The Best Albums of 2014: #20-11
It is that time of year again. As we prepare to bid adieu to 2014 and say bonjour to 2015, it's fun to look back at the things that we really enjoyed throughout the year. 2014 was a pretty great year for music even if it wasn't good for much else. We didn't get a surprise Beyoncé album at the end of the year, but we did get stellar albums from established greats and new talents ready to take their place. This list will be long, so I thought I would go ahead and split it into two. Feel free to comment with your picks or to disagree.
20. Bette Midler, "It's the Girls"
It has been nine years since the Divine Miss M released a studio album not counting the holiday album she released in 2006. Ever since Midler was singing in bathhouses she has been interpreting girl group songs like "Leader of the Pack" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," the latter of which has become one of her signatures. I'm surprised it took her so long to record a record full of the female harmonies that she has loved since she was a child.
Bette doesn't make a wrong move from start to finish with this album. Each song is lovingly interpreted by Bette. She tackles hits from the Supremes to the Ronettes and closes the album with the title track originally performed by the Boswell Sisters, a group that inspired Midler and helped ignite her love of female harmonies. Bette doesn't limit her song selection to these early pioneers, she also pays tribute to '90's girl group, TLC, giving their seminal classic, "Waterfalls," a stunning re-working. It features one of the best vocal performances of Bette's career. You can listen to it here:
19. Stevie Nicks, "24 Karat Gold: Songs From the Vault"
Stevie Nicks would have had a banner 2014 if all she had done is go on another tour with Fleetwood Mac. The band's "On With the Show" tour featuring the return of founding member Christine McVie is selling like gang busters and the band is hard at work crafting their first record since 2003, which will most likely serve as their farewell album. Stevie wasn't content with that. She decided to dust off songs that she had previously recorded demos of between 1969 and 1987.
These songs are classic Stevie and they help make this one of the best albums since her debut, "Bella Donna." Even though they haven't been an item for thirty years, Stevie's troubled relationship with Lindsey Buckingham still informs her songwriting and produces two of the best tracks on the album, "Hard Advice" and album closer "She Loves Him Still." Nicks also confronts mortality in lead single, "The Dealer" and "Lady" is maybe her best ballad since "Landslide." You can listen to it here.
18. Mariah Carey, "Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse"
Oh Mimi. You have some unfortunate album titles in the past, but with "Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse," you not only took the prize for worst album title of 2014, but maybe worst album title of all time. The title of this record alone may have driven people off, but for the scores of people who didn't give it a spin, you missed out on some of the best R&B of the year and Mariah's best album in a while.
This record is really the best of what Mariah has to offer. We get less of the breathy, sex kitten vocals and more of the full throated, powerful vocals. There is the requisite song with the up and coming R&B star (#Beautiful featuring Miguel), modern disco tracks ("You Don't Know What to Do", "Meteorite") a sickening George Michael cover ("One More Try") and she ends the record by taking us to church ("Heavenly"). If you spring for the deluxe you also get treated to some songs taken from the pulled remix album, "Angels Cry" and "The Art of Letting Go," which at one point was supposed to be the title track of the album. Here is "Thirsty."
17. Tinashe, "Aquarius"
Can you believe that it has been almost 7 years since Janet Jackson released a new album? Well, it's true. "Discipline" came out in 2008. That is the last time we were blessed with something new from the most talented living Jackson. It's been rough, but luckily for all of us, 2014 saw an up and coming R&B star step in to fill the Janet sized void in all of our lives.
Tinashe (pronounced tee-NAH-shay) started off performing with a girl group founded by Vitamin C called the Stunners that no one has ever heard of. She smartly ditched those chicks and went on to release two mixtape and 2014 saw her release her debut LP, "Aquarius." It's like Tinashe took the template that Janet has been using for years and updated it. There are fantastic slow jams like the title track and club bangers like lead single "2 On" and interludes peppered throughout. You can check out the video for "2 On" below.
16. Miranda Lambert, "Platinum"
Miranda Lambert doesn't slow down. She's married to country star and Voice coach, Blake Shelton, which I am sure is a full time job on it's own. Last year, she released the second album with her group Pistol Annies and it was amazing and this year she released her fifth album, which also happened to be the best country album I listened to all year.
Miranda does a great job of melding new and classic country. Some of her songs have a pop sensibility to them, but she never loses the country. It's there in the lyrics to her songs and the twang in her voice. The songs on "Platinum" are the best that she has ever written and recorded. She reminisces on small town life back before you knew better on the Little Big Town assisted "Smokin' and Drinkin'." The album's lead single "Automatic" yearns for a simpler time, but doesn't come off as cloying or condescending. She consults the wife of the queen of rock and roll on how to deal with being "married to a man who's married to attention," tongue firmly planted in cheek on my favorite song on the album, "Priscilla." She even finds time to record a rollicking duet with country musics second hottest blonde, Carrie Underwood. It's all in a day's work for Miranda Lambert. Check out the video for the aforementioned duet, "Something Bad."
15. Charli XCX, "SUCKER"
Love it or hate it, it seemed like there was no escaping Iggy Azalea's breakthrough single, "Fancy." Not only did the song introduce the controversial rapper to the masses it also brought Charli XCX to America's attention. Charli had already experienced some success in America as the co-writer of Icona Pop's smash hit, "I Love It" and had released an album, 2013's criminally underrated, "True Romance."
Charli wasn't content to just guest on other people's tracks. She released a phenomenal pop album. I didn't realize that I was missing or wanted bratty, punk pop in my life until I listened to "SUCKER" for the first time. There is straight up power pop like singles "Boom Clap" and "Doing It" and the New Wave-y, British sounds of "Break the Rules" and "London Queen." Charli teams up with Rivers Cuomo for the Weezer influenced "Hanging Around." Here's the video for "Break the Rules."
14. Azealia Banks, "Broke with Expensive Taste"
Sometimes there is a famous person or maybe a pseudo famous person who seems to be only famous or pseudo famous for their Twitter feuds or the idiotic things they say. If you are only familiar with Azealia Banks from calling Perez Hilton and her going in on Iggy Azalea, you can be forgiven for thinking that she is just some wannabe hack who is using these public displays to offset her lack of talent. In this case, you'd be wrong.
After a critically acclaimed EP, singles that didn't really go anywhere and lots of stops and starts, Banks' decided to "pull a Beyoncé" and drop her entire full length LP on iTunes. Once critics, fans and skeptics had a chance to listen to her debut, the narrative changed from Banks' inflammatory social media presence back to her music. I was one of those skeptics. I was a Banks Believer when I first heard her mixtape, "Fantasea" and her EP, "1991," but I had started to believe that Banks was going to fizzle out before she even got started. Happily, I was wrong. From the opening, Middle-Eastern influenced, "Idle Delilah" to "1991" standout "212" and buzz single banker "Yung Rapunxel" Banks shows that the hype is not misplaced and marks her as not just a female emcee to watch, but an emcee to watch period. Here's hoping more people stand up and take notice. Here's the video for "Chasing Time."
13. BANKS, "Goddess"
BANKS is one of those artists that you've heard before even if you didn't realize it was her at the time. BANKS has been hustling since early 2013. She dropped two EP's and you've probably heard some of her songs on your favorite TV shows in 2014. "Grey's Anatomy" exclusively featured her music on a season 10 episode. She has been working hard and now this hard work is paying off.
You've probably heard her hip-hop meets Fiona Apple inspired single, "Beggin' For Thread" on the radio and it is just a small taste of what her full length debut has to offer. "Goddess" is filled with dark, moody pop/hip-hop songs that have been described as "Aaliyah meets Fiona Apple," which is an apt description. These songs permeate your brain and stay with you long after you've listened to them. BANKS isn't overly concerned with crafting catchy hooks, even though she does on numerous occasions. She seems to be more focused on writing lyrics that you will get something new from each time you give the album a spin. When you listen to this album, you have this sense of excitement, wondering what she will do next, because you know that her sophomore album will be something completely different, but still completely BANKS. Here's the video for "Beggin' For Thread."
12. Tove Lo, "Queen of the Clouds"
What is it about Sweden and pop music? Ever since ABBA burst onto the scene in the '70's, if you are looking for toe tapping, innovative, can't get it out of your heard, pop music, all you have to do is look to Sweden. 2014 was no exception to this rule. In fact, four of the artists in my top 20 hail from Sweden. There must be something in the water.
Tove Lo is the newest artist on the list. She hit the scene with her hit single, "Habits (Stay High)." Did you ever think that you would be singing along to a song where the singer talks about going to sex clubs to try to keep her mind off a failed relationship? Well you are! That is a testament to Tove Lo's ability to write insanely catchy hooks with bright melodies but super dark lyrics. She's kind of the opposite of BANKS in that respect. Tove Lo presents herself as a damaged, real person and it's part of the reason her album is so relatable and has been a go to for me since it was released. Here is the video for "Not On Drugs."
11. Röyksopp & Robyn, "Do It Again"
If we want to get technical this isn't an "album" it is an EP and it shouldn't be included on a list of the year's best albums, but you know what? I don't care. Here are two more Swedish artists who released 5 songs that were better than the majority of albums that were released with double the tracks. This isn't the first time that the sprite of Sweden and the electronica duo have teamed up. Röyksopp was featured on "None of Dem" from Robyn's last full length, "Body Talk," on of the best albums of 2010.
Robyn and Röyksopp play well with each other. They vibe and the songs on this EP are so effortless. It's like they are just in the studio breathing. There is atmospheric pop ("Monument") to straight up, get on the dance floor and sweat it out music ("Do It Again"). The album ends with the sprawling, chill, icy "Inside the Idle Hour Club." It serves as a nice appetizer leading up to Röysopp's final, traditional album, "The Inevitable End" and Robyn's next album which will, fingers crossed, be released this year. Here's hoping this isn't the final collaboration between these two. Here is the video for "Do It Again."
Here are the first ten. I'm going to work hard to get the top 10 posted before the end of January. I'm not sure that'll happen, but it's a nice goal. So, what did you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Predictions for the top 10. That's what comments are for.
These songs are classic Stevie and they help make this one of the best albums since her debut, "Bella Donna." Even though they haven't been an item for thirty years, Stevie's troubled relationship with Lindsey Buckingham still informs her songwriting and produces two of the best tracks on the album, "Hard Advice" and album closer "She Loves Him Still." Nicks also confronts mortality in lead single, "The Dealer" and "Lady" is maybe her best ballad since "Landslide." You can listen to it here.
18. Mariah Carey, "Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse"
This record is really the best of what Mariah has to offer. We get less of the breathy, sex kitten vocals and more of the full throated, powerful vocals. There is the requisite song with the up and coming R&B star (#Beautiful featuring Miguel), modern disco tracks ("You Don't Know What to Do", "Meteorite") a sickening George Michael cover ("One More Try") and she ends the record by taking us to church ("Heavenly"). If you spring for the deluxe you also get treated to some songs taken from the pulled remix album, "Angels Cry" and "The Art of Letting Go," which at one point was supposed to be the title track of the album. Here is "Thirsty."
17. Tinashe, "Aquarius"
Tinashe (pronounced tee-NAH-shay) started off performing with a girl group founded by Vitamin C called the Stunners that no one has ever heard of. She smartly ditched those chicks and went on to release two mixtape and 2014 saw her release her debut LP, "Aquarius." It's like Tinashe took the template that Janet has been using for years and updated it. There are fantastic slow jams like the title track and club bangers like lead single "2 On" and interludes peppered throughout. You can check out the video for "2 On" below.
16. Miranda Lambert, "Platinum"
Miranda does a great job of melding new and classic country. Some of her songs have a pop sensibility to them, but she never loses the country. It's there in the lyrics to her songs and the twang in her voice. The songs on "Platinum" are the best that she has ever written and recorded. She reminisces on small town life back before you knew better on the Little Big Town assisted "Smokin' and Drinkin'." The album's lead single "Automatic" yearns for a simpler time, but doesn't come off as cloying or condescending. She consults the wife of the queen of rock and roll on how to deal with being "married to a man who's married to attention," tongue firmly planted in cheek on my favorite song on the album, "Priscilla." She even finds time to record a rollicking duet with country musics second hottest blonde, Carrie Underwood. It's all in a day's work for Miranda Lambert. Check out the video for the aforementioned duet, "Something Bad."
15. Charli XCX, "SUCKER"
Charli wasn't content to just guest on other people's tracks. She released a phenomenal pop album. I didn't realize that I was missing or wanted bratty, punk pop in my life until I listened to "SUCKER" for the first time. There is straight up power pop like singles "Boom Clap" and "Doing It" and the New Wave-y, British sounds of "Break the Rules" and "London Queen." Charli teams up with Rivers Cuomo for the Weezer influenced "Hanging Around." Here's the video for "Break the Rules."
14. Azealia Banks, "Broke with Expensive Taste"
After a critically acclaimed EP, singles that didn't really go anywhere and lots of stops and starts, Banks' decided to "pull a Beyoncé" and drop her entire full length LP on iTunes. Once critics, fans and skeptics had a chance to listen to her debut, the narrative changed from Banks' inflammatory social media presence back to her music. I was one of those skeptics. I was a Banks Believer when I first heard her mixtape, "Fantasea" and her EP, "1991," but I had started to believe that Banks was going to fizzle out before she even got started. Happily, I was wrong. From the opening, Middle-Eastern influenced, "Idle Delilah" to "1991" standout "212" and buzz single banker "Yung Rapunxel" Banks shows that the hype is not misplaced and marks her as not just a female emcee to watch, but an emcee to watch period. Here's hoping more people stand up and take notice. Here's the video for "Chasing Time."
13. BANKS, "Goddess"
You've probably heard her hip-hop meets Fiona Apple inspired single, "Beggin' For Thread" on the radio and it is just a small taste of what her full length debut has to offer. "Goddess" is filled with dark, moody pop/hip-hop songs that have been described as "Aaliyah meets Fiona Apple," which is an apt description. These songs permeate your brain and stay with you long after you've listened to them. BANKS isn't overly concerned with crafting catchy hooks, even though she does on numerous occasions. She seems to be more focused on writing lyrics that you will get something new from each time you give the album a spin. When you listen to this album, you have this sense of excitement, wondering what she will do next, because you know that her sophomore album will be something completely different, but still completely BANKS. Here's the video for "Beggin' For Thread."
12. Tove Lo, "Queen of the Clouds"
Tove Lo is the newest artist on the list. She hit the scene with her hit single, "Habits (Stay High)." Did you ever think that you would be singing along to a song where the singer talks about going to sex clubs to try to keep her mind off a failed relationship? Well you are! That is a testament to Tove Lo's ability to write insanely catchy hooks with bright melodies but super dark lyrics. She's kind of the opposite of BANKS in that respect. Tove Lo presents herself as a damaged, real person and it's part of the reason her album is so relatable and has been a go to for me since it was released. Here is the video for "Not On Drugs."
11. Röyksopp & Robyn, "Do It Again"
Robyn and Röyksopp play well with each other. They vibe and the songs on this EP are so effortless. It's like they are just in the studio breathing. There is atmospheric pop ("Monument") to straight up, get on the dance floor and sweat it out music ("Do It Again"). The album ends with the sprawling, chill, icy "Inside the Idle Hour Club." It serves as a nice appetizer leading up to Röysopp's final, traditional album, "The Inevitable End" and Robyn's next album which will, fingers crossed, be released this year. Here's hoping this isn't the final collaboration between these two. Here is the video for "Do It Again."
Here are the first ten. I'm going to work hard to get the top 10 posted before the end of January. I'm not sure that'll happen, but it's a nice goal. So, what did you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Predictions for the top 10. That's what comments are for.
No comments:
Post a Comment