While 2013 saw some fantastic music, we here at B.G.M are already gearing up for everything that 2014 has to offer. Jon, Nate, and I are already looking forward to a handful of new releases that we absolutely cannot wait to get our hands on. While some of these releases are confirmed and slated to drop in the upcoming year, a few are still just rumors and speculation. Below we give you a quick breakdown on what you should definitely be keeping your eyes and ears out for in the upcoming year.
In alphabetical order by band/artist name here is a list of our top 40 most anticipated releases of 2014. We included new tracks were we could and if new tracks weren’t available we featured a song from the past that we liked from the artist / band. Also, each band name has a link to whatever news feed we deemed as the most updated for each pick. Enjoy!
1. ÆGES
A couple months back ÆGES released a split with another band that is on this list Dust Moth. The ÆGES track that was featured “Parasite” is some good old fashion heavy rock and I am stoked for what the band has in store for their next full length. – Jon
3. Bad Rabbits
Bad Rabbits’ American Love was my #1 overall choice for the best album in 2013, I couldn’t get enough of it. Before recording this album however, Bad Rabbits also recorded another full LP titled American Dream, with producer Teddy Riley. The actual release date is still yet to be determined, but I have a feeling that this album will be another main stay in my line-up for 2014. – Isaac
4. Ben Howard
I am a sucker for singer-songwriter stuff and this dude is just incredible. In 2012, Howard released The Burg Island EP to follow up his critically acclaimed Every Kingdom. The EP was definitely a slightly darker version of Howard’s previous music, but it’s a good thing, it haunts you. While a 2014 release is still just my own speculation, I cannot wait to hear what Howard has up his sleeve next. – Isaac
5. Bombay Bicycle Club
I’m totally new to Bombay Bicycle, but after stumbling across their new video for “Carry Me”, a new track off their upcoming album So Long, See You Tomorrow due out February 3rd I am all about becoming obsessed with them. – Jon
6. Blueneck
Isaac caught up with Blueneck’s frontman Duncan Attwood earlier this year to get the details on the bands new album. Sounds like the band is gearing up to release a new album this upcoming Spring and judging by their new track ” Sirens” this new album should be their best one yet. – Jon
7. Brand New
Every few years Jessie Lacey crawls out of wherever he isolates himself during Brand New’s down time. He’s probably releasing whatever demons he has been letting build up to make some of the most unapologetic music out there. It is rumored to be about that time. Brand New has played a number of festivals over the last year and drummer Brian Lanes stated in a recent interview that something “Brand New” is on the horizon. – Isaac
9. Cities Aviv
Ooooooohhh! I love me some Cities Aviv. His latest full length Black Pleasure made my top album spot in 2012. So judging by the teaser track “URL IRL” off of Cities Aviv’s upcoming album Come to Life, which set to drop on the 28th of this month, dudes new album is probably going to be making my tops of 2014 as well. – Jon
10. Creepoid
I discovered Creepoid last summer and really dug their slow paced melancholic blues jangling. Both their previous releases 2011’s Horse Heaven and 2010’s Yellow Life Giver are top notch. According to their Bandcamp page they have a self titled release that should be out some time in March and I cannot wait. – Jon
11. ††† (Crosses)
So the rumor is that the full length that is supposed to come out on Sumerian Records is actually gonna be the bands first two EP’s with the third EP attached to it to make it a full length. Chino and co. have been fairly solid with their first two release. Let’s hope this one lives up to that standard. – Jon
12. Dust Moth
It seems like forever since Dust Moth released the “Selector” video and once I saw it I immediately started harassing the band for coverage. As mentioned earlier they were part of a split with ÆGES a little while back. Rumor is that Dust Moth are close to finishing up work on their debut EP. I just wish it would hurry up and come out already! – Jon
13. Early Age
Another Young Widows side project this time featuring YW bassist Nick Thieneman on guitar. Their three song southern fried dreary alternarock is legit and I am hoping for more. – Jon
14. Gothic Tropic
Gothic Tropic are as dirty and fun as beach pop jungle rock can get. I’m somewhat new to the band, but I probably played their debut EP Awesome Problems 50 times in the past eight months. So I’m desperate for new material, which should be arriving sometime this year. – Jon
15. Helms Alee
As if Helms Alee weren’t cool enough already. It looks like their new album is going to be released by one of the best labels ever Sargent House on February 11th. How cool is that?! Judging by the teaser track “Tumescence” this album should be all kinds of dope! – Jon
16. He Whose Ox Is Gored
I honestly feel like it has been over a thousand years since He Whose Ox Is Gored released their Nightshade EP, but it looks like the long wait for some new doomgaze material might be over sometime this year. We caught the band in concert this summer where they previewed a handful of their new songs. – Jon
17. Junius
Junius have a new EP coming out on February 18th titled Days of the Fallen and judging by the preview track “Forgiving the Cleansing Meteor” the EP should track their brand of 80’s sung dream metal into further heaviness. I interviewed the band last spring and frontman Joseph E. Martinez described the EP as a continuation / alternate reality of their 2009 full length The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist. – Jon
Pitchfork is streaming the song.
