Basil No! – God’s Little Chariots (Top Albums 2024)

From the moment I first saw Basil No! perform at a backyard gig in La Petite Patrie this summer, I knew I would forever dedicate myself to spreading the gospel of their pop greatness. Their debut album God’s Little Chariots is fun, silly, and earnest, with melodies that linger in my mind like the sticky-sweet taste of a banana-flavored Minions popsicle from Couche-Tard on a hot summer’s eve.

Club bangers “011” and “One Step” combine Y2K synths with hyperpop production in a way that reminds me of what I imagined parties would be like when I was in middle school. I love the basement-rock vibes in “Piece of Cake” and “Wisconsin,” but the cherry on top of this album is “Blue Man Group,” a surprisingly heartfelt track that makes me yearn to join the elite azure association as well.