So two years have gone by since I started this blog, and
basically all roads lead the to the annual End Of Year Top 10’s. Thanks for
reading, thanks for putting up with my typos, and thanks for sharing the joy
that a lot of these albums have provided me with.
Briefly on the whole, 2014 lacked a lot. I think it is
universally accepted that there was nothing ‘ground-breaking’ or ‘game-changing’
released this year; not that it really bothers me, but its generally always
good to see some progression. What I found with 2014 was that the good in my
opinion was generally really good, (my top few albums represent this) however
the majority of releases this year probably would have been swept up and
forgotten about in years gone by.
Anyway, without further ado, here are my Top 10 Albums &
Singles of 2014…..
Singles
10.
Kodaline – Love Like This (2013)
First time I have implemented the policy that see’s you
bring in something from a previous year if you only came across it during this
particular year. But this is a great song with some whistling, ukulele, harmonica
and clapping (oh no, I can hear all the Mumford & Sons haters from here!!).
Will most likely have you singing along before you know it….
9.
Fanfarlo - Landlocked
A big uptempo track with a fair bit of electronic type
sounds roaming throughout. The key probably comes in the big builds and what
follows is something that will almost certainly make you want to dance…
8.
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Kelly
How can you look past the beautiful voice of Jen Goma in
this great track. She has been a wonderful addition to The Pains’ during the
recording of Days Of Abandon and
should look at giving up all her other projects to be full time with The
Pains!!!
7.
Allo Darlin’ – Bright Eyes
Who doesn’t love some male/female vocal combinations, and
hell, who doesn’t love Allo Darlin’. Beautiful melodic and ever so catchy
indie-pop with a great Australian flavour found within!! This is the best track
off a wonderful album…
6.
Real Estate – Talking Backwards
Sadly, Real Estate’s record Atlas didn’t hit me on the whole like this particular song did. It
possess some trademark Real Estate guitar and winds round and round in a
pleasant carousel like circle….
5.
Bleachers – I Wanna Get Better
Dancy and in your face; ‘I Wanna Get Better’ is probably an
anthem for this year’s Schoolies (God I hope not!)….but I find myself turning
it up loud with every listen and singing along. And here I was thinking my days
of listening to this sort of music were over!
4.
Mosman Alder – Try Your Luck
A wonderful song with some stunning vocals and violin from
Robyn Dawson who sadly plays more of a background role in the majority of the
album from Mosman Alder. Nonetheless this song is a cracker - I can vividly remember riding to work for
about 2 weeks straight playing this song every time (I felt like you Sarah!!),
and I have also managed to flood my house mates a lot with this track!!
First Aid Kit – Stay Gold
Something majestic from the First Aid Kit girls with ‘Stay
Gold’ being almost as good as anything they’ve produced. It is pleasant and meaningful
at the same with, with even some great lyrics roaming throughout….
2.
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Eurydice
Well, I usually try to avoid having 2 tracks from the same
artist in the top singles but how can you when you have ‘Kelly’ and ‘Eurydice’.
This track has it all; epic guitar, sing alongs, clunking drums and more. And it
doesn’t matter whether its guitars or synths that drive the bell like hooks
into you after the choruses because it’s all just so catchy and perfectly
placed…..
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1.
The War On Drugs – Red Eyes
Pretty much the stand out track for 2014 after just a few
listens to this. Frontman and creator Adam Granduciel is an absolute wizard and
this track portrays him at his absolute best. Whirring droning guitars rip you
throughout whilst a huge amount keys and synth chimes in. And who would have
thought that there is saxophone in their – I only noticed this after seeing them
play! The album doesn’t quite hit the same highs as this song, but who cares
because this song is utterly brilliant!!
Spotify Playlist – I went to put together a spotify playlist
of the top 10 but for some reason The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart don’t show
up on Aus. Spotify so what's the point!!!
Albums
10.
Artist: The Jezabels
Album: The Brink
This was one of the earlier albums I reviewed this year and
initial hope would have classed it as an album that was going to be very very
strong. For whatever reason, it hasn’t quite maintained those heights however
there is still plenty to like about this record.
We need not look any further than tracks 6,7 & 8 …. ‘No
Country’, ‘The End’ & ‘Got Velvet’ to hear the best of what The Jezabels
now have to offer. ‘No Country’ really epitomises The Jezabels in my opinion; a
slow build up for a modest tempo taken behind some very strong but not overdone
drumming. Of course Hayley Mary and her vocals are outstanding, but if you look
past this, there is plenty of music to be had. ‘Got Velvet’ is probably my
favourite track and really tops of this great hat-trick of tracks that push the
album hard right to the end.
This isn’t the best music released by The Jezebels but you
can’t deny their talent and willingness to continue delivering more of the same
stuff that has got them to where they are now. No shame from me saying I am a
big fan of this band!!
9.
Artist: Broken Bells
Album: After The Disco
Another album that came out early in the year and one that
has been very steady in its progression. James Mercer, the front man for The
Shins is again the main man behind Broken Bells and has teamed up with (God
forbid) Dangermouse, an apparent DJ, producer, instrumentalist – basically, who
cares!
The album is very well rounded in its indie rock / space
rock vibe which starts off well with opening track ‘Perfect World’. There is
nothing new or uncharted that Broken Bells have been able to implicate on this
record, but they have simply created something that is catchy and makes you
want to hit play on the album again.
Now, all we need is the The Shins to hurry up and bring out
a new album early in 2015!!!
8.
Artist: Horse Thief
Album: Fear In Bliss
As hinted at in my brief November review, Fear In Bliss was a very high chance to
fill one of the lower spots in the top 10, and to be honest, with time it might
have even worked its way higher up the list.
It is a definite album, with nothing extravagantly outstanding,
just a great vibe throughout. ‘Devil’ would still be my favourite track with
its mesmerising surges throughout.
This is one I am, and will still be listening to for a while
now….
7.
Artist: Mosman Alder
Album: Humdrum Star
Again, luck has helped me out and I’ve copped another
brilliant band who were playing a support slot to someone I went and saw; in
this case the main act was The Head And The Heart, with the support being
Mosman Alder.
Humdrum Star is
such a unique record in many ways; its genre is almost undefinable and with
every listen, an air of mystery surrounds your thoughts regarding what you have
just listened to. ‘Try Your Luck’ is without doubt the top track and should
form the building block for what the band produces going forward; that violin
and delicate female vocals is simply stunning. Closing track ‘Spirit’ is one
that continues to improve and how couldn’t you like it with those instruments
interplaying one another.
A great release from an Australian band, I hope they are
getting the support they deserve both within Australia and abroad.
6.
Artist: Bleachers
Album: Strange Desire
Who would have thought!! I think the last top 40’s pop type
album I enjoyed was Passion Pit’s Manners
in 2009, and I honestly never would have thought that I’d enjoy something
quite like this again.
As much as I hate to admit it, this stuff is very contagious
and with every listen you feel compelled to like it more and more. “I Wanna Get
Better” is a standout sing a long track whilst “Rollercoaster” possesses that
same dance and be happy vibe. And if
I’m going to be completely honest, the first 4 tracks on this album just about round
out the equal best start to any album this year!
Now, as I mentioned in my review of this album there are a
couple of dud tracks and they feature some apparent big names i.e Yoko Ono and
Grimes. Once you rid the album of these tracks things will start falling into
place a little bit more. And whilst I’m on negatives, there is slightly a bit
too much electronic influence on the last few tracks, but hey, you can’t have
your cake and eat it too right!
Wether or not this album will last the journey I’m not too
sure but, it’s an enjoyable one for now!!
5.
Artist: Asgeir
Album: In The Silence
Something slightly left of field here with Icelandic native
Asgeir Trausti releasing his debut LP in English under the mantra Asgeir.
An eclectic mix of dreamy and pop styles of music, In The Silence gave 2014 something
unique. After taking off in Iceland, this record definitely took Australia by
storm and I guess took most major music countries with it.
‘King and Cross’ and ‘Torrent’ really form the pillars of
this album whilst a track like ‘In Harmony’ proves that there is plenty of beauty
to complement what is at times a dark album. The harmonies heard during ‘In
Harmony’ are really something quite special which of course I am going to like.
This album never looked like missing out on the top 5…
4.
Artist: Alvvays
Album: Alvvays
A very late bolter, Alvvays
has come home strong to secure the 4th spot. And a lot of its doing
comes after seeing this record played out in the live setting in San Francisco
which was a truly magnificent show.
Alvvays is a fantastic
debut of true indie-pop; light, bubbly, cute, charming and clever I quoted it
to be earlier this year. Right from the outset the fantastic guitar laden tracks
lure you in and will keep you trapped in a wonderful headspace.
‘Next Of Kin’ and ‘Atop A Cake’ are my favourites tracks,
but it’s the way that the album flows that makes it such a beauty. Everything
just rolls along with absolute ease and in some ways, each track joins on to
the next.
And yes I’ll say it again, their live show was brilliant!!
3.
Artist: Allo Darlin’
Album: We Come From The Same Place
What a fantastic third LP this is from Allo Darlin’. Packed
full of highs right from the outset, this album really proves the strength and
depth of this great band.
‘Bright Eyes’ is my favourite track for now, a wonderful
duet which I correct myself is not a first for Allo Darlin’, they had a
wonderful duet on their opening record … thanks for pointing that out cuz! ‘Crickets
In The Rain’ is quickly following suit as another top track, along with ‘Kings
And Queens’ and ‘We Come From The Same Place’.
The excellent guitar work from Paul Rains continues to
impress and I think will be sticking point when trying to find a comparison
with the previous 2 LP’s. Overall, a top album.
2.
Artist: First Aid Kit
Album: Stay Gold
The Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara have done it again –
creating another beautiful country inspired folk-pop album. For 40 minutes you
can be inspired, at ease and cheerful all at once; and then if you manage to
see the girls play a live show, you’ll simply be blown away.
Basically every track on this album is a good one and finds
its position perfectly on the album, but as always, there is a highlight. It
comes in the form of ‘Stay Gold’. Easily
the best track on the album and one that is also in the best tracks produced
from the girls. A huge sense of warmth surrounds you when listening whether it’s
the haunting harmonies or the thunderous drum that comes throughout out I’m not
sure, but wow it’s a brilliant track.
This is one of those excellent albums I spoke about earlier
and will continue to hold its position going forward. Thankyou girls for
creating this record!!
1.
Artist: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Album: Days Of Abandon
Call me predictable but the decision to put this album as
number 1 wasn’t as easy as it would seem. Yes, I did give it a 10/10 so it
seems an obvious choice, but honestly the First Aid Kit girls gave Days Of Abandon a fair run for its money
– so what I had on my hands was the hardest decision of all, which album ends
up number 1!!!
Days Of Abandon is
excellent in many ways; the continued evolution of frontman and absolute legend
Kip Berman, the addition of female only vocals tracks (‘Kelly’ and ‘Life After
Life’ in case you aren’t following!), the chiming guitars, the horns, the
fucking horns!! And of course plenty more.
This album hit me straight away and I think I even quoted after
just one listen to first single ‘Simple and Sure’ that “…this could be the best song of the year!” to a response of “…well hopefully there is a whole album full
of better songs” and there just about is!!!
Initial thoughts were that ‘Kelly’ was going to be the best
track on the album; that bass riff and combination of Jen Goma’s vocals just
blew me away, and still do. But the honours go out to ‘Eurydice’ for my
favourite track….the slight jump in tempo, the guitar hooks, and the background
fuzz all put things into a special place, and of course Jen Goma comes in again
for a few lines just to top things off.
I could go on and on about each track, but I won’t….
Thanks Pains’ for another top record, now all you have to do
is please announce an Australian tour!!
….
Well there you go, 3 true Indie Pop albums in the top 4 and I
suppose some would argue that First Aid Kit falls into the genre of Indie Pop.
Does this mean that Indie Pop is still alive and kicking? In my mind yes it
sure does!! But regardless of genre, you can’t deny these albums are great….
Have a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year and we’ll
see you again in 2015 hopefully with a big year of music….
Cheers
LF
lukefoster2@gmail.com
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