Best Albums of 2014: 107 to 67
Best Albums of 2014: 66 to 30
66. White Suns – Totem
Post-noise rock? I thought noise rock was already subversive, but what White Suns have done on Totem makes even your noisiest noise rockers sound like fucking Nickelback. This chaotic, nihilistic beast of an album constantly implodes on itself, usually until there’s nothing left, but vicious squalls of feedback that threaten to turn your remaining cilia to mush. It’s incredibly challenging, but wholly worth suffering through for the catharsis near the end of album highlight “Clairvoyant.” I won’t ruin it for you, but holy shit. – Phil Maye
Totem causes feelings of unease, anxiety and terror. Reminiscent of Burned Mind-era Wolf Eyes, this album is a lesson in depravity… So, White Suns, job well done; your albums are the soundtracks to walking in on your kid torturing the household pet. – Brandon Perras
65. PUP – PUP
The video below for “Lionheart,” might be my favorite music video for 2014! – Jon Robertson
Follow this link to read Tom Vickress’ interview with PUP from earlier this year
Also, be sure to check out Kevin Silva’s review of PUP here.
64. Schematics For Gravity – Absence of Weight
This band is heavier than a bag of smashed assholes, Absence of Weight also has depth and clarity to it, so please jam it when you’re in an angry mood. – Todd Rackham
63. Walk The Moon – Talking Is Hard
From the inside of the CD booklet: “…May [this music] give you strength and unbreakable hope. May it kindle wild ideas and empower you to make them real. May you turn all the NOs into big blazing YESes.” So like they advise, please “crank it” and have the “f#$%ing time of your life listening to this record.” Going to their show in March at First Avenue! -Kelsey Simpkins
Check out Illeana’s review of Talking Is Hard here.
62. Bahamas – Bahamas Is Afie
61. Boyfrndz – Breeder
I’ve had months to digest this album, and it’s scrambled my brains more with every listen. There are some ridiculous rhythms and melodies going on on this album. The fact that they got a bunch of their stuff stolen shortly after the release did not stop the momentum they had going for them and Boyfrndz remained at it and are still on top of their game. – Quinten O’Neal
Boyfrndz are one of the most promising rock bands out right now and Breeder shows them getting even better. I look forward to what these dudes have in store for the future. Read my interview with Boyfrndz’ Scott Martin here! – Jon Robertson
Healthy reassurance that quality post-hardcore still exists out there, as difficult as it can be to come by. – Phil Maye
Boyfrndz put on one of my favorite concerts of the year. These dudes are incredible. Check them out live if you haven’t already! – Isaac Atencio
Check out Quinten’s review of Breeder here.
60. Esben and the Witch – A New Nature
Esben and the Witch’s music is filled with a serious amount of tension. I love how organic and dark their sound is. A New Nature really sees the band focused and refined. Plus, Rachel Davies voclas totally sound like a modern day version of Beth Gibbons from Portishead. So good! – Jon Robertson
Read Dani’s review of A New Nature here.
59. Nothing – Guilty of Everything
This album is ‘guilty’ of being awesome. That much is for sure. This album is awesome. – Phil Maye
Agreed. – Isaac Atencio
Guilty of Everything is like Samese Dream on steroids! I fell in love even more with Nothing after seeing them live. – Jon Robertson
58. Justin Townes Earle – Single Mothers
I’ve stated my love for this man several times. I had the opportunity to see him twice this year performing his new album live. The SLC show really showed what this album is all about – definitely showed a growth in Earle. While Single Mothers isn’t Earle’s best album, it does deserve to be on the list for 2014. His lyrics are relatable and his song writing is solid. It is refreshing to listen to modern Americana instead of what we call country music today. Earle always breaks my heart – and it’s exactly what I need. – Danielle Lail
57. Glass Animals – ZABA
This album caught me out of no where while I was visiting some friends in Asheville, and listening to it really reminds me of that fantastic city. It’s crazy how many different sounds that Glass Animals crammed into this album! Favorite track has to be “Hazey.” – Quinten O’Neal
These British boys are just that – boys, barely into their 20s – but running straight out of the gate. This is a sound you have never quite heard before: an indescribably sexy, indie rock sound with strong influences of jazz and electronics, with enough bass to kill the speakers in your car. I met Drew (lead vocals) this fall in Minneapolis and not only is their music solid, turns out the guys behind it are as genuine, humble, and energized as they come. -Kelsey Simpkins
56. Perfume Genius – Too Bright
Too Bright is an album in which Mike Hadreas steps out from behind the piano and gets in all of our faces. – Phil Maye
Too Bright, as poppy and beautifully arranged as it is, is a harrowing ride into the soul of this enigma known as Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas), the struggles of gender identity, and the trials and tribulations of being homosexual (along with all its stigmas). Most of the lyrics are haunting and brutally honest while others are tinged with dark humor and condescension; “Fool” is a great example of this and my favorite track on the album. While all the gays are busy collecting and worshiping stool samples from Iggy Azalea and Beyonce, real gay artists that write all of their own music and share their struggles are unfortunately ghosts of this community. – Brandon Perras
Perfume Genius’ sound has tastefully evolved from tragic piano ballads, to a grand, sweeping version of experimental pop. This batch of songs will take your breath away with its poignancy and wit. While debut album Learning was a broken, fragile thing, Too Bright is a roaring statement that sees Perfume Genius coming into his own as a songwriter. – Robert Masiello
Abandoning the sparse arrangements of 2012’s Put Your Back N 2 It, Mike Hadreas’ third full-length as Perfume Genius, Too Bright, sounds as twisted and tested as his lyrical content has always been. Too Bright is relentless in its confrontation and an exercise in Hadreas’ ability to stick to a central theme amidst a wide array of topics. Middle America never stood a chance. – Mickey White
Check out Mickey’s review of Too Bright here.
55. Future Islands – Singles
Over the years, there have been more and more bands that manage to capture the sound of the 80’s and turn it into success. Future Islands are definitely one of them. I didn’t know much about them until 2014, but with their fourth album Singles I’ve become quite a fan. There are all sorts of influences going on here, from Pet Shop Boys’ knack for a tune to Human League’s avant garde style of storytelling. I love an album that’s good enough to make you want to check out the rest of the back catalogue. – David Dring
Read Tom’s review of Singles here.
54. Rich Gang (Young Thug, Rich Homie Quan, Birdman) – Tha Tour Pt. 1
If you’ve been living under a rock lately, Birdman’s whoever-I-want-it-to-be rap supergroup, Rich Gang, soared this fall with burgeoning talents Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug at the helm. Their mixtape as a triad was a crash course in what makes Atlanta rap’s weirdness is like water’s wetness. Thug spazzes, Quan plays the field, Birdman promotes YMCMB’s megastars, and all of the hooks are dynamic numbers that have 2014 written all over them. Tha Tour Pt. 1 is Rich Homie Quan keeping his promise to never stop going in and Thugger finding a rap partner with which he has impeccable chemistry with. – Mickey White
Read Dan’s dedication post to both Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug here.
53. 100s – IVRY
One of my favorite moments on IVRY is when 100s pauses to answer the phone on “Slide On Ya” and casually informs his lady, “Where I’m at? Who is you to know? Anyway, Bitch, I’m at the studio.” For 100s the music comes first, even before his crazy ass mac persona. The fact is, this is an absurd mixtape in so many ways, but it’s also a fully realized artistic statement. Of all the weird hip-hop that happened this year this is the release that is the most universally appealing. – Dan Vesper
Dan turned me on to the macadelic rhymes of 100s and I basically haven’t’ stopped listening the eight tracks on IVRY since Dan wrote about it back in March. This is probably my favorite rap release of the year, right up there with Ghostface Killa’s new album. “10 Freaky Hoes” is s absolutely amazing! – Jon Robertson
52. Modern Baseball – You’re Gonna Miss It All
Check out Quunten’s review of You’re Gonna Miss It All here.
51. The Afghan Whigs – Do To The Beast
Don’t Call It A Comeback! The reinvigoration of one of the more interesting bands to emerge from the mid-90s grunge scene was one full of swagger and soul. Still retaining their ability to meld sleaze and sexual yearning with raggedly funky rock’n’roll, the Whigs proved more than a match for the current crop of alt-rockers half their age and obliterated their returning peers Pixies, Soundgarden, and Smashing Pumpkins by simply sounding as vital as their heyday. – Steve Wheeler
Do To The Beast was one of this year’s most unexpected surprises for me. This album boozes charisma and swag. I had some very high hopes for this year’s release from The Rosebuds, but was ultimately disappointed. This album is what I had imagined that album should have sounded like and more. One of my personal top 5 of the year. – Isaac Atencio
Read Steve’s review of Do To The Beast here.
50. Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots
Check out David’s review of Everyday Robots here.
49. Clouds – Doliu
Doliu is funeral doom with a more piano driven edge and a wider array of clean vocals compared to others in the sub-genre. This album is a soundtrack dedicated to the departed ones, loved ones who now are no longer amongst us. Although not the highest on the list, it is definitely one of the more emotional albums you’ll find here. – Jeffrey Allee
48. Beyoncé – Beyoncé
I’m not going to spoil it, but B.G.M. has a pretty awesome #1 album this year. That said, it isn’t the best album of the year, that distinction goes quite easily to D’Angelo’s Black Messiah–which didn’t make our list because it was released after we voted. Beyoncé basically did the same thing last year, which is why we’re including it for 2014. It saddens me that it’s so far down the list, but this is a democracy and I respect the result Still, my two cents is this: this album is as good as anything Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Prince or Aretha Franklin ever made. Two years from now, no one will give one fuck about Mac Demarco (who by the way stole his whole schtick from this guy). Don’t sleep on Beyoncé . – Dan Vesper
As I insinuated previously, we music scribes are running out of words to talk about Beyoncé. My last poignant words on the subject until 2019 winds down are this: the album’s release will be the decade’s preeminent “you had to be there” moment. The week prior to its release, Burial sneak released Rival Dealer and Death Grips laid Government Plates onto the Internet with no warning, so the move wasn’t new. However, one of music’s biggest stars casually dropping her best work out of the sky is something that doesn’t happen. – Mickey White
After laying low for a few years, Beyoncé re-introduced herself to the world with her self-titled album. With skittish beats, stunning vocals, and endlessly quotable lyrics, the Queen Bey put other pop divas like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga to shame. It’s the sheer quality of this album, not its surprise release, that will be remembered. – Robert Masiello
Read Dan’s 2013 dedication to Beyoncé here.
47. Prince – ART Official Age
His Royal Badness has forgotten all that messy business with major record labels (remember that time when he painted “Slave” on his face in the battle with Warner Brothers over his masters?) After spending years self-publishing his albums, Prince is back with a vengeance, giving his loyal listeners a seductive blast of his signature funky, erotic, and electric-infused beats. It’s worth the buy. – Javier David
46. Eye of Solitude – Dear Insanity
Funeral doom masters, Eye of Solitude, fuse their previous heavy sound with a more dominant focus of dark ambient in this new release. Dear Insanity marks as the bands greatest work to date and foreshadows an incredible career ahead of them. – Jeffrey Allee
45. The Menzingers – Rented World
Depressing lyrics combined with upbeat punk rock / rock and roll riffs? Check. Lilting and vicious vocal styling that moves from an internal monologue to and extroverted spray of venom with the flick of a pick? Check. An album that’s toe tapping, head bobbing, loudly-singing-along-in-your-
Check out Josh’s review of Rented World here.
44. Tennis – Ritual In Repeat
Don’t look now, but Tennis is on a roll. Last year’s Small Sound EP was concise, hooky indie pop and is ripe for rediscovery. And their latest full-length is more of the same. It’s more polished, but they shine on tracks like “Never Work For Free,” and “Viv Without the N.” – Mark Milner
Tennis makes me happy in so many different ways and Ritual in Repeat is their best album yet. Also, one of the best live shows I saw all year. – Jon Robertson
43. Cloud Nothings – Here and Nowhere Else
Cloud Nothings is the band a million lonely weirdoes with a taste for punk wish they were in. Over eight loud, angry songs that charge at a clip those same lonely weirdoes couldn’t match if they tried, Here and Nowhere Else shines a light on an open-hearted emotional geography anyone who’s ever spent a long night with eyes closed and headphones on can easily understand. Sweat-drenched, ambitious, and accessible, this album’s very sound is of the late-adolescent Midwestern experience, to an almost alarming degree. – JP Gorman
Check out Phil’s review of Here and Nowhere Else here.
42. Spoon – They Want My Soul
Right from the get-go, leading with a kinda-Kinks riff, they aren’t fooling around and going for classic rock territory. This is the album I think Sonic Highways thought it was: every riff, both piano and guitar, drip guitar rock circa 1973 (example: Do You vs Do Ya). Which admittedly, I kinda dug! – Mark Milner
Read Amanda’s review of They Want My Soul here.
41. Hollow and Akimbo – Hollow and Akimbo
Jonathan Visger of Absofacto teams up with friends Brian Konicek and Mike Higgins to create an electronic indie rock album for all lovers of Radiohead and alternative rock. These guys put on a great show, opening for French Horn Rebellion in Minneapolis this year, which was one of my best nights of 2014. Leave this in your CD player for weeks. -Kelsey Simpkins
40. Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels 2
The unlikely partnership between El-P and Killer Mike has created some of the best hip hop of the past few years, but Run the Jewels 2 is where the two have transcended beast mode and gone into god mode. El-P’s production is the hardest it’s ever been, as he and Killer Mike drop some of the strongest verses of their careers over thunderous and trippy beats. Mike is especially explosive, stealing the show on every track with his bombastic delivery and instantly quotable couplets. It’s equal parts mean, smart, and funny, setting the bar high not only for future RTJ outings, but for the hip hop game in general. Fuck boys beware. – Ricky Vigil
Looks like they might do this every year now. And while I enjoyed the first one more, this was still a pretty good release. And I wonder if their pay-what-you-want (or not at all) distribution model will be copied by other artists, too. – Mark Milner
Check out Mickey’s review of Run the Jewels 2 here.
39. Iceage – Plowing Into the Field of Love
Danish punk band Iceage dropped their third full-length Ploughing Into The Fields Of Love in October of this year in a mesh of frantic guitar work and lead-man Elias Bender Rønnenfelt’s typically snarled vocal delivery. However, as furious and intense as it could be, Iceage are more than a one-dimensional punk act, with tracks such as “Against The Moon” reflecting a more tempered side to the band. It may be argued among Iceage diehards that it isn’t the group’s best work, but whatever might be said of it, Ploughing Into The Fields Of Love is a triumph in a world where punk and rock music is perhaps somewhat lacking in the sort of viscera Iceage deliver. – Ben Lynch
Even considering the progression from debut New Brigade to sophomore You’re Nothing, I don’t think anyone saw Plowing into the Field of Love coming, much less only a mere year later. By wildly expanding their instrumental pallet (mostly all played by core members of the band) and doubling down on vocalist Elias Ronnefeldt’s songwriting chops, Iceage went from being one of the most formidable acts in post-punk to being one of the best European bands on the planet, period. Plowing Into The Field Of Love displays a level of maturity most bands won’t hit in their entire careers, and these guys pulled it off at the ripe age of 20. I can’t remember the last time mandolins sounded so punk. – Phil Maye
Iceage have proven their capabilities when it comes to destroying stages, so this time around they decided to clean up the act a little bit. Plowing is the groups’ strongest statement yet, and while the label Post-Punk still fits best, it’s a relative smorgasbord of influences that come together perfectly when topped with Elias’ distressed croons. While it’s hard to say where they’ll go next since this album was such an adventurous step, they can start playing glockenspiels and steel drums for all I care, this band kills it every time. – Tom Vickress
Read Tom’s review of Plowing Into the Field Of Love here.
