MIX ALBUMS

It May Feel Bad

Kevin Conaway’s 2024 Mix Album

Welcome to the 15th installment of my annual mix albums. This tradition has survived for a decade and a half now! Throughout the year, I compile music that I found and then sift through it at the end of the year to create a year-end anthology of music that was meaningful to me over the course of that year. The only rules that I follow are that the songs must be in some way significant to me during that year (newly released, new to me, or tied to some event or memory) and that I stay within the 80-minute time constraint of the capacity of a CD to keep consistent with the early versions of this mix and to also keep myself from getting too carried away… which I totally would do. The songs are then arranged in a way so that they flow from start to finish as if you are listening to a cohesive album. Hence the term “mix album.” The finished mix is then given a title and cover art to tie it all together.

I’m very proud of this year’s album. Typically, when I arrange these things, I mainly pay attention to how the songs musically flow. Any themes that might be present in the albums are more or less kind of accidental. This year though, I approached the album with an intentional theme and arranged the songs to build the album around that theme. The album tells the story of how this year progressed, with all of the peaks and valleys that it included. The album will take the listener though a happy and fun start to the year, followed by the frustration, sadness, and introspection that accompany the end of a relationship, followed by the emotional high from a dream vacation, followed by anxiety from national politics, followed by a glimmer of hope about said politics, only to be followed by total existential dread and hopelessness and the attempts to carry on with life in the midst of that hopelessness. I was able to capture this theme while still managing to use songs from most of the bands that I really wanted to include, either because they were bands I saw live, or albums that were in my top-10, or bands/songs associated with certain events, or just songs that were in heavy rotation for me throughout the year.

So, let’s talk about the songs…

01. Fontaines D.C. – Starburster

We open things with “Starburster” from Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. I wasn’t familiar with Fontaines D.C. prior to this song popping up on my Spotify Release Radar playlist back in April. It struck me as a little weird and off-putting at first… but there was something to it. After a couple more listens, the things that I initially found off-putting began to become endearing. I also found it fitting that I stumbled onto this song a couple weeks before leaving for a trip to Ireland. Naturally, I made a big playlist of music by Irish bands and this song made the cut. The song was written about a panic attack that frontman Grian Chatten experienced. When I listen to it, I can feel a lot of tension and anxiety conveyed in the music. I felt that this song works well as an album opener; it has that first-song energy to it. Thematically, it kind of serves to set the tone and foreshadow the mood for later in the year; kind of an overture, if you will.

02. U2 - Atomic City

U2 was probably the biggest band left on my bucket list of active bands that I hadn’t seen live and I got to check them off the list this year… and at the Sphere in Las Vegas of all places! This was one of the highlights of an incredible weeklong trip in February where I started with three nights in Tahoe skiing at the breathtakingly beautiful Heavenly Resort followed by my first time in Vegas! I had a blast! The Sphere is an amazing venue too! I would love to go back and see another band there sometime. U2 sounded great live and was well worth the wait. This song was a stand-alone single that was released in 2023 as a promotional tie-in for their residency at the Sphere. Fun fact – Debbie Harry and Giorgio Moroder were given songwriting credits due to the chorus melody sounding similar to Blondie’s “Call Me.”

03. Arrested Youth - It's My Life I'm Taking It Back

Arrested Youth is the stage name of Ian Johnson. I first came across Arrested Youth when he was the opener for the DREAMERS and IRONTOM show that I went to in Columbus a few years back. Now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure I included both of those bands on my mix from whatever year that was... [checks records] Yep! Both of those bands appear on my 2019 mix. Anyway, Arrested Youth was a solo performer, playing to backing tracks, and his music was more of a rap/electronic/indie rock style. It’s not the kind of thing that I would normally reach for, but really enjoyed his set. He was promoting the Sobville EP at the time, which sounds completely different from this song, but I liked it a lot. I was impressed by his clever lyrics and ability to transition from rapped sections to very catchy melodic choruses. His new album, Too Late To Start Over, represents a change in style as well as some real growth and maturity in his writing. I played the hell out of the first single, “Walked Out in the Middle of the Night,” before the album came out; it ended up being one of my top-5 songs on my Spotify Wrapped. I chose to include this song on the mix instead because I felt as though it lyrically summed up his personal journey (he underwent brain and spinal surgery following a diagnosis of Chiari Malformation Type I), while still being open to interpretation and relatable to anyone who wants to take their life back.

04. Taylor Swift – My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys

I’ve always appreciated Taylor Swift, but I wouldn’t call myself a “Swiftie.” I’d typically like a couple songs from each album but could leave the rest. What can I say, though, I absolutely loved the new album. THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY was 31 tracks and over two hours of music, and all of it is great! It was my favorite album this year. This was the third track on the album, and the one that really hooked me on my initial listen. Lyrically, this song hits home for me too, as I know that I have been the boy that breaks his toys on occasion. Also, on a side note, I finished off a recording of a TSwift cover this year and should be releasing it in early 2025.

