Release Radar: November 2024

At the end of each month, Afterglow presents a staff-picked list of new albums and singles that left a lasting impression on our ears. 

Written by Afterglow Staffers

Images courtesy of Bandcamp, Carsen Gray, and Apple Music

Here are our favorite albums and singles released during November 2024. For more reviews of recent releases, check out our album review page!

Shiny Singles We Loved This Month:

“this is my california” by Mary In The Junkyard

Swooning guitar chords and delicately impassioned vocals make Mary In The Junkyard’s latest single, “this is my california,” especially captivating. Creating an evocative soundscape, the British indie-rock trio brings the listener into a tonally soothing place in which to revel. With a spine-tingling, ethereal delivery, the song captures a sense of change and renewal: “And it calls again / Something lifting you out / Of the place that you’re in.” — Sebastien Frank

“Christmas Time is Coming” by Rhonda Head

Rhonda Head, a mezzo-soprano singer from Opaskwayak Cree Nation, ventures into the realm of holiday music with her latest single, "Christmas Time is Coming." The festive cut starts with a drum fill that bursts into a cheeky instrumental sequence, filled with bells and acoustic guitar strings. This track truly stands as a paradigm for holiday music: A sonic backdrop for times of relaxation, celebration, and cheer. — Zachary Bolash 

“Heart of Gold” by Shawn Mendes

The fourth single from his new album, Shawn, “Heart of Gold” pairs Mendes’s soft vocals with a gentle acoustic melody. Mendes’s contemplation of loss and friendship underscores the track, which pays homage to a close friend who passed away from a drug overdose.  — Mariana Martinez

“Forever - Julie’s Version” by Hovvdy

Indie-folk pair Hovvdy released a stripped-back, acoustic version of its song “Forever” on Nov. 22. Carried by a single acoustic guitar, raw vocals and simple harmonies characterize the track. The love song is only sweeter than the original with the new bare-boned and gritty production. — Claire Hookstra

Glowing Albums & EPs We Loved This Month:

The Good Kind by Our Girl

Image courtesy of Bella Union

Our Girl’s self-produced sophomore record, The Good Kind, retains the band’s signature warm, comforting sound. Having released its last studio album in 2018, the band had much room to grow and create more unique work for its follow-up project. Throughout the album, the trio’s work feels textured and unpredictable, with each track distinct from the rest. The opening track, “It’ll Be Fine,” sets the tone with its reassuring lyrics and steady guitar riffs. “I will do my best again / To help you feel well,” croons the lead singer Soph Nathans. The title track, “The Good Kind,” showcases Nathan’s ethereal vocals, encapsulated by Lauren Wilson and Joshua Tyler’s dreamy soundscape of steady percussion and somber guitar.A more haunting interlude, “Unlike Anything,” houses a contorted electric guitar with a buoyingbass. The Good Kind concludes with the solemn “Absences.” “I was scared for many years/ Scared of my absences,” Nathan harmonizes over the eerie piano notes that create the soundscape of the track. “Absences,” brings the ideas of unsteadiness and longing found throughout the work together beautifully. The intimate album showcases rich percussion and luring hooks, drawing the listener in with every unexpected beat. — Claire Hookstra

Support Our Girl on Spotify and Apple Music

Aurelia by dreary

Image courtesy of Sonic Cathedral

Dreary’s latest EP, Aurelia, takes listeners on a peaceful yet emotional journey. Known for its hazy sound, the dream-pop duo blends soft melodies with introspective lyrics on love, loss, and self-discovery. The album feels intimate, almost like a personal diary entry, while creating a sense of possibility. Each song brims with lush, gentle sonics, combining smooth vocals with  enticing guitars  that are easy to get lost in. deary’s subtle-yet-detailed production unravels layers of vocals with each listen. The music feels both comforting and thought-provoking, encouraging reflection and emotional connection. Overall, Aurelia is a beautiful, soothing album that draws listeners in to enjoy the peaceful, dreamlike sound that deary has perfected over the years with other EPs like Fairground and Beauty in All Blue Satin. — Mariana Martinez

Support deary on Spotify and Apple Music 

Physical Surveillance by Jagged Baptist Club

Image courtesy of Nice Swan Records

On the bold and ambitious Physical Surveillance, Jagged Baptist Club shakes things up by staking its claim in the indie-rock landscape. Raw, no-frills rock instrumentation collides with pulsing electronics as the quartet’s third album pushes dance punk into grittier territory. Physical Surveillance kicks off with the explosive “Hot Brains” and charges forward with “You Are A Dog,” a chanting, tongue-in-cheek anthem (“I want ya / It’s California”) that captures the band’s sense of humor and drive to stand out. The playful nature of the band’s lyrics also takes on a confrontational edge in the track “Blow Dry Nation,” where the line “A Hallelujah in a 666” highlights their often provocative and deliberately absurd lyricism. On the more spacious tracks “Slid Out in the Sunroom” and “Blue Fields,” the record slows its frenetic energy, creating a dynamic ebb and flow while keeping its restless edge. Working with veteran producer Alex Newport, Jagged Baptist Club has crafted a sound that’s sharp, unpredictable, and full of conviction — making for an album that’s an exciting and boundary-pushing statement. — Sebastien Frank'

Support Jagged Baptist Club on Spotify and Apple Music

Praise Sah’Laana by Carsen Gray

Image courtesy of Carsen Gray 

Carsen Gray, a Haida songstress of mixed descent, grounds Praise Sah’Laana in Indigenous identity. Her latest release claims space for Indigeneity in pop, folk, and soul, as Gray incorporates her native Haida language into gospel classics.  Across eight tracks, the songstress explores faith and personhood while appealing to a higher power. In “Amazing Grace,” Gray reprises the classic hymn in her native tongue, Haida. Lyrics slip seamlessly together, accentuated by Gray’s melodic timbre. In the song’s final verse, Gray quickly pivots back to English, heart-wrenchingly delivering the lines “I once was lost / But now I’m found.” “Amazing Grace” explores a liturgical sound, creating an emotional hymn that weaves from English to Gray’s native tongue. The lyrics repeat, establishing meditative praise for Gray’s god and a touching tribute to her faith, or as she states in English and Haida, “Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost / Gung.Ga hla Kinsalang, gidGa.” Praise Sah’Laana represents the triumph of both sound and artist: Gray positions herself as authentically Indigenous while brandishing her musical prowess. — Zachary Bolash

Support Carsen Gray on Spotify and Apple Music