Here it is! The end is upon
us!
For those of you that have
stuck with this entire list as I’ve counted down my top albums of 2014, I thank
you for your dedication.
If you are just now visiting
the list for the first time and would like to view the rest of my choices,
check out the other parts of this countdown, here:
So, without further ado, here
are my TOP 25 albums of 2014!
Enjoy!
25. To Be Kind,
Swans
Release Date: May 12, 2014
Swans will never cease to
create incredibly expansive soundscapes of exploratory rock/metal/industrial
tunes. There is really no way to describe this music. If anything, Godspeed
You! is the only thing that comes close. Take 2.5 hours and immerse yourself in
this thick beast of an album.
24. I AM
KING, Code Orange
Release Date: September 02, 2014
They are not kids anymore.
This album revolutionizes hardcore into a dominant sonic experience of
relentless brutality. There is a reason Code Orange calls itself the “Thinners
of the herd,” because anyone unable to keep up will be left in the wake of this
commanding force.
Play: “Unclean Spirit”
23. Seeds,
TV on the Radio
Release Date: November 18, 2014
I get stoked every time TVOTR
comes out with a new album. The band always finds a way to reinvent its unique
of electronic hip-hop, art-punk, and indie rock. Seeds is fun, dark, and accessible, which makes this a great
release.
Play: “Happy Idiot”
22. Awake,
Tycho
Release Date: March 18, 2014
If you didn’t listen to this
album at least 25 times in 2014, did you really experience 2014? Awake is yet
another chill-step classic from Tycho. Scott Jansen just gets how to create
some of the most positive upbeat tunes that create the perfect ambience for
nearly any situation.
Play: “L”
21. ZABA,
Glass Animals
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Another album I slept on for
far too long because this was probably the best indie rock/pop-accessible
albums of the year. ZABA is ripe with zestful, fun arrangements full of
intricate instrumentation and capped with magnificent vocals. It’s a fun listen
for a sunny day drive through the country.
Play: “Pools”
20. In Humor and
Sadness, ’68
Release Date: July 08, 2014
Something cool about Josh
Scogin (the Chariot) is that his creativity and talent cannot be contained.
After the Chariot disbanded, he was quick to team with drummer, Matt McClellan,
to impulsively record this absolute shred-fest. This is a thrash punk duo that
will not be stopped.
Play: “Track One: R”
19. Mediumship,
Dikembe
Release Date: July 22, 2014
I know some folks felt Brand
New’s transition from Deja Entendu to The Devil and God was a bit abrupt. Well,
if you felt this way, you’re in luck! Mediumship
is the PERFECT bridge for those two albums. Dikembe does this while maintaining
a consciously unique sound that makes them stand out among others in the
emo-revival scene.
18. Nothing is
Real, The Flashbulb
Release Date: March 12, 2014
This
neo-classical/chill-step/post rock album earns the honor of my top instrumental
album. I do a lot of reading/studying, so this album got A LOT of attention. It
is one hour over 22 tracks of absolutely mind-bottling instrumental greatness.
Beautiful tunes for chilling out or walking around. Loved it.
17. Pleasant
Living, Tiny Moving Parts
Release Date: September 09, 2014
The award for most aptly
titled album goes to Tiny Moving Parts. Pleasant Living is an album about
feeling good with life and working through the difficult parts in positive
ways—which often means yelling about whatever is on your mind.
Play: “Sundress,” “Movies”
16. Rooms of the
House, La Dispute
Release Date: March 18, 2014
I got my La Dispute flower
tattoo 4 days before this LP was released. I was celebrating my excitement for
another chapter of their musical journey. Rooms
didn’t disappoint. The group explored new terrain and new stories with subtle
eloquence. It might not stack up to Somewhere
at the Bottom, or Wildlife, but
it certainly stands on its own.
15. You’re
Dead!, Flying Lotus
Release Date: October 07, 2014
As the great nephew of John
Coltrane, Steven Ellison, knows jazz. His body of work has
become an evolution of electronic hip-hop and jazz with a twist of
prog-experimentation. Time signatures are no match for these vibrant and daring
arrangements, as Ellison constructs unreal beats and sounds. Kendrick Lamar
guests on the albums only single, which was also one of my favorite songs of the
year.
14. Maybe This
Place is the Same and We’re Just Changing, Real Friends
Release Date: July 22, 2014
Real Friends did a lot of
growing up on this album. Turns out, this album was a brilliant
evolution of pop punk. So many tracks on this album are incredibly catchy,
while others are short, sweet, and to the point. I was impressed by the
expertly crafted flow of the entire album.
Play: “Loose Ends,” “Sixteen”
13. Ixora,
Copeland
Release Date: November 24, 2014
Copeland surprisingly came
out of hiding this year and released another incredible chill album that more
than lives up to the expectations of the Copeland faithful. Aaron Marsh can do
no wrong.
Play: “Disjointed,” “Chiromancer”
12. Charmer,
Tigers Jaw
Release Date: June 03, 2014
Charmer got the most play time during the summer for me. Tigers Jaw came back with
a completely full and energized sound that is both fun and brutally honest at
the same time. They continue to revolutionize the emo revival.
