Thursday, February 12, 2015

The 2014 David Music Poll Results

The 2014 David Music Poll Results

 

1.  Taylor Swift, 1989 (36 votes)

2.  St. Vincent, St. Vincent (17)

3.  FKA Twigs, LP1 (14)

4.  Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour (13)

     The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream (13)

6.  Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear (12)

7.  Beck, Morning Phase (9)

     Hozier, Hozier (9)

     Spoon, They Want My Soul (9)

     TV on the Radio, Seeds (9)

 

 

Runners up:   With 8 votes:  Jenny Lewis, The Voyager;  Lykke Li, I Never Learn;  With 7 votes:  Bleachers, Strange Desire; Angel Olsen, Burn Your Fire For No Witness

 

Notes:  The amusing thing is that I thought this might be a tight race.  But, nope, it wasn’t.  For the eighty-six participants in this year’s music poll, Taylor Swift decisively reigned – although it’s also amusing to see how reluctantly some people gave her the nod.  Critics’ favorite St. Vincent got the runner-up slot, with FKA Twigs making a strong debut at #3.  I had thought Sam Smith would rank higher, but am not to surprise to see The War on Drugs (another critics’ favorite) crack the top ten.  For those of you who are curious about such things, this is Beck’s and TV on the Radio’s third appearances on our list (since 1999), and Spoon’s second.  Taylor Swift had never made even the runners-up list before.  Go figure. 

 

Now, to the individual lists…

 

 

 

David L Wears His Heart on His Sleeve

 

Such are the waxes and wanes of musical years that any of my top seven from last year would have been #1 this year.  Which is not to say that the following batch is a bad batch – there’s just nothing that blew me away.  So for the first time that I can recall, I give you my choices in alphabetical order, since I like ‘em all about the same.

 

-- Mary Lambert, Heart on My Sleeve

 

This was the big surprise for me – if you’d said, “Hey, that woman who sings the refrain on ‘Same Love’ is going to release the best Lilith Fair album to hit since Lilith Fair” – I’m not sure I would have followed.  But damned if it doesn’t work, harkening back to Tori and Sarah M and Ani in their prime.  Funny, moving, and beautiful in turns.

 

-- Ingrid Michaelson, Lights Out

 

This album would probably win for sheer number of times I played it in 2014.  Some songs hit more than others, but it’s still a really solid singer-songwriter set that loops itself gracefully into your thoughts.

 

-- Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour

 

I can already feel the culture kinda getting over him, and I feel I may need to take a break soon, but a strong voice + strong songs = a fab debut.

 

-- SOHN, Tremors

 

I’m not entirely sure who SOHN is, but his sonic textures and pop hooks were among the more intriguing I heard this year – both on his own album and on the songs he worked on with Banks.  I think the closest peer in my collection would be James Blake – but whereas Blake always seems so chilly to me, there’s something very human amidst the digital croon of SOHN’s songs.

 

-- Spoon, They Want My Soul

 

One of my happiest musical moments of the year was wandering around Edinburgh this August while hearing this album for the first time.  This is a band I’ve always liked, and this is the first album of theirs I loved from start to finish.

 

-- Taylor Swift, 1989

 

The four great songs are great enough to pull the other songs over the finish line onto this list.  Because they are really, really great.  (And I’d probably add bonus track “New Romantics” in there, too – how did it not make the album?) 

 

Runners Up:

Sharon Van Etten’s Are We There, Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence (a big surprise to me), Sylvan Esso’s self-titled debut


Favorite songs:

“Coffee” by Sylvan Esso

“Out of the Woods” by Taylor Swift

“Afterlife” by Ingrid Michaelson

“I Wanna Get Better” by Bleachers

“My Sad Captains” by Elbow

“Do It Again” by Royskopp and Robyn

“Your Green Jacket” by Sinead O’Connor

“Secrets” by Mary Lambert

“No One is Lost” by Stars

 

 

Jess V Feels a Strong Desire

 

1. Bleachers, Strange Desire

2. Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear

3. Taylor Swift, 1989

4. Hozier, Hozier

5. Ed Sheeran, x

 

 

Daniel H Sees Stars

 

Stars - No One Is Lost

Zammuto - Anchor

Wye Oak – Glory

 

 

For Roberto R, Dum is the Smart Way to Go

 

Best Album:

Dum Dum Girls - Too True

HANDS DOWN!

Runnerup: Trust - Joyland

 

Top Songs:

The Courtneys - Lost Boys, K.C. Reeves

Grimes - Go

Lana Del Rey - Florida Kilos

Dum Dum Girls- Lost Boys and Girls Club

Trust- Barely, Four Gut

And here's a treadmill jam:

JLo- First Love (No Joke!On repeat.)

 

 

Patrick R’s Heart of Glass

 

My first time participating.  :)

 

1. PHILIP GLASS, The Complete Piano Etudes

2. OK GO, Hungry Ghosts

3. PASSENGER, Whispers

4. LEONARD COHEN, Popular Problems

5. PERFUME GENIUS, Too Bright

 

 

Aaron S’s Bettin’ on Etten

 

1. Sharon Van Etten: Are We There

2. Real Estate: Atlas

3. War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream

4. Jenny Lewis: The Voyager

 

 

Diamonds are David G’s Best Friend

 

My favorite albums of the year, arranged by most played:

 

My Brightest Diamond, This is My Hand

Kishi Bashi, Lighght

Frankie Cosmos, Zentropy                     

Nightmare and the Cat, Simple

Sondre Lerche, Please 

Julian Casablancas + the Voidz, Tyranny      

 

 

Bryant P Tinkers with Taylor

 

Bryant's most essential album of 2014:

 

Taylor Swift, 1989

 

Bryant's other essential albums of 2014:

 

alt-J, This Is All Yours

Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour

James Vincent McMorrow, Post Tropical

How to Dress Well, "What Is This Heart?"

Asgéir, In the Silence

FKA Twigs, LP1

La Roux, Trouble in Paradise

 

Bryant's most essential album of 2014 released before 2014:

 

Blood Orange, Cupid Deluxe

 

Bryant's top seven songs of the year released in 2014:

 

1. Style by Taylor Swift

2. Every Other Freckle by alt-J

3. The Ballad of Mr. Steak by Kishi Bashi

4. I'm Not the Only One by Sam Smith

5. Red Dust by James Vincent McMorrow

6. Whole Damn Year by Mary J. Blige

7. Blank Space by Taylor Swift

 

 

Chris K Takes Us on a Trip

 

Let's mess with the learning curve, shall we?

