BEST OF 2024 Artist Picks: Book/Spirit
To celebrate the end of 2024 and recognize some of the best work of the year, we partnered up with a few of our favorite artists. This time, we link up with Pete Ferrari of Brooklyn indie rockers Book/Spirit, who shared on behalf of the band. Book/Spirit released their debut album Easements this year.
For this list, I decided to keep it to a mix LPs and EPs from New York City-based artists. There are lot of other great locals that put out terrific singles that could be a whole other list of its own. - Pete Ferrari
Wild Pink - Dulling the Horns
Definitely not a local artist, but an NYC-based one no less. I saw Wild Pink open for The Hold Steady down in Washington, D.C. this summer and was blown away. I've been hooked ever since and even attended a couple of in-store events at Fire Talk Records shop for the album release. Really great album and definitely a lot more rockin' than their previous efforts!
Short Porch - The Best Of Short Porch, Vol 1
I read about Short Porch in Bands Do BK's SETLIST newsletter and was intrigued because they had a song called "Miami", which is the same as one of our song titles. Since then, we've played a couple of shows with Short Porch and their song "Frank" was my most played song on Spotify this year. Really great band, and I'm excited to see what they come up with next.
Been Stellar - Screaming From New York, NY
These guys really took off this year after opening for Interpol last December, and I feel like they're about to blow-up even more. I love how New York City is so prominently featured on the record, almost like a character. The whole record sounds fresh and new, but with familiar influences and origins. Hoping I can catch them at Bowery Ballroom next month.
Starcleaner Reunion - Café Life
I saw Starcleaner Reunion at Baby's All Right for Oh My Rockness's Hardest Working Bands of 2023 show at the start of January and really dug their set. "The Hand That I Put Down" was definitely one of my favorite songs of the year. I love the vocal melody, and then it goes into this super long, epic bridge before it goes back into the vocal part again. I feel like 2025 is going to be huge for them.
Uncle Skunk - II
I listened to "Old Violence" by Uncle Skunk and decided I had to see them live. When I saw that Uncle Skunk also had three guitarists like we do, I knew I was going to love them. Plus, distorted acoustic guitars rule. Really solid songwriting at its core and super creative arrangements, sounds, and textures. We're definitely playing together in 2025.
Listen to Book/Spirit’s debut album Easements below or wherever you stream music. Follow the band on Instagram.