Top Albums of 2014 (so far)
 

I mainly want to do this because I haven't listened to nearly as many releases from this year as I have by the midpoint of previous years, and want to see what is on you guys' lists. here is my top 10 though:

1. St Vincent - St Vincent
2. Arctic Monkeys - AM
3. The Hotelier - Home, Like Noplace is There
4. YG - My Krazy Life
5. Glass Animals - Zaba
6. The Antlers - Familiars
7. Schoolboy Q - Oxymoron
8. Frankie Cosmos - Zentropy
9. Conor Oberst - Upside Down Mountain
10. You Blew It! - Keep Doing What You're Doing

The top 3 are all very solid albums (4/5 or better), but in general I feel very underwhelmed this year to be honest.

1. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Sea When Absent
2. Lyyke Li - I Never Learn
3. Future Islands - Singles
4. Swans - To Be Kind
5. Sun Kil Moon - Benji
6. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else
7. Mac DeMarco - Salad Days
8. EMA - The Future's Void
9. The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream
10. Warpaint - Warpaint

^ you are obsessed

i complete disagree....it's been a great year for music so far

1. Swans - To Be Kind
2. TacocaT - NVM
3. Survival Knife - Loose Power
4. Conan - Blood Eagle
5. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
6. Current 93 - I Am the Last of All the Field That Fell (A Channel)
7. Supersuckers - Get The Hell
8. OFF! - Wasted Years
9. Woven Hand - Refractory Obdurate
10. The Skull Defekts - Dances in Dreams of the Known Unknown

I really appreciate that gif, the album on the other hand....

also didn't know current 93 had a new album out, will be listening asap

10 -Amphetamine Ballads by The Amazing Snakeheads
9 -Salad Days by Mac DeMarco
8 -Morning Phase by Beck
7 -Love Letters by Metronomy
6 -Eighteen Hours Of Static by Big Ups
5 -Benji by Sun Kil Moon
4 - Here and Nowhere Else by Cloud Nothings
3 - Love by Amen Dunes
2 -To Be Kind by Swans
1 - Sea When Absent by A Sunny Day In Glasgow

My top 2 are basically interchangeable, both amazingly perfect albums. Big drop off after my top six. Very rock based list, hip hop and dance haven't blown me away yet this year. Neither has Metal.

Yo, Fasho, Arctic Monkeys album was last year.

10. Death Grips - Niggas On The Moon: The Powers That B Part I
9. Martyn - The Air Between Your Words
8. The Chain Gang of 1974 - Daydream Forever
7. YG - My Krazy Life
6. La Dispute - Rooms of The House
5. Fireworks - Oh, Common Life
4. Self Defense Family - Try Me
3. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else
2.The Hotelier - Home, Like Noplace Is There
1. The Menzingers - Rented World

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/TomCl...lbums_of_2014/

Cuz I'm lazy.

**** I knew I had forgotten something that Ought album would edge in at 7 for sure.

Granted I haven't been listening to much this year, but these are my standout albums of 2014. In no particular order:

Behemoth - The Satanist

Never been the biggest Behemoth fan, but I was pretty blown away by this record. I don't know if it will remain my favourite metal album of the year, but for the time being it is.

BADBADNOTGOOD - III

I guess I'm kind of in the minority for liking this album. I will admit it lacks the visceral energy of their first two albums, but I am intrigued that this is the kind of original material the band feels like releasing.

CunninLynguists - Strange Journey Volume Three

A nice little distraction to fill the gap between their 2011 album and their next LP. It's exactly what I expect from a CunninLynguists album, and while some people may find that a detriment, I at least like knowing I'll most likely enjoy it.

Wovenhand - Refractory Obdurate

So 2012's The Laughing Stalk was pretty much a sign of a heavier, more rock orientated Wovenhand. I'm down.

Sage Francis - Copper Gone

Didn't care much for 2010's Li(f)e, but I have pretty much enjoyed every track I've heard Sage featured on since then, and Copper Gone has that "ripped from the heart" feel where you can really hear the passion in the music.

