By Kayla Harper

 

Introduction

First and foremost, I want to say thank you to everyone who followed my page this year and kept up with the content.  I can’t even begin to explain how much it meant to me every time someone messaged saying how much they enjoyed a particular article or post.  I put so much hours into this page and it pays off whenever I hear your sweet and kind words.  That is the reason I continue to put so much work into it, in hopes of it becoming something bigger.  I may not have hit my goal this year, but I was also not the most consistent at times and I think at the end of the day any amount of people reading these articles and supporting my page is insane and I am beyond grateful.

The idea of Off The Record was started a couple years ago before it was Off The Record.  When I was in the journalism program during high school I primarily wrote music related feature stories and editorials, and eventually worked my way up to one of the senior editor positions.  I loved every minute of it and I knew it was something I wanted to continue to do even after high school.  We didn’t start working on developing the brand or website until September 2023.  I was inspired by my Aunt Cera’s blog to finally develop my own and turn this idea into something real.

I officially launched Off The Record on January 1, 2024.  Posting the very first article and starting the Instagram. Since then, it has grown into a small family which continues to grow.  I’ve become friends with frequent readers and supporters, I’ve grown as a writer, learned more about producing engaging content and I’m learning more everyday.  I can’t wait to see where this goes in 2025 and I also look forward to sharing some of my other music-related passions with the world.

 

Similar to the Christmas article, I have compiled a couple different topics into the final article of 2024:  Well, it’s not so much an article as it is an end of year review and wrap-up.

Table Of Contents

1. Off The Record Music Awards Results

2. Top Five Albums Of 2024

4. Happy New Year From Off The Record

 

Off The Record Music Awards Results

In its first year, various genres of music were discussed in various ways on Off The Record, from album reviews and rankings to concert reviews and more!  At the beginning of the month I posted an article detailing the inspirations behind and concept of Off The Record Music Awards.  Essentially, it’s my way of including your feedback in my yearly review.  I believe in constructive criticism to better myself so I appreciate hearing opinions from the people who read my blog on the content they liked the most.

The full list of nominations for the Off The Record Music Awards can be found here. Thank you to everyone who consistently voted, your feedback is greatly appreciated.  The results are listed below:

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2024 Album Of The Year

*Submissions are based on albums released this year (Dec.2023-Nov.2024) from some of my favourite artists that were listened to and posted/requested on the page the most. 

Winner

Taylor Swift: The Tortured Poets Department (54%)

Close Second

Twenty One Pilots: Clancy (31%)

2024 Song Of The Year

*Submissions are based on songs released this year (Dec.2023-Nov.2024) from some of my favourite artists that were listened to and posted/requested on the page the most. 

Winner

Twenty One Pilots “Midwest Indigo” (50%)

Close Second

Gracie Abrams “Let It Happen” (25%)

2024 Concert Tour Of The Year

Winner

Twenty One Pilots: The Clancy World Tour (50%)

Close Second

Sabrina Carpenter: Short n’ Sweet Tour (25%)

2024 Vinyl Collection Addition Of The Year

Winner

Gracie Abrams The Secret Of Us signed LP (38%)

Close Second

Sevendust  Seven of Sevendust Boxset (31%)

2024 Article Of The Year

This past year, you guys loved the album and concert reviews.  You especially loved the album rankings as well as informative pieces such as the differences between CDs and Vinyl and how to beat Ticketmaster!

Thank you to everyone who participated and everyone who read the blog this year!

 Top Five Albums Of 2024

The first article on the page was a list of my top albums of 2023 so it only seemed fitting for the last one to include my top albums of 2024.  2024 was an interesting year for music, especially in the genres I liked.  I saw many artists I loved prior finally get the recognition they deserve for the art they create, I also experienced one of Taylor Swift’s most iconic album releases to date (a double-album drop during her massive tour).  However, I did find that of the albums released this year, it was mostly pop artists I liked that put out new music, so, this list feels quite mainstream and limited compared to what it would usually be.  I also spent a lot of time this year expanding into older music, but this list is only albums released this year (2024).  It’s really hard to rank these albums because a lot of them were really vital to my life this year and things I went through, however, I did my best!

5. Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter | August 23, 2024

After the success of her emails i can’t send hits “Nonsense” and “Feather” along with opening for Swift’s Eras Tour, Carpenter blew up this year when she released the lead single “Espresso” and later her sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet.  I was not a huge fan of Short n’ Sweet after the first listen.  It was lyrically and emotionally underwhelming following emails i can’t send, which was the first record Carpenter released after departing from Hollywood Records meaning she had a much larger role in the songwriting and production of the album, which is what differentiates it from her past work.  However, Short n’ Sweet seemed to lack the emotional depth of emails i can’t send and returned to Carpenter’s upbeat pop style.

When I learned to separate Short n’ Sweet from emails i can’t send I began to enjoy it a lot more for it’s carefree, girly nature.  It was the perfect soundtrack to what was happening in my life at the time it came out, which only led me to resent it a bit when things took a turn for the worst.  Despite this, I think Carpenter’s vocals shine most on Short n’ Sweet compared to any of her other albums.  Additionally, the lyrics contained her clever wit seen on other albums and tracks especially “Nonsense”, but the sexual innuendos almost became tiring after so many and seemed overdone a little.  It’s like the success of the “Nonsense” outros was taken too far; Carpenter is talented beyond sex jokes.

In summation, Short n’ Sweet is an iconic album in Carpenter’s music career, containing many catchy hits that go perfect with any girls night.  It’s definitely an album made for the girls and gays (iyky). Although I liked emails i can’t send more, it’s still one of my favourite releases from Carpenter and showcases her vocal abilities well.

Top Tracks:

1. Espresso
2. Good Graces
3. Don’t Smile

Least Favourite:

• Lie To Girls

4. The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) by Eminem | July 12, 2024

The Death Of Slim Shady might be my favourite album Eminem has released since the early days.  The way the album flows from start to finish and tells the story of Marshall’s battle with his alter ego, Slim Shady (which ultimately represents his struggles with addiction) makes it an engaging and intriguing listen.  The album contains Eminem’s typical clever and witty lyrics, however, amped up by like 100%.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I would not want to be on his bad side because he can write a hell of a diss track.

I’ve always been a big fan of Eminem as I grew up driving back and forth from Calgary to Victoria with his songs (along with others) playing in the car, so, of course I was very excited when he announced The Death Of Slim Shady would be coming out this year.  I was not disappointed when I first listened to the record and have been obsessed with it ever since!

Aside from the album being classic Eminem with catchy beats, clever lyrics and callbacks to past work, he also had some amazing collabs on this record, including Jelly Roll.

The Death Of Slim Shady only builds on Eminem’s catalogue and reputation he’s built for himself.  I love that even in the age of cancel culture, he is not afraid to say what he thinks.  I also thought it was hilarious when a big portion of Gen Z tried to cancel him after this record came out (a record where he actively tries to cancel himself) don’t even try guys, no one can touch Em!

Top Tracks:

1. Guilty Conscience 2
2. Fuel

Lucifer

Least Favourite:

• Brand New Dance

3.  The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology By Taylor Swift | April 19, 2024

Since 2012, Taylor Swift has yet to put out an album I liked more than her fourth, Red…until 2024 when she released her most lyrically and emotional deep album to date, The Tortured Poets Department (I’m actually still not sure which is my number one, but it has definitely threatened Red’s top spot).  Swift‘s trait as a music artist is her lyric writing abilities, she has even said in the past that she is a writer before a musician (Miss Americana Documentary).  The Tortured Poets Department and the second half The Anthology touch on Swift’s lyrical and storytelling abilities the same way albums like Red, folklore, and evermore do.

The album really resonates on a deeper emotional level when you’re a writer yourself who confides in her journal, guitar and poetry and has gone through love, heartbreak and loss/death as well as the emotional and mental consequences of it this year. The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology demonstrates Swift’s lyrical specificity while still being widely relatable better than any of her previous work; which is also one of the most difficult poetic techniques to achieve.

The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology felt like my own diary this year as it correlated so well to things I was going through and really helped me through it.  A common experience as a girl who grew up listening to Swift’s music, or anyone who listens to it really, is realizing you’re not going through anything alone because someone else has been through it and she’s written a soundtrack to your journey with it.

Top Tracks:

1. Loml
2. Guilty As Sin?
3. Chloe Or Sam Or Sophia Or Marcus

Least Favourite:

• I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)

2.  The Secret Of Us By Gracie Abrams | June 21, 2024

As a long-term fan of Gracie Abrams (we’re talking prior to her first EP minor) I couldn’t be more proud of the success she’s achieved this year and the recognition her work is getting.  The Secret Of Us has been a breakthrough album for Abrams earning her a Grammy Nomination and her first No.1.  In addition, she has gained millions of listeners on streaming platforms such as Spotify compared to only one year ago.

The Secret Of Us is an incredible sophomore album as it maintained true to Abrams signature style while clearly demonstrating her growth as an artist.  We finally got “Close To you” on a record after many years of begging her to release it, along with a lot of other incredible songs.  Most of the album saw Abrams collaborating with her frequent producer, Aaron Dessner.  She also had a collaboration with her role model, Taylor Swift on the track “us.”.

Out of all her work, The Secret Of Us, shows the most artistic development of any of Abrams work so far, especially vocally.  I couldn’t get enough of it since it came out this past summer.  I love the way Abrams can write lyrics that tell a story, contain emotional depth, but are also blunt and humorous at the same time.

Top Tracks:

1. Let It Happen
2. Free Now
3. Gave You I, Gave You I

Least Favourite:

• Good Luck, Charlie

1.  Clancy By Twenty One Pilots | May 24, 2024

Finally, my favourite album of 2024, Twenty One Pilots’s Clancy.  Clancy not only became my favourite record of the year, but my favourite Twenty One Pilots album.  I think it perfectly reflects the bands past work, while offering something new.  I love the lead singer, songwriter and producer Tyler Joseph’s ability to write about serious, deep and emotional topics on top of catchy, upbeat songs.  Additionally, he always writes and sings these kinds of songs with a hopeful undertone.  That’s why Twenty One Pilots is one of my favourite bands to listen to when I’m going through emotional and mental turbulence because it allows me to feel my feelings, but also pushes me to be strong and push on through.

Clancy has been my favourite album this year since it came out.  It’s one of those albums where I can’t just listen to one song, but end u listening to the entire album every time.  One song leads to another and before you know it my sister and I are having a dance party.  It was the album that was the biggest crutch for me this year, whenever I listened to it I felt understood, happy and most importantly, that I would get through the things I was going through and be okay.

Top Tracks:

1. Midwest Indigo
2. Next Semester
3. Oldies Station

Least Favourite:

• there simply is not.

 

Every album on this list was on repeat this year and it was fairly difficult to rank them.  They all meant something different to me and touched me on an emotional level. I’m sure I will love and listen to them for years to come.

 

 Happy New Year From Off The Record

I want to end off this article by saying thank you to everyone who’s been following along.  I’ve had an amazing time running this page and watching my dreams come to fruition and have met some amazing people because of it.  I beyond grateful for everyone and look forward to all the ideas I have planned for next year which I can’t wait to share with you!

Starting with our new Tik Tok account Off The Record Music Blog Tik tok.

I want to create more video content this year and continue to grow our Off The Record family.  Go follow it and check it out, I already have some Tik Tok exclusive content posted there!

Again, thank you so much for all of your support and for being a part of Off The Record’s first year.  No matter how far this dream of mine goes, I’ll always remember those who were there when we weren’t even at 100 followers yet, but just a small tight-knit community.

Wishing you all the best in the new year,

 

– Kayla