<< REWIND // Best Albums of 2014

Here it is. My favorite albums and EPs of 2014. Unranked, because playing favorites is way too hard. 2014 brought many good things. As abundant and fulfilling as the year was for me personally, so it was musically. This year brought my favorite Ty Segall album, ever. He just keeps getting better with age and still gives me goosebumps.

The Australian music simply blew me away as well. They’re killing it. And you can see the influence of their prolific music scene in my best of list. With the success of Tame Impala, the Aussie music scene has become the embodiment of psychedelic rock. It has become a signature sound. And it sounds sooo good.

Newcomers Ultimate Painting, Glycerine Queens, Ladada, Billy Changer and Los Angeles Police Department simply delighted me this year and I look forward to hearing more from this talented crop of new artists. But I honor and give thanks to all of the artists on this list for your soul-satisfying musical creations. 2014 maybe coming to an end, but your creations will live on – filling my soul and inspiring me with each and every listen.

Thank you. Onward, 2015.

8e7507d5

Artist: Ty Segall
Album: Manipulator
Hails From: LA, CA (formerly SF)

 

the-murlocs

Artist: The Murlocs
Album: Loopholes
Hails From: Australia

 

sbr113-amen-dunes-love_df3a4200-d444-49ac-be5d-0e4df18f7a89_1024x1024

Artist: Amen Dunes
Album: Love

 

d9f36f89

Artist: Real Estate
Album: Atlas
Hails From: New Jersey

 

3c8a7d82

Artist: Thee Oh Sees
Album: Drop
Hails From: San Francisco, CA

 

09-10-Discs-Broncho-Just-Enough-Hip-To-Be-Woman

Artist: BRONCHO
Album: Just Enough Hip To Be Woman
Hails From: Tulsa,OK

 

ltartwork

Artist: Foreign/National
Album: Foreign/National EP
Hails From: Australia

courtney-barnett-1384270386

Artist:   Courtney Barnett
Album: The Double EP
Hails From: Australia

 

kevin-morby-stilllife

Artist:   Kevin Morby
AlbumStill Life
Hails From: LA, CA

 

9b28be7b

Artist:   Tame Impala
Album: Tame Impala Live Album
Hails From: Australia

 

glycerinequeens3_zps25299179

Artist: Glycerin Queens
Album: Sleep Deprivation
Hails From: New Jersey

 

los-angeles-police-department

Artist: Los Angeles Police Department
Album: Forged Artifacts
Hails From: Duh!

 

BBB
Artist: Allah-Lahs
Album: Worship the Sun
Hails From: LA, CA

 

kg

Artist: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Album: Oddments
Hails From: Australia

 

a1355759043_10

Artist: Straight Arrows
Album: Rising
Hails From: Australia

 

a3909610658_10

Artist: The Blank Tapes
Album: Holy Roller EP
Hails From: LA, CA

 

a2337758023_10

Artist: Billy Changer
Album: Billy Changer
Hails From: LA, CA

 

artworks-000089316307-9e7opy-t500x500

Artist: Francisco the Man
Album:Loose Ends
Hails From: LA, CA

 

a2629791980_10

Artist: Heaters
Album: Solstice
Hails From: Grand Rapids, MI

 

a3476396680_10
Artist: Cool Ghouls
Album: A Swirling Fire Burning Through the Rye
Hails From: San Francisco, CA

 

wampire_bazaar

Artist: Wampire
Album: Baazar
Hails From: Portland

 

a3748689917_10

Artist: Froth
Album: Patterns
Hails From: LA, CA

 

10_700_700_488_caribou_ourlove_900

Artist: Caribou
Album: Our Love
Hails From: Canada

UltimatePainting_CoverArt-608x608

ArtistUltimate Painting
Album: Ultimate Painting
Hails From: UK

 

burn-your-fire2

Artist: Angel Olsen
Album: Burn Your Fire For No Witness
Hails From: North Carolina

 

a3356314582_10
Artist:Ladada
Album: Ladada
Hails From: Virgina

 

CH120-Twerps-Underlay

Artist: Twerps
Album: Underlay
Hails From: Australia

My Favorite Albums of 2010 So Far


Tame ImpalaInnerspeaker
“Vital Signs”


Future IslandsIn The Evening Air
“As I Fall”


The DigElectric Toys
You’re Already Gone


Phantogram – Eyelid Movies
“When I’m Small”


The Joy FormidableA Balloon Called Moaning
Austere


CaribouSwim
“Odessa”


Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
“Sun Hands”


Twin Tigers – Gray Waves
“Everyday


Ty Segall – Melted
“Ceasar”


The National High Violet
“Afraid of Everyone”


Broken BellsBroken Bells
“The High Road”

New Caribou – “Odessa” [Free MP3]

Caribou“Odessa”

After watching the new iPad video on Apple that featured Caribou on the background soundtrack, I got curious as to what these guys are up to.  Haven’t heard from them in a while.  I mean their last album, Andorra, was released in 2007! So what a pleasant surprise to find they just announced a new album, Swim, due out April 20 on Merge Records.  And, oh happy day, they released the single “Odessa” for our listening enjoyment.  And if you’re thinking this track is a bit of a departure from Andorra, you’re right.  The inspiration behind Swim was to make ‘dance music that sounds like water.’

Black Mountain [Black Crystal Bands, Part 7]

File this ‘black’ band under the psychedelic stoner rock category, for sure. Hailing from Vancouver, this group has received the high honor of being one of the top ten Canadian 2008 Polaris Music Prize finalists for their second album, In the Future.  

Check out the Polaris website for more details on the final nominees contending for Canada’s coolest music prize – many of which were on heavy rotation for me throughout last year.  If you’re not up on the Canadian indie music scene, the long list of nominees is a must read. It’s a veritable who’s who of Canadian indie rock….except for the noticeable absence of Sunset Rubdown and Handsome Furs.  Guess the Canadians aren’t Wolf Parade fans.  

Congratulations and best of luck to Black Mountain, but I’ll be rooting for Caribou. Featured is the Black Mountain video, Angels.

Get this album free via eMusic’s 50 Free MP3 Promo

buy it at insound!

Bookmark and Share

I Heart Pitchfork.tv

The recently launched Pitchfork.tv is one of my latest obsessions.  Especially when they post these amazing live sets like this one from one of my favorite bands of 2007, Caribou.  Pitchfork.tv picks up where MTV’s 120 Minutes left off.  It’s everything Indie music television should be and will become. I love you Pitchfork. Rock on.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

 

more about ““, posted with vodpod

 
Get this album free via eMusic’s 50 Free MP3 Promo


Bookmark and Share