Play: “Hum,” “Teen Rocket”
11. Bloom and
Breathe, Gates
Release Date: October 22, 2014
After a couple EPs, Gates
went all-in with their evolving post rock sound on their debut LP. This is a
dominant album for a band that was on the brink before this album released. And
now the future is brighter than ever.
10.
Correspondence (a Fiction), Levi the Poet
Release Date: November 17, 2014
I have a lot of respect for
Levi Macallister—the man has dedicated his life to his words. He writes amazing
words. I am constantly inspired by the work that he creates.
His first few albums were
purely spoken word, which can be a bit difficult for people to listen
to—however, on this LP (his fourth) he brings in an entirely new experience for
his listeners. There are trumpets, there is atmosphere, and there is dynamic
chaos to match the emotionally charged story he crafts within this album.
As funded by IndieGoGo, Levi
was able to release this album in a massive way so that it reached as many fans
as possible. I am thankful to have found myself lost in this incredible journey
that only appears to be the beginning of a much larger project. I cannot wait
for the subsequent parts and/or to see where this album takes Levi. Give it a
listen if you enjoy La Dispute, mewithoutYou, or Bradley Hathaway.
9. The Joy of
Motion, Animals as Leaders
Release Date: March 24, 2014
Honestly, I’m a bit shocked
that this album was not on more year-end lists. This is by far the best album
that Animals As Leaders has composed and I am so glad that I’ve been able to experience
the entire progression of the band.
The instrumdjentmetalists
have finally found a winning combination of metal, atmosphere, and jazz
experimentation. There is so much groove on this album that I would often close
my eyes while on the train and I’d miss my stop because I was grooving too
hard. I am constantly blown away by the impressive guitar work of virtuosos,
Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes. They have such an incredible working partnership
that should be an inspiration to more metal acts that might suffer from
egoisms.
What we have here is an album
that truly encompasses the wherewithal to evolve a genre. Instead of becoming
stagnant and setting, Animals as Leaders continues to change the pace of the
game one signature change at a time.
8. Transgender
Dysphoria Blues, Against Me!
Release Date: January 21, 2014
This was the most socially
important album of 2014. Laura Jane Grace has gained much attention since she
came out as a transgender woman and has used this attention as a platform to
support other transitioning individuals.
Her brutal honesty is such a
refreshing change of pace to the formulaic lyrics that appear in much of
today’s popular music. Laura Jane is frank in her observations of
transitioning—“You've got no cunt in your strut/You've got no hips to shake/And
you know it's obvious/But we can't choose how we're made.” Her lyrics transcend
the naivety of popular culture and delve into the reality of a very important
issue in global society.
The album is yet another
anthemic piece of music from these kings of modern punk and it simply adds to
already their impressive repertoire. I’m stoked to meet Laura Jane in a few
weeks. Cannot wait to have her sign my copy of this vinyl.
7. Pink
Lemonade, Closure in Moscow
Release Date: May 09, 2014
Australia has a way with
creating some pretty interesting tunes. Five years ago, Closure in Moscow
released an LP, “First Temple,” that sounded like the love child of early Fall
of Troy meets Coheed and Cambria. Upon their return this year, the band brought
in an overwhelming wave of groove and experimentation that feels like the
closest we will ever get to having the Mars Volta back again.
Closure in Moscow decided to
go more experimental with their tunes—allowing their vision to become more
spacious, more funky, and more accessible. This album received a lot of summer
time play for me because it is perfect for car rides in the sun with the
windows down.
I tried to share this album
with as many people as I could this year because it truly demonstrates how a
band can take risks, completely rework a sound, and develop something brand new
into a glorious resurgence of musical creation.
6. Amour &
Attrition, Casey Crescenzo
Release Date: June 03, 2014
Not many touring musicians
wrote, composed, and completed a symphony last year. But Casey Crescenzo (The
Dear Hunter) did. And it is one of the greatest displays of crossover musical
talent. Even on the first listen, you would assume this was some Mozart or
Brahms album.
But nope! It’s one of the
founding members of the Receiving End of Sirens constructing incredible
classical music. And I mean, for those who are used to Crescenzo’s music with
the Dear Hunter, this album was a long time coming. However, it is nonetheless
impressive.
Amour & Attrition landed on NINE Billboard top albums lists this year,
including #1 on the Billboard Traditional Classical and Top Classical Albums
Charts. Casey clearly understands what he is doing with this venture and I
cannot wait to see whatever else this absolute genius creates next.
Play: All 4 Movements
5. Absent
Sounds, From Indian Lakes
Release Date: October 07, 2014
A couple years ago, when I
listed Able Bodies as my #6 album of
the year, I said that From Indian Lakes were a band to watch out for. Little
did I know how well the future would prove me right.
After signing to a record
label, something I once spoke about with lead singer/principal songwriter, Joey
V, at a show in Portland, it seemed like the band was going to get the
attention they deserved. Joey told me it was never about getting signed, but
more about telling his stories. And dammit, he gets to have his cake and eat
it, too.
