The Ephemeric

Coming in second this year is the sequel to Denis Villeneuve's excellent Dune remake. Epic sci-fi at its finest, brought to life with depth and incredible visuals. Part Two leans more into the character relationships and sets up their arcs as we move into the conclusion of this trilogy. Really, the only reason this isn't top is because it's an incomplete story, more focused on setting up the next film. It is superb filmmaking, however, a must watch for fans of the source material, or sci-fi in general.

4. The Debbie for Variety Show Host of the Year 
Winner: Jon Stewart









Say what you will about 2024, but this was the year that gave us Jon Stewart back on our TV screens. The legendary comedian/TV show host ended his original run on The Daily Show almost a decade ago. During that time he has delved into various creative endeavours, from production to film directing, but none has really landed with the expected impact. His brief stint on Apple showed promise, until he pissed off the wrong investors and got canned. But now he is back where he belongs, part-time at least, and it's refreshing to see his brand of no-holds-barred anti-bullshit once more. Long may it continue.


5. The Debbie for Rising Star of the Year 
Winner: Leo Woodall









You may recognise him from the second season of The White Lotus, Leo Woodall is on the verge of big things. The British actor may have began his career in humble fashion, guest appearances on the likes of Holby City, but these next two years could see him become one of the biggest rising stars in the industry. 2025 will see him take a starring role in the new Bridget Jones film, as well as the lead in the newest Ridley Scott TV series, Prime Target. Add to that some critic-pleasingly prestigious (read: awards-bait) projects such as James Vanderbilt's upcoming Nuremberg, and it really does seem like Woodall is on the precipice. If you didn't know his name until now, you probably will soon.


6. The Debbie for Web-Show of the Year 
Winner: Gaming Historian









The Gaming Historian is not a new content producer. Norman Caruso's ongoing YouTube series has been documenting the history of gaming's greatest icons, consoles, and the major players of the industry, for years. But recent years have increasingly seen transition from YouTube-friendly short-form content into genuinely substantive documentaries. This year's output has included a forty-minute episode on the history of the first videogame cartridge ever created, and an hour-and-a-half film on the development of classic title The Oregon Trail. In a world where content is increasingly ephemeral, borrowed instead of owned, this type of work is absolutely valuable, and the quality of that work is hugely impressive.

Music, Art & Theatre

7. The Debbie for Theatrical Production of the Year 
Winner: Stranger Things: The First Shadow (Phoenix Theatre)

Runner Up: The Hills of California (Harold Pinter Theatre)









Amid the overwhelming availability of high quality theatre in London, my choice for the year's best production may raise a few eyebrows. But those who have seen it will know that it is a worthy winner indeed. Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a prequel to the hit Netflix series, but this stage production stands on its own as more than just a treat for longtime fans. Brought to life by the multi-award winning production team of Stephen Daldry and Jack Thorne, First Shadow has serious stage chops behind it. Thrilling for fans old and new, with innovative stagecraft and live visual effects that have to be seen to be believed, the work they have produced is sublime theatre of the highest quality.

Despite many worthy contenders for second place, this year's next pick goes to Sam Mendes' latest, The Hills of California. Penned by highly acclaimed scribe Jez Butterworth, The Hills of California is a compelling family drama that oscillates between the 1950s and 1970s in Blackpool, England. The narrative centers on the Webb sisters, whose mother, Veronica, portrayed by Laura Donnelly, is resolute in molding them into a musical act akin to the Andrews Sisters. The play delves into themes of ambition, familial bonds, and the repercussions of a domineering matriarch, with an unforgettable stinger that won't soon be forgotten.


8. The Debbie for Album of the Year 
Winner: Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
Runners Up: Gangbusters Melody Club - Caravan Palace, Mahashmashana - Father John Misty









It would be easy for a commercially successful and widely known band like Vampire Weekend to just turn out another indie rock album, net a few chart hits and call it a day. But part of the band's appeal has always been their willingness to experiment, to blend radio-friendly musicianship with more avant garde compositions and make something with their own unmistakable mark of identity. Only God Was Above Us marks a culmination of their career to date, thematically hearkening back to their New York roots in a way that blends nostalgia and social commentary with more innovative genre mashups that draw on everything from the baroque stylings of Classical to the chamber pop of Pravda, and even more electronic drum and bass influences. The result is an album that manages to defy easy classification, while still providing an array of memorable tunes. 