 

Album Of The Year: Triptykon, Melana Chasmata

 

2. Mantar, Death By Burning

3. Hooded Menace, Labyrinth of Carrion Breeze EP

4. Behemoth, The Satanist

5. Mutilation Rites, Harbinger

6. Take Over and Destroy, Vacant Face

7. Origin, Omnipresent

8. Skull Fist, Chasing The Dream

9. Electric Wizard, Time To Die

10. 1349, Massive Cauldron of Chaos

11. Bastard Sapling, Instinct Is Forever

12. High Spirits, You Are Here

13. Temple of Void, Of Terror and The Supernatural

 

Non-Metal Album Of The Year: Espectrostatic, Escape From Witchtropolis

 

Swiftest Turnaround From Lovable To Insufferable: Meghan Trainor

 

 

Leila S, off the RAC

 

My pick for album of the year is Strangers, by RAC!

 

 

Only the Lonely for Kate W

 

MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2014

Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour

 

MY TOP SINGLES OF 2014

1.      Hozier, Take Me to Church

2.      Paolo Nutini, Iron Sky

3.      Royal Blood, Out of the Black

4.      Beyonce, Drunk in Love

5.      Foo Fighters, Something From Nothing

6.      Magic, Rude

7.      Sam Smith, I’m Not the Only One

 

 

Jackie D Rings the Disco Bells

 

My albums of the 2014: 

1. Broken Bells, After the Disco.

2. Black Keys, Turn Blue

3. St. Vincent, St. Vincent

 

But mostly I'm a not-with-the-times girl, so these are the Top 10 songs I discovered or listened to like crazy this year (that are obviously mostly not from 2014):

 

1. Roxy Music, If There Is Something

2. Wax Fang, The Majestic

3. The Black Keys, Bullet in the Brain

4. Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

5. The Moody Blues, Nights in White Satin

6. Best Coast, When I'm With You

7. Miley Cyrus, 4x4

8. Gary Glitter, I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)

9. Age of Consent, Colours

10. Bryan Ferry, Love Me Madly Again 

 

 

Evan W Throws Some Rice

 

I have something to contribute this year! Hence my passion for these albums (and clearly, British singer-songwriters).

 

1. Damien Rice, My Favorite Faded Fantasy

2. Ben Howard, I Forget Where We Were

3. James Vincent McMorrow, Post Tropical

4. Noah Gundersen, Ledges

5. Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear

6. Joshua Radin, Onwards and Sideways

7. Gem Club, In Roses

8. How To Dress Well, "What is This Heart?"

 

 

Who’s Zooming Who?  Aaron H is!

 

Betty Who, Take Me When You Go

Tycho, Awake

Bright Light Bright Light, Life is Easy

Troye Sivan, TRXYE - EP

 

 

A Split Decision for Steven M

 

1. Courtney Barnett, Double Ep: A Sea of Split Peas

2. Sturgill Simpson,  Metamodern Sounds in Country Music

3. Lykke Li, I Never Learn

4. Christopher Denny, if The Roses Don't Kill Us

5. Spoon, They Want My Soul

6. First Aid Kit, Stay Gold

7. Real Estate, Atlas

8. Justin Townes Earle, Single Mothers

9. Lily & Madeline, Fumes

10. Damon Albarn, Everyday Robots

 

 

Kate H’s Gram-ophone

 

Essential album: 

Phantogram, Voices

 

Other top choices: 

Alt-J, This is All Yours

FKA twigs, LP1

Beck, Morning Phase

My Brightest Diamond, This Is My Hand

Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds In Country Music

 

 

Alex K’s Taylor-Made List

 

Album: 1989, Taylor Swift

 

Songs (I don't have ten)

 

1) Sia, Elastic Heart

2) Tove Lo, Habits (Stay High)

3) Blank Space, T Swift

4) Take me to Church, Hozier

5) Storm Song, Phildel

 

I think I need to go listen to the radio now.....

 

 

Eamon T Declares War

 

Albums

The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream

Interpol. Elpintor

Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence

Azealia Banks, Broke With Expensive Taste

Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams

Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour

Hercules & Love Affair, The Feast of the Broken Hearted

Morrissey, World Peace Is None of Your Business

Ariel Pink, Pom Pom

Bleachers, Strange Desire

 

Songs

Madonna, Living For Love

Ariana Grande, Love Me Harder

Ryan Adams, Tired of Giving Up

Sam Smith, Stay With Me

Sleater Kinney, Bury Your Friends

Sia, Chandelier

 

 

Kevin K Cruises for a Bruising

 

It was an amazing year for music!  This made it difficult to narrow it down to a reasonable sized list. 

 

2014 Top 25 Albums

1. Brill Bruisers - The New Pornographers

2. Most Messed Up - Old 97’s

3. EP 1-4 - Evil Arrows

4. We Let Go - Sunday Sun

5. Rips - Ex Hex

6. Fifth - The Autumn Defense

7. Night Surfer - Chuck Prophet

8. Black Moon Spell - King Tuff

9. Nikki Nack - Tune-Yards

10.   Silver Ladder - Peter Mulvey

11.   Stay Gold - First Aid Kit

12.   Lighght - Kishi Bashi

13.   Something Good - Linus of Hollywood

14.   No One Is Lost - Stars

15.   ART OFFICIAL AGE - Prince

16.   They Want My Soul - Spoon

17.   Give The People What They Want - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

18.   Bad Self Portraits - Lake Street Dive

19.   If The Roses Don’t Kill Us - Christopher Denny

20.   The Legal Matters - The Legal Matters

21.   Somewhere Else - Lydia Loveless

22.   Commonwealth - Sloan

23.   Morning Phase - Beck

24.   Half the City - St. Paul & the Broken Bones

25.   World of Joy – Howler

 

2014 Playlist

 

Side 1

You Go Down Smooth – Lake Street Dive

Water Fountain – tUnE-yArDs

Every Girl – Allah-Las

My Silver Lining – First Aid Kit

Wine Lips – Lydia Loveless

Let’s Get Drunk & Get It On – Old 97’s

Romancer – Evil Arrows

Don’t Wanna – Howler

The Legend of Walter Wright – The Legal Matters

 

Side 2

Tonight We Ride – Bonehawk

War On The East Coast – The New Pornographers

(Give Me Back My) Bunty Bunty – The Bombay Royale

Call Me – St. Paul & The Broken Bones

Cleopatra – Sloan

Black Moon Spell – King Tuff

From The Night – Stars

Sunday Morning – Sunday Sun

Ford Econoline – Chuck Prophet

Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Bleu

Waterfall – Ex Hex

 

 

I have started a music blog titled 3 Plays for $1 (http://3playsfor1.wordpress.com) where you can find a Spotify playlist of my Top 25 albums and 2014 Playlists (Volume 1 and 2).

 

 

Scott D’s Logic Has Peaked

 

Peaking Lights, *Cosmic Logic*

 

 

Christopher R Bows to the Saint

 

Most essential for me: St Vincent, St Vincent

Runners up: Perfume Genius, Too Bright; Lykke Li, I Never Learn

 

Top 7 songs:

Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One

Perfume Genius – Queen

Bastille – Pompeii

Nick Jonas – Jealous (I know, I know)

Sia - Chandelier

All of Me – John Legend

Beyonce - Partition

 

 

Joe M Does it for the Love

 

Here goes something. I spent half the year listening to Fleetwood Mac's Rumors in a desperate attempt to fill the music void that was 2014.