18. Little Lights
I included Little Lights 4 song demo on Isaac and I’s best of list for 2013. Rumor has it the band is hard at work on a full length album of blissful sleepy dream pop, which makes me crazy happy. – Jon
19. Manchester Orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is currently wrapping up a small East Coast tour in preparation for what I am sure will be a gargantuan tour in support of their upcoming record, Cope. Everything that I have heard live of the new material is absolutely killer. However, it is hard to get a grip on what the songs will actually sound like on record, as Andy Hull and the gang are notorious for changing their song composition while playing live. All that being said, I am sure the new material will be all sorts of heart-felt, moody, dynamic goodness. – Isaac
20.Marriages
Marriages have been hard work on their full length follow up to their beautiful yet ground breaking post-rock debut Kitsune. We caught Marriages in concert last summer when the opened up for Deafheaven and the band played a few new ones for the crowd. If this new songs that we captured are any indicator of the quality of materiel that is going to be on the bands upcoming release there is no doubt it will definitely be at the top of Best of List for 2014. – Jon
23. Mew
I only just recently discovered that Mew were working on a new album. This Danish band has always been able to pull at my heartstrings and while they may never return to the fairytale like heaviness of 2005’s And the Glass Handed Kites, I will always have a fondness for their vocal harmonies and well crafted songs. The band hasn’t announced a release date yet, but have dropped the teaser track “Making Friends”, which shows a lot of promise. – Jon
24. Modest Mouse
It’s been way too long since we have heard any thing new from the these indie giants, seven years since their last LP in fact. While Modest Mouse has been consistently playing live it’s time to get our fix, am I right? Isaac Brock and crew debuted a new song “Be Brave” at last year’s Coachella, but it is still to be determined if it will actually make the new record. Also, Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic will be featured on the bass and has said that the new material is “pretty edgy”. – Isaac
25. Mylets
I have sneaking suspicion that when Mylets’ new album drops it may be one of the greatest things ever created. I have been patiently awaiting new material from Henry Kohen ever since he signed with Sargent House. He and the label were able to tide me over with their compilation Retcon which saw a lot of Kohen’s older songs re-worked, but I need more new jams like “Ampersand”. – Jon
26. Neon Indian
When I saw this band a couple years ago I was seriously blown away. I have been patiently waiting for new material from Alan Palomo since. We got a tiny sample of what might be to come with the song “Change of Coast” which was featured in the recent release of Grand Theft Auto V, and it is such a killer song. Can’t wait for more of this chill-wave, electro-pop awesomeness. – Isaac
27. Outkast / Andre 3000
Who knows if we are actually going to here in any music from Outkast or Andre 3000. They are re-uniting for Coachella, but this might just be a one of thing for a big paycheck. I’ve read that Andre 3000 needs to release a solo album before Outkast is going to put a new solo album out. There was rumors of a 3000 solo album happening possibly this year, we’ll see if anything actually happens. Until then you can always bug out to their contribution to the Scooby Doo soundtrack. – Jon
29. Sam Smith
Sam Smith’s crooning on Disclosure’s song “Latch” is easily one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. This dude has some serious talent and I look forward to listening to his full length debut, In The Lonely Hour due out on May 26th. – Isaac
30. Silver Snakes
We saw this L.A. band over the last year and they put on an intense, eardrum blasting set. The band’s last LP, Pictures Of A Floating World reminded me a lot of Thrice, which is more than alright by me, but the band’s most recent single “Sundance” from the upcoming album of the same name rock’s a little harder with a 90’s flare. I cannot wait to get my hands on this album. – Isaac
31. Solange
