Year-End Critics' Polls 2014

I've been reading a lot of lynda barry and her humanistic, non-ego based, everything-has-value philosophy really sums up how i'm trying to live my life when i'm at my best
http://thenearsightedmonkey.tumblr.com/

The rest of Wondering Sound's genre lists to date (metal already posted here):

25 Best Country Albums of 2014
http://www.wonderingsound.com/list/best-country-albums-2014/

1. Miranda Lambert - Platinum (RCA Nashville)
2. Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (High Top Mountain)
3. Angaleena Presley - American Middle Class (Slate Creek)
4. Lee Ann Womack - The Way I'm Livin' (Sugar Hill)
5. Hiss Golden Messenger - Lateness of Dancers (Merge)
6. Eric Church - The Outsiders (EMI Nashville)
7. Hurray for the Riff Raff - Small Town Heroes (ATO)
8. Christopher Denny - If the Roses Don't Kill Us (Partisan)
9. Lydia Loveless - Somewhere Else (Bloodshot)
10. Dierks Bentley - Riser (Capitol Nashville)
11. Shovels & Rope - Swimmin' Time (Dualtone)
12. Sam Hunt - Montevallo (MCA)
13. Sunny Sweeney - Provoked (Thirty Tigers)
14. Caroline Rose - I Will Not Be Afraid (Little Hill)
15. Old Crow Medicine Show - Remedy (ATO)
16. Doug Paisley - Strong Feelings ( No Quarter)
17. Lucinda Williams - Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone (Highway 20)
18. Amy LaVere - Runaway's Diary (Archer)
19. Robert Ellis - The Lights From the Chemical Plant (New West)
20; Billy Joe Shaver -- Long in the Tooth (Lightning Rod)
21. Alice Gerrard - Follow the Music (Tompkins Square)
22. Nikki Lane - All or Nothin' (New West)
23. Brad Paisley - Moonshine in the Trunk (Arista Nashville)
24. Dom Flemons - Prospect Hill (Fat Possum)
25. Rosanne Cash - The River & the Thread (Blue Note)

Best R&B Albums of 2014
http://www.wonderingsound.com/list/best-r-and-b-albums-2014/

1. Trey Songz - Trigga (Atlantic)
2. Toni Braxton & Babyface - Love, Marriage & Divorce (Motown)
3. Omarion - Sex Playlist (MMG/Atlantic)
4. FKA Twigs - LP1 (Young Turks)
5. Tinashe - Aquarius (RCA)
6. PartyNextDoor - PartyNextDoor Two (Ovo Sound/Warner Bros)
7. Shlomo/Jeremih - No More (We Did It)
8. Teyana Taylor - VII (Getting Out Our Dreams)
9. Fatima - Yellow Memories (Eglo)
10. Ty Dolla Sign - Beach House EP (self-released)
11. Mary J Blige - The London Sessions (Capitol/Matriarch)
12. Kelis - Food (Ninja Tune)
13. Neneh Cherry - Blank Project (Smalltown Supersound)
14. Brenmar - High End Times Vol 1 (self-released)
15. Kehlani - Cloud 19 (self-released)
16. SZA - Z (Top Dawg Entertainment)
17. Daniel Caesar - Praise Break (self-released)
18. Mariah Carey - Me, I Am Mariah . . . the Elusive Chanteuse (Def Jam)
19. Micah Freeman - Heartspace Vol 1 (self-released)
20. Ariana Grande - My Everything (Republic)
21. Chris Brown - X (RCA)
22. Katy B - Little Red (Columbia)
23. Keyshia Cole - Point of No Return (Interscope)
24. Pharrell - Girl (I Am Other/Columbia)
25. August Alsina - Testimony (Def Jam)

Best Jazz Albums of 2014
http://www.wonderingsound.com/list/best-jazz-albums-of-2014/

1. Steve Lehman Octet - Mise en Abime (Pi)
2. Sean Jones Quartet - Im-pro-vise (Never Before Seen) (Mack Avenue)
3. Trio 3 & Vijay Iyer - Wiring (Intakt)
4. Pharoah & the Underground - Spiral Mercury (Clean Feed)
5. Mitchell/Taborn/Baku - Conversations II (Wide Hive)
6. Oliver Lake Organ Quartet - What I Heard (Passin' Thru)
7. Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio - Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (Concord)
8. Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band - Mother's Touch (Posi-Tone)
9. Kris Davis Trio - Waiting for You to Grow (Clean Feed)
10. Farmers by Nature - Love and Ghosts (AUM Fidelity)
11. Miguel Zenon - Identities Are Changeable (Miel Music)
12. Billy Hart Quartet - One Is the Other (ECM)
13. Darius Jones & Matthew Shipp - Cosmic Lieder: The Darkseid Recital (AUM Fidelity)
14. The Westerlies - Wish the Children Would Come on Home (Songlines)
15. John Ellis & Andy Bragen - Mobro (MRI)
16. The Bad Plus - The Rite of Spring (Masterworks)
17. Steve Wilson/Lewis Nash Duo - Duologue (MCG Jazz)
18. Omer Avital - New Song (Motema Music)
19. Sam Newsome - The Straight Horn of Africa: A Path of Liberation (CD Baby)
20. Get the Blessing - Lope and Antilope (Naim Jazz)
21. Jane Ira Bloom - Sixteen Sunsets (Pure Audio)
22. Tyshawn Sorey Trio - Alloy (Pi)
23. The Cookers - Time and Time Again (Motema Music)
24. Angles 9 - Injuries (Clean Feed)
25. Rafael Karlen - The Sweetness of Things Half-Remembered (Pinnacles)
HM. John Coltrane - Offering: Live at Temple University (Impulse)

These seem like lists put together by people who know what they're talking about but wow does that R&B list run out of ideas around #20.

i disagree with a lot of that r&b list but it's enjoyable anyway bc it's so obviously just one person's taste. you won't find the trey songz album on anyone else's list, not even most r&b heads, and def not at no 1. sad that k michelle came out too late for most lists. that shlohmo/jeremih thing was terrible tho.

it's my ambition to listen to everything ever.

hang your egoless progressivism from any tree, geek.

I am not an expert but am a bit suspicious of a jazz list that doesn't have any of the outstanding releases by Jemeel Moondoc, Micheal Blake and Rudy Royston. Didn't they listen to any of them?

Or maybe you tolerate it but always think to yourself "this would be a lot better if it was just the operatic dude"

― the farakhan of gg (DJP), Thursday, December 11, 2014 10:48 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

TBF in metal it's usually the other way round.

The Jemeel Moondoc is indeed outstanding and a shoo-in for my Quietus jazz roundup, but I must admit I don't know the others (I'll check them out though, thanks for the heads up). That's mainly down to gaps in my own knowledge, but I'd also say that from my own experience, most jazz labels do not have much of a PR budget, if any, meaning that it's quite likely that many writers won't have heard their releases unless they've actively sought them out.
I expect there are various reasons for a lack of consensus in jazz polls: the fact it's a marginal music with no one big trendsetting magazine or website a la Pitchfork, the sheer number and variety of releases, multiple releases by the same artists splitting the vote etc.

Would recommend checking out the excellent Burning Ambulance list upthread, it is a very strong 25 with no padding. It also introduced me to the brilliant Sarah Manning and Jerome Sabbagh lps.

Yeah, it's a good un. A few of my favourites on there along with several to check out.