 

Top Songs:

Perfume Genius, "Queen"

Sam Smith, "Stay With Me"

Future Islands, "Seasons (Waiting On You)"

Sylvan Esso, "Coffee"

Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"

D'Angelo, "Ain't That Easy"

Meghan Trainor, "All About that Bass"

 

Top Albums:

Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour

The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream

Future Islands, Singles

Taylor Swift, 1989

Angel Olson, Burn Your Fire for No Witness

 

 

Will W is Out of the Woods

 

Essential Albums:

 

1. Taylor Swift, 1989

2. Charli XCX, Sucker

3. Jenny Lewis, The Voyager

4. Dum Dum Girls, Too True 

 

Top Seven Songs:

 

1. Taylor Swift, Out of the Woods

2. Lana Del Rey, Brooklyn Baby

3. FKA Twigs, Two Weeks

4. Jenny Lewis, Slippery Slopes

5. Charli XCX, Need UR Luv

6. Cloud Nothings, I'm Not Part of Me

7. Grimes, Go 

 

 

Phil B’s Cole Call

 

So my album of the year is J. Cole's Forest Hills Drive.  A close second goes to D'Angelo's Black Messiah.

 

The best lyric of the year is from Hozier's Take Me To Church, "There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin."

 

 

 

Dan P Gets His Grammar On

 

Easy answer this year: London Grammar, If You Wait.

 

 

Brent G’s Head is in the Clouds

 

1. Tove Lo - Queen of the Clouds

2. Sylvan Esso - Sylvan Esso

3.Eagulls - Eagulls

4.Taylor Swift - 1989

5. Hospitality - Trouble

6. Weatherbox - Files in all Directions

7. Childish Gambino - STM MTN

8. Alvvays - Alvvays

9. FKA Twigs - LP1

10. Sarah Jaffe - Don't Disconnect

 

runner ups

11. Phryme - Phryme

12. Zackey Force Funk - Money Green Viper

13.Love Inks - EXI

14. Young & Sick - self titled

15. Bearhug - self titled

 

I have a radio show on every night...10pm - 12a NYC


free app in apple store

DJ POLTERGEIS

 

 

Jennifer S, From the Bleachers

 

My absolute favorite this year:

 

Bleachers, Strange Desire

 

Second favorite:

 

Taylor Swift, 1989

 

(Yeah, I said it.)

 

 

 

Jon S is Touched by the Void

 

The Future's Void, EMA

This was by far my favorite album of the year. Smart, catchy, and loud, Erica M. Anderson's sophomore album just killed it for me. It sounds like a cross between Radiohead and early Courtney Love. And anyone who namecheck's Lovecraft's Cthulhu and Gibson's Neuromancer in the same album, wins.

LP1, FKA twigs

This album grew on me slowly. It's smart R&B in whispery tones, understated in sound, yet bold in format. On first listen, I thought it was just OK, nothing special. But something about her voice kept drawing me back. And the more I listened, the more I noticed just how careful and intricate her song structure is.

Sylvan Esso, Sylvan Esso

Take a folk/roots artist and an electronic artist and have them make an album together. That's pretty much Sylvan Esso. It could have been terrible. It ended up amazing. There is nothing out there that sounds quite like them and I'm eagerly waiting for a follow-up.

...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin, The Roots

The Roots just keep getting better. They seem to like their gig on Jimmy Fallon, and I'm sure it pays well. That takes the commercial pressure off their albums, allowing them to take more creative risks. It doesn't always work, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a more progressive group of professionals in hip-hop.

Burn Your Fire for No Witness, Angel Olsen

This album comes at you like it's not even trying. Olsen makes it all sound so natural and effortless. But this is some of the clearest, most honest folk rock I've heard since...I don't know, Janice Joplin?

Nikki Nack, Tune-Yards

Merrill Garbus's last album, w h o k i l l, was one of my favorite albums of 2011. I'm always a little nervous about a follow up. Will it be as good? Will it be new enough to sound fresh without losing its old magic? And yes to both for Nikki Nack. Brilliant, funny, and raucous. 

Shriek, Wye Oak

Wye Oak is another one of my favorite bands, and they've made my "best of" list every time they release an album. But this one I was really worried about, because they were making the whole album without their signature instrument. What, I wondered, did Wye Oak without a guitar even sound like? Turns out, it sounds like smartly written 80's pop with an extra dose of bass guitar groove. It's a great album and I respect their bold choices. I do hope they bring the guitar back, because it's Jen Wassner's guitar work that I love best about that band.

Say Yes To Love, Perfect Pussy

It's rare for an authentic hardcore band to get attention outside of the small niche of regular listeners. But Meredith Graves is a rare woman. This album is short and abrasive as hell, and the perfect counterbalance the EDM and synth throwbacks that currently dominate pop music.

The Moon Rang Like A Bell, Hundred Waters

Speaking of weird synth throwbacks, this is a band that does it right. There are tinges of 80s pop, 90s trip-hop, but it's all grounded with a soul-searching folk sound.

Benji, Sun Kil Moon

And speaking of soul-searching folk sounds, nobody does it better than Mark Kozelek. This album in particular is so simple, so free of pretension, so painfully candid, it's at times a little embarrassing. Although not nearly as embarrassing as some of the jerky things he's said at his live shows. Still, it's a great album, and weirdly makes me homesick for Ohio (a rare feat indeed!).

Honorable Mention

Not quite good enough to make the top ten, but still worth noting:

Brightly Painted One by Tiny Ruins is a lovely, delicate urban folk album that reminds me of Joni Mitchell, particularly Ladies of the Canyon or Blue.

I love Nika Danilova's voice and I really wanted Taiga by Zola Jesus to be good. She was trying to make her music more accessible, and I commend her for that. But she ended up making it too pop for existing fans and still not pop enough for new listeners.

Sophomore albums Swimming Time by Shovels & Rope and This Is All Yours by alt-J were solid, but not as satisfying as the debut albums

 

 

You Don’t Have to be a Genius to Appreciate Andrew H’s Choices

 

Most essential albums of the year:

 

1.      Perfume Genius, Too Bright

2.      St. Vincent, St. Vincent

3.      The Mockingjay Soundtrack

4.      Taylor Swift, 1989

5.      Ingrid Michaelson, Lights Out

 

Songs of the year:

 

1.      Taylor Swift, “Out of the Woods”

2.      Perfume Genius, “Queen”

3.      St. Vincent, “Psychopath”

4.      Lorde, “Yellow Flicker Beat”

5.      Stromae featuring Lorde, Haim, Q-Tip, and Pusha T, “Meltdown”

6.      Ingrid Michaelson “Girls Chase Boys”

7.      Betty Who, “High Society”

 

 

Len V, Bitten by the Bugg

 

Thanks for including me. This probably doesn't follow the actual rules, but this year was about others -- mostly teen readers -- turning me onto music I had missed, so it was more about artists and songs than albums. The top two, neither, I think, from this year:

 

ARTIST, SONG

Bright Eyes, Lua

Jake Bugg, Lightning Bolt

 

And anything by the Mountain Goats. 

