There's a lot to appreciate when it comes to the luscious sounds of Chromatics but what I like the most is what I simply classify as 'vibes'; a severely overused word but aptly concise. The energy that this music exudes is exactly what I look for when I'm lounging around the house or in the mood to kick back and decompress.
Chromatics is an electronic group from Portland. Their latest release is available now and can be purchased here.
This year, I thought I'd scale back my list and only select 10 of my favorite albums- a bit easier? As if! Wishful thinking. As I began to recollect the year in music, I realized I had enjoyed far more than I thought. Narrowing down this list to 10 proved to be extremely challenging. I choose to not call this grouping "the best" albums of the year because I have not had the pleasure of listening to everything that was released- who has and where do they find the time, money and capabilities?! Furthermore, who am I to say that one piece of music is "better" than something else? How could you even begin to rank and compare within multiple genres? I'm sure that I'm forgetting many wonderful artists and there are plenty of others who I have not yet even discovered. In no particular order, this is simply 10 albums that I personally loved in 2014, accompanied with my favorite tracks, as well as a lengthy list of honorable mentions...
Jack White, Lazaretto.
Released: June 2014
Tracks:
1) Three Women
2) Lazaretto
4) Would You Fight For My Love?
9) That Black Bat Licorice
Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence.
Released: June 2014
Tracks:
1) Cruel World
4) Brooklyn Baby
5) West Coast
6) Sad Girl
8) Money Power Glory
10) Old Money
Jungle, Jungle.
Released: July 2014
Tracks:
1) The Heat
3) Busy Earnin'
4) Platoon
5) Drops
6) Time
Benjamin Booker, Benjamin Booker.
Released: August 2014
Tracks:
1) Violent Shiver
4) Slow Coming
7) Spoon Out My Eyeballs
9) I Thought I Heard You Screaming
11) Kids Never Grow Older
12) By The Evening
Sam Smith, In The Lonely Hour.
Released: June 2014
Tracks:
1) Money On My Mind
3) Stay With Me
5) I'm Not the Only One
12) Latch (Acoustic)
Angel Olsen, Burn Your Fire For No Witness.
Released: February 2014
Tracks:
1) Unfucktheworld
4) White Fire
8) Iota
9) Dance Slow Decades
Wake Owl, The Private World of Paradise.
Released: March 2014
Tracks:
2) Candy
3) Letters
6) Buffalo
7) Oh Baby
8) Madness of Others
Timber Timbre, Hot Dreams.
Released: April 2014
Tracks:
2) Hot Dreams
3) Curtains!?
9) Run from Me
Future Islands, Singles.
Released: March 2014
Tracks:
1) Seasons (Waiting On You)
5) Back In The Tall Grass
6) A Song for Our Grandfathers
8) Like The Moon
9) Fall From Grace
10) A Dream of You and Me
I initially fell in love with Goldfrapp's glorious sounds when I was a freshman in college. A decade later and their music still puts energy into my soul.
Goldfrapp is a duo from London. Their latest album, Tales of Us, can be purchased here.
I first heard this song in a Subaru commercial (props to whomever does their ads because they're always well done). After doing a bit of research, I was left with very little information on the artist. Odessa's voice is promising and I look forward to hearing more.
Odessa is an unsigned singer from Santa Rosa, California. Her debut single can be purchased here.
2013 was another wonderful year for music! I've had the chance to discover a number of new artists this year. While I've spent a significant amount of time listening to music and attending concerts, it would have been impossible to review every release. I call this list my favorites because I'm certain that I haven't had the pleasure to hear some of the best albums of the year. I'm not a critic nor do I claim to be any sort of expert on taste. Music is a personal experience and to rank a particular record as better than something else is completely subjective.
I think it's interesting to see what people have enjoyed the most through their end of the year compilations; but when everyone's list starts looking the same, you have to question its authenticity. When I'm compiling my list, I allow my mind to go for the music that left a lasting impression on me in one way or another. There's usually a handful or two each year that are definite "best-of" material; then, it comes down to choosing between 50 or so other great albums to pick my final selections. It was a rather arduous task this year. I'm sure this list is full of oversights but here is my favorites...
13. Darkside, Psychic.
Released: October 2013
Best Tracks:
3) Heart
4) Paper Trails
12. Atlas Genius, When It Was Now.
Released: February 2013
Best Tracks:
4) Trojans
5) Through The Glass
11) Symptoms
11. Wampire, Curiosity.
Released: May 2013
Best Tracks:
2) Orchards
7) Trains
9) Magic Light
10. Arcade Fire, Reflektor.
Released: October 2013
Best Tracks:
1) Reflektor
1) Here Comes The Night Time II
3) It's Never Over (Hey Orpheus)
5) Afterlife
9. Volcano Choir, Repave.
Released: August 2013
Best Tracks:
4) Byegone
5) Alaskans
8. Foxygen, We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic.
Released: January 2013
Best Tracks:
2) No Destruction
3) On Blue Mountain
6) Shuggie
7. Polica, Shulamith.
Released: October 2013
Best Tracks:
2) Smug
4) Warrior Lord
8) Tiff
6. A$AP Rocky, Long.Live.A$AP.
Released: January 2013
Best Tracks:
5) Hell
7) Fuckin' Problems
10) Fashion Killa
16) I Come Apart (ft. Florence Welch)
5. Portugal. The Man, Evil Friends.
Released: June 2013
Best Tracks:
1) Plastic Soldiers
4) Modern Jesus
11) Purple Yellow Red and Blue
12) Smile
4. Lorde, Pure Heroine.
Released: September 2013
Best Tracks:
3) Royals
4) Ribs
6) Team
3. The National, Trouble Will Find Me.
Released: May 2013
Best Tracks:
1) I Should Live In Salt
3) Don't Swallow the Cap
7) This Is The Last Time
12) Pink Rabbits
2. Rhye, Woman.
Released: March 2013
Best Tracks:
1) Open
2) The Fall
6) 3 Days
1. Woodkid, The Golden Age.
Released: March 2013
Best Tracks:
1) The Golden Age
4) Boat Song
5) I Love You
7) Ghost Lights
10) Conquest of Spaces
Live, NPR Tiny Desk Concerts: "This Is The Last Time", "I Need My Girl", "Pink Rabbits", "Sea of Love"
I'm getting ready to put together my year-end list of favorite albums. One that I definitely know will make the cut is from The National. They've been one of my most-loved bands over the past decade. 2013 did not disappoint including a delivery of one of my favorite live shows of the year.
The National hails from Ohio but now calls Brooklyn home. Their most recent album, Trouble Will Find Me, is out now and can be purchased here.
I'm living life in beautiful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I hold a journalism degree from West Virginia University. I have worked in television news, fashion marketing, PR, and cosmetic sales. My love for writing and sharing with the world my various passions is strong. One of my many ambitions is to be published and continue creating in the fields of digital and print media, literature and film. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, going to concerts, reading, following Pittsburgh sports and traveling as often as possible. Some of my favorite things include beauty, style, architecture, books, tarot and astrology, thrifting and my shih-tzu, Ireland. I’m engaged to the love of my lifetimes and we look forward to starting our next chapter together. If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you!