Fester’s Lucky 13: 2014 Year-End Summary
http://fastnbulbous.com/lucky-14/

Top 100 Albums of 2014 | 2014 Breakdown: Genre Lists | Shows, Videos | Movies, Television, Books

01. Truckfighters - Universe
02. Colour Haze - To The Highest Gods We Know
03. Wovenhand - Refractory Obdurate
04. Spiders - Shake Electric
05. Pallbearer - Foundations Of Burden
06. Electric Wizard - Time To Die
07. Slough Feg - Digital Resistance
08. Witch Mountain - Mobile Of Angels
09. Shellac - Dude Incredible
10. Blues Pills - Blues Pills
11. The Sea Kings - Woke In The Devil's Arms
12. TV On The Radio - Seeds
13. Dark Blue - Pure Reality
14. The New Christs - Incantations
15. Wo Fat - The Conjuring
16. The Oath - The Oath
17. Castle - Under Siege
18. Brimstone Coven - Brimstone Coven
19. Satyress - Dark Fortunes
20. Demon Eye - Leave The Light
21. The Skull - For Those Which Are Asleep
22. Earth - Primitive And Deadly
23. Serpent Venom - Of Things Seen And Unseen
24. The Gotobeds - Poor People Are Revolting
25. Motorpsycho - Behind The Sun
26. Goat - Commune
27. Together Pangea - Badillac
28. Les Big Byrd - They Worshipped Cats
29. Apostle Of Solitude - Of Woe And Wounds
30. All Them Witches - Lightning At The Door
31. Hits - Hikikomori
32. Ogre - The Last Neanderthal
33. Mansion - Uncreation EP
34. Purson - In The Meantime EP
35. Alunah - Awakening The Forest
36. The Well - Samsara
37. Death Penalty - Death Penalty
38. Opeth - Pale Communion
39. Dawnbringer - Night Of The Hammer
40. The Estranged - The Estranged
41. Electric Citizen - Sateen
42. Messenger - Illusory Blues
43. Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band - Intensity Ghost
44. Comet Control - Comet Control
45. Wedge - Wedge
46. The Socks - The Socks
47. smallgang - san
48. YOB - Clearing The Path To Ascend
49. Nação Zumbi - Nação Zumbi
50. Gallon Drunk - The Soul Of The Hour
51. Greenleaf - Trails & Passes
52. Interpol - El Pintor
53. Spoon - They Want My Soul
54. Black Moth - Condemned To Hope
55. Ovvl - Screech
56. Heat - Labyrinth
57. Monolord - Empress Rising
58. Moab - Billow
59. Total Control - Typical System
60. Ought - More Than Any Other Day
61. Hands Of Orlac - Figli Del Crepuscolo
62. Satan's Satyrs - Die Screaming
63. Godflesh - A World Lit Only By Fire
64. Swans - To Be Kind
65. Floor - Oblation
66. Dwellers - Pagan Fruit
67. Lé Betre - Melas
68. Jeremy Irons & the Ratgang Malibus - Spirit Knife
69. Spiral Shades - Hypnosis Sessions
70. Occultation - Silence In The Ancestral House
71. Hornss - No Blood, No Sympathy
72. Tony Allen - Film Of Life
73. Juçara Marçal - Encarnado
74. Black Trip - Goin' Under
75. Mars Red Sky - Stranded In Arcadia
76. John Garcia - John Garcia
77. Cardinals Folly - Our Cult Continues!
78. Lo-Pan - Colossus
79. Hessian - Bachelor Of Black Arts
80. Papir - Papir IIII
81. Sigiriya - Darkness Died Today
82. Fu Manchu - Gigantoid
83. Saturn - Ascending - Live In Space
84. Big Red Panda - Big Red Panda
85. John Gallow - Violet Dreams
86. Boris - Noise
87. Flying Lotus - You're Dead!
88. Lecherous Gaze - Zeta Reticuli Blues
89. Temples - Sun Structures
90. Bong - Stoner Rock
91. Real Estate - Atlas
92. Wild Beasts - Present Tense
93. The Twilight Sad - Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave
94. Helms Alee - Sleepwalking Sailors
95. Mode Moderne - Occult Delight
96. Sungod - Vision Space
97. Post War Glamour Girls - Pink Fur
98. Seven That Spells - The Death And Resurrection Of Krautrock: IO
99. Grumbling Fur - Preternaturals
100. Gold Codes - Gold Codes

