rockers remain singular, energised and lupine
Their rhythms push and pull between destruction and creation, frontman Tunde Adebimpe is as magnetic as ever: this is no cynical anniversary cash-in
The Human League review – immaculate electro pop as radiant now as it was 40 years ago
Philip Oakey’s voice remains rich and pristine and sets the tone for an evening of timeless era-defining tunes
Sam Fender review – cathartic songs delivered with passion and a humble presence
Even when the entire crowd of 23,000 are bellowing his ‘whoah-oh-ohs’, understated Fender quips ‘got some singers here, haven’t we?’ as if performing in a local boozer
Vampire Weekend review – crowd-pleasers, covers and 10-minute cowboy medleys
Billed as a two hour ‘evening with’ the indie perennials, this unconventional set has mixed results but the hits sparkle
Crowded House review – Perth performance much more than a traffic jam on memory lane
With Neil Finn’s sons joining Crowded House on stage, it was clear the band hasn’t become mired in nostalgia
Charli xcx review – a glorious, one-woman triumph
The Brat star commands the stage alone in a joyful arena show that feels more like a warehouse rave
Papa M: Ballads of Harry Houdini review – committed to evolution
Cult American musician David Pajo’s latest solo outing reflects his recent troubles but also his restless desire to change things up
Father John Misty: Mahashmashana review – a superb chronicler of life’s perverseness
Josh Tillman ties together the misery, wit and showmanship of his previous albums on a set laced with strings and swagger
Lauren Mayberry: Vicious Creature review – Chvrches singer writes her own pop gospel
The Scottish star’s solo debut is about ‘empowering myself to listen to my own intuition’ – leading her to alternately clumsy and deft songs influenced by Y2K pop