 

I also rediscovered the albums:

 

Roxy Music,  Manifesto 

Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska

 

Both great for late night email answering (like right now). 

 

 

Elizabeth K Plants Her Vote

 

Robert Plant, Lullaby & the Ceaseless Roar - 

 

 

Megan B’s Fine Hoziery

 

This was SO hard this time. So much good music came out this year, but I think this is my final list.

1.  Hozier, Take Me To Church

2.  Vance Joy, Mess is Mine

3.  Young the Giant, It's About Time

4.  Royal Blood, Out of the Black

5.  Imagine Dragons, I Bet My Life

6.  The Orwells, Who Needs You

Jack White, Lazaretto

 

 

Elizabeth E’s Got That James Dean Look in Her Eye…

 

Didn't really LOVE a ton this year, and didn't get a lot of albums. I don't know if this is a statement on the music industry, or my lack of finding new stuff. But here it is...

 

ESSENTIAL ALBUM

1989, Taylor Swift (The haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate...)

 

NEW ARTISTS WHO CAME THISCLOSE TO BEING MY ESSENTIAL

Magic Man, Before the Waves

The Colourist, The Colourist

 

OTHER ESSENTIALS

Walk the Moon, Talking is Hard

Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear

Betty Who, Take Me When You Go (even though its basically the two EPs)

The War on Drugs, Lost in a Dream

Vance Joy, Dream Your Life Away

Ingrid Michaelson, Lights Out

Neon Trees, Pop Psychology

Phox, Phox - WISCONSIN REPRESENT!

 

 

SINGLES

Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nikki Minaj, Bang Bang

"Begin Again" cast, Lost Stars

Panama Wedding, All of the People

Sia, Chandelier

Taylor Swift, Shake it Off

NoNoNo, Pumpin Blood

Bleachers, I Wanna Get Better

 

 

It’s Not Just a Phase for Crissa C

 

* Beck, Morning Phase

Caribou, Our Love

Flying Lotus, You're Dead!

Ariel Pink, Pom Pom

Lykke Li, I Never Learn

SOHN, Tremors

St. Vincent, St. Vincent

FKA Twigs, LP1

 

* best single: Fenster, Sunday Owls

 

 

Cassandra P Brings Her Taste to the Poll

 

Most Essential Album:

Azealia Banks, Broke with Expensive Taste

 

Other Essential Albums of the Year:

J Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive

D’Angelo & the Vanguard, Black Messiah

Nicki Minaj, The Pinkprint

Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear

Taylor Swift, 1989

 

Best Discovery from Previous Years:

Dawn Richard, Goldenheart (album, 2013)

 

Top Seven Songs of the Year:

Sia, Chandelier

Beyonce, Flawless (Remix f. Nicki Minaj)

Azealia Banks, Ice Princess

Beyonce, 7/11 [the video, mainly] 

Taylor Swift, Blank Space

Makonnen, Tuesday (f. Drake)

Sam Smith, Stay with Me

 

 

Lawrence U is Not the Only One That This Music Stays With

 

Here are my album picks for 2014!

 

1. Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour

2. MisterWives - Reflections EP

3. Taylor Swift - 1989

4. Ella Henderson - Chapter One

5. Nick Jonas - Nick Jonas

6. Ingrid Michaelson - Lights Out

7. Meghan Trainor - Title

8. Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear

9. Mary Lambert - Heart On My Sleeve

10. Ariana Grande - My Everything

 

Top Singles! 

 

1. Sam Smith - I'm Not The Only One

2. MisterWives - Reflections

3. G.R.L - Ugly Heart

4. Ella Henderson - Pieces

5. Sheppard - Geronimo

6. Odessa - I Will Be There

7. Bleachers - I Wanna Get Better

8. Mary Lambert - Secrets

9. Sia - Chandelier 

10. Meghan Trainor - Lips Are Movin

11. Ingrid Michaelson - Girls Chase Boys

 

This is always so hard for me to decide, but I think that this list is pretty much sums up my 2014 music favorites. I'm sure that I am missing something spectacular, but everything listed here is deserving. 

 

 

Lauren S is in the Spirit

 

Here are my most essential albums of 2014:

 

1. Delta Spirit - Into the Wide

2. Hozier - Hozier

3. Cold War Kids - Hold My Home

4. You+Me - rose ave.

5. Johnnyswim - Diamonds

6. Olivia Broadfield - Paper Dolls

7. Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear

8. Lykke Li - I Never Learn

9. The Fray - Helios

10. Andrew McMahon - Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness

 

Most Essential Songs:

 

1. Hozier, "Work Song"

2. Delta Spirit, "Hold My End Up"

3. Cold War Kids, "First"

4. William Fitzsimmons, "Centralia"

5. Sia, "Elastic Heart"

6. Lorde, "Yellow Flicker Beat"

7. Wakey!Wakey!, "Stop the World"

 

I also discovered (and spent quite a bit of time listening to) Typhoon's 2013 album White Lighter, which definitely would have made my list last year if I'd known about it. Jono McCleery's song "Darkest Light" (2010) was also a favorite.

 

 

Danielle P Can’t Shake it Off

 

Very much considered crafting a list that was indie and cool. But my iPad is unabashedly pop-y, so I just wrote down the top ten most played songs this year. So I begin and end with Swift!

 

This Love, Taylor Swift, 1989

Night Changes,One Direction, Four

Tov Lo, Habits, Truth Serum

Need Ur Love, Charlie XCX

Thinking Out Loud, Ed Sheeran, X

No Rest for the Wicked, Lyke Li, I Never Learn

Take Me To Church, Hozier, Hozier

Hideaway, Kiesza, Sound of a Woman

Black Widow, Ziggy Azaela, The New Classic

Shake it Off, Taylor Swift, 1989

 

 

Jaci M and her Gang of Youths

 

The only new things that I've heard and loved this year, to the best of my recollection,

are:

 

- Gang of Youths, - especially the song, Evangelist (but that might be from a previous year? I saw them play this year and I really liked that song - but their 'new' song was something about drums, which was good but I have lost a bit of interest in it)

- St Vincent, (especially the songs, Rattlesnake and Birth in Reverse - but everyone's talking about her - and again, is that the previous year?)

