Every day this week, critics from The Saturday Paper and beyond are bringing you their top picks of the year. 

2024 was a blockbuster year in music: Beyonce went country, Taylor Swift went everywhere, and we all went Brat. 

Today, with The Saturday Paper’s music critic Shaad D’Souza, we’re exploring the albums that defined the year. 

That includes Charli XCX of course, but also a surprising new album from Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and a tender exploration of modern masculinity by MJ Lenderman. 




Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram

Guest:The Saturday Paper’s music critic Shaad D’Souza

Every day this week, critics from The Saturday Paper and beyond are bringing you their top picks of the year. 2024 was a blockbuster year in music: Beyonce went country, Taylor Swift went everywhere, and we all went Brat. Today, with The Saturday Paper’s music critic Shaad D’Souza, we’re exploring the albums that defined the year. That includes Charli XCX of course, but also a surprising new album from Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and a tender exploration of modern masculinity by MJ Lenderman.  Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/7ampodcast">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>Guest: The Saturday Paper’s music critic Shaad D’Souza

An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country&rsquo;s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

The best music of 2024

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/a9f12d6e-ce8c-415b-a201-b25e018511cf/transcript

It’s been a huge year for video games. Small developers are leading a renaissance of original ideas breaking through into the mainstream. They are going up against blockbuster franchises like Call of Duty – and winning.

The 7am team debated adding “games” to our ‘best of’ features this year – but the numbers don’t lie. More than four out of five Australians game and the industry is at least three times the size of the film industry.

Games can be so many things: high art, pop art – and pure dopamine. Sometimes all at once.

Today, video games critic and tech journalist at the ABC, Rad Yeo, on her top five favourite games of the year.


If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.


Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Video games critic and tech journalist at the ABC, Rad Yeo

It&rsquo;s been a huge year for video games. Small developers are leading a renaissance of original ideas breaking through into the mainstream. They are going up against blockbuster franchises like Call of Duty &ndash; and winning.
The 7am team debated adding &ldquo;games&rdquo; to our &lsquo;best of&rsquo; features this year &ndash; but the numbers don&rsquo;t lie. More than four out of five Australians game and the industry is at least three times the size of the film industry.
Games can be so many things: high art, pop art &ndash; and pure dopamine. Sometimes all at once.
Today, video games critic and tech journalist at the ABC, Rad Yeo, on her top five favourite games of the year. If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support. Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Video games critic and tech journalist at the ABC, Rad Yeo

The best games of 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/0a05c011-fba3-49d7-84f5-b3a00185f2e9/transcript

Kate Jinx watches hundreds of films every year – for her job programming feature films at the Melbourne International Film Festival, and, because she loves them.

Today, she’s bringing you her five favourites from 2025.

There’s Leonardo Dicaprio, of course. There’s also heists, collaborative theatre as film, PTSD but funny, and, there’s porridge.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Programmer of feature films at the Melbourne International Film Festival, Kate Jinx 

Photo: Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP

Kate Jinx watches hundreds of films every year &ndash; for her job programming feature films at the Melbourne International Film Festival, and, because she loves them.
Today, she&rsquo;s bringing you her five favourites from 2025.
There&rsquo;s Leonardo Dicaprio, of course. There&rsquo;s also heists, collaborative theatre as film, PTSD but funny, and, there&rsquo;s porridge.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy&nbsp;7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Programmer of feature films at the Melbourne International Film Festival, Kate Jinx&nbsp;
Photo:&nbsp;Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP

The best films of 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/1a3f868d-e8b0-4092-a1c0-b3a00180f517/transcript

It’s been a heavy year in many ways. And when you work in news, there’s no shying away from that. But music can be a respite – something to help process the heaviness, and something that brings escape and joy.

When we asked Head of Music at SXSW, Claire Collins, to pick her favourite albums of the year, both the heaviness and the joy were reflected back at us. She’s picked five albums for you to blast this summer, as you prepare for the year ahead.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Claire Collins, head of music at SXSW

Photo: Ian West/PA Wire

It&rsquo;s been a heavy year in many ways. And when you work in news, there&rsquo;s no shying away from that. But music can be a respite &ndash; something to help process the heaviness, and something that brings escape and joy.
When we asked Head of Music at SXSW, Claire Collins, to pick her favourite albums of the year, both the heaviness and the joy were reflected back at us. She&rsquo;s picked five albums for you to blast this summer, as you prepare for the year ahead.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Claire Collins, head of music at SXSW
Photo:&nbsp;Ian West/PA Wire

The best music of 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/16313834-feec-49f4-9cd2-b3a9002e67bd/transcript

The best music of 2024

In 1 playlist(s)

7am

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips