A LIST YOU SAY??? Yes. A list.
Hey guys!!!! How was your year? Was it rough? Was it awesome? I hope it was the latter, but in case it was the first, we had some good tunes to help you survive. Here's my attempt to muddle through the releases over 2014 and offer up some sort of over-simplified rundown of the greatness that this year gave us. So, here are 10 of the favorites of 14, because why not?
Jungle - Jungle
XL Recordings
Do you like to dance? Do you have a bit of a soul left after this year? Would you like more of it back? Well, you should certainly try this album on for size. Jungle's debut is a groove. Danceable yet chill. It's an approachable mix of funk, R&B, and soul. Seamlessly blended and ready for your ears.
Temples - Sun Structures
Fat Possum Records
I tried really hard not to include this on my list, just because I'm very partial to British rock, psych rock, and anything remotely sounding like it was made in the 60s. Well...this album is too good to not have on a list. It's just fun to listen to, and on repeat at that. They take a sound that's been successful in the past and recreate it perfectly. There's even a harp. A HARP. If you like distorted fuzz brit psych rock, you'll like this for certain.
The Bombay Royale - The Island of Dr Electrico
HopeStreet Recordings
Something I don't do: watch Bollywood movies. Something I should probably start doing: watch Bollywood movies. Just simply because of this incredible filmi music. The Bombay Royale is back after their 2012's You Me Bullets Love with The Island of Dr Electrico. Within thirty seconds, you already feel that you should be in a vintage action movie, and not sure if you're the villian or hero. Combining rock, Hindi, and enough horns to make you feel as though a Mariachi band also invaded this 11-piece Australian band, you'll wonder HOW DO THEY DO IT? The combination of styles is truly an amazing work of art. They're fascinating on the surface, and mesmerizing on deeper levels.
Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
Interscope
Love or hate her, Lana Del Rey took up the first half of 2014's pop music scene. Ultraviolence is what happens when you get a good producer behind an interesting artist's idea. Some people dismiss her for not supporting her sex, or being detrimental to feminsim's cause. I think it's the complete opposite. She's singing about real things, in a real way. And it's catchy as hell too. She's just doing her thing, and I'm all for that.
The Orwells - Disgraceland
Atlantic
Anxiously awaiting this album's drop since their EP's release in 2013, Chicago's Orwell's did not disappoint with Disgraceland. Dirty gritty garage rock and on top of their game. Everything out of Chicago these days is on top its game, but The Orwells - man. THE ORWELLS. Did you know they got shut down at Bonnaroo? SHUT DOWN. Like, unplugged, in the middle of their set. People were hanging from the rafters, chairs were sailing in the crowd, people were obviously sailing too, but they got UNPLUGGED. These guys know how to bring the rock, and Disgraceland brings it to your home, car, headphones, head.
Cherry Ghost - Herd Runners
Heavenly Recordings
The world is full of so much music these days it seems. Everyone is able to release an album far more easily than they were 10 years ago and have it reach worldwide audiences. We have access to fantastic musicians that we wouldn't have heard before, but what is often overlooked are the great songwriters. Simon Aldred, who is essentially Cherry Ghost, is one of the best songwriters you likely ever come across. An eloquent lyricist and complex arranger, he composes masterpieces. Herd Runners is just that. It's romantic, heart breaking, and wonderfully beautiful.
Sondre Lerche - Please
Mona Records
Hot damn, Sondre Lerche is back. I mean, he is BACK. A fan of his for years, Please comes from the personal revolution he's gone through and, artistically, it's beautiful. He's more open, more available to being vulnerable. But hey, that's what growth, life, and your early 30s do to you. It looks and sounds great on him. He's pushing boundaries musically and lyrically - harkening back to a time of Faces Down, but with much more maturity. Personally, this is my absolute favorite album of the year.
Foxygen - And Star Power...
Jagjaguwar
Two people venturing off on an 88 minute, 24-track sonic adventure is pretty courageous to say the least. Sure, it's stronger in some parts than others, but overall, it holds its own. It's honestly surprising that an album like this can even have tracks that can be released as singles and hold their own apart from the album, like "How Can You Really" or "Cosmic Vibrations." It's a good example of pushing the limits, keeping the idea of concept albums, and albums in general in the forefront. Screw the shuffle, long live the LP.
Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2
Mass Appeal
Holy Hell. This is an album that hip-hop needed this year. Just damn. What's so interesting about this album, is how it's capable of attracting all types of fans. It's surprisingly accessible. Probably because it's so damn good. Yes, it's explicit. But the rhymes aren't dumb, they're clever, funny, and in parts, offer a mind-blowingly accurate view of our society. The beats are melodic and hypnotizing. It's just, good. Really, really good.
Ariel Pink has this knack for simultaneously sounding like he's from the past and the future. Out there lyrics, ridiculous concepts, yet it all works. It's also incredibly catchy, singable, repeatable, obsessable. You'll find yourself trying to find patterns, meaning, but instead just enjoying it all. pom pom is a fun album with underlying commentary of our ridiculous lifestyle choices. Like Bowie, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, and some space ship had a baby - Ariel Pink, who then birthed pom pom for us in 2014.
Honorable mentions: Hatcham Social - Cutting up the Present Leaks out the Future, The Family Crest - Beneath The Brine, Delta Spirit - Into the Wide, Twin Peaks - Wild Onion, Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams, The Apache Relay - The Apache Relay, Benjamin Booker - Benjamin Booker, Ty Segall - Manipulator, Aphex Twin - Syro.
So those are some of my favorites of 2014. What are yours?
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