38. Antemasque – Antemasque
I was ridiculously thrilled to hear of Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala making music together again, but it honestly took me a little bit to warm up to the different direction their sound went in, mostly because it was so different then what I had last heard from the two on The Mars Volta’s Noctourniquet. But as always, it grew with every listen. You can’t deny the power of that “Run Like the Devil’s Son” chorus. – Quinten O’Neal
You can count me among the people who were bummed when The Mars Volta called it quits. You can also count me among the people who were bummed when they came back as a more pop and punk rendition of themselves called Antemasque. However, when I was packed into a divey rock club with 150 of their fans and saw them perform the new material live – well, it ruled. Since then I’ve embraced the album for what it is – creative minds refueling through tightly woven rock songs. – Stephen Russ
37. Wu-Tang Clan – A Better Tomorrow
The monks from Shaolin (otherwise known as Staten Island) let the world know they are still alive and kicking with A Better Tomorrow. The group does a great job dusting off their own personal version of the ‘Wall of Sound’, and while not quite as iconic as Enter the Wu Tang, the new album is reminiscent of the Wu-Tang of old. – Javier David
36. King Tuff – Black Moon Spell
As I’ve said elsewhere on this site, 2014 was a shitty year for American culture, but King Tuff’s particular brand of “Music to Shotgun Beers To” is the perfect antidote. Uptempo, riff-heavy, major key stoner rock that never takes itself too seriously suits our times and then some. Take forty-one minutes, gather up some cold beer, put Black Moon Spell on, and turn up the volume until the knob breaks off: you’ll thank King Tuff later. – JP Gorman
Read JP’s full review of Black Moon Spell here.
35. Tycho – Awake
With Awake, Tycho took us to a serene soundscape, evoking the same visions of beautiful desert skies and expansive plains as he does with his artwork as ISO50. Scott Hansen’s inspiration from nature comes through in the unique way he layers synths and live instrumentation samples. He’s a master at creating suspension and sustaining it just long enough before it overflows with bouncy and warm synths moving through the track like a babbling brook. Easily one of the most tranquil ambient albums of 2014. – Melissa Vega
Check out Melissa’s review of Awake here.
34. Grouper – Ruins
On her latest full-length, Grouper changes her sonic palette a bit, but it’s still undeniably a Grouper album. Further, it’s the most gorgeous, shattering, elegant Grouper album we’ve been blessed with yet. In spite of their delicacy, these 8 raw tracks will take your breath away. – Robert Masiello
Read Robert’s full review of Ruins here.
33. The Gaslight Anthem – Get Hurt
It’s literally impossible for these guys to make a bad album. I’ve been entranced with The Gaslight Anthem since The ’59 Sound and my obsession is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Their blend of classic rock, punk, and an endless supply of clever, lovelorn wordplay is a formula that never has to change because it’s been perfect with every album, topped off by Brian Fallon’s scratchy howl-like vocals. – David Dring
32. Sylvan Esso – Sylvan Esso
Amelia Meath (Mountain Man) and Nick Sanborn team up for the best duo of the year. The first time I heard “Coffee” I thought, “whatever this is, I need more of it – always.” Touring like rock stars, they sold out shows at First Avenue and across the country with simply her voice and his electronics. No one else sings like this, sounds like this, or dances like this. -Kelsey Simpkins
Read Kelsey’s Summertime New Jams piece on Sylvan Esso here.
31. Fucked Up – Glass Boys
The mark of a great album is in its desirability at full whack to soundtrack your drunken stumble home at 3 am. Glass Boys fulfils the criteria like Islam fulfils America’s need for a bogey man since the end of the Cold War. Full on fist pumping choruses, catchy bits you can sing along to without caring about getting the words right (who knows what the fuck Pink Eyes is growling about?) and enough attitude to make you feel like you’re walking in a straight line, head held high with a manically enthusiastic grin spread across your mug (when in fact you’ve been lying in a ditch for the past 2 hours). Big, balls-out rock’n’roll for the 21st Century! – Steve Wheeler
Read Steve’s full review of Glass Boys here.
30. Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness
Much is made of the sultry, brooding qualities of Angel Olsen’s music; not nearly enough is made of the insightful, lovely, and humorous ones. She’s made a lot of hay in a very short while, and Olsen came into her own as an “Important Artist” with Burn Your Fire For No Witnesses. That’s great news for fans of well-crafted songs by new and interesting voices. If we’re lucky, she’ll be around doing her thing for a long, long time. – JP Gorman
After quickly establishing herself as one of the best new voices in modern folk, Angel Olsen has truly stepped into a league of her own on Burn Your Fire For No Witness. A mix of dreary folk ballads and upbeat country zingers, this is an album that will burn an imprint into your head the first time you hear it. – Tom Vickress
I totally feel like Angel Olsen is a modern day Patsy Cline, which is awesome. That is all. – Jon Robertson
Check out Tom’s full review of Burn Your Fire For No Witness here.
