Just like last year I will be reviewing or describing my top 20 albums of the year and why I chose them. These albums are only my personal opinion so if your favorite albums aren't on the list it might be because I don't like that genre via rap, pop, country, or dupstep. It also might be because I haven't had a chance to hear the album yet, so if you want to complain about my list feel free, but for the haters and trolls in the words of Simon Pegg, "get on with your life and Sod off". Without further ado here are my top 20 albums of 2014.
20. Sabaton- Heroes -
Sometimes when you listen to an album you don't enjoy it because it's revolutionary or because it sticks out more than the bands other albums, but because they do what they have always done well. Sabaton does that here. This time around we end up back on the battle fields of Poland and beyond as Nazi's are killed and kill war heroes. If you came here expecting something other than history/war power metal at it's best than this album isn't for you. If you like that sort of thing check out Sabaton- Heroes they are one of the best power metal bands around.
19. St. Paul & the Broken Bones- Half of the City-
My story of this band begins at Bonnaroo this year. I got there early to hear the first band of the day and was amazed at the sounds of soul coming from the stage. I was shocked to find out it was a band of all white people, that's this album in a can. A group of all white guys guided by a love for church gospel and James Brown craft the best soul album of the year. They add a bit of new flair to the sound by adding some electronics to the mix and the spectacular vocals from Janeway capture the sounds of 70's soul and funk with a twist.
18. Weezer- Everything Will Be Alright In The End-
In the lead single Back to the Shack when Weezer say rocking out like it's 94 most fans laugh, because a claim of going back to the sounds of the Blue album is a notion that even most die hard Weezer fans had given up on. This time though we would all end up being surprised. They really pull out all the stops on this one hiring Ric Ocassick of the Cars on as producer for the first time since the Green album. The song writing is back to the old style of reminiscing about past lost loves, relationships with parents, it's fans, and even the band itself. This album is a true Weezer Comeback album hopefully not the last one like it.
My biggest hope in writing this blog entry is that at least one person reads this and walks away with the intention to check out one of the best underdog rock bands of this generation. With five best of the year albums in five years and blistering live shows, it amazes me that The Men haven't caught on in the mainstream yet. Through the years their albums have ranged from post rock, to groove metal, to progressive metal. In just five short years they have done it all and won me over in the process. This new album groves along at a much quieter pace then the last few much louder albums, but still rocks. I met the band and they promised to come to Des Moines, when they do, you had better be there because it gonna rock.
16. Interpol- El Pintor-
With talks of best comebacks of 2014 we would be remiss not to talk about the incredible return to form from one of New York's coolest rock bands. Ever since loosing bassist Carlos Dengler the band has put out two disappointing albums trying to get back to what they had with him in the band. After a hiatus and a lineup change, the band was reinvigorated and inspired. It shows on El Pintor or the painter. This album just ozzes the cool and brooding of the old Intepol from Turn on the Bright Lights and Antics, but also adds some real swagger and range with Paul's new crazy falsetto vocals. It's the same thing they used to do with a new lineup, a few new tricks, and new inspiration.
15. Jack White - Lazaretto-
Jack White is one of my favorite musicians ever and has never put out an album that has disappointed me, and that continues here. Jack White has crafted a seriously depressing album that he has denied multiple times to be about his divorce from Karen Elson, but I don't by it. This is a pure and simple break up album, and a great one at that. From songs like Alone in My Home, to Temporary Ground, or Would You Fight For My Love he has some serous hurt here. Musically the album follows in the footsteps of Blunderbuzz with a discography full of musical sounds, and he nails ever one. This may just be another notch on his belt for Jack, but it also another solid album.
14. Future Islands- Singles-
I'll admit that this album took me a bit to get into, but when I did I realized how genius it is. If you don't get what makes this album any different than any other synth group of the 21st century just watch Future Islands on David Letterman, and then you will understand. Frontman Sam T Herring has this undeniable energy about him. They don't just craft the best syth pop album of the year but probably they best quintessential 80's album of the year. What I mean is that there are tons of synth pop albums every year, but 80's albums had the synths and also that energy and feel that made them different. I think this album with Samual at the helm with his uniquely powerful voice and energy has that spark.
13. The War On Drugs- Lost In The Dream-
This is the biggest example of not understanding the hype of an album. I really didn't hear what other music critics heard when they listened to this album. Most of the critics put it at number 1, 2, or 3 on the best of the year lists. I liked it, it was a solid folk album, but not best album of the year or even on the best of the year list. Then I listened to it again, and again, then it hit me. This album has the most heart and soul of any modern folk album and the subtly to leave some story to the imagination. It's inspired by the folk greats of the past and plans to lead us into the new generation of great folk rock music.
12. Against Me!- Transgender Dysphoria Blues-
The story behind this album is more famous now then the album itself. Lead singer of Against Me! Tom Gable announces that he has been living a lie and decides to become a woman, or Laura Jane Grace. This album tells that story and it tells every aspect about it. The truth about punk music is that it's always the message that makes good punk music great, and that's what Against Me have done. They were always a good punk band, this story with their music, and voice, pushes them into being a great punk band. Everyone should hear this album for the story alone it's emotional and inspirational, not to mention a great album.
11. Robert Plant- Lullaby And The Ceaseless Roar-
Robert Plant's Led Zeppelin days are long gone and the reunion is never happening but Robert Plant's solo work is starting to reach the heights of his day in zep. This album sees him in a truly inventive side of his work. With the help of his amazing band the Sensational Shifters, he reinvents himself in a truly different way settling his high notes for low soothing ones, and the hard rock blues for a more melancholic Asian sounding, alt rock affair. His album is one of most unique new albums I have heard in a long time, and I love it for that. Please keep reinventing and innovating Robert.
