Kevin’s Favorite Albums of 2014

I can’t believe the last time I did this was in 2011, but it’s time to do it again! 2014 was a great year for music! Again! My 2014 Favorites has 256 songs on it. Last year’s has almost 350, but I think that’s more about me being more selective about what goes on it than the quality of the year.

I decided to break up the list into three sections, because I don’t think it’s fair to compare albums by bands I’ve loved for years with new stuff that jumped out enough to be considered. I’m getting older and though I’m trying really hard not to let my musical taste calcify, well, I think it’s inevitable. Also, the “throwbacks” fit a theme for me. They’re all committed to a sound from the past and pull it off expertly. All four albums will have you grinning from ear to ear just to hear great new songs in styles you thought were dead.

Repeat Offenders

• For John by Library Voices
• Rave Tapes by Mogwai
• Cosmos by Yellow Ostrich
• Kudos to You! by The Presidents Of The United States Of America
• Free Will by Bry Webb
• Endless Wonder by Say Hi
• Familiars by The Antlers
• Arcadie by Archimede
• Sand + Silence by The Rosebuds
• Brill Bruisers by The New Pornographers

Throwbacks

• The Future Happens Anyway by NQ Arbuckle
• Give the People What They Want by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
• Therapy by The New Mastersounds
• Running of the Bulls by My Neighbor Is

The New Kids

• Supermodel by Foster the People
• Mind Over Matter by Young the Giant
• So Long, See You Tomorrow by Bombay Bicycle Club
• Atlas by Real Estate
• When Lost at Sea by The Wooden Sky
• 9 Dead Alive by Rodrigo y Gabriela
• Sea When Absent by A Sunny Day in Glasgow
• After the Disco by Broken Bells

And there you have it… my favorite albums of 2014. Enjoy!