TOP ALBUMS 2014!
It’s here, it’s here, it’s FINALLY here!
I made this list SUPER short for two reasons: digestibility and sanity. I could literally sit here all damn day and worry about if I left one out, if I ranked an album higher than another mistakenly, etc., etc., etc.
SOOOOO, in order to KICK those possibilities out of the way, I decided ONLY the creme de la creme is allowed on THIS list. (Of course there will be honorable mentions, but that’s beside the point!)
While this year may have sucked for many people in many ways, let’s just say it was a pretty damn decent year for music. Here’s why:
Courtesy of Pitchfork
5: Phantogram – Voices
I gave this album a pretty scathing review back in March, with a rating of BARELY ♦♦¼/5. However, what can I say? It grew on me like old moss. It’s comfortable now, this newer sound. Slick and whatnot. I’m stoked every time I hear them played anywhere! (Even if I still get the notion they may be selling out… a bit…) This is where we get to see good musicians be recognized for being good musicians. It’s not my fault that I couldn’t adapt quick enough to see that this venture is just them experimenting with their sound and image a bit. As if NO artist had ever attempted it before. Silly me. Bravo, Phantogram! Ahead of the curve once more. And in my Top 5.
Courtesy of tomorrowsmodernboxes.com
4: Thom Yorke – Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes
Surprised? I hope not! This incredible 8-track digitally-released album sold over a million copies in its first full week! WHHAAAA?!?!?! Everything we’ve come to expect from good ol’ Thom, and so much more. Can’t. Stop. Playing.
Courtesy of stereogum.com
3: Alt-J -This Is All Yours
These top 3 albums were some of the hardest to rank! Omigoodness. Near flawless, artistic, truly ridiculously top notch production, and this album is simply one of the best of the best of the best of the mothaeffing BEST. Read my review here. Download it. Listen along! And see why it earned ♦♦♦♦¾/5.
Courtesy of ilovestvincent.com
2: St. Vincent – St. Vincent
ALL HAIL THE GODDESS! Shit, if you knew how much I had to hem and haw over who should reign supreme over the whole of 2014, NO DECISION WAS MORE TASKING THAN TO PUT ST. VINCENT IN SECOND PLACE! Indeed, it’s the biggest reason I procrastinated on this. (EFFFF YOUUUU DEADLINES) All I’ve got to say is: this album is still squarely in my rotation, permanently, for the rest of my natural born life. FANTASTIC ALBUM. Review is here.
Courtesy of billboard.com
1: RUN THE JEWELS – RTJ2
∞Cue Fanfare∞ HERE IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like I said, this was the flippin’ single most “I’m-never-gonna-sleep-again” choices I had to make this year. Indecision is a cruel, cruel bitch. BUT, I am proud to say, there should have been no question. I did not give a single album a perfect ♦♦♦♦♦/5, save for this one. NOT. A. ONE. And I am completely justified in having done so. Apparently it’s been named #1 by a number of Best Of lists for 2014, when it was only just released AT THE END OF EFFING OCTOBER. That’s saying something!!! Congrats, Killer Mike and El-P. You’ve more than earned it.
Honorable Mentions:
How could I NOT give a nod to the fabulous artists that put out truly fantastic records this year?
I believe I am one of the only bloggers out there who seems to be impervious to the charms of FKA Twigs‘ album, LP1, as a whole — seeing as I’m of the school of thought that she has an AMAZING artistic potential, her album has been built up somewhat remarkably — but she is certainly one to watch over the next couple of years. That RPatz better not cloud her mind, dammit! I’ll hunt him DOWN!
Arcade Fire (nay, Reflektors) also deserve good mention, despite my love-hate relationship with their creative approach. Solid record, and NO one can deny the impossibility of David Bowie as BACKGROUND on the title track. Beyond words.
I was NOT SO SECRETLY pulling for Damon Albarn to win the Mercury Prize this year for best album out of Britain and Ireland. Didn’t happen. BUT don’t call me bitter! His album is truly stunning, and SO easy on the ears, but his not winning the Mercury simply means that his genius is quiet. Certainly not a bad thing.
And… because my brain is in need of rapid fire after this painstaking decision-making, artists who need VERY little explanation as to why I’d make mention: Glass Animals ♥, TV On The Radio ♠, New Pornographers ♣, aaaaand Mac DeMarco ♦.
Now, people with exceedingly amazing taste, please do yourself and everyone who knows you a HUGE favor, and go get smashed (responsibly) tonight, whilst listening to some of these resplendent tunes. ∇CHEERS!Δ
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