Absent Sounds is a visionary
album. There is so much going on in this album that it completely immerses you.
The great thing about it is that ALL THREE of From Indian Lake’s albums are
THAT impressive. They find a way to combine all elements of today’s rock scene
and combine them into an expert display of beautiful compositions and dynamic
juxtapositions of sounds.
4. Half the
City, St. Paul & the Broken Bones
Release Date: February 18, 2014
This is a big album that has
not received as much attention as it deserves. Half the City is an incredibly important release from one of the
most promising acts in all of music today. Not only does St. Paul pack a big
band soul/funk musical experience, it is fronted by a man, Paul Janeway, who
probably has the strongest voice out of ANYONE that released an album in 2014.
Hailing from Birmingham,
Alabama, these southern gentlemen have been selling out shows all across the
country. I’ve tried to see them three times this year (across different cities)
and I can never seem to track down tickets. This is an incredible
accomplishment for a brand new act that doesn’t have as much mainstream
exposure.
This debut album was my top
choice for most of 2014 but slowly slipped as the top three were released. This
was another album that I shared with many people that appreciate throwback 40s
and 50s soul and funk music. It is one of the strongest debut albums I have
ever heard.
3. Run the
Jewels II, Run the Jewels
Release Date: October 24, 2014
Rarely—if ever—is the sequel
better than the original. As Killer Mike even says, “Last album proved that we
were fuckin’ brutal.” So what were Mike and El-P to do with their sophomore
release? Apparently take over the damn hip hop world—because that’s what they
did.
This is a cohesive, smart,
cocky, intense, and dirty rap record. I kept telling people that it “makes me
feel all sorts of ways,” because it is true. The beats that El-P creates are
absolutely mind-blowing. And virtually no one compares to Killer Mike’s flow.
Their combination is impenetrable.
If this album proves
anything, it is that friendship means everything in collaboration. The bond
these two men have is absolutely apparent in the way they write their music and
their lyrics. I appreciate how forward they are with their respect for each
other and for taking over the rap game together.
This is a very special album
that may not work for everyone and it definitely isn’t an album you can readily
share with your kids. However, their work thus far has cemented them as tops in
the game. Now, the rest of the rap world gets to respond.
2. Descensus, Circa
Survive
Release Date: November 24, 2014
After my frustration over Violent Waves in 2012, I was fully
prepared to be completely disappointed by this album. But when I heard that
Circa had signed a one-album deal with Sumerian Records AND that they were
going into the studio with Will Yip—who also produced the new Code Orange
album—I raised my excitement level because I had a feeling that this release
had the chance to be something new for my favorite band.
I was hesitant at first—and
it pains me as a Juturna-purist to
say this—but this is their strongest and best album. Circa Survive found the
pocket with Descensus. This isn’t
your typical Circa Survive any more.
Everything the band has ever
done led to this moment in their career. Descensus
kicks off with the most powerful track the band has ever written—“Schema,” and
does not relent until the most chilling track the band has ever
written—“Nesting Dolls,” which is my favorite track on the album.
Amid Anthony Green’s and
Colin Frangicetto’s difficult personal lives over the last couple of years,
Circa was able put their strongest foot forward, creating all new depths of
haunting experimentation with this release. It’s so refreshing and inspiring to
watch a band reinvent themselves in so many ways in just a few years. It’s
beautiful.
1. Keep You,
Pianos Become the Teeth
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Here it is! Number one!
I have seen many people
listing this high on their lists and that made me incredibly happy because this
is a very special album.
As singer, Kyle Durfey made
the brave decision to strip away his usual guttural screams for this
album—opting to sing clean vocals instead. And it is beautiful. I’ve read how
some folks didn’t understand why Pianos ditched the screams or how this album
seems like them selling out. But those interpretations seem completely
misplaced because instead of shredding his vocal chords some more, Durfey has
easily adding years to his longevity as a vocalist.
And the vocal change
shouldn’t be the main focus of this album anyway. It should be meaningful
nature by which this album is composed. This is a patient album wrought with
eloquent lyrical brutality. Durfey has taken three albums to process through
the death of his father and this album is the release. This album is Durfey
being comfortable with the loss. All of the tracks recount his struggle and
demonstrate the strength it takes to deal with such a loss.
I am currently going through
this process as I deal with the mortality of my father—which made this album
(and their previous albums) even more helpful for me because I am not alone in
my struggle or in my pain and nervousness toward being around my father.
This album was a rebirth of a
genre. This album takes post hardcore and flips it on its head—sort of like As
Cities Burn did when they released “Come Now Sleep.” If you are uncomfortable
with such a drastic change like this album presented, that probably says more
about you than it does about the band.
I am thankful for this album.
I am thankful for this community.
Play: “Enamor Me,” “Repine,” “April”
I am thankful to share some
of my favorite tunes and feelings with you all.
I hope you enjoyed this list.
I’ll see you next year!
- Crig.
