My Favorite Albums of 2014

1) Spoon: They Want My Soul - Carve another notch in their gear case. 15 years and no compromises. Britt Daniel barely keeps his cracked and strained vocals in check while Jim Eno's minimalist drumming, and new member Alex Fischel ("Finally somone who can play lead guitar" says Britt) round out the threadbare rock sound that they are famous for. 

2) Elbow: The Take Off and Landing of Everything - The band provides an atmospheric backdrop for Guy Garvey's sweet, painfully poetic lyrics and film-noir melodies. Recorded in Peter Gabriel's Real World studios, the influence of Gabriel's sound on their music is apparent in the song "New York Morning" (at 3:48 it might as well be Gabriel). It's not all an "In Your Eyes" ripoff however. The songs are varied in scope and sound and the result is epic. 

3) Future Islands: Singles - When I first listened to this album, prior to their breakout David Letterman appearance, I was instantly taken by Samuel Herring's amazing voice. But after watching him perform on Letterman (a slightly pudgy, balding guy with passionate, Shakespearean gestures, chest-pounding and unforgettable dance moves) my impression was taken to another level. It's 80s-style synth-driven rock but his incredible singing and melodic songwriting transcends any cheesiness. It also helps that the bass kicks ass. But still it is Herring that transcends all. If he has been performing with that passion since they started in 2006 in North Carolina, then has earned every ounce of adulation that he receives.

4) Broken Bells: After the Disco - Danger Mouse and James Mercer (The Shins) get together for their 2nd album together. They have a great sound with Mercer's on-point songwriting and Danger Mouse's knack for keyboards, bass and rhythm. I saw them perform on the Coachella webcast and even over the internets, these guys came through loud and clear. 

5) Jack White: Lazaretto - The king of the riff is back and with a new band he gets even more into funk ("Lazaretto") and twang ("Temporary Ground") then on his prior solo album. At this point how can a Jack White album not be on any top ten list? This guy is at the top of his game and one of the brightest talents on the planet.

6) Shabazz Palaces: Lese Majesty - Remember Digable Planets? Maybe if you are over the age of 35 you do. Shabazz Palaces is led by Ishmael Butler, formerly of Digable Planets, and it does echo the alternative sound of DP but in a much more experimental vein. This collaboration with Baba Maraire (son of mbira master Dumisani Maraire) is challenging, spare, psychedelic and bumping! Turn up the bass and get lost.

7) Sun Kil Moon: Benji - I listened to this whole album in one sitting and I was floored. The honesty, the emotional intensity, the realism. This is some of the most personal, authentic work I have heard in a long time. It's not feel good music; his main themes are death, fear and doubt. But there are brighter moments, like when he expresses love and forgiveness for his father in "I Love My Dad" and pays tribute to his mother (while also addressing his fear of losing her) in "I Can't Live Without My Mother's Love". Not for everyone, but worth the effort.

8) Wye Oak: Shriek - So simple. Two musicians. Drums, bass and keyboards. That's all it takes sometimes. With that they achieve a layered sound that is accompanied nicely by Jen Wassner's semi-embellished vocals. An album to play on a rainy day. 

9) The War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream - Adam Granduciel keeps the fuzzed-out garage groove sound going on his second release after the departure of compatriot Kurt Vile. Like Vile's solo records, the sound is driving and the songs are sprawling. There is no catering to the record label here. 

10) Chad VanGaalen: Shrink Dust - Van Gaalen actually made this as the score to his animated Sci-fi film project. It's some crazy stuff. What I like about his music is how it varies from simple folk to way out there wackiness. For instance, on the opening track, "Cut Off My Hands", he starts with vocal and guitar and morphs into layered harmonies, synthesized strings, horns and a trippy cross-rhythm accompaniment. Weird and fascinating. But he also has some gorgeous songs such as "Weighed Sin" which seems to float ethereally on the strength of his voice and lovely steel guitar.

Here the song "Monster" tells a Kafka-esque story of awful transformation. 

Honorable Mention

Black Keys: Turn Blue
Cibo Matto: Hotel Valentine
Damon Albarn: Everyday Robots
Dr. Dog: B-Room
Fink: Hard Believer
Lee Fields and the Expressions: Emma Jean 
The Nels Cline Singers: Macrosope
The New Pornographers: Brill Bruisers
Parquet Courts: Sunbathing Animals
Real Estate: Atlas
Sinkane: Mean Love
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Wig Out at Jagbags
St. Paul and the Broken Bones: Half the City