- Sylvan Esso, esp Dreamy Bruises and Coffee

 

Also, the other day my little sister was encouraging me to listen to Australian hip hop.  She played me this song:

 

- Hilltop Hoods - Cosby Sweater

 

And I liked it, but I don't know if I will continue to like it.  However, I do remember that I love their song, 'Nosebleed Section' from a while back.  So I might?

 

 

Stephen B Sings the Blues

 

I listened to so little new music this year, I couldn't even make a full ten in either category!

 

Best Albums

 

1. Against Me!, Transgender Dysphoria Blues 

2. Azealia Banks, Broke With Expensive Taste

3. Taylor Swift, 1989

4. Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear 

5. Cloud Nothings, Here and Nowhere Else

6. TV on the Radio, Seeds

7. Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence

8. La Dispute, Rooms of the House

 

Best Songs

 

1. Sia, "Chandelier"

2. Azealia Banks, "Chasing Time"

3. Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"

4. Kiesza, "Hideaway"

5. Jack Ü ft. Kiesza, "Take Ü There"

6. Porter Robinson, "Lionhearted"

7. Taylor Swift, "Out of the Woods"

8. Lana Del Rey, "Ultraviolence"

 

 

Teri Y Moon Walks

 

Albums

Walk the Moon, Talking is Hard

Royksopp & Robyn, Do it Again

Royksopp, The Inevitable End

Taylor Swift, 1989

 

Singles

Marina and the Diamonds, Froot

Lorde, Yellow Flicker Beat

OK Go, The Writing's on the Wall

Stromae, Tous le Memes (2013)

 

 

Jinny W Strikes Bach

 

Most essential album of the year:

 

JOSHUA BELL, Bach with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. 

 

Other essential albums:

JERUSALEM QUARTET, Smetana and Janacek: String Quartets.

ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER and LAMBERT ORKIS, The Silver Album.

 

Heartthrobs every one.

 

 

Hillary B Rocks This Radio

 

1. TV on the Radio, Seeds

2. Real Estate, Atlas

3. Beck, Morning Phase

4. Elbow, The Take Off and Landing of Everything

5. Tweedy, Sukierae

6. The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream

7. J. Roddy Walston and the Business, Essential Tremors

 

I couldn't even begin to pick songs. My number one is all the zumba jams featuring Pitbull and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

 

 

Stewart F is Hearing Voices

 

My top albums of 2014:

1.       Phantogram – Voices

2.       TV On The Radio – Seeds

3.       Beck – Morning Phase

4.       Various - Die Welt Ist Klang: A Tribute To Pete Namlook

5.       Real Estate – Atlas

6.       Swans – To Be Kind

7.       Yagya – Sleepygirls

8.       Plaid – Reachy Prints

9.       The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream

10.   Woob – Ambient Disaster Movie


Top songs of 2014 (based on raw iTunes play counts):

1.       Beck – “Blue Moon”

2.       TV On The Radio – “Careful You”

3.       Elbow – “Charge”

4.       Phantogram – “Fall In Love”

5.       Plaid – “Hawkmoth”

6.       TV On The Radio – “Careful You”

7.       Spoon – “New York Kiss”

8.       Real Estate – “Past Lives”

9.       Damon Albarn – “Everyday Robots”

10.   The National – “I Should Live in Salt”


Essential stuff I (re)discovered this year (in no order):

  Faith No More – Angel Dust

  Wounds of the Earth – V/A compilations

  Fela Soul (De La Soul/Fela Kuti mashups by Gummy Soul/Amerigo Gazaway)

  School of Fish – “Three Strange Days”

  Stereolab – “Miss Modular”

  Tympanik Audio label

  Touched Two compilation (touched.bandcamp.com)

  Joy Division

  Killing Joke – “Love Like Blood”

  Nine Inch Nails’ entire back catalogue

  Godflesh, Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly… it’s been a rough year

  Nirvana’s cover of “The Man Who Sold The World”

  Dusted Wax Kingdom netlabel

  Husker Du – “Don’t Want to Know if You Are Lonely”

  Built to Spill

  Del Tha Funkee Homosapien – “Pissin’ On Your Steps”

  Lalo Schifrin – Bullitt soundtrack

 

 

Life is But a Dream for Brant R

 

My Essential Albums of 2014:

The War on Drugs/Lost in the Dream

TV Girl/French Exit

Real Estate/Atlas

Future Islands/Singles

Mac DeMarco/Salad Days

Frankie Cosmos/Zentropy

Todd Terje/It’s Album Time

TV on the Radio/Seeds

Iggy Azalea/The New Classic

Heaven’s Jail/Ace Called Zero

 

 

Jonathan V’s Finds Peace in This War

 

1. The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream

 

Springsteengaze is officially a thing now.

 

2. iamamiwhoami, Blue

The Scandinavian synthpop beach record is officially a thing now.

3. Future Islands, Singles

 

Manic raptor new wave is officially a thing now.

 

4. Angel Olsen, Burn your Fire for No Witness

The kind of folk songs you’d expect to hear at a séance, sung by the ghost.

 

5. alt-J, This Is All Yours

Recalls the suitelike '00s alt-rock splendor of early Doves; that's recommendese for “get it now.”

 

6. Bombay Bicycle Club, So Long See You Tomorrow

Long accustomed to navigating the tortuous streets of Crouch End, this band is now creating equally intricate music.

7. Tycho, Awake

Mellow, guitar-borne profundity.

8. Trust, Joyland

Co-vocalist Maya Postepski left this darkwave duo between albums and, in a twist worthy of early Brian De Palma, co-vocalist Robert Alfons replaced her with himself.  Now he’s singing octave-hopping, reflexive duets.  Remarkably, this mesmerizing LP more than outshines its backstory.
9. Dean Blunt, Black Metal  

Music fans everywhere agree: we have no idea what this guy is doing, but "Black Metal" certainly raises the bar of whatever that is, infusing Blunt's bedroom-fi recordings with a quixotic kind of grace.  Good luck putting your finger on it!

10. The Twilight Sad, Nobody Wants to Be Here Nobody Wants to Leave

…and the award for "Implementing an Awesomely Scottish Accent to Pry Hope from Unrelenting Darkness" goes to James Graham, and the wall of sound behind him.

 

1. FKA Twigs - Two Weeks

2. Angel Olsen - Stars

3. Andy Stott - Violence

4. Future Islands - Fall from Grace

5. Saintseneca - Fed Up with Hunger

6. The War on Drugs - Under the Pressure

7. Perfume Genius - Queen

 

 

No Blank Spaces on Goldy M’s List

 

Most essential album: Taylor Swift, 1989 

 

Other good albums: 

Dream Your Life Away, Vance Joy

Ed Sheeran, X

 

7 Best songs (album cuts and singles):

"Take me to Church," Hozier

"Waves," Mr. Probz

"Georgia," Vance Joy 

"Afire Love," Ed Sheeran 

"Wildest Dreams," Taylor Swift 

"Style," Taylor Swift 

Song I'm most embarrassed to admit I love: "Stockholm Syndrome," One Direction 

 

 

Adam G Puts the Pikes at His Peak

 

Okay. First time participant.