I’m a total nerd obviously, but I’m counting the days for the new Solange (#1 most anticipated album by far). There is this whole R & B, indie rock crossover movement going on, with acts like Janelle Monae and Dev Hynes figuring as the best examples of such acts who released amazing albums in 2013. Solange is THE killer queen among these artists though, and I’m really hoping that Hynes has his fingers in the production of her new album. – Nate
32. St. Vincent
I know I say this about everyone, but I am in love with Annie Clark AKA St. Vincent. She can do no wrong by me. The singles released so far in light of her new sefl-titled album sound as though she is reverting back into songs that are a little more obscure than those released on her last LP, Strange Mercy. I am very interested to listen to this album as a whole and to get a glimpse into the mind of this indie Godess. – Isaac
This is one debut album I am really looking forward to, because I have enjoyed all four of the singles the band released over 2013 (big shout out to Sirius XMU for playing them all year). These guys are highly touted though by some pretty big time music people (I think Johnny Marr called them the “best band in Britain”). Hopefully, Sun Structures doesn’t turn out to be an over hyped flop. Cool throwback psyche rock tunes like their single “Mesmerise” at least suggest otherwise. – Nate
34. Tool
This is another long shot just like the Outkast / Andre 3000 inclusion. However, I feel like a new Tool album is more likely to happen. According to the bands Wiki Maynard had actively joined the bands writing process and drummer Danny Carey has been quoted saying that the music is “over half done”. Their last album 10,000 Days was a bit of a let down and only seemed to have about six real songs. So lets hope for a new album full of mind scrambling progressive alt metal pleasure. Here’s my favorite track from 10,000 Days. – Jon
35. Torche
Lets just be honest about things here… Torche rules and there is literally nothing anyone can do about it. This is a band that always seems to stay crazy busy, whether it’s releasing 7″, touring, or our favorite thing recording new albums. The band posted a pic of some rough demos on CD-R’s back in November and that can only mean that more blissful unicorn metal must be on it’s way. – Jon
36. Warpaint
The new self titled Warpaint album is set to drop in a couple more weeks on January 20th and it will be nice to have these new wave dream pop girls back. We all have been huge fans for sometime now so it will nice to get a fresh set of songs from the band. Plus this live performance of their new tune “Love Is To Die” is legit. – Jon
37. We Were Promised Jetpacks
We Were Promised Jetpacks is set to release a live DVD in the early part of the year and is embarking on a US tour in support of it. Hopefully this is just a precursor to some new material from the indie, post-punk band from Scotland. If you have not heard of these guys you need to pull your head out plain and simple. They will rule your world. – Isaac
38. Wye Oak
Wye Oak’s last LP, Civilian, is one of my favorite albums of the last few years. This genre bending duo led by Jenn Wasner are currently recording a follow up album which the band has said will move away from the indie-folk tone of it’s predecessor. Wanser has said that she felt that her love of the guitar was muted from touring and having to play the same songs, in the new record she has picked up the bass and will not feature any guitars. Keep an ear out for this one, I have a feeling that it is going to be one of 2014’s top releases. – Isaac
I was really into this culturally diverse band of alt rockers’ debut , but I fear a sophomore slump with Mind over Matter. I must say, I’m not overly psyched with the first single, “It’s About Time,” but I felt the same way about “My Body,” which I eventually fell in love with after seeing the band perform it on Letterman. I don’t think that’s gonna happen with the new tune though, with or without Dave’s cheesy grin, and I have my fingers crossed for something much more appealing. – Nate
40. Young Widows
Finally the real deal! Don’t get me wrong I love me some Old Baby, Early Age, and Jaye Jayle (all Young Widows side projects, in case you have not been attention at all), but there’s nothing like the post-pink noise-rock moody hammer drop that is Young Widows. The band posted a few studio pics back in October of last year so lets hope that everything went smoothly and we have their fourth album in our ear drums shortly. Until then watch one of my favorite videos of all time “Old Skin” of their 2008 album Old Wounds. – Jon