Darren Korb - Transistor OST

He really blew me away with this 2011 soundtrack for Bastion and his newest OST with the same game developer really makes lightning strike twice. Some great vocal tracks and some wonderful instrumentals. Definitely some good reading music.

Casualties of Cool - Casualties of Cool

Devin Townsend does country rock and somehow makes it work. Not my favourite album by him, but a fun little divergent between now and Ziltoid 2.

L'Orange - The Orchid Days

Another album I quite enjoy with a book. Some good hip hop guest features and some really good use of samples.

Ultraviolence gets a 1/10 from me lolz

You're crazy.

I'm basically going to copy from my other post, because I'm lazy.

1. Modern Baseball - You're Gonna Miss It All
2. You Blew It! - Keep Doing What You're Doing
3. Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues
4. Andrew Jackson Jihad - Christmas Island
5. The Hotelier - Home, Like NoPlace Is There
6. Perfect Pussy - Say Yes To Love
7. La Dispute - The Rooms Of The House
8. The Hold Steady - Teeth Dreams
9. TacocaT - NVM
10. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else

Yeah this year has been great

Top 10 is very hard to do but maybe something like this

10. Piano Nights by Bohren & der Club of Gore

Its like smoking a cigar on your porch at night.

9. Earthbeat by Be Forest

Some really nice late night style dream pop here not unlike The xx

8. A Clear Path by Cold Body Radiation

Ambient version of Angelic Process perhaps(probably not). This is a journey

7. The Moon Rang like a Bell by Hundred Waters

I'm sensing a pattern here. More relaxing, chill, slow moving music here. Absolutely gorgeous.

6. Minutes of Sleep by Francis Harris

Wow ok I like boring music good lord.

5. Thou by Heathen

Crushing and sludgy and all the good stuff you want from doom. I really like the vocals too.

4. Groping in a Misty Spread by Basarabian Hills

Rain drop synths within a depressing atmosphere and here we are at the anti-Ildjarn end of the black metal spectrum where we get beautifully produced stuff. Oddly similar to Ildjarn's Hardangervidda though. Maybe reason enough to listen to this once is so you can brag about listening Moldovan music.

3. Awake by Tycho

Ok fuck it this is elevator music and I don't even care

2. and the Light Swallowed Everything by Seirom

Made by a guy known for creating disgusting, dense horror music and we get this spacey tinged wonder. For someone constantly trying to make listeners feel hopeless, this is a very good venture into the opposite side. It's like looking through old family photographs.

1. Ultima II Massage by Tobacco

I put this in the same category as Sleigh Bells not necessarily because they sound similar but its like pop music turned noisy and twisted made for the completely fucked up. Throwing paint and making a mess.

Weird to think that if I extended to this to 20 or 30 that's where most of the metal starts coming out. There are a ton of great albums this year so this top 10 is pretty much as interchangeable as it gets. Would probably be different tomorrow.

Making my list has made me realize what I ****e job I've been doing of keeping up on new releases.

9. Death Grips - Niggas On the Moon
8. Bohren & Der Club of Gore - Piano Nights
7. Ought - More Than Any Other Day
6. Sunn O)))/Ulver - Terrestrials
5. L'Orange - The Orchid Days
4. Wolves In Sheepskin - Lizard of Ox
3. Marc Ribot - Live at the Village Vanguard
2. John Zorn - The Alchemist
1. Swans - To Be Kind

That Zorn album is seriously one of his best but I've got to give the top slot to Swans. Any recommendations for 2014 releases I should check out guys?

You got that pm from rostasi right?

that album is incredible and sooooo far up your alley

I also think you would dig tbat Skull Defekts album...as well as the Current 93 album

edit

also Frownland may i suggest a little album called Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey :)

The work rate >>>

Will download a few of these. DJ Q is the last name I'd have expected to see on there tbh. Did you hear Swindle's album?

Which PM? With Zorn? I got that as well as Terrestrials and the Ribot album from him. I'll be sure to check out all the albums aside from Ultraviolence. I gave most of it a listen after hearing everyone go on about it, but it didn't really hit me aside from her great voice.

EDIT: Oh wait he resent it to me, I'll give that one a listen guys!

