Obviously, that's not 100% true, as I found time to jerk off 380 times and beat GTA V. More accurately, I did listen to a lot of music this year. Often times, I would get home from work and sit on my couch with music blaring. I'd listen as I drank, smoked, looked at my phone, watched TV on mute, or stared off into space (decompressing or festering like Travis Bickle?). The trouble was, not all of the music I listened to in 2014 was released in 2014. Some of it was, as you'll see below. But, even if you manage to catch everything (I didn't), you can't rush the process of digesting a work of music. Sometimes you can't force yourself to have a strong opinion about something, one way or the other. Sometimes music is just another fleeting distraction to help you make it through work and relax at the end of the day. That sounds really depressing, but I don't want to edit this paragraph any more to alleviate it. The point is, despite our efforts to compartmentalize and package music into easily consumable gelcaps, it will infect you at its own pace and in its own way. These ten albums were able to rise out of the white noise and pollute my brain this year.
10. Ty Segall - Manipulator
I first became familiar with Ty's brand of modern day garage rock on 2012's Slaughterhouse and Twins. I didn't get into this album until late in the year, despite IronFish's persistent recommendations. Once I finally gave in, I was pleasantly surprised that Segall was able to consistently deliver satisfying fuzzy pop tunes with psychedelic guitar. I hope he keeps up his prolific output. Suggested tracks: Tall Man, Skinny Lady; Feel; It's Over.
9. Warpaint - Warpaint
Pretty girls with intertwining guitar lines, hypnotic drums, and ethereal vocals. Produced by Flood and mixed by Nigel Godrich, their self-titled release has more keyboards than their previous albums, but maintains their signature post-rock siren's call. In some ways, reminiscent of the way OK Computer bubbles out of the speakers. Suggested tracks: Keep It Healthy, Love Is To Die, Feeling Right
8. Spoon - They Want My Soul
It's kind of amazing how Spoon keeps semi-quietly, consistently creating flawless indie pop. TWMS is a great embodiment of this, at it's 10 track/37 minute length. Every song works and there are no filler tracks. It's crazy to think that they might just be hitting their stride. Suggested tracks: Rent I Pay, Rainy Taxi, Do You
7. Phantogram - Voices
I've been a big Phantogram fan since getting into Nightlife (2011) and Eyelid Movies (2009). I almost would call them a guilty pleasure, but I legitimately enjoy them too much for that. A more accurate way to put it is they are an artist I can listen to with my girlfriend without feeling like I'm compromising anything. Their collaboration with Big Boi really put them over the top for me. They're able to effortlessly walk the lines between dance, hip hop, and indie pop. Their impeccable influences are evident in almost every track. Sarah Barthel being a goddess also helps some. Suggested tracks: Black Out Days, Never Going Home, Bill Murray
6. Thom Yorke - Tomorrow's Modern Boxes
Though I might like his previous solo effort The Eraser better as a whole, Tomorrow's Modern Boxes successfully launched me back into a massive Thom York/Radiohead/Atoms For Peace kick shortly after it came out. In that more general way, this album had a big impact on my musical year. If you don't like his previous solo stuff, there's probably not much for you here. But, if you're like me and strangely drawn to his eerie voice floating over erratic yet dancey electronic tracks, this is a good one. Suggested tracks: A Brain In A Bottle, Interference, The Mother Lode
5. Future Islands - Singles
A couple of weeks ago this album wouldn't have touched my top ten. It came on really late for me, but I really got hooked by the moody instrumentation and Samuel T. Herring's voice. He can go from a cheesy 80s soft rock croon to a raw throaty howl and back again in the same song. Likely influenced by my recent affection for it, this album is probably a good example of how fluid top ten lists like this can be. It's position could easily change again once I go over these albums again and catch up on some obvious ones that I missed this year. Suggested Tracks: Seasons (Waiting On You), Spirit, A Song For Our Grandfathers, Fall From Grace
4. St. Vincent - St. Vincent
Another album I nearly overlooked. Which is pretty stupid considering I liked Annie Clark's previous stuff. Like the fine women of Warpaint, Clark combines weird beauty with unmatched guitar virtuosity. She really comes into her own here, filling each song with a psychotic mix of frenzy and fun. Her glam-ish stream of consciousness lyrical delivery evoke David Bowie for me and her guitar talents are on full display, as can be expected. Suggested tracks: Rattlesnake, Birth In Reverse, Digital Witness, I Prefer Your Love
3. The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream
This could have been my #1 of the year. My only minor gripe is it's not immediately as tight as their previous albums. It somehow clocks in at over an hour despite containing only 10 songs. Once you relax and let the album grow on you, it seeps into your veins the way the sound of Adam Graduciel's sonic obsessions pour out of the speakers and fill the room. Few bands have such a characteristic quality to their music as The War on Drugs. Even fewer could weather the departure of Kurt Vile and continue creating signature sounds. I think my appreciation for this album will only grow with time. Mark Kozelek is a grumpy old meandering fuddy duddy. Suggested tracks: Under the Pressure, Suffering, An Ocean Between the Waves
2. Aphex Twin - Syro
Despite his prolific output and somewhat legendary reputation, I've been ignorant of Aphex Twin's music, outside of the late-90s video for "Come to Daddy" and maybe some remix work. Depending on what releases you count, Syro is his first release in about 12 years. And it may not sound like it at first, but it is his most mainstream. Working away in a Frankenstein's lab of vintage and rare analog synthesizers, Richard D. James seemingly created music for extra-dimensional aliens to breakdance to. He works outside the boundaries of traditional Western music theory, crafting his own tunings and keys on the fly. This, along with the ledger-esque album art and byzantine track names, can make it challenging to listen to at first. I had to listen a few times before I had a breakthrough, after which all of the songs began to take on new life. His songs constantly modulate and evolve as they go on, retaining parts that sound familiar but changing others, until everything is different. Researching Aphex Twin and diving into his music has given me a newfound appreciation for electronic music, in general. Something I used to write off without really listening to. Just listen to this song and picture a middle aged ponytailed ginger Englishman rocking out on a keytar, gonzoed out of his mind on LSD. Suggested tracks: minipops 67, XMAS_EVET10, CIRCLONT14, PAPAT4
1. Jenny Lewis - The Voyager
Jenny Lewis continues her evolution into the female Tom Petty. She has the rare ability to tell stories through song, while retaining her pop sensibility and classic rock roots. This album almost ended up suffering unfairly due to how much I actually listened to it. I got the album shortly after it came out and have been playing it regularly. I can easily listen to it straight through without batting an eye. For some reason, I started talking myself out of it being my #1, but common sense prevailed at the final hour. I admit, I'm a fan of almost anything this woman does. But, The Voyager is the perfect mixture of catchy hooks with lyrical depth lurking just below the surface, if you care to look for it. Like Petty, these songs are exquisitely complemented by little surges of organ and economical guitar solos. Suggested tracks: Just One Of The Guys, Late Bloomer, The Voyager, Slippery Slopes
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