Year-End Critics' Polls 2014

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.

yeah when i did stuff for them i got paid by emusic, which isn't going anywhere so hopefully you should have no problem getting paid. it seems like the ed in chief is staying on and they're attempting to continue on in some form, so i imagine they're still able to pay for work that's already been done.

speaking of olden tymes wierdos, Chrome - Half Machine from the Sun (Lost Tapes 79-80) is worthy of your consideration

― you say tomato/i say imago (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, December 9, 2014 12:36 PM

oh my yes, didn't think about that in terms of EOY stuff

― some kind of terrible IDM with guitars (sleeve), Tuesday, December 9, 2014 1:14 PM

it's newly released though right?

― you say tomato/i say imago (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, December 9, 2014 1:17 PM (4 days ago)

UMS I hate to say it but this was a 2013 release

http://youknowigotsoul.com/youknowigotsoul-x-soul-stereo-present-top-100-rb-songs-2014-countdown

http://www.npr.org/2014/12/13/370303259/best-global-music-of-2014

1- Stromae: ‘Racine Carrée’ (Square Root)(Belgium)

2- Toumani & Sidiki Diabete (Mali)

3- French-born Chilean rapper and singer Ana Tijoux: Vengo (I come)

4- English singer, songwriter and painter Piers Faccini & French cellist Vincent Segal’s: Songs of Time Lost

5- Morocco’s Hassan Hakmoun: “Unity”

6- Irish band the Gloaming: “The Gloaming”

7- Mauritanian vocalist Noura Mint Seymali (and band): Tzenni

8- Greek Master of Cretan lute (with Dirty 3 drummer), Yiorgos Xylouris: “Goats”

9- Seun Kuti: “A Long Way to the Beginning” (Nigeria)

10- 3-CD compilation Various Artists: “real World 25.”

speaking of olden tymes wierdos, Chrome - Half Machine from the Sun (Lost Tapes 79-80) is worthy of your consideration

― you say tomato/i say imago (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, December 9, 2014 12:36 PM

oh my yes, didn't think about that in terms of EOY stuff

― some kind of terrible IDM with guitars (sleeve), Tuesday, December 9, 2014 1:14 PM

it's newly released though right?

― you say tomato/i say imago (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, December 9, 2014 1:17 PM (4 days ago)

UMS I hate to say it but this was a 2013 release

Yup, but there was a proper new Chrome album this year — Feel It Like a Scientist. Easily their best since Scary Monst 3rd from the Sun.

thank you!

PMA Tracks

100 Gorgon City, “Ready For Your Love”
99 Tegan And Sara, “Everything Is AWESOME!!! (featuring The Lonely Island)”
98 The War on Drugs, “Eyes To The Wind”
97 Savages, “Fuckers”
96 White Lung, “Snake Jaw”
95 Kyla La Grange, “Cut Your Teeth”
94 Damon Albarn, “Everyday Robots”
93 Neneh Cherry, “Blank Project”
92 Julian Casablancas + The Voidz, “Human Sadness”
91 Isaiah Rashad, “R.I.P. Kevin Miller”

90 Trust, “Capitol”
89 Rick Ross, “Sanctified” (featuring Kanye West & Big Sean)
88 Lewis, “I Thought The World of You”
87 Sun Kil Moon, “Micheline”
86 Supreme Cuts, “Gone” (featuring Mahaut Mondino)
85 Perfect Pussy, “Interference Fits”
84 YG, “Who Do You Love?” (featuring Drake)
83 Liars, “Vox Tuned D.E.D.”
82 White Sea, “Prague”
81 Angel Olsen, “Lights Out”

80 Against Me!, “True Trans Soul Rebel”
79 David Bowie, “Sue (Or in the Season of Crime)”
78 Strand of Oaks, “JM”
77 Beck, “Country Down”
76 Baths, “Ocean Death”
75 Phantogram, “Fall In Love”
74 Zola Jesus, “Dangerous Days”
73 Real Estate, “Talking Backwards”
72 Shabazz Palaces, “Forerunner Foray”
71 tUnE-yArDs, “Water Fountain”

70 Hundred Waters, “Murmurs”
69 SBTRKT, “NEW DORP. NEW YORK” (featuring Ezra Koenig)
68 Lana Del Rey, “Brooklyn Baby”
67 Ariana Grande, “Break Free” (featuring Zedd)
66 Jessie Ware, “Tough Love”
65 The War On Drugs, “Under The Pressure”
64 Todd Terje, “Johnny And Mary” (featuring Bryan Ferry)
63 Andy Stott, “Faith In Strangers”
62 Sharon Van Etten, “Every Time the Sun Comes Up”
61 Azealia Banks, “Ice Princess”

60 Swans, “A Little God In My Hands”
59 Mac Demarco, “Passing Out Pieces”
58 Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, “High” (featuring Danny Brown)
57 Future, “Move That Dope” (featuring Pharrell & Pusha T)
56 Ought, “Today More Than Any Other Day”
55 Lykke Li, “No Rest For The Wicked”
54 Charli XCX, “Boom Clap”
53 Jamie xx, “Sleep Sound”
52 Grimes, “Go” (featuring Blood Diamonds)
51 SOPHIE, “Hard”

50 Rustie, “Attak” (featuring Danny Brown)
49 Azealia Banks, “Chasing Time”
48 Drake, “0 To 100 / The Catch Up”
47 Beyoncé, “Partition”
46 A. G. Cook, “Keri Baby” (featuring Hannah Diamond)
45 Spoon, “Inside Out”
44 Alvvays, “Archie, Mary Me”
43 Aphex Twin, “minipops 67 [120.2][source field mix]“
42 Mr. Twin Sister, “Blush”
41 Röyksopp & Robyn, “Do It Again”

40 How To Dress Well, “Repeat Pleasure”
39 Tinashe, “2 On” (featuring Schoolboy Q)
38 Real Lies, “North Circular”
37 Vic Mensa, “Down On My Luck”
36 Sharon Van Etten, “Your Love is Killing Me”
35 Perfume Genius, “Grid”
34 Cloud Nothings, “I’m Not Part of Me”
33 Flying Lotus, “Never Catch Me” (featuring Kendrick Lamar)
32 QT, “Hey QT”
31 Shamir, “On The Regular”

30 Beyoncé, “Flawless (Remix)” (featuring Nicki Minaj)
29 The Antlers, “Palace”
28 Wild Beasts, “Wanderlust”
27 Lana Del Rey, “West Coast”
26 FKA twigs, “Pendulum”
25 Schoolboy Q, “Man Of The Year”
24 Run The Jewels, “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry”
23 Sun Kil Moon, “Ben’s My Friend”
22 Nicki Minaj, “Anaconda”
21 St. Vincent, “Digital Witness”

20 Ms. Lauryn Hill, “Black Rage”
19 Ariana Grande, “Problem” (featuring Iggy Azalea)
18 Spoon, “Do You”
17 Beyoncé, “XO”
16 Future, “Benz Friendz (Whatchutola)” (featuring André 3000)
15 Kendrick Lamar, “i”
14 Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks, “Little Fang”
13 Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”
12 The War On Drugs, “An Ocean In Between The Waves”
11 Against Me!, “Transgender Dysphoria Blues”

10 Caribou, "Can't Do Without You"
9 St. Vincent, "Prince Johnny"
8 “Drunk In Love” (ft. Jay Z)
7 ILOVEMAKONNEN, “Tuesday” (ft. Drake)
6 Future Islands, "Seasons (Waiting On You)"
5 Todd Terje, "Inspector Norse"
4 FKA Twigs, "Two Weeks"
3 The War on Drugs, "Red Eyes"
2 Perfume Genius, "Queen"
1 Sia, "Chandelier"

Didn't Inspector Norse come out in 1978?

Oh, if Stromae is eligible, then that is quite listworthy. Some of the tracks were def 2014 for me and the rest of DK.

yeah it was def ~year of impact~ for stromae w me, I'd managed to forget all about him since the summer tho

That NPR Global list with Stromae also throws in a retrospective 3-CD compilation Various Artists: “real World 25" that covers music going back over the last 25 years.

I was glad to see the Noura Mint Seymali album on that list. While her North African traditional vocals may not be easy to identify with at first, her husband's psychedelic-North African guitar sound certainly is. She appears on a few lists and is a fave of some on the Rolling whirled Outernational thread.

I wanted to like that Seymali album, but it felt a little too...Euro-café polished? Like it should have come out on Putumayo instead of Rough Trade.

I have seen them live 3 times and there is nothing Putumayo Euro-cafe about them.