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
