Year-End Critics' Polls 2014

I really liked Becs! I suppose it's not a revelation for Fennesz fans but I still listened to it a ton this year. It's in my personal list of favorites from the year.

a closer listen top 10 singles.

1. Christina Vantzou: "Going Backwards to Recover What Was Left Behind"
2. Tess Said So: "The Snap Beans Aren't Salty"
3. Lullatone: "All the Optimism of Early January"
4. Tides of Man: "Mountain House"
5. Sleepmakeswaves: "Something Like Avalanches"
6. Maybeshewill: "Fair Youth"
7. 36: "Hyperbox"
8. Koloto: "Fox Tales"
9. Mariano Rodriguez: "Praise the Road"
10. (exitpost): "Sweet Fade"

^^all instrumental stuff, ambient/post rock. I like the more ambient stuff. All the post-rock stuff feels super dated (Tides of Man, Sleepmakeswaves, etc.)

That Christina Vantzou album from this year was very good.

Ohh there was a Lullatone album this year? Missed that!

Rolling Stone Top 40 Country Albums list

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/40-best-country-albums-of-2014-20141210

=]:D

Yeah, I like the Fennesz a lot too. It probably doesn't really break new ground for Fennesz but I'm not sure War on Drugs is breaking new ground for the world either.

lord no, and Becs will probably squeak into my personal top 20 once I re-listen

Big Fennesz fan but Becs really did nothing for me. Very first album of his that gave me no reaction whatsoever.

good list whiney - did u do an avant/noise whatever you called it list this year?

Have we ever had a thread on what I think of as 'hangover acclaim'; ie. an artist's next record getting [possibly over / undue] praise in reviews and lists that seems like a hangover from the slow-burn success of their previous record?

― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Wednesday, December 10, 2014 4:25 AM (7 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Every huge artist has their "New Jersey" - a huge event album that ultimately feels a bit hollow & signals a career decline

I guess that's more about sales than critical acclaim

i think that's different. this is more like an unknown artist releases a breakthrough album, but maybe not everyone hears it that year, but they make sure to get onboard for the next album and suddenly it's on a bunch of different lists, even though it's not as good.

Yeah totally

I feel like things move so fast these days that it's more common for followups to get panned or ignored but that's pure uninformed b.s. on my part, surely

good list whiney - did u do an avant/noise whatever you called it list this year?

― Mordy, Wednesday, December 10, 2014 3:06 PM (35 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

it's coming

http://www.npr.org/2014/12/10/369652480/npr-musics-favorite-songs-of-2014

I still don't think Tim McGraw knows what a sundown town is, or else he (hopefully) wouldn't have named his album after one.

fader tracks list is prob my favorite so far despite including basically every ilovemakonnen song possible

I still don't think Tim McGraw knows what a sundown town is, or else he (hopefully) wouldn't have named his album after one.

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, December 10, 2014 3:00 PM (18 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

woah i was not aware of this but yikes

already found a handful of engaging-sounding records from whiney's country list, thanks

The Rosanne Cash one is pleasant enough but not as impressive as I hoped it would be. Plus I see the RS contributors like the Eric Church album more than most folks here (although Some Dude likes it some)

Afropop Worldwide radio program/website List http://www.afropop.org/wp/21641/stocking-stuffers-complete-list/

Need help tracking down the music heard on this week’s “Stocking Stuffers 2014!” program? Well, we got you. What follows is a complete list of the tracks, ordered by their appearance in the program.

Balani Show Super Hits: Electronic Street Parties from Mali : “Bala” DJ Balani – “Furu Djougou,” Kaba Blon – Sahel Sounds.

Kasai Allstars, Beware The Fetish: “The Chief’s Enthronement / Oyaye” – “He Who Makes Bush Fires For Others” - Crammed Disc

Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, La Rumba SoYo : “Rumba SoYo” - Cumbancha

Aurelio Martinez, Lándini: “Nando” / “Milaguru” - Real World

Caetano Veloso, Abraçaço: “Um Abraçaço” - Nonesuch

Moreno Veloso, Coisa Boa: “Um Passo a Frente” - Luaka Bop

Brazil!: The Birth of Bossa Nova: “Outra vez,” Elizete Cardoso - Soul Jazz Records

