Alright, alright!
Welcome back to my 2014 music review!
Note: If you want to view the rest of my list before moving forward, check these out:
As I continue to count down my choices for top albums, I
must remind you that this was a challenging year to narrow down albums. There
was so much great music that I struggled to even come up with a comfortable
order that I was satisfied with—as recognized by the fact that I was tinkering
with my order of this particular section for well over an hour before I started
writing the reviews.
And then I tinkered some more.
But tinkering is over! Here are albums 75-51!
Enjoy.
75. Post Tropical, James Vincent McMorrow
Release Date: January
10, 2014
James Vincent McMorrow is a man with a voice that won’t
quit. His register is on full display throughout this entire album wrought with
upbeat indie pop sensibilities.
Play: “Red Dust”
74. †††, ††† (Crosses)
Release Date: February
11, 2014
Chino Moreno is a talented man. I have been a Deftones fan
for years, and I have indulged in his others side projects, Palms and Team
Sleep. His latest project, the alternative rock outlet, Crosses, is an
impressive piece of genre experimentation. “This is a Trick” was one of my
favorite tracks of the year.
Play: “Bitches Brew”
73. Oxymoron, Schoolboy Q
Release Date: February
25, 2014
Schoolboy Q couples unreal flow with infectious beats—this is
a dangerous combination. Oxymoron was
one of the strongest hip hop albums of the year. Features by Tyler, the Creator
and Kendrick Lamar are highlights of the album.
Play: “Collard Greens”
72. Kiasmos, Kiasmos
Release Date: October
27, 2014
Ólafur Arnalds’ 2013 release was my #3 album because of his
uncanny ability to compose brilliant neoclassical arrangements. He returned
this year with best friend, Janus Rasmussen, to create a dynamic electronically
atmospheric album.
Play: “Looped”
71. Amor ad Nauseum, Aan
Release Date: February
04, 2014
The first LP release from this Portland, Oregon funky indie
outlet certainly dominated my ears this year. The songs are equals parts
groovy, eccentric, and atmospheric. This unique experimental sound is
quintessential Portland music right now.
Play: “I Don’t Need Love”
70. NehruvianDOOM, Nehruviandoom
Release Date: October
07, 2014
I never thought I would have a morning hip-hop album. MF
Doom and Bishop Nehru collaborated to create a methodical, comfortable, and accessible
album that stretches the boundaries of contemporary hip-hop.
Play: “Great Things”
69. La Gárgola, Chevelle
Release Date: April
01, 2014
I’ve been a Chevelle fan ever since their first LP, Point #1. I’ve been along for the entire
ride and I have yet to be disappointed. The band might be the most mainstream
act on my list, but they consistently create tunes that challenge their
audience and radio play. I admire their dedication to the evolution of sound.
Play: “Ouija Board”
68. Tracts, Equals
Release Date: April
22, 2014
I appreciate the way Equals presents post rock instrumental tunes
because there is a little something for all listeners. They create fun, thought-provoking,
and intricate music that begs me to wonder how they haven’t completely taken
over the scene.
Play: “Glistener”
67. Live from Chicago, Hannibal Burress
Release Date: March
29, 2014
Yes, I’m including a comedy album on this list because last
year I missed out when I didn’t list Mike Birbiglia’s My Girlfriend’s
Boyfriend. So, if you haven’t listened to Hannibal Burress’ stand up yet—get to
it right now! His jokes are better than your tits. Also, Money. Over.
Everything.
Play: Betting on Basketball
66. Range of Light, S. Carey
Release Date: April
01, 2014
I finally got to see Sean Carey live this year—I mean, I saw
him drum for Bon Iver, but finally got to experience his beautiful music firsthand.
This album is one of the most peaceful albums you will hear. If you have had a
stressful day, come home and put this album on—it’s a common occurrence for me
at least.
Play: “Crown the Pines”
65. Black Messiah, D’Angelo & the
Vanguard
Release Date: December
15, 2014
D’Angelo surprised the world this year by dropping his first
new album in 14 years. The album is an Avant garde mix of hip-hop laced with
jazz, funk, and gospel tendencies. D’Angelo is raw and politically charged
throughout, making this a vulnerable and important album right now.
Play: “Betray My Heart”
64. Muse, Polyphia
Release Date: September
02, 2014
Some guitar virtuoso music is always great for the soul.
After their popular EP gained them some attention in the metal scene, these men
took to assembling an LP that would blow people away and they did not
disappoint. This album is fun, quirky, and damned impressive.
