I’m back!
This countdown has been
pretty difficult to narrow down because of how competitive all of these albums
are for me.
This section was probably the
most challenging to compose because I kept weighing all of my top 50 against
each other so I could create a list I am comfortable with.
I have tinkered and tinkered
and this section is finally complete.
Hope you enjoy!
Note: As always, f you want to view the rest of my list before moving forward, check these out:
We’re almost done!
50. Floating,
Sleep Party People
Release Date: June 02, 2014
Not only is this one of my
favorite album covers of the year, I stumbled upon this album at a time when I
definitely needed some weird and airy music in my life. This album is perfectly
industrial, creepy, beautiful, and accessible—has a Radiohead meets Nine Inch
Nails feel.
Play: “In Another World”
49. De Oro, Jason Feathers
Release Date: August 19, 2014
Justin
Vernon (Bon Iver) produces tracks for Kanye—which means he
needed to create his own rap album. So he did! With the help of
drummer/vocalist, S. Carey, & MC Astronautalis (by way of voice
modulator), he has constructed a weird, endearing, and impressive
effort as the collective Jason Feathers.
Play: “Leave Your Stain”
48. LP1,
FKAtwigs
Release Date: August 06, 2014
THAT VOICE, DOE! Tahliah
Barnett has such an angelic voice and it creates such a unique tension when
juxtaposed with minimalist beats and atmosphere. This album is as beautiful as
it is jarring, which makes for a very special listen.
Play: “Two Weeks”
47. I’ll Be the
Tornado, Dads
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Dads took a bold risk on this
album because they ditched almost every shred of the band they were on the
beloved jam rock, American Radass LP.
Their risk paid off because this follow up has so much depth to it that the
band has completely reinvented itself into a powerful force of rock fusion.
Play: “But”
46. COPE,
Manchester Orchestra
Release Date: April 01, 2014
I wasn’t sure what to expect
from this Manchester release. They are easily one of my top three favorite
bands, so I always have high expectations. This album is their heaviest to
date, and while it never really lets up, we learn why later on this list. COPE is an incredible rock album by the
emerging kings of rock.
Play: “Top Notch”
45. Temple of
Plenty, Somos
Release Date:
Somos is an emo/punk hybrid
act that creates fun, honest, and accessible music. Their debut LP shows a lot
of potential for the direction of this scene, as they emerge as front-runners
for evolving what we thought we knew about emo and punk.
Play: “Distorted Vision”
44. We Held Our
Breath Until Our Hearts Exploded, Beneath the Watchful Eyes
Release Date: March 25, 2014
This is a post rock album for
those who dig the industrial stylings of 65daysofstatic and/or God is an
Astronaut. The drums and beats are chaotic, the riffs are infectious, and the
atmosphere is borderline apocalyptic.
Play: “Blood and Sand”
43. My Favourite
Faded Fantasy, Damien Rice
Release Date: November 10, 2014
Damien Rice finally returned
with a new album this year and yes, it is deliciously morose and somber as
usual. Rice proves he is still one of the most vulnerable writers around.
42. ANTEMASQUE,
Antemasque
Release Date: November 10, 2014
Okay, so the Mars Volta broke
up. I’m okay with that. But I did not expect Omar and Cedric to already jump
back into the game with a new rockin’ group that is nothing like any of their
previous projects. Once the album starts, the jam is on! Flea even plays bass with
this straight-forward experimental rock act.
Play: “I Got No Remorse”
41. Another
Language, This Will Destroy You
Release Date: September 16, 2014
The first two TWDY albums are
two of the greatest examples of instrumental post rock. I felt they fizzled on Tunnel Blanket. Yet, this LP
completely brings the band back into form as they explore go from exploring
noise to exploring uncharted atmospheres.
Play: “Dustism”
40. Wishful
Thinking, Neck Deep
Release Date: January 14, 2014
Britain’s own pop punk rock
masters, Neck Deep, released their first proper LP this year & it was a
massive success. After seeing the band live this year, it was
clear to see how their brand pop punk brings old and young fans together to appreciate
the honesty, the childishness, and fun music this band creates.
Play: “Losing Teeth”
39. Move on,
Makes trails, Lost in the Riots
Release Date: June 30, 2014
Are you a fan of guitar
tapping & upbeat instrumental music? Well, give this album a shot! I put my
2014 instrumental playlist on shuffle for much of 2014 & whenever LITR
came on, I always started their album over. Such catchy riffs &
infectious drums.
