Best Songs of 2024 - Fkn Awesome

 

Moncrieff

Here is the YouTube playlist for the Best Songs of 2024. 

You will recognise some big newish names like James Arthur, Chappell Roan and Lola Young, other new artists you've never heard of like Twin Atlantic and Ian Yates (many don't get the views of the big name acts but whose music I think outweighs the generic blandness of 'artists' like Bille Ellish). And some old school artists are also back with great new music such as Bananarama, Pearl Jam, Kim Wilde and Shed Seven. 

Give it a listen. There's so many great tracks to enjoy. Awesome for playing around the house while you're doing other things or just relaxing. There's no hurry either so take months if need be but give it a go and you'll discover some real gems.

Sea Girls

Throughout the year I listen to thousands of new songs. 

The ones I like I will download and listen to them several times before making a decision whether to 'keep' them or not. I do these in monthly folders. The ones that make the cut per se, will be burnt to a CD to listen to in my car. Some months I will make only one CD, others two or three. At the end of the year I go through and select the Best out of those in the folders. In other words, from 378 songs that I selected this year (for every one, I would have listened to 20), I selected 68 for this Playlist. 

Older profile image for this site

A.J. Langford Books

May 2025 bring you happiness. Failing that, good health and some peace. Never underestimate the last two. I value them now more than anything.

Author photo from 2012

2024 was the worst fkng year of my life. (Mental health).
I pray it gets better but know it could yet be worse.
So trying to practice gratitude for those good moments.

My Third (and final) Nude Shoot

In late May 2020, I took part in my third Photography Shoot with renown artist, Spencer Tunick. 
It was done online, as part of a ongoing Covid exhibition entitled Life During Wartime. The final images are below.

Third from Left, Third from Bottom, in all three shots.

https://lifeduringwartimeexhibition.org/

Also below are the images from the first shoots I took part in. Sydney 2010 and Melbourne 2001. While not quite the amazing experience the first two were, this one was more personal with Spencer talking to us, peering into our homes and giving us direction by name.

Melbourne 2001 - Early Sunday morning on the cold wet tram tracks, in the middle towards the front.
Freezing but probably the best of the three as it was the first. Crazy fun.

2010  - I'm at the base of the steps, roughly in the middle. Much warmer..

I feel very fortunate to have taken part in any of his sessions, let alone three over twenty years. However, the way this body is going, I think I'll retire gracefully.

Peace. 

First look - Pseudo Stars Back Cover Image

Pseudo Stars

They came in droves

With stars in their eyes

But not with their feet on the ground.

This is an odd looking image at first hand, but I didn't want the back cover to be blank.
And I didn't wish to repeat any of the front image.

Also I wanted the reader to discover what all of these little symbols and images mean over time. 

I like the idea that you can slowly decipher meaning, the gift that keeps on giving if you will, unlike say the front cover, which you can absorb in a few seconds. It's of a varying style to the front image, but I tried to ensure that we kept the same colour scheme. Lots of blues, purples and blacks.

The artist for this piece is Marjo Klingenberg, who lives in the Netherlands. It took us quite a while to get to the end. It was all done via email. So I thank her for her patience and hard work.

I can tell you that at least twelve stories are represented here. Or is it thirteen? Hmm
I hope when you read the book, you'll have fun working it out for yourself.

Book out soon!

Pseudo Stars