Happy to see the Ryan Adam's album getting some love.

best list yet

04. Spiders - Shake Electric

wow, their lyrics are horrible, and badly sung too

Spiders album before this one was terrific. best bits sounded like Heart

LOOOL yeah, for you xxp

Nice to see Motorpsycho's Behind The Sun in that list.

yeah that is a good one! genuine prog but doesn't feel explicitly retro to me

their band name isn't doing them any favors though

well I only speak for myself
xps

Some of my favorite records on the FnB list

billboard staff has put out a bunch of lists, not just overall songs and albums but for all the genres they cover too

best songs: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6405564/10-best-songs-of-2014

10. 5 Seconds of Summer, “She Looks So Perfect”
9. Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”
8. Bleachers, “I Wanna Get Better”
7. Beyonce feat. Nicki Minaj, “***Flawless (Remix)”
6. Tinashe feat. ScHoolboy Q, “2 On”
5. Jason Aldean, “Burnin’ It Down”
4. Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne, “Rather Be”
3. Hozier, “Take Me To Church”
2. Kendrick Lamar, “i”
1. Sia, “Chandelier”

best albums: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6405566/10-best-albums-of-2014

10. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, Piñata
9. The War On Drugs, Lost In The Dream
8. Aphex Twin, Syro
7. Lykke Li, I Never Learn
6. Bleachers, Strange Desire
5. Ed Sheeran, X
4. Jenny Lewis, The Voyager
3. Sam Smith, In The Lonely Hour
2. Run The Jewels, Run The Jewels 2
1. Taylor Swift, 1989

best rock/alternative singles: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6398492/year-in-music-2014-10-best-rock-alternative-singles

10. Fireworks, “Bed Sores”
9. First Aid Kit, “My Silver Lining”
8. Angel Olsen, “White Fire”
7. Beach Slang, “Filthy Luck”
6. Mastodon, “High Road”
5. White Lung, “Down It Goes”
4. The Griswolds, “Beware the Dog”
3. Cloud Nothings, “I’m Not Part Of Me”
2. Grimes ft. Blood Diamonds, “Go”
1. Sleater-Kinney, “Bury Our Friends”

best country songs: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6398427/best-country-songs-2014

10. "Meanwhile Back At Mama's" - Tim McGraw with Faith Hill
9. "Mean To Me" - Brett Eldredge
8. "Give Me Back My Hometown" - Eric Church
7. "American Kids" - Kenny Chesney
6. "A Girl In A Country Song" - Maddie & Tae
5. "Leave The Night On" - Sam Hunt
4. "Automatic" - Miranda Lambert
3. "Whatever She's Got" - David Nail
2. "Beat Of The Music" - Brett Eldredge
1. "Makes Me Wanna" - Thomas Rhett

best country albums: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6397805/best-country-albums-2014

10. Sara Evans - Slow Me Down
9. Angaleena Presley - American Middle Class
8. Marty Stuart - Saturday Night/Sunday Morning
7. Eric Church - The Outsiders
6. Dierks Bentley - Riser
5. Lee Ann Womack - The Way I'm Livin'
4. David Nail - I'm A Fire
3. Brantley Gilbert - Just As I Am
2. Little Big Town - Pain Killer
1. Miranda Lambert - Platinum

best rap songs: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6386038/the-10-best-rap-songs-of-2014