1. Ambrose Akinmusire - The Imagined Savior is Far Easier to Paint
2. Scott Barkan - Solo/Acoustic/Live
3. Pat Metheny Unity Group - Kin
4. Ulaan Passerine - Bysantium Crow
5. Swans - To Be Kind
6. Wovenhand - Refractory Obdurate
7. Bill Orcutt - VDSQ
8. Misha Tsignov - The Artistry of the Standard
9. Takuya Kuroda - Rising Son
10. John Frusciante - Enclosure

I didn't know Orcutt had a new album out. Will definitely be checking that out.

No one likes Linkin Park :(

wooooaaaaahhhh just goes to show how far behind I am. thank you guys though I have a lot to listen to now

I know I'm a super-fan, but Ultraviolence is a grower. Try and get a copy with the alternative version of West Coast if you change your mind.

If by grower you mean it somehow gets worse and worse the more you force yourself to listen to it then I agree

Like to see Pat in any list. I saw him and Unity a few months ago, and it was sublime.

I don't understand how anybody could hate the album in all honesty. I know that these things are subjective, but it's clearly not that bad an album. Her vocals are awesome, the production is amazing... so what else is there to hate? The lyrics? Are they really THAT bad? So bad that you can hate the album?

It has to be something other than the music itself.

"Her vocals are awesome" I think I'd rather listen to nails on a chalkboard.

I hate everything about her songwriting. Contrived lyrics, boring songs that drag on for what seems like years, and attempts at being edgy that really just make me want to barf ("****ed My Way to the Top", you've got to be kidding) all culminate into what is probably one of my least favorite albums I've ever heard. I mean I really can't stand anything she's ever done but at least some of her older singles were interesting enough and captured my attention once or twice on the radio.

I also think it's the only album I've ever gotten and then actually deleted off my computer once listening. I wanted to save myself the frustration of potentially having to hear any of it if I ever want to listen to my library on shuffle. =/

^

Well I mean I think you're just as crazy for actually liking her :P

Maybe the discussion is best served elsewhere, but I'll have my last say in here now.

Her lyrics are sometimes lame (though I don't think they are actually that bad on Ultraviolence) but I think there is an element of satire in there that often gets overlooked. I don't think she is always trying to come across as a bad ass or however you might perceive her to be.

Beyond that, the production is absolutely lush. I would assume there's plenty of "Dream Pop" styled albums out there that you probably like with far worse production, and not necessarily much better lyrics.

As for her voice... It's simply not in any doubt for me. Live? Yeah, hit or miss (mainly miss), but on this record she is superb.

Remember kids: music is subjective

Well, aye. But everyone's been asked to provide their top 10's based on preference.
Nobodies list is correct, nobodies is wrong. It's natural we'll have varying opinions and ratings of albums.

Also,

Thanks man. What album is bob talking about in #16?

On Day One is my current song of the year.

I've been really digging Mursday!

Good looking out. I was waiting for that album but didn't know about it's release date.

I love you

Yeah, I obviously haven't bothered with too many of this year's releases.

1. Gridlink - Longhena (aka the only grindcore album I actually really like)
2. Sun Kil Moon - Benji
3. Devin Townsend - Casualties of Cool (after Epicloud, which I personally thought was terrible, this was a pleasant surprise)
4. Bohren & der Club of Gore - Piano Nights

That's it.

and I'm skeptical of the new Swans and Lana Del Ray albums

Still not heard the new Swans. Will give it a listen soon.

Yes, you do need to do this soon.

Update:

10. Leyland Kirby - We Drink to Forget the Coming Storm
9. Sunn O)))/Ulver - Terrestrials
8. Chicago Underground Duo - Locus
7. Many Arms - Suspended Definition
6. L'Orange - The Orchid Days
5. Wolves In Sheepskin - Lizard of Ox
4. Peter Van Huffel's Gorilla Mask - Bite My Blues
3. Marc Ribot - Live at the Village Vanguard
2. John Zorn - The Alchemist
1. Swans - To Be Kind

Honorable mentions: Jesus the Carpenter - Jesus the Carpenter, Eyvind Kang - Alastor: Book of Angels Vol. 21, OOIOO - Gamel, and the ones that got bumped off the list quoted above.