MUSICxTEN: Our Top Ten Albums of 2014
2014 was a year that I personally wish to forget. In terms of the events spreading across the country and the amount of social injustice that has affected me as an African-American citizen, the only thing that could keep me going was the blessed music that kept me from going insane-- whether it’d be hardcore hip-hop, indie garage punk, or everything in between. 2014 wasn’t a great year for music, but there were some gems that I kept so close and dear to my iPhone for quite some time. Here lies our TENxTEN Top 10 for 2014.
-Abel Araya, Senior Editor, TENxTEN MGMT
1. Flying Lotus—You’re Dead!
Reviewed by Abel
I have to admit that his last album Until The Quiet Comes was a bit underwhelming, compared to his previous albums and EPs. But when I saw the track list for this album, featuring notable artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Herbie Hancock, I was immediately sold. From beginning to end, the album reads like a puzzling novel that you just can’t start midway through. You have to start from track one and let it ride out. Thirty-eight minutes of experimental jazz music embellished with wonky electronic and bass-heavy hip-hop music, this album is certainly a blessing from the great LA Native.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS:
"Never Catch Me"
"Coronus the Terminator"
"The Protest"
2. YG—My Krazy Life
Reviewed by Nolan
We know. You're sick of all the DJ Mustard bangers of this year due to Top 40 playing the FXCK out of that signature snap-snare, hand-clap, "Hey" chanting motif, and we are too. But before all the Mustard overdose on the music scene, YG's My Krazy Life was a refreshing album that really partnered the former "Toot It and Boot It" rapper with his "Rack City" producer and friend to create a West Coast sound as smooth as PB&J, y'all.
My Krazy Life is a modern day blending of G-Funk Era nostalgia coupled with the new wave of hip hop lyricism. Upbeat, almost Hyphy-like rhythms and 808s compliment YG's gritty tales of life in Compton Bompton in a seamless seventeen track ride for the ears, skits included. Plus with collabs featuring this year's hip hop superstars, such as Kendrick Lamar, Ty Dolla $ign, Rich Homie Quan, Jeezy and Aubrey, it's no wonder the album was so well received.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS:
"Really Be (Smokin N Drinkin)"
"Bicken Back Being Bool"
"1 AM"
"Do It To Ya"
3. Goldlink—The God Complex
The DMV native is one of the more prolific hip-hop artists and his intention of blending multiple sounds of house, jazz, and R&B into hip-hop. When asked to describe his style of music on Diddy’s Revolt.TV, his answer was “Rick James meets Justin Timberlake (N*SYNC days) with Backstreet Boys and a little D12 and Tupac”. If you’re a 90s kid and you’re not feeling reminiscent with any of these artists, then there’s something really wrong with you.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS:
"Ay Ay"
"Planet Paradise"
"Hip-Hop (Interlude)"
"Fuck Being Polite"
"When I Die"
4. Les Sins—Michael
Reviewed by Nolan
I've always been a fan of Toro y Moi, but this album he did under his other alias, Les Sins, raised the bar on his coolness for me. Michael may not have had the airy, lo-fi vocals that Chaz usually always provides in his songs, but his production alone compensated for the absence of his singing.
What's cooler is the number of hip-hop samples and styles Les Sins references in his tracks, starting with his opener, "Talk About," which features a sample from Nas's "One Love."
I've always felt that Chaz/Toro/Les Sins/whatever you wanna call the guy was at the crossroads of hip hop, electronic, and indie, but this album, Michael aurally proved that point.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS:
"Bother"
"Why"
"Talk About"
5. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib—Piñata
Reviewed By Abel
The time was finally over. After waiting for almost 3 years for this album, it finally came through and exceeded the expectations on which people set. The rugged rawness and “gangsta-esque” image of Gary-native artist, Freddie Gibbs, blended with the scientific genius production style of Madlib makes this album an instant 2014 classic, and certainly one to remember. Dark, versatile, creatively ambiguous, mixed with these excellent Blaxploitation movie bites, I would go far as to say that this is a darker and grimier version of MF Doom and Madlib’s Madvilliany. Yeah, that’s right I said it…now go fucking listen to it.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS:
EVERY SINGLE FUCKING SONG
6. J. Cole — 2014 Forest Hill Drive
Reviewed by Nolan
The homie Jermaine really came though on the last stretch of 2014 by dropping this gem for us. Initially, I was worried that J. Cole's third album wouldn't move me as much as his previous release, Born Sinner. I held his last release to a standard that I thought 2014 Forest Hill Drive wouldn't meet, and was actually pleasantly surprised once finally sitting down and listening to it.