 

1. Turnpike Troubadours, Goodbye Normal Street (album)

2. Hayes Carll, Trouble in Mind (album)

3. Kishi Bashi, Lighght (album)

4. Hozier, Hozier (album)

 

 

Lucas K Merrily Weathers Lewis

 

My top album this year was actually from 2013: Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park

 

For 2014 releases:

 

1. Jenny Lewis, The Voyager

2. Bleachers, Strange Desire

3. Eric Church, The Outsiders

4. Taylor Swift, 1989

5. Coldplay, Ghost Stories

6. TV on the Radio, Seeds

7. St. Lucia, When the Night

8. Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour

9. Wye Oak, Shriek 

 

 

Chris S’s Gotta Have Faith

 

Paloma Faith, A Perfect Contradiction

 

 

Matthue R’s Vincent Van Goes

 

Dammit, David. I am warning you, for reasons I cannot really articulate or even fathom, there is Taylor Swift on this list.

 

Most: 

St. Vincent, St. Vincent

 

And: 

Feter Hendel, Fire Bright (okay, this is way more obscure than any of my others, but it's amazing, you need to hear it now http://feterhendel.bandcamp.com )

Taylor Swift, 1989

Angel Olson, Burn Yr Fire For No Witness

Impatiens, Kitty Pryde

Sylvan Esso, Sylvan Esso

 

Strangest fact:

I always used to think bands who put out self-titled albums were ultra lame. Now they're making my essential list. I feel uncomfortable about this, but they're too good not to be there.

 

2014 Album That Has No 2014 Songs on It:

Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack

 

My 2015 List: 

No Cities to Love

No Cities to Love

No Cities to Love

No Cities to Love

 

 

Josh A’s Live at V

 

2014 was comprised of listening to Frozen exactly 473 times and the rest is the 6 minute drive to my train station of top 40(of which I do actually like a bunch of those songs). 

 

However, he is my stab at it:

 

Best Album:

Maroon 5, V

 

Best song: Don't judge me for this:

Taylor Swift Shake it off - You have to admit it is super catchy.

 

 

Andrew F Lives by the Saint

 

My Top 5 of the Year:

 

1. St. Vincent, St. Vincent

2. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Hypnotic Eye

3. Lori McKenna, Numbered Doors

4. Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack, Awesome Mix: Volume 1

5. Miranda Lambert, Platinum

 

 

No Waterloo for Scott T

 

As for music, I still listen to a lot but the one that grabbed me the most this year was actually a guy named Simon Mills who records as Napoleon.  He set himself the task of digitally releasing a 4 song EP each month of the year.  It's a bit unconventional but I guess music as an industry the music biz is getting a lot less conventional.

 

Essential Album of the Year

Napoleon - 12 EPs

 

Top Songs of the Year

 

1.  The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, My Club

2.  Glass Animals, Gooey

3.  Lykke Li, No Rest for the Wicked

4.  Royksopp, Sordid Affair

5.  SOHN, Artifice

6.  Hospitality, Rockets and Jets

7.  Brett Domino, Pinocchio

 

 

God Helped the Boy, and That Boy is Nick E

 

This was the year I finally got the Belle and Sebastian album I've been waiting for! It's just not technically by Belle and Sebastian, is all.

 

Essential albums:

 

God Help the Girl, God Help the Girl

The New Pornographers, Brill Bruisers

Royksopp and Robyn, Do It Again

Trevor Morris, Dragon Age Inquisition Soundtrack

 

Essential singles:

 

RuPaul, Sissy That Walk

Banks, Beggin for Thread

Hozier, Take Me to Church

 

Something went terribly wrong here:

 

Sun Kil Moon, Benji

 

 

For Drew L, It’s All About the Losing

 

1. Cymbals Eat Guitars, Lose

2. The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream

 

 

A Swiftly Tilting Tyler G

 

Taylor Swift, 1989

Charli XCX, Sucker

Original Broadway Cast, The Bridges of Madison County (What can I say?)

 

 

Bill K’s Wonderful World

 

Albums of the year-

4. Ed Sheeran - X

3. Sam Smith - In the Lonely Hour

2. Fitz and the Tantrums - More than Just a Dream

1. A Great Big World - Is There Anybody Out There?

 

Top 7 songs of the year-

7. We Exist - Arcade Fire

6. Stay With Me - Sam Smith

5. Love Never Felt so Good - Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake

4. Happy - Pharrell Williams

3. Out of My League - Fitz and the Tantrums

2. Chocolate - The 1975

1. Already Home - A Great Big World

 

 

Anna C Coughs Up a Lung

 

Here are my picks - difficult ones! This was such an amazing year for albums!

 

1. White Lung, Deep Fantasy

2. Jenny Lewis, The Voyager

3. Priests, Bodies and Control and Money and Power

4. Angel Olsen, Burn Your Fire For No Witness

5. King Tuff, Black Moon Spell

6. Ex Hex, Rips

 

 

For John A, 1979 trumps 1989

 

Here’s my top ten, from first to last:

 

1.      Death from Above 1979, The Physical World

2.      Parquet Courts, Sunbathing Animal

3.      Spoon, They Want My Soul

4.      St Vincent, St.Vincent

5.      Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence

6.      Elbow, The Take Off and Landing of Everything

7.      Real Estate, Atlas

8.      The Life and Times, Lost Bees

9.      Cloud Nothings, Here and Nowhere Else

10.   Perfume Genius, Too Bright

 

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):

Speedy Ortiz, Real Hair

The Afghan Wigs, Do the Beast

Foxygen, ….And Star Power

Weezer, Everything Will Be All Right in the End

Mogwai, Rave Tapes

The New Pornographers, Brill Bruisers

 

And finally, the song  I played on constant repeat:

Jenny Lewis, Slippery Slopes

 

 

Peter K Shares His Encyclopedic Knowledge

 

1.       The Drums, Encyclopedia (of course!)

2.       FKA Twig, LP1

3.       Spoon, They Want My Soul

 

 

Frankie Kicks Ass (aka FKA)

 

FKA Twigs, LP1

TAYLOR SWIFT, 1989

D'Angelo, Black Messiah

Azealia Banks, Broke with Expensive Taste

This is All Yours, alt-J

 

As far as essential, etc., this year I dove deep into Björk's back list, which I've never ever listened to before, and fell in complete love. Especially with Vespertine Live. So there's that!