Dona Onete, Feitiço Cabloco: “Moreno Morenado” - Mais Um Discos

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars, Libation: “Maria” / “Rich But Poor” - Cumbancha

Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, A Long Way to the Beginning: “African Airways” - Knitting Factory Records

The Fela! Band, Finding Fela : Orginal Motion Picture Soundtrack: “Zombie” - Knitting Factory Records

Fela Kuti, Music of Many Colours, Box Set #3–Curated by Brian Eno: “Upside Down,” - Knitting Factory Records

William Onyeabor, Anything You Sow: “This Kind of World” - Luaka Bop

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou, The Skeletal Essences of Afro-Funk 1969-1980: “Houzou Houzou Wa” - Analog Africa

Angélique Kidjo, Eve: “Orisha” - 429 Records

Noura Mint Seymali, Tzenni: “El Madi” - Glitterhouse Records

Busy Signal: “Well Prepared” - Web Only Release

Popcaan, Where We Come From: “Everything Nice ” - Mixpak Records

Chronixx, Dread and Terrible: “Here Comes Trouble” - Chronixx Records

Ibibio Sound Machine, Ibibio Sound Machine: “Let’s Dance” - Soundway

Hassan Hakmoun, Unity: “Zidokan (Just Go)” - Healing Records

Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, Danger Zone: “Chikonzero”

Chigamba, Yangu Ndega: “Gandanga / Tinovatenda”- Available on CD Baby

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Always With Us: “Mamizolo” - Ladysmith Black Mambazo Records

Mamani Keita, Kanou: “Djalal Kibali” - World Village

Tinariwen, Emmaar: “Chaghaybou,” - ANTI Records

Imarhan Timbuktu, Akal Warled: “Aïcha Talamomt/Aïcha/Aïcha” - Clermont Music

Anansy Cissé, Mali Overdrive: “Sekou Amadou” - Riverboat Records

Oumar Konate, Addoh: “Henibombey (A Swindle Is No Good)” - Clermont Records

The Touré-Raichel Collective, The Paris Session: “Dèni Dèni” - Cumbancha

Habib Koité and Bamada, Soô: “Bolo Mala” - Contre Jour

Toumani Diabaté and Sidiki Diabaté, Toumani & Sidiki: “Hamadoun Toure” - Nonesuch

Djessou Mory Kante, River Strings–Maninka Guitar: “Coucou” - Sterns Africa

Cumbia All Stars, Tigres En Fuga: “Lobos al Escape” - World Village

Zongo Junction, No Discount: “Tunnel Bar” - Electric Cowbell

Somi, The Lagos Music Salon: “Love Juju #1” - Okeh

Wondering Sound
http://www.wonderingsound.com/list/best-metal-albums-2014/

25. Sun Worship, Elder Giants
24. Alraune, The Process of Self-Immolation
23. Mastodon, Once More ‘Round the Sun
22. Mutilation Rites, Harbinger
21. Panopticon, Roads to the North
20. Inter Arma, The Cavern
19. Bastard Sapling, Instinct Is Forever
18. Godflesh, A World Lit Only By Fire
17. At the Gates, At War With Reality
16. Witch Mountain, Mobile of Angels
15. Woods of Desolation, As the Stars
14. Eyehategod, Eyehategod
13. Dead Congregation, Promulgation of the Fall
12. The Body, I Shall Die Here
11. Winterfylleth, The Divination of Antiquity
10. Diocletian, Gesundrian
9. YOB, Clearing the Path to Ascend
8. Thou, Heathen
7. Coffinworm, IV.I.VIII
6. Earth, Primitive & Deadly
5. Electric Wizard, Time to Die
4. Nux Vomica, Nux Vomica
3. Blut Aus Nord, Memoria Vetusta III – Saturnian Poetry
2. Triptykon, Melana Chasmata
1. Pallbearer, Foundations of Burden

they did a best country albums list as well

Gorilla vs. Bear Songs:

100 NAPOLIAN – DARPA
99 INGA COPELAND – Smitten
98 JEROME LOL – Fool (feat. Angelina Lucero)
97 ALINA BARAZ x GALIMATIAS – Fantasy
96 BULLY – Brainfreeze
95 TOMAS BARFOD – Pulsing (feat. Nina K)
94 MARISSA NADLER – Drive
93 AMASON – Duvan
92 TALLESEN – Strike Silver, Love Green
91 DE LA SOUL – Dilla Plugged In