10. Cam'ron feat. Juelz Santana and Damon Dash, "Dipshits"
9. Rae Sremmurd, "No Type"
8. Wiz Khalifa, "We Dem Boyz"
7. DeJ Loaf, "Try Me"
6. YG feat. Drake, "Who Do You Love?"
5. Young Thug feat. Rich Homie Quan, "Lifestyle"
4. Bobby Shmurda, "Hot Ni--a"
3. Migos, "Fight Night"
2. Jeezy feat. Jay Z, "Seen It All"
1. Drake, "0-100 / The Catch Up"

best rap albums: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6386055/the-10-best-rap-albums-of-2014

10. Freddie Gibbs & MadLib, Piñata
9. Future, Honest
8. Big K.R.I.T., Cadillactica
7. Kevin Gates, By Any Means
6. ScHoolboy Q, Oxymoron
5. Jeezy, Seen It All: The Autobiography
4. Migos, No Label II
3. J. Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive
2. Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2
1. YG, My Krazy Life

best r&b songs: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6398482/the-10-best-rb-songs-of-2014

10. PARTYNEXTDOOR, feat. Drake, "Recognize"
9. KING, "Mister Chameleon"
8. Michael Jackson, "Love Never Felt So Good"
7. Chris Brown, feat. Jhene Aiko, "Drunk Texting"
6. Elle Varner feat. A$AP Ferg, "Don't Wanna Dance"
5. Mary J. Blige, "Pick Me Up"
4. Jeremih feat. YG, "Don't Tell 'Em"
3. Jessie Ware, "Kind Of…Sometimes…Maybe"
2. Usher, "Good Kisser"
1. Tinashe, "2 On"

best r&b albums: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6398486/the-10-best-rb-albums-of-2014

10. August Alsina, Testimony
9. Tink, Winter's Diary 2
8. K. Michelle, Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?
7. FKA Twigs, LP1
6. Chris Brown, X
5. Teyana Taylor, VII
4. Babyface & Toni Braxton, Love, Marriage & Divorce
3. Tinashe, Aquarius
2. Jessie Ware, Tough Love
1. Mary J. Blige, The London Sessions

best dance/electronic songs: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6398470/best-edm-songs-of-2014

10. Sailor & I – "Turn Around" (Âme Remix)
9. Nero – "Satisfy"
8. Audien – "Hindsight"
7. Seven Lions ft. Kerli – "Worlds Apart"
6. Lorde – "Tennis Court" (Flume Remix)
5. Galantis – "Runaway (U & I)"
4. Syn Cole – "Miami 82" (Kygo Remix)
3. Porter Robinson – "Sad Machine"
2. Maceo Plex – "Conjure Balearia"
1. ZHU – "Faded"

best electronic/dance albums: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6398485/best-edm-albums-of-2014

10. Skrillex – Recess
9. Answer Code Request - Code
8. Röyksopp & Robyn – Do It Again
7. Gorgon City – Sirens
6. Dillon Francis – Money Sucks, Friends Rule
5. Porter Robinson – Worlds
4. deadmau5 – while (1<2)
3. Thom Yorke – Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes
2. Aphex Twin – Syro
1. Joris Voorn – Nobody Knows

best latin songs: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6397798/best-latin-songs-2014

10. "Saideira" - Carlos Santana Feat. Samuel Rosa
9. "Tu Respiración" - Chayanne
8. " Soltero Disponible" - Regulo Caro
7. "La Luz" - Juanes
6. "El Aguante" - Calle 13
5. "Corazón En La Maleta" - Luis Fonsi
4. "Empire" – Shakira
3. "El Mar De Sus Ojos" - Carlos Vives feat. Choquibtown
2. "6 AM" - J Balvin feat. Farruko
1. "Bailando" - Enrique Iglesias feat. Descemer Bueno and Gente D’Zona

best latin albums: http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6397799/the-best-latin-albums-of-2014