Play: "Champagne”
63. Islands, Bear’s Dean
Release Date: October
20, 2014
This is one of the strongest folk albums of the year. Lots
of incredible storytelling and atmospheric instrumentation, coupled with some damn-fine
vocals. They recently supported Mumford & Sons on tour, so get ready to
experience this band blowing up in the future.
62. A Place of Our Own, Have Mercy
Release Date: October
27, 2014
If you wanna talk about a band that gives its fans some
feels, look no further than Have Mercy. I saw them twice this year and each
time I witnessed fans having religious experiences in the crowd. This band combines
a sound similar to Brand New with the heart of Into It. Over It. This is a
solid follow up to their debut LP last year.
Play: “Howl”
61. Struggle Pretty, Penny and Sparrow
Release Date:
These two men have unreal voices. I know everyone was up in
arms about Hozier this year—I was not—because these two men and their brand of
emotional folk tunes take the cake for me. This album came up during my break
up earlier in the year and gave me lots of feels.
Play: “The Literal Heart”
60. Rose Ave., You + Me
Release Date: October
14, 2014
This year I learned that Dallas Green (City &
Colour/Alexisonfire) is great friend with none other than P!nk. This surprised
me a lot. But what surprised me more was that they collaborated on a beautiful
album that allows both vocalists to shine and tell some incredible stories.
Play: “Break the Cycle”
59. Dream in Tongues, Arms of Tripoli
Release Date: February
21, 2014
There were so many incredible post rock instrumental albums
this year. I could’ve made a top 100 list of just THOSE acts. Yet, Arms of
Tripoli stood out to me because of their ability to construct a sonically
cohesive experience throughout their entire album.
Play: “Scraping Skies”
58. 2014 Forest Hills Drive, J. Cole
Release Date: December
09, 2014
I wasn’t too keen on J. Cole’s 2013 album, but he brought a
different approach to his late 2014
release. Cole calls out everyone in the hip hop game while spitting fire all
over addicting chillstep beats.
Play: “Fire Squad”
57. Here and Nowhere Else, Cloud Nothings
Release Date: April
01, 2014
Art punk continues to evolve as Cloud Nothings present its
own manifestation of genre-bending experimentation. It is a strangely
accessible release that hits on all of the punk standards while paving its own
path. This album will be a genre classic.
Play: “Giving Into Seeing”
56. Tremors, SOHN
Release Date: April
08, 2014
This album stuck with me all year. I came back to it
whenever I needed a quick indie hip-hop fix. Tremors is such a smooth and groovy debut album—each listen is so
rewarding thanks to the attention to detail of this meticulous British
songwriter.
Play: “Artifice”
55. Phenomena, Within the Ruins
Release Date: July 22,
2014
With such oversaturation of today’s metal scene making eerily
similar tunes, it is nice to hear a band making an effort to evolve the genre
into new terrain. Within the Ruins is a band that continuously does this with
each release.
Play: “Eternal Shore”
54. Saudade, I/O
Release Date: February
14, 2014
Berklee College of Music has a track record of churning out
incredible bands. This instrumental post rock band captured my attention after
a feature on Arctic Drones and they quickly became the soundtrack to my summer
in Baltimore. I’ve since seen them live in their home city of Boston and cannot
get enough of their dynamic sound.
Play: “Warship”
53. The Next Four Years, United Nations
Release Date: July 15,
2014
This is one of the most brutal hardcore albums I’ve heard in
years. Geoff Rickley and company have completely reinvented not only hardcore
but the boundaries of post-hardcore with their willingness to vary time
signatures and atmosphere. The social justice messages in this album are empowering
and dominant.
Play: “F#A#$”
52. Lost in the Dream, War on Drugs
Release Date: March
18, 2014
Adam Granduciel has been tinkering and tinkering and with
this new album as War on Drugs, he has found the perfect combination of rock
experimentation. Lost in the Dream is
purely a dreamy and spacious rock album that provides something new on each
listen.
Play: “Disappearing”
51. St. Vincent, St. Vincent
Release Date: February
24, 2014
Oh man, Annie Clark is just incredible. Not only did she
stand in for Kurt Cobain during a performance with Nirvana this year, she also
released a fearless self-titled album that is another classic album that rocks
and grooves like her previous works, while showing her willingness to evolve.
Play: “Digital Witness”
Well, there was the third section of my 2014 music review!
There are only TWO SECTIONS LEFT!
So make sure your stay tuned as the field gets narrowed down
even further in the next section of the music. I am eager to write about the
top 50 albums of 2014 because there are some incredible tunes to share with you
all!
In the meantime, catch up with the previous posts if you need to do so:
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