90 MERELY – Forever
89 LNRDCROY – I Met You on BC Ferries
88 LYDIA AINSWORTH – Hologram
87 JESSIE WARE – Keep on Lying
86 THE WAR ON DRUGS – Under the Pressure
85 SIA – Chandelier
84 LXURY – Never Love
83 ALICE BOMAN – Over
82 BANKS – Goddess (Jerome LOL edit)
81 PURE X – Starlight

80 SAMI SUOVA – Go
79 DRAKE – 0 to 100 / The Catch Up
78 LIL B – Fuck KD
77 PRINCE INNOCENCE – I Don’t Care
76 GFOTY – Bobby
75 KATIE RUSH – Dangerous Luv
74 FKA TWIGS – Pendulum
73 YOU’LL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN – Caught in Time, So Far Away
72 PARIS SUIT YOURSELF – Won’t K (SOPHIE remix)
71 TOKIMONSTA – Steal My Attention

70 VIET CONG – Continental Shelf
69 ARAABMUZIK – Ghost Story
68 WET – Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl (PURPLE remix)
67 NMESH – Dream Sequins®

66 DEERS – Castigadas en el Granero
65 ELLIE HERRING – Gem Landing
64 FEAR OF MEN – Alta/Waterfall
63 SZA – Warm Winds (feat. Isaiah Rashad)
62 DJ SPINN x TASO x JESSY LANZA – Unreleased
61 A. G. Cook – Had 1

60 DJ RASHAD x DJ SPINN x TASO – Luchini VIP
59 MELODY’S ECHO CHAMBER – Shirim
58 YOUNG EJECTA – Your Planet
57 DOSS – The Way I Feel (Recycle Culture’s Slow Emotion Reel)
56 BLUE HAWAII – Get Happy / Get Happier
55 VESUVIO SOLO – Avion
54 EYEDRESS – When I’m Gone (feat. GEoRGiA)
53 CFCF – Hiders/We Belong Together
52 RYAN HEMSWORTH – Surrounded (with Kotomi & Doss)
51 SHARON VAN ETTEN – Our Love

50 DD ELLE – Tell Me
49 RECYCLE CULTURE – Back to the World
48 CHROMATICS – Shadow (8 track version)
47 RICKY EAT ACID – Pull
46 ALLIE X – Catch
45 A. G. COOK – Beautiful
44 HANNAH DIAMOND – Pink & Blue
43 DJ DODGER STADIUM – Love Songs
42 YUMI ZOUMA – Alena
41 TRUST – Capitol

40 GROUPER – Clearing
39 JESSICA PRATT – Back, Baby
38 JAMIE XX – Sleep Sound
37 BEVERLY – Honey Do
36 CHARLI XCX – Boom Clap
35 SAINT PEPSI – Baby
34 DANNY L HARLE – Aquarius (Luna remix)
33 MSSINGNO – Brandy flip
32 ALLIE X – Bitch
31 FUTURE – Benz Friendz (feat. Andre 3000)

30 TAYLOR SWIFT – Wildest Dreams (Recycle Culture Hyper Bubble Pop remix)
29 ANGEL OLSEN – White Fire
28 BECKY G – Shower
27 TEI SHI – Bassically
26 ARIANA GRANDE – Break Free
25 KERO KERO BONITO – Sick Beat
24 TOPS – Outside
23 LEON VYNEHALL – It’s Just (House of Dupree)
22 SOPHIE – Lemonade
21 MICA LEVI – Love

20 LANA DEL REY – Brooklyn Baby
19 DANNY L HARLE – In My Dreams
18 SALES – Getting It On
17 FUTURE – Move That Dope (feat. Pusha T, Pharrell & Casino)
16 QT – Hey QT
15 FKA TWIGS – Two Weeks
14 DEERS – Bamboo
13 ARIEL PINK – Not Enough Violence
12 TINASHE – 2 On
11 ILOVEMAKONNEN – Club Goin Up on a Tuesday

10 YUMI ZOUMA | The Brae
09 DREAMTRAK | Odyssey, Pt. 2 (A. G. Cook remix)
08 PANDA BEAR | Mr Noah
07 KATIE GATELY | Pivot
06 DOSS | The Way I Feel
05 ALVVAYS | Archie, Marry Me
04 LEON BRIDGES | Coming Home
03 ARIEL PINK | Dayzed Inn Daydream
02 SHABAZZ PALACES | Forerunner Foray
01 A. G. COOK | Keri Baby (feat. Hannah Diamond)

I'm looking forward to the ILX EOY poll this year to hear what you've all been listening to... I haven't been as on the ball with new releases this year in comparison to 2013, so it'll be interesting for me to catch up.

