Tuesday, January 6, 2015

2014 Music Review, Part 01: Top EPs and Honorable Mentions!


Welcome to a new year of blog posts!
I like to spend January recounting the top music of the previous year.
So I will dedicate my next FIVE posts to this very cause.

This year I listened to well over 650 albums in pursuit of becoming more informed about what music is being made today! I'm not a big fan of radio/popular tunes, but I give them a try in comparison to the other music that takes some digging to unearth!

I am starting with my favorite EPs of the year.
EPs are shorter music releases that are often between 3-7 tracks and/or less than 25 minutes in length. They often must be characterized as such when released by the band or label due to contract obligations. For those unsigned, these releases are often used as a debut or sophomore release to explore the development of a sound.

That being said, I find that EPs follow a different structure when released, compared to a full length LP. This is why I judge them separately.

I hope you find something that interests you!

NOTE: Each album has a suggested track to listen to, of which you can click to open up Spotify, YouTube, or bandcamp, depending on the accessibility of the track.

Here we go! 


20. While I Stay Secluded, Knuckle Puck
Release Date: October 28, 2014

2014 was the year I revisited the pop punk scene to realize that I was way behind and that many new players have taken over the scene. This EP from Knuckle Puck is a solid portrayal that pop punk is not dead.




19. Broods, Broods
Release Date: January 31, 2014

I latched onto this EP when it was released because it is an infectious poppy demonstration that is great for spring/summer listening. However, I was disappointed by the full length release.





18. EP II, Alice Boman
Release Date:

Yes, Alice Boman appears on my top EPs list again this year! She returns with slow-burning and methodical songs that feel like sketches, with piano arrangements accompanied by her quaint vocals and subtle storytelling.
Play: "What"




17. Nothing Here For Us, Cult Leader
Release Date: April 15, 2014

This is an absolutely punishing EP. These Ex-Gaza members create an extraordinary hardcore/metal experience. If you’ve slept on this release, wake up!





16. Woohoo!, CHON
Release Date: March 04, 2014

Chon gave us another EP this year and it was pretty damn good. These instrumdjentalists create some powerful pieces that keep guitar enthusiasts on their toes.
Play: “Knot”





15. Chapajuby, Their Dogs were Astronauts
Release Date: August 23, 2014

Guitar virtuosos are apparently hard to come by in Austria—yet, these brothers have crafted a beautiful prog post-djent (Yes, POST-DJENT) album that speaks volumes without uttering a single word.





14. Resist, Hundredth
Release Date:

After seeing Hundredth live this year, I was convinced they are a group that has many elements that could make them huge in the post hardcore scene. This quick EP is merely an extension of what the band is capable of—as it serves as a companion to their heavier effort on the Revolt EP.



13. Belong ≠ Betray, Devil Sold His Soul
Release Date: November 17, 2014

Some damn fine post hardcore tunes that sort of came out of nowhere for me. I have since gone through some older tunes, and despite some changing within the band, their sound doesn’t suffer.





12. Ocean Death, Baths
Release Date: May 06, 2014

Baths followed up its 2013 release, Obsidian, with this brilliantly dark electronic display of heartbreak and yearning. This was released in the mid-Spring, but it feels more suited for winter listening.
Play: “Yawn”




11. And Then The Moon, NTNT
Release Date: January 23, 2014

I’ve been following Dustin Brown since he hit me in the head with a guitar during our junior year of high school—the man is a musical force to be reckoned with. His latest group, NTNT, has gained a lot of attention for this dance-filled indie-rock explosion of fun.



10. Clear, Periphery
Release Date: January 28, 2014

This release wasn’t necessarily an EP or an LP. It sort if just is what it is. It’s a seven song powerhouse of one of today’s best metal bands creating dazzling tunes. Each member of the band wrote a song for this release, which gives it a unique feel. Cannot wait for the Juggernaut: Alpha/Omega in a few weeks!


