Year-End Critics' Polls 2014

could all just be that one guys picks though but still

Props for being the first list I see that includes Ryley Walker's album.

Chris Forsyth and the Solar Motel Band - Intensity Ghost

This is his best since Paranoid Cat, what an album!

fuck the daily record and i look forward to the day it goes out of business

xps

forsyth album is the guitar rock album of the year by a mile

Afisha Volna's top under-the-radar albums of 2014, and Bob Dylan / Ryan Adams for some reason:

BIS - Data Panik Etcetera
Bob Dylan - 50th Anniversary Collection
Buddy - Idle Time
Dollkraut - Schimanski’s Black Lullabies
Donovan Blanc - Donovan Blanc
Get the Blessing - Lope and Antilope
HTRK - Psychic 9-5 Club
Luke Abbott - Wysing Forest
Piss Test - Biggest Band in Europe
Ravioli Me Away - The Inevitable Album
Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams
Sleaford Mods - Divide and Exit
Theo Parrish - American Intelligence
Vtgnike - Real Love Doesn't Have Past Tense
Ansambl Detskikh Muzikalnikh Instrumentov - Dobrozlo
vBENZINEestOBLAKA - OGLOBLIA
Vladimirski Sentimentalni Salon - Bez Vsyakikh Khochu
Nyusha - Obedinenie

Hard Heavy & Old!
1. Three Seasons Music - Grow
2. Blues Pills - Blues Pills
3. Wolfmother - New Crown
4. Heat - Labyrinth
5. Electric Citizen - Sateen
7. Siena Root - Pioneers
8. The Oath - The Oath
9. Uriah Heep - Band - Outsider
10. Mount Carmel - Get Pure
11. Judas Priest - Redeemer Of Souls
12. Louisiana Swamp Donky - Redneck Revival
13. Spiders - Shake Electric
14. Stubb - Cry Of The Ocean
15. The Well - Samsara
16. Radio Moscow - Magical Dirt
17. Märvel - Hadal Zone Express
18. John Garcia - John Garcia
19. Mount Salem - Endles
20. Fu Manchu - Gigantoid
21. Greenleaf - Trails And Passes
22. Bigelf - Into The Maelstrom
23. Electric Blue - Born In Sin
24. Ace Frehley - Space Invader
25. Abramis Brama - Enkel Biljett
26. Black Moth - Condemned To Hope
27. Count's 77 - Count's 77
28. California Breed - California Breed
29. Bloody Hammers - Under Satan's Sun
30. Jeremy Irons & the Ratgang Malibus- Spirit Knife
31. The Order Of Israfel - Wisdom
32. The Soulbreaker Company - Graceless
33. Ogre - The Last Neanderthal
34. Demon Eye - Leave The Light
35. Grinder Blues - Grinder Blues
36. Hyne - Elements
37. ACCEPT - Blind Rage
38. Rage of Samedi - Sign
39. BLACK LUNG - Black Lung
40. 1000mods - Vultures
41. Pallbearer - Foundations of Burden
42. The Skull - For Those Which Are Asleep
43. Purple Hill Witch - Purple Hill Witch
44. Lo-Pan - Colossus
45. Nashville Pussy - Up the Dosage
46. Steak - Slab City
47. The Picturebooks - Imaginary Horse
48. Black Capricorn - Cult Of Black Friars
49. Witch Mountain - Mobile Of Angels
50. WEDGE - Wedge
51. Castle - Under Siege
52. Lucifer Was - Diesgrow
53. Lonely Kamel - Shit City
54. kamchatka - The Search Goes On
55. The Golden Grass - The Golden Grass
56. Grand Magus - Triumph And Power
57. Mars Red Sky - Stranded in Arcadia
58. Limestone Whale - Limestone Whale
59. Mamont - The Valleys Below
60. Monolord - Empress Rising
61. Pilgrim - II Void Worship
62. The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell - Check Em Before You Wreck Em'
63. The Vintage Caravan - Voyage
64. The Graviators - Motherload
65. Serpent Venom - Of Things Seen and Unseen
66. Black Stone Cherry - Magic Mountain
67. mortalicum - Tears from the Grave
68. Below - Across The Dark River
69. Alunah - Awakening The Forest
70. A Girl's A Gun - Head Up, Above The Clouds
71. Burning Saviours - Boken Om Forbannelsen
72. Sheavy - The Best Of Sheavy A Misleading Collection
73. Death Penalty - Death Penalty
74. Lucifer's Fall - Lucifer's Fall
75. The Dagger - The Dagger
76. Fuzzly - Vol II
77. Blood Farmers - Headless Eyes
78. Hypnos - Hypnos
79. Iron Void - Iron Void
80. Satyress - Dark Fortunes
81. Black State Highway - Black State Highway
82. Wo Fat - The Conjuring
86. Baby Woodrose - Kicking Ass and Taking Names
87. Barbarinan Overlords - Rise Up
88. Salem's Pott - ...Lurar ut dig på prärien
89. Brimstone Coven - Brimstone Coven
90. Hjortene - Hjortene
91. Amaxa - On The Other Side
92. Isole - The Calm Hunter
93. Mage - Last Orders
94. Desert Suns - Desert Suns
95. Season of Arrows - Season Of Arrows
96. Necro (ex Necronomicon) - Necro
97. Zodiac - Sonic Child
98. Yob - Clearing the Path to Ascend
99. Truckfighters - Universe
100. Kyng - Burn The Serum

xps
"forsyth album is the guitar rock album of the year by a mile"

Was just out walking in the park listening to Yellow Square, what a fucking track!

Saw that lineup live last summer, pretty much blew the roof off the club

Any sign of Rockarolla yet?

I don't know what the deal with Rock-A-Rolla is. Last year it came out Dec. 19. Last week I was updating my subscription and emailed them asking about it, and no answer.

i thought i saw their year-end list but upon further inspection it was Adamc-A-Rolla

http://westsidetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/b458788adb603a523901bc8d7fb04792.jpg

I think I can guess at most of what would be in Rock-A-Rolla's top 20: YOB, Godflesh, Swans, Earth, Goat, Secret Chiefs 3, Electric Wizard, Wovenhand, Shellac, Aphex Twin, Einsturzende Neubauten, Floor, Boris, Bong, Alcest, Baptists, Helms Alee, SBTRKT, Liars, Ben Frost.

Maybe top 50: Crippled Black Phoenix, Tombs, Lantlos, Thou, Sólstafir, Melvins, Mogwai, Cynic, Ides Of Gemini, Indian, Obake, Gridlink, Giant Squid, Black Moth, The Atlas Moth, Nadja, Midnight Masses, Eyehategod, Nothing, Pallbearer, Opeth, Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band, Moab, John Garcia, Protomartyr, Gold Codes, Carla Bozulich, Have A Nice Life, Conan, Esben And The Witch, Horseback, Fucked Up, Woods Of Desolation, Comet Control, Motorpsycho, Syd Arthur, Messenger, The Soft Pink Truth, Trans Am, Flying Lotus, Maurice Louca, Fatima al Qadiri, The Skull, Serpent Venom, The Oath, Kikagaku Moyo, Total Control, Fu Manchu, Orange Goblin, Lo-Pan, Monster Magnet, Marmozets, Bracken, Pontiak, House Of Lightning, Gazpacho, Young Widows, Slomatics, The Flight Of Sleipnir, Dir En Grey, Oozing Wound, Ocean Chief.

Oh, and of course that Scott Walker + Sunn O))) album. Substitute for one in the first list, like SBTRKT.

^ they should just copy/paste and publish that

CMJ http://www.cmj.com/feature/30-best-albums-2014/
30. Gotobeds – Poor People Are Revolting
29. How To Dress Well – What Is This Heart?
28. Jenny Lewis – The Voyager
27. Giant Claw – Dark Web
26. Turn To Crime – Can’t Love
25. Sylvan Esso – Sylvan Esso
24. Real Estate – Atlas
23. Vince Staples – Shyne Coldchain Vol. 2
22. Caribou – Our Love
21. Perfume Genius – Too Bright
20. Secret Songs – shh#ffb6c1
19. Foxes In Fiction – Ontario Gothic
18. Cloud Nothings – Here And Nowhere Else
17. Sleaford Mods – Divide And Exit
16. Mac DeMarco – Salad Days
15. Alvvays – Alvvays
14. Swans – To Be Kind
13. Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness
12. Todd Terje – It’s Album Time
11. Twin Peaks – Wild Onion
10. Pujol – Kludge
9. Alex G – DSU
8. Mitski – Bury Me At Makeout Creek
7. Young Thug & Bloody Jay – Black Portland
6. St. Vincent – St. Vincent
5. Sharon Van Etten – Are We There
4. Arca – Xen
3. Ryan Hemsworth – Alone For The First Time
2. FKA Twigs – LP1
1. Run The Jewels – RTJ2

i did not realize CMJ was still around!

Complex: http://uk.complex.com/music/2014/12/best-albums-2014/

50. Low Pros, EP 1
49. Tinashe, Aquarius
48. Various Artists, Shady XV
47. Banks, Goddess
46. King Louie, Tony
45. Logic, Under Pressure
44. Omarion, Sex Playlist
43. Arca, Xen
42. Migos, No Label 2
41. Lucki Eck$, Body High
40. Real Estate, Atlas
39. A$AP Ferg, Ferg Forever
38. Cozz, Cozz & Effect
37. Pharrell, G I R L
36. Lykke Li, I Never Learn
35. Chris Brown, X
34. Lecrae, Anomaly
33. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, Piñata
32. Charli XCX, Sucker
31. PARTYNEXTDOOR, PARTYNEXTDOOR TWO
30. Isaiah Rashad, Cilvia Demo
29. Ty Dolla $ign, Sign Language
28. Kehlani, Cloud 19
27. Jessie Ware, Tough Love
26. Angel Olsen, Burn Your Fire for No Witness
25. ScHoolboy Q, Oxymoron
24. Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour
23. Big K.R.I.T., Cadillactica
22. St. Vincent, St. Vincent
21. Gangsta Boo & Beatking, Underground Cassette Tape Music
20. Perfume Genius, Too Bright
19. Jeezy, Seen It All: The Autobiography
18. Jeremih & Shlohmo, No More EP
17. Trey Songz, Trigga
16. Boosie, Life After Deathrow
15. Azealia Banks, Broke With Expensive Taste
14. Nicki Minaj, The Pinkprint
13. Vince Staples, Hell Can Wait EP
12. Rich Gang, Tha Tour Pt. 1
11. Popcaan, Where We Come From
10. FKA twigs, LP1
9. Caribou, Our Love
8. Taylor Swift, 1989
7. Ariana Grande, My Everything
6. Travi$ Scott, Days Before Rodeo
5. D'Angelo and the Vanguard, Black Messiah
4. J. Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive
3. Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence
2. YG, My Krazy Life
1. Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2

fRoots: http://www.frootsmag.com/content/critpoll/

1. Martin & Eliza Carthy The Moral Of The Elephant (Topic)
2. Toumani & Sidiki Diabate Toumani & Sidiki (World Circuit)
3. Aurelio Landini (Real World)
4. Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker Nothing Can Bring Back The Hour (Folk Room)
5. The Gloaming The Gloaming (Real World)
6. Noura Mint Seymali Tzenni (Glitterbeat)
7. Söndörgö Tamburocket Hungarian Fireworks (Riverboat)
8. Richard Thompson Acoustic Classics (Proper)
9.= The Furrow Collective At Our Next Meeting (Furrow)
Kasai All Stars Beware Of The Fetish (Crammed)
11. Nancy Kerr Sweet Visitor (Little Dish)
12.= Sam Amidon Lily-O (Nonesuch)
9Bach Tincian (Real World)
14.= Aziza Brahim Soutak (Glitterbeat)
Kassé Mady Diabaté Kirike (No Format)
Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn (Rounder)
The Old Swan Band Fortyssimo (Wild Goose)
18.= Julie Fowlis Gach Sgeul (Machair)
Djessou Mory Kanté River Strings (Stern’s)
Metá Metá Metal Metal (Desmonta/Mais Um Discos)
The Young ’Uns Never Forget (Hereteu)

Lol fastnbulbous you forgot Gallon Drunk and Excepter xp

aQuarius Top Ten Best of 2014:

These are the top ten releases that we at aQ were collectively most
excited about in 2014, as quasi-scientifically determined by a very
arcane and painful process. Futhermore, they are ranked, #1 to #10, as
follows...

1. KHUN NARIN ELECTRIC PHIN BAND "s/t" (Innovative Leisure)
2. MAR-VISTA "Visions Of Sodal Ye" (Strawberry Rain)
3. PYE CORNER AUDIO "Black Mill Tapes Volumes 1-4" (Type)
4. V/A "Warfaring Strangers: Darkscorch Canticles" (Numero Group)
5. TAURUS "No/Thing" (Devout)
6. ECHOLOGIST "Storming Heaven" (Prologue)
7. BLACK RAIN "Dark Pool" (Blackest Ever Black)
8. FOSSIL AEROSOL MINING PROJECT "17 Years In Ektachrome" (Hand-Held
Recordings)
9. STREET TRASH (RICK ULFIK) "OST" (Lunaris)
10. ALTURAZ / WIKKID "split" (Soulthief)

My favourite singles. (Checked back, and for some reason I didn't post a link last year--I did the previous two years.)

3. Wolfmother - New Crown

did not realise this band was still a going concern !

Classic Rock Albums of the Year
50 California Breed - California Breed
49 Amplifier - Mystoria
48 Ming City Rockers - Ming City Rockers
47 Uriah Heep - Outsider
46 Work Of Art - Framework
45 Walter Trout - The Blues Came Callin’
44 Ginger Wildheart - Albion
43 Urban Voodoo Machine - Love, Drink And Death
42 Flying Colors - Second Nature
41 Magnum - Escape From The Shadow Garden
40 Goat - Commune
39 Crobot - Something Supernatural
38 The Black Keys - Turn Blue
37 John Mellencamp - Plain Spoken
36 Mastodon - Once More Round The Sun
35 The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream
34 David Crosby - Croz
33 Electric Wizard - Time To Die
32 Blues Pills - Blues Pills
31 H.E.A.T. - Tearing Down The Walls
30 Lucinda Williams - Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone
29 Messenger - Illusory Blues
28 Chrissie Hynde - Stockholm
27 Buzzcocks - The Way
26 Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams
25 Billy Idol - Kings And Queens Of The Underground
24 Benjamin Booker - Benjamin Booker
23 Syd Arthur - Sound Mirror
22 Leonard Cohen - Popular Problems
21 Kill It Kid - You Owe Nothing
20 Orange Goblin - Back From The Abyss
19 Gaslight Anthem - Get Hurt
18 Judas Priest - Redeemer Of Souls
17 Lionize - Jetpack Soundtrack
16 Blackberry Smoke - Leave A Scar
15 Joe Bonamassa - Different Shades Of Blue
14 Anathema - Distant Satellites
13 Augustines - Augustines
12 Tom Petty - Hypnotic Eye
11 Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey - Going Back Home
10 Hiss Golden Messenger - The Lateness Of Dancers
9 Opeth - Pale Communion
8 Black Stone Cherry - Magic Mountain
7 Ace Frehley - Space Invader
6 Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators - World On Fire
5 Bruce Springsteen - High Hopes
4 AC/DC - Rock Or Bust
3 Robert Plant - Lullaby And... The Ceaseless Roar
2 Royal Blood - Royal Blood
1 Rival Sons - Great Western Valkyrie

3. Wolfmother - New Crown

did not realise this band was still a going concern !

― mark e, Saturday, December 27, 2014 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

They are still going but no one is concerned.

A couple people upthread were interested in narcocorridos, so here's PopMatters'/NorteñoBlog's/my lists of the best norteño and banda albums and singles (Haikunym wrote about Regulo Caro):

ALBUMS

1. Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda – Soy Lo Que Quiero… Indispensable – Fonovisa
2. La Nueva Rebelión – Me Hicieron Mas Fuerte – LR
3. El Komander – Cazador – Twiins
4. Noel Torres – La Balanza – Gerencia 360/Sony Latin
5. Nena Guzman – La Iniciativa – Del/Sony Latin
6. Regulo Caro - Senzu-Rah - Del/Sony Latin
7. Banda Los Recoditos – Sueño XXX – Disa
8. Martin Castillo – Mundo de Ilusiones – Gerencia 360/Sony Latin
9. Adriel Favela – Mujeres de Tu Tipo – Gerencia 360/Sony Latin

SINGLES

1. La Nueva Rebelión – “Me Hicieron Mas Fuerte” – LR Music
2. Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda – “Y Así Fue” – Fonovisa
3. El Komander – “Soy De Rancho” – Twiins
4. Alacranes Musical – “Zapateado Encabronado #3” – A.M.
5. Gerardo Ortiz – “Eres Una Niña” – Del/Sony Latin
6. La Trakalosa De Monterrey – “Mi Padrino El Diablo” – Remex
7. Calibre 50 ft. El Komander – “Qué Tiene De Malo” – Disa
8. Los Horóscopos de Durango – “Las Chicas Malas” – Universal Latin

coolio, thanks. will listen to all that and promptly built a spotify list of those albums/tracks to share:
http://open.spotify.com/user/forksclovetofu/playlist/4JOBXtZOcWAtiSBGWiyn3e

Volna's 20 electronic tracks of the year. Pretty sure they're going to drag these lists out until Orthodox new year:

Andy Stott - Violence
Caribou - Our Love
Gesloten Cirkel - Submit X
Sophie - Hard
SBTRKT - Temporary View
Tal'nik - Tsvet Nadezhdi
AG Cook - Beautiful
Objekt - Ratchet
James Blake - 200 Press
Mr Mitch - Don't Leave
Actress - Rule
Cashmere Cat - Pearls
Porter Robinson - Sad Machine
Aphex Twin - CIRCLONT14 [152.97] [shrymoming mix]
Love Cult - I Smoke (Only When I’m Happy)
Skrillex feat. Chance the Rapper - Coast Is Clear
SD Laika - Great God Pan
Danny L. Harle - In My Dreams
Ivan Dorn - Tanets Pingvina
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra - Any Fucking Thing You Love

Pitchfork's Top 25 Metal Albums

1 - Thou - Heathen
2 - Pallbearer - Foundations of Burden
3 - Yob - Clearing the Path to Ascend
4 - Tombs - Savage Gold
5 - Nux Vomica - Nux Vomica
6 - Blut aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta III: Saturnian Poetry
7 - Godflesh - A World Lit Only By Fire
8 - Woods of Desolation - As the Stars
9 - Indian - From All Purity
10 - Dead Congregation - Promulgation of the Fall
11 - Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen
12 - Morbus Chron - Sweven
13 - Inter Arma - The Cavern
14 - Eyehategod - Eyehategod
15 - Diocletian - Gesundrian
16 - Agalloch - The Serpent & the Sphere
17 - Krieg - Transient
18 - Gridlink - Longhena
19 - Teitanblood - Death
20 - Atriarch - An Unending Pathway
21 - Mutilation Rites - Harbinger
22 - Wreck and Reference - Want
23 - Lantlôs - Melting Sun
24 - Thantifaxath - Sacred White Noise
25 - Planning for Burial - Desideratum

I'll never understand the Pallbearer love but it's not the worst list, I guess.

And Meat Mead Metal Top 40 (#1 and #2 yet to be revealed)

https://meatmeadmetal.wordpress.com

40. SONS OF CROM, “Riddle of Steel”
39. MARE COGNITUM, “Phobos Monolith”
38. BOTANIST, “VI: Flora”
37. BARGHEST, “The Virtuous Purge”
36. FISTULA, “Vermin Prolificus”
35. CRETIN, “Stranger”
34. DAWNBRINGER, “Night of the Hammer”
33. TAKE OVER AND DESTROY, “Vacant Face”
32. AGALLOCH, “The Serpent & the Sphere”
31. 1349, “Massive Cauldron of Chaos”
30. ALRAUNE, “The Process of Self-Immolation”
29. EARTH, “Primitive and Deadly”
28. LOTUS THIEF, “Rervm”
27. FEN, “Carrion Skies”
26. ANGUISH, “Mountain”
25. THANTIFAXATH, “Sacred White Noise”
24. THE OATH, self-titled
23. YOUNG AND IN THE WAY, “When Life Comes to Death”
23. YAITW, “When Life Comes to Death”
22. KRIEG, “Transient”
21. NIHILL, “Verderf”
20. FORESEEN HKI, “Helsinki Savagery”
19. WITCH MOUNTAIN, “Mobile of Angels”
18. MUTILATION RITES, “Harbinger”
17. OCCULTATION, “Silence in the Ancestral House”
16. WROUGHT IRON, “Rejoice and Transcend”
15. MENACE RUINE, “Venus Armata”
14. IMPETUOUS RITUAL, “Unholy Congregation of Hypocritical Ambivalence”
13. FALLS OF RAUROS, “Believe in No Coming Shore”
12. TRIPTYKON, “Melana Chasmata”
11. THE FLIGHT OF SLEIPNIR, “V.”
10. HORRENDOUS, “Ecdysis”
09. MORBUS CHRON, “Sweven”
08. MORTALS, “Cursed to See the Future”
07. PALLBEARER, “Foundations of Boredom”
06. BLUT AUS NORD, “Memoria Vetusta III: Saturnian Poetry”
05. PRIMORDIAL, “Where Greater Men Have Fallen”
04. BASTARD SAPLING, “Instinct Is Forever”
03. YOB, “Clearing the Path to Ascend”

Electronic Rumors: http://electronicrumors.com/2014/12/28/awards-the-electronic-rumors-awards-2014-best-album-electronic-rumors-top-20-albums-of-2014/

01: Ronika – Selectadisc
02: Tensnake – Glow
03: Todd Terje – It’s Album Time
04: Röyksopp & Robyn – Do It Again
05: Chromeo – White Women
06: Hercules And Love Affair – The Feast Of The Broken Heart
07: Shook – Spectrum
08: Mitch Murder – Interceptor
09: Mild Peril – Matter
10: Justin Faust – Spellbound
11: Lemonade – Minus Tide
12: Röyksopp – The Inevitable End
13: Queen Of Hearts – Cocoon
14: Ali Love – P.U.M.P.
15: Kid Machine – First Contact
16: The Juan MacLean – In A Dream
17: Xeno & Oaklander – Par Avion
18: Flight Facilities - Down To Earth
19: La Roux – Trouble In Paradise
20: Electric Youth – Innerworld

are you doing a noisy list this year whiney?

― Ottbot jr (NickB), Sunday, December 21, 2014 6:16 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/20-best-avant-albums-of-2014-20141229

Very much enjoyed that list Chris. A much needed antidote to RS naming U2 the best bloody album of the year.

that Golden Retriever record is great, looking forward to checking some of the other ones out

Great list, Whiney! The Lescalleet/Drumm thing is otherworldly.

here's a few more than half that WGW list with everything Spotify has to offer on it:
http://open.spotify.com/user/forksclovetofu/playlist/6u44oIDidHRenk4dujfCk4

Jim Fusilli, WSJ
“Morning Phase” Beck
“Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro” Various Artists
“Wine Dark Sea” Jolie Holland
“The River & The Thread” Roseanne Cash
“Colfax” the Delines
“Passerby” Luluc
“Blue Dream” Orenda Fink
“You’re Dead!” Flying Lotus
“PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” Pharoahe Monch
“Decimation Blues”, Castanets
“This Is My Hand” My Brightest Diamond
“Neuroplasticity” Cold Specks
“Multi_Viral” Calle 13
“Odludek”Jimi Goodwin
“Lost In The Dream” The War On Drugs

Wow, is that the first time RS has published a list like that?

Any Decent Music's Readers' albums of the year

On a related note, the general non-local lack of love for the latest Twilight Sad record astounds me. Sure I can see it being outside many of the top ten listings but not placing in most of the top 50's? Potentially the strong Scottish accent puts people off? Or maybe I'm horrendously overrating it. I can't tell.

I'm looking forward to the Dandelion Radio festive fifty - I don't tend to trust singles lists but they have been otm the last couple years. Makes me miss Peel counting it down though.

SoulTracks

PUBLISHER'S PICK - Brandon Williams: XII
EDITOR'S PICK - Jarrod Lawson: Jarrod Lawson

Bernhoft: Islander
Aloe Blacc: Lift Your Spirits
Mary J. Blige: The London Sessions
Traci Braxton: Crash & Burn
D’Angelo: Black Messiah
The Dangerfeel Newbies: Hariet
Cliff Dawson: Turn It Up
Shaun Escoffery: In the Red Room
Amp Fiddler: Basementality 2
Christian Gregory: Count on You EP
The Groove Association Ft. Georgie B: 3AM
Incognito: Amplified Soul
Michael Jackson: Escape
Leela James: Fall For You
Angela Johnson: Naturally Me
Kwabs: Pray for Love EP
Ledisi: The Truth
Loretta: Find A Way
Mali Music: Mali Is
Frank McComb: Live At The Bitter End (Remembering Donny Hathaway)
Portia Monique: Portia Monique
Gene Nobel: Rebirth of Gene
Sam Smith: In the Lonely Hour
Avery Sunshine: The Sunroom
Tank: Stronger
Michelle Williams: Journey to Freedom
Bryan Andrew Wilson: The One Percent

HONORABLE MENTION:

3 Winans Brothers: Foreign Land
Afro Elements: Out of the Centre
Akie Bermiss: Akie
Al Jarreau: My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke
Alain Clark: Walk With Me
Algebra Blessett: Recovery
Ann Nesby: Living My Life
Anthony Valadez: In Search Of…
Ben L’oncle Soul: A coup de reves
Bo Saris: Gold
Bobby Caldwell: After Dark
brik.liam: ***mr. liam’s neighborhood
Broken Bells: After The Disco
Calvin Richardson: I Am Calvin
Carmen Lundy: Soul to Soul
Cheryl Barnes: Listen To This
Chris Jasper: The One
Chromeo: White Women
Club Nouveau: Consciousness
Cody ChestnuTT: Landing On A Hundred: B Sides & Remixes
Daley: Days & Night
Daniel Crawford: The Awakening
Dave Hollister: Chicago Winds
David Ryan Harris: Lightyears
DeRobert and the Half-Truths: I’m Tryin’
Dianne Reeves: Beautiful Life
Dominique Toney: A Love Like Ours
Electric Wire Hustle: Love Will Prevail
Elli Ingram: The Doghouse EP
Eric Lau & Taiwah: Love Call EP
Eric Nolan: Mood Swing
Faith Evans: Incomparable
Freda Payne: Come Back To Me Love
Full Force: Full Force With Love From Our Friends
Gabrielle Goodman: Spiritual Tapestry
Gene Van Buren: Still
George Tandy, Jr.: The Foundation
Gladys Knight: Where My Heart Belongs
Goapele: Strong As Glass
Jagged Edge: J.E. Heartbreak II
James Tillman: Shangri La EP
Jennifer Holliday: The Song Is You
Jennifer Hudson: JHUD
Jesse Boykins III: Love Apparatus
JMSN: JMSN
Joe: Bridges
Jordan Rakei: Groove Curse
KeKe Wyatt: Ke’Ke’ EP
Kelly Price: Sing Pray Love
KEM: Promise to Love
Kimbra: The Golden Echo
Kindred the Family Soul: A Couple Friends
Kwabs: Wrong or Right EP
Lake Street Dive: Bad Self Portraits
Laura Mvula: Laura Mvula with Metropole Orkest
Lee Fields: Emma Jean
Lil’ John Roberts: The Heartbeat
Luke James: Luke James
Mama’s Gun: Cheap Hotel
Mariah Carey: Me. I Am Mariah. The Elusive Chanteuse
Mario Biondi and The Unexpected Glimpses: Due
Marsha Ambrosius: Friends & Lovers
Meshell Ndegeocello: Comet, Come To Me
Moonchild: Please Rewind
Moses Sumney: Mid-City Island EP
Natasha Watts: Natasha Watts
Nate Williams: Got To Let Go
Rajdularli: Journey of a Woman
Raul Midon: Don’t Hesitate
Rogiérs: The Shedding
Ruthie Foster: Promise of a Brand New Day
Samuel Prather: Groove Orchestra
Sebastian Mikael: Speechless
Shaliek: Blood Sweat Tears
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings: Give The People What They Want
Slakah The Beatchild: Soul Movement, Vol. II
Smoove & Turrell: Broken Toys
Soul Basement: Yesterday Today Tomorrow
SouLutions: Listen/Mr. Sun Don’t Hide EP
St. Paul and The Broken Bones: Half The City
SuCh: Trial and Error
Syleena Johnson: Chapter 6: Couples Therapy
Taylor McFerrin: Early Riser
Teri Tobin: Truth Is
Teyana Taylor: VII
The Revelations: The Cost of Living
Timothy Bloom: Timothy Bloom
Tony Braxton & Babyface: Love, Marriage and Divorce
Walter Christopher: The Mellisonant Album
Will Downing: Euphoria

i saw under the skin just recently and was struck by the soundtrack; really enjoying going back to it now

Yeah, we saw it about a week ago and had the same experience. At first, I was trying to figure out which Penderecki piece they were using; a little later, there was a beat behind it.

Dave MacIntosh, Scotland

1) Thunderlords: Rule the Stratosphere
2) Pinksinker: Maximum Break
3) Flat-Pack Granny: Golden Greats
4) Meatfeast: Extra Crispy
5) Fudclamp: Sketches of Swindon
6) Low Hangers: How's It Hanging?
7) Corrina Rizzla: Skin Me Up
8) Collapsible Christ: Fold
9) Stalkers: Where's Captain Quark?
10) Prang: Wrang
11) Munson: How to Be
12) Electrosexuals: Sex Electric!!!
13) Migraine: No Gain
14) Plague Station: A Rush of Rush to the Head
15) Bloodblister: Papercuts

not really a poll (and not 75 but 36, regardless of what the link suggests), but anyway:

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2014/12/the_best_noise_music_in_2014_the_years_top_75_noise_cuts.php

Whoa.

xp Rock-A-Rolla doesn't publish new issue until Jan 10, so I guess that's when the list will be out.

Mixmag:

50 Frank & Tony - You Go Girl
49 East India Youth - Total Strife Forever
48 Cooly G - Wait 'Til Night
47 Call Super - Suzi Ecto
46 The 2 Bears - The Night Is Young
45 Huxley - Blurred
44 Deadmau5 - While (1<2)
43 Gaiser - False Light
42 Ulterior Motive - The Fourth Wall
41 Tokyo Prose - Presence
40 Sable Sheep - Vagabond From Hell
39 Redinho - Redinho
38 Apollonia - Tour A Tour
37 Slam - Reverse Proceed
36 Kassem Mosse - Workshop 19
35 DJ Dodger Stadium - Friend of Mine
34 Andy Stott - Faith In Strangers
33 Vermont - Vermont
32 Fhloston Paradigm - The Phoenix
31 Perc - The Power And The Glory
30 The Bug - Angels And Devils
29 Chromeo - White Women
28 Answer Code Request - Code
27 Moire - Shelter
26 Actress - Ghettoville
25 Royksopp - The Inevitable End
24 Metronomy - Love Letters
23 Plastikman - Ex
22 Porter Robinson - Worlds
21 Rustie - Green Language
20 The Juan Maclean - In A Dream
19 Clark - Clark
18 Calibre - Shelflife 3
17 Taylor McFerrin - Early Riser
16 Above & Beyond - Acoustic
15 Tensnake - Glow
14 Childish Gambino - Because The Internet
13 Banks - Goddess
12 FKA Twigs - LP1
11 Flying Lotus - You’re Dead!
10 Lenzman - Looking At The Stars
9 SBTRKT - Wonder Where We Land
8 Technimatic - Desire Paths
7 Lone - Reality Testing
6 Leon Vynehall - Music For the Uninvited
5 Moodymann - Moodymann
4 Martyn - The Air Between Words
3 Todd Terje - It’s Album Time
2 Caribou - Our Love
1 Aphex Twin - Syro

NPR top 10 metal albums, unranked:

Gridlink, Longhena
High Spirits, You Are Here
Morbus Chron, Sweven
Origin, Omnipresent
Pallbearer, Foundations of Burden
Riot V, Unleash The Fire
Skull Fist, Chasing The Dream
Thou, Heathen
Triptykon, Melana Chasmata
Wo Fat, The Conjuring

same dude who compiled that also did this list of his favourite tracks, which is probably too personal to warrant inclusion here but did get me to listen to the (excellent) Unconscious Collective album just now

lars rules.