A Round of Sound

#10) Sun Kil Moon – Benji [Caldo Verde; released 2/11/2014]

I’ve never been in a huge fan of Mark Kozelek, musically or personally, but in 2014 he at least impressed me by the former (while still being his usual dickish self thanks to his bizarre feud with The War On Drugs, so halfway there) with Benji, a beautiful collection of songs that pull off the rare feat of being personal yet immensely relatable.

#9) Parquet Courts – Sunbathing Animal [What’s Your Rupture?; released 6/3/2014]

The follow up to last year’s breakout Light Up Gold, Sunbathing Animal is the first of two releases for the band in 2014 (the other as Parkay Quarts) and shows a group maturing, while still retaining the DIY garage-rock ethos. This is a more ambitious album, but as intelligent and catchy as their previous work.

#8) Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels 2 [Mass Appeal; released 10/24/2014]

The year’s best hip-hop album, RTJ2 is the second album from Killer Mike and El-P, who seem to bring the best out of each other whenever they team up. This is a visceral listen, an angry airing of grievances largely needed after the civil unrest that unfortunately defined much of 2014.

#7) Strand of Oaks – HEAL [Dead Oceans; released 6/24/2014]

A similar album, in spirit, to last year’s album of the year Muchacho from Phosphorescent, labelmate Strand of Oaks has created a cathartic gem full of rock ‘n’ roll songs dealing with personal turmoil and nostalgia for the transformative power of rock music.

#6) Against Me! – Transgender Dysphoria Blues [Total Treble; released 1/21/2014]

The first release from the group since lead singer Laura Jane Grace came out as transgender, is as courageous an album as I’ve ever heard. 2014 was a defining year for the transgender community – Jared Leto’s Oscar winning portrayal, Laverne Cox’s Emmy nomination, the Grantland fiasco, the success of Transparent, etc. – and Grace’s honesty shown in these 10 punk-rock songs shines as a beacon of hope for those involved in the movement, as well as those struggling to understand.

#5) Cymbals Eat Guitars – LOSE [Barsuk; released 8/26/2014]

In what I consider 2014’s most underrated album, the New Jersey based quartet’s third, and best, release uses their 90’s indie-rock style to take a spirited look at life and loss in the eyes of someone entering their quarter-life. It’s nine songs of guitar drenched rock, with a heart that elevates this album to astonishing heights.

#4) Spoon – They Want My Soul [Loma Vista; released 8/5/2014]

The first release since their under appreciated 2010 album Transference, the Austin indie-rockers return to form with an album that better fits alongside 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, generally thought of as the band’s best work. They Want My Soul is one of 2014’s most consistent records with not a dud in the bunch appeasing all those that felt betrayed by Transference’s deviations.

#3) Sharon Van Etten – Are We There [Jagjaguwar; released 5/27/2014]

An absolute monster of an album, Sharon Vet Etten has created gut-punch of a record full of personal songs that make this the most emotionally draining release of 2014. Self-produced by Van Etten, who felt she had something to prove after 2012’s breakout Tramp was lauded largely due to Aaron Dessner’s involvement, Are We There establishes Van Etten as a monumental voice in indie-rock.

#2) St. Vincent – St. Vincent [Loma Vista; released 2/25/2014]

Using David Byrne inspired theatrics, the fourth, and possibly best, album from Annie Clark is another incredible release from my favorite artist. Clark has always been able to pair her anxious skittishness with accessible pop tunes – while shredding on guitar, of course – and St. Vincent is no different, only this time showing even greater ambition and innovation from one of the most talented songwriters and musicians we have today.

#1) The War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream [Secretly Canadian; released 3/18/2014]

In what should come as no surprise, my album of the year is the majestic and stunning Lost In The Dream, the third album from Philadelphia band The War On Drugs. Adam Granduciel has crafted his masterpiece, 10 meticulously constructed Springsteen and Petty inspired classic-rock songs, serving as an expression of Granduciel’s demons, all the while being completely devoid of pretensions. With half the tracks over 6 minutes long, most build up to a climax of various proportions, whether they involve an emphatic “Woo!” and guitar solos of my song of the year “Red Eyes” or a Bruce Hornsby styled saxophone solo of “Eyes To The Wind”, but all do so organically. There’s no contrivances here as this is real, life-affirming, stuff which invites the listener to come as you are and get out of it whatever you feel you need.