09. Infinity(zero), symmetry/symmetry
Release Date: December 19, 2014

Hailing from Salem, Oregon, these experimental genre-bending dudes have been melting my brain with tunes for many years. They return with a follow-up to their debut LP, Have Cake, with this brutally honest and expansively vast array of exploration akin to Radiohead meets Sigur Rós.


08. Ultramantis Black, Ultramantis Black
Release Date: July 08, 2014

Do you think you’re hardcore? Well, are you a straight-edge vegan masked professional wrestler that fronts a hardcore band? No? Well…time to educate yourself. Note: This vinyl release has one of the most intricate etchings ever.



07. Dragon Mouth, Dust Moth
Release Date: April 22, 2014

Here is another Pacific Northwest band that has given me a lot of feels this year. This band has a perfect blend of O’Brother’s sludgy tone mixed with older 30 Seconds to Mars experimentation, and a female vocalist that gives this release a very unique sound. Sounds weird? No. Sounds incredible!


06. Meridian, The Helix Nebula
Release Date: August 29, 2014

Instrumental djent and/or metal take over much of the time I spend walking around during the day. Helix Nebula makes me feel invincible when I listen to this debut EP. Plini  guests on this release because obviously. Give it a listen!



05. Side 02, Caleb Hawley
Release Date: November 18, 2014

If you enjoy soulful, Mo-Town rock with a groovy/jazzy feel—this is EP is perfect for you. I met Caleb a few years back in Wisconsin and knew he was an incredible dude. Having just penned a recording deal with BMG, he is set to take over the radio airwaves.



04. Wild and Waste, How the West Was Won
Release Date: April 11, 2014

This hardcore metal outfit out of Corvallis, Oregon absolutely dominates on this sophomore EP. The future is bright for these dudes.




03. Kauai, Childish Gambino
Release Date: October 03, 2014

It took me a while to enjoy Because the internet. However, Donald Glover came out of nowhere with this incredible new EP that further cemented his talents as a hip hop artist. NOTE: This release was a multi-collaborative dual LP/EP mix-tape release—yet, I chose Gambino’s EP as the shining demonstration.

02. Little Histories, Cloudkicker
Release Date: December 01, 2014

So, Cloudkicker finally got to do a live tour and it took the scene by storm. Alongside Intronaut, Ben Sharp was able to assemble his one-man-show into a full-fledged, powerful instrumental force. This new EP only furthers the impressive collection that Sharp has amassed to this point.

01. Between Bodies, The World Is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die
Release Date: October 07, 2014

The band with the longest name in music today teamed up with slam poet, Chris Zizzamia to create a whole new vision for this group at the forefront of the emo revival movement. Zizzamia brings in an added energy to the band, as well as a sharp-tongued approach to social justice and living a pleasant life. I consistently came back to this EP whenever I needed to remember why I love slam poetry enmeshed with dazzling musical accompaniment—I’m a sucker for it.



Honorable Mention ALBUMS of 2014 (In Alphabetical Order by artist):
“Lowborn,”Anberlin
“Principio de Incertidumbre,” Audiolepsia
“Yamadori,” Bear the Mammoth
“Phantom,” Betraying the Martyrs
 “Versus,” Emarosa
“Beneath the Brine,” The Family Crest
“Lions,” William Fitzsimmons
“In Roses,” Gem Club
“Life Lessons,” Handguns
“Moiety,” Helios
“Wolverines,” I Am the Avalanche
 “Life Reaper,” I the Breather
“Never Hungover Again,” Joyce Manor
“Evolve,” Jackiem Joyner
“Little Machines,” LIGHTS
“Slingshot to Heaven,” Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s
“The Amanuensis,” Monuments
“Foundations of Burden,” Pallbearer
“The Endless River,” Pink Floyd
“Atlas,” Real Estate
“Colouded,” This Wild Life
“Blissfucker,” Trap Them
“We Have a Ghost,” We Have a Ghost
“Sway,” Whirr

“Atomos,” A Winged Victory for the Sullen


There is the first part of my music review of 2014!
Stay tuned for part two in just a few days, when I start counting down my TOP 100 albums of 2014!

Be well.

-Craig.

No comments:

Post a Comment