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I can‘t make up my mind if 2014 has been a great or abysmal year so far for new albums. There have been lots of decent records released – but none that are going to enter my “all time top albums.” I am really enjoying the Kasabian album – despite having the worst cover and possibly the worst title – of the year (if not ever!) Anyway – here is my list of the best of 2014 (so far). Obviously these represent the best new release records that I have heard, doesn’t include jazz, and ignores “music” about which I am ambivalent (modern pop, smooth R&B, hip hop, boy “bands”, manufactured “bands”, anything in the top 40). If you don’t agree with this list, fine, please make suggestions of records that I have missed in the comments section.
Incidentally, my major criterion for including these records is if they were available on vinyl that I bought the record. Of these there were only 1 or 2 that I bought the CD as well (Kasabian, Temples, Horrors). Despite the negative media attention that is given to Deezer and Spotify, there are a number of records in this list that I would not have bought (on either CD or vinyl) without hearing them on streaming services (indicated with *). I am sure that there are a few records that I have left out, because they didn’t come to mind this morning (but will be included in my end of year list). There are a few records that I am still deciding upon – whether or not I like them (see end of posting). I would recommend the first 7 without reservation.

THE BEST OF 2014 (so far)

Kasabian – 48:13

Gruff Rhys – American Interior

Roddy Frame – Seven Dials

Sturgill Simpson – Metamodern Sounds…*

Mogwai – Rave Tapes

Temples – Sun Structures*

Howlin’ Rain – Live Rain (CD Only)

Lana Del Ray – Ultraviolence

Sons of Kenet – Burn

IQ – Road to Bones

Hans Chew – Life & Love

Parquet Courts – Sunbathing Animal*

Wild Beasts – Present Tense

Angel Olsen – Burn your fire for no witness*

Afghan Whigs – Do the Beast

The Gloaming – The Gloaming

Chuck E. Weiss – Red beans and Weiss

Conor Oberst – Upside down mountain*

Syd Arthur – Sound Mirror

Sharon Van Etten – Are We There?

Drive By Truckers – English Oceans

Get The Blessing – Lope and Antilope

New Mendicants – Into the Lime

War on drugs – Lost in the dream

tUnE-yArDs – Nikki Nack

Jack White – Lazaratto

The Horrors – Luminous

Swans – To be kind*

Phantom Band Strange Friend

Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots

EELS – The cautionary tale of Mark Oliver Everett

Nick Waterhouse – Holly*

Jim Goodwyn – Odludek*

St Vincent – St Vincent*

Still pondering…..Metronomy, Real Estate, David Crosby, Stephen Malkamus, East India Youth, Paul Heaton, Elbow, Doug Paisley, Bombay Bicycle Club, Simone Felice, Black Keys

~ by Pat Neligan on June 23, 2014.

Posted in Albums of the Year, Current Listening, Digital Music, Music Lists, Vinyl
Tags: 2014 so far, Best albums 2014, Best albums of 2014 so far, best of 2014