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/2014-best-jazz-reissues?int-cid=mod-latest

best jazz reissues

xp cool to see (for the first time on this thread i think) deers, nmesh, saint pepsi & trust on that list

Slant Magazine - The 25 Best Singles of 2014
http://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/the-25-best-singles-of-2014

25 Spoon - Inside Out
24 London Grammar - Hey Now
23 Beyonce - ***Flawless
22 Mac DeMarco - Passing Out Pieces
21 Cloud Nothings - I'm Not Part of Me
20 Röyksopp & Robyn - Monument
19 Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires - The Company Man
18 Caribou - Can't Do Without You
17 Jack White - Lazaretto
16 Disclosure ft. Mary J. Blige - F For You
15 alt-J - Left Hand Free
14 Sia - Chandelier
13 Sturgill Simpson - Turtles All the Way Down
12 Perfume Genius - Queen
11 Indiana - Solo Dancing
10 St. Vincent - Digital Witness
9 Jenny Lewis - Just One of the Guys
8 Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You)
7 Sam Smith - Stay With Me
6 FKA twigs - Two Weeks
5 Hozier - Take Me to Church
4 Vic Mensa - Down on My Luck
3 Jessie Ware - Say You Love Me
2 The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers
1 Jessie Ware - Tough Love

Guardian top 10 albums:

10. Sleaford Mods - Divide and Exit
9. Flying Lotus - You're Dead
8. Beck - Morning Phase
7. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2
6. La Roux - Trouble in Paradise
5. Caribou - Our Love
4. Aphex Twin - Syro
3. FKA Twigs - LP1
2. The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream
1. ??. ??????? - ??. ???????

Has to be St Vincent.

Sorry, Mike, it's Catfish and the Bottlemen.

no its Lost in the Dream again. they love it so much it gets the top 2 spots.

Oh cool two Ware placements in top five

Two Ware Nos. Here

Clearly U2 has won the guardian poll

I quite like that gorilla vs bear list, if for nor other reason it included Leon Vynehall's House of Dupree, which is missing from far too much

Dummy - The 20 best albums of 2014
http://www.dummymag.com/lists/the-20-best-albums-of-2014

20 Young Fathers - Dead
19 Todd Terje - It's Album Time
18 Caribou - Our Love
17 Call Super - Suzi Ecto
16 The Bug - Angels & Devils
15 Fatima Al Qadiri - Asiatisch
14 Metronomy - Love Letters
13 Lone - Reality Testing
12 Fatima - Yellow Memories
11 How to Dress Well - What is this Heart?
10 Arca - Xen
9 Dan Bodan - Soft
8 Copeland - Because I'm Worth It
7 TOPS - Picture You Staring
6 Mica Levi - Under the Skin OST
5 18+ - Trust
4 Dean Blunt - Black Metal
3 Aphex Twin - Syro
2 Kindness - Otherness
1 FKA Twigs - LP1

Drowned In Sound - Our 50 Favourite Albums of 2014
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4148558-drowned-in-sounds-50-favourite-albums-of-2014

