Best Albums of 2014

[Censored by Laurie]

my annual tradition...this year, my favorite 14 albums from 2014:

14. The Antlers - Familiars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX80TmhJ2Is

13. Real Estate - Atlas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTxGOyqKe30

12. Ambrose Akinmusire - The Imagined Savior is Far Easier to Paint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y8-z9rXcZA

11. Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=802vbfZe9io

10. Beck - Morning Phase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Zp84XH6Eo

9. Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Rhythm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MdFprpSURw

8. Swans - To Be Kind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2bMsYb9P-k

7. Jungle - Jungle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4UckOGdZtI

6. Future Islands - Singles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ee4bfu_t3c

5. St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Half the City https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vpXX5BjltM

4. War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkLOg252KRE

3. Temples - Sun Structures https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXFN1y9CtNE

2. Sun Kil Moon - Benji https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fm25YRaZP0

1. Spoon - They Want My Soul https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDtLzwPJJko

music > politics

[oldguystudent]

Primus and the Chocolate Factory: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL14y9IDxaLr1b94uKkPXYKqc-2_tveSpw

The live show was one of the top five shows I've ever seen. Hands down. I think Les Claypool was doing things on the bass that are illegal in 7 southern states.

Groundation - A Miracle:

Because we all need a little jazz/reggae/jewish spirituality fusion in our lives. Also one of the great live acts around. Played Trees last May.

Edit: I would be remiss to omit Denton's own Pansy Moon - Night on Elba, featuring gmg.com's own Christopher Walker on bass. The entire album is on Spotify. Not sure where else it resides online.

Edited December 16, 2014 by oldguystudent

[MeanGreenTexan]

You forgot:

Brant Croucher - Blanco County Lights. -

[Censored by Laurie]

You forgot:

Brant Croucher - Blanco County Lights. -

definitely didn't forget about that guy...I really enjoyed that album...it's actually currently in my car's cd player and I'm waiting EVER SO PATIENTLY for my vinyl to arrive.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Censored by Laurie

[THOR]

say anything - hebrews

at least for me...

[Quoner]

Where does #2's song about #4 rank for you?

[Censored by Laurie]

Where does #2's song about #4 rank for you?

one of the weirdest artist spats I've ever heard of. Kozelek is an ornery ass...I think he's subsequently apologized and will probably end up doing an entire tribute album as penance, but still...really weird.

the song itself, as everything he touches, is great though

[Coffee and TV]

1) Salad Days - Mac DeMarco

2) Brill Bruisers - The New Pornographers

3) Georgia EP - Son of Stan

4) HAERTS- HAERTS

5) Split Peas Double EP - Courtney Barnett

6) Atlas - Real Estate

7) Stay Gold - First Aid Kit

8) Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams

Song of the year: Under the Pressure by The War on Drugs

EDIT: at some point I flipped listing the artists first and not the albums.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Coffee and TV

[Coffee and TV]

10. Beck - Morning Phase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Zp84XH6Eo

music > politics

Such a snoozer for me but I loved his set at Edgefest.

[TheTastyGreek]

What's the album that little husky girl put out this year? The one about how her mom told her guys like to bang chubby chicks?

That was a pretty sweet jam.

[CMJ]

What's the album that little husky girl put out this year? The one about how her mom told her guys like to bang chubby chicks?

That was a pretty sweet jam.

[MDH]

Parquet Courts - Sunbathing Animal is up there for me

agree on lots of the above. Really enjoyed Future Island's latest, thought Spoon's was pretty solid. Was fortunate enough to see both this year after having missed both on their last trips through Dallas (which had been 2012 I think?)

Biggest miss of the year: TVOTR. I just can't. Can we just return to the cookie mountain? Honorable mention to DFA 1979, really let me down.

Most overhyped of the year? That's easy, FKA Twigs.

[Censored by Laurie]

Parquet Courts - Sunbathing Animal is up there for me

agree on lots of the above. Really enjoyed Future Island's latest, thought Spoon's was pretty solid. Was fortunate enough to see both this year after having missed both on their last trips through Dallas (which had been 2012 I think?)

Biggest miss of the year: TVOTR. I just can't. Can we just return to the cookie mountain? Honorable mention to DFA 1979, really let me down.

Most overhyped of the year? That's easy, FKA Twigs.

I want to like Parquet Courts...I've actually hung out with Andrew a few times down in Brooklyn...he's friends with one of my good friends down there, both from UNT...good dude, I just can't get into their music.

I'm willing to give TVOTR a pass on this album...it's their first without Gerard Smith's influence...but I agree, rather pedestrian.

thank you, thank you, thank you...for the life of me I don't get what everyone is raving about with FKA Twigs.

[Coffee and TV]

I knew I left some off:

The Orwells - Disgraceland

St Vincent - St Vincent

[greenminer]

I knew I left some off:

The Orwells - Disgraceland

St Vincent - St Vincent

DFW gem Bobby Sparks is on that St. Vincent album.

If you ever get a chance to see and hear Bobby play live, do it. He is a rare talent.

[Coffee and TV]

Calling it now, nothing will top the new Tame Impala this year. I had some doubt after the singles had the band going in a new direction, but it's superb. Absolutely wonderful. 

[KRAM1]

So...you guys really big on country music and blues, huh?

[Censored by Laurie]

Calling it now, nothing will top the new Tame Impala this year. I had some doubt after the singles had the band going in a new direction, but it's superb. Absolutely wonderful. 

I get the appeal...and I've tried to dig them...but I just can't get into them. 

So...you guys really big on country music and blues, huh?

I like James McMurtry's new album...you might also dig Alabama Shakes if you're after some blues. 

also...meet the reincarnation of Sam Cooke...Ft. Worth's own Leon Bridges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTrKkqE9p1o

[oldguystudent]

So...you guys really big on country music and blues, huh?

I really enjoyed The Devil Makes Three in June.  They got together in Santa Cruz, California, all fans of punk music, and started playing bluegrass at punk shows.  Sounds like something you'd want to sit on a long around a campfire sipping on some shine to.  

Bonus, their tatted up bassist is definitely not hard on the eyes.

[Cerebus]

So...you guys really big on country music and blues, huh?

Most modern country is bad pop with played with a twangy telecaster and then a 80s hair metal riff out of nowhere.   There are a few good exceptions, I loved when Chris Knight used to play Dan's every year.

I love the blues, but there are very few new acts as good as the masters.

[TheTastyGreek]

I'm amazed that, 8 months into a thread about the best albums of 2014, nobody mentioned that Karmin put out an album last year. It's like none of you actually appreciates music at all. 

[Got5onIt]

Judas Priest : Redeemer of Souls

[HoustonEagle]

if you like Americana/country/folk. 

Check out The Lone Bellow.  Their album "Then came the morning" is incredible top to bottom. I put on shuffle and really have no favorites.