10. Pepe Aguilar - MTV Unplugged
9. Juan Luis Guerra - Todo Tiene Su Hora
8. Ricardo Arjona - Viaje
7. Pablo Alboran - Terral
6. Marco Antonio Solís - Gracias Por Estar Aquí
5. Calle 13 - Multi Viral
4. Fonseca - Sinfónico
3. Carlos Vives - Más + Corazón Profundo
2. Romeo Santos - Formula, Vol. 2
1. Soledad, Niña Pastori, Lila Downs – Raíz

best k-pop songs: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/6397821/best-k-pop-songs-2014

20. Apink - "Luv"
19. Akdong Musician - "200%"
18. Girls' Generation - "Mr.Mr."
17. B1A4 - "Lonely"
16. Girl's Day - "Something"
15. Park Hyo Shin - "Wild Flower"
14. 15& - "Can't Hide It"
13. Loco Featuring Jay Park - "Thinking 'Bout You"
12. Orange Caramel - "Catallena"
11. MC the Max - "Wind That Blows"
10. SISTAR - "Touch My Body"
9. Dynamic Duo & DJ Premier - "Animal"
8. Hyolyn & JooYoung - "Erase"
7. INFINITE - "Back"
6. Nell - "Four Times Around the Sun"
5. San E & Raina - "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness"
4. TVXQ! - "Something"
3. G-Dragon & Taeyang - "Good Boy"
2. Seo Taiji & IU - "Sogyeokdong"
1. Beast - "Good Luck"

best k-pop albums: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/6397820/best-k-pop-albums-2014

10. Rain - Rain Effect
9. CNBLUE - Can't Stop
8. Epik High - Shoebox
7. B.A.P - First Sensibility
6. Taeyang - Rise
5. HA:TFELT - Me?
4. Seotaiji - Quiet Night
3. IU - A Flower Bookmark
2. Nell - Newton's Apple
1. 2NE1 - Crush

<3<3<3

10. Cam'ron feat. Juelz Santana and Damon Dash, "Dipshits"

also Cat Power cameo in that video was great wtf moment

<3<3<3

10. Cam'ron feat. Juelz Santana and Damon Dash, "Dipshits"

― you say tomato/i say imago (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, December 12, 2014 11:22 AM (1 minute ago)

TOO LOW

10. Fireworks, “Bed Sores”

all right!

<3<3<3

10. Cam'ron feat. Juelz Santana and Damon Dash, "Dipshits"

― you say tomato/i say imago (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, December 12, 2014 11:22 AM (1 minute ago)

TOO LOW

― gr8080, Friday, December 12, 2014 11:24 AM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

this song was so bad guys lol

I keep forgetting about that deadmau5 album; I only got through half of it but that half was really good

i cosign all support of "dipshits"

the rap albums list is really good imo w/the exception of j. cole

10. Freddie Gibbs & MadLib, Piñata eh
9. Future, Honest This was disappointing
8. Big K.R.I.T., Cadillactica I found this hard to enjoy
7. Kevin Gates, By Any Means Kind of an odds & ends tape, where was everybody on his last two?
6. ScHoolboy Q, Oxymoron this was disappointing AF
5. Jeezy, Seen It All: The Autobiography dope record, probably underrated by publications more broadly, belongs ~ here
4. Migos, No Label II this is pretty uneven and whatever.
3. J. Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive its very easy to over or underrate this. i'm not as mad at this as other rankings tbh
2. Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2 become overrated but who wants to be a hater, good 4 them
1. YG, My Krazy Life dope

the best thing about this list though is that at least its not full with boring ass top tier 'whatever jay z released this year' type records ... it's a lil more interesting for that, certainly

10. Freddie Gibbs & MadLib, Piñata haven't heard
9. Future, Honest haven't heard
8. Big K.R.I.T., Cadillactica haven't heard
7. Kevin Gates, By Any Means haven't heard
6. ScHoolboy Q, Oxymoron this was disappointing haven't heard
5. Jeezy, Seen It All: The Autobiography haven't heard
4. Migos, No Label II haven't heard
3. J. Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive haven't heard
2. Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2 haven't heard
1. YG, My Krazy Life pretty good

― Lamp, Friday, December 12, 2014 12:53 PM (4 seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

am very excited in general for lamp's assessments this year

the best thing about this list though is that at least its not full with boring ass top tier 'whatever jay z released this year' type records ... it's a lil more interesting for that, certainly

― deej loaf (D-40), Friday, December 12, 2014 12:54 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i guess that's closer to what i meant, bc i didn't exactly unabashedly love honest or cadillactica or no label II. i'm glad those are the albums billboard is putting on its rap albums list.

like maybe a dude like gates will get noticed outside his core audience as a result of this. then again that could be idealistic on my part.

26. Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble: Intergalactic Beings (FPE Records)

^ highly recommended

thx crut & sleeve, that is hitting all my pleasure spots right now

new york times critics put their lists in

jon caramanica:
1. young thug/bloody jay - black portland
2. beyonce - s/t
3. YG - my krazy life
4. sturgill simpson - metamodern sounds in country music
5. future - honest
6. jason derulo - talk dirty
7. taylor swift - 1989
8. tinashe - aquarius
9. your old droog - s/t
10. jason aldean - old boots, new dirt

ben ratliff:
1. fka twigs - LP1
2. george cables - icons and influences
3. scott walker/sunn 0))) - soused
4. mary j. blige - london sessions
5. ratking - so it goes
6. great thunder - groovy kinda love
7. mark turner - lathe of heaven
8. ian william craig - turn of breath
9. protomartyr - under color of official right
10. black bananas - electric brick wall

jon pareles:
1. calle 13 - multiviral
2. angel olsen - burn your fire for no witness
3. azealia banks - broke with expensive taste
4. fka twigs - LP1
5. sia - 1,000 forms of fear
6. rosanne cash - the river & the thread
7. st. vincent - s/t
8. tv on the radio - seeds
9. leonard cohen - popular problems
10. mary j. blige - london sessions

xp Nicole Mitchell is criminally underrated/overlooked, glad you dig it William

Nice to see Motorpsycho...
yeah that is a good one! genuine prog but doesn't feel explicitly retro to me

Like on Still Life With Eggplant it features Reine Fiske of Dungen. This time he's on nearly all the tracks! Hope they left him some time to finish a new Dungen album.

oooh shit! wow why didn't i put that together

There's a fourth NY Times list, Nate Chinen's:

1. Beyoncé, s/t
2. David Virelles, Mbókò
3. Dan Weiss, Fourteen
4. Mark Turner Quartet, Lathe of Heaven
5. Fred Hersch Trio, Floating
6. Miranda Lambert, Platinum
7. Flying Lotus, You’re Dead
8. Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
9. Ambrose Akinmusire, the imagined savior is far easier to paint
10. Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2

2014 POLL RESULTS COUNTDOWN - ILM Metal Albums of the Year

49 Tinariwen - Emmaar

^^wish this was getting more love :-\

― ✓ out this insane nakh yall (gr8080), Monday, December 1, 2014

__________________________________________

otm, amazing album

― Lorde 2Pac Beck Mashup (crüt), Monday, December 1, 2014

underscoring this again. best guitar album of the year.

I have always been mightily impressed when a song has come up on shuffle from the Tinariwen lp, which is the fragmented manner in which I have got into it after initially thinking it decent but not one of their best. I was slow to it but for me it is one of the more enduring releases of the year and I agree about underrated.

Wondering if we will see year-end lists from Wondering Sound next year? They were doing good work

http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/308009/wondering-sound-cuts-operations/

that sucks on a number of levels, a personal one being that I just had my first article for them published and am now anticipating a Kafka-esque attempt to get paid for it

wondering sound is outstanding, but i didn't realize it was an independent entity. i thought it was a division of emusic (it was billed as the successor to the 17 dots blog).

It may still be a division of emusic

might be. i saw the "looking for partnerships/funding" line and made assumptions.