 

 

Kevin W Manipulates the List

 

1. Ty Segall, Manipulator

2. The Men, Tomorrow’s Hits

3. Angel Olsen, Burn Your Fire for No Witness

4. Reigning Sound, Shattered

5. Joyce Manor, Never Hungover Again

6. Christopher Denny, If the Roses Don’t Kill Us

7. Legendary Wings, Do You See?

8. Twin Peaks, Wild Onion

9. King Tuff, Black Moon Spell

10. Sugar Stems, Only Come Out at Night

11. Amy LaVere, Runaway’s Diary

 

 

Andrea R, Quite a Fox

 

Foxes, Glorious

Taylor Swift, 1989

TV on the Radio, Seeds

Bastille, Bad Summer

Beck, Morning Phase

Hozier, Hozier

London Grammar, If You Wait

FKA Twings, LP1

Phantogram, Voices

Alt-J, This is All Yours

Haley Bonar, Last War

 

 

Iain S Swans Songs

 

Diffuse year musically.

 

Swans, To Be Kind

Aphex Twin, Syro

Caribou, Our Love

 

 

Glenn B Spoons Nicely

 

1 Spoon, They Want My Soul

2 Beck, Morning Phase

3 Life & Times, Lost Bees

4 Braid, No Coast

5 St. Vincent, St. Vincent

6 Bob Mould, Beauty and Ruin

7 GOASTT- The Ghost of A Sabre Tooth Tiger

8 Parquet Courts, Sunbathing Animals

9 Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2

10 Afghan Whigs, Do the Beast

 

 

Christopher P, Slow Club Kid

 

1. Slow Club - Complete Surrender

2. Jessie Ware - Tough Love

3. Lykke Li - I Never Learn

4. Kelis - Food

5. Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear

6. Sondre Lerche - Please

7. Banks - Goddess

8. Paloma Faith - A Perfect Contradiction

9. Lily Allen - Sheezus

10. Sam Roberts Band - Lo-Fantasy

 

 

Veronica Handles Messiah

 

Here it top 5 for me, with 1 on top and the rest interchangeable depending on mood.

 

D'Angelo and the Vanguard, Black Messiah

Lykke Li, I Never Learn

FKA Twigs, LP1

Mr. Twin Sister, Mr. Twin Sister

Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2

 

 

Heather H Takes it to Church

 

Albums:

Hozier, Hozier

Against Me!, Transgendered Dysphoria Blues

Future Islands, Singles

Ed Sheeran, X

Foo FIghters, Sonic Highways

U2, Songs of Innocence

Pearl Jam, Lightning Bolt

 

Singles:

Sia, Chandelier

Faith No More, Motherfucker

Sam Smith, Stay with Me

Slow, Leonard Cohen

Islander, Coconut Dracula

Nico and Vinz, Am I Wrong

 

 

Erich N’s Taylor-made List

 

I'm not really any good at listening to the latest music. But last year I quite enjoyed:

 

1989 — Taylor Swift

The Pinkprint — Nicki Minaj

Shabazz Palaces — Lese Majesty

Stromae — Racine Carree

 

 

Tiffany S Comes Out for the Wilderness

 

Albums:

 

1) Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness

2) Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Winter

3) Taylor Swift, 1989

4) Echosmith, Acoustic Dreams

5) Hunter Hunted, Hunter Hunted

6) Sam Hunt, Montevallo

7) Hozier, Hozier

 

 

Songs:

1) Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, “All Our Lives"

2) Vancouver Sleep Clinic, “Stakes”

3) Sir Sly, “You Haunt Me"

4) Taylor Swift, “Style"

5) Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, “Black and White Movies"

6) Bleachers, “I Wanna Get Better”

7) Sam Hunt, “Make You Miss Me"

8) The Gaslight Anthem, “Get Hurt”

 

 

Maggie S’s Beck and Call

 

It was a brilliant year for music — more ways than ever before for the average schmo to discover new indie sounds as soon as they happen. Also frustrating, though, because it’s easier than ever to find a band before the EP is available. I told myself I was doing a top 10, and then I promised it would only be a top 20, and then I told myself 30 and that was all-definitely-all. And then I just gave up and said, Top 40 has a ring. I’m not sorry.

 

Here they are, in no particular order. My sister says I’m only listening to music that sounds off-kilter these days, so consider that a warning, I suppose.

 

1. Beck, “Turn Away”

2. Raury, “God’s Whisper”

3. Air Dubai, “Warning (feat. Patricia Lynn)

4. SPEAK, “Heavy Metal War”

5. SVE, “Riot”

6. Sia, “Elastic Heart”

7. Reuben And the Dark, “Marionette”

8. Coldplay, “Midnight”

9. Ben Khan, “Eden”

10. Seinabo Sey, “Hard Time”

11. Robots Don’t Sleep, “Trouble”

12. Florrie, “Seashells”

13. X Ambassadors, “Unsteady”

14. Matthew and the Atlas, “Out of the Darkness”

15. Marika Hackman, “I Follow Rivers (Lykke Li cover)

16. SAFIA, “Paranoia, Ghosts, & Other Sounds”

17. S O H N, “Artifice”

18. NONONO, “Jungle”

19. Koda, “Staying”

20. Junip, “Line of Fire”

21. THUMPERS, “Unkinder (A Tougher Love)”

22. Sam Roberts Band, “We’re All In This Together”

23. ceo, “OMG”

24. Broods, “Sleep Baby Sleep”

25. ASTR, “We Fall Down”

26. Switchfoot, “Wherever This Goes”

27. Ryn Weaver, “OctaHate”

28. The New Pornographers, “Brill Bruisers”

29. Interpol, “My Desire”

30. Alt-J, “Arrival in Nara”

31. Yelawolf, “Till It’s Gone”

32. My Brightest Diamon, “Pressure”

33. The Chemical Brothers, “This is Not a Game (feat. Miguel)”

34. Iggy Azalea, “Beg for It”

35. SOAK, “B anoBody”

36. Maps, “A. M. A. Eule Remix”

37. Ibeyi, “River”

38. Big Data, “Dangerous (feat Joywave)”

39. KONGOS, “Come With Me Now”

40. Laurel, “Fire Breather”

 

 

Here are two songs released in 2014 but not available yet:

Seinabo Sey, “Pistols at Dawn”

Sprawlhunt, “Suede Bomber”

 

And a remix I adore but isn’t available for download, only streaming:

Angus & Julia Stone, “A Heartbreak (Active Child remix)”

 

 

Tim D Takes You There

 

Albums:

Sharon Van Etten - Are We There

Jack White - Lazaretto

Perfect Pussy - Say Yes to Love

Great Caesar - (Eponymous EP)

 

Singles:

All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor 'cause like this is auditory crack-cocaine and the best three chord G-Am-D song of the year.

Elastic Heart - Sia - mostly because of the video.