First runner up place goes to electro-swing giants Caravan Palace, whose latest album, Gangbusters Melody Club. Since their emergence in the late 2000s, the Parisian group has become the great mainstream success story of the genre, combining their jazz and swing influences with a modern club-infused style that manages to feel both fresh and retro at the same time. If their other recent albums had been trending into more pop-focused areas, this latest work comes back to jazz in a big way, and the result is a silky smooth production that runs the gamut from MAD's big band swing, to the infectiously upbeat Raccoons. I defy anyone to listen to Mirrors without dancing a little.

And in third place, a return to form for Father John Misty. Another artist who's not afraid to mix things up a bit, his last album saw a detour into big-band style swing. New album Mahashmashana marks a return to his indie rock roots, best typified by title track Mahashmashana, as well as the deliciously gritty rock number She Cleans Up. But there's evolution here too, and the highlight of the album is undoubtedly the 8 minute odyssey that blends all of Father John's various influences, rock, disco, jazz, I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All.


9. The Debbie for Debut Album of the Year 
Winner: The Mess We Seem to Make - Crawlers
Runner Up: The Future is Our Way Out - Brigitte Calls Me Baby









The prize for best debut album is always a tricky one, not least because of artists' increasingly unorthodox models for content delivery. Nowadays artists often have several EPs and singles out before anything that can be considered a true LP, sometimes even years earlier. This is the case with Crawlers, a band that has been kicking around in this blog's previews for a while now, but who finally released a full debut LP in 2024, The Mess We Seem to Make. It did not disappoint, receiving critical acclaim for its vibrancy and modern grunge influences. Lead single Come Over Again is still a great track, even though it actually released some three years ago, Messiah another winning number. This band has a lot of promise. 

A number of close contenders for runner up, but ultimately I went for The Future is Our Way Out, the debut album from Chicago-based pop-rock band Brigitte Calls Me Baby. A highly polished debut that seamlessly blends a myriad of influences, sometimes to a fault. This debut drips with solid gold nostalgia, from the mid-century rock-infused bop of Impressively Average, to more Roy Orbison-flavoured crooning with Eddie My Love. It's all delicious, but it relies heavily on that nostalgia. It will be interesting to see how this band moves forward and finds its own distinct identity.

10. The Debbie for Song of the Year 
Winner: Happy - Linn Koch Emery
Runners Up: I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All - Father John Misty, Raccoons - Caravan Palace









This is always a ridiculous category to pick. So many great songs this year, and other than in exceptional cases how do you pick just one above the rest? Never mind that this decision may change from one moment to the next depending on mood. At some point you just need to make a call, and this year that call sees the Debbie awarded to exciting Swedish singer-songwriter Linn Koch-Emery and her mesmerising Happy. A compelling piece of power pop, with grungy hooks, ethereal vocals and yearning lyrics. It's an excellent track from an artist with huge potential.

Next up is the 8-minute piece de resistance, I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All from Father John Misty's latest album. This song is just plain badass. Part funk-rock, part disco, densely instrumental with brass-band backing, and lyrics that go hard. Father John at his snarling best.

Finally, third place, because i'm too indecisive to just pick two things, goes to Raccoons from Caravan Palace's latest album. In an album full of memorable tracks, Raccoons ended up getting the most listening time from me this year. Just an infectiously catchy, euphoric bop of a track. A party song if ever there was one.

11. The Debbie for Live Concert of the Year 
Winner: Snow Patrol









I'll admit, I might be a bit biased towards concerts which also accompany a kickass food festival with such pristine, feel-good vibes. But circumstances aside, this was one heck of a show. Snow Patrol are seasoned performers with an underrated discography over the past thirty years, and they know how to play to a crowd. Gary Lightbody is effortlessly charismatic on stage, and he still has the pipes and gravitas for the big hits. It's also hard not to admire a musician who is game for belting out his power ballads while wind and rain buffets against him in dramatic fashion. Quite the visual, top marks for commitment.

12. The Debbie for Exhibition of the Year 
Winner: Kolonial - Landesmuseum Zurich









If you're wondering why the Swiss cultural museum is running an exhibition on colonialism, you're not the only one. After all, Switzerland is not exactly known for its colonial empire. This groundbreaking exhibition explores some of the less commonly understood ways through which people all over the world contributed to the crimes and injustices of the era, primarily through financing, mercenary work and political lobbying, and in particular the role that Switzerland as a nation played in this. It's a fresh and essential perspective of the global mechanics behind some of the worst excesses in post-industrial history, handled with extreme deftness and sensitivity. A remarkable exhibition, expertly curated. 

13. The Debbie for Book of the Year 
Winner: James - Percival Everett










Business & Technology

14. The Debbie for Scientific/Technological Breakthrough of the Year 
Winner: Casgevy, the first CRISPR Therapy