As always, and most importantly, the Villematic emcee remained true to himself on this project. Cole has a way of connecting and relating to his listeners through his honest sixteen bars about losing virginity, dealing with struggle, dealing with success and fame, and just loving life. Though it's a bit formulaic (considering these are frequent, reoccurring themes in a lot of previous releases), you can hear his growth as an artist, both lyrically and through his production.
Extra kudos to J. Cole for addressing all the madness with police brutality and Ferguson in "January 28th" and addressing white appropriation in "Fire Squad." Relevancy for the win!
MUST LISTEN TRACKS:
"Love Yourz"
"St. Tropez"
"A Tale of 2 Citiez"
"January 28th"
7. Ohbliv—LewseJoints The Third
Reviewed by Abel
This may not be on everybody’s radar, but Ohbliv got next in terms of beatmaking and implementing jazz samples into his style. This most recent project from Ohbliv off his “LewseJoints” series consists of very loose and relaxed hip-hop jazz loops, timely-chopped samples, and some amazing soulful cuts. This 7-track tape is detrimental for instrumental junkies such as myself and for anybody else who dares to call themselves a beathead.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS:
"Bentsun"
"Cuz You Need It"
"J’s Groove"
Post Grace
8. Isaiah Rashad—Cilvia Demo
Reviewed by Nolan
TDE's newest signee had some big shoes to fill, between big brothers Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul's 2014 releases, Oxymoron and These Days coming out that same year. However, Isaiah Rashad not only went above and beyond the call of any good XXL Freshman with the release of his mixtape-turned-EP, the Cilvia Demo, he also did better than Q and Soulo (at least in my opinion).
Between the smooth but trippy production, Rashad's militant, chant-like flow ("y'all live for bitches and blunts /we live for weed and money!"), and all of the awesome collabs (including the other newest TDE signee, SZA), the Chattanooga rapper proved his worth in the Top Dawg family.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS:
"Brad Jordan"
"R.I.P Kevin Miller"
"Ronnie Drake"
"Shot You Down (Remix)"
9. D’Angelo—Black Messiah
Reviewed by Abel
As soon as the word got out that D’Angelo was finally putting out an album after a 14-year-hiatus, it was obvious to point out that everybody was able to stop for a second and give this album the listen that it truly deserved. Similar to that of his previous album Voodoo, Black Messiah combines elements of funk, R&B, soul, and jazz music into a certain sound that can only be described in my opinion as “feel good music”. The kind of music you can vibe to while cooking, chilling, or showering. And the timing for this album was much needed, considering all of the social injustices of police officers getting away with the killings of unarmed black men; this album touches on those issues and the unequal experience of the African-American.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS:
"The Charade"
"Sugah Daddy"
"Really Love"
"Betray My Heart"
"Back to the Future (Part II)"
"Another Life"
10. Mac DeMarco - Salad Days
Reviewed by Nolan
Now, I definitely won't deny that I've just joined the Mac DeMarco bandwagon, thanks to that hilarious scene on The Eric Andre Show. But that still doesn't stop the fact that the Canadian "jizz-jazz" musician made a thirteen track masterpiece with his release of Salad Days.
You can literally feel the indie, raw vibes in every track that practically melt into each other and make one seamless beautiful album. The bass and guitar riffs play so well together alongside DeMarco's simple, honest, and mellow lyrics, especially when juxtaposed against his weird music videos! He also took us by surprise with his electro-indie ballad, "Chamber of Reflection," which was a bit darker and heavier than the other songs, but strayed from the acoustic guitar and relied on that eerie electronic organ that worked so awesomely.
And oh yeah, Wiz Khalifa made a pretty cool song out of that sample.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS:
"Blue Boy"
"Passing Out Pieces"
"Chamber of Reflection"
"Go Easy"