2014 was another fantastic year for music. I got a lot of new music. Some from old friends and some from new friends, some from bands I've never actually met but admire greatly. A lot of the music this year, much like the last two, was discovered through The Outlaw Roadshow and Nekkid Armadilla Extravaganza, but some I found on my own. Thinking back on my year in music, thinking about what records to include on this year's list, I decided to include the records that meant the most to me, the ones I find myself listening to on a near daily basis. These are the records that made this year in music just that much more special to me. Some of the songs on some of these records have meant more to me than many in the last 32 years of my life.
So here you go, my favorite records of 2014:
I discovered Elbow just a year and a half ago. But in those 18 months they have become one of my favorite bands. I had the opportunity to see them live back in May in Portland, Oregon, and it was an amazing show. I have a huge music crush on lead singer Guy Garvey. His voice is perfect, and he's adorable. Back in March Elbow released The Takeoff and Landing of Everything. (Full review here)
I instantly fell in love with the record. The lead off single, "New York Morning" remains one of my life changing songs. I came full circle with this song just a few months ago, listening to the song while walking down the street in New York City on a cool Autumn morning. As I listened to the record more and more, the song "This Blue World" became my second favorite song on it. There's one line that just keeps jumping out at me, and can be applied to so many people in my life, both current and past:
"While three chambers of my heart
beat true and strong with love for another
the fourth, the fourth is yours forever"
The Takeoff and Landing of everything is a beautiful record from start to finish. If you haven't listened to it, I highly suggest you do.
Seattle singer/songwriter Star Anna released The Sky is Falling as a digital only album in April. I've been meaning, trying, to write a full review of the record since I got it. But I just couldn't find the right words. I couldn't find words that would express how brilliant the record is. I couldn't form sentences that would convey the feelings the record created. The songs are heartbreaking, but in a totally relateable way. The Sky is Falling was recorded before last year's Go To Hell, but wasn't released until the moment was right. Star Anna's voice is special. It's really not like anything else you'd find out there these days: smooth, but just a little but gritty, full of so much feeling and power, but not over powering.
My favorite song on the record is "Love Song." A sort of cynical love song, almost mocking those who believe in love, and love at first sight and fairy tale love. The song is a duet with Screaming Trees' Mark Pickerel, whose voice perfectly compliments Star Anna's. The best part of the song is the chorus:
"I don't believe in fairy tales
I think they're overrated
I think they're outdated
oh and I, I don't believe in love at first sight
it's only something you'd write, it's only something you'd write"
Other stand out tracks on the record are "Little Voices," "Annie," and "Easier to Shine," and "Only Guessing."
But seriously, the record as a whole is fantastic.
What can I say about this record that I haven't already said? (Read that here.) It's no secret that Counting Crows are my favorite band. I still can't believe that I can call lead singer Adam Duritz "friend," the whole thing is all still very weird and surreal, but it's my life. Somewhere Under Wonderland is Counting Crows' first studio album in 7 years and it's amazing. It's a little big different that their previous records, but still brilliant. "God of Ocean Tides," "Earthquake Driver," and "Possibility Days" are my favorite songs on the record. But I could listen to the whole thing over and over for days (and have.)
~Field Report - MarigoldenField Report's debut, self titled album has been one of my favorites over the last two years, with "Taking Alcatraz" and "Fergus Falls" being in constant rotation on many of my playlists. Their long awaited sophomore album, Marigolden, came out in October. Just like the last, it is a colorful, lyrical piece of story telling genius. Chris Porterfield has a way of stringing words together in a way that makes you really listen, to take it all in, coz you'll miss the point if you don't. The songs come from life experiences and he weaves them into songs that you can't turn away from. One of the coolest moments for me this year was seeing Field Report here in Seattle a couple months ago. Seeing these songs live is mesmerizing. The best part though was the acoustic, on the floor sing-a-long to "Taking Alcatraz" and "Fergus Falls." Singing along with the songs, literally a foot and a half from Porterfield, was incredible.
Stand out tracks:
"Home (Leave the Lights on)," "Pale Rider," "Ambrosia," and "Enchantment"
I know, I know, this record was also on last year's list. Well, it wasn't officially released until Nov. 2014, so there. I LOVE this record. Obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have included it on two "best of"
lists. OldJack, over the last two-ish years has become one of my favorite bands, and their lead singer, Dan Nicklin, one of my favorite people. My original review of the record still holds true, if not even more so. Every song on the record is noteworthy (but for the record my favorite track is "Lonely Alone," a song which I refer to as "my song.") The record is so full of feeling, heart, and soul. Now that is available to get on BandCamp, there's no excuse not to have this record.