 

 

Eugene K parties like it’s 1989

 

Taylor Swift - 1989

Makthaverskan - II

Aphex Twin - Syro

FKA Twigs - LP1

Tinashe - Aquarius

Jon Bellion - The Definition

 

 

Jonas R Gives Peas a Chance

 

Thanks for hosting the annual music poll and for inviting me to participate.  It was a great year for music - the only hard part was narrowing down the list.  Harder still was selecting # 1 - depending on what mood I'm in, that could easily be almost any album on my top ten list:

 

Courtney Barnett, The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas

Spoon, They Want My Soul

Jenny Lewis, The Voyager

G. Love & Special Sauce, Sugar

Real Estate, Atlas

The Secret Sisters, Put Your Needle Down

Jolie Holland, Wine Dark Sea

The New Pornographers, Brill Bruisers

Karen O, Crush Songs

Lucinda Williams, Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone

 

 

Dean B’s List is a Mess

 

Favorite Albums:

1. Liars, Mess

2. Damien Rice, My Favorite Faded Fantasy

3. Spoon, They Want My Soul

4. Gone Girl soundtrack

5. Ryan Adams, s/t

6. Coldplay, Ghost Stories

7. Broken Bells, After The Disco

8. Fink, Hard Believer

9. Beck, Morning Phase

10. David Gray, Mutineers

 

Favorite Songs:

Liars, Left Speaker Blown / Mess on a Mission

Fink, Looking Too Closely

Spoon, Do You

Damien Rice, The Box

Ryan Adams, My Wrecking Ball

Broken Bells, Perfect World

David Gray, Back in the World / Gulls

Oscar Isaac & Marcus Mumford, Fare Thee Well (Inside Llewyn Davis sdtk)

Karen O, Ooo

 

My 2014 Mix (on Spotify):


 

Favorite Movies:

1. McConkey

2. Grand Budapest Hotel

3. Frank

4. Guardians of the Galaxy

5. Two Days, One Night

6. Under The Skin

7. Virunga

8. Museum Hours

9. Her

 

 

Preeti Loves Preet

 

1. Various Artists, Khoobsurat soundtrack 

2. Damon Albarn, Everyday Robots 

3. Various Artists, Guardians of the Galaxy 

4. Dale Earhardt Jr. Jr., The Speed of Things 

 

1. Sunidhi Chauhan & Resmo Sateesh, Preet 

2. Sia, Chandelier 

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Dark Waters 

4. Swaroop Khan, Tharki Chokro

5. Damon Albarn, Lonely Press Play 

6. Ed Sheeran, I See Fire

7. Beyoncé, Drunk in Love 

 

 

Siobhan’s Patron Saint

 

1.     St. Vincent, St. Vincent

2.     Jenny Lewis, The Voyager

3.     Karen O, Crush Songs

4.     Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence

5.     Taylor Swift, 1989

 

 

Dash Twigs Out

 

1. FKA Twigs, LP1

2. Mac Miller, Faces

3. Mac Demarco, Salad Days

4. St. Vincent, St. Vincent

5. Flying Lotus, Your'e Dead!

6. J. Cole, 2014 Forrest Hills Drive

7. Childish Gambino, Kauai

8. Weezer, Everything Will Be Alright In The End

9. Vince Staples, Hell Can Wait

10. Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear

 

 

Chris H conquers his Fear

 

Singles:

1. Sam Smith - Stay With Me

2. Sia - Chandelier 

3. Taylor Swift - Blank Space

4. Charli XCX - Boom Clap

5. Disclosure - Latch

6. Hozier - Take Me to Church

7. Lana Del Rey - Brooklyn Baby

 

And my favorite albums: 

 

1. Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear

2. Jenny Lewis - The Voyager

3. Taylor Swift - 1989

4. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence

5. War on Drugs - Lost in a Dream 

6. Caribou - Our Love

7. Betty Who - Take Me When You Go

8. Bleachers - Strange Desire

9. Lykke Li - I Never Learn 

10. Calvin Harris - Motion

 

 

Brett W is a tween girl

 

1. 1989 by Taylor Swift.

Because I could listen to "Style" while aimlessly driving nowhere at midnight singing, "Just take me hooome" at the top of my lungs FOR-EV-ER.

 

2. Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey.

Because no one does summertime sadness quite like LDR.

 

3. Kiss Me Once by Kylie Minogue.

Because "Kiss Me Once" sounds exactly like how winter melting into spring feels.

 

4. Four by One Direction

Solely for "Fireproof" and for the heavens giving us Zayn Malik.

 

5. Do It Again by Robyn and Röyksopp

Every Little Thing Robyn does is so perfect.

 

6. Born Naked by RuPaul

Three words that I live my life by: SISSY. THAT. WALK.

 

7. 1000 Forms of Fear by Sia

Because this one is probably going to be everyone's #1, isn't it? And I'll be shamed for putting it at #7.

 

8. Black Messiah by D'Angelo

Because I'm still settling into this one from December but unf.

 

9. Sorry I'm Late by Cher Lloyd

Because I love "Bind Your Love" and "I Wish" and I DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS.

 

10. And finally, a HUGE shout out to my favorite song + music video combo of 2014!!! "Touch My Body" by Sistar. KILLIN' IT.


 

 

Emily M’s Booker Prize

 

My most essential albums of 2014:

Benjamin Booker

Taylor Swift, 1989

Hozier

Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack

The Black Keys, Turn Blue

FKA Twigs

St. Vincent

Weezer, Everything Will Be Alright In the End

Old Crow Medicine Show, Remedy

Little Big Town, Pain Killer

Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour

 

 

Everything Will Be Alright with Melissa W in the End

 

I may be too late and I'll totally use the "new baby" excuse, but if you're still compiling, I just have a couple of essential albums to add, in no particular order (see above excuse):

 

Weezer, Everything Will Be Alright in the End

 

Taylor Swift, 1989 

Miranda Lambert, Platinum

Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music

St. Vincent, St. Vincent

 

 

Kristin Plants Some Seeds

 

There seemed to be a lot of good stuff last year, but I particularly je t'aime:

 

TV on the Radio, Seeds

 

 

Chris R Stations Esso

 

This was a tough list to make. I realized in the process of putting this together that I've mostly been exploring older album and artists this year. 

 

1. Sylvan Esso, Sylvan Esso

2. Timber Timbre, Hot Dreams

3. Vance Joy, Dream Your Life Away

4. Alt-J, This is all yours

5. Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour

6. Hozier, Hozier

7. Roo Panes, Little Giant

8. Mapei, Don’t Wait – Single

 

 

Billy M’s Ray of Light

 

Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey

Lightght by Kishi Bashi 

Broke With Expensive Taste by Azealia Banks

Are We There by Sharon Van Etten

Lost on the River by The New Basement Tapes

Tremors by S O H N

Crush Songs by Karen O

Sylvan Esso by Sylvan Esso

Stay Gold by First Aid Kit

Burn Your Fire For No Witness by Angel Olsen

 

Singles:

“Take Me To Church” by Hozier

“Stay With Me” by Sam Smith