The top ten albums of the year received a little more pomp and circumstance with each album getting a write up.
The remaining best albums of 2014 include a Scottish reggae-rap group, two entries by a French-Canadian singer turning in soundtracks for a dramatic Canadian television series as well as a video game, probably the most technically advanced vinyl record ever made, and a father/son rock duo. It was a very eclectic year in music.
Jack White’s newest album Lazaretto may only be ranked 85th on this year-end list but the actual record is tops in vinyl innovation. With hidden tracks revealed by playing it at different speeds, three dimensional etching and a song with two different beginnings depending on where the needle is placed, it’s hard to imagine anyone ever topping White’s vision. Oh yeah, the rock and roll on the record isn’t bad either.
Other highlights include strong social commentary by quirky experimental pop songstress St. Vincent, classic-rock-inspired music from Hospitality and tons of lo-fi rock from the likes of The Fat White Family, Tweens, Temples and Cloud Nothings.
It was also a good year for sullen, R&B-esque music as albums by Broods, Gem Club and Grouper made the list. There were fewer quality pop albums released this year but for those hankering for a little sunshine as winter descends on the High Desert, look for music from Bleachers, Misterwives and sugary synth from Little Daylight.
The main takeaway here is that with the absence of a lot of pop, the bulk of the best albums from 2014 require quite of bit of digging into in order to unlock their greatness. These records represent the best in dramatic themes, complex instrumentation and challenging lyrics.
(A full listing of all 100 albums appears after the jump)
1. Way Out Weather- Steve Gunn
2. Cosmos- Yellow Ostrich
3. Stay Gold- First Aid Kit
4. Everybody Down- Kate Tempest
5. Metamodern Sounds in Country Music- Sturgill Simpson
6. Galore- Thumpers
7. Alvvays- Alvvays
8. Jungle- Jungle
9. Chinese Fountain- The Growlers
10. …And Star Power- Foxygen
11. The Voyager- Jenny Lewis
12. Lost in the Dream- The War on Drugs
13. Dead- Young Fathers
14. Trouble- Hospitality
15. Warpaint- Warpaint
16. Sukierae- Tweedy
17. St. Vincent- St. Vincent
18. Half the City- St. Paul & The Broken Bones
19. Aventine- Agnes Obel
20. HEAL- Strand of Oaks
21. Sun Structures- Temples
22. In Roses- Gem Club
23. Salad Days- Mac Demarco
24. This is All Yours- alt-J
25. Strange Desire- Bleachers
26. Are We There- Sharon Van Etten
27. Trauma- Chansons de la serie tele (Saison No. 5)- Coeur De Pirate
28. Young & Sick- Young & Sick
29. Rituals, Trances & Ecstasies for Humans in the Face of the Collapse- Kithkin
30. True Love Kills the Fairy Tale- The Casket Girls
31. Held In Splendor- Quilt
32. So Long, See You Tomorrow- Bombay Bicycle Club
33. Reflections- Misterwives
34. Awake- Tycho
35. At Best Cuckold- Avi Buffalo
36. “What is This Heart?”- How To Dress Well
37. Small Town Heroes- Hurray For The Riff Raff
38. I Never Learn- Lykke Li
39. Too Bright- Perfume Genius
40. Ruins- Grouper
41. Beneath the Brine- The Family Crest
42. In Cold Blood- White Sea
43. LP1- FKA twigs
44. And the War Came- Shakey Graves
45. Hold My Home- Cold War Kids
46. Holly- Nick Waterhouse
47. Blue Film- Lo-Fang
48. Run River North- Run River North
49. Island Intervals- Death Vessel
50. Wild Onion- Twin Peaks
51. Firework- New God
52. American Interior- Gruff Rhys
53. Singles- Future Islands
54. Strangers- RAC
55. PHOX- PHOX
56. Hard Believer- Fink
57. Tweens- Tweens
58. Present Joys- Dave Douglas/Uri Caine
59. The Moon Rang Like a Bell- Hundred Waters
60. Champagne Holocaust- The Fat White Family
61. Ledges- Noah Gunderson
62. Finnish Line- Jim Noir
63. Our Love- Caribou
64. ART OFFICIAL AGE- Prince
65. Upside Down Mountain- Conor Oberst
66. Built on Glass- Chet Faker
67. Too True- Dum Dum Girls
68. Transgender Dysphoria Blues- Against Me!
69. May- Broken Twin
70. Here and Nowhere Else- Cloud Nothings
71. Present Tense- Wild Beasts
72. Habibi- Habibi
73. Total Strife Forever- East India Youth
74. Royal Blood- Royal Blood
75. Benji- Sun Kil Moon
76. Evergreen- Broods
77. Close to the Glass- The Notwist
78. Elite Lines- Faces On Film
79. The Hum- Hookworms
80. Love to Give- Halls
81. Lions- William Fitzsimmons
82. Burn Your Fire For No Witness- Angel Olsen
83. Worship the Sun- Allah-Las
84. Shriek- Wye Oak
85. Lazaretto- Jack White
86. Scattered into Light- Sun Glitters
87. Child of Light- Coeur De Pirate
88. Voices- Phantogram
89. The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas- Courtney Barnett
90. With Light and with Love- Woods
91. Sylvan Esso- Sylvan Esso
92. Atlas- Real Estate
93. Lese Majesty- Shabazz Palaces
94. Divisionary- Ages and Ages
95. Blue Planet Eyes- The Preatures
96. Swimmin’ Time- Shovels & Rope
97. Daydream Forever- The Chain Gang of 1974
98. Range of Light- S. Carey
99. Hello Memory- Little Daylight
100. French Exit- TV Girl