Play: "Halcyon Days of Summer"
38. The Physical
World, Death From Above 1979
Release Date: September 09, 2014
These dudes took years off from creating music
together and their first release after the sabbatical has garnered them lots of
attention for this brilliantly constructed rock album. There was apparently no
dust to shake off. Just more classic tunes to create.
Play: “Trainwreck”
37. Sisyphus,
Sisyphus
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Another collaborative album! This is from one of the most talented instrumentalists,
Sufjan Stevens, as well as post rock/hip-hop producer, Son Lux, & rapper,
Serengeti. This is one of the most creative albums I’ve ever heard. It isn’t folk, or hip-hop, or atmosphere—it's a full musical
experience.
Play: “Calm it Down”
36. Oblation,
Floor
Release Date:
Apparently I enjoy sludge and
stoner metal now because I could not stop listening to Oblation in 2014. This
droning metal performance is absolutely impressive. Each track builds onto the
next as Floor crafts a powerful for virtually any metal head.
Play: “Love Comes Crushing”
35. Modern
Noise, Thomas Giles
Release Date: November 25, 2014
The lead singer of Between the
Buried and Me is one talented man. Modern Noise is his third album and contains
a massive array of styles and techniques, demonstrating that Tommy Rogers truly
gets music. While I can’t wait for the next BTBAM album, at least I have this
brilliant release to tide me over.
Play: “Mutilated World”
33. They Don’t
Have to Believe, PUNCH
Release Date:
PUNCH crafted the punk album
of the year. This 20-minute album packs such a—wait for it—PUNCH! This Loma
Prieta side project takes no prisoners en route to being a nonstop thrill-ride
of feminist punk.
34. HOPE,
Manchester Orchestra
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Manchester announced this
secret album OUT OF NOWHERE in August to a rampage of internet buzz. The band
took all of the sounds from COPE and
turned them into chill/acoustic arrangements. This added so much
depth to the concept & inspired me to create my own mash up of the album, which is accessible here.
Play: “Girl Harbor”
32. Guilty of Everything, Nothing
Release Date: March
04, 2014
I initially slept on this album. But after a few drives
across Massachusetts I fell for this brilliant showgazey post-metal album.
Basically, I just keep turning the album up louder and louder.
Play: “Endlessly”
31. Built on
Glass, Chet Faker
Release Date: April 11, 2014
Groovy, sultry, addictive—three
words that sum up this album. I’m not sure that I need to say much more than if
you enjoy fun electronic beats accompanied by soulful vocals, this is an
essential album for you.
Play: “Talk is Cheap”
30. Eschaton,
Waking Aida
Release Date: June 02, 2014
Talk about creating post-rock
instrumental music that is so groovy it feels like each song is an
out-of-body experience. Waking Aida dazzles on this epic instrumental
album full of everything pleasing for post rock fans.
29. From Parts
Unknown, Every Time I Die
Release Date: June 27, 2014
ETID must've realized folks weren’t into Ex-Lives, so they decided to follow it up with
an album that completely kicks ass. From Parts Unknown makes for one epic spastic-hardcore experience. ETID is most
comfortable when pushing the boundaries & this album delivers.
Play: “Decayin’ with the Boys”
28. Early Riser,
Taylor McFerrin
Release Date: June 10, 2014
Easily one of the most chill
albums of the year. Taylor McFerrin’s debut established his production and
arrangement skills as tops in the chill-step game by meshing jazz piano/synth and drums, infectious bass, and atmospheric ambience.
Play: “The Antidote”
27. El Pintor,
Interpol
Release Date: September 08, 2014
I didn’t have the easiest
time with Interpol’s previous self-titled album. However, holy shit! El Pintor
was exactly what I needed from Interpol. They returned to form with their
earlier sound, which gave me all sorts of feels and excitement for the success
of this classic post punk band.
Play: “All the Rage Back Home”
26. Head in the Clouds, Hands in the Dirt, Aviator
Release Date: August 19, 2014
It was great to hear a band release an incredible melodic hardcore album in 2014. I needed this one. It has such an old Thrice feel and certainly stood out to me for its perfect balance of intensity and eloquence.
There you have it!
Only one section left!
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