05. The Beaches – Takes One To Know One

I made it to 18 concerts in 2024, including seeing The Beaches at the Agora in September. Despite a break in the middle of the set due to a health issue in the crowd, it was a great show! The Beaches sounded amazing and played a very entertaining set. It was fun singing “Blame Brett” along with everyone in the packed theater! This song was released earlier this year as a stand-alone single. It seems like this band’s star is rising, and I expect them to continue to get bigger in the coming years.

06. The Airborne Toxic Event – Glory

The Airborne Toxic Event is one of my favorite bands and I saw them for the 5th (I think?) time this year. They also released a new album this year that, while it didn’t quite rise to the heights of their previous album, still contained plenty of those passionate and vulnerable songs that I love from this band. Frontman Mikel Jollett is one of my favorite active songwriters.

07. The Fifth Wheel – 1983

The Fifth Wheel is an Akron-area band that was a staple of the local music scene in the 90’s. They reunited and released their first new music in over two decades this year. The producer that I’ve been working with recently, Jeff Koval at Sta-Level Studios, is the guitar player for the band. I caught their set at Porch Rockr over the summer. After working with Jeff in the studio for several years, it was cool to see him rocking out on stage.

08. Keywest – The Things I Wish I’d Done

In May, I took a trip to Ireland with my dad; that dream vacation that I alluded to above. We crossed the country, staying in five towns over nine nights. It was nine nights of breathtaking sights, fun experiences, new friends, harrowing drives, great music, and many pints of Guinness! Walking down Grafton St. during our second day in Dublin, we came across two members of this band playing a set on the street. I recognized the name, but couldn’t (and still can’t) place what I had heard from them before. Their previous three albums had been top-10’s in Ireland, with their 2015 album charting to #1. We stuck around for the rest of their set and bought merch from them afterward. I remember them playing this song during the set that we watched. The message of appreciating life and doing the things that you want to do really resonates with me. It’s a philosophy and mindset that I’ve been making an concerted effort to adapt for the last several years, and has even resulted in the tattoo on my right forearm as a reminder to myself.

09. Dead Poet Society – Running In Circles

I first heard Dead Poet Society back in 2022 when they opened for Biffy Clyro. I caught Biffy Clyro twice on that tour, meaning that I also saw Dead Poet Society twice. I thought they sounded great live and I became a fan. This was the first single from their new album, FISSION, which was one of my favorite albums this year.

10. The Warning – Automatic Sun

I came across The Warning back in 2021, another pickup from the Spotify Release Radar playlist. What can I say, sometimes those algorithms work. Their new album, Keep Me Fed, was in my top-5 this year. I saw them this year at the Agora, a week before The Beaches were there actually. It was the Mexican band’s first major US tour (I got a free commemorative button after the show :-D). I was floored by how great they sounded live! This band of three sisters is still very young too, making how great this album is and how great they were live all the more impressive! This is another band that I think will continue to gain popularity and get much bigger. Also, they gave me an unexpected holiday treat by collaborating with Dead Poet Society on a single that was released in December.

11. MESSMAKER – Ain’t Even Started

I like to keep stats. This is MESSMAKER’s first appearance on one of my mixes, but the band is the creative project of my friend Michael McFarland, who has appeared on these mixes 7 times, tying him with Biffy Clyro for the lead. Does this count as a record-breaking 8th appearance? A gray area that is open for debate, I suppose. Anyway, Michael’s anthemic and hopeful writing style is on full display in this release, packaged with a great earworm of a chorus.

12. Welshly Arms – Listen Up

Welshly Arms originated in Cleveland. I was aware of them years ago, but I admittedly did not hear any of their music until their national breakout with 2017’s “Legendary.” I’ve been a fan of their music ever since. I finally saw them live late this year, and they were awesome! I will definitely be hitting up their hometown shows whenever they’re back in town.

13. AWOLNATION – Panoramic View

I’ve been a fan of AWOLNATION from their inception, and a fan of frontman Aaron Bruno’s previous bands. AN continues to put out great albums with each release. Their latest album, The Phantom Five, was another one of my favorites this year. This was the first single, a sweet song filled with hope. Though, I do take the lyric, “I’m getting old, it’s personal,” personally. I did not see AWOLNATION live this year, but I did kayak on the Cuyahoga River behind Jacobs Pavillion during part of their soundcheck. So I guess maybe I went to like… 18.1 concerts this year.

