" Update: There’s a Vimeo version online, since some of the major labels have blocked the video in certain countries. Hit play and full screen! No need to try and figure it out on your own, we’ve got you covered. Me, Matt, Muriel, Sean and Austin have summarized and ranked this year’s albums in this […]"
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2014
Update: There’s a Vimeo version online, since some of the major labels have blocked the video in certain countries.
Hit play and full screen! No need to try and figure it out on your own, we’ve got you covered. Me, Matt, Muriel, Sean and Austin have summarized and ranked this year’s albums in this fantastic video for you. Will Foo Fighters make the cut? Does anyone really like Aphex Twin’s album legitimately? Will Pitchfork list obscure albums no one actually likes? What happens if you really dug the U2 album and its marking strategy? Will Kanye West drop an album tomorrow and destroy all 2014 lists forever?
All these questions and more, are somewhat answered in eight minutes and forty seconds. For safety reasons, and because major labels automatically ban use of their work, we’ve got a Vimeo video alternative link if the Youtube video gets taken offline. As mentioned in the video, we couldn’t cover metal albums because while ranking and comparing albums and genres is stupid enough on its own, a hardcore metal act couldn’t possibly fit between indie act #1 and alternative indie act #2. Here’s our best of metal albums list, as voted by you.
Disagree with our list? Don’t worry, we’re not sure we even agree with ourselves (who’s EP anyway?). But make sure to share your list below and for what it’s worth, we hope you enjoyed watching the list!
what about Devin Townsend’s “Z²”?
It’s good (hey it’s Devin .. but still a bit disapointing to me .. it’s no Z1, not in a long shot ..
Yes! Devin is magnificent as always.
YG – My Krazy Life
Ben Howard – I Forget Where We Were
+1 For Ben Howard – I Forget Where We Were
Good contender!
This year is being one of the worse years I can remember, following the downline of the past two years.
Or maybe I’m getting too old.
Vance Joy – Dream Your Life Away
also
Ed Sheeran – x
Country
Brantely Gilbert – Just as I am
Indie/Alt
American Authors – Oh what a life
Sharon Van Etten – Are We There
First Aid Kit – Stay Gold
Keaton Henson – Romantic Works
The Black Keys – Turn Blue
Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Wanderlust
Interpol – El Pintor
To begin with…
Turn Blue is one of the worst albums in my opinion. It’s so dull.
Well, I can give you my top 20…Not everybody is going to agree, but hey, it’s something:
1. Hundred Waters – the Moon Rang Like A Bell
2. Caribou – Our Love
3. Liars – MESS
4. Badbadnotgood – III
5. Have a Nice Life – The Unnatural World
6. Swans – To Be Kind
7. Ty Segall – Manipulator
8. The Acid – Liminal
9. Cloud Boat – Model of You
10. Temples – Sun Structures
11. Interpol – El Pintor
12. The War on Drugs – Lost in the Dream
13. Timbre Timbre – Hot Dreams
14. Aphex Twin – Syro
15. Open Mike Eagle – Dark Comedy
16. Spoon – They Want My Soul
17. Freddie Gibbs x Madlib – Piñata
18. Flying Lotus – You’re Dead
19. Perfume Genius – Too Bright
20. Todd Terje – It’s Album Time
This originally is a top 50, but i thought i’d begin with a top 20.
Definately NOT Alt-J though.
Solid list
great list
Anathema – Distant Satellites
Archive – Axiome
Mad Caddies – Dirty Rice
Marcus Wiebusch – Konfetti
We Stood Like Kings – Berlin 1927
Opeth – Pale Communion
Mastodon – Once More ‘Round The Sun
The Hold Steady – Teeth Dreams
I don’t know if there any old school hardcore on here, but Sheer Terror’s Standing Up For Falling Down is suprisingly good :) best I heard this year!
Royal Blood – Royal Blood
Death from Above 1979 – The Physical World
The Black Keys – Turn Blue
Definitely Slipknot, it’s a great, great comeback. Recently I started to dig new Anaal Nathrakh album, but I guess it won’t hold in the long run and is just temporary. While Slipknot… Oooh, Slipknot.
Best so far:
1. Swans – To Be Kind
2. Run the Jewels – RTJ2
3. tUnE-yArDs – Nikki Nack
4. Caribou – Our Love
5. Aphex Twin – Syro
6. Andy Stott – Faith in Strangers
7. Lower – Seek Warmer Climes
8. Todd Terje – It’s Album Time
9. Iceage – Plowing Into the Field of Love
10. Flying Lotus – You’re Dead!
10. Mac DeMarco • Salad Days
9. Real Estate • Atlas
8. Mastodon • Once More ‘Round the Sun
7. Jungle • Jungle
6. Run the Jewels • RTJ2
5. The Horrors • Luminous
4. Ryan Adams • Ryan Adams
3. Kasabian • 48-13
2. Alt-J • This Is All Yours
1. Royal Blood • Royal Blood
I’ll likely end up back here with more suggestions, but off the top of my head I think Hoodie Allen‘s People Keep Talking is a brilliant album that didn’t get nearly enough recognition since its debut.
Would also like to add the Hozier self-titled album whilst I think of it.
Would also like to add Hozier‘s self-titled album whilst I think of it, and second the “nom” for The Black Keys – Turn Blue
I personally love Sharon Van Etten’s “Are We There”. Otherwise, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Ex Hex, and St. Vincent still remain on my ipod playlist.
Popcaan – Where We Come From
*not in any order*
St. Vincent – St. Vincent
Hozier – Hozier
Ed Sheehan – x (Multiply)
while (1<2) – deadmau5
You're Dead – Flying Lotus
This is All Yours – Alt J
Turn Blue – The Black Keys
Ghost Stories – Coldplay
Jungle – Jungle
Bombay Bicycle Club – So Long, See You Tomorrow
SOHN – Tremors
Chet Faker – Built On Glass
The Kooks – Listen
Broods – Evergreen
Blackbird Blackbird – Tangerine Sky
RAC – Strangers
MO – No Mythologies To Follow
Dan Croll – Sweet Disarray
A class above the rest is ——ODESZA – IN RETURN——
Gorgon City “Sirens”
Slipknot is the winner. You don’t just take a break for 6 years and come back like they did, especially after losing two original band members, one of which tragically passed away. Some may say Pink Floyd but the album is gonna be mostly ambient music and was thrown together from 20 year-old recordings. Then again I can’t say for sure until it’s released.
Alt-J – This Is All Yours
Andy Bull – Sea of Approval
Chet Faker – Built On Glass
Beartooth – Disgusting
Passenger – Whispers
Sleepwave – Broken Compass
Handsome Jack – Do What Comes Naturally
Stu Larsen – Vagabond
Favorite Weapon – Sixty Saragossa
Hail The Sun – Wake
Every Time I Die – From Parts Unknown
Wovenwar – Wovenwar
At the Gates – At War with Reality
Agalloch – The Serpent and the Sphere
Horrendous – Ecdysis
Ashes – Hreow
Opeth – Pale Communion
Pallbearer – Foundations of Burden
Triptykon – Melana Chasmata
YOB – Clearing the Path to Ascend
OFF! – Wasted Years
Thou – Heathen
Darkest Hour – Darkest Hour
Demon Hunter – Extremist
Slipknot – The Gray Chapter
Wovenwar – Wovenwar
Fear of Domination – Distorted Delusions
Unearth – Watchers of Rule
Powerman 5000 – Builders of the Future
War of Ages – Supreme Chaos
At the Gates – At war with Reality
The Haunted – Exit Wounds
GREAT LIST!!