The 55 Best Albums of 2014 (1-11)

At the end of the day, the top albums came down to the ones I found myself listening to the most.  There were albums I respected but I never had the urge to play, so they ended up lower on the list.  These were the albums that kept finding themselves in my heavy rotation.  These albums deserve top billing. Probably the biggest surprise here is the U2 album.  I have no idea why so many people criticized its delivery method.  People have been complaining that the old system doesn't work anymore; labels and bands need to try new things.  U2 did. They gave the fans exactly what they asked for and the people still complained.  People didn't complain this much about Zooropa (which deserved it). My favorite criticism of the band is now they're corporate.  I hate to break it to you all, any band on a record label is corporate. U2 took a risk and I commend them for it. I'd rather a band take a risk and fail then play it safe and be ordinary.  If people stopped complaining and listened, they might actually be surprised. Here are the 55 Best Albums of 2014 (1-11):

1.  Broken Bells - After the Disco
2.  Antemasque - Antemasque
3.  Eagulls - Eagulls
4.  TV On The Radio - Seeds
5.  White Sea - White Sea
6.  Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues
7.  Cheatahs - Cheatahs
8.  Jack White - Lazaretto
9.  James Vincent McMorrow - Post-Tropical
10. Run The Jewels - RTJ2
11. U2 - Songs of Innocence

  Buy all of these albums and more...now!!  

My 11 Favorite Albums of 2014

It's been a weird year in music.  There's actually been a lot of great music...but nothing that has yet to stand above the rest.  There's been no real consensus on what albums are 2014's calling card.  From site to site, it seems there's a lot more variety than most years.  And my top 11 is no different.  While there seems to some shared love for James Vincent McMorrow, Against Me!, Cloud Nothings, and The War On Drugs, my favorite album of the year (the infectious Broken Bells) is nowhere to be found on any list.  The Jack White peaks into a couple lists but has been widely slammed, probably because the album was made for vinyl and listening to any other way takes it down a notch. Strangely, it happens to be my favorite non-White Stripes Jack White recording to date.  I've seen Pure X and Conor Oberst get a couple mentions (albeit low on lists).  White Sea and First Aid Kit are two budding artists hitting their strides, yet fail to get mentions.  Last on my list is the addictive EP by the band Movement.  Everyone's raving about How To Dress Well (which is another good album) but I feel like Movement is doing the same thing but is already leaps and bounds ahead.  But this is the great thing about music...there's something for everyone to love. Happy 4th!  Enjoy songs from the albums below...plus a few other good tracks from this year. Here are my 11 favorite albums of 2014 (so far):

1. Broken Bells - After The Disco
2. James Vincent McMorrow - Post-Tropical
3. Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues
4. Jack White - Lazaretto
5. Conor Oberst - Upside Down Mountain
6. Cloud Nothings - Here And Nowhere Else
7. Pure X - Angel
8. First Aid Kit - Stay Gold
9. White Sea - White Sea
10. The War on Drugs - Lost In the Dream
11. Movement - Movement EP

     

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The 11 Best Songs By Against Me!

Against Me! has never shied away from being controversial.  They have always belted out rebellious punk anthems with a military swagger and a thumping musical heartbeat.  They played with such ferocity that there was no doubt there was an inner turmoil propelling the band's emotional energy.  Since the last album (White Crosses), the band has made a bold, yet, once again controversial decision.  This is a decision that has tipped their fan base upside-down with confusion and anger.  Just as many fans have embraced this change as those who have turned their backs on them.  It's as if the fan's connection with the music would be tarnished because of the the band's personal choices.  As if the music would have less meaning because it was made under different circumstances.  Some believe their choice leaves them lacking credibility while others have praised their bold statement.

I'm of course talking about the band's choice to leave Sire records and self-produce their new album.  It's a big shift for a band with such a heavy legacy.  But the same intense criticism was hurled their way when the band originally signed with a record label.  Their fans at the time accused them of being sell-outs.  But the band persevered, which they will absolutely do again. They accomplish this by authentic at all costs, because nothing makes you a better artist than being your "true" self. 

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Against Me!:

1. I Was A Teenage Anarchist (White Crosses)
2. Cliche Guevara (As The Eternal Cowboy)
3. New Wave (New Wave)
4. Unprotected Sex With Multiple Partners (Searching For A Former Clarity)
5. White Crosses (White Crosses)
6. Thrash Unreal (New Wave)
7. White People for Peace (New Wave)
8. Mutiny On The Electric Bay (As The Eternal Cowboy)
9. Stop! (New Wave)
10. Justin (Searching For A Former Clarity)
11. Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart (New Wave)

Buy Against Me!'s new album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues...now!!

The 11 Most Anticipated Albums of Winter 2014

 

 Tonight, Florida State beat Auburn in the last BS (I mean BCS...actually, I really do mean bullshit) NCAA football championship game.  In 2014, we get the first ever college football playoff.  It's only 4 teams...but it's a start.  But college football isn't the only thing we have to look forward to.  Here's a look at the best new releases of the next three months.

The 11 Most Anticipated Albums of Winter 2014:

1. Broken Bells - After The Disco (Feb 4)
2. Beck - Morning Phase (Feb 25)
3. Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues (Jan 21)
4. Young the Giant - Mind Over Matter (Jan 21)
5. Drive-By Truckers - English Oceans (Mar 4)
6. The Crystal Method - The Crystal Method (Jan 14)
7. Cibo Matto - Hotel Valentine (Feb 11)
8. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Wig Out at Jagbags (Jan 7)
9. Warpaint - Warpaint (Jan 21)
10. Bruce Springsteen - High Hopes (Jan 14)
11. Johnny Cash - Out Among The Stars (Mar 25)

The Best Albums of 2010 (#12-#22)

Our list continues...one day to go.

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Here are the Best Albums of 2010 (#12-#22):

12. Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon II (Maybe)
13. She & Him – Volume II (I Knew It Would Happen This Way)
14. The National – High Violet (Bloodbuzz Ohio Live)
15. Crocodiles – Sleep Forever
16. Against Me! – White Crosses (Bob Dylan's Dream)
17. Kanye West – My Dark Twisted Fantasy
18. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
19. The Hold Steady – Heaven is Whenever
20. Janelle Monae – ArchAndroid
21. Bruce Springsteen – The Promise
22. Junip – Fields

Buy these albums and more now!

The 11 Best Songs of The Year (so far):

I'm a sucker for a request.  Had no intention of doing this...but if the fans want it...then...

Here are the 11 Best Songs of the Year (so far):

1.  I Was A Teenage Anarchist - Against Me! (White Crosses)
2.  25 To Life - Eminem (Recovery)
3.  Odessa - Caribou (Swim)
4.  Soft In The Center - The Hold Steady (Heaven Is Whenever)
5.  You Wanted A Hit - LCD Soundsystem (This Is Happening)
6.  Giving Up The Gun - Vampire Weekend (Contra)
7.  Valleys of Neptune - Jimi Hendrix (Valleys of Neptune)
8.  End Love - OKGo (Of The Blue Colour of The Sky)

9.  Can't Hear My Eyes - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (Before Today)
10.  Flash Delirium - MGMT (Congratulations)
11.  The Fourth Night of Drinking - The Drive-By Truckers (The Big To-Do)

Buy any of the great releases from 2010 and more!

The 11 Best Albums of the Year (so far):

Over halfway through the year and I am unimpressed.  Eminem's new album is pretty good and definitely a return to form.  But the best of the year?  It's not even the best Em album.  Maybe 3rd best.  And Massive Attack, Morcheeba, and MGMT have all made nice albums...but these are far from their best material.  So what gives?  Last year at this time, the Animal Collective, the xx, Grizzly Bear, and Phoenix had all released albums.  I've listened to Sleigh Bells (a reincarnation of Atari Teenage Riot), Best Coast (the new Raveonettes), Surfer Blood (a watered-down Pavement), Beach House (a more moody Joan As Police Woman), & Local Natives (a less innovative Elbow) and have been underwhelmed by all of them. Where's the good music people?!

This decade is really starting off with a whimper.

Here are the 11 Best Albums of 2010 (so far):

1.  Eminem - Recovery
2.  LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
3.  Massive Attack - Heliogoland
4.  Morcheeba - Blood Like Lemonade
5.  Jonsi - Go
6.  MGMT - Congratulations
7.  Tokyo Police Club - Champ
8.  Against Me! - White Crosses
9.  Free Energy - Stuck on Nothin'
10. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Mojo
11. Caribou - Swim

Buy these great 2010 albums and others now!

The 11 Best Songs By Against Me

Getting old sucks.  Everything you used to be able to do as a kid...like, oh let's say...walk up a flight of stairs becomes not only harder as you get older but it gets actually dangerous.  This weekend, as I was walking up our stairs in our house, I twisted my back and have been on the floor ever since.  I didn't run.  I didn't trip.  I didn't fall.  I walked.  That's it.  Walking up my stairs as I do every day of my life, crippled me.  Meanwhile, my daughters are doing cartwheels down the stairs, bouncing off the walls with a elfish "whee", and landing on their heads.  Then they get up and run into the walls at full speed and just laugh it off.  It's just not fair.  Not that I want to run into walls without injury...but making it to my bedroom without a trip to the emergency room would be nice.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Against Me!:

1.  Cliche Guevera (As The Eternal Cowboy)
2.  Unprotected Sex With Multiple Partners (Searching For A Former Clarity)
3.  Thrash Unreal (New Wave)
4.  White People For Peace (New Wave)
5.  Mutiny on the Electronic Bay (As The Eternal Cowboy)
6.  Rice And Bread (As The Eternal Cowboy)
7.  New Wave (New Wave)
8.  What We Worked For (Crime, As Forgiven By)
9.  Full Sesh (New Wave B-Sides)
10.  We Laugh At Danger (Re-inventing Axl Rose)
11.  Holy Shit! (Searching For A Former Clarity)

Buy Against Me!'s new album, White Crosses.

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