10. Mastodon- Once More 'Round The Sun-
Mastodon have six albums and six best of the year list albums. They have evolved from a sludge metal band into one of the best progressive metal bands around. They have been know to make some of best concept albums in all of rock, but the past two albums have gone without the concept and done just fine. They are right in the middle of their peak stride and I hope they keep at it because it's sounding great.
9. The Devin Townsend Project- Z2-
Devid Townsend is and has always been one of the weirdest men in metal, and music in general. I love him for it and hope he stays that way. His newest album is the long awaited follow up to Ziltoid the omniscient, which is an album about an alien that comes to earth for a cup of it's best coffee and is disappointed so he invades earth. It's actually a double album the first being a disc called Sky Blue from his band Devin Townsend Project. The first disc is actually his most accessible disc yet with Devin and Anneke preforming their best vocals ever and as always very strong hooks on poppier album. The second disc Dark Matter is the sequel and has a much more over the top convoluted plot, X files style, involving war, alliances, and of course coffee. The plot takes a front seat to the music, but what is there, is epic songwriting and a story I couldn't begin to describe. Just listen to the record. It's one of the strongest double albums of the year.
8. Ryan Adams- Ryan Adams-
Ryan Adams is one of rock music's most tortured souls and this album was actually intended to be another album that was deemed to sad to be released. That's saying something coming from Ryan. This album brings back electric guitar in a big way, but also has some of the best songwriting I have heard from him in years. It's all spot on the emotions, the lyrics, the hooks, and the album as a whole. It's much more inspired and spirited than Ashes and Fire. In truth this album is a mature and personal record from an artist who's songs are usually more clouded and less personal.
7. Spoon- They Want My Soul-
Spoon has always been one of the most dependable bands in rock and they continue that here with an album that stacks up to their best work. To me Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga will always be my favorite but this album is a rebirth of sorts for Spoon. It's the same band with similar sounds, but used textures and silence much differently on this record. The hiatus and time with Divine Fits have brought new energy to the band and more importantly soul. The tital of the album is a description of the band finding new areas of discovery in a long career. This album groves along and is as good as their best work, it just groves along in a state of utter coolness.
6. Cloud Nothings- Here And Nowhere Else-
If you could only listen to one punk album this year I hope this one is the one you heard. Dylan Baldi was a solo artist for the most part up until 2012's Attack on Memory where he recorded with an actual band and bounced his ideas off of other people. It paid off big time as that album was also best of the year worthy. He does it again here. He is just the master of creating huge hooks in loud and in your face garage punk music. With all the that going for it and the short length, you might think that it's lacking in subject matter, but it dives deep covering living in the now and doing what it takes to get through the day to day pain and grind. He has the song writing ability and maturity of a much older artist and the angst and fire of a young artist inspired. He will rock your face right off.
5. Killer Be Killed- Killer Be Killed-
Killer Be Killed is 2014's metal super group of the year. The band consists of members of Mastodon, The Dilllenger Escape Plan, Soulfly, and The Mars Volta. If that doesn't already sound like promise than nothing will. This album comes together in the best way possible with all of the best elements of all of their bands coming together. There are elements of groove metal, progressive metal, Sludge metal, and over all hard rock. The hooks on this album are huge and lead to some of the best metal choruses I've heard in a long time. This could have been a disaster, but it came together perfectly. They all worked off each others strengths so well. I hope they make another record, and hell a tour would be amazing.
4. Swans- To Be Kind...-
Michael Gira dives deeper with every release at age 60 than most musicians reach at the peak of their careers. Swans last album The Seer was a monster and the follow up seemed extremely daunting. Instead of trying to recreate The Seer he digs deeper and goes even more primal on a double album that puts Michael Gira's soul out there on the page for people to see or rather hear. This album is intense and long, but at it's core it's tackling simple concepts like beauty in everyday life and around all of the chaos and dysfunction there is still love, hope, and happiness. It is worth going through the darkness to find. This is some seriously deep noise rock.
3. St. Vincent- St. Vincent-
Anne Clark is an indie rock star in the best sense of every word. She is able to keep creating and pushing herself without feeling overrun by popularity or expectation. Her albums and live shows just keep getting better despite all odds. Her new album thrives on strong songwriting that is the best it's ever been channeling pure creative artistry in her attempt to record her own loneliness. The album has some futuristic sounds and tendencies, but is very much biased in the here and now, about all of life, the beauty and the ugliness. This is a truly inspirational scifi-esce art pop album that will inspire anyone on who will give it a chance.
2. Beck- Morning Phase-
Beck's time away from the music world was sad and very noticeable by me personally. I love everything he puts out and didn't know it would be the better part of a decade before we heard from him again. This was announced because of a spine injury he had been unable to play live shows so he just decided not to release or work on music because it hurt too much. It's mostly better now and it's great to have him back. His newest effort not counting the song reader or it's album is the follow up of sorts to the beautiful break up album Sea Change. This album is different but with similar themes. This album pays tribute to California and is a road map to 70's folk and psychedelic music, it does it justice. The album's sadness is about his spine injury and the pain and sadness or not knowing whether he would ever be able to play music again. Although it's very haunting unlike Sea Change the album comes off as more hopefully for the future and overcoming sadness then wallowing in it. Put simply it is one of the most heartfelt, beautiful, and hopeful albums of the year.
1. Opeth- Pale Communion-
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