1) The Twilight Sad - Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave
2) Sharon Van Etten - Are We There
3) Taylor Swift - 1989
4) Marissa Nadler - July
5) ††† - Crosses
6) Alvvays - Alvvays
7) Eagulls - Eagulls
8) Ought - More Than Any Other Day
9) The War On Drugs - Lost in the Dream
10) Swans - To Be Kind
11) Cloud Nothings - Here And Nowhere Else
12) Mogwai - Rave Tapes
13) Interpol - El Pintor
14) Sun Kil Moon - Benji
15) FKA twigs - LP1
16) Keaton Henson - Romantic Works
17) A Winged Victory for the Sullen - Atomos
18) Hookworms - The Hum
19) East India Youth - Total Strife Forever
20) EMA - The Future’s Void
21) Future Islands - Singles
22) Todd Terje - It's Album Time
23) Lykke Li - I Never Learn
24) Grouper - Ruins
25) Vessel - Punish, Honey
26) Blood Red Shoes - Blood Red Shoes
27) Prince - Art Official Age / Plectrumelectrum
28) I Break Horses - Chiaroscuro
29) Eels - The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett
30) Pulled Apart by Horses - Blood
31) Owen Pallett - In Conflict
32) Wild Beasts - Present Tense
33) Kiasmos - Kiasmos
34) Manic Street Preachers - Futurology
35) Ben Frost - Aurora
36) Liars - Mess
37) Perfume Genius - Too Bright
38) The Antlers - Familiars
39) The Phantom Band - Strange Friend
40) Inventions - Inventions
41) Spoon - They Want My Soul
42) Young Fathers - DEAD
43) Raveonettes - Pe’ahi
44) The Bug - Angels & Devils
45) Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - Gone Girl OST
46) ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - IX
47) Joyce Manor - Never Hungover Again
48) Aphex Twin - Syro
49) Thom Yorke - Tomorrow's Modern Boxes
50) Owls - II

unfortunate graphic for their number one album, i know they liked it but tmi guys

http://dis.images.s3.amazonaws.com/98646.jpeg

damn a lot of people loved that crosses album for some reason

I participated in this: http://www.spin.com/articles/40-best-country-songs-2014/

Consensus Watch Update - FKA Twigs steams ahead.
Number of Top 50 polls in brackets.

FKA Twigs - LP1 (42)
The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream (35)
St Vincent - St Vincent (33)
Caribou - Our Love (33)

Aphex Twin - Syro (28)
Future Islands - Singles (27)
Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire For No Witness (26)
Sharon Van Etten - Are We There (26)
Swans - To Be Kind (26)
Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 2 (25)
Beck - Morning Phase (24)
Mac DeMarco - Salad Days (23)
Perfume Genius - Too Bright (23)
Flying Lotus - You're Dead! (22)
Sun Kil Moon - Benji (22)
Taylor Swift - 1989 (21)
Freddie Gibbs and Madlib - Pinata (20)
Todd Terje - It's Album Time (20)

Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence (19)
Spoon - They Want My Soul (18)
Jack White - Lazaretto (17)
Alvvays - Alvvays (17)
East India Youth - Total Strife Forever (17)
Real Estate - Atlas (16)
Ty Segall - Manipulator (15)
Wild Beasts - Present Tense (15)

Sleaford Mods - Divide and Exit (14)
The Bug - Angels & Devils (14)
Grouper: Ruins (14)
Goat - Commune (13)
Scott Walker & Sun O))) - Soused (13)
Jenny Lewis - Voyager (13)
Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots (12)
Royal Blood - Royal Blood (12)
Shabazz Palaces - Lese Majesty (12)
First Aid Kit - Stay Gold (12)
Cloud Nothings - Here And Nowhere Else (12)
Hookworms - The Hum (12)
Temples - Sun Structures (11)
The Black Keys - Turn Blue (11)
Alt-J - This Is All Yours (11)
Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers (11)
Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds In Country Music (11)
Kate Tempest - Everybody Down (10)
Ex Hex - Rips (10)
Azealia Banks, Broke With Expensive Taste (10)
Jessie Ware - Tough Love (10)
Tinashe - Aquarius (10)
Dean Blunt – Black Metal (10)
Young Fathers - Dead (10)

The most polled metal albums are both on 9:
Yob - Clearing the Path to Ascend
Pallbearer – Foundations of Burden

wonder what the highest placing one of those is that will not make the ilx 77?

Beck?

Yeah definitely Beck

Very surprised that the Guardian list will end up omitting Todd Terje, Lana Del Rey, Perfume Genius and Sun Kil Moon.

possibly WoD given the *shrug* and "really??" type reactions it's getting

although that could just be thinking it's overrated despite not being necessarily bad, which i'd agree with

Plenty of people here like the WoD album, I'm just not sure anyone was really behind it being so high on almost every list that would include it.

everyone should have omitted Lana Del Rey because that album is terrible aside from 2-3 songs, and one of the not-terrible songs is titled "Fucked My Way To The Top"