14. Linkin Park – Over Each Other

New music from Linkin Park was something I didn’t have on my bingo card at the beginning of the year. The surprise announcement and new single in the fall were… well… a surprise. It seemed like there were a lot of polarized opinions about whether the band should continue without Chester, and there are some problematic details in new singer Emily Armstrong’s past, but the album seems to have quieted a lot of the negativity… or maybe I just haven’t paid attention to it. Either way is good I guess. I loved the album! It doesn’t hit the same creative heights that A Thousand Suns did (my somewhat controversial pick for my favorite LP album), nor does it have the memorable classic songs that Hybrid Theory and Meteora had, but it’s just a really solid record that earns its place in their discography. I do miss Chester, but I’m glad to have new LP music to listen to and I’m excited to see what directions the band will go in now that they’re back.

15. Palaye Royale – Showbiz

Palaye Royale is such a fun band who is keeping sleazy glam rock alive. The new album, Death or Glory, was my second-favorite album released this year. Their songs have so much energy and are so fun to listen and move to. I caught them at House of Blues in September with I See Stars, Weathers, and Diamante. I’m getting older, as AWOLNATION pointed out, and four bands is a lot to stand through, but I wanted to see all of the bands so I powered through like a champ! It was a great show, with all four bands playing really fun sets. Palaye frontman Remington Leith has a ton of energy on stage and was responsible for my favorite concert photo that I took all year, in which I caught an image of him hanging upside down from the rafters on the side of the stage pumping his fist to the crowd.

16. STARSET – Dystopia

I’m not sure what else to say about this song other than it feels incredibly pertinent. STARSET has their own lore, with their albums being a part of a larger story arc that I believe is due to conclude with their next album. This song was a single released in November that I assume will be on the next album whenever it comes out. So… the meaning of this song is undoubtedly tied to the story arc of their concept albums, but I also can’t help but assume that this song is also heavily inspired by current events and politics. It definitely feels like it could’ve been written in response to the election, even though the timing doesn’t work out given that it was released only three days after.

I saw STARSET in Columbus over the summer for what I think was the 5th time (I have to get better at keeping track of concerts and how many times I’ve seen bands live). They played a full evening of two sets without any openers; it was an awesome show that started me on a pretty lengthy kick of listening to their music, making them my top band this year on my Spotify Wrapped. I will also occasionally, after an inspiring concert, put together what I like to call a Fantasy Set playlist, where I will build my ideal live setlist for the band. I did this for STARSET, and it’s a pretty damn good playlist, if I do say so myself. I challenged my friend that went with me to the show to do the same so we could compare setlists. I also have one of these for The Airborne Toxic Event too following the show I saw them at.

17. Nightwish - Spider Silk

Not to get too far off on a tangent, but this album represents a gripe that I have about streaming music. I do think there are both positives and negatives to streaming and I am not going to take a stance here either way to say that streaming music is either good or bad. But one of the things I’ve noticed in my own listening habits is that because I have so much music at my fingertips, I tend to spend less time listening to any individual band or album than I used to when I had to buy the albums on CD. Nightwish’s new album, Yesterwynde, came out in late-September. It’s a bit of a challenging listen and I wasn’t feeling it at first. If this was a decade or so ago and I was spending money on CD’s, I probably would’ve listened to it more and came around to it more quickly. Instead, after it didn’t grab me on that initial listen, I shelved it and moved on to the next thing I wanted to check out. Toward the end of the year, I always go back and re-listen to every album that I saved throughout the year so I can hear them with fresh ears and decide where they fit in my year-end rankings. It wasn’t until re-listening to it late in the year that it started to grow on me. I gave it several more listens over the last month and each time it grew on me a little more and I eventually considered it to be a top-5 album this year. I wish that I would’ve discovered my love for it earlier though instead of initially dismissing it. This has happened to me a few times over the years. Some albums, especially prog rock albums, take a few listens to really get into. As they say, they’re growers, not showers. But it seems like streaming, at least from my experience, doesn’t suit these types of albums and bands well, which is sad. Again, I’m not saying that streaming inherently bad, and I’ll point out a positive from it below, but I suppose with any new technology that forces behavioral changes, not all of the changes will be for the better.

18. VOLA - I Don't Know How We Got Here

As promised, here’s a counter argument to my “streaming is bad” observation above. The nice thing about streaming is that there IS a wealth of music at your disposal – almost anything you could want to hear! And because it costs me nothing additional on top of the flat monthly fee sunk cost that I’m already paying to listen to something new, I’m free to check out any bands, albums, or songs that I’m curious about. For someone like me who is constantly seeking out new music, this is great! VOLA is a band that was recommended to me several years ago by a friend. Since then, VOLA has become a favorite of mine. In the days before streaming though, in order to hear them I would’ve needed to spend extra money on buying a CD or downloading, and given that I was already buying a lot of music, I might’ve chosen to ignore my friend’s recommendation and might not have ever given this band a listen, missing out on something that has brought me a lot of enjoyment. As far as their placement on this mix goes, while I did like their new album a lot, it didn’t quite reach the heights of their last album and didn’t make it into my top-10, but I thought this song was a major standout and thematically definitely warranted inclusion.

19. Devin Townsend – Jainism

Devin Townsend is another artist that I also probably would not be listening to if not for my Spotify subscription. He has delved into many different styles of heavy music throughout his career, but the little bit that I’ve heard over the years has never been anything that I’ve been all that into. I loved his last album though. His new album was a little hit or miss for me, but there was some stuff on it that I really liked a lot, including this song, and I think it’s a good thing to be reminded that “all we are is a place in time.”

20. Creeper – Black Heaven

This song is a bit of a makeup call for me. This is the only other song aside from U2 that was released in 2023 (though, Creeper did release an extended version of the album this year, so I could argue that this song came out this year… with an asterisk). Creeper was another Spotify discovery for me when the single “Cry to Heaven” showed up on my Release Radar playlist mid-last year. The album, Sanguivore, was released in the fall of that year and I liked it, but kind of similar to Nightwish above, I didn’t spend a lot of time with it and didn’t establish it in my mind as a top album. Creeper toured this year, playing a show in Cleveland in the small room at Mahall’s. I decided to pick up a ticket and started re-listening to this album and their previous two to gear up for the show. After repeated listens, I fell in love with the album and the band, and spent a lot of time listening to their music. I definitely should’ve had Sanguivore in my top-10 or even top-5 last year and should’ve included a song from it on last year’s mix. At least I got to make up for the slight this year. It was difficult to work them into the mix; I wanted to include “Cry to Heaven,” given that it was the first song I heard from them and probably my favorite song on the album, but it was hard to find a place for a song from a concept album about vampires to fit in with the theme of this mix. This song seems to come the closest though.

21. The Strumbellas - Wreckage

I don’t know how this album eluded me, but it was released back in February and somehow I missed it and did not hear it until December when I started backtracking through all of my saved albums. I’ve been a big fan of The Strumbellas for several years, and I was listening to all of the new singles as they were being released this year, but somehow I just missed the album’s release. [shrug emoji] The discovery played out kind of like this: “Oh, hey, there’s that Strumbellas single I liked from a couple months ago… I wonder when they’re going to release a full album… [clicks link]… Oh! Well, shit! It’s been out for 10 months!” I’m glad I found it though, it’s a great listen! And the imagery of being in the wreckage seems like the perfect way to conclude this mix.

That’s a wrap on my 2024 Mix Album. If you gave it a listen and read through these notes, I want to thank you (I know an 80-minute album is long to sit through and I know I can get long-winded in these notes). I hope you enjoyed the music and enjoyed reading these notes. As I mentioned earlier, I like stats… and since it is now the 15-year anniversary of these mix albums, I figure I’ll share a few. Over 15 years, I have included 283 songs from 194 bands/artists spanning 19.3 hours. 51 bands and artists have appeared more than once with Biffy Clyro and Michael McFarland tied for the most appearances with 7 (though, Michael has 8 if you include MESSMAKER). Only 4 cover songs have been included and only 5 live songs have been included. Toad the Wet Sprocket is responsible for inspiring the names of 3 mixes (2011, 2013, and 2021), giving them the most of any band. The Dear Hunter is the only band to have either opened or closed an album more than once. If there are any other metrics that would be fun to keep track of, feel free to send me a suggestion!

As I said in the intro, I’m very proud of how this mix turned out. I think that the music and theme came together well and resulted in an album that I’m going to enjoy listening to for years, even if the events that inspired much of the theme were not enjoyable. I do wish that I could have built this story up to a happy and hopeful ending, but that would be a lie compared to how I’m currently feeling about things. Only time will tell if the story gets better.

There was a TON of great music that I came across this year and unfortunately a lot of it had to be left on the cutting room floor when arranging this mix (I legitimately started with a year-long playlist that included almost 1,000 songs). Because there are several artists and songs that did not make that cut that I felt still deserved to be highlighted, I’ve made an additional bonus playlist. If you are interested in more music and have Spotify, check out the "It Still Feels Bad" playlist. While you’re at it, feel free to check out my “Caught in the Current” – my playlist of new music that I regularly update to keep fresh and… current. Most of the music that ends up on these mixes appears there first. I’m also planning to release new music in 2025, so please keep an eye out for that. My current discography is available on Spotify or any other streaming service.

Thanks again for reading and listening. Cheers!

-KC

Previous Mix Albums: