Here are a few lists of my favorite music of 2014. If you have Spotify, you can also listen to an extended playlist linked here (or with the ebedded playlist at the bottom of this page):
Let me know what you think.
Keep rocking,
Dave
Is it pop music, soul music, country music? I don’t really know and it doesn’t really matter. Fun, soulful, confident and catchy, this album is an excellent way to kick off this year’s list.
Indie rock royalty by now, Blonde Redhead could do just about anything and find a receptive audience. They score big this time with a unique and minimalist approach to song construction. It’s like a soundtrack to an experimental documentary about dying industries.
I haven’t appreciated a hip-hop album this much in a long time (1991’s Death Certificate?). But there’s no denying the soul, creativity and energy on display here. Winners of the 2014 Mercury Prize.
Scandinavian rock stars, representing 25% of my top dozen favorites, make a big splash this year. Lykke Li, making her third appearance on my list, has remained reliably melodramatic, melancholy and lush.
Another Scandinavian, Mø sort of reminds me of Lana Del Rey, but a lot more fun.
A little bit folky, a little bit rock-n-roll, some southern gothic, some sweetness, some bite, but best of all, this album pulses with energy and confident "I'm gonna take my time" songwriting.
Longtime favorites Celebration (this is their 4th time on my favorites list) sure know how to jam! Their songs are funky and rocking but also loose and organic with plenty of dynamic range (the main thing that bands tend to miss in the mp3 era).
Soulful post-punk with a jittery yet confident energy. As you might expect, I’m partial to the few Bjork-inspired songs sung by Becca Kauffman, but Carlos Hernandez, who sings the bulk of the songs, has developed a thrilling punk/soul singing style that provides the album’s main thrust.
Another one of my favorite bands, these Swedes make the most of a minimalist approach, often recording with nothing more than cascading drums and passionate vocals.
By adding driving rhythms and anxious synthesizers to many of these songs, Perfume Genius makes a huge leap forward in his career and has crafted the BEST PRODUCED ALBUM OF THE YEAR. And whoa! Those videos! Does he need therapy?
An instant classic! Released at the very end of 2014, this is the reason I wait until the last moment to post my best of the year list (I missed Beyoncé last year). The power of D’angelo’s freewheeling funky and sweet soul is infectious. I’m looking forward to getting to know this album better (especially some of the more political songs) and I suspect it might have to rise a notch higher on my list in the coming weeks.
And my favorite album of the year is by yet another Scandinavian band, this one from Norway. What can I say? There’s no accounting for taste. Every time one of these sweet, catchy, textured and at times epic songs came up on my Spotify shuffle, I stopped what I was doing and basked in the glow of their lush sound. For me, it’s all about the voice, and for whatever reason, Helene Håvik just makes me swoon.
With a clear and strong voice and deliciously smooth arrangements, Jascha Hoffman has created a lovely and thought-provoking suite of songs inspired by New York Times obituaries
The world has only begun to appreciate this world-class talent. When she’s as famous as Adele, I will certainly gloat that she made my living room ring like a bell “back in the day!”
A delightful and lovely person who writes intimate and inspirational songs to swoon to and groove to. Standout track “The Biggest Drum” is my FAVORITE SONG OF THE YEAR!
