Best Songs of 2014
30 best songs of 2014. In no particular order.
1. What Goes Boom – Pixies
Comeback album received a very mixed response from the music critics but songs like this demonstrated that they still knew how to rock hard, Pixies style.
2. My Spirit is Broken – Champs
Cracking indie guitar tune from a very fine debut album. Champs are two brothers from the Isle of Wight; this has a decidedly Roy Orbison vibe.
3. Seasons (Waiting on You) – Future Islands
Samuel T Herring: Future Islands
He may dance like that one embarrassing uncle who cuts loose at every family wedding but singer Samuel T Herring knows how to belt out a tune. Heartfelt, passionate electro pop.
4. Goodbye – My Sad Captains
Immaculately played, dreamy indie guitar pop with a shoegaze feel. Very nice.
5. Mistakes of my Youth – Eels
It’s been a long road for Mark Oliver Everett, a veteran of the alternative music scene. He is still hanging on in there, writing these wistful, beautifully life-affirming songs.
6. Digsaw – The Wytches
Their debut album was an impossibly youthful blast of grunge-y noise combined with some interesting guitar shapes. A band to watch in 2015.
7. Med School – Dry The River
Arena Rock with soul. Uplifting.
8. Passerby – Lulluc
Title track of an album that was a gentle, pastoral treat. Gorgeous.
9. A Little God In My Hands – Swans
From the album of the year, Swans delivered track after track of compelling, sometimes terrifying music. Brilliant.
10. minipops 67 [120.2][source field mix] – Aphex Twin
Pioneering electronic musician Richard James released the eagerly anticipated comeback album Syro and it was business as usual. Sonic perfection.
11. Remurdered – Mogwai
Scottish Post Rock outfit Mogwai
Juggernaut of a track from their Rave Tapes album.
12. High Tide, Low Tide – The Vaselines
Legendary Scottish fuzzpop outfit The Vaselines are still doing what they have always done best – penning addictive, catchy melodies and making noise. Wonderful.
13. It’s Good To Touch You In The Sun – Castanets
Castanets is the brainchild of Portland based Raymond Raposa. Album Decimation Blues was a mixed bag of weird, off kilter folky pop music. A grower.
14. All The Rage Back Home – Interpol
After the lukewarm response to their last album, all eyes were on Interpol when they announced new album El Pintor was in the offing. This was the teaser track and it signalled a major return to form.
15. Forgiven/Forgotten – Angel Olsen
Scuzzed up, confessional stuff from one of the best albums of the year.
Angel Olsen
16 Wildewoman – Lucius
Pop music par excellence. Hugely talented, expect this New York five piece to make the breakthrough to the pop mainstream with their next record.
17. Stateless Wonder – Mysteries
Debut album is a strikingly original mish-mash of influences.
18. Drive (Fade Into) – Marissa Nadler
Dark, haunting lullaby from one of the most beautiful albums of the year.
19. Interference Fits – Perfect Pussy
One of the tamer cuts from their scorching debut. Refreshing to hear a band push their sound so close to the edge.
20. Dive – Caribou
A career best for Dan Snaith with album ‘Our Love’ – electronica has rarely sounded so soulful.
21. Your Love Is Killing Me – Sharon Van Etten
Laid bare – music that bleeds emotion.
22. All White Everything – JJ
Big, bold pop music from one of the surprise packages of the year.
23. Brennur Stjarna – Samaris
Icelandic trio Samaris
Gleeful, giddy and mysterious – another act from Iceland doing something really special.
24. Abundant Living – Iceage
Post Punk with obvious Nick Cave influences. Sporadically thrilling on their third album Plowing Into the Field of Love.
25. Heaven, How Long? – East India Youth
Early front runner for album of the year, Total Strife Forever was eclectic, brave and at times a visionary take on electronic pop music.
26. What Love Looks Like – Mirel Wagner
Sparse, solemn acoustic based songs that creep up on you after a number of listens. Unsettlingly brilliant.
27. Memories of You – AVI Buffalo
After the highly acclaimed lo-fi debut, this was a more sophisticated slice of Americana.
28. Leave this Island – Maximo Park
There were a couple of fantastic songs on this years ‘Too Much Information’ – this is one of them. Album was patchy but the standout tracks were some of their best songs to date.
29. Simple and Sure – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Edging closer to the pop mainstream with every album, the ex-shoegazers produced moments of sickly sweet pop perfection on their latest album.
30. Elevator Song – Keaton Henson (featuring Ren Ford)
Ambient, classical beauty